Senior Parent Night 2013-14

1. Senior Parent Night 2013-14

2. Meet the Counselors • Jakkia Hollingsworth, Dean of College Prep • jhollingsworth@uplifteducation.org • Scott Ivy, Academic Counselor A-L • sivy@uplifteducation.org • Langston Ross, Road to College Counselor • lross@uplifteducation.org • Sonya Barron, Inspire Counselor • sbarron@upliftEducation.org

3. Graduation Requirements • Math – 4 Credits • English – 4 Credits • Social Studies – 4 Credits • Gov’t/Econ – 1 Credit • Science – 4 Credits • Foreign Language – 3 Credits • Fine Arts – 2 Credits • PE – 1.5 Credits • Communications Applications/Health – 1 Credit • Technology – 1 Credit • TOK or Humanities – 1 Credit • Other Electives – 2.5 Credits TOTAL # of Credits = 29 + successful completion of the TAKS tests + 100 hours of community service ** IB Diploma Candidates will have additional requirements based on the program**

4. GPA • GPA Policy: • Grading System is as follows: • Calculation of weighted GPA: • To weight the GPA, the semester grade in each course is added to the course weight. • All weighted courses are totaled and divided by the total number of courses to get the weighted GPA. • Weightings are based on the following scale: • Advanced Placement/IB: 1.0 • Honors: 0.5 • All other courses: 0.0 • Calculation of unweighted GPA: • Unweighted GPA is the sum of the unweighted grade points on a 4.0 scale divided by the total number of semester courses. • Communication on transcript: • The student’s transcript will show both • Weighted GPA on a 5.0 scale • Unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale

5. Ranking • Rank will be calculated using all semester grades and will be based on weighted GPA • Rank is calculated at the end of the first semester of 9th grade. • The system will automatically begin to rank students as soon as they have acquired credit in the 9thgrade, and at the end of each semester. • Graduating seniors with the highest and second highest cumulative weighted GPA as determined at the end of the 8th semester grading period and carried out 3 decimal places will be eligible to serve as Valedictorian & Salutatorian

6. Communicating Rank • Internal Communication of Rank • Rank will be communicated to students and their families who are in the top 25% at the end of sophomore year, end of junior year, and at the end of every semester senior year. • For those below 25%, students and their families will be told what quartile they are in during the times listed above. • External Communication of Rank • We will eliminate the rank field on the transcript • Communication of ranks will only be shown on counselor reports in the form of a standardized letter/report, secondary school report, mid-year report, or final year report • For students in the top 25%, counselors will note student as Valedictorian, Salutatorian, ‘Top 10%’ or ‘Top 25%’ • For students not in the top 25%, counselors will note ‘not ranked by Uplift’ if asked to provide rank

7. Steps in the College Process • Take Entrance Exams • Gather Information • Narrow Your Choices • Get your application materials in order • APPLY FOR ADMISSION • Apply for Money • Accept Offer of Admission 

8. Take Entrance Exams • Fall 2013 Testing Dates • ACT: 9/21, 10/26, 12/14 • SAT: 10/5, 11/2, 12/7 • Know what tests your schools require – Are SAT subject tests (or SAT II’s) needed? • Pay attention to school and scholarship deadlines • Some schools, even after being accepted, will allow a better test score for scholarship purposes – research your schools!!

9. College Characteristics to Consider • Majors and Requirements • Faculty • Academic Rigor • Study Abroad and/or Other Special Programs • Housing • Athletics • Social Activities • Organizations • YOUR GUT FEELING! • School Size • Type of School • Urban, Suburban, Small Town, Rural • Distance from home • Cost / Scholarships/ Financial Aid • Student Population • Ethnic Diversity • Religious Affiliation • Campus Atmosphere

10. Additional College Search Resources • www.collegeboard.com • www.collegeprowler.com • www.cappex.com • www.youniversitytv.com • www.number2.com • www.unigo.com • www.mybigfuture.com • Naviance Family Connection: http://connection.naviance.com/tnhs

11. Narrow Your Choices • Reach (2)- Your 1st choice school!!! This is where you really want to be accepted and will likely attend if you are admitted, but selectivity could limit this possibility. • Target, 50/50 (4)- School you should get into and will be a nice 2nd option for you. • Likely (2)- School with which you are sure you will be admitted. If all else fails, this is where you will attend.

