Putting the Pieces Together...A Guide to Life After High School

Putting the Pieces Together...A Guide to Life After High School

2 Year University (Community College/junior college 2-year universities are schools that offer the core classes and offer associates degrees. 2-year universities are great places to transition from high to a 4-year university. 2-year universities are usually cheaper and they still offer financial aid. 2-year universities also offer many certificates and programs in addition to traditional classes. Consider a 2-year university if you are unsure of a career or if you need to work on your GPA. Many 2-year universities will only require a high school diploma for admissions (check each school for more information). Trade/Technical Schools Trade/technical schools offer programs and certificates in many areas that do not require associates or bachelors degrees. Trade/technical schools do not usually have a core curriculum, students have classes related to the career choice only. Some trade/technical schools have on-site housing, but many do not. Check accreditation for trade/technical schools to ensure you are attending a quality school. WorkForce You may decide to join the workforce immediately after you graduate from high school, but remember, it will be difficult to go back to school after you ve been out for awhile. Depending on each job, you will be required to do some sort of training for each job. U.S. Military Talk to a recruiter for specific information on each branch of the U.S. Military. Do not sign any paperwork without discussing your decision and choice with your parents. Students can earn college credit while in the U.S. Military. The U.S. Military can pay for some or all of your college tuition. College ROTC programs can help you prepare for the U.S. Military while attending college. You must take the ASVAB Career Inventory Program and test your junior or senior year to determine the type of job for you in the U.S. Military. 4-Year University 4-year universities are traditional schools that offer associates, bachelors, masters and even doctoral degrees. 4-year universities offer on-site housing. 4-year universities have higher requirements. 4-year universities will have many options for majors and will specialize in certain areas. The first 2 years at a 4-year university will be spent working on the core curriculum and then the last 2 years will be spent working on classes in the major area.

Every bit of education you get after high school increases the chances you will earn a good salary. The more education you get, the more likely it is you will always have a job. Continuing education after high school is much more important for your generation that it was for your parent s generation. Businesses want to hire people who know how to think and solve problems. Average Yearly Income by Educational Attainment High school drop out $19,915 High school graduate $29,448 Some college $31,421 Associate s degree $37,990 Bachelor s degree $54,689 Master s degree $67,898 Doctoral degree $92,863 Professional degree $119,009

GRADUATION PROGRAMS RECOMMENDED PROGRAM DEPARTMENT # OF CREDITS CLASSES ENGLISH 4.0 English 1, English 2, English 3, English 4 MATH 4.0 To include Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and other Math Elective SCIENCE 4.0 Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and other Science Elective SOCIAL STUDIES PHYSICAL EDUCA- TION 4.0 World Geography, World History, U.S. History, Government, and Economics 1.0 P.E., Athletics, or PE Substitution SPEECH 0.5 Communication Applications Professional Communications FOREIGN LAN- GUAGE 2.0 Levels 1 and 2 of the Same Language FINE ARTS 1.0 Art, Music, Theatre, Dance ELECTIVES 5.5 26 Total Recommended Program 3 Years Foreign Language PLUS 4 Advanced Measures DISTINGUISHED PROGRAM Number Allowed Approval Score of 3 or above on an AP exam. 1-4 None Original research project of professional quality as judged by a panel of experts. PSAT Commended Scholar, Semi-Finalist, or higher, or National Achievement Hispanic Scholar. 1-2 Prior 1 None Grade of A or B in a college course. 1-4 Prior For more information contact your Distinguished Achievement Plan coordinator.

