Corona High School Senior Information Handbook 2012

Transcription

1 Corona High School Senior Information Handbook 2012 Dear Student, The purpose of this handbook is to provide you with valuable post high school college & career information, and it is important to remember that this information and much more is available on the Corona High School This booklet includes the following information: Senior Planning Calendar SAT & ACT Test Dates Community College CSU, UC & Private University U.S. Military Vocational and Career Colleges NCAA Eligibility Financial Aid & Scholarships Important Websites Administration & Counseling Please refer to this handbook as often as needed, and we encourage all seniors to pay attention to deadlines and to consider all available options. We all look forward to meeting with you, as you begin to make plans concerning your post high school education. We wish you all the best in your upcoming endeavors. Sincerely, CHS Counseling Staff

2 Senior Year Planning Calendar August Be sure to sign up for Adult Education classes if deficient in credits. If needed, sign up for SAT/ ACT Test. Begin to narrow your list of colleges. September Pay close attention to Senior Presentation. Research schools of choice Visit the College & Career Center (J-1) October Counselors will meet with all seniors applying to a 4- year college. Don t apply to just one college. Apply broadly. Register to retake the ACT/ SAT before December. Attend our College Fair Submit CSU applications online Oct 1 thru Nov 30. Be sure to print out a copy for your records. Start your college application online for UC system. Do not submit until November 1st. Deadline is Nov 30th. November Submit your on-line college applications before Thanksgiving break! Pick up the GPA Verification forms in the Career Center to begin the financial aid process. December All students must complete the FAFSA online. Plan to submit in early January Attend the FAFSA application workshop held on campus in December. Start applying for scholarships. Be sure to listen to the announcements and to review the National Scholarship binder in the Career Center. Ask your parents to save their year-end payroll stub to document their earnings for the year. This will be needed for financial aid purposes. January Complete the FAFSA application online and print out copies of all forms submitted. Don t delay in completing the FAFSA! Ask your parents to prepare their income tax returns early. Make estimates based on the previous year s tax information and have it changed later. Complete all local scholarship applications and personal essays. February Listen for reminders to sign up to take AP tests in May. Turn in all local scholarship applications to the Career Center. If you receive a D or F in any of your college preparatory classes or are making any changes to your second semester schedule, call the Admissions Office and notify them. Continue to research community colleges at Start your community college applications. March Your FAFSA must be submitted by March 2nd. Keep an eye out for college acceptance letters that will be coming to you via mail or . Contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at (800) if you have not received your Student Aid Report (SAR). Be aware of college placement test dates. If you are planning to attend RCC, sign-up for the placement test. Submit community college applications April Make your final decision about which college you plan to attend and send in a deposit by the deadline. Be aware of all deadlines for the college you are attending Sign up for summer coursework if your college has required you to do so. May Take the Advanced Placement Exams Figure out summer school or your summer job plans. Study for Final Exams! Colleges do see your senior year grades. Prepare for graduation. Clear all obligations so that you can participate in all the fun activities planned for your graduation. 2

3 SAT/ACT Test Dates Test Date $ $15.00 for Writing ACT Dates with Optional Writing Test Registration Postmark Deadline SAT Reasoning and Subject Test Dates Late Registration Deadline +$21.00 late fee September 10, 2011 August 12, 2011 August 26, 2011 October 22, 2011 September 16, 2011 September 30, 2011 December 10, 2011 November 4, 2011 November 18, 2011 February 11, 2012 January 13, 2012 January 20, 2012 April 14, 2012 March 9, 2012 March 23, 2012 June 9, 2012 May 4, 2012 May 18, 2012 Test Date SAT I - $49.00 & SAT II - $22+ Registration Postmark Deadline Late Registration Deadline +$24.00 late fee October 1, 2011 September 9, 2011 September 21, 2011 November 5, 2011 October 7, 2011 October 21, 2011 December 3, 2011 November 4, 2011 November 20, 2011 January 28, 2012 December 30, 2011 January 13, 2012 March 10, 2012 February 10, 2012 February 24, 2012 May 5, 2012 April 6, 2012 April 20, 2012 June 2, 2012 May 4, 2012 May 22, 2012 Registration fees are $49 for the SAT, $34 for the ACT (without writing), and $49.50 for the ACT (with writing). $26 late fee for SAT and $21 for the ACT. SAT subject test fees are $22 per test date, plus $11 for each test. Seek information for these tests on the websites below. Apply online at for the ACT exam. Apply online at for the SAT I and SAT II exams. Be sure the code number for Corona High School, , is on your application. If you choose Score Choice as an option, your score will not be released to CHS or any college and you will need to designate specific colleges at a later date for an additional fee. For the SAT test only, enter the code 3594 as one of your college choices and your score will automatically be sent to all the 23 California State University campuses. If you are an athlete interested in participating in a college sport, you must enter 9999 as one of your college codes in order to release scores directly to the NCAA. Also, make sure that you have registered with the official NCAA Eligibility Center website at print the two transcript release forms, and take them to your guidance counselor. 3

