Comprehensive Guide to High School Graduation and Post-Secondary Options for Students

2. Agenda • Senior Year Information • Post High School Options • College Entrance Testing • Colleges / Universities • Federal Financial Aid • Scholarships

3. Beginning of the Year • Credit check over summer • Schedule changes - levels • Graduation Recognition • Grade replacement - credit deficiency • Class visits • Deficiency letters within the month

4. What should be on the transcript? • Demographic information • 9th – 11th – correct school, classes, grades, and credit • 11th grade summer school grades and credit • Transfer student • Term GPA vs Cumulative GPA – Weighted/Unweighted - Core • Term credits vs Cumulative credits (should be @ least 16) • Letter grade vs Pass/Fail • Failed, Incomplete, Repeated courses • GPA: Standard and Weighted • Class Rank • Requesting Official Transcript

5. Graduation Requirements for Class of 2013 Curriculum AreaCUSDIn-state Universities English 4 credits 4 credits Math 4 credits 4 credits Laboratory Science 3 credits 3 credits Social Studies 3 credits 2 credits Career and Technical Education / Fine Arts 1 credit 1 Fine Arts credit World Language 0 credit 2 credits (Two years of the same language) Physical Education 1 credit 0 credit Comprehensive Health .50 credit 0 credit Required Courses 16.5 credit 16 credits Elective Courses 5.5 credits 4 credits TOTAL REQUIRED CREDITS 22 CREDITS 20 Credits plus must pass all three sections of AIMS and turn in ECAP 4 year plan

6. Credit Recovery • Plan should be in place NOW • Saturday School • Correspondence • Chandler Online Academy (COA) • NCAA Athletes

7. Grade Replacement • Purpose – Comm College to university • In schedule – AP / Honors • Correspondence

8. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION • Required for many universities and scholarships • Process • Form available on-line • Proactive – timing is everything Common App, QuestBridge, Baird - Early • Letters will not be written over Intersession breaks and does not count as the two week notice • Teacher input • What makes student stand apart

9. Graduation Recognition • Graduating with Honors NHS • Graduating with High Honors GPA 3.5 (weighted) or better 6 or more Honors/AP classes – 1 senior year • Distinguished Scholar NHS GPA 3.8 (weighted) or better 6 or more Honors/AP classes – 1 senior year 24 credits

10. What is my role? Student’s Role:Parent’s Role: Plan Communicate Research Support Communicate Encourage Know your resources Be on time – watch deadlines Ask for help Counselor’s Role: Guide Support Encourage Letter of Recommendations Counselor Reports

11. ACP Tutoring

12. Post secondary options • Work • Apprenticeship • Community college • Trade and Tech schools • Military • University

13. Apprenticeship Opportunities • Semi-formal way of learning a skill or trade • Work, attend classes (and may get paid!) • Usually 3-5 years in length • Tests and personal interviews required • Examples: roofers, electricians, sheet metal workers, carpenters, etc. • For more information, see Ms. Speciale in Career Center

14. Community College/Technical Colleges/Certificate Programs • CC - wide range of occupational and /or educational programs • Gen Eds at CC then transfer • Certificate and AS/AA degrees • Many vocational programs

15. Trade & Technical Schools • Vary in size, entry requirements, cost and quality. • Research • Visit the school • Talk with students and employers

16. Military Bound • Explore career options available through each of the military branches • Military representatives scheduled in the cafeteria each month during lunch • Remember to involve your parents in the process

17. Factors in College Admissions Decision • More than 1,914 colleges and universities surveyed • NACAC Admissions Trend Survey

18. Colleges and Universities rate percentage of importance

19. COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS • SAT or ACT (Test scores may be sent to 4 colleges at no charge) • SAT Subject Tests (In-State Schools do not require Subject Test) • Community College Placement Test (Asset or Accuplacer) • Math Placement Tests will be given by the University

20. SAT Given 7 times per year Reading, Math, and Writing ¼ of a point deduction for wrong answer on multiple choice ACT Given 6 times per year English, Math, Reading, Science Reasoning, and optional Writing No penalty for wrong answer SAT vs ACT • Fee waivers available for SAT & ACT (see MsSpeciale for additional information)

21. COLLEGE ADMISSIONS • In-state University requirements: • ASU • Rank in the top 25% of your class OR • Have a 3.0 un-weighted gpa or better in the 16 core courses OR • Score a 22 on the ACT or 1040 on the SAT (math & verbal only) • Priority Deadline for ASU February 1st • ASU has separate application for the Barretts Honor College

22. NAU and U OF A For unconditional admission, an applicant must: • Rank in the top 25% of your class, and have no course work deficiencies in core courses _ All other students are “conditional” and are reviewed on a holistic approach which includes test scores, GPA, class rank (U of A also requires an essay) • No additional application for acceptance into the U of A or NAU Honors College Students should APPLY to our in-state universities by the October break!

