RED RAIDERS

1. MADISON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL RED RAIDERS Whatever it Takes To Graduate Independent, Productive Citizens Things to Know... Important Web Sites, High School Planning, & HOPE Scholarship and Grant Information

2. Recommended Websites & Programs to Assist with Career & College Planning Georgia College 411 Georgia Career Information System Career Cruising

3. Ga College 411 www.gacollege411.org

4. Ga College 411 www.gacollege411.org Georgia College 411 is a one-stop shop where students can: • Discover career interests • Plan your high school courses • Find out about & follow a college planning timeline • Explore Georgia and nationwide colleges • Learn about ways to pay for college • Prepare for the SAT & ACT • Apply online to participating colleges • Set up an online portfolio to keep track of everything! Click on the hyperlink and explore Ga College 411 now— www.gacollege411.org

5. Georgia Career Information Center www.gcic.edu username: madisonchs password: gcis1460

6. GCIC www.gcic.edu username: madisonchs password: gcis1460 Georgia Career Information System is a comprehensive program with tools to assist students with career exploration and college planning, including: • Occupation, skills, & interest surveys • Information about military careers • Career profiles, industry and labor market information • Information about Georgia & nationwide schools and programs of study • Financial aid information including a scholarship search engine • Online portfolio where you can save all your information Click on the hyperlink and explore some of the features of GCIC now— www.gcic.edu

7. Career Cruising www.careercruising.com username: red password: raiders Username: red Password: raiders

8. Career Cruising www.careercruising.com username: red password: raiders Career Cruising is a user-friendly program much like GCIS and Georgia College 411. Career Cruising offers the following tools: • Career Matchmaker (find careers that match your interests) • Career Exploration (including military information) • College Information (by name, location, program of study, & customizable criteria) • Searchable scholarship database • Online portfolio where you can save the results of inventories & colleges of interest, and create a professional looking resume. Click on the hyperlink and explore Career Cruising now— www.careercruising.com

9. Recommended Websites & Programs to Assist with EOCT & GHSGT Prep USA Test Prep Georgia Department of Education

10. USA Test Prep www.usatestprep.com USA Test Prep provides online test preparation for Georgia High School Graduation Tests and End-of-Course Tests. Students are strongly encouraged to use this resource . School ID: madison Activation Code: newont94 New users must create a personal account before you’ll be able to access the site’s content.

11. Georgia Department of Education www.doe.k12.ga.us/ci_testing.aspx The Georgia Department of Education provides downloadable preparation information for the Georgia High School Graduation Tests & each End-of-Course Test (including previously released EOCTs) GHSGT EOCT Click here to view a sample GHSGT student guide: English Language Arts Click to view a sample 1) BIO EOCT student guide and 2) Previously released Bio EOCT

12. Planning for High School & Beyond Planning for the future is important for everyone. The next slides will tell you what you can do this year to make sure you’re on track in high school & to help you prepare for the future.

13. Planning for High School & Beyond9th Grade Year • Take rigorous classes and maintain good grades—you’re laying the foundation for your high school transcript and GPA now. • Complete a 4 Year Plan of Study—you’ll do this through advisement next week. • Familiarize yourself with high school graduation requirements—this information is listed in your student handbook and is available online at the Guidance website. • Begin looking at college admissions requirements. • Begin exploring your career interests and aptitudes using GCIS, Career Cruising, and GaCollege411.

14. Planning for High School & Beyond10th Grade Year • Make sure you’re on track with units (you should have at least 6 at this point). If you’re behind, please talk to Mr. Spellman about credit recovery options. • Take rigorous classes and maintain good grades. • Explore your career interests and aptitudes using GCIS, Career Cruising, and GaCollege411. • Take the PSAT on October 12th—registration information TBA. This test is free of charge to 10th grade students this year!!!

15. Planning for High School & Beyond11th Grade Year • Make sure you’re on track with units (you should have at least 12 at this point). If you’re behind, please talk to Mr. Spellman about credit recovery options. • Prepare for the Georgia High School Writing Test on September 27th—you will be writing a persuasive essay. Talk to your English teachers to help you better understand what this is. • Excel in your classes and maintain good grades. • Take the SAT and/or ACT this year and plan to take it again during your senior year.

16. Planning for High School & Beyond11th Grade Year • Visit your counselor regularly to talk about careers and college. Continue using GCIS, Career Cruising, & GaCollege411. • Begin planning college campus visits, talk to college representatives, and attend college fairs. The PROBE Fair will be held on September 20th from 6-8pm at the Classic Center in Athens and is open to the public. • If you’re interested the military, begin the process for military appointments. Also plan to take the ASVAB on November 15. Registration will be available in the Guidance Office. • Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse (end of junior year) if you’re interested in athletic participation in college.