How Can You Make the Most out of High School? Whether you are sure you are going to college or not, it is always best to take courses in high school that prepare you for college level work. Use your testing information, whether it is a TAKS test, STAAR test, or one you took in the classroom. Actually look at the scores and identify weaknesses. In areas you are weak in, take extra coursework or get a tutor to help you with the material. Establish goals for each school year. Make sure that your actions and decisions are leading you to your goals. Explore careers through research, coursework, and experiences. You want to know what a job will look like before you invest a college education to pursue it. Utilize the internet for information on education and career planning. Education is a lifelong pursuit if you want to be successful, you need to train yourself to be a lifelong learner. What are Dual Credit Courses? Defined as courses in which a student may receive both high school and college credit provided the course meets both district and college guidelines. Students enrolling in dual credit courses must make certain they follow established enrollment procedures and pay applicable fees. Students must contact the counselor to begin the enrollment process. Students may be required to take an entrance exam in order to gain admittance to dual credit courses. Students may qualify for an exemption from the entrance test based on TAKS, ACT or SAT scores. Results must be available when dual credit application materials are submitted. Why take Pre AP and AP courses? You will be better prepared academically. You are more likely to complete college in less time. In college you will perform significantly better than students who haven t taken challenging courses. You are more likely to exercise leadership as a result of your experiences in AP classes. Students who score a 3 or above on AP exams may be awarded credit by their college or university.

It is never too early to start thinking about what you will be doing four years from now. Here are some of the main things you and your family can focus on during your freshman year to prepare for your future. SET SOME GOALS - At the end of the year, what do you want the report card to look like? Remember everything from here on will follow you on your transcript!! CHECK YOUR SCHEDULE - Have you enrolled in challenging courses? Will these courses prepare you for college? KEEP UP WITH YOUR GRADES. BE AT SCHOOL The 90% attendance rule be familiar with it!! GET INVOLVED in some sort of extra-curricular activity. DO SOME RESEARCH Become familiar with what courses are necessary to graduate from high school. Visit a college fair in your area. Become familiar with college entrance requirements. Learn about college costs and how financial aid works. Visit colleges when they are in session. Explore careers on the internet. Explore summer opportunities such as a job, internship or volunteer position. What is a GPA? GPA stands for Grade Point Average. Every class is calculated in a GPA (except for credit by exams and local credits). GPAs are the 2 nd item colleges consider in applications. Keller ISD computes GPAs on a 100-point scale. Colleges re-calculate all GPAs and do not care which system (100-point vs. 4.0) schools calculate GPAs. GPAs are weighted, meaning that they have added points from pre-ap and AP classes. GPAs do NOT freeze. They are recalculated twice a year. Ranks freeze at the end of the 5 th six week. How Do I Calculate My GPA? Add each grade for every school year Add 10 points per semester for every pre-ap or AP class taken (pre-ap is designated by a Q and AP is designated by a P ) Add all years together Multiply the number of state credits by 2 Divide the total points by the number you just calculated for your GPA. When are GPAs Calculated? GPAs are calculated twice yearly after the school year ends and after the end of the first semester (allow two weeks after the end of each semester for calculation).

Hopefully, you finished the 9 th grade year successfully. If not, make sure you are doing what you can to get caught up. It is not too late to get back on track and graduate on time if you work hard. It is also not too late to go to college if that is your choice. REVIEW LAST YEAR S GOALS - Did you meet them? Do they need to be changed? CREATE new goals for this school year. CHECK YOUR SCHEDULE - Have you enrolled in challenging courses? Will these courses prepare you for college or a career you are interested in? Are you scheduled to retake any failed courses? KEEP UP WITH YOUR GRADES. KEEP UP WITH ATTENDANCE if you had credit denials from last year, take care of them as soon as possible. GET INVOLVED in some sort of extra-curricular activity. GO to college fairs in your area. PSAT you will have the opportunity to take the PSAT/NMSQT in October in an effort to prepare you for next year s test. Take it seriously. SCORES - When PSAT scores are returned, get online to study your scores, needs, potential careers. COLLEGE FILE - Start a collection of college information. Learn about college costs and how financial aid works. Visit Colleges when they are in session. CAREER SEARCH - Keep exploring careers on the internet. What kind of education is required for your field of choice? SUMMER -Look for great summer opportunities!!

