Senior Parent Night 2018 19 Counselor Contacts All

Senior Parent Night 2018 -19

Counselor Contacts All seniors will meet individually with their counselor this fall to discuss graduation requirements and plans for their futures. Mrs. Alice Mc. Master= A-L Mrs. Melissa Mc. Garity = M-Z

Important Reminders *Provide updated contact information to the main office. *Use Power. School to follow your student’s progress. *Student attendance is CRUCIAL!!!

OCHS GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS � Must ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ earn 24 total credits 4 English 4 Math 4 Science 4 Social Studies 3 CTAE, Fine Arts, OR Foreign Language ½ Health & ½ PE 4 Elective Courses **2 years of the same foreign language are required for 4 year colleges/universities

OCHS Senior Graduation Status Each student will meet with his or her guidance counselor in the fall of 2018 to discuss graduation requirements and plans for after high school. Students and parents will receive a copy of graduation status reviewing information about what requirements must be met in order to graduate in May 2019.

Dates to Remember � September 5, 2018: Senior Class Meeting @ 8: 30 am with Herff-Jones � September 10, 2018: Parent/Teacher Visitation-5: 30 � September 10, 2018: SAT/ACT Registration Night � September 12, 2018: Graduation Orders during Lunch (Herff-Jones) & 3: 30 – 6: 00 in cafeteria � September 20, 2018: PROBE College Fair at Classic Center in Athens from 6 – 8 pm � October 1, 2018: The online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form can be completed after this date. ◦ Start early! ◦ Financial Aid workshop is November 5, 2018 in the OCHS cafeteria at 6: 30 pm. � November 12 -13, 2018: Apply to College Event � December 1, 2018: SAT/ACT Registration Event � December 17 -18, 2018: Semester 1 Finals

Dates to Remember � October 31, 2018: This is the due date for senior items for the yearbook ◦ Baby Picture �Can be paper copy or emailed JPEG ◦ Senior Biography �List of clubs, sports, etc. ◦ Senior Formal & Casual Pictures �If Senior pictures were taken by Thaxton Photography, seniors don’t have to do anything but choose poses. �If a different photographer was used, students must provide what the pictures they wish to use (usually, the photographer e-mails JPEGs of the images). � Mr. Schmidt’s email is eschmidt@oglethorpe. k 12. ga. us

Dates to Remember � January 16, 2019: ASVAB Test @ OCHS � February 11, 2019: Parent/Teacher Visitation � March 7, 2019: FAFSA Workshop @ 6: 00 � March 20, 2019: Graduation Announcement Delivery � April 10, 2019: Cap & Gown Delivery (Herff. Jones) � May 1, 2019: Scholarship Offers Due � May 3, 2019: Final transcript Request Due � May 14, 2019: Senior Honors Night � May 20 -22, 2019: Semester 2 Finals � GRADUATION

SAT & ACT Things to Remember � Most colleges & universities require students to take at least 1 college entrance exam. � To register for SAT, go to www. sat. org � To register for ACT, go to www. act. org � Fee waivers are available for students who qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch. � See the “College Entrance Exams” Sheet for more information.

Transcript Requests � Many colleges and universities prefer electronic copies of transcripts. � It’s easy to have transcripts sent to Georgia colleges/universities electronically by using www. gafutures. org. � Final transcripts requests are due to the main office by May 3, 2019. � Final transcripts will be sent to the college or university requested after the school year ends.

Letters of Recommendation � Many colleges and scholarships require letters of recommendation from teachers and/or counselors. � Seniors will be given the “Senior Activity Sheet” to complete and return to their counselor before requesting a letter of recommendation. � Please be sure to request letters at least 1 week in advance.

Senior Awards � Patriot Achievement Award � Honor Graduate ◦ Overall average of 90 or higher ◦ Overall ACADEMIC grade average of 90 or higher ◦ 4 or more semesters of academic grade average of 90 or higher ◦ No failed classes in high school

Post-Secondary Options Which is appropriate for my student? � Traditional 4 year college or university � 2 year college for associates degree or to transfer to a 4 year college � Technical Colleges � Professional Training Programs � Military

College Athletics � National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA): www. naia. org ◦ Division 3 Athletics � National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA): www. eligibiltycenter. org ◦ Divisions 1 & 2 Athletics

College Athletics continued � Students serious about participating in college athletics should register with one or both of the associations in their junior year. � SAT and/or ACT scores must be sent to the association directly by the testing center. ◦ The code to have scores sent to the NAIA is 9876. ◦ The code to have scores sent to the NCAA is 9999.