12. Personal Statement & Essays • Essays are important! • Be Authentic! • Answer the question / Write to the topic • Decide what is essential for the college to know about you and write about it. • This is your opportunity to explain. • If a school requests an essay, it is important. • What might the essay reveal about you? • Your thought process • What you’re passionate about • Your individuality and uniqueness • Your ability to use language effectively

13. Letters of Recommendation • Allow a minimum 2 weeks notice • You MUST complete the Student Survey for Recommendation Letters and turn it in to Mr. Ross. Please also indicate which teacher(s) will be writing your letters on the top of the form. • Counselor letters of recommendation • These letters will describe you holistically as a person. • Teacher letters of recommendation: • These letters will describe you as a learner in the classroom. Highly selective schools and some scholarships require two teacher recommendations. Ideally, one should come from a junior or senior core academic teacher of your choice, a teacher with whom you have developed rapport.

14. Requesting a Transcript • A transcript request form MUST be completed for each transcript requested and signed by the parent or student (if 18 or older) and submitted to the Registrar’s Office. • Please allow 5 business days for requests to be processed • Cost: $5 for the first transcript requested, additional transcripts will not incur a fee. • If you would like the transcript sent certified mail, there is an additional $5 per transcript fee.

15. Apply for Admission • Non-Binding • Early Action • If you apply for Early Action, you are declaring to the university that you have submitted all of your information and forms by the required ‘early’ deadline and that you are seriously considering attending the school. You may apply to more than one school through ‘Early Action,’ and the decision is non-binding. • Auburn, TCU, SMU, Emory University, Baylor, Drexel, University of Rochester • Rolling • Usually from September on, you can submit your application and approximately 3 to 6 weeks later the school will send you an admission decision letter. This type of school starts out its admission season with all of this places in the freshman class open. As the schools hands out more and more acceptances as the year proceeds, fewer places are left available and, at some point, all places are filled. It is, therefore, recommended to apply to rolling admissions schools EARLY! • UNT, TWU, Texas Tech, Concordia University, U of Tulsa • Regular Decision • Regular Decision can be anywhere from Jan 1 to March 15th. The key is there is a deadline date. You must have your application postmarked no later than the deadline date. All of you information including recommendation letters, transcripts, and test scores need to be in the schools’ offices by the deadline date. • Texas A&M, UT – Austin, NYU, Columbia University

16. Apply for Admission • Non-Binding cont.: • Early Action Single Choice • These programs do not allow candidates to apply to other schools during the early-action period only. However, once they receive EA (Early Action) decisions (mid-December), then applicants are free to apply elsewhere, if they so choose. They are not obligated to accept the admissions offer. • Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Georgetown, Baylor • Binding: • Early Decision • Under Early Decision, students are permitted to apply Early Decision to only one college or university. If they are accepted, students are legally bound to attend that school. Typically, Early Decision applications are due November 1. • Rice University, Duke University, Brown University, Upenn, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

17. Apply for Admission

18. Apply for Money • Institutional • These are funds available from the school that you will be attending. Some will have separate applications for this money. • CSS Profile- http://css-profile.com • Private • Many private organizations offer assistance, research this information online on websites such as www.fastweb.com • State • http://www.window.state.tx.us/education/ • Federal • www.fafsa.ed.gov • Fill out the FAFSA on or after January 1st of the student’s senior year for work study, Pell grants, Stafford loans, etc.

19. Tips for Applying for Scholarships • Search for scholarships a couple of hours a week • Apply, apply, apply – The more you apply for the better your chances of receiving one. • Plan ahead – it takes time to get transcripts and letters of recommendation. • Be organized – Keep your resume up to date and meet deadlines • Follow directions – Correctly fill out the forms! • Proofreadyour applications and essays

20. Inspire/HERO Program • The mission of the HERO program is to partner Uplift Education students with a HERO mentor who will: • communicate the benefits of higher education • provide a support system that assists the student to plan and prepare for successful entry into the college or university of his/her choice. Uplift College Fair, Thursday, September 12th • Our College Counselor, Langston Ross, is the North Hills contact for information about the INSPIRE/HERO program • lross@uplifteducation.org

21. Information from the Counselors • Academic Counseling • www.northhillsprep.org Student Resources Counselors Corner Time Trade • Online scheduling for appointments. Click Here