Congratulations Class of 2020!

1. Congratulations Class of 2020!

2. Pretest

3. NHS Counseling Staff

4. Obstacles to Graduation • EOCs • Gateway assessments • Required classes *Classes taken concurrently through private institutions must be approved by GCPS prior to graduation • Obligations • Senior Application for Graduation- Please complete and return signed by student and parent/guardian!

5. Options After High School • 4-year college/university • Colleges typically offer only undergraduate degrees while universities offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees. The terms are often used interchangeably. • 2-year college • Technical college • Military • Employment

6. Where to Apply Factors to Consider • Location – distance from home, urban, rural • Size – enrollment, class size • Cost – public or private • Academic – majors offered • Admission requirements – deadlines, average test scores, GPA, rank, AP/IB recognition policies • Housing – residence halls, meal plans • Activities – Greek life, athletics, organizations

7. Where to Apply • College Visits • Up to 3 prearranged absences permitted • Forms available in the Commons Office • Probe Fair: September 11th • Infinite Energy Center 6-8pm • NHS College Fair: November 7th • 6:30-8pm • College recruiter lunch visits • Apply to at least 4 schools • Reach, target, safety!

8. Apply to many Georgia colleges, universities, and technical colleges • View preliminary HOPE Grade Point Average • Financial aid information • Send transcripts to many schools in Georgia • Name on file with GAFutures account must match name as it appears on NHS transcript/report card • NHS must have your Social Security # on file! • Transcripts for out of state colleges can be ordered at the front office for $5. There is a 48-hour turn around.

9. College Application Terms to Know Early Action: (non-binding) Students can apply to multiple schools early. Early admission programs do not ask applicants to commit to attending. Early Decision: (binding) When applying early decision, you are signing a binding agreement that if accepted, you will attend that school and withdraw the remainder of your other college applications. Regular Decision: These applications take place during the standard application time period. Rolling Admissions: These colleges have open admissions until they have reached their capacity. Students are considered in the order in which their completed applications are received. Deferment: Students are not denied when deferred. Decision for acceptance has been postponed until further evaluations have been completed.

10. College Applications Standardized applications allow you to apply to multiple schools with a single application. Visit college websites for their application if they do not use one of the following. • The Coalition Application is accepted by more than 140 institutions • coalitionforcollegeaccess.org • The Common Application is used by nearly 800 colleges • commonapp.org • TheUniversal College Application is accepted by 16 colleges and universities • universalcollegeapp.com • The Common Black College Application is accepted by 55 Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) • commonblackcollegeapp.com *You may need to submit additional documents and pay individual application fees for each college. If you do not know how to respond to a question on your college application, see your counselor for help!

11. College Entrance Exams SAT:www.collegeboard.orgACT:www.act.org • Visit the websites for testing dates and registration information • Both are accepted by all colleges/universities • Student is responsible for sending official scores during the application process • Fee waivers are available for students who qualify for Free/Reduced lunch Compass/Accuplacer tests • Used by community and technical collegesand are usually administered on campus SCHOOL CODE: 112280

12. SAT – Registering with a waiver • Qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch? If yes, register to take the SAT at www.sat.org/register • Complete application to the point where it is asking you to make payment • Attend a College Help Session after school or during guided study or request to see your counselor no less than TEN SCHOOL DAYS before the SAT registration deadline. Your counselor will call you in, give you a waiver, and assist you as you complete the registration process while in the Counseling Office • Once your registration process is complete, you will have access to college application fee waivers. Check with the college to see how to submit the college application waiver

13. Letters of Recommendation • Complete the Autobiographical Sketch found on the NHS counseling website • Letters can usually come from teachers or counselors • Give us TIME • Minimum of 10 school days

14. HOPE State Aid For students pursuing an undergraduate degree in Georgia HOPE Scholarship • 3.0 CORE GPA • Approximately 80% tuition coverage (Dependent upon institution) • Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative postsecondary GPA to remain eligible for the scholarship Zell Miller Scholarship • 3.7 CORE GPA • 1200 SAT in Critical Reading and Math • No super scores • 26 ACT composite • 100% tuition coverage • Students must maintain a minimum 3.3 cumulative postsecondary GPA to remain eligible for the scholarship

15. HOPE State Aid For students pursuing a technical certificate or diploma in Georgia HOPE Grant • No high school GPA requirement • Students must maintain a 2.0 postsecondary GPA to remain eligible Zell Miller Grant • No high school GPA requirement • Students must maintain a minimum 3.5 cumulative postsecondary GPA • Grant recipients are awarded full-standard tuition assistance • Award amount is the standard undergraduate tuition rate based on the school the student attends HOPE Career Grant • Formerly known as the Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant (SIWDG) • Available to HOPE Grant-qualified students who enroll in select majors specifically aligned with industries in which there are more jobs available in Georgia than there are skilled workers to fill them

16. HOPE State Aid • Apply for HOPE State Aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) • A financial aid information session will also be available prior to the NHS College Fair November 7th at 5:30pm

17. Scholarships and Financial Aid Visit the NHS Counseling Scholarship website for scholarship opportunities! https://www.gcpsk12.org/Page/15295

18. FAFSA Completion Night Thursday, November 21st Norcross High School will offer our seniors the opportunity to complete the FAFSA while having the support of specially trained personnel

19. Need more help? • After school help with support from NHS counselors • Counselors will be available to help students with: • SAT/ACT registrations • College applications • Submitting transcripts • Applying for an FSA ID (needed to complete FAFSA)

20. Receive a weekly Senior Class Newsletter by subscribing to the Norcross High School Blue Devil Bulletin (link on the NHS website main page) • Twitter: @nhscounsel411 • Instagram: @nhscounseling411

21. Senior Parent Night

22. Posttest

23. Questions?