17. Planning for High School & Beyond12th Grade Year • Make sure you’re on track with units (you should have at least 20 at this point). If you’re behind, please talk to Mr. Spellman about credit recovery options. • Speak with military representatives if you’re interested in the military and plan to take the ASVAB on November 15th (register in the Guidance Office). • Retake the SAT and/or ACT to improve test scores. Fee waivers are available for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. See your counselor for info. • Sign up for the free SAT Prep Classes—registration is available now for the October test and will be available later for the November test. Note—the November test is the last test date this year to be considered for STAR Student!

18. Planning for High School & Beyond12th Grade Year • Talk with representatives from post-secondary schools and research/obtain scholarship information. • Attend the PROBE College Fair. The PROBE Fair will be held on September 20th from 6-8pm at the Classic Center in Athens. • Attend the Georgia Student Finance Commission Fall Parent Information Session at MCHS on November 17th at 6pm • Participate in “Apply to College Week” the week of November 14th—be on the lookout for more information as the date gets closer. • Visit college campuses and submit application materials to at least 2 colleges (by Thanksgiving).

19. Planning for High School & Beyond12th Grade Year • Prospective Division I or II athletes must request final transcripts be sent to the NCAA Clearinghouse. • Complete the FAFSA—available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov after January 1st of your senior year. • Attend the Financial Aid Parent Night in February • Apply for local scholarships in the spring—announced through announcement sheet. Notify the Guidance Office of awards to be recognized at Honors Night. • Finalize post-secondary choices and request that final transcripts be sent to your final choice.

20. Whatever It Takes to Graduate! • Important Reminder Students must meet all assessment requirements (Georgia High School Graduation Test and/or EOCT) and meet unit requirements in order to participate in the Graduation Ceremony.

21. What you need to know about HOPE Scholarship & Grant Programs

22. HOPE Scholarship Changes With the passage of House Bill 326 last spring, there are a number of changes to the Hope Scholarship Program that will affect you. It is important that you understand these changes so you’ll be able to plan ahead, work hard to achieve the new standards, and be financially ready for how this may impact you in the future. First of all, the HOPE Scholarship is for students who are seeking a college degree (a 2 or 4 year degree program)

23. HOPE Scholarship Changes HOPE Scholarship is available for students who have a 3.0 Academic GPA. Remember, HOPE GPA is computed by Georgia Student Finance Commission, not MCHS. HOWEVER, the HOPE Scholarship Award no longer covers 100% of tuition. It will be adjusted annually based on lottery revenue, not tuition rates. For students who graduated in the class of 2011, this means that HOPE is covering 90% of public school tuition. This amount will change every year based on lottery revenue.

24. HOPE Scholarship Changes HOPE no longer covers the cost of mandatory fees and there is no more book allowance. For students attending private colleges/universities, the HOPE Scholarship will pay $3,600 as compared to $4,000 previously. Students must maintain 3.0 to for continued eligibility. If a student loses HOPE in college, they will have only one chance to regain it. Students previously had unlimited chances to regain HOPE eligibility. HOPE no longer covers the costs of remedial classes.

25. The Zell Miller Scholarship Program The Zell Miller Scholarship Program covers full standard-rate tuition at a public college or university. At a private college or university, the Zell Miller Scholarship award is $4,000 per academic year for students enrolled full-time.

26. The Zell Miller Scholarship Program • To qualify, students must: • Earn an Academic GPA of 3.7 or higher AND • Receive a score of at least 1200 on the combined Critical Reading and Math scores (writing is not included in this calculation) in one sitting on the SAT OR receive a score of at least 26 composite on the ACT. • Valedictorian & Salutatorian also automatically qualify for this award (if students tie for 1st or 2nd, only one Valedictorian and one Salutatorian may receive this award) • Note—SAT and ACT scores must be taken before the end of the school year in order to be considered for Zell Miller. Summer test scores will not be considered.

27. The Zell Miller Scholarship Program The Zell Miller Scholarship will not cover the costs of mandatory fees and will not include a book allowance. Students must maintain a 3.3 in college to keep the award.

28. HOPE Grant Changes The HOPE Grant is available for students enrolled in technical certificate of credit or diploma programs at technical colleges. The HOPE changes require that recipients of the HOPE Grant earn a 3.0 GPA by the first HOPE check point once enrolled in technical college courses. AND students that already possess a postsecondary degree are now ineligible to receive the HOPE Grant.

29. For More Info About HOPE For more information about changes to the HOPE Scholarship & Grant Program, please visit www.gacollege411.org

30. “Whatever It Takes” • These resources have been assembled to help you stay connected with information so you can be successful in high school and plan for your future. • Use this information to help you research careers & colleges, stay on track to graduate, master state mandated testing, and prepare to be HOPE eligible. • Remember to do “Whatever It Takes” to stay connected, be successful, and graduate!