Countdown to Commencement

A School Counseling PresentationSeptember 4, 2014

What is YOUR Plan After What is YOUR Plan After Graduation???Graduation???

Agenda

WelcomeDr. Christine Handy-Collins, PrincipalMr. Todd Nutter, 12th Grade AdministratorMrs. Geri Sliffman, College and Career

CoordinatorMs. Bernadette White, Resource CounselorIntroduction of Senior Counselors

Objective

To provide students and parents with a pathway of understanding post-secondary options such as college admission, military

service or the world of work.

What time is it?

It’s time to get busy○ Start now to develop your plan of action○ Identify the resources you will need to get

started○ Review the admission test schedule○ Prioritize your to do list○ Seriously look at schools that your are

considering applying to○ Start working on your applications

Just a few reminders Provide an accurate email address that you check

often Your Common App email must match the email in

Naviance/Family Connection Update your counselor on your post secondary

plans Check your application/essay for errors!

○ Spel checque iz knot enuf○ Proofread

Sign and date all forms (even electronic signatures)

Express Your Voice, Not Someone Else’s

More Reminders…

Have you submitted all your required documents to the counseling office?

Written a transcript request for EVERY school you are planning to apply to?

College Institute transcripts – turn one into the counseling office

Transcript request for MC? Are your SSL hours complete?

College and Career Center

The College & Career Center is a resource for: Researching majors and colleges Career exploration Scholarships Other forms of Financial Aid

All students have an account with Family Connection Provides students with personality and interest

inventories Includes college and career matching Tracks college admissions and denials for past

Gaithersburg students Includes video clips for nearly 600 popular careers, many

available in Spanish

Visit Mrs. Geri Sliffman in the Career Center

Post-Secondary Options Four year Institutions Two year Community Colleges Vocational Schools or Apprenticeship

Programs Arts Institutions The World of Work Military “Gap” Year

AmeriCorps, Study Abroad, Outward Bound

What test should you What test should you take?take?

Ask yourself…How did you do on the PSAT last year?

SAT ACT

Have you prepared for taking these tests? Mrs. Sliffman Your Counselor

Are you considering community college? Accuplacer placement test for

most community colleges and level placement at a 4 year schools

Do you know the deadline? Chart or create a list of deadlines and Chart or create a list of deadlines and requirementsrequirements

Find a system that works for youFind a system that works for you

Transcript Requests Transcript Requests Allow at least 15 Allow at least 15 sschool days chool days

October 15 deadlineOctober 15 deadlineAll All paperwork in by September 26paperwork in by September 26

November 1 deadlineNovember 1 deadlineAllAll paperwork in by October 10 paperwork in by October 10

Apply by Early Action/Priority Deadlines if Apply by Early Action/Priority Deadlines if PossiblePossible

ScholarshipsScholarships Plan aheadPlan ahead YOUYOU must know the Scholarship must know the Scholarship RequirementsRequirements

Colleges/Universities with October 15 deadline

o Adelphi University 10/1o University of Georgiao University of South Carolinao Georgia Techo North Carolina State Universityo Soka Universityo Florida State University

College/Universities withNovember 1 deadline

American University Boston College Boston University Case Western Reserve Catholic University Cornell University Drexel University Georgetown George Washington Univ. Howard University McDaniel College Morehouse College University of Maryland – College Park UMBC

How Many Colleges Should I Apply To?

Apply to3-6

Colleges

Apply to3-6

Colleges

Identify Identify 10 10

CollegesColleges Target

Safe

Reach

Make arrangements to visit college Make arrangements to visit college campusescampuses..

So you are thinking about College

4 yr. schools – collegenavigator.gov Develop a list of potential schools

Review their requirements (i.e.: years of foreign language, # of lab sciences, etc.)What are their application deadlines?

Single choice/Restricted Early Action, Early Action, Early Decision, Priority, Regular Deadline (each school is different)

Application fees? (do you need financial assistance?)

Community College as an Option

2 yr. school – Montgomery CollegeLess expensive optionAll seniors should complete applicationCredits can transfer to other 4-yr schoolsPlacement testing2 yr. schools with on-campus housing-

check with College Career Center

What can you afford to Pay

What can my family afford? What is your family’s financial position? Have you discussed this with your student?

Be realistic – look at FAFSA 4caster – www.fafsa.ed.gov

What can I afford – http://collegecost.ed.gov/http://collegecost.ed.gov/shopping_sheet.pdf

Financial Aid Night – December, 2014

Military

Should take ASVABFall date – November 5, 2014 Spring date - April, 2015

Talk with a recruiter – but with an adult present

Military AcademiesWest PointNaval AcademyAir Force AcademyCoast Guard Academy

World Of Work Apprenticeships

Plumbing HVAC Automotive Electrical

Job Training Construction Hospitals Computer Montgomery Works Job Training Programs

Use Naviance Family Connection

(See or email your Counselor or the College and Career Coordinator if you need your password reset)

CollegesMy collegesColleges I’m thinking aboutColleges I’m applying toUpcoming college visits College researchCollege matchCollege compareCollege lookupCollege searchCollege resourcesCollege mapsScattergramsAcceptance history Scholarships and MoneyScholarship matchScholarship listScholarship applicationsNational scholarship search  

Click on Colleges I’m Applying to:

Scroll down to Teacher Recommendationsadd/cancel requests

Select the teacher(s) you have asked in person from the drop down menu.

