Senior Parent Night Class of 2012

Senior Parent NightClass of 2012 Anderson County High School Mrs. Bridget Wells, Associate Principal Ms. Cindy Miracle, Guidance Counselor Mrs. Krystal Lewis, Guidance Counselor Ms. Tara Lowder, College Coach

ACT Matters! • ACT testing dates here at ACHS : • October 22nd & December 10th • Additional testing dates available at other locations • What is ACHS offering? • Practice ACT embedded in individual classrooms • ACHS ACT Online – www.ACTpreponline.com • ACT – www.actstudent.org • * ACHS workshops with teachers after school – Fall and Spring

ACT Matters! KNOW THE ADMISSION CRITERIA & SCHOLARSHIP STANDARDS FOR YOUR COLLEGE CHOICE! • GPA is important, but most University scholarships are figured on ACT scores. • Big $$ scholarships are typically 30 composite scores and above. • Consistently scholarships awarded at Universities with 3.5+ GPA and 28+ ACT. • 3.2 GPA and higher; as well as 24/25 or higher ACT, look at the websites.

Benchmark Scores • ACT Benchmark scores: • English, 18; Math, 22; Reading, 21 • CPE Benchmark scores: • English, 18; Math, 19; Reading, 20 • Practice ACT embedded in individual classrooms • ACHS ACT Online – www.ACTpreponline.com • ACT – www.actstudent.org • * ACHS workshops with teachers after school

More ACT information • What if my child doesn’t meet the ACT benchmarks? • College – take remediation classes; • You $$pay$$ for class = 0 credit • ACHS tiered interventions in reading and math for seniors who do not meet benchmarks • Eligible to take COMPASS – College placement exam

College Application Process • Finalize your list of colleges. Be sure you list "safety" colleges, as well as “probable” and "reach" colleges. • Review college applications and informational materials. Organize materials into separate files by college. • If you plan to apply through an early decision or early action program, get started on your applications right away. Deadlines for early applications tend to be in November. • Begin working on your college essays. Think of topics that focus on your experiences and make you stand out from the crowd.

Early Decision vs. Early Action Early decision plans are binding. You agree to attend the college if it accepts you and offers an adequate financial aid package. Although you can apply to only one college for early decision, you may apply to other colleges through the regular admission process. If you're accepted by your first-choice college early, you must withdraw all other applications. Early action plans are similar to early decision plans, but are not binding. If you’ve been accepted, you can choose to commit to the college immediately, or wait until the spring. Under these plans, you may also apply early action to other colleges. Usually, you have until the late spring to let the college know your decision.

Tips for Making the Most of Your Counselor’s Timewww.collegeboard.com 1. Be Responsible Ultimately, you want to go to a college that’s a good fit for you. Take charge of the application process. Find out your school’s process, know your deadlines, keep in contact with your counselor and perform the legwork necessary to get the job done.

2. Be Organized Make a chart to keep track of different colleges' requirements, and mark a calendar with your application deadlines. Have a separate folder for each application so you can keep materials organized and easy to access. Know your school’s process and schedule for asking for recommendations, and write your essays well ahead of the deadlines.

3. Be Early In the case of college applications, on time might not be good enough. Essays, recommendations and transcript request forms should all be completed and submitted at least two weeks before the application deadline. Counselors and support staff members usually fill these requests on a first-come, first-served basis, so get in line as early as possible.

4. Be Ready Even when you apply to a college online, some parts of the application must be sent by mail. Leave time for the U.S. Postal Service to deliver your application and for the college's internal mail service to process it. And don’t wait until the last minute to submit online — the website could have technical problems if too many students are trying to use it at the same time. Finally, factor in some additional time for unanticipated errors and delays.

5. Be Positive The college application process, although time-consuming, is a good chance for you to discover yourself, what you are interested in and your opportunities for the future. This may be one of the most complex tasks you’ve ever taken on, but it’s a good introduction to the multifaceted projects you’ll be handling in college and in life. Organization, communication, patience and reasonable expectations are the keys to making it a manageable and successful experience.

Guidance office forms College Day Form -Must fill out and turn into Ms. Miracle the top page before you go on visit (to prevent being counted absent) validation sheet upon returning to school after college visit Transcript request form -must have parent sign form if under 18 Recommendation form

ACHSValedictorian / Salutatorian Policy Valedictorian and Salutatorian awards shall be given to the two students in the graduating class with a class rank of 1 and 2 respectively. To be eligible for Valedictorian/Salutatorian consideration, a student must have at least 30 credits. If we have two or more students who have earned above a 4.0 GPA, we will use the total number of quality points to determine Rank 1 and 2. Quality points will not be added for student aide or work-based learning. Transfer students’ transcripts will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the counseling office and the administration. Beginning with the Class of 2005, the class rank awards of Valedictorian and Salutatorian shall be determined using this method.

