MAY 24, 2015 ~

THEN WHAT?

Helping the Class of 2015

Plan for Life After High School

TODAY YOU WILL: Learn important steps to take when

planning for life after high school (refer to your orange handout)

Understand the many ways in which guidance department staff members can support you as you transition away from SHS

GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT STAFFCounselors Paula Wilson A B C E F G Melissa Good-Mitzel H I J L M N Kim Elder O-V Katie Baskerville D K W X Y Z

Others Kathryn Sosa – Gifted Education Coordinator Bob Burke - Lifeways Advisor Marcia Geyer – Registrar Jenni Dragoo – Records Secretary Brenda Sinclair - Secretary

AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH & SENIOR QUESTIONNAIRE Counselors are often asked to provide

information about you to colleges and scholarship committees.

Please complete the Autobiographical Sketch and the Senior Questionnaire. Turn it in to your English teacher (if given as an assignment) or your counselor.

Be thorough; the Sketch helps us help you.

Keep a copy for yourself; you may need to give it to others from whom you request a letter of recommendation.

TRANSCRIPTSReview your transcript. You will be asked to submit your transcript

when you pursue: College admission and scholarships Military enlistment Employment

Most of you will apply for college before winter break; what you see on your transcript today is what will be sent with your application.

TRANSCRIPTS 2 A transcript is a record of all your high

school classes with FINAL grades and credits earned.

GPA and class rank are at the bottom of

page 2.

Write your GPA and class rank on your Senior Questionnaire.

If you have questions about your transcript, see Jenni Dragoo, Records Secretary.

TEST OUTS ON TRANSCRIPTSTwo options for recording test out on your

transcript: Leave it as PAS or TST, which indicates a

test out, or request that the letter grade (A or B) be

listed instead. The letter grade will not impact the GPA.

Decide by the end of semester 1 how you want it recorded.

Be aware: Some scholarships require letter grades.

GRADE REPLACEMENTS If you have re-taken a class for a better

grade, you must complete a Grade Replacement Form to have the lower grade removed from your GPA.

Some restrictions apply.

See Brenda in guidance for the form or your counselor with any questions.

CREDIT CHECKS Review your credit check. Required

classes are on the left; electives on the right.

You are responsible for meeting graduation requirements.

High school graduation requirements may differ from college admission requirements.

If you are waiving a math or science class, your parents must sign the waiver(s) before you can graduate. See your counselor for the form(s).

CREDIT CHECKS 2 If you are taking an off-campus or online

class, please let your counselor know. These classes have early May deadlines.

If you are planning to graduate at the end of semester one, tell Jenni Dragoo, Records Secretary, as soon as possible.

If you have questions about your credit check, make an appointment to see your counselor.

PERSONAL LEARNING PLAN To graduate from a South Dakota high

school, all students must have completed a Personal Learning Plan (PLP) in their SDMyLife portfolio.

A completed PLP shows a minimum of 22 credits & includes all required courses.

Students have worked on their PLPs at school in grades 8 – 11. Please log in to update it and verify its completion.

See Marcia Geyer, registrar, in the guidance office for usernames and passwords.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE?

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO GET THERE?

I DON’T KNOW!Possibilities: *Continue your education to pursue a

profession/career (you don’t have to know exactly what profession just yet)

Join the military Sign up for volunteer work (Americorps,

Peace Corps, church mission, etc), which often provides travel opportunities

Work (because you love it or because your goals aren’t yet clear)

*Most of our presentation will focus on this, but come see us for more info about the other options

START FIGURING IT OUT Military? Talk to a recruiter. They visit

SHS frequently. Volunteer? Research programs. Ask

your counselor for help. Work or on the job training? Search

for satisfying employment. There is a Job Board in the guidance office.

College? We are discussing this next.

