PARENTS of JUNIORS

1. PARENTS of JUNIORS Supporting your student in planning for the future…

2. Welcome Parents and Guardians Counselors • Mrs. Dolan: BAMIT (H-Z) and EMITT (T-Z) ext. 13014 dolanm@rps205.com • Mrs. Grygiel BAMIT (A-G) and HPS (A-K) ext. 13017 grygieja@rps205.com • Mrs. Nielsen: EMITT (A-S) ext. 13013 nielses@rps205.com • Mrs. Pauley: HS ext. 13020 pauleyd@rps205.com • Ms. Roberts: HPS (L-Z) ext. 13016 robertk@rps205.com

3. Overview • Graduation Requirements • Tutoring programs/monitoring progress • Planning for the Future • College Search Process • College Application Process • Scholarships and Financial Aid • NCAA

4. Graduation Requirements • 48 total credits • English—4 years (8 credits) • Social Studies—3 years (6 credits) • Math—3 years (6 credits) • Science—3 years (6 credits) • PE—3.5 years (7 credits)** • Health--.5 year (1 credit) • Fine Arts, Language, CTE—2 years (4 credits) • +10 additional credits of your choice

5. Monitoring Progress • Meet with teachers at conferences • 3rd quarter ends March 16th • Parent Portal/Home Access Center • Passwords are case sensitive • Contact Academy Office Secretary if problems accessing

6. Fulfilling your Requirements • How are you doing toward meeting requirements? • What courses do you need to make up? • Night School • Summer School • Edmentum • What kind of picture does your transcript paint of you? • What is your cumulative GPA?

7. Tutoring • Lunch time study tables • For students not on track to graduate • Individual arrangements with teachers • After school tutoring • Monday through Thursday 3:45-4:40 • Activity Bus at 4:45 • Enrollment Form to participate

8. Planning for the Future • Your first goal is to graduate from high school on time. • Your second goal is to prepare for your future. • Every choice you make everyday either helps you reach these goals, or hinders you.

9. Post-secondary options • 4 year college or university (25%) • 2 year (community) college (51%) • Vocational or Technical Schools (6%) • Apprenticeships or Work(9%) • Military (7%) • Did not respond (2%) (Percentages of Class of 2017)

10. Education Pays The more education/training you receive… • More likely to earn more money • More likely to find a job

12. Planning for College Second semester of your junior year is critical! SAT 6th semester grades for transcript

13. How you are evaluated for college admission… • TRANSCRIPT • The courses you have taken • The grades you have earned • Your class rank • ACT/SAT test scores • Essay/personal statement • Extra-curricular activities/community service/work experience • Recommendations from teachers

14. Recommended Coursework Illinois Board of Higher Education recommends that college-bound students take AT LEAST the following high school courses: • 4 years of English • 3 years of Mathematics (through at least Algebra 2) • 3 years of Social Studies • 3 years of Science • 2 years of electives (such as foreign language, art, theater, music or business classes)

15. SAT Test at Guilford • Tuesday, April 10th • Will be given to students who were classified as grade 11 at the start of the school year (24 credits at start). • See SAT test sheet • Test Results • Can submit scores to up to 4 colleges (students will enter these codes prior to the test in the pre-registration session). NCAA, RVC, etc. • You and parent must provide consent to place this score on your Guilford High School. Will cost you $12 per school to send later through CollegeBoard if not signed.

16. Rock Valley College • ACT and SAT cut-off scores for college level coursework ACT Test SAT Test English—19 Evidence-based reading Reading—19 and writing—510 Math—18 Math—470 Accuplacer test is required if these minimum scores are not met. Students who do not test into college level coursework must take Developmental Courses. These courses have tuition but do not award any college credit.

17. Admission Difficulty • Open Admission: Non-competitive. Does not consider class rank or ACT scores for admission. Community Colleges like Rock Valley College. • Minimally Selective: Most applicants were not in the top 50% of their class and scored below 1010 on SAT. Up to 95% of applicants were accepted. Chicago State University and ITT Technical Institute. • Moderately Selective: More that 75% of applicants were in the top 50% of their high school class and scored over 1010 on the SAT. Up to 85% of applicants accepted. Northern Illinois University and Augustana College. • Highly Selective: More than 50% of all freshmen were in the top 10% of their class and scored over 1230 on SAT. Up to 60% of applicants were accepted. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign • Most Selective: More than 75% of applicants in top 10% of class and scored over 1310 on SAT. Less than 30% of applicants accepted. University of Chicago or Northwestern

18. Comparing College Entrance Requirements

19. Comparing College Entrance Requirements

20. Comparing College Entrance Requirements

21. Criteria to Consider in Colleges • Admission Difficulty • Major • Tuition/Financial Aid • Location and Setting • Housing • Size • Athletics • Student Life

22. Decide what you want/need in a college… • Do research about schools (online). Career Cruising is a great tool!! • Ask questions from college representatives…either at school or at college fairs. • Visit campuses!