ACHSCollege Prep Certificate All ACHS students must complete 26 credits to be eligible for graduation. Advanced College Prep Certificates will be awarded to students who complete the following course of study. No yearly grades below a “C will be accepted toward credit and a student must have at least a final 2.5 grade point average. On rare occasions, a substitution may be made. Students earning the Commonwealth Diploma or taking 4 A.P. courses (as well as completing 4 AP exams) will qualify for the College Prep Certificate. English: 4 Credits Social Studies: 4 Credits – Geography, U.S. History, World Civilization, Government & Economics (required), and one upper level class Mathematics: 4.5 credits – Algebra I, Geometry, Data & Measurement, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, Introduction to College Math, or AP Statistics Science: 4 credits – Biology, Chemistry, Earth & Space Science, and a choice of AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics. Students may also use any other science elective. Health & PE: 1 credit Foreign Language: 2 credits – 2 courses of the same language Humanities: Art and Drama ½ credit & Music and Dance ½ credit Electives: 5.5 credits

Commonwealth Diploma • To earn this diploma, a student must fulfill minimum high school graduation requirements and successfully complete the pre-college preparation curriculum. • Then, the student must complete four AP courses: • English • Science or Math • Foreign Language • one AP elective • Finally, the student must complete AP exams in 3 of the 4 subject areas. • Students who earn a completion score of 8 or better (combined) on the 3 AP exams will be reimbursed for exam costs by the State of Kentucky in the fall following a student’s senior year.

Senior Credit Checks Mrs. Wells, Mrs. Kays and Ms. Miracle will be doing senior credit checks this year Make sure you know exactly what you need to graduate in May!! Keep up with your grades, you can view Parent Portal with your parents

Most Common Scholarship Types Academic: Grades & ACT/SAT Scores Athletics: NCAA or NAIA divisions. Community Service/Volunteerism Health/Disability: Physical/mental/learning disabled. Church/Faith Based: Specific religion/belief Essay: Most likely to not focus on academics. Institutional: Specific to the particular College/University Transfer: Institutional specific and varies Please review the scholarship applications for eligibility!!

Scholarship Terms • Full Scholarship: Usually means that the scholarship covers tuition, housing, meal plan, books and fees. • Full Tuition Scholarship: Paysonly the Tuition costs of a full time student. (Does not include housing, meals, books, fees.) • Partial Scholarship: Only awards funding for a portion of the tuition or fee costs. • Renewable Scholarship: Student must renew each year for scholarship, and usually requires ‘conditions’ and reapplying. • Nonrenewable Scholarship: Usually meaning a one time award.

Top 10 Scholarship Myths • Only straight- “A” students win scholarships • Only minority students win scholarships • My child will get a full-ride scholarship • Only athletes win scholarships • Only the poor win scholarships • Scholarships are just for high-school seniors • The cost of private high school is earned back in scholarships • $6.6-billion in scholarships went unclaimed last year • Colleges will just reduce other aid if a student has a scholarship • Applying for scholarships is more work than it’s worth

College Search Resources • College Board www.collegeboard.com • Department of Education www.ed.gov • Go to College www.gotocollege.ky.gov • KHEAA (Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority) www.kheaa.com

KHEAA • College Circuit • KEES Brochure • Kheaa.com Brochure • College Cost and Planning Report (College Circuit book page 40) Creating a Zip Access Account to view KEES money and to do the College Cost and Planning Report.

The Individual Learning Plan (ILP)What is it? An online college and career planning tool used to help students prepare for post secondary decisions.

How can SENIORS utilize their ILP? Search for colleges in all states; compare tuition rates, available majors, by-college scholarship opportunities, student demographics and housing plans. Research different careers; find out the level of education required, expected salary and job outlook Record their extracurricular activities, awards, work/volunteer experiences, etc. Create a professional resume Receive notifications about scholarships and program opportunities that you may qualify for.

Before graduation, Seniors MUST complete the following sections in the ILP: Annual ILP Review Annual Student Survey Careers that Interest Me Schools that Interest Me Career and Life Goals Career Cluster Interests Post-Secondary Goals Career Planning Activities Organizations and Activities Community Service Course of Study-Grade 12

The Parent/Guardian ILP Tool allows YOU to: View the work your child has entered in his or her ILP. Learn more about the careers and schools that your child is interested in. Keep track of your child’s ILP completion status.

COMMUNICATION: “KEEPING YOU IN THE KNOW” The Counselor’s Website The Senior Newsletter Ms. Miracle’s Weekly E-mail

The Counselor’s Website On the ACHS homepage, click Academics click Counselor’s Office Here you will find 12th Grade News You Can Use, ILP Information, Scholarship Listings and the Daily Announcements

In The Senior Newsletter You Will Find: A Planning for College Checklist What you should be doing each month to prepare for college Info. for athletes ACT & SAT Schedule Info about fee waivers AP Test Schedule ACHS Graduation Requirements Requirements for the College Prep Certificate, Pre-College Curriculum, Commonwealth Diploma Attendance/Homework Policies KEES Info How to apply for college and for Financial Aid Types of Financial Aid College Visit Policy

Ms. Miracle’s Weekly E-mail Every Friday, Ms. Miracle sends out an e-mail with information about important events, deadlines and activities relating to ACHS students. Call or e-mail Ms. Miracle to give her your e-mail address if you would like to be added to her distribution list.

Local Scholarships • Local Scholarships • Local Scholarship packets will be available in spring term– after January. • Scholarship packets may be picked up in guidance office. • Each scholarship has varying deadlines and varying amounts. • Scholarship recipients will be notified. • All Scholarship information that is returned to Mrs. Wells in the spring will be announced at the Senior Awards Program in May and will be submitted to the Anderson News after graduation. If we are not aware of it, we cannot share it.

Final Thoughts • Call us if you have questions, we are here to help! • Judy Craft, our guidance secretary, is the only one of us that can say she’s been where you are…the rest of us have not experienced the senior year as parents. • Financial Aid Workshop – December • This power point will be online. If you do not have access, let us know, we will get this information to you!

Senior Parent Night Class of 2012