Plankinton Senior High School

1. Plankinton Senior High School Senior / Parent Planning Night

2. Making Timely Decisions …is your key to preparing for your future.

3. Make the most of your senior year Be in school every day Work hard in all of your classes Set goals Get involved in school/community activities Make smart choices Get help when you need it Plan and prepare for your future

4. Important Dates 08-09 • End first semester – Dec. 19th • School Application deadlines. • Financial aid deadlines • Graduation – May 9th

5. Immunization shots for Hepatitis A/B and Meningitis Hepatitis B Series 3 shots Recommended Hepatitis A Series 2 Shots Meningitis 1 shot. Other recommended immunizations in handout. Available at the Aurora Planes Clinic or the Public Health Nurse Office.

6. Graduation Requirements 4 English 3 Math (Algebra 1) 2 Science 3 Social Science 1 Computer Applications 1 Accounting 1 Fine Arts .5 Health .25 Careers 7.5 Electives 23.25 Credits Total Make sure you have the classes you need!

7. Admission Requirements for SD Universities • 4 credits of English • 3 credits of Math (Algebra or higher) • 3 credits Science • 3 credits Social Science • 1 credit Fine Arts • .5 credit Computers • Minimum ACT score is 18 for SD • Math subtest below 20 requires remedial class • English subtest below 18 requires remedial class • Remedial do not count toward graduation

8. Apply Early • Select your program of study • Find a school which provides you with a suitable program of study • Contact the school (university or technical) and arrange for a visitation • Apply early, at least by December of your senior year, some programs fill early; I can help you obtain deadline dates for the schools and programs you are interested in. • Waiting may limit your options

9. Test Dates • ACT Testing Dates October 23, 2008 ; December 13, 2008; February 7, 2009; April 4, 2009; June 13, 2009. • ACT / SAT school code is 421-030. • SAT Testing Dates at Mitchell HS November 1, 2008; January 24, 2008.

10. ACT Prep • Last year the State of South Dakota provided “Test Gear” free of charge for all students. This year students will utilize the State Library’s Learning Express Library study program. Students can access this program at http://library.sd.gov/. Home Access instructions are in your packets. • Test preparation courses are offered at Mitchell HS in the fall and spring ($40 fee). The fall courses targets the ACT test in December. The spring courses targets the April and June ACT tests. The fall classes are scheduled for October 2, 9, 16, and 23. the classes run from 6:30-9:30 PM in the Mitchell High School Library.

11. Did you know? • A composite score of 24 guarantees you a $1,000 yearly scholarship at most SD Universities • Subtest scoring under 20 on math means remedial classes • Subtest scoring under 18 on English means remedial classes • Remedial Classes do not count toward graduation • It pays to prepare for the ACT.

12. Did you Know (Cont.) • Links to other prep sites are listed on the counselor’s web site http://gg018.k12.sd.us • On line registration for the Act is at www.act.org. • Paper applications and study guides are in the counselor's office. • Students on free and reduced student lunches qualify for up to two fee wavers. See me for the forms. • It’s a good Idea to take the ACT even if you plan on Tech School.

13. Testing for Technical Schools • For students wishing to enter technical institutes the most common tests students are required to take are the TABE and the Compass. • Testing will be provided by the technical schools • ACT test scores will be accepted most cases and required in some course work. • COMPASS or TABE Testing measures students' mathematics, reading, and writing skills. The Compass tests are usually given at the technical institute the student is planning to attend. Students planning on attending any SD Tech Institute may test at MTI, Provided they have applied for admittance to their program. • Mathematics ,Reading ,Writing Skills

14. Comparison Shopping • If you could buy the same model of car for $11,000 in SD or for $22,000 in Iowa, which one would you buy? • That is the approximate cost for one year of public college in SD compared to a public College in Iowa

15. Post High Education Planning Fair • October 6 2008, At the DWU Wellness Center • Public and private universities, technical schools from SD, MN, IA, NE, ND, & CO • Lending Institutions • Military branches • Parents are also invited! • Specific times will be determined at a later date.