4 California Community College System Cost is $36 per unit, plus books and semester parking pass Must have a high school diploma or be 18 years of age to enroll Must take an English and Math Placement Exam Tuition at community college is less expensive than four-year colleges Course schedules are flexible, with day and evening classes offered to working students Credits earned can usually be transferred to a four-year college (check at assist.org) Offers two types of programs: (1) Transfer Program to a 4-year school (2) Trade/Technical Program to obtain a certificate of training Honors Programs are offered at most community colleges. Requirements vary, however, a GPA of at least are usually the standard. For more information contact your school of choice Visit for additional information on the 112 California Community Colleges Be sure to investigate the university transfer program and/or occupational educational program before applying Most community colleges accept applications beginning on March 1st. Below are a few of the 112 California Community Colleges and some often asked questions: NORCO COLLEGE RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY COLLEGE MORENO VALLEY COLLEGE (951) (951) (951) CHAFFEY COLLEGE MT. SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE (909) (909) Who attends community college? Community college is designed for students who are seeking a technical/career certificate, a two-year associate s degree, or credits to transfer to a four-year university to obtain a bachelor s degree. Students may also take courses to enhance their job skills, improve their knowledge of basic English or math, and for personal enrichment or enjoyment. Community colleges attract students with a broad range of backgrounds, abilities, and interests. Most community college students work as well as go to school. Many are the first in their family to attend college or are raising a family while attending school. Only about a quarter of all students attend college full time. Community college students reflect a wide range of ages, with about half younger than 25 and a fifth older than 39. What do community colleges offer? Community colleges provide career programs in hundreds of areas, such as technical and industrial trades, health occupations, business and finance, electronics and computer sciences, agriculture, police and fire, food science, and building and landscaping. Depending on the occupation, training may take from six months to two years. Associate degrees and certificate programs are available for many fields. Students who want to earn a four-year degree may choose to first go to a community college for a number of reasons, such as: Closeness to home Lower cost More time to explore their options and interests Smaller classes and more direct contact with faculty Inability to qualify for a university because they don t meet all the admissions requirements. 4

5 Community Colleges (cont) Are all community colleges the same? Each of the 112 community colleges in California are distinct and reflects the area where it is located. All try to meet the needs of all students. However, some colleges particularly those in regions with multiple colleges specialize in specific areas. If there are two or more colleges near your home, learn how they differ in terms of the career programs they offer and their transfer agreements with California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC) campuses. Often the college s course catalog can be downloaded from the Internet. In addition, you should make an appointment with your high school and/or community college counselor to find out what your local colleges offer. It s also a good idea to visit the campuses. What if I am uncertain about what career I want to pursue? Community colleges offer many opportunities to explore careers. If you are unsure whether you want to go to a four-year university, for example, you can keep your options open by carefully planning your schedule. Many courses that fulfill requirements for an associate s degree also meet the prerequisites if you want to transfer to UC or CSU campuses. Typically, there are fewer community college courses accepted by UC than CSU, and fewer accepted by CSU than for an associate s degree. For example, if you need to take a math course, choose one that meets the criteria for all three: UC, CSU, and an associate s degree. All students entering community college should meet with one of the college s counselors to plan their schedules. It is even more important to do so if you are not sure which university you want to attend and/or what major you want to pursue. Well meaning advice from friends, teachers, or others could cost you time and money. Does it matter how well I do in high school? If you didn t do well in high school, you can still attend community college as long as you are 18 or older. If you are younger than 18, you can attend if you have a high school diploma or have passed the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE). (See How do I apply? Contact the admissions office of the college you would like to attend. To get a copy of the application visit There you can apply to many colleges through a common online application and link directly to college websites for those colleges that require their own application. Also make an appointment with the college s counseling office. Many courses, particularly entry-level required classes, fill up quickly. To make sure you get the courses you want, ask your high school counselor about the best time to apply typically spring or early summer. Some students begin college in the summer to get a head start. Some colleges offer a short orientation class that includes help in signing up for classes. If students take that class in the summer, they have an advantage over the freshmen who will enter college in the fall. Is financial help available? Some students can receive fee waivers and assistance with books and living costs, such as housing. Visit the financial aid office at your community college to get help applying for grants, low-interest loans, work-study (on or off-campus) and scholarships. To apply for financial help or find out more, also go to In addition, reduced rates for public transportation are often available, and most campuses provide low-cost childcare. 5

