SENIORS 2021Senior Year For

AHS Junior Parents 101

2 for 1� DIXON

� Credits/Schedule

� Graduation qualifications

� Grades

� BEFORE graduation

� CHISUM

� Resource for college information

� Recommendations and nominations

� AFTER graduation

SENIOR CONFERENCES

� Ms. Dixon and Mrs. Chisum will meet with all Seniors August and April

� Students can come by anytime - open door policy

� If not available - sign book and we will send for Senior as soon as possible

Senior Weekly Newsletter� Will begin August 31 (and each following

Monday school in session)

� Parents provide e-mail address from letter mailed this summer – be on look out!

� Sent via e-mail to Senior parent, posted on Schoology Class of 2021, and on Mrs. Chisum’s website

� Presented in Senior English class by SCC rep.

� Loaded with information about college reps, scholarships, graduation, etc.

APPLYING TO COLLEGES� Choose 3-5 colleges

� Complete college applications between August and November of Senior year

� Applications are on-line

� Resources available in Guidance (Book of Majors, College Handbook, etc.)

� Applications should be completed by November 1!!!

� September and January – Rank rolled and GPA recalculated

APPLICATION PROCESS� 1. Complete college application on-line (app can be

accessed on college website or Common App, if applicable)

� 2. Request your official transcript be sent to the college you have applied (ScribOrder – AHS homepage)

� 3. Request your ACT score(s) be sent to the college you have applied – www.act.org

� * Notify Recommenders, if applicable

COMMON APPLICATION� Nearly 900 utilize Common Application.

� One application that can be replicated.

� Has Teacher, Counselor, Secondary, Mid-year, and Final Report.

� Be sure to list Mrs. Chisum for SR, MR, and FR!!!

� www.commonapp.com

TRANSCRIPTS� Official transcripts are required as part of the admission

process to colleges and universities.

� Transcripts are requested through ScribOrder. Link is available on AHS website (bottom of page “Transcript Request”) or https://acstn.scriborder.com

� ACT scores must be sent directly from ACT – www.act.org

� Unofficial transcripts will be given to Seniors in September and February - no cost.

Letters of Recommendation� GUIDANCE

� Request minimum 2 weeks in advance

� Resume’, Parent Brag, & Senior Brag required

� Closed letters given or mailed

� Senior provide address

� Rec Request Form must be on file!

� Teachers/Employers/Other

� Request minimum 2 weeks in advance

� Remind 1 week before due

� Senior provides SASE, if applicable

� Thank teacher (preferably in writing)

� ASK before submitting

� Seniors are allowed 2 College Visit Days (must be taken before April 1) See Mrs. Chisum for exceptions – i.e. auditions, etc.

� Procedures MUST be followed, in order for days to not count against attendance

PROCEDURE:

1. Pick up College Visit Form from Guidance PRIOR to visit day or print off from Mrs. Chisum’s website.

2. Return completed form to Guidance (ON THE MORNING OF RETURN TO SCHOOL – before 7:15) with approved proof attached.

FINANCIAL AID� TSAC - state monies (Ned McWherter, Robert

Byrd, Minority Teaching Fellow, etc.) Further info: www.collegefortn.org

� FAFSA - federal monies (Stafford Loan, Pell Grant, etc.)

� Financial Award Letter (NOT all or none)

� FINANCIAL AID NIGHT – Stay Tuned!

� This is the ONE application for federal student aid, state student aid, and the Hope Lottery Scholarship.

� Complete application between October 1, 2020 and January 1, 2021.

� You will utilize 2019 tax data for the 2021-2022 FAFSA.

� Log on: www.fafsa.ed.gov

� Register for FSA ID number NOW at www.fafsa.ed.gov (this will be needed to complete FAFSA) Senior needs an ID and ONE parent needs an ID – different e-mail addresses required.

� Be sure to list a Tennessee school as your first school on FAFSA list.

� Athletic - based on ability and skill

� Merit/Academic - based on specific academic credentials (varies from school to school)

� Community - Coca-Cola, Optimist Club, PTSA, Tylenol, Kiwanis Club, Chick-fil-a, etc.

� Scholarship Source Sheet

� Scholarship Search Engines

HOPE LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP� Qualifications for $1750 semester, increasing to

$2250 semester in junior and senior years –Fall/Winter/Summer: 21 or higher on ACT OR 3.0 or higher unweighted/Hope GPA.

