Chart a course for your future

1. Chart a course for your future JEFFERSON CITY HIGH SCHOOL GUIDANCE SENIOR INFORMATION

2. Which path will you choose? • Technical School or Certificate Program • 2-Year Associate Degree from a Community College • Military • 4-Year College • Other?

3. THE brain of a senior…

5. Which Career Path Will you Choose?

6. MISSOURI CONNECTIONS • You can log in to Missouri Connections with the following information: • Username: firstlastname (all lowercase with no spaces) • Password: Student ID# • If this doesn’t work, your counselor can help you reset your password! • You can use this site to research careers and colleges, write and save resumes, search for schools by degree program, find direct links to college applications, and much much more!

7. Using the Application tracker in MO Connections • When you save a college, check the box marked “Add to Applying Schools” • Select “Application Tracker” under “My Portfolio” tab to view.

8. What are the top 10 schools that 2014 JCHS Grads chose to attend? • #10 Ozark Technical College (Springfield) • #9 Missouri State University (Springfield) • #8 Truman State University (Kirksville) • # 7 State Fair Community College (Sedalia) • #6 University of Central Missouri (Warrensburg) • #5 Moberly Area Community College (Moberly/Columbia) • #4 Columbia College (Columbia/Jeff City) • #3 Linn State Technical College (Linn) • #2 Lincoln University (Jefferson City) • #1 University of Missouri (Columbia)

10. Steps for Choosing a college • Step 1: Go to www.MissouriConnections.orgto come up with a list of schools that have your degree program. • Step 2: Visit the website of each college you are interested in and read about what opportunities they have in your chosen academic field. Look at cost, scholarships, location, and other relevant information. Fill out the “Request Information” form so each school will have you on their mailing list. • Step 3: Attend College Night on October 13th. Call admissions reps for schools that you are not able to meet that night or visit in person. You must REGISTER ONLINE at gotocollegefairs.com. • Step 4: Narrow down your list. Pick at least one school that would be your top choice, dream school. Pick at least one that would be a really great second choice, and another that will be your backup plan in case you decide to stay closer to home, or if scholarships don’t work out, etc. • Step 5: Set up college visits and start working on applications!

11. Tips for your college search • Get Organized! Use your student planner or phone calendar to write down application and scholarship deadlines, college visits, and homework so you can balance your busy senior schedule. Use Infinite Campus Student Portal to check grades!! • You can apply to as many schools as you want to early on, and you typically won’t be asked to make a financial commitment until April or May so you can take your time making your final decision about where you want to go. APPLY NOW, DECIDE LATER! • Sit down with your parents to discuss college finances. You may need to be realistic in picking a college that is affordable so you won’t end up with a lot of loans. • Be sure to check admissions and ACT requirements such as additional Math and Foreign Language classes that are not required for graduation but are necessary for many colleges. • You won’t know what school is the best fit for you until you actually go there, see the school, and meet some people. Go with your instincts on where you feel like you will be the most successful instead of picking based on “brand name” or where friend will be.

12. College Visits • To set up a college visit, you should call or go online to the college’s website to set up an appointment at least 2 weeks in advance. • You can visit individually (it’s a good idea to visit with your parents), or you can go on the college’s website to find dates where they have schedule visit days, overnight visits, or open houses. • Speak with Admissions Reps who visit our school. Listen to the announcements and sign up for guidance news to find out who is coming! • EVERYONE WRITE DOWN THESE DATES OR PUT THEM IN YOUR PHONE: Sept. 22, Oct. 13, Oct. 31. • This would be a great day to schedule a college visit since we are off school that Friday, and college classes are in session!

13. Sign up for a college visit trip • YOU MAY CHOOSE TO ATTEND ONLY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TRIPS: • September 16- Missouri State University and Ozark Technical College in Springfield. • October 21- Westminster College in Fulton and Truman State University in Kirksville. • November 13- Moberly Area Community College (Columbia Campus), University of Missouri, and Columbia College in Columbia, MO • November 18- Lincoln University fall walking tour in Jeff City • December (TBA)- Linn State Technical College in Linn. • Spring (TBA)- University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg and State Fair Community College in Sedalia • Spring (TBA)- Lincoln University spring walking tour • TO SIGN UP FOR A TRIP- SEE MRS. BAIRD IN THE GUIDANCE OFFICE FOR A PERMISSION FORM AND PAY $1 FEE. SPACE IS LIMITED SO SIGN UP EARLY! • NOTE: Schools that accept A+ money are listed in RED