6 California State University College System Admits top 33% of California Seniors Requires the ACT or SAT Reasoning Test. The writing portion is not required on the ACT test. Application filing period is Oct. 1-Nov. 30 $55.00 per application Requires the a-g pattern of coursework with a grade of C or above Check the Eligibility Index online for the required GPA and ACT/SAT score needed Estimated cost with tuition, books, room and board - $21,400 The California State University (CSU) has 23 campuses across the state. These campuses accept the top third (33%) of the state s students based on high school grades and SAT/ACT test scores. Below are some Q & A s concerning the CSU system, and remember, that more information can be or on the Corona HS What high school courses does CSU require? To meet minimum eligibility requirements, students must pass 15 one-year high school college-prep courses with at least a C grade: a) two years of history/social science; b) four years of English; c) three years of math through at least Algebra II; d) two years of laboratory science, including one biological, and one physical science; e) two years of the same foreign language; f) one year of visual/performing arts; and g) one year of an elective chosen from the University of California (UC) a g list. Students must take at least seven of these a-g courses during their junior and senior years. Your high school counselor will have a list of your school s courses that meet CSU requirements. Most high schools also list their UC/CSU approved courses at doorways.ucop.edu/list How does CSU determine my eligibility? Eligibility is based on your grade-point average (GPA) in the a g courses and scores on college admissions tests (SAT/ACT). Higher grades can offset lower test scores and vice versa. See the index at planning/high_school/cal_residents.asp Which grades count in determining GPA? The preliminary grade-point average includes grades earned in a g courses taken during your sophomore and junior years. The GPA is based on a 4.0 scale (A=4, B=3, C=2). You may boost your GPA by taking up to eight semesters of UC-approved honors or Advanced Placement (AP) courses (add 1 point for each A, B, or C semester grade so that A=5, B=4, C=3). You may also earn college credit for AP or IB courses if you do well on end-of-course exams. CSU also considers your senior year grades and courses before granting final admittance. How and when do I apply? Apply online at admissionapp/ applications must be submitted between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30. For some campuses, it is important to file early. With CSU facing state budget cutbacks, more campuses are being forced to limit enrollment, so applying early (weeks before the November 30 deadline) is the best strategy. Check to see campuses that have limited filing times. You can send the same application to each campus you are considering. Application fees are $55 per campus. You can apply for a fee waiver as part of the online application. 6

7 University of California College System Admits the top 9% of California Seniors Requires ACT with the Writing or the SAT Reasoning test Application filing period is Nov UC application available online starting October 1 but CAN NOT send until Nov. 1- Nov. 30 $70.00 for each application Requires personal statement Requires a-g pattern of coursework with a C grade or above The more competitive the school, the more college prep coursework they want you to take If possible, visit schools before you make your final decision Estimated cost with tuition, books, room and board - $32,100 The University of California (UC) consist of 9 undergraduate campuses located across California. The UC system admits the top 9% of California High School seniors. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all a-g required courses with grades no lower than a C. Information on admissions requirements, individual campuses and much more can be found at and on the Corona High School website at Below are some Q & A s that you may find helpful. What high school courses does UC require? To meet minimum admissions requirements, you must pass 15 one-year high school college-prep courses with at least a C grade: a) two years of history/social science one year on the United States and one year on the world; b) four years of English; c) three years of math through at least Algebra II; d) two years of laboratory science, selected from biology, chemistry, or physics; e) two years of the same foreign language; f) one year of visual/performing arts; and g) one year of an academic elective chosen from the UC a g list. You must complete at least 11 of these a g courses by the end of your junior year. Your high school counselor will have a list of your school s courses that meet UC requirements. doorways.ucop.edu/list What college entrance tests are required? Admissions tests indicate your readiness for college-level work. UC requires either: The ACT Assessment plus the ACT Writing Test; or The SAT Reasoning Test How and when do I apply? Beginning in October, you can apply online at admissions/undergraduate.html The deadline for fall term applications is Nov. 30, and most campuses only accept applications in the fall. Check the website of the campus of your choice. Your Personal Statement The University of California admission process requires a personal statement to be included as part of the application. Your personal statement consisting of responses to two prompts. This is your chance to tell UC Admissions who you are and what s important to you. Think of it as your opportunity to introduce yourself to the people reading your application. Be open, be honest, be real. What you say in your personal statement gives readers the context to better understand the rest of the information you ve provided in your application. Further information on the Personal Statement can be found at: personal_statement 7

