Congratulations Class of 2017!

1. Congratulations Class of 2017! You’ve Come A Long Way Baby!

2. Staff Introductions • Cynthia Wood, School Counselor • Sana Ware, College Advisor • Bambi Dove, Scholarship Coordinator • Summerlyn Faircloth, Career Development & Special Populations Coordinator

3. When is Graduation? Friday, June 9th at 10:00 am Lakewood High Gymnasium

4. Early Graduation

5. Early Graduation • Students must have 24 credits at the end of their junior year and be able to complete remaining requirements for graduation during the first semester of their senior year. • Upon completing first semester, early graduates are no longer a high school student and may not participate in any second semester high school activities. (Examples include band, theater, athletics, dances with the exception of prom and graduation). • The beginning of second semester for most colleges begins before our first semester ends. • Sampson Community College offers Sampson County High School students the opportunity to register for college courses that may be taken while they are enrolled in high school at no cost. Students who graduate early and plan to continue classes at SCC must enroll before semester one ends.

6. NC Scholar Requirements NC Scholars must meet the Future –Ready Graduation Requirements Including 2 foreign language credits and a four course concentration Plus– at least 3 Honors/AP courses during junior and/or senior year And –students must have an UNWEIGHTED GPA of at least 3.5 or higher by the end of 2nd semester Students will be recognized at graduation as a NC Scholar and will receive a seal of recognition attached to their diploma.

7. Senior Meeting for Students Friday, October 21st @ 9:00 in the media center Seniors will receive information about cap & gowns, diplomas, senior dues, senior field trip, senior breakfast and senior T-shirts.

8. College Fair Friday, October 14th8:30-12:00 Bellamy Recreation Center in Clinton Juniors & Seniors get the opportunity to talk face-to-face with various colleges around the state.

9. Now What?It is Time to Make Some Very Important Decisions! What do you want to do for the rest of your life?

10. Start by Examining the Facts • About Yourself What are your likes and dislikes? What are your strengths and weakness? • About Your Career Choice Can you see yourself in this career for the next 30 years? Are you choosing the career for the right reason? Have you done your research on this career? Chose Wisely & Live With No Regrets!

11. Evaluate Options/Make Decisions • Make a list of pros and cons of all your options/choices. • Make decisions that are best for you and lead to your future success and happiness.

12. A Great Place to Start! CFNC.ORG College Foundation of North Carolina & Collegegreenlight.com

13. CFNC helps Students & Parents: Plan for College Explore Careers, Interest Inventories, Tour Colleges, Prepare for SAT/ACT, View College Entrance Requirements and Costs, Transfer Courses, Resumes &Practice for Interviews Apply for College Complete and submit applications online, Send transcripts, Info on Grants, Loans & Scholarships, Find information and forms for FAFSA Pay for College Check costs for colleges, learn about financial aid, how to save money for college, borrowing money, repayment

14. What are My Options? • Post Secondary Education (2 year or 4 year degree) • Military • Workforce • Apprenticeship and Internships • Self-employment and entrepreneurship

15. Military Option The Armed Forces consists of 4 major branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and there is also the Coast Guard, National Guard (state) and Army Reserve (federal). Why choose the Military? Great benefits and educational opportunities, occupational training, employment, opportunity to travel and serve our country

16. Military Enlistment Qualifications • Age: must be at least 17. Consent of parent or legal guardian required if 17. • Citizenship Status: Must be either (1) US citizen, or (2) an immigrant alien legally admitted to the US for permanent residence and possessing immigration and naturalization documents. • Physical Condition: There are minimum requirements in the area of weight, vision and overall health

17. Military Enlistment Qualifications • Education: High school graduation is desired by all services and is a requirement under most enlisted options • Aptitude: ASVAB required • Moral Character: Must meet standards designed to screen out persons likely to become disciplinary problems. Standards cover court convictions, juvenile delinquency, arrests, and drug use.

18. Selective Service Who Must Register? By law, virtually all men must register at age 18. In national emergency, requiring expansion of our Armed Forces, the list would be used to call men for service. If you do not register, you could be prosecuted and fined up to $250,000 and/or be put in jail for up to five years. Registration is also required to qualify for Federal student financial aid, job training benefits, and most Federal employment.

19. Scholarship Coordinator Bambi Dove bdove@Sampson.k12.nc.us Serving LHS each Thursday

20. Scholarship Website • www.Sampson.k12.nc.us • Student Services • Scholarship Coordinator

21. Scholarship Alerts • Join remind by texting @lhs17ss To the number 81010

22. Scholarship Search Websites • www.fastweb.com • www.cappex.com Never pay to apply for a scholarship!

23. September/October • Take the SAT or ACT • Lakewood is an SAT test site. Our next test date is December 3rd. Must sign up before November 22nd. (Test Date in March also) • Per the College Board, if a college says that the essay portion of the SAT is optional, take it! • Fee Waivers are available for the SAT & ACT for students who qualify. • Students who qualify for SAT or ACT waivers also qualify for 4 college application fee waivers. • Mrs. Ware, our college advisor will assist students with applying for the SAT and/or ACT and with waivers.

24. September/October O • Check your transcript for accuracy and correct credits • Check to make sure your courses meet college admission requirements • Schedule college visits/tours • Apply to at least four colleges • Apply for scholarships on our website (Bambi Dove) • Keep up your GPA and Course Rigor! • Clean up your email address & social media sites! (Colleges google students!)

