Quest Senior Information 2014

1. Quest Senior Information2014

2. So I have my high school diploma in hand…now what? LIFE What are my goals? Where do I want to be in 2 yrs? 5 yrs? 10 yrs? QECHS Graduate

3. I’m not sure what I want to do. Interests Values Strengths LIFE Skills QECHS Graduate Explore Your Options www.texascollegeandcareer.com https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org www.actstudent.org/career www.bridges.com

4. I know where I’m headed! How do I get there? Military Career Goals LIFE Workforce QECHS Graduate Trade/Technical School College

5. Military Path • Branch • Recruiters • ASVAB

6. Entering the Workforce • Skills • On the job training • Job market • Resume • Interview skills

7. Trade/Technical School • Targeted education • Shorter term • Resulting in a certification/specialization

8. College 2-yr Institution • Complete a certification • Earn an Associate’s degree • Earn core credits • For transfer purposes to a 4-yr institution • Improve your academic standing for admission purposes Benefits • Smaller class sizes • Location • Economical • Assured admission with HS diploma Admissions • Complete application for admission • Order a transcript to be sent electronically

9. College cont’d 4-yr Institution • Earn a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, or Doctoral degree • Prepare for professional state and national licensing exams Benefits • Student life/Integrating into the school culture • College Experience • Resident faculty • Begin taking courses towards your major • Independence • Freshman $ available

10. Explore College Options www.collegeboard.com www.actstudent.org/colleges www.everychanceeverytexan.org www.applytexas.org

11. Factors to Consider 1. Admission Criteria Do you meet the requirements to get into your college(s) of choice? • GPA • Class Rank • SAT/ACT Scores • Recommended Courses

12. Factors to Consider cont’d Cost •Compare each college’s range of tuition and fees, including books, housing, transportation, and meals. Consider direct and indirect costs. Use the “net price calculator”. • Be sure to think long range about your costs. Realize the costs involved are not only per semester, but until the completion of your certificate or degree program.

13. Factors to Consider cont’d • Majors • Location • Visit the campus • Size • Student Life/Activities

14. College: 4-yr Institutions Admissions • Complete Application *Aim for Dec. 1* • For most Texas schools: www.applytexas.org • For many out-of-state schools: www.commonapp.org • If school of choice is not represented by the above sites, go directly to the school website and complete the application there. *Essays may or may not be required. If you must submit an essay, ensure you are presenting your best effort. Have a trusted teacher review it prior to submission • Send your SAT or ACT scores

15. Admissions cont’d 3. Gather all components of the application • Transcripts • Order from the registrar • Allow 10 business days • Letters of Recommendation • Someone who knows you well • Give advance notice (2-3 weeks) • Provide a “brag sheet” or resume • May need 2-3 • Submit application fee • If you used a fee waiver on the SAT or ACT, you also qualify for a college application fee waiver. See your counselor! 5. Follow up! • Contact the institution to confirm receipt of application and all required documents • Establish a relationship with a college counselor

16. RANK & GPA • Because you have had at least three different GPA calculations, they have to be hand calculated • These will hopefully be ready in another week or two • IT WILL NEVER APPEAR ON YOUR TRANSCRIPT • I will give each of you a letter with this information once I have it • Don’t let this keep you from applying to college or for a scholarship • The letters will be mailed with official transcripts once we have them ready • If you have already sent the official transcript, let us know that we need to send the letter, and to which school

17. Be sure to apply to more thanone college: #1- College should be your “Dream” college. #2- Should be your “Maybe/Probably” college. #3- Should be your “Slam Dunk” College.

18. Sources of Financial Aid • Grants – Need based; do not have to repay as long as you maintain a certain GPA. • Loans – Must repay once you finish college. • Work Study Program – Job housed on campus arranged by college. • Scholarships- Free money

19. Scholarships

20. Scholarships Where do I look? • QECHS scholarship website (located on the Counseling website) • Internet • College/University website • Local business Advertisements • Parents place of employment • Scholarship applications take time and effort but, it is well worth it!!!!!!! Don’t give up…Hang in there

21. Scholarships • Watch the calendar closely for application deadlines. 2. Research other available scholarships via the internet, reference books, or private sources. 3. APPLY, APPLY, APPLY!