8 California Private & Independent Universities Check in the College and Career Center (J-1) for further information, including cost Go to the specific website to check admission requirements Visit: or Information for Common Applications can be found at Deadlines may be different than UC s or CSU s so it is important to research school of choice California's nonprofit, independent colleges and universities establish their own admission criteria and application procedures. Many have their own admission application, and most of them offer online applications. Because California's nonprofit, independent colleges and universities are not government funded, it is important that students wishing to apply contact the colleges and universities of interest to determine specific requirements and deadlines. Some California nonprofit, independent colleges and universities accept the "Common Application" an application accepted by a number of independent colleges across the country. If the schools to which you are applying accept the Common Application, be sure to check with them directly to determine if there are additional application requirements. U.S. Military Joining the U.S. Military is a decision that you and your family must make. As in anything in life, there are advantages and disadvantages, and all things must be considered before making a final decision. The U.S. Military has seven major branches: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and their Reserve (part-time duty), the Air National Guard, and the Army National Guard. Though four years is common, your first active duty enlistment period can very. The cost in joining the U.S. Military is just a commitment of time. You actually make a decent salary in the Military when you remember that the Military helps pay for your major living expenses. You also will be given the opportunity to receive a college education and repay your college cost by serving in the selected branch of your choice. Advantages to joining the Military include participating on a team, learning job skills, earning money for further education, a chance to travel, and you will learn responsibility, gain confidence and skills along the way. There are also disadvantages in joining the U.S. Military. If you have a problem with authority, the Military is not for you. To be a part of the Military, you need to respect the authority of higher ranking people, and trust that they are acting in your best interest. This is not something to take lightly. Before making a final decision, you must never overlook the dangers and possible loss of life, especially during war time, that may confront you as a member of any branch of the U.S. Military. To find more information on the U.S. Military, or make an appointment with a Military Recruiter you can go to: usmilitary.com 8

9 Vocational, Technical and Career Colleges Over 10,000 private vocational schools teach a variety of careers. Admission requirements for these schools vary, and the tuition ranges from approximately $500 to $10,000 depending on the nature and length of the course. Choosing a vocational school is a big decision. A key advantage to selecting a trade or technical school is that training may be competed faster than at a community college, although the expense will probably be greater. Students typically will be required to take only courses that relate to their specific area of training rather than general education courses. When choosing a Vocational School, you probably want to know: What is the cost? How difficult is it? How long does it take? You may want to contact your school of choice and ask: Is the school accredited? Accreditation is an important indicator because an accredited school has passed a thorough examination of its business practices and teaching ability by an accrediting agency. What percentage of the students finish the course? Is job placement included as a service of the school? Will a refund be given if the course is not completed? How long has the school been in operation? You also may want to talk to prospective employers and ask: Would you hire graduates of the school? How many have you actually hired? Were they hired because of the school s training? Did training make any difference in starting salary? Will there be jobs available for the skills taught at the trade school? Obtain information from various sources by: Visiting the school itself. Checking with local community colleges to see if similar training is available at a lower cost. Further information on Trade/Technical Schools can be found in J-1 (College & Career Center) and online at: NCAA Eligibility Information What is the NCAA Eligibility Center? The NCAA Initial-Eligibility Center is the organization that determines whether prospective college athletes are eligible to play sports at NCAA Division I or Division II institutions. The Eligibility Center reviews the student athlete's academic record, SAT or ACT scores, and amateur status to ensure conformity with NCAA rules. When should students register with the Eligibility Center? The NCAA recommends that student athletes register with the Eligibility Center at the end of their junior year in high school. There is no registration deadline, but students must be cleared by the Eligibility Center before they receive athletic scholarships or compete at a Division I or Division II institution. How do students register with the Eligibility Center? Students can register online at Students will have to enter personal information, answer questions about their athletic participation, and pay a registration fee. The website will then prompt them to have their high school transcript and ACT or SAT scores sent to the Eligibility Center, these transcript request forms are available in the Corona high school s Registrars Office. 9

