Welcome to Senior Parent Night Class of 2012

1. Welcome toSenior Parent Night Class of 2012 Presented by West Geauga High School Guidance Department

2. L.E.A.F.Lake-Geauga Educational Assistance Foundation FREE FINANCIAL AID HELP • Service Free to You – Paid by West G • Every Wednesday & Every Other Friday at WG • Make an appointment with LEAF representative, Sandra Hanley by calling (440) 729-5922 ext. 4164 OR email shanley@leaf-ohio.org • Website for LEAF- www.leaf-ohio.org

3. Class Honors & Commencement Speakers Class honors for graduates will be awarded on the basis of cumulative GPA (eight semesters) as follows: Above 4.0=Summa Cum Laude (with highest praise-Gold Medal); 4.0-3.75=Magna Cum Laude (with Great Praise-Silver Medal); 3.74- 3.6=Cum Laude (with Praise-Bronze Medal). The President of the senior class, in good standing, will speak at graduation. The class president’s remarks will be submitted in advance, and approved by the Principal and senior class advisor. Summa and Magna Cum Laude candidates may also apply to speak at graduation. Eligible applicants will submit proposed speeches to the Principal no later than Prom Friday. Speeches will be numbered, copied, and judged, with names removed, by a committee consisting of: 1 member of the Board of Education; 1 Administrator; 3 teachers; 1 student and 1 parent. Committee members will be approved by the Principal and senior class advisor, who will be ex-officio members of the committee. Selected speeches must be read, as judged, at graduation. Committee members may not be related, in any way, to speech applicants.

4. Class of 2012 Graduation Criteria • FOR COLLEGE PREP: • Foreign Lang. 2 credits •  Fine Arts 1 credit English 4 credits Mathematics 3 credits Science 3 credits Social Studies 3 credits Health .5 credits Phys. Ed. .5 credits (or waived) Electives 7 credits ---------- Total: 21 credits

5. Honors Diploma Criteria Students need to fulfill all but one criterion for any of the following for a Diploma with Honors English4 units Mathematics4 units Including Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II or equivalent Science4 units Including Physics and Chemistry Social Studies4 units Foreign Lang3 units Including at least 2 units in each language studied  Fine Arts1 unit GPA3.5 on a 4.0 scale ACT/SAT 27 ACT / 1210 SAT Writing sections not included   Diploma with Honors requirements pre-suppose completion of all high school diploma requirements in Ohio Revised Code including: ½ unit physical education -- ½ unit health -- ½ unit in American history -- ½ unit in government

6. Junior Year vs. Senior Year • Take PSAT • Attend College Planning Night • Attend Junior Parent Presentation • Schedule a Junior Meeting • Take ACT and/or SAT • Research Career Choices • Research Colleges • Strive to attain the Best GPA for yourself • Visit Colleges of Interest • Repeat ACT and/or SAT • Attend Senior Parent Presentation (tonight) • Attend Financial Aid Presentation • Schedule a Financial Aid Meeting with LEAF Rep • Solidify College Choices • Do Final College Visits • Apply to Colleges • Apply for Scholarships • Select a College

7. NCAA Clearinghouse Registration • Go to NCAA Clearinghouse Website @ www.eligibilitycenter.organd follow all directions for registration. • Print both COPY 1 & COPY 2 of the transcript request forms and bring them to Mrs. Vlah in the Guidance Office. • Copy 1 gets mailed immediately • Copy 2 gets mailed after graduation

8. Early Decision vs. Early Action Early Decision • COMMITS a student to go to that school • Is a contract between the student and the school • Student promises, with acceptance to this school, to withdraw all other applications • Student can apply Early Decision to only one school Early Action • Student applies to an institution of preference • Not a contract between student and school • Student is not obligated to accept school’s offer • Student will receive decision well in advance of school’s regular response date

9. Top 10 College Application Mistakes • Misspellings/Grammatical Errors • Forgetting to Hit Send for Online Applications • Forgetting to Sign the Application • Not Reading Carefully • Giving Inaccurate Information • Not Telling Your Counselor You Applied • Writing Illegibly • Having an Inappropriate Email Address • Not Checking Your Email Regularly • Letting Your Parents Do Your Applications PROOFREAD

10. College Application Information Page West Geauga High School 13401 Chillicothe Road Chesterland, Ohio 44026 PH: (440) 729-5950 FAX: (440) 729-5959 School Code: 360910 Mrs. Vickie Vlah Registrar (440) 729-5962 vickie.vlah@westg.org Mr. David Callahan Seniors A-G (440) 729-5963 david.callahan@westg.org Mrs. Kimberly Zannetti Seniors H-O (440) 729-5964 kim.zannetti@westg.org Mrs. Megan Petronsky Seniors P-Z (440) 729-5965 megan.petronsky@westg.org

11. Important College Planning Websites • Family Connection • http://connection.naviance.com/geauga • SAT • www.collegeboard.com • West Geauga School Code: 360910 • WGHS Test Center Code: Not given at WGHS • ACT • www.act.org • West Geauga School Code: 360910 • WGHS Test Center Code: 182030 • OCIS • www.ocis.org • You have your own username/password OR you can also use the generic one… • User Name: WGeauga • Password: ohiocis03 • FAFSA • www.fafsa.ed.gov • NCAA Clearinghouse • www.eligibilitycenter.org

12. FAMILY CONNECTION • What is Family Connection? • How do I access it? • How do I register? • What can I do with it? • How does it help career and college planning?

13. What is it? • It is a web-based resource specific to West Geauga High that supports student career and college planning • It is used by the guidance staff to process all college applications

14. How is it accessed? Family Connection is on the Web at http://connection.naviance.com/geauga OR Go to www.westg.org Click High School Click Guidance Click Family Connection Website AND Once you get there --Bookmark it!