25. September/October • New this year! FAFSA window opens October 1st (instead of January 1st) www.fafsa.gov • Plan to attend the Financial Aid Information Night at Sampson Community College on Monday, October 17th at 6:00 in the Activity Center. (Spanish Meeting @ 7:00) • Seniors and one parent can visit www.fafsa.ed.gov and click on the picture of the lock to create a FSA ID • October 29th– FAFSA Day - Get help completing your FAFSA. Visit CFNC.org for locations • Keep up with Awards for Senior Award Night • Talk to your parents and involve them in the process • Talk to your counselor and advisor

26. November/December • Continue the college application process • Mail ROTC and military academy applications • Keep applying for scholarships

27. January/February • SENIORS:Don’t get senioritis!!!! Colleges want to see strong second semester grades • Continue to applying for scholarships

28. Summerlyn Faircloth Career Development and Special Populations Coordinator

29. WorkKeys North Carolina Career Readiness Certificate (CRC)

30. Who? Senior Career & Technical Education (CTE) Concentrators

31. What is a CTE Concentrator? A student who has earned 4 technical credits in a career cluster or CTE pathway. At least one of which is at the completer or capstone (second) level (*courses) Example: • Agriscience Applications • Agricultural Mechanics I • Agricultural Mechanics II* • Microsoft Word, Power Point, Publisher

32. What is the WorkKeys Test? A job skills assessment to help measure and ensure “real world” skills that employers believe are critical to job success. 55 minutes per test Three tests will be given: • Reading for Information • Applied Mathematics • Locating Information

33. When & Where? WorkKeys testing begins at the end of November and ends in February

34. How? • All Online • Calculators Permitted (You can bring your own or check out one from Mrs. Strickland). • NO CELL PHONES • Breaks will be provided

35. What is earned? North Carolina Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) The CRC will be awarded during our Academic Awards Program for those earning a Gold Certificate

36. Levels of Certificates

37. General Info about WorkKeys All eligible students are required to test -Make-up test if absent -We are held to the 95% participation rule for the state accountability program. How long is the CRC good for? 5 years University Bound? Use this certificate on your resume to help get part time job What if I lose my certificate? An employer can go to the National website, put in your Student # and/or DOB to find you and your results

38. Community Colleges • SCC offers pre assessments and WorkKeys paper/pencil test • If a student does not like their score or needs a better score, they can visit SCC to work on that • It cost $30 to test and $10 for each additional test (Can take the test as many times as needed)

39. Bussinesses There are over 600 businesses in NC that accept (want) the CRC. Here are the ones in Sampson County • DuBose Strapping, Industries, Steel • Schindler • Smithfield • Temporary Connections • Precision Tool • Ambassador Staffing Contact the Employment Security Commission for list of businesses in Sampson County

40. Sana Ware College Advisor

41. Applying to College

42. Make Sure Applications Are Completed Correctly • Utilize CFNC and Collegegreenlight.com • Make a copy to use as a rough draft • Read essays to make sure that they are well written English teachers usually do not mind proofreading these if given enough time to do so • Make sure all achievements, activities, and awards are included • Keep a completed copy of each application for your records, and note the date it was mailed or submitted

43. Submit Applications on Time! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to attend the college of your dreams because you failed to submit your application on time!

44. Provide Information for Recommendations • Teachers, Administrators, Counselors and/or Advisors welcome written information and anecdotes with regards to your strengths, interests, talents, leadership skills, and educational plans • When requesting recommendations, you should: put the request in writingtwo weeks in advance. Forms are located outside the guidance office.

45. College Application Week November 14th – 18th LHS - Big Day! November 17th

46. Admission to College

47. Types of Admission Delayed/Provisional Admission ~ Students are accepted for admission but not necessarily for the fall semester of the upcoming school year. They may begin after the successful completion of a summer program on campus or a fall semester at another college. Deferred Admission ~ The practice of some colleges to allow an accepted student to postpone enrollment for one year.

48. Types of Admission (continued) Open Admissions ~ The policy of some colleges of admitting virtually all high school graduates, regardless of academic qualifications such as high school grades and admission test scores. Regular Admissions ~ Students are required to apply by a fixed date. Decision letters are mailed to students in the spring. Rolling Admission ~ A “first come, first served” process. A decision is made on the application as soon as the admissions folder is complete.

49. Types of Admission (continued) Early Action ~ Students follow an accelerated application process and apply early in the fall, usually by October or November 1 and will usually receive a decision of acceptance by mid December. If accepted, students do not have to inform the institution of their decision until May 1. Early Decision ~ Similar to Early Action. Students apply in the fall usually by November 1 and are notified by December of the decision. There are two types – binding and non-binding. In the binding agreement, the student signs a contract to enter that college and withdraw all other applications. Non-binding does not require the student to sign a contract binding them to that college.

50. Financial Aid Information Grants~ Repayment is not required. Grants are given for athletics, academics, special talent, need based, etc. Scholarships ~ Repayment is not required. They are awarded based on athletics, special talent, or academic excellence. Loans ~ Must be repaid. Generally you begin paying after you have completed or stopped your education. Student loans are available from federally sponsored or commercial institutions. College Work Study ~ This allows colleges to hire students for employment to pay their own way as they go to college. You do not repay money earned.