22. Financial Aid

23. FAFSA • FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid applications are available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. • How and when do I apply? Even if you haven’t been officially accepted for admission, you should complete and submit the FAFSA during the spring semester of your senior year in high school. The FAFSA helps colleges and universities determine your eligibility for financial aid. • Students and parents can sign applications electronically by applying for a PIN number. Apply for a PIN now! This will speed up the application process. • It is highly recommended that parents have their 2013 Income Tax Returns completed before attempting to complete this form. • After your FAFSA is processed, you’ll receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) that summarizes the information you supplied on the FAFSA. The information from your FAFSA will be sent to the colleges you listed on the form, and the schools will send you an award letter identifying the aid for which you qualify.

24. Begin the FAFSA process @ www.fafsa.ed.gov

25. Remind 101 Remind 101 will be used to notify seniors of important upcoming dates and deadlines from the counseling office. Text @080283 to 281-712-6749 to register for the notifications

26. Resources and Information! • Ms. Knight is available for simple questions at 1st lunch Mondays and Tuesdays and second lunch on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Take advantage of this time so you don’t have to wait or miss class. • SENIOR CONFERENCES: currently underway • OPEN HOUSE: September 25 • STUDENT APPOINTMENTS: Fill out a counselor pass • HISD COLLEGE FAIR: Oct. Date TBA (watch for Remind 101 notice • SCHOLARSHIP UPDATES: Monthly postings by submission deadline on campus and on the website! Check other websites too. • COLLEGE REPS ON CAMPUS • YOUR AVID TEACHER

27. IMPORTANT DATES • October 13th – HISD professional development day/LSC classes meet • November 10th – Last day to drop LSC classes • November 24th -26th – HISD holidays/LSC classes meet • January 12th – LSC second semester begins • February 16th – HISD professional development/LSC classes meet • April 11th – Prom • May 9th – LSC Graduation • May 14th – Senior Award Ceremony • May 19th – H & H Ranch • May 21st - Graduation Practice • May 21st – Graduation

28. Dual Credit Drop Procedure • We will be sharing this with juniors and seniors in AVID classes next week. • Excessive drops will limit your opportunity to attend college classes and affect progress towards your high school diploma and your associate’s degree. Excessive drops may also jeopardize your position in the Quest Early College program. • Reenrolling in a dropped class in another semester is not guaranteed. If the class is required for completion of high school graduation requirements or to obtain your associate’s degree it may become difficult to meet those goals. Quest may reenroll you in the class in a later semester if you have shown significant academic improvement and dedication to the early college program. After your third drop, you will be referred to the Quest Success Plan committee to evaluate your continued participation in the early college program. • The following procedure must be followed and documented before you will be allowed to drop a class.

29. 1. Obtain a College Class Concern form (CCC) from Dr. Covington. 2. Meet with your family facilitator as soon as you have concern over your grade in a college class and complete the appropriate section on the CCC form. 3. Attend at least 3 tutorial sessions with either LSC tutors or Quest facilitators about the subject of concern and complete the appropriate section on the CCC form. 4. Make at least 2 contacts with your professor and document it on the appropriate section of the CCC form. 5. Make an appointment with Mrs. Knight to discuss the impact on high school and college degree plans and complete the appropriate section of the CCC form. If there is still a need to drop the course, complete the reflection questions and have your parent sign the CCC form. 7. Meet with Dr. Covington to turn in the completed CCC form and to complete paperwork for dropping the class. In rare situations when the time line does not allow for all steps to be completed, students may receive approval to drop after meeting with Dr. Covington and Ms. Knight.