College Visits � Seniors are allowed 3 college visit days. � Proper paperwork and procedures must be completed at least 3 days in advance. � Completed forms must be turned into the main office after the visit.

How to Research Schools � PROBE College Fair @ Classic Center September 20 th from 6 – 8 pm � On the Web ◦ www. gafutures. org ◦ Individual school’s website � Visit College Campuses

Applying to College Don’t put all your eggs in one basket! � Students need to apply to more than one school � Typically students apply to 3 -5 schools � 3 types of schools ◦ Dream School – Top choice although acceptance is not guaranteed ◦ Reach school- School to which acceptance is within a student’s reach ◦ Safety school-Backup plan in case they need it

Applying to College continued � Use the college’s online application to apply. ◦ Students should use their www. gafutures. org accounts when applying to schools in Georgia. � Start applying early! � Pay attention to deadlines and application requirements. � SAT or ACT scores must be sent directly to colleges by the testing centers.

HOPE Scholarship � Pays a percentage of standard tuition � Eligibility ◦ Must have 3. 0 ACADEMIC GPA. ◦ Must attend a college, university, or technical school in GEORGIA. ◦ Need to have at least 4 credits for courses possessing academic rigor as determined by the GADOE. ** NOTE: GSFC calculates GPA for HOPE purposes.

Zell Miller Scholarship � Pays standard tuition in whole or in part at colleges in Georgia. � Eligibility ◦ Must have academic GPA of 3. 7. ◦ Must have attained a score of 1200 on the Critical Reading and Math sections of the SAT OR a score of 26 on the ACT. ◦ Must have attained these scores on a single administration of the SAT or ACT. ◦ Students must meet all other HOPE eligibility requirements. ◦ Automatically awarded to Valedictorian and Salutatorian of graduating class.

Courses of Rigor AP American Literature AP English Literature Advanced Algebra Accelerated Pre-Calculus Advanced Mathematical Decision Making Pre-Calculus AP Statistics Chemistry Physics Human Anatomy & Physiology AP US History AP Economics Spanish III

HOPE Grant � Pays a portion of standard tuition (up to 15 credit hours) for students enrolled in a certificate or diploma program at a branch of the University System of Georgia (USG) or Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). � There � Must is no minimum GPA required to qualify. have a cumulative 2. 0 GPA at different checkpoints to maintain the HOPE Grant.

Zell Miller Grant � Pays full standard rate of tuition (up to 15 credit hours) for students enrolled in a certificate or diploma program at a branch of the University System of Georgia (USG) or Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). � Student must have cumulative 3. 5 or higher postsecondary GPA each term.

Examples of programs eligible for HOPE or Zell Miller grants: � Accounting Diploma � CAD (drafting) Technician � EMT Certification � Automotive Repair � Basic Machining Operator � Business Administrative Technology � Cosmetology Diploma � Dental Assistant � Diesel Technician � Healthcare Assistant � Veterinarian Technician Assistant � Welding and Joining Technology Diploma

Scholarships � Scholarship information is sent out to parents via email as soon as it arrives in the counseling office. � Students also may search for scholarships by using the internet. � Be sure to pay attention to deadlines and request any needed materials (letters of recommendation, transcripts, etc. ) well in advance.

Scholarships continued � Extracurricular activities and community service can be important for scholarship opportunities. � Be careful about providing your social security number or money for scholarship opportunities.

Avoiding Parent Pitfalls � Encourage your child to choose his or her own path rather than selecting for them. � Require your student to complete all job, college, and scholarship applications on their own; colleges can tell the difference. � Remember that completing students’ work for them does not promote independence!

Final Thoughts Senior year is an exciting, pivotal time in the lives of our students. As we work together to help your child succeed in closing one chapter and beginning a new one, we want to thank you for your continued support. Thanks, The OCHS Guidance Counseling Department