9 th & 10 th. Grade Handbook

Transcription

1 9 th & 10 th Grade Handbook

2 Table of Contents 9 th & 10 th grade timeline 1 Graduation Requirements 2 Description of Post-Secondary Options 3-5 Transcripts.. 6 Wiscareers.. 7 Websites 8

3 9 th & 10 th grade Timeline Memorize the graduation requirements for MHS. You need 23 credits to graduate and it s your responsibility to make sure you earn all the credits for graduation. You can do it!! You are starting out on a clean slate! Freshman year counts! on Twitter to find out the most up-to-date information about college and career opportunities and other worthwhile events! Become familiar with entrance requirements for 4-year colleges, technical colleges, apprenticeships, military or workforce opportunities. Think about a career! You can go anywhere in College land, but if you find the college that is the best match for what you think want to be, you ll be better off in the long run! Start by exploring your career options and thinking about your interests o Take advantage of job shadowing opportunities GET INVOLVED!! Not only will it be a great opportunity to meet new people and stay connected with school, but also looks great on an academic resume/college application. Not only will it be a great opportunity to meet new people and stay connected with school, but also looks great on an academic resume/college application. WORK HARD & DO YOUR BEST!! Take the most difficult classes you can handle, work on your study habits, & overall do the best to your ability. Realize that turning in all assignments on time are very important in earning good grades! KEEP TALKING (but not in class there is a time and a place for talking ). Talk to anyone you know who s been in college or a technical school. Ask them about their experiences and if they have any advice. PLAN AHEAD & make a four-year plan. See your counselor in Spring to review course selections and post-secondary planning if you have questions. You will have the same counselor all four years! Keep track of extracurricular activities, volunteer work experiences, and any awards of honors you receive. This information will be very helpful when applying for college and scholarships. If there are classes you do not pass first semester, make sure you see me to add it to your second semester schedule. If there are classes second semester that you do not pass, make sure to sign up for summer school. MAKE SUMMER COUNT! Summer is a time for fun, but you can also use it to your advantage. Build up your college savings account with a part-time job or build up your academic resume by participating in volunteer opportunities. ASK QUESTIONS if you don t know something, am concerned about something; stop down to see your counselor! If you are struggling in a class, don t be afraid to talk to your teachers for help or sign up for a peer tutoring through the Guidance Dept. 1

4 Mukwonago High School Graduation Requirements English Social Studies Science Math Physical Education Health Electives TOTAL 4.0 credits 3.0 credits 3.0 credits 3.0 credits 1.5 credits.5 credit 10.0 credits 23 credits Please refer to the course catalog for specific courses that are required in each subject area. Minimum* 4-Year College Admission Requirements Based on UW System Entrance Requirements English Mathematics Natural Science Social Science Electives 4 Years 3 Years (at least Algebra, Geometry, Advanced Algebra) 3 Years 3 Years 4 Years An additional 4 years may be chosen from any of the above areas, foreign language, fine arts, computer science and other academic areas. (Two years of a single foreign language is required for admission to UW-Eau Claire and UW-Madison, and strongly recommended at other UW System campuses.) Some UW System institutions may also accept vocational courses for a portion of these elective credits. *All students are encouraged to exceed the minimum number of college preparatory credits required for admission. Students who choose a rigorous high school curriculum are, in most cases, more successful in college and on the ACT exam. Strong academic preparation for college helps to ensure success. Key factors that influence admission decisions include: ACT score, class rank, GPA and course load. These factors vary from college to college and need to be researched. Your personal statement (essay), recommendation letters, school involvement & community service is also very important!!! 2

5 Post-Secondary Options Most careers require at least some education or training beyond high school. One career may require four years of college while another may require a six-month program at a technical school. In most cases, your career choice will determine which of the following options is the most appropriate: Technical College Two Year College Four Year College Career Training/Employment Military Apprenticeship Technical College Technical colleges provide affordable, career-oriented programs that enable students to begin their careers after only one or two years of college. Typically, class sizes are kept small and professors have worked, or are working, in a related career field. Students completing one-year programs receive certificates or diplomas, and students completing two-year programs earn associate degrees. Degrees that may be obtained include A.A. (Associate of Arts), A.S. (Associate of Science), and A.A. S (Associate of Applied Science). Students seeking a bachelor degree and who do not meet the entrance requirements of a four-year university and/or who want to save money and live at home, may start out at a technical college in a Liberal Arts and Sciences program or a program that is designed with a four-year college transfer in mind. The final decision as to whether a given course is transferable is made by the receiving institution. For this reason, when planning a particular program, it is recommended that a student verify the transferability of credits with the four-year University of Choice. Career Training School Career Training schools offer student s short-term training in a wide variety of career fields. Some career training programs last only a few weeks while others could take up to two years to complete. These programs are designed to prepare students for specific careers such as barber and cosmetology, massage therapy, or information technology to name a few. Students spend most their class time in job related settings where they receive hands-on training from experienced instructors. Two-Year College Two-Year colleges offer freshman/sophomore level university instruction. Students attend small classes and receive the personal attention of a private college at a public university cost. After freshman or sophomore year, students can transfer to a four-year university to complete a bachelor degree. Many students like to begin at two-year colleges because they like the smaller environment. In most cases, students are also able to save money while still living at home. Wisconsin two-year colleges allow students to apply through the guaranteed transfer program to a four-year University within the UW-System. Consult with an advisor from a two-year college for specific guidelines and requirements for guaranteed transfer program. 3

