Marvin Ridge High School Senior Night 2017 Lori Sgan (A-G), Lisa - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Marvin Ridge High School Senior Night 2017

Lori Sgan (A-G), Lisa Stipp (H-O), Jessica Pierce (P-Z), Carlee Wetzler (Student Support Counselor)

Senior Planning Guide

A copy of this presentation and the Senior Planning Guide can be found on the MRHS School Counseling website here.

Graduation Requirements

English 4 credits Math 4 credits Science 3 credits (a third lab science is required for admissions into South Carolina universities) Social Studies 4 credits Health & PE 1 credit Additional electives CTE, Arts, World Language, or others A minimum of 28 credits are required for graduation

Graduation Requirements

• A fine arts credit is not a graduation requirement. However, some colleges and

universities do require one fine arts credit. South Carolina schools and many California schools have this admissions requirement. Be sure to check the minimum admissions requirements of each school you plan to apply to. This information can be found on each school’s website.

• South Carolina schools (Clemson, USC, Coastal Carolina, etc.) require a 3rd lab
• science. Biology, Chemistry, Marine Science, Forensic Science, Physics, AP, IB and

Career and College Promise sciences are considered lab sciences.

• Many schools also require/strongly recommend the 3rd level of a World Language.

Again, be sure to check the minimum admissions requirements for each school.

Senior Honors

• North Carolina Scholars Program Requirements
• UCPS Global Scholars Program

○ Service Learning Project with a Global Theme

• Descriptions of these diploma enhancement programs can be

found by following this link:

• Scholars Program Requirements

Standardized Testing

• Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

○ SAT Subject Tests

• American College Test (ACT)
• Scores must be sent to colleges directly from the testing agency. There will be

a fee if students elect to send scores after the day of the test.

College Planning Timeline

September-November

• Update Resumes
• Take Fall SAT/ACT exams
• DEADLINES

○ Early Applications ○ Scholarships

• Begin application process
• Recommendations
• Secondary School Reports
• FAFSA

College Choices

• Know yourself and your reasons for attending college
• Consider college characteristics
• List, compare, and visit colleges
• Apply for admission and pay close attention to DEADLINES
• Types of schools:

○

Safety

○

Match

○

Reach

College Comparison Checklist

• Can be used to compare multiple colleges

○ location, size, environment, admission requirements, academics, expenses, financial aid, housing, facilities, activities, campus visits

College Admissions Options

Admission Options:

• Early Action
• Early Decision
• Regular Admission
• Rolling Admission

Admission Decisions:

• Conditional Admittance
• Denial
• Deferment
• Waitlist

Common Application

• Widely used for college admissions for over 700 colleges and universities.
• Developed to cut down on multiple applications and essays for students

Other application options

• CFNC - The College Foundation of North Carolina

■ This site can be used to apply for North Carolina schools both public and private.

• Coalition - Apply to over 90 schools throughout the United States.
• Each college or university’s admissions page will detail application options that

also may include a portal unique to the individual school.

Writing College Essays

• Colleges often rank essays 5th in importance when making admissions decisions.
• View the essay as an opportunity…
• Be yourself! Make yourself real rather than writing what you think they want to
• hear. Tell them something different from what’s on your resume or transcript.
• Proofread!!!!! Essays can make or break an applicant’s chances! Make sure to

stay on topic and focused.

• “Optional Essays” really aren’t optional!
• Some helpful sites:

○ College Admissions Essays ○ Quintessential Careers

Letters of Recommendation

• Many colleges require but not all!
• May come from teachers, coaches, counselors (could be a

form), or community leaders.

• How to request a recommendation letter
• School Counselor Forms/Secondary Reports

and Recommendations

Student-Parent Questionnaires/Brag Sheets

• Questionnaires are valuable resources in helping us to get to know you so

that we can write the best recommendation possible.

• Parents - Highlight qualities in your child
• Students - Describe how you have made an impact and how you will make

an impact at your future school.

Requesting a Transcript

• IN-STATE APPLICATIONS: If you are applying to an in-state college or university (public or private) or community

college, please send your transcript through CFNC. Students can create a free account at www.cfnc.org. This method allows you to send your transcript electronically and it’s FREE! You will need to check your CFNC account shortly thereafter to verify that your transcript was successfully sent. This is the student’s responsibility.

• OUT-OF-STATE APPLICATIONS: If you are applying to an out-of-state college or university and not using the

Common Application, you will need to request a paper copy of your transcript using the 2017-2018 Transcript Request Form. The form can be found online and is also in the school counseling office. Submit your transcript request form and payment ($3 per transcript) to the School Counseling Office for processing. We prefer that you make payment online at http://osp.osmsinc.com/unionNC. Please print your online payment receipt and attach it to your request form. Transcripts will be available within 5 days. It is the student’s responsibility to pick up their transcript and mail to the college/university.

Requesting a Transcript

• Transcript request forms are only needed if a hard copy of the transcript is
• required. Transcripts are $3 per hard copy transcript.
• Please use the 2017-2018 Transcript Request Form for requesting a

transcript for personal use. You can pay the $3 fee online at http://osp.osmsinc.com/unionNC. Please print your receipt of online payment and attach to your transcript request form. Please be sure to specify on the form whether you need an official or unofficial transcript. Official transcripts are signed and sealed and unofficial transcripts are not.

• All transcripts for Scholarship opportunities are FREE. Please complete the

Transcript Request Form.

Student Resumes

• Show off all your hard work at school and in extra-curricular activities
• Gives you a leg up on college and scholarship applications

NCAA Eligibility

• The NCAA Eligibility Center can be accessed at

https://ncaaeligibiltycenter.org

• Division I and Division II requirements, steps on

monitoring your eligibility, and much more information can be found here.

Community Colleges

• There are 59 Community Colleges in North Carolina.
• Community Colleges are an economical option and offer a wide variety of

course selections.

• Many courses taken at Community Colleges will transfer to Universities.

Military Options

• Recruiters from the different branches of the military visit MRHS periodically

throughout the year.

• The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is required for

entrance into the military. MRHS will give the ASVAB in the spring. Check with the guidance office for details!

Financial Aid

• FAFSA - opens October 1st (federal aid determined by colleges)
• Loans
• Work Study

Financial Aid Night: Monday, October 2nd, 6:30 pm

Christy Majors, Assistant Vice President for Student Financial Services at Queens University

Scholarships

• MRHS Scholarship Newsletter
• Various websites - NEVER PAY
• Common mistakes include: not applying for scholarships you’re eligible for,

waiting too late to do a good job & missing deadline

• Turn in all scholarship offers to Mrs. Wetzler even if you don’t plan on using
• them. Scholarship means anything you don’t have to pay back: grants, tuition

waivers, federal work study, book waivers, study abroad package.

Website Resources

• MRHS website
• CFNC
• College Board
• College Navigator
• Collegeportraits.org
• Fastweb
• a2z Colleges