Post on 13-May-2015
Class of 2012 Senior Meetings
September 19-20, 2011
West Potomac High School – Student Services
Standard Diploma Credit & SOL Requirements
• 4 English• 3 Math• 3 Science• 4 Social Studies• 2 Health/PE• 1 Fine/Practical Art• 5 Electives– 2 sequential electives
6 SOL Tests:• 2 English• 1 Math• 1 Science• 1 Social Studies• 1 Other
West Potomac High School – Student Services
Advanced Studies Diploma Credit & SOL Requirements
• 4 English• 4 Math• 4 Science• 4 Social Studies• 3 World Language (or 2/2)• 2 Health/PE• 1 Fine/Practical Art• 2 Electives
9 SOL Tests:• 2 English• 2 Math• 2 Science• 2 Social Studies• 1 Other
West Potomac High School – Student Services
Family Connection
• Log in through Blackboard• Make sure your e-mail address is current• Click on “About Me”• Complete “Game Plan”• Create “Resume”• Update your list of “Favorite Colleges”• Complete the “All About Me” survey
West Potomac High School – Student Services
College Visits in Family Connection
West Potomac High School – Student Services
Factors to Consider When Selecting Your College
• Academic Programs / Majors
• Size• Location• Setting• Type of School• Student Life
• Academic Reputation• Special Programs– Study abroad– ESOL– ROTC
• Cost• Financial Aid
West Potomac High School – Student Services
College Fair/Night
West Potomac High School – Student Services
APPLYING TO SCHOOLS
Community colleges or 2-year schools4-year colleges
Technical or trade schools
West Potomac High School – Student Services
Key Terms to Know
• Early Decision = binding, fall deadline• Early Action = non-binding, fall deadline• Regular Admission = winter deadline• Rolling Admission = no deadline• Open Admission = no admission criteria
• Deposit Deadline = must notify schools of your decision to enroll by May 1
West Potomac High School – Student Services
Completing the Application
• Use your full, legal name on the application and all supporting documents
• Answer all questions to the best of your ability• Read everything on the application before
completing it – Do not write “USA” when it asks for “county”
West Potomac High School – Student Services
Completing the Application
• Submit your essay and resume separately by mail, if the college permits
• Be careful to submit the correct essay to each college, especially if you are using the same essay for different schools
• Spell the name of the school correctly– Johns Hopkins ≠ John Hopkins – Marist College ≠ Marxist College
West Potomac High School – Student Services
Transcript Request Process• Complete the WPHS Release of Records and
Transcript Request form– Must be signed by parent/guardian if you are under
18– No records will be sent without this signed form
• Completed form should be turned in to your counselor with the fee at least three weeks before the deadline– First three transcripts are free– $5 per transcript
West Potomac High School – Student Services
Transcript Request Deadlines
West Potomac High School – Student Services
DEADLINE to turn completed request to
Counselor
Application Deadline for College/University
October 12, 2011November 1, 2011
National Early Application Deadline
October 25, 2011 November 15, 2011
November 9, 2011 December 1, 2011
November 23, 2011 December 15, 2011
December 1, 2011 January 1, 2012
December 14, 2011 January 15, 2012
January 11, 2012 February 1, 2012
Transcript Request Form
West Potomac High School – Student Services
1. I have applied to ____________________________________college, university, or scholarship Application Due Date
Early Decision Early Action Regular Rolling Address: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Please send the following to this institution: Transcript/Profile Note: WPHS does not send SAT or ACT scores Include current Senior grades Letter of Recommendation Secondary School Report (SSR) 7th semester grades will be mailed automatically in February Other
I have attached: $5.00 Fee Waived (2) First Class Stamps
Requesting Recommendations
• All forms available in Career Center and online at http://www.fcps.edu/WestPotomacHS/departments/ccctr/collegeinfo.html
• Complete the “All About Me” survey in Family Connection
• Politely ask teachers/counselor to write a letter of recommendation for you– Give at least three weeks notice
West Potomac High School – Student Services
SUBMIT ALL REQUESTS TO YOUR COUNSELOR IN A FACE-TO-FACE MEETING.
West Potomac High School – Student Services
Financial Aid
• Submit your FAFSA beginning January 1. This will give you the financial aid package from colleges.
• Financial Aid Champion, Dale Schmidt, will be in the Career Center during all lunches beginning in October
• Scholarships are posted on Family Connections and in the Career Center
West Potomac High School – Student Services
SAT & ACT• Submit your SAT or ACT scores directly to the
college– List colleges when registering for test
• WPHS does not send your scores
– Request SAT scores at www.collegeboard.com– Request ACT scores at www.actstudent.org
• If you are planning to attend NVCC or Pathways, you do not need to take the SAT or the ACT
West Potomac High School – Student Services
SAT & ACT Test Dates
SAT• October 1• November 5• December 3• January 28• March 10• May 5• June 2
ACT• October 22• December 10• February 11• April 14• June 9
West Potomac High School – Student Services
Admission Considerations
• Grade Point Average (GPA) – grades 9-11• Strength of schedule
– Choosing courses appropriate for the student’s abilities
• SAT or ACT scores• Essay or personal statement• Letters of recommendation• Resume or extracurricular activities
– Quality of involvement is more important than quantity
• Portfolio or other supplemental materials
West Potomac High School – Student Services
Keep your grades up!• Colleges DO rescind admission if your grades
go down during your senior year…Students received these letters
West Potomac High School – Student Services
COLLEGE ISN'T THE ONLY OPTION…
West Potomac High School – Student Services
Apprenticeships
• Do the “Career Interest Profiler” survey in Family Connection
• Paid on-the-job training• Related classroom instruction• Application required• Available in more than 400 fields, such as– Carpentry– Cosmetology– Plumbing– Heating ,Ventilation, Air Conditioning,& Refrigeration
West Potomac High School – Student Services
Entering the Workforce• Do the “Career Interest Profiler” survey in Family
Connection• Build a resume• Research occupations• Practice interviewing• Attend job fairs• Visit the Job Center at the South County Government
Building
West Potomac High School – Student Services
Military Service
• Take the ASVAB– Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery– Offered on October 11 and February 14 @ WPHS – Register in Career Center
• Talk to a recruiter• Earn money for college• Provides classroom and on-the-job training
West Potomac High School – Student Services
Where do we go from here?
• Individual Meetings– Review your transcript– Discuss graduation plan– Consider post-secondary options
• Research options now!• Apply for colleges or jobs
West Potomac High School – Student Services
West Potomac High School – Student Services