Add a note if you wish – always a nice thing to do.

Remember to update requests.

To know which colleges are visiting GHS, click Upcoming college visits – click Sign up, then Sign me up. Print the confirmation page.

Search for Colleges in Search for Colleges in Naviance/Family ConnectionNaviance/Family Connection

School Type (2 or 4 year) Location Student Body - Enrollment Size Majors & Minors Athletics Cost + Financial Aid Special Programs (clubs,

newspaper, band, ROTC, etc.)

Colleges I’m Thinking About

Complete FERPA in Common App

“Yes, I do waive my right to access” Links to Common Application

Use same email address and birthday!

Upcoming College Visits Sign up on Naviance See Mrs. Geri Sliffman in the Career Center

Components College Application Application Form – Biographical Data

Common Application (www.commonapp.org) Application Fee – ranges from $0 - $75 Transcript – GPA & Courses Test Scores – SAT or ACT

www.fairtest.org – Test optional colleges Essay – Check prompts carefully Audition/Portfolio/Interview – specific to certain

colleges Letters of Recommendation – teacher and

counselor

How to Request a Recommendation

Ask Early in PERSON. Ask at a Convenient Time for the Teacher Use the “Request for Recommendation Letter”

Memo/Form with deadlines. Present the following materials to your Teacher

in an organized way:Request Teacher Recommendation in

Naviance/Family Connection after asking in PersonA copy of your resume or brag sheet

Teacher Recommendations

AFTER speaking to the teacher in person you must submit a REQUEST to the teacher in Naviance/Family Connection. Click on add/cancel requests:

Select the teacher’s name and write them a note.

The Transcript SecretaryMrs. Koenick

Permission to Release Records Form (1x) Transcript Request Forms (1 for each college)

Most requests for college applications are posted electronically

Scholarship transcriptsNeed transcript request

Complete w/parent signature

Permission to Release Student Records

Review form with students

See Website for procedures to request transcripts and counselor

recommendation

LET’S REVIEWLET’S REVIEWYour Application PacketYour Application Packet

Transcript(Transcript Request Form)

Letters of RecommendationSecondary School Report

YOU SUBMIT: GHS SENDS: SENDS:

GHS School Profile

Online Application

SAT/ACT Scores

Application Fee

Helpful Hints Be mindful of what you put on the

internet! We all have an internet footprint.

“Clean up” your FACE BOOK FACE BOOK and INSTAGRAMINSTAGRAM pages prior to applying to college or for jobs & scholarships.

Set up “appropriate” e-mail addresses to put on applications, etc.

On-the-Spot On-the-Spot AdmissionsAdmissions Hampton University @ Springbrook HS

Date/Time : TBA Admission: GPA 2.5, SAT 950/ ACT 20 3 letters of recommendation (1 from counselor

or teacher) Scholarship: SAT 1100/ ACT 24, 3 letters of

recommendation (1 from counselor or teacher)

Morehouse College @ Gaithersburg HS Males Only TBA Admission: GPA 2.8, SAT 1500  (3 sections) 

or ACT 22 Scholarship: GPA 3.20, SAT 1750 At least one letter of recommendation plus

leadership

Evening parent event: 10/28/14 @ GHS Hispanic College Fair: 10/29/14 Daytime Fair @ Bohrer Park Scholarship Conference & Fair Univ. @

Shady Groves: 11/15/14 from 9:00 am-2:15 pm

UNCF/MCPS HBCU College Fair @ Einstein HS: 2/18/15

College Goal Sunday @ MC – Takoma Park Campus: 2/22/15

Forthcoming Schools Trinity University TBA UMES TBA Morgan State University TBA

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Financial Aid Workshop

December TBA

7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

GHS Cafeteria

www.fafsa.gov www.fastweb.com www.wiredscholar.com

Scholarships link on the Career Center webpage

Too Much Information? Check out the bulletin board

outside the College & Career Center

GHS Counseling Staff

Mrs. Geri Sliffman College & Career CoordinatorMs. Lisa Koenick Transcript Secretary

Counselor Last Name Grade Level

Ms. Bernadette White A-Boswell 10-12

Mr. Dwayne Jackson Bouldry-Garcia-Martine 10-12

Mr. Walter Reid Garduno-Mbengang 10-12

Mrs. Carolyn West-Gipson

McAleer-Rosenthal 10-12

Ms. Paula Marple Rosero-Z 10-12

Mrs. Thania Rey ESOL 1-3 & METS 9-12

Mrs. Jessica Pollard 9th Grade Team 15 & 16 9

Mr. Dwayne Thomas 9th Grade Team 14 & 16 9

Questions?????Questions?????