In the Fall August through December GOALS -Look at last year s goals. Did you meet them? Do they need to be changed? Create new goals for this school year. CHECK YOUR SCHEDULE - Are you still on track to graduate? If you don t know SEE YOUR COUNSELOR! NCAA -Are you an athlete hoping to play college sports? Register with the NCAA clearinghouse. KEEP UP WITH YOUR GRADES. GET INVOLVED in some sort of extra-curricular activity and/or community service. GO to college fairs in your area. PREPARE FOR and take the PSAT/NMSQT in October CONTINUE your college search. Make a list of your abilities, preferences and personal qualities. List things you may want to do in college. Start reading about college majors and how they relate to possible careers. ATTEND school meetings about college search, financial aid, senior preparation etc. USE YOUR PSAT SCORES TO IDENTIFY WHAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON. February CREATE A PERSONAL FILE that includes Transcript, list of awards and honors (dates included) School and community clubs and organizations you have joined, including dates, responsibilities and activities List of all jobs for the year and/or summer List of community service/volunteer work, including dates and hours spent (Update this file at the end of each semester from here on out.) VISIT - Plan at least one college campus visit for spring. NCAA? Register with NCAA Clearinghouse if you are a candidate for college athletics. EVALUATE TRANSCRIPT Does it look like you think it should? If you think there are mistakes, see your counselor. JUNIOR CONFERENCE - Select senior classes with the help of your counselor. You are responsible for selecting courses needed for graduation and/or college entrance. CONTINUE college search using college guides and college websites

March April - May ACT - Talk to your counselor about registering for the ACT given in April. SAT - Talk to your counselor about registering for SAT in May or June. (It is recommended to have had Algebra II & English III before taking the SAT.) INVESTIGATE activities, community service, volunteer work and/or employment for summer. NCAA If you haven t done it already, and you hope to be a college athlete, make sure you sign up for the NCAA Clearinghouse. IDENTIFY teachers who would be willing to write you a letter of recommendation. VISIT some colleges in the area while they are still in session or make plans for summer visits. June - July ACT/SAT Have you taken a test yet? If you have received scores, evaluate them. Do you need to take the test again? What do you need to work on before you do? ORGANIZE - Begin to organize all of the college materials you will be receiving in the mail with the research you have been doing the last couple of years. VISIT Summer road trip? Visit some of the college campuses you are interested in. Update your personal file. NARROW Prepare a profile of the colleges that most interest you. Create a list of questions and contact an admissions advisor. August SCHEDULE - Check your senior schedule to make sure you are scheduled in the right classes. Are you still on track to graduate? STICK WITH IT - Stick with challenging courses. Your senior year is not a time to slack off. Do not be tempted to take the rigor out of your schedule in exchange for an out period. CREDIT DENIALS? Take care of any attendance issues ASAP you do not want to send a transcript with denials on it when you apply for college.

QUICK HITS Obviously, the senior year is full of opportunities and responsibilities for those who plan to attend college after graduation. We will offer more meetings and information throughout the senior year in order to keep students up to date with all they need to know to be successful. However, here are some quick hits about what you need to expect! 1. Check your courses for your senior year --Make sure your schedule has all of the classes you need to graduate! See your counselor if you have questions. 2. TAKE A TEST If you haven t taken an ACT or SAT and you plan to attend college next year, schedule a test! 3. UPDATE YOUR PERSONAL PROFILE - Make sure your personal file is updated with any new information and check for errors. 4. GET ORGANIZED! - Keep all of your college information/materials together and organized. Keep all paperwork and copies of correspondence (including emails) from the colleges. 5. APPLY -Using the school s website, apply to the college. Remember to include the application fee, send official transcript from the registrar s office at your high school, and send your official college entrance exam scores (ACT or SAT) to the college from the testing institution. Send recommendation letters when requested. Remember to give counselors and teachers 2 weeks to complete letters of recommendation. 6. TRANSCRIPTS -Each college will want an official transcript sent from the registrar s office at your high school. Each transcript is $1. Please allow 2-3 days for each transcript to be processed. 7. FAFSA - Complete your FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov - In January you will be able to fill out the Free Application for Financial Student Aid from the government. In order to get any financial aid from the government or ANY COLLEGE INSTITUTION, you must fill out the FAFSA form. Apply for a PIN number early! 8. SCHOLARSHIPS at www.collegeguidanceconsultants.com-go to www.collegeguidanceconsultants.com and apply for scholarships! Check this website WEEKLY for updated scholarships (password and log on are keller). There will also be local scholarships available at your high school in the spring. Come to the counseling office for more information. Lots of scholarship money goes unclaimed because students do not take the time to fill out the forms.