16. Financial Aid • Financial Aid Night will be January 13, 2009 at 6:30 pm • Grant Uecker, financial aid director at MTI will present. • FAFSA www.fafsa.ed.gov • Pin #: The pin # is your electronic signature. Students will use their pin throughout there college career. Parents will use their PIN for all children going on www.pinPINWebApped.gov//pinindex.isp

17. Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Calculator • www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml • This site will give you an approximate figure as to how much the family will need to contribute toward the student education. • Financial aid is for public and private universities and technical schools.

18. Scholarships • Several local scholarships. They will be posted to the web site and a list will be sent out during the first few weeks in February. • South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship • Dakota Corps Scholarship • Scholarship files will be located in the guidance office and scholarships will be posted on the counselor’s web site.

19. Don’t Pay For Scholarship Searches • There are many companies that charge large amounts of money to do scholarship searches. These companies are charging for services that available without cost. Many of these searches are scams and provide no benefit to the student. • We strongly suggest that students do not pay for scholarship services. • See your counselor or contact the financial aid office of the school you plan to attend

20. Scholarship Searches • Fast web www.fastweb.com • Go College www.gocollege.com/goscholarshipsearch • Scholarships.com www.scholarships.com • The counselor’s website has other search engines available. • Set up an e-mail account for just your scholarship searches.

21. Letters of Recommendation • Please fill out a student information form prior to requesting a recommendation. The forms are available in the counselors office • Information forms allow people to include information on recommendations that they do not have access to. • Please allow the people who you are asking to write recommendations plenty of time to complete them. This is a very time consuming process.

22. Reciprocity for Minnesota • Reciprocity forms give the benefits to attend Minnesota state colleges from SD at rates below those charged other non-residents. • Forms will be in the counselor’s office after February or your Minnesota college will provide them for you • It is the responsibility of the individual attending a MN school to apply for this benefit.

23. Western Undergraduate Exchange • Western states in the US will exchange one of their students for a SD student to attend each other’s public colleges • A Booklet comes out each year to specify the states and their universities which will work with WUE program. This information is located in the counselors office or at http://wue.wiche.edu/ • WICHE states include: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

24. Unsure About a Career Path • Take (or retake) the ASVAB test - Nov 3th , 2008 • If you have taken the ASVAB already, reviewing or retaking it is beneficial in career searches. • The State is in the process of implementing a new career guidance system. This should be available around the first of October. • www.collegetoolkit.com helps with career choices, college choices and also with scholarships

25. What will you do after high school? • Four-Year College: 20% of today’s careers • Community College: career-oriented programs; two years or less; can transfer credits to four-year college; affordable • Career and Technical Schools: career training in variety of fields, last few weeks to two years; wide range of tuition and fees • Military: nation’s largest employer; advanced opportunities and travel • Apprenticeship: combine instruction and on the job training, get paid while work; trained in skilled areas

26. Selective Service Registration • All males must register for the draft following their 18th birthday. • Draft registration is tied into receiving Federal Financial Aid • You may register at the post office. • You may register when you complete the paper or on-line FAFSA. • You may register online at www.sss.gov

27. Meet with Me! • I will try to accommodate your schedule. • I wish to meet with every senior and their parent(s) or guardian this fall.

28. Please Call for an Appointment • I am away from my desk or am unable to take calls frequently • Leave a message of when you would like to meet • I will get back to ASAP to confirm

29. E-Mail me • glenn.geraets@k12.sd.us

30. Don’t Give UpThese people never did. • Michael Jordan was cut from the high school varsity basketball team his sophomore year. • Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times. • Raised in extreme poverty, Oprah Winfrey didn’t own a pair of shoes until she was six. She now owns a TV production company, and is a billionaire.

31. These people never gave up. • Thomas Edison once had a teacher who told him that he was too stupid to learn anything. • Lance Armstrong was told that he had less than a 50% chance of surviving. Since then he has won the Tour de France seven times. • Winston Churchill failed the 6th grade. • Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because he had “no good ideas.”

32. Have a Wonderful YearHope to see you soon!