6 Four-Year University A four-year college education, or bachelor s degree, is necessary for approximately 20% of today s careers. A bachelor s degree can open doors, provide status, and prepare students for financially rewarding careers. All universities hope to attract bright, well-prepared students. Universities vary in their majors offered, admission standards and costs. To insure that students receive a well-rounded education, most four-year universities require that students take 25-50% of their classes in general education course like English, math, science, and history. Since many of the general education courses are taken during freshman/sophomore year, undecided students can use their first year or so of college to fulfill general education requirements and to decide on a major. Entrance requirements vary by each university with some universities being highly selective. In order to be accepted at a highly selective university, students must usually have high ACT/SAT scores, a high grade point average (GPA), and rigorous preparation. Regardless of the entrance requirements, all universities want applicants who have followed a college prep program in high school. This generally includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of science and three years of social studies as a minimum. Degrees from a four-year university include a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) and a B.S. (Bachelor of Science). After a bachelor s degree, some advanced degrees may be obtained such as a Master s Degree or Doctorate Degree. Military The military trains young men and women to protect the interests of our country. In order to do this, this military offers qualified high school graduates a good salary and free job training. The military also provides discipline and structure as well as opportunities for career advancement and travel. The United States military is the nation s single largest employer. It offers training and employment in over 2,000 specialties, 75% of which have civilian counterparts. There are four major branches of the military: The Army, The Navy, Air Force and Marines. Opportunities for students also exist in the Coast Guard, The National Guard, and the Reserves. College students who take ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corp) will enter the military as officers while academically gifted students will find excellent educational opportunities at the for military academics. Apprenticeship Students who prefer a hands-on approach to learning may want to consider an apprenticeships program. Apprentices learn a skilled trade through a combination of classroom instruction and on-the-job training. Apprenticeships are agreements in which employers pay individuals while they are learning their trade or profession. Apprenticeships programs demand hard work and dedication. Those who receive their training through apprenticeships programs are provided opportunities for advancement. Some apprenticeship programs include Cabinetmaking, Tool and Die, Roofing, Sheet Metal, Culinary, Cement Mason, Bricklayer, Early Childhood Education, Plumber, and Electrician to name a few. 4

7 Employment Employment is an appropriate option for some high school graduates. Sometimes a job can be turned into a career where a person moves up ranks into a management position such as at a restaurant. However, high school graduates with no vocational training will probably find that they have limited career options. In many cases they will find that they are, in reality, not entering a career field as much as they are just getting a job. In most case they will also find that they are not making much more than minimum wage. Opportunities for advancement will be limited. 5

8 Frequently Asked Questions: What is a Permanent Record? A permanent record is maintained on each student. The record carries the student s full legal name, date of birth, dates of enrollment/withdrawal/graduation, courses taken, final grades received, credits earned, yearly/cumulative GPA, rank in class and test results. What is a transcript and how is it used? A transcript is a copy of a student s permanent record and is used by post-secondary school/job/apprenticeship/scholarship applications, military enlistment, pre-trial/security clearance investigations, etc. The record carries the student s full legal name, date of birth, dates of enrollment/withdrawal/graduation, courses taken, final grades received, credits earned, semester/cumulative GPA, and rank in class. What is an official transcript vs. unofficial transcript? An official transcript carries the high school seal and a school official s signature and is sent directly to another institution/organization via the mail. Official transcripts are not faxed. This procedure is followed to assure authenticity. An unofficial transcript is stamped unofficial and does not carry the school seal or a school official s signature. An unofficial transcript may be faxed. The authenticity of an unofficial transcript cannot be guaranteed. What is a class rank? Schools rank each student s academic progress in relation to other students progress. In order to do this the letter grades must be converted to a point system. The G.P.A. (Grade Point Average) is based on a four point system where A=4 points, B=3 points, C=2 points, D=1 point and F=0 points. This point system is used to determine the student s rank (position by grades earned) in his/her class in relation to his/her classmates. It is also one of many recognized pieces of information that universities, scholarships, etc. may look at for assessing your applications. If you are planning on entering a 4-year university, you should check your class rank. Usually, a student who ranks in the upper half of their graduating class should be eligible for admission to some 4-year universities; although, some universities have become more selective and have increased their requirements to the top 40% to top 25%. Two-year technical colleges generally do not directly consider rank for admission. A regular high school diploma is usually the general admission eligibility for a technical college if needed, stop in the Guidance department to determine your class rank. What you do now counts. Every year of high school is equally important! 6

9 Wisconsin Careers Get information on over 750 occupations. How much does it pay? What education will you need? What are the pros and cons? Will it be a good career in 10 years? Look at every college in the country. Over 400 Universities and Technical Colleges at your fingertips. Cost? Majors? Housing? Directly link to their home-pages. Do a Budget. Figure out how your future earnings will fit into the world of your future. Match yourself to the Career World. Compare your strengths, values, interests, and skills to today's hot jobs. Information on getting jobs. Do resumes, applications, cover letters, etc. Get links to other valuable websites. Financial aid, scholarships, the ACT, job boards, all directly linked. Create Your WISCareers Account 1. Go to 2. Click on Login Click on First Time User? 3. Enter Student Registration Code: mhs-c Click on Register Students at Mukwonago High School if you have created an account, the following does not apply to you. 7

10 Websites For Post-Secondary Planning Guidance Webpage College Info: Scholarship Search: AND the MHS Guidance website: Go to MHS website, click on Guidance, and click on scholarships to see the latest list! Financial Aid: Career Websites: Wiscareers - My Future - Mapping Your Future - Occupational Outlook Handbook - Career Info Net - Bridges - Finding the Pathway in Wisconsin Military Academies: (Westpoint-Army) (Annapolis- Navy) (Colorado- Air Force) (Merchant Marines) Athletes: (College Athletics) 8