There are so many tests. What are they about? PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test): During the junior year, the PSAT/NMSQ serves as the qualifying test for scholarships awarded by the National Merit Scholarship Program. ACT (American College Test): The ACT assessment is a general standardized college admissions test. The highest total score on the ACT is 36. The student s score on the ACT is a good predictor of his or her freshman year grade point average. The score does not measure a student s intelligence, nor does it predict whether the student will graduate from college. Students who are not strong in math may want to consider taking this test. Your counselor can help you decide which test is best for you. Students should plan to take this test in the spring of their junior year. To register for the ACT go to www.actstudent.org SAT (Standardized Admissions Test) I: Reasoning Test: The SAT will measure mathematical problem-solving, critical reading, and writing skills. Each section is reported on a scale of 200 800 points. Students should take this test no sooner than the spring of their junior year. The SAT does not measure intelligence, nor does it measure skills like motivation or creativity. -Critical Reading Section - measures a student s ability to analyze language at the passage, paragraph, and sentence levels. -Math Section - measures problem-solving skills in arithmetic, geometry, and Algebra I and II. -Writing Section measures a student s ability to apply rules of English Language and organize and support an argument in a short essay. To register for the SAT go to www.collegeboard.com THEA (Texas Higher Education Assessment): The THEA Test is designed to provide information about the reading, mathematics, and writing skills of students entering public colleges, universities, and educator preparation programs in public and private institutions. Students may be exempted from this test based on ACT, SAT, or TAKS scores. Check with the university to see if you are exempt. If not, plan to take the test in the spring of your senior year. www.thea.nesinc.com

Are you worried about how you are going to pay for college? With the right planning, a college education is within reach for every Texas student. Below are answers to common questions about paying for college. How much does college actually cost? The cost of a college education varies, depending on the college you select and whether you live at home, in an apartment, or on campus. In Texas, the average price tag for a college degree (tuition and fees, room and board, books, transportation, and other expenses) ranges from a low of $9,337 (one year at a public community college) to a high of $46,237 (one year at a private college or university). Some colleges cost much less than the average; others will be higher. How will you pay for college? Many students receive financial aid to help pay for college. Families are expected to contribute to their student s education, even if the contribution is a small one. Most families use a combination of resources to help pay for college. These include: * Money they have saved over time * A portion of their current income * The student's part-time and summer earnings * Financial aid, including educational loans * Other resources Typically, families spread the cost of college over a long period of time the same way you pay for other major expenditures, such as homes and cars. Many families will need assistance. Students who demonstrate financial need (after completing the Free Application For Federal Student Aid commonly referred to as the FAFSA) may be eligible for federal and/or state financial aid to help pay for college. What is financial aid? Student financial aid is money used to help pay for college expenses. It is available from many sources and in many forms: grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities, loans, and other programs. Grants and scholarships are free money, while loans must be paid back. Financial aid can be used to pay for tuition and fees, books and supplies, and the living expenses associated with attending college. How do you know if you qualify for financial aid? Generally, students from a family that qualifies for the Free or Reduced Lunch Program will qualify for need-based assistance. If your family's income is above this level, you might still qualify for need-based financial aid. Where can I find additional resources? The college financial aid office is the student's best source of information on grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities, loans, and other programs. Many resources are also available online, but be wary of sites or companies that charge you for information or promise guaranteed scholarships. The same information is free from other sources.