� Qualifications for additional $500 per semester –Fall/Winter/Summer: 29 or higher on ACT AND 3.75 or higher weighted GPA

� Hope Lottery Scholarship ONLY applies to schools in the state of TN

TENNESSEE PROMISE� Last dollar scholarship

� Eligibility: Tennessee resident, graduate from high school, enroll in TN community college or TCAT (Tennessee College of Applied Technology)

� Mentor provided, community service, FAFSA

� Managed by TSAC (Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation)

� Application deadline: November 1

� Application available: August 1 – November 1

� Application: www.tnpromise.gov

Academic Common Market� 15 Southern States

� Select eligible programs for Tennessee residents

� Be admitted to the college offering program

� Examples:

PETROLEUM ENGINEERING – Louisiana State University

Tuition - In State: $9,842

Tuition - Out of State: $27,005

MUSIC THERAPY – University of Georgia

Tuition – In State: $11,830

Tuition – Out of State: $30,404

GPA and RANK� GPA and student RANK determined on semester

only. Mid-September and Mid-January.

� GPA (weighted and unweighted)

� RANK based on weighted GPA

� Not based on each 9 weeks

Senior Exam Exemptions� Seniors have opportunity for exam exemption for

both semesters

� Exemptions determined by period

� 3 or less EXCUSED absences AND 90 or higher in class

� Tennessee is an ACT state

� October 2020 Senior State ACT retake

� Order ACT test(s) – December, April, June

� Graduation Requirement!!!

ATHLETES…� If your son/daughter plans on participating in athletics at

the college level - they must register with NCAA Clearinghouse or NAIA Eligibility Center by December 1 2020.

� Step 1: Log on to www.eligibilitycenter.org (NCAA) or www.playnaia.org (NAIA)

� Step 2: Complete registration process for Prospective Student Athletes

� Step 3: Request Official Transcript to be sent to NCAA Clearinghouse or NAIA Eligibility Center (via the AHS homepage “Transcript Request” at bottom of page.

� Step 4: Contact ACT (www.act.org) and have ACT score(s) mailed to NCAA Clearinghouse or NAIA Eligibility Center

Senior Pics!� Contact Holland Studios 901-362-1818 and

schedule a photo session

� Deadline for Yearbook – LABOR DAY!!!!!!

� The AHS Yearbook puts a tux/drape and casual pic in the yearbook. Both will need to be done at Holland to be in Yearbook. Senior will need to bring outfit for casual, but Holland will have everything for tux/drape pic.

� Cap & gown pic included in sitting.

Graduation Recognition� AHS Honors Diploma

� State Honors

� State Distinction

� AHS District Distinction

� Tennessee Tri-Star

� Community Service

� Seal of Biliteracy

� Work Ethic

RESOURCES

� www.collegepaystn.com

� www.fastweb.com

� www.scholarships.com

� www.college-scholarships.com

� www.actstudent.org

� www.ecampustours.com

� www.collegeboard.com

� www.petersons.com

� www.campustours.com

� www.colleges.com

� www.collegexpress.com

� www.finaid.org

� www.chegg.com

� www.collegepeas.com

� www.collegeprowler.com

� www.collegefortn.org

***Mrs. Chisum’s website (link to through AHS webpage)

TO DO This Summer!!!� Take College visits

� Have realistic financial conversation with senior

� Register with scholarship search engines

� Register for ACT (September/October)

� Contact Holland Studios and schedule Senior Pics appointment

TO DO1st SEMESTER…

� Take the ACT

� Register with NCAA Clearinghouse or NAIA Eligibility Center, if applicable

� Register for ACT tutoring, if applicable

� Check weekly Senior newsletter for important Senior information

� Complete FAFSA (October 1- January 1) @ www.fafsa.ed.gov ONLY

� Take advantage of College Visit Days

� Order invitations and other keepsakes (cost varies)

� Apply for scholarships

TO DO2ND SEMESTER……

� Continue to apply for scholarships

� Graduation dues/cap & gown due (cost is $95)

� Bring ALL letters of acceptance AND scholarship to Guidance

� Make final college choice (notify all colleges by May 1/National Decision Day)

� GRADUATE!!! See Mrs. Chisum’s website for further info)

Senior Parents To Be!!!!� Be on look out for summer letter

� Attend “Senior Parent Roundtables”

� Submit e-mail for weekly Senior Newsletter to Mrs. Chisum when you receive letter in mail

� Encourage senior to self advocate

� Sign up for Schoology at beginning of senior year!

� Have realistic financial conversation with your senior

� Schedule Senior Pic appointment with Holland Studios

Senior Parent Roundtable� September, October, November, January, February

� 7:05 am in AHS Library

� Senior Parent Advisory

� ONLY Senior Parents

� Ask questions, wealth of info, and much more!