15. How do you register? • Each student receives a code • Use your code to create a personal account • Codes are random and alphanumeric for security reasons and can be used only once • On your first visit, click “I Need to Register” in the “Are You New Here?” box, then enter your code and follow the on-screen instructions • On subsequent visits, sign in under the heading “Welcome to Family Connection” using the email and password you set up

16. Main Page Returning Users First Time

17. After Sign in

18. College Information

19. Surveys

20. My Applications

21. Explore Careers

22. The Common Application • Go to www.commonapp.org • Check which schools accept the Common App • Set up an account/login • Complete the application • Check to see if your chosen college(s) require supplements and/or fees • Have someone PROOFREAD all items • Remember: You must logout of the online application after each session & save your work • Be aware that once you hit ‘submit’ you will not be able to make changes to your application

23. Which of Ohio’s colleges are Common Application Members? For schools outside of Ohio just go to the Common Application website @ www.commonapp.org Baldwin Wallace College Case Western Reserve University College of Wooster Denison University Hiram College John Carroll University Kenyon College Lake Erie College Marietta College Miami University Oberlin College Ohio Northern University Ohio Wesleyan University Otterbein University University of Dayton University of Findlay Wittenberg University Xavier University The Common ApplicationWho Takes It?

24. Common Application

25. PREPARING TO APPLY • Choose Colleges • Log on to Family Connection , click the COLLEGES tab and put colleges on your “Colleges I’m Applying To” list • Once the colleges are on your list… • Under the “Submissions” heading check for the type of application required for each college (ie. Common App, Online, Paper) • Under the “Applying Via Common App?” heading mark HOW you plan to apply and click “Update Applications” • Under the “Deadline” heading check for each college’s deadline • Request teacher recommendations (if required) • Please follow teacher recommendation guidelines which will be presented on a later slide • Fill out Brag Sheet(s) for Counselors & Teachers (if required)

26. PREPARING TO APPLY

27. PREPARING TO APPLYSUBMISSIONS CODES This means this school is a Common App School and you WILL use the Common App to apply. This means this school is a Common App School, but you chose NOT to use the Common App to apply. Instead you will apply online directly from the college website. This means this school is NOT a Common APP school, but you can apply online directly from the college website. This means this school does not have an online application. And all forms need to be mailed.

28. PREPARING TO APPLY

29. APPLYING Applying Via Common App • Go to www.commonapp.org • Set up your personal account/login • Complete a profile, add colleges, complete the application, upload essay, etc. • Check to see if your colleges require supplements and/or fees • PROOFREAD all items before you submit • Be aware that once you hit ‘submit’ you will not be able to make changes to your application Applying Via the College • When you apply via the college, you can apply either online or by using a paper application (colleges prefer online) • To apply online go to that particular college’s website and follow their directions to apply • Complete & send your application (online preferred) at least 2 weeks before any deadline

30. AFTER YOU APPLY • Right after you hit SEND on your application Log on to Family Connection • #1 Mark That You Applied • In the “Colleges I’m Applying to” section under “My App” click “Have you applied?” • Scroll to the appropriate college and click the button next to “I have submitted my application.” • Scroll to bottom of the page and click “Update Applications” • #2 Request Your Transcripts… • In the “Colleges I’m Applying to” section click the “Transcripts” link • Check the “Add Request” box next to the college(s) for which you need transcripts • Scroll down and click “Request Transcripts” • #3 Request Your Test Scores… • Go to the ACT and/or College Board SAT website and request that your test scores be sent directly from the testing company to your chosen school(s). Your scores cannot be sent by the guidance office. www.actstudent.org or www.collegeboard.com • Your counselor will prepare and send the application items. These include your transcript & school profile along with any recommendations • You can check the status of your transcript package in the “Colleges I’m Applying to” section under the “Office Status” tab

31. AFTER YOU APPLY REQUEST TRANSCRIPTS HAVE YOU APPLIED?

32. ACT/SAT SCORE REPORTING • Students must submit all test scores directly from the testing companies • Many Colleges & Universities are instituting policies that require all test scores be sent directly from the testing companies • Go to the ACT and/or College Board SAT website and request that your test scores be sent directly from the testing company to your chosen school(s). Your scores cannot be sent by the guidance office. www.actstudent.org or www.collegeboard.com

33. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION • How many do I need? = 2 • Who Should I ask? = Teachers who know you well and with whom you have a good rapport, particularly those in the subject area you plan to pursue. • To Waive or not to Waive? = We highly recommend waiving your right to see the letter. When asked on Family Connection- Waive • How do I ask? = Ask in person! You must use the “Request for Teacher Recommendation” form. These forms are available in the Guidance Office • How it is sent? = Once you bring Mrs. Vlah the signed form, she will go on Family Connection and “Invite” your chosen teachers to be your recommenders. They will then submit all forms online. • Can I see it? = You can only see a letter of recommendation if that teacher allows you to access it. The guidance office will not allow students to see the letters of recommendation from their teachers.

34. Request for Teacher Recommendation Student Name: _________________________ I agree to write a letter of recommendation for the student listed above. Signature: _________________ Date: ______ *Students: Once this is form completed, please bring it to Mrs. Vlah in guidance so she can request this recommendation via Family Connection.

35. Do Not Invite Recommenders Via Common App DO NOT USE

36. IMPORTANT REMINDERS You must log on to Family Connection to request transcripts for all applications All test scores must be sent directly from the testing company PROOFREAD all documents Communicate with your counselor Give your counselor time- At least 2 weeks before any deadline!

37. THANKS! If you would like to schedule an individual senior conference, please contact your counselor… Mr. Callahan- Students A-G Mrs. Zannetti- Students H-O Mrs. Petronsky- Students P-Z