Military Academies If you're considering a service academy or military college, start planning early. Speak to recruiters, your guidance counselor and students at the school. Research the physical, academic and post-graduate commitments expected of you. Apply for nomination in the spring of your junior year. Military schools combine a top-notch education with the opportunity to develop valuable leadership skills. Students who choose to attend a military institution become part of a tradition of national service and principle. By attending a service academy, you have also committed to fulfilling a service requirement in that branch of the military. Your service time begins after graduation and varies among the armed forces branches.

TOP TEN % RULE Students who are in the top 10 percent of their graduating class are eligible for automatic admission to any public university* in Texas. To be eligible for automatic admission, a student must: Graduate in the top 10 percent of his or her class at a public or private high school in Texas, or Graduate in the top 10 percent of his or her class from a high school operated by the U.S. Department of Defense and be a Texas resident or eligible to pay resident tuition; Enroll in college no more than two years after graduating from high school; and Submit an application to a Texas public university for admission before the institution's application deadline (check with the university regarding specific deadlines). Students admitted through this route may still be required to provide SAT or ACT scores, although these scores are not used for admissions purposes. Students must also take the THEA test, unless exempted from the test requirement. Check with the admissions office regarding THEA, SAT, and ACT requirements. *Students in the top 8% are eligible for automatic admission to the University of Texas. Due to a new state law, the University of Texas will NOT be automatically accepting students in the top 9% or top 10% of their graduating class. To order a transcript Go to the Counseling Center and fill out the Transcript Request Form. Each transcript is $1. Do not open official transcripts they become unofficial if the envelope has been opened. We can electronically send transcripts to Texas universities and PDFs to the Common Application.you still have to request them! We cannot fax official transcripts. Remember, transcripts take 2-3 days to prepare. Remember deadlines! Transcripts ordered before February will include grades through the end of the prior school year. Transcripts ordered in February or after should include first semester grades. If the student is 18 or older, the parent can no longer request a transcript for them.

Transcripts can be confusing to read. Below, you will see several sections of a transcript with explanations about what you are Below, you are looking at one school year as it appears on a transcript. You see the courses, the grades, the credits awarded. This is an indicator for marking period. We award credit after MP2 (end of first semester) and MP 4 (end of second semester). This is where you will see if credit was awarded or not. If there is a 0.0 in this column, your student did not earn credit for that course. Letters like this indicate the type of course/credit if it is anything other than regular. L = Local, Q = Pre Ap, P = AP, etc. This student s GPA is 100.54 What you see here is usually found at the bottom of each transcript. If the transcript is more than one page, it will be on page 2. This is where you will find the information about GPA, Rank, and Total This student has earned a total of 16.5 State Credits. You will need 26 State Credits to graduate. This student is ranked #20 out of a class of 530 students.

Helpful Websites www.act.org www.collegeboard.com www.ed.gov/thinkcollege www.collegeispossible.org www.collegeforalltexans.com www.collegeview.com www.adventuresineducation.org www.petersons.com www.collegenet.com www.college-scholarships.com www.fastweb.com www.finaid.org www.gocollege.com www.gentx.org www.collegebound.net www.usnews.com www.parentingteens.about.com www.fafsa.ed.gov www.window.state.tx.us/scholars You Have Amazing Resources Right in Front of You!! Speak to your counselor Talk to your teachers about their experiences Attend meetings on your campus Career-oriented websites: www.usnews.com/usnews/work/wohome.htm http://jobstar.org www.careernet.org www.careerbuilder.com www.acinet.org/acinet www.ams.org/careers www.bls.gov www.career.com www.myroad.com (with PSAT login)