TOOLS TO HELP Looking for direction? The options below

can help you clarify your own interests, priorities, and career possibilities.

www.sdmylife.com ASVAB – offered on campus October 8,

2014 and March 25, 2015 during early release.

www.studentedge.com

#1 on orange handout

ACADEMICS Challenge yourself now Do the best you can all year long; finish

high school strong/no regrets Consider opportunities outside of Stevens

(dual enrollment) Prepare for and take college entrance

exams: *ACT and/or **SAT (4 year schools), or the

ACCUPLACER (2 year schools)*The ACT has a writing component not all colleges require;

check the admissions requirements of your college(s)

**The SAT has subject tests your college may require you to take

#2 on orange handout

CONSIDER HIGHER EDUCATION college degree/major military experience & training/education on-the-job training

#3 on orange handout

GOALS PERSONAL – Where do you want to live? Community size? School campus size? What do you do for fun? What sacrifices are you willing to make? Does the school offer the degree I want or meet

my career path? FINANCIAL – How much are you willing to spend/invest? What assistance is available? How much should you/can you earn to support the

lifestyle you want?

#3 on orange handout

CHOOSING A COLLEGE

Know YOUR goals Make a list of colleges Research and gather information--Google,

attend college rep visits at SHS, make phone calls, talk to your parents and your counselor

Narrow your list Tour the campuses, when possible

Apply!

#4 on orange handout

APPLYING FOR COLLEGE ADMISSION Consult each college’s website to find out

what is required with your application; most applications are now online.

CHECK DEADLINES for early decision, early admission, regular admission and scholarships.

Write admission essay(s), if needed.

Ask for *letters of recommendation, if requested.

#6 on orange handout

*LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONo Use manners when on social media sites; what

you put out there could impact a person’s willingness to write you a letter. Many employers, colleges, & scholarship boards ask for access to Facebook pages.

o Be kind-request letters two weeks in advance.

o Be clear – who is the letter to and when will you pick it up?

o Provide your autobiographical sketch. o You can request additional copies of letters

written on your behalf. o Offer thanks to anyone who writes you a letter.

APPLYING FOR ADMISSION, 2 Be prepared to pay your application fee(s)

via bank card or check.

Assemble all required application materials. Bring them to SHS with your…

…completed Transcript Release Form. This form allows SHS to send required documents to your prospective colleges. Allow 4-5 school days for us to complete transcript requests.

#6 on orange handout

APPLYING FOR ADMISSION, 3IMPORTANT NOTES: December 1 and January 1 deadlines often

fall close to holidays. Plan ahead so deadlines don’t catch you off guard.

The SHS guidance office is closed during school year breaks.

Your counselor or Mrs. Sosa can help you with any part of this process. Please ask!

#6 on orange handout

PAYING FOR COLLEGE FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Apply in Jan-Feb of your senior year. National websites – www.fastweb.com,

www.schoolsoup.com, www.studentaid.ed.gov Stevens Scholarship Listserv Freshman scholarships from colleges - based on

majors, activities, need, academics, etc. Work – your employer, your parents’ employers Private loans Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)/reciprocity

with Minnesota schools Military SD Opportunity Scholarship Dakota Corps Scholarship #5 on orange handout

DECIDE FAFSA award letters are sent to colleges

in the spring; therefore, you may not make your final college choice until you see the financial packages offered by the schools to which you applied

Consider ALL your goals (educational, personal, financial) when making your final decision

Notify the college you plan to attend

#7 on orange handout

NCAA/NAIA –PROSPECTIVE COLLEGE ATHLETES Athletes who wish to compete at the

college level must register online with NAIA or NCAA.

Be aware of your academic eligibility requirements to be a college athlete (both GPA and curriculum).

Technical Writing & Informal Geometry don’t toward eligibility.

Links to NAIA and NCAA can be found at www.raiderscorner.com. Click on college athletics on the left side.

GUIDANCE DEPT EVENTS College representatives and military

recruiters visit SHS all the time. Listen to the announcements or see the calendar of visits on our dept door.

Ongoing – ACT test prep sessions, the ASVAB, a FAFSA completion day, Accuplacer test days

Raiders Senior College Prep Night - November 6, 2014

Post High Planning Days – October 23, 2014

Financial Aid Night – January 8, 2015

FOR HELP Please see your counselor with any

questions. An appointment can be made through our secretaries.

See only your counselor for any schedule adjustments/issues. We document those changes on your credit checks.

Counselors do their best work one on one with students. If we know your individual needs, goals, fears, and hopes, then we know how best to serve YOU.

THANK YOU!Enjoy your senior year!

See us with questions –

Paula Wilson – A B C E F GMelissa Good-Mitzel – H I J L M NKim Elder – O through VKatie Baskverville – D K W X Y Z

Kathryn Sosa – A through Z Gifted Education