SENIOR COUNSELING CONNECTION

1. SENIOR COUNSELING CONNECTION October 2013 Follow WFHS on Twitter @WFHS_HS Coming Soon… • 8 Tips to Crafting Your • Best College Essay • (from bigfuture.collgeboard.org) • 1. Get started by brainstorming: • Starting the essay can be the hardest part. • Brainstorming about your personality traits • & defining your strengths is a good place • to begin. • 2. Let your first draft flow: After you've • gathered your notes, create an outline to • organize your essay & decide where you • want examples to appear. • 3. Develop three essay parts: • Make sure your essay includes the basics: Intro, Body w/ supporting examples, & Conclusion • 4. Be specific: Give your essay focus by figuring • out how the question relates to your personal qualities & then taking a specific angle. Make sure • everything you write supports that viewpoint. • 5. Find a creative angle: A college student described why she would make a good Reed College student for that school's essay. "I am a huge fan of Beat Generation writers, & many of the West Coast Beat writers attended Reed," she says. "So I related my love for writing & the Beats to why I would be a great fit for the school." • 6. Be honest: The essay question might ask you an experience that shaped you OR why you want to attend a certain college. Don't be tempted to write what you think admission officers want to hear; answer honestly. • 7. Get feedback: Show your draft to family, friends or teachers. Ask if it makes sense & if it sounds like you. Consider their feedback & make changes, but keep your voice. • 8. Proofread & make corrections: Read your essay over carefully to check for typos & spelling & grammar errors. It's best to ask someone who hasn't seen it yet to take a look as well. They're likely to see mistakes you won't catch. **Follow @SATQuestion on Twitter for the SAT Question of the day!** • Upcoming SAT/ACT Dates • SAT Test Date/Registration Deadline • ---Nov. 2/ Oct. 3 (WFHS, NFHS, SFHS, Pinecrest) • ---Dec. 7/ Nov. 8 (WFHS, NFHS) • ACT Test Date/Registration Deadline • ---Dec. 14/Nov. 8 (WFHS, FCHS, NF) • ---Feb. 8/Jan. 10 (WFHS, NF, SF, • Kings Ridge) **Free Online Test Prep by Kaplan** (PSAT, SAT, & ACT) Log on using West Forsyth’s Promo Codes: PSAT Prep – KAS2013PSAT SAT Prep – KAS2013SAT ACT Prep – KAS2013ACT Celebrate Columbus Day with C2 Education FREE full length SAT Practice Test! Deadline to sign up is October 12th, 2013. Where: 415 Peachtree Parkway Suite 205 Cumming, Georgia 30041 When: Monday October 14th, 2013 1:00PM - 9:00PM Space is limited--Call to reserve a seat! (770) 292-9000 1 – Chew a stick of gum 2 – Brew & enjoy a cup of Black Tea 3 – DIY Massage 4 – Write about a stressful event 5 – Put on music you love 6 – Take a tech break 7 – Clean up 7 Quick Stress Relief Tips: • SCHOLARSHIP CORNER: Free Money For College! • Scholarship listings will be available on the counseling webpage as well as in the counseling office!! Pay close attention to • due dates so you don’t miss out on these • opportunities to earn college funds!! **Visit • the College/Career Center for more • scholarship listings in the counseling suite!** • Upcoming Scholarship Due Dates: • Washington Univ. in St. Louis Danforth Scholarship – Oct. 15 (needs to be received by this date) • Georgia Tech Presidential Scholarship – Oct. 15 • James Weldon Johnson Scholarship (Phi Beta Sigma) – Oct. 18 • Coca Cola Scholars Program – Oct. 31 • Voice for Democracy Scholarship – Nov. 1 • UGA Foundation Fellowship & Bernard Ramsey Scholarship – Nov. 4 Upcoming College Visits: Oct. 23 – Univ. of South Carolina Oct. 30 – Univ. of Missouri, Furman Nov. 6 – Georgia Southern University Nov. 13 – Univ. of Alabama Birmingham, Berry College, Auburn University Nov. 20 – Univ. of Alabama, Young Harris Helpful Scholarship Websites: www.fastweb.com www.zinch.com www.gacollege411.org **Once you hear announcements for these rep visits, you may come & pick up a pass from the counseling office. Have your teacher sign the pass & be sure to sign in @ the visit!** Early Application Due Date for UGA & GA Tech: October 15th • Visiting a potential college??Seniors are allowed four days to visit prospective colleges. Pick up a Pre-Excused College Visit form in the counseling office OR from the counseling website. Documentation from the college is required. Visit www.inlikeme.com for advice & resources regarding college admissions, university search,SAT/ACT, financial aid & scholarship info! GGC waives application fee Oct. 14-20

2. Don’t know your counselor?? Get to know us! WFHS Financial Aid Night WFHS is pleased to welcome Jill Rayner from University of North Georgia as our presenter our WFHS Financial Aid Night. She will be reviewing valuable information for families as they begin preparing for this process…… DON’T MISSOUT! Date: Monday, November 18th @ 6:30 in the WFHS Auditorium Counselors are assigned to a student based on the first letter of the student’s last name: KNOW YOUR COUNSELOR A-B, ESOL Ms. Winkler twinkler@forsyth.k12.ga.us C-Gof Mrs. Ciaccio jciaccio@forsyth.k12.ga.us Gol-MarMr. Brown jabrown@forsyth.k12.ga.us Mas-RopMs. Waters ewaters@forsyth.k12.ga.us Ros-Z Mrs. Rinehart arinehart@forsyth.k12.ga.us SecretaryMs. Stromie lstromie@forsyth.k12.ga.us RegistrarMs. Upchurch cupchurch@forsyth.k12.ga.us Haunted Homecoming Week Events (Oct. 21-26) Dress Up Days: Mon – PJ Day Tue – Twin Day Wed – Character Day Thu – Duck Dynasty Day Fri – Frightful Friday/Spirit • Need Transcripts Sent? • Powder Puff Game & Community Pep Rally • Thursday, October 24, 2013 • 7-10 PM @ WFHS Stadium • $1 Admission • Proceeds go to Humane Society • & Oscar Clemente Fund • Sponsored by SGA & DECA • Procedure for Requesting a Transcript • Seniors requesting a transcript must get a request form from the counseling office OR on the counseling website. There is a $3.00 fee for all transcripts & all paperwork must be given to Mrs. Stromie. • WFHS envelopes are available for mailing hard copies. These must be addressed & stamped (3stamps). • If a recommendation is required from your counselor, please include a resume or senior information sheet. • All paperwork must be given to Mrs. Stromie. • Football Homecoming Dance • Saturday, October 26, 2013 • 7-10 PM @ WFHS Cafeteria (ENTER THRU GYM) • $20 pre-sale/$25 @ Door • DECA will sell concessions @ West Express Senior Dues: $105 (if paid before Jan. 31st) $120 after Jan. 31st Dues include cap & gown, diploma & diploma cover, tassel, & facility. *Payments can be made at www.gabalfour.com Week of Nov. 13 – Balfour Info will be sent home in the mail Nov. 20 & 21 – Balfour Representative will be in the cafeteria at lunch for students to pay Senior dues &/or order cap, gown. & announcements Check for your HOPE GPA & Eligibility by visiting www.gacollege411.org Have you bought your yearbook yet?http://www.WestForsythYearbook.com Senior Tribute Ads – Final Deadline: Friday Nov. 1st Senior Class Sponsors: Lori Waddell (lwaddell@forsyth.k12.ga.us) ext. 332810 Stephanie White (swhite@forsyth.k12.ga.us) ext. 332248