23. Research your options CAREER CRUISING www.careercruising.com Username: guilford Password: vikings All students have their own individualized username and password in order to save the information you find and to access some assessments. Username: 205-XXXXXX (student ID number) Password: 8 digit birthdate

24. Career Cruising Website Self-Assessment Take Matchmaker Interest Inventory Career Searching Search for Careers based on School Subject Search for Careers based on Career Cluster Use Career Selector Tool College Searching Search for Colleges and Majors Use School Selector Tool Compare Schools

25. Career Cruising Demonstration of the School Selector Tool

26. College Fair at RVC • Friday, April 6th from 11:30am-1:15pm • All Juniors (3rd year students) are required to attend • Permission Slips are due by Friday, March 23rd to Academy Office, Counselor or English Teacher • Between 50-100 Colleges, Technical Schools, and Military branches will be represented. Including many RVC programs.

27. College Fair • Come prepared with questions to ask. • Have a small list of schools in mind and visit their booths first! • Fill out cards to receive more information. You will be placed on a mailing list (or email list). • Be professional. • Use this time to help figure out which schools are a good fit for you!

28. College Fair details • Permission Slips must be turned in by Friday, March 23rd to your Academy Office, Counselor, or English teacher. • All students must ride the bus. You will be assigned to buses alphabetically to take attendance. • Do not bring your backpack!! • Lunch: Students who will be missing lunch will eat when we return. • When we return to the building, students will resume regular schedules.

29. College Application Process • Most applications are online (Do Not Apply Now!) • Begins in September of your Senior Year • You should begin the school year with a narrowed down list of schools (around 4-6) • Variety of options…include safety schools, financial safety schools • Do the work now to narrow down rather than during senior year

30. Applications Include: • Online application • Application Fee • Official transcript (online requests system used) • Sometimes includes: • Personal Statement • Letters of Recommendation • Counselor Recommendation Form • Activities Resume

31. Scholarships and Financial Aid • Merit-Based Scholarships • Scholarship Listings created by counseling office every month. Emailed to seniors and parents. • Research scholarship opportunities from the colleges you want to attend. • Athletic Scholarships (talk to your counselor about academic eligibility!!) • Division I and Division II athletics • www.eligibilitycenter.org

32. Scholarships and Financial Aid • Need-based Financial Aid • FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) • Loans, grants and work-study from state and federal government • Apply after October 1st of senior year (this is NEW timeline) • Considers family income, family size and many other factors • www.fafsa.gov

33. Financial Aid Predictor • Search “FAFSA 4Caster” • US Department of Education site • Enter in your information and will give you an estimate of your federal aid eligibility. • This can help start a discussion of college costs for your family.

34. Cost of Attendance and Financial Assistance • Cost will always be a factor, however… • Don’t let the cost scare you up front…financial assistance is often available and can equalize costs. • All students applying to college should complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) beginning in October of senior year. • Have this discussion with your students. How much are you willing and/or able to contribute to the cost of their education? • Students make themselves qualified applicants for scholarships through grades, activities, community service and athletics!

35. Sources of Financial AidThe “Must-Get-To-Know” Financial Aid Sources U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid www.StudentAid.gov The federal agency that provides college funding in the form of grant, scholarship, work-study, and educational loan programs. Illinois Student Assistance Commission www.ISAC.org The college access and financial aid agency in the state of Illinois that administers scholarship, grant, prepaid tuition, and student loan repayment/forgiveness programs. .

36. NCAA—College Athletics • Division I and Division II offer athletic scholarships • Check with counselor to make sure proper course sequences to meet requirements • Register online at www.eligibilitycenter.org • Send official transcript and SAT or ACT scores • $80 registration fee • Official visits with college coaches can begin after registration is complete • www.corecourseGPA.com School ID: 143703 School Code: 797267501

37. College Visits • Arrange Visits to College Campuses • Plan to travel over your Spring Break or Summer to see colleges and universities in person. • Arrange a visit with the admissions office of the college. • Meet College Reps at Guilford High School • Mini lunch-time college fairs • Class period visits in fall

38. Military • Contact local recruiters to set up appointments and have all of your questions answered. • ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)

39. Apprenticeship Programs Apprenticeship programs allow students to get paid while they learn a skill or trade. Students get hands-on work experience and classroom training in programs that last 3-5 years. Examples: • Plumbers, bricklayers, carpenters, painters, roofers, etc. • www.nibca.net

40. Handouts • SAT Testing Information (pink) • Helpful Websites/College Path Checklist (yellow) • College Fair Questions (purple) • Resume Template (blue) Forms to Return • College Fair Permission Slip (purple) • Permission to Post SAT score on Transcript (pink)

41. Important Next Steps for You This Spring and Summer • Research Post-Secondary Options • Turn in Permission Slip and attend College Fair • Register to take the SAT orACT on a Saturday (June Test is a good idea) • Begin a sample Personal Statement/College Essay • Visit campuses • Narrow your Post-Secondary list to 4-6 options by the start of senior year