What’s NEXT After High School?

1. What’s NEXT After High School? Exploring the Postsecondary Options… PARENT NIGHT 2013 Nicole Hairston, Graduation Coach

2. TOPICS COVERED • Postsecondary options • Student Profiles • Financial Aid • Transcripts • College Application Week

3. What are your child’s plans following high school? • No matter the goal, they must start planning now • Better planning now = better opportunities • Poor planning now = limited opportunities • No idea where to start? Totally lost? You’re in the right place! • Counselors are here to walk with you through this process!

4. WORLD OF WORK • Most jobs require additional training within the first year • Students should prepare a resume NOW • Begin looking for jobs and talking with people in that job to get a better idea of what it will be like • Consider completing an internship this year to gain practical experience

5. JOINING THE MILITARY • Talk with recruiters NOW • Ask about: • Different jobs they can offer when your child enlists • Educational opportunities and funding they can provide • Taking the ASVAB –determines whether your child is qualified to enlist & is a career inventory tool • 10th & 12th students will take on March 5th

6. TRADE/TECHNICAL SCHOOLS • Offer certifications or licensure in specialized programs (generally taking 2 years or less) • Professions such as plumbing, auto mechanics, electrician, hair styling, culinary arts • Research schools now: campus tour, costs, job placement rate • Consider an internship this year, job shadowing, interviewing someone already in the profession (i.e. The Art Institutes, Kaplan, ITT Tech, Southeastern, ECPI, DeVry, Capella)

7. COMMUNITY COLLEGES/2-YEAR INSTITUTIONS • Generally accept all students with a high school diploma or equivalent • Cost is often significantly lower than 4-year institutions • Earn an Associate’s degree after two years or prepare to transfer to a 4-year university • “College Transfer” program • Applying to CPCC

8. Central Piedmont Community College Key Dates 2.6 unweighted GPA= no accuplacer test April 2014– Accuplacer given @ MCHS April 2014– CPCC on campus to pick classes for Fall 2014

9. 4-YEAR UNIVERSITIES • Find out about the admissions process at each school and deadlines • Colleges may not have flexible deadlines – encourage your child get in everything days or weeks before it is due • If needed, your child should already be registered for the November or December SAT/ACT • Visit CFNC.org to apply to several schools at once

10. FINANCIAL AID FOR COLLEGE • Don’t give up when you see the price tag! • Research which scholarships are available to you: • MCHS Scholarship Newsletter • www.scholarshipplus.com/charmeck/ MCHS Financial Aid Night January 30th @ 6:00pm in Auditorium

11. FINANCIAL AID continued… • Beware of scams! We recommend you: • Never pay an application fee for a scholarship • Never respond to emails requesting for your or your child’s social security number • Never pay anyone to help your child obtain scholarships

12. TRANSCRIPTS • Students must request transcripts from Guidance (see Ms. Hunsucker) • Turnaround time is a few days (same day service is not available) • 1st transcript is free, each additional is $3.00 • Payment due at time request is turned in • CPCC only requires Final transcript

13. COLLEGE APPLICATION WEEK • Some schools waive the application fee for ALL students during the week of Nov. 18-22, 2013 • Sign up to apply at MCHS on Nov. 20th • Some students may be eligible for fee waivers at other times – see Ms. Hunsucker in guidance

14. Questions? • Planning for after high school can be exciting, frustrating, and scary for students and parents! • Ask lots of questions and seek help from the MCHS counselors! Guidance Office: 980-343-0085 MCHS Main Office: 980-343-1341