POST HIGH SCHOOL PLANNING

1. POST HIGH SCHOOLPLANNING CLASS OF 2012

2. Have you been asked these questions? “Johnny, what are your plans after high school?” “Susie, what college are you planning to attend?” “Billy – WAKE UP BILLY! – What are your plans for the future?”

3. What they really mean is… What do want to do with your life? Yea! What do you do you want to do with your life?!

4. 2012 GRADUATING CLASS • TOTAL STUDENTS - 749 • TOP 5% - 4.60 GPA • TOP 15% - 4.21 GPA • Top 25% - 3.89 GPA Planning to go out of state? What’s your backup plan forinstate?

5. YOU MAY BE THINKING… CAREER 2 – YEAR DEGREE 4 – YEAR DEGREE JOB COLLEGE TECHNICAL/TRADE SCHOOL

6. Apply/Get accepted/Financial aid/Then Decide Don’t do this! It’s not that scary – it’s a simple application!

7. Apprenticeships (auto, construction heavy equipment, plumber) • Certificates (massage therapy, nail tech, etc.) • 2 year degree – Associate’s (Nursing) • 4 year degree – Bachelor’s (University level only) • Post-Bac (2nd bachelor’s degree after grad) • Master’s degree – beyond bachelor’s • Graduate degree – master’s, doctorate, law school, medical school.

8. DEADLINES • **NEW** ASU Barrett Honors College Priority Deadline is Nov. 15th! • Community College - Apply Spring 2012 unless doing dual enrollment – then you will have already applied! • Apply to MOST colleges by November 1st – don’t put this off to the last minute! • FAFSA (financial aid) deadline date is typically around March 1st.

9. Interested in becoming an N.C.A.A. COLLEGE ATHLETE? You must do the following: - Follow the rules and guidelines in the “NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete.” -You will register online with the NCAA Clearinghouse EARLY FALL OF YOUR SENIOR YEAR. See Mr. Maluski (C125) if you have questions! YOU MUST REGISTER ON-LINE AT: www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

10. HHS COLLEGE VISITATION Hamilton High School Career Center has over 30 colleges visiting them each fall. Sign up online at Hamiltonhuskies.com – at the Career Center website OR see Mrs. Lytle. Remember! Many times the representative at the college visits is the same person reading your applications! You want to make a good impression on that person. Our in-state colleges will visit monthly. Plan on visiting with them at least once to make sure you have everything done that needs to be done!

11. Top Factors in State Universities Admissions • Student transcript – GPA, grades, strength of schedule, class rank • Test Scores – ACT or SAT • Personal Statement (if required)

12. Teacher/Counselor Recommendations • Use the college form if a teacher recommendation is required – give forms to teacher so they can have additional information about you to include in their letters. • If applying via the Common Application, give the teacher a copy of the recommendation form, a list of the schools (with deadlines) and an envelope addressed to each school. • Student should call the school to confirm the letter was received. • For Counselor recommendations, see your counselor at least two weeks ahead of time. You need a personal meeting!

13. WRITING A PERSONAL STATEMENT **A personal statement is your opportunity to address the admissions committee directly. A personal statement should let the committee learn more about you as an individual, in a way that statistics cannot. HERE ARE SOME TIPS: *Use an easy-to-read font *Length = 1 – 2 pages max! *Edit your work! GrAmMeR & speeling (00ps! spelling) are important!

14. NEED MONEY$$$$??? What constitutes low income? Harvard $45,000 U of A $42,400 ASU $42,500 Also please note: YOU ARE CONSIDERED A FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT IF NEITHER ONE OF YOUR PARENTS RECEIVED A BACHELOR’S DEGREE

15. Fee Waivers • If you are on the free or reduced lunch program, you are eligible for a fee waiver to apply to our Arizona Universities. • You are also eligible to receive 2 fee waivers to take the ACT and SAT. See Mrs. Lytle for details.

16. FINANCIAL AID NIGHT Beginning of January Chandler Center for the ARTS Topics to be discussed include: -cost of attendance for college -factors determining financial need -grants and loans SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!

17. SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION Where do you find the information? ** Career Center ** Hamiltonhuskies.com Websites available ** scholarships.com ** fastweb.com ** salliemae.com/scholarships

18. Here’s the scoop … CAREER ADVISING Have you taken the Career Inventory on Kuder? Visit your website again and take the Inventory now – see if the results are different than your previous years in high school! It takes some people a lot longer to decide on their careers than it does others. Find out what your strengths are, read about careers relating to these strengths, and take introductory classes in high school and college!

19. WHAT OTHER OPTIONS DO I HAVE BESIDES COLLEGE? SEE MRS. LYTLE FOR MORE INFORMATION! *Trade School *www.technical-vocational-trade-schools.com *Apprenticeship *www.cisco.org *Job www.bls.gov/ocol – Occupational Outlook Handbook

20. TO DO LIST! Sign up for ACT or SAT if you have not taken them yet! Apply to college! – fee waivers available for in state schools if you are on a free or reduced lunch program. Send transcripts from HHS – fill out the form and turn it in to Mrs. Mead. She will NOT give official transcripts to parents – these must be sent from the school or they are not considered official. Start looking for and applying to scholarships. If your scholarship application requires an official transcript, please see me. Sign up for College Visits – How? On Hamiltonhuskies.com Be careful of scams! Change email if inappropriate. Myspace, Facebook, bad credit, YouTube – future jobs may be affected. 85% of employers look! Turn in Vision College Bound community service hours no later than April 1st!

21. MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES WHO: MARINES AIR FORCE NAVY ARMY WHEN: See Mrs. Lytle for the weekly calendar! WHERE: During lunch, in the foyer

22. Good luck and work hard your senior year! Please visit Mrs. Lytle or your counselor if you need help! GO HUSKIES!