23. PRIVATE AND OUT OF STATE COLLEGES • When to apply – Check each school’s website – these vary significantly! • Highly selective schools have earlier deadline (Early Action, Early Decision) • Common Application – 1 application serves 600 colleges HAVE AN IN-STATE BACKUP PLAN!!

24. WUE WUE (pronounced “woo-wee”) is the Western Undergraduate Exchange, a program of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Through WUE, students in western states may enroll in more than 140 two-year and four-year college institutions at a reduced tuition level: 150 percent of the institution's regular resident tuition. Several School in the following states participate: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

25. COMMUNITY COLLEGES Open Admissions Policy Apply in 2nd semester AT Maricopa Colleges www.my.maricopa.edu Or Central Arizona College www.centralaz/edu

26. Chandler Gilbert CC Aircraft Construction Technology Aircraft Maintenance Aviation Equine Science Golf Course Operations Media Arts: Dig. Imaging Early Childhood Programs Mesa CC Construction Drafting Para-Medicine Police Academy Preparation Nursing Firefighting Scottsdale CC Culinary Arts Radiography Yoga Teaching Certification Speech-Language Pathology Broadcasting Gateway CC Court Reporting Automotive Technology (Partnership w/ Nissan & Toyota) Hydrologic Studies Nursing Respiratory Therapist Medical Radiographer CC Career Opportunities Central Arizona College Dietetic Education Heavy Diesel Massage Therapy Welding John Deere Program These are only a few of the different programs & colleges available

27. COMMUNITY COLLEGE VSUNIVERSITY Need to know which classes or dual enrollment transfer? Visitwww.az.transfer.org

28. FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID • Apply AFTER January 1st senior year. Update annually • Check the boxes that you are “interested” in: student loans/parent loans or student work study • Financial Aid Night in January 16 • Get help completing the FAFSA on College Goal Sunday, typically the Saturday and Sunday following Super Bowl. Dates will be announced

29. SCHOLARSHIPS • Scholarship information available on the ACP Career Center web site. • Application not required for in-state merit scholarships (Transcripts & Test scores required) • Show me the Money (scholarship web sites) • College Website • Apply Early! • Most are Stackable (AIMS is not) • NCAA - http://www.ncaa.org/

30. A Few Things to Remember • Do not PAY anyone to help you with scholarships, FAFSA or college applications • Give the registrar 2 weeks notice to send out official transcripts! • Time Management is extremely important in the senior year. Students need to make time to research their post high school options and scholarships this fall!

31. Decision Making 101 • CUSD College Night will be on Sept 18 at Chandler Center for the Arts 6 pm-8 pm • Phoenix National College Fair Oct 13 (Phoenix Convention Center) 11 am – 3 pm • “Decision Making is a Process not an Event” • Visit the Campus, each one has a different personality and different characteristics • Keep applying for scholarships – lack of finances is a huge reason why students decide not to attend their preferred college • Apply now, get accepted, do financial aid, THEN decide where to attend

32. Important Dates • CUSD College fair – Sept. 18 • 1st semester ends December 19 • Financial Aide Night - Jan 16 • Senior Finals – May 22, 23 • Graduation - May 28 • Senior Timeline available in Counseling Center and on-line

33. Jostens Time to order Caps & Gowns Contact: Cindy Serrano • Phone: 480-756-0555 office number

34. Make your Senior Year Count • What is Senioritis?! • Attendance • Stay active and involved • Maintain a challenging course load • Talk to adults in the field you want to pursue • HAVE FUN!

35. Contact Information • Mr. Uyeshiro, Counselor uyeshiro.scott@cusd80.com • Mrs. Speciale, Career Center Specialist speciale.elizabeth@cusd80.com