Junior Family Night: Navigating the Senior Year

1. Junior Family Night:Navigating the Senior Year Southwest High School September 20, 2011 6:30 pm

2. Junior Family Agenda • PLEASE TURN OFF OR MUTE CELL PHONES! • 6:30 Les Monroe-EducationQuest • 6:50 LSW Counseling Staff - Junior Information • Meeting for Parents of Gifted Juniors in the A101 Forum at the conclusion of Junior Family meeting

3. LSW Counseling Staff • Dr. Joyce Lehn: 9-12  SPED • Dr. Dolores Simpson-Kirkland: 9-12 A-G • Eric Feeken: 9-12  H-K • Peggy Volker: 9-12  L-P • Colleen Finkhouse: 9-12  Q-S • Tim Ernst: 9-12  T-Z • Janene Way: Secretary

4. ZOHO • Communication with the Counseling Center • LSW students and parents, you now have to opportunity to receive text messages from the LSW Counseling center with communication of important dates, college visiting LSW, registration updates, college information, deadline reminders and other information pertinent to your LSW student.

5. ZOHO • From the LSW web site (http://lsw.lps.org/) find the Counseling Center tab under the Popular Page heading on the right side of the home page. • Click on the Counseling Center link and look for NEW LSW Student/Parent Communication Tool which will be in a green box and follow these directions that are listed on the page.

6. ZOHO • Click on the link and complete the web form entering your cell phone number in the format shown • Alltel: phonenumber@message.alltel.comT-Mobile:phonenumber@tmomail.netVirgin Mobile:phonenumber@vmobl.comCingular:phonenumber@cingularme.comSprint:phonenumber@messaging.sprintpcs.comVerizon: phonenumber@vtext.comCricket: phonenumber@sms.mycricket.comUS Cellular:phonenumber@email.uscc.netAT&T: phonenumber@txt.att.net

7. ZOHO

8. Planning For The Future • Allow your child to make his/her own decisions • Create an atmosphere of mutual trust & respect • Explore options together • College (4 Year or 2 Year) • Vocational/Trade Schools • Military • Work Adapted From: College & Career Choices

9. Making An Educated Decision • Explore career options • Identify career fields that match your student’s interests • Get a good academic fit • Find a college that matches academic preparation • Consider GPA & ACT or SAT scores of previous freshmen Adapted from: Careers & Education in Nebraska

10. Types Of Education • Universities • Made up of colleges or schools that teach specialized areas • Usually offer graduate degrees at the master’s & PhD level • Four-year colleges • Offer wide range of programs • Liberal arts colleges • College studies consist of fine arts, natural sciences, social sciences & humanities • Utilizes understanding of past & concern for the future

11. Types Of Education Continued • Community colleges • Prepares students for immediate employment • Many feature academic transfer programs • Vocational or specialty schools • Usually specialized to a specific occupation or career cluster • Credits seldom transfer to a 4-year school • On the job training & apprenticeships • Training provided by employer or labor union • Military service • Provides educational opportunities that transfer to civilian occupations

12. College Visitations • Call admissions office in advance • Talk to as many students as you can who attend the colleges of interest • Prepare for admissions interviews, if applicable • Take time to look around on your own • Inquire about acceptance of Common Application Adapted From: Associated Colleges of the Midwest

13. College Visitations:Questions To Ask

14. PSAT - Junior year • The PSAT measures verbal reasoning, critical reading, math problem-solving and writing skills developed both in and out of school. • We encourage all college-bound students to take the PSAT. The PSAT is the only way to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program • The test is Saturday October 15th and registration and $22 fee is required at the LSW Counseling Center. Please make checks to LSW and fee waivers are available. Register between September 28th and October 11th

15. Junior ACT Information • Juniors!!! Students  ONLY!!! ACT TESTING • Last May, the Nebraska Legislature determined that ALL Juniors in LPS and seven other school districts would be required to participate in the administration of the ACT Test.  The ACT Test will be administered at LSW on April 24, 2012. 

16. Junior ACT Information • This is offered at no cost to students’ or their families, and can be used for college, scholarship, and military applications. This opportunity to test free of charge is only for 11th graders during the school day.  If a Junior/11th grader chooses to take the ACT Test earlier or on the June date, that will be at their expense.

17. Junior ACT Information • They must register for those dates if that is their intention.  No other grade level students will be testing on the 24th. at LSW.   • PLAN AHEAD: Save the date; April 24, 2012!  Save money! • More information will be coming.

18. College Admission Tests • Check with admissions office about ACT or SAT preference. Many schools now accept both test scores • Harvard, Yale, & University of Pennsylvania • Inquire if SAT II subject tests or ACT writing test are required • Southeast Community College COMPASS Placement Test • At LSW on Tuesday, October 18th and again on April 17th 2012. Registration is required at the LSW Counseling Center. Adapted From: Wall Street Journal

19. SAT: 7 times per year Recent changes include Critical reading passages, essay, & more challenging math Ten-section exam Penalty for wrong answers Scores range from 200-800 per section 2400 highest possible combined score All scores will be sent to requested schools www.collegeboard.com ACT: 6 times per year Recent changes include Optional writing section Four-section exam No penalty for wrong answers Scores range from 1 to 36 for each score 36 highest possible composite Score choice option of which scores schools will receive www.act.org Adapted From: The Princeton Review www.princeton.com ACT vs. SAT:How do the tests compare?

20. Financial Aid • All scholarship with Nebraska ties are managed at Education Quest with ScholarshipQuest (http://www.educationquest.org/) • Fill out Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after January 1st of the senior year. www.FAFSA.ed.gov (not .com) • EducationQuest is available to assist, and presents a presentation each fall at LSW. This year it is November 8th at 6:30 PM

21. Don’t Get Scammed On Your Way To College • Look for warning signs that a scholarship may be a scam • “This scholarship is guaranteed or your money back.” • “You can’t get this information anywhere else.” • “May I have your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship.” • “We’ll do all the work.” • “The scholarship will cost you some money.” • “You’ve been selected by a ‘national foundation’ to receive a scholarship.” • “You’re a finalist in a contest that you didn’t enter.

22. Military Scholarships • Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) www.armyrotc.com • Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) www.afoats.af.mil • Opportunities for both Navy http://www.navy.com& Marines http://www.marines.com • Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) administered at LSW on Tuesday February 7th

23. Military Opportunities • Military representatives visit during the lunch period in the commons area to offer information: • US Air Force – To be determined • US Army- 3rd Wednesday of each month • US Marines – 4th Tuesday of each month • This presentation will be available on the LSW Counseling Center website on Tuesday morning. http://isite.lps.org/pvolker/web/

24. Resources for College Information • This presentation will be available on the LSW Counseling Center website on Wednesday morning. http://isite.lps.org/pvolker/web/ • College Catalogs/View Books • Web Sites for LSW Counseling Dept & Colleges • College Representatives • Campus Visits

25. Thank You The LSW Counselors would like to thank you for attending tonight’s presentation. Also, special thanks to the Les Monroe EducationQuest Foundation Meeting for Parents of Gifted Juniors in the A118 Forum in 10 minutes!