Eyes on the Prize: Transitioning to High SchoolRevised 9/2013

Agenda

Who I Am

Take out a sheet of paper and do a little self-reflection on who you were as a middle school student. Come up with three academic and three personal qualities.

Example: Liked social studies, not always getting my homework in on time, hated math.

Was shy, hanging out with friends from band, tried to be nice to everyone and didn’t gossip a lot.

Who I Want to Be

On that same sheet of paper, think about who you want to be in high school. Come up with three academic and three personal qualities.

Example: I want to push myself. To me, this means getting better grades and having a college plan. I’d like to stay involved in band, and I’d like to run for student government.

Who I Want to Be

Group discussion What changes do you want to make in your life now that

you’re a freshman? What does it take to become a successful high school

student? What goals do you think you need to set in order to

become a successful high school student?

Agenda

Preparing for College: HS Graduation Requirements

Earn high school credit 2.0 GPA Pass state tests or

approved alternatives to those tests

Complete a Culminating Project

Complete a High School and Beyond Plan

SubjectMinimum state

graduation requirements

Minimum requirements for public, four-year colleges and universities**

Recommended courses for highly selective colleges and universities

Recommended courses for two-

year colleges

English 4 credits 4 years 4 years 4 years*****

Math 3 credits 3 years*** 3-4 years*** 3 years*****

Science (one must be a lab)

2 credits 2 years 3-4 years N/A

Social Studies(including U.S. and Washington state history)

3 credits 3 years 3-4 years N/A

World language(same language)

0 credits 2 years 3-4 years 2-3 years****

Visual or performing arts

1 credit 1 year 2-3 years

Health and fitness

2 credits * Your school's requirements may be higher than the state minimums.

** Students must have a minimum 2.00 grade point average

*** Must be Algebra II or higher. One credit of math must be earned during the senior year.

****Recommended for transfer students

*****To properly prepare for the Compass or Accuplacer placement test

Occupational education

1 credit

Electives 4 credits

Total 20 credits *

Preparing for College: College Entrance Requirements

Preparing for College: College Credit NOW!

Advanced placement (AP) courses

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Tech Prep Running Start

Preparing for College: Personal Factors

Agenda

Roadmap to College

What are you good at? What are you interested

in? How does this connect

with college? How can an adult

mentor help you get to college?

Roadmap to College: Advice from Seniors

“Stay in class. Go to every class.”

“Throughout high school I really challenged myself with taking the hardest classes. When I wanted to go to a [certain] college, I wanted to have what it takes to get there.”

“AP classes will probably help you with college.”

“When you come to school every day, you come to learn new stuff.”

Roadmap to College

Freshman Year Academic

Classes: English 9, World History, PE, Spanish 1, Biology, Algebra II

Ask Mr. Jamison to be my college mentor

Try to get above a 3.5 GPA Personal

Join after-school literary magazine club

Begin volunteering at Orion House for my community service requirement

Sophomore Year Academic

Classes: English 10, Honors European History, Spanish 2 Honors, Geometry, Photography, PE

Try to get above a 3.5 GPA Take PSAT or PLAN in fall

Personal Join editorial staff of literary

magazine Continue volunteering at Orion

House Start after-school job at nursing

home

Roadmap to College

Junior Year Academic

Classes: AP English Literature, Physics, Precalculus, Spanish 3 Honors, AP US History, Photography 2

Try to get above a 3.5 GPA Take AP English Literature and AP US

History exams Take ACT or SAT in spring

Personal Editor-in-chief of literary magazine Continue volunteering at Orion House Continue after-school job Attend college fair in spring Make big list of colleges to consider

applying to Begin volunteering at Orion House for

my community service requirement

Senior Year Academic

Classes: AP English Composition, Chemistry, Calculus, Spanish 4 Honors, AP Government and Politics, Photography 3

Keep my high GPA Take ACT or SAT in fall Apply to 3-5 colleges

Personal Editor-in-chief of literary magazine Continue volunteering at Orion

House Continue after-school job Apply for scholarships File the FAFSA Decide where to go!

Roadmap to College: What Parents Can Do

Encourage your child to think and plan ahead. Plan out the next four years – in terms of the courses your child will take, activities s/he wants to participate in, and when s/he will take standardized tests.

Be a “homework coach.” Reinforce that practice makes perfect.

Help kids practice communicating with their teachers. Set rules and guidelines for “homework time.” Talk to your kids about their college plans. Guide your child in finding an adult mentor. This could be

a teacher, family friend, religious leader, or coach. Find an after-school or summer program for your child.

Final Message

High school is a clean slate. You have the opportunity to improve yourself in both academic and personal ways.

There are a lot of things you’ll have to do to get to college. Keep your eyes on the prize. Start setting goals and getting ready!

You can do it!

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