10 Career Information Work will consume a significant portion of your life. Most men and women work an average of 40 years and change jobs as many as six times. To help ensure job satisfaction, you should take time to choose a career tailored to your interests. The effort you put into selecting a career will pay off many times over. Technology is creating a demand for highly skilled workers and most employers hire people with specific job skills. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates the majority of jobs will require trade or technical career courses. The first step in selecting a career is to review your career choices. Consider these suggestions: Your Interest: Do you enjoy helping people, working with your hands, working with information and numbers, creating, designing or being outdoors? Identify your interests and translate them into career possibilities. One of the most important factors in career satisfaction is liking what you do. Salary: What salary can you expect to make in your chosen field? How much more money will you be earning after two, three or ten years of experience? Advancement: Where will your career lead you? If your goal is to own your own business, will it offer you the opportunity to eventually start your own business? Job Demand: Is there a need for your career or are there more trained people than there are jobs? Choose a career with a good future and won t become obsolete in a few years. Educational Requirements: Nearly every good job requires specialized training beyond high school. Find out what kind of training and skills are required for your career. Top 10 Fastest Growing Occupations: Home health aides Network systems and data communications analysts Medical assistants Physician assistants Computer software engineers Physical therapist assistants Dental hygienists Computer software engineers Dental assistants Personal and home care aides Another way to prepare for a career is to take classes from CTE (Career & Technical Education) formerly known as ROP. If you would like further information on the CTE program and the classes available, plan on visiting the College and Career Center (J-1). Helpful Web Sites:

11 Financial Aid/Scholarship Information Financial Aid is money that is supplied by outside sources to help pay for the cost of an education beyond high school. Financial Aid comes from Four Sources: The Federal Government, our State Government, the school that you attend after high school, and private companies and organizations. There are two basic Categories of Financial Aid: Need-Based and Non-Need Based; Non-Need-Based Aid is also known as merit-based aid. It is given to students in recognition of special skills, talents or academic ability and is often competitive in nature. Need-Based Aid is the largest portion of Financial Aid. When a family does not have sufficient resources to pay for an education beyond high school, they are considered to have financial need. Approximately 80% of full-time students will receive some form of Need-Based Financial Aid. There are four Types of Financial Aid; Grants, Loans, Work Study & Scholarships. Grants This money will be provided by both the Federal and State Government. The best thing about grants is that this is free money, and does not need to be paid back. Loans This money will be provided mostly from private banks and even though you will most likely receive a low interest loan, it is still a loan and must be paid back with interest. Work Study Program The Work Study Program will be offered through your school of choice. If you are able to get involved with the Work Study Program, you will receive a job either on or off campus and your pay will be used towards your tuition and college fees. This is a great way to pay as you go Some advice, as soon as you have been accepted, contact the financial aid office and get your name on the list for the Work Study Program. Scholarships Scholarships are available from various sources. You need to find the scholarships in which you fit the criteria. Some scholarships will be based on need, others on achievement or special talents like academic success, athletic skills and music or community service involvement. Web sites, parent s work place, and here at Corona High School are just a few places in which you can find scholarships and/or scholarship information. More information on financial aid and specific scholarships that are available to Corona High School students and the scholarship process in general, are covered in further detail in the Financial Aid/ Scholarship Handbook which will be available on or before December 1st. Early in December, your counselor will be in classrooms to explain the Financial Aid/Scholarship process and how you can get the most from it. In early December there will also be a Financial Aid Night available to you and your family, stay tuned to announcements for the exact date and time. And once again, this and much more information can be found on the Corona High School website at: 11

12 Important Websites Corona High School College Information University of California - California State Universities - Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities - California College Explorer - California Community Colleges Test Preparation - Test preparation for the ACT/SAT - Test preparation for the ACT/ SAT - Princeton Review - ACT registration - SAT registration Financial Aid/Scholarship Information Miscellaneous Websites California HS Proficiency Exam - Job Corps Athletic Participation - National College Athletic Association Any athlete planning on playing sports in college must register with the NCAA. Administration & Counselors Mr. Ron Kroetz Mr. Robert Liebentritt Mrs. Jeannette Olson Mrs. Norma Berrellez Mrs. Julie Stivers Mr. Jim Perry Administration Principal Mr. Owen Crosby Assistant Principals 9TH Grade Students 10TH Grade Students 11TH Grade Students 12TH Grade Students Activities, ASB & Student Store Athletics Mrs. Aguiar Mr. Pruett Mrs. Halfhill Mrs. Martin Ms. Babin Mrs. Ferrara Ms. Osterkamp Ms. Schneider Mrs. Larson Counselors ELL & Teen Parent A-Dav Daw-Gi & Puente Gl-Martin Martinez-Rodn Rodr-S & AVID T-Z School Safety College & Career Center 12