14. Links to SAMPLE APPLICATIONS and Admissions requiremtents • Who in here has already filled out at least one college application? Where did you apply? How long did it take you? • Lincoln Application: Paper application or Online Application • Admission Requirements (Apply by Feb 1) • Scholarships • Mizzou Application: Paper or Online Application • Steps to Apply • Admissions Requirements (Apply by Dec 1) • Mizzou Scholarships

15. Steps to apply for college • 1) Fill out an application (most colleges prefer that you apply online). Unless you are applying to a selective school, many applications do not require essays. Tip: Print a paper app so that you will have all the information needed before you sit down to fill out the online version. • 2) Be ready to pay an application fee, typically between $25-50. *If you are on free or reduced lunch you may be able to submit a fee waiver (See your counselor). Call your college to find out how to apply with a fee waiver. • 3) Send your high school transcripts. AFTER your application is submitted, come see Mrs. Baird in the guidance office to get a transcript request form. This must be signed by a parent if you are under 18, but you only have to fill one out for the year. Once you have a signed form on file you can just stop by the guidance office or email kim.baird@jcschools.us with additional requests. Also request any college transcripts from Lincoln. • 4) Send test scores. Some colleges want scores sent directly from ACT or SAT so be sure to check with them. We do include scores on the transcript we send, but some schools do not consider these as “official” scores.

16. RESUMEs, Recommendations and references RESUME: Everyone should work on a Resume to have ready in case an opportunity comes up. You can use the Resume tool on Missouri Connections or create your own from scratch. See your packet for a sample resume. RECOMMENDATIONS: Only certain selective colleges or scholarship applications will require letters of recommendation while some schools require counselor recommendation forms. Teachers and counselors are usually willing to write one, but be aware that you are asking them to spend a significant amount of time helping you. Ask politely, give them plenty of information about yourself and the program or scholarship you are applying to, along with a resume and/or recommendation request form. Give them AT LEAST 2 WEEKS NOTICE before the letter is due. Be sure and write a nice thank you letter afterward. REFERENCES: Think about how you interact with teachers and staff. Whether you are applying to college or a job after high school, you may want to get contact info for a few people who would be good references for you on down the road.

17. TESTING… These tests help colleges estimate how successful you will be in college level courses and may determine your course placement. ALL STUDENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO TAKE ONE OF THESE TESTS: ACT: Required for most 4 year colleges in the Midwest. This is the most common college assessment. Community colleges and technical schools often require that students take EITHER the ACT OR COMPASS, though certain programs will have specific score requirements. See a librarian for a free online test prep program! Compass: This is usually recommended for students who have not gone through Algebra II or who do not think they will do well on the ACT. This is shorter than the ACT and only focuses on Reading, Writing, and Math. This can be taken at JCHS on certain dates or through a community college for a fee of $15. SAT: This is often used for student applying to highly selective colleges and school outside of the Midwest. ASVAB Test: Used to determine Military aptitude for ROTC or military enlistment. This can also assist with finding career options for the undecided.

18. SIGN UP FOR TESTING • ACT Registration: ($36.50 or $52.50 with writing) • www.actstudent.org • BE SURE TO UPLOAD PHOTO BY DEADLINE! • ACT and SAT practice books are available in the guidance office. Each test also offers practice apps for your mobile device. • SAT Registration: ($51 or Subject Tests from $13-24.50) • sat.collegeboard.org/register • To register for the Compass Test, see Kim Baird, secretary in the guidance office or contact the 2-year college of your choice to take the test with them. • To register for the ASVAB, contact a military recruiting officeor register in the guidance office to take the test with us in the spring. Missouri grads are now required to complete one of the above tests. If you haven’t taken the COMPASS or, SAT, or ACT by this spring, you will be automatically registered for the ASVAB. • **If you qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch you can get ACT and SAT fee waivers from your counselor. You get 2 total throughout your high school career so use them wisely!

19. WHERE DOES FINANCIAL AID COME FROM? Source: US News

20. What is Financial Aid? • SCHOLARSHIPS- Funded privately through application process or automatically awarded by colleges. Usually looking for specific criteria such as intended major, GPA, ACT score, community service, leadership, etc. Sometimes requires an essay. Some are renewable for 4 years, some are just one-time awards. • STATE OR FEDERAL GRANTS- This is money funded by state or national government based on your family’s financial need, cost of the school you are attending, and other qualifying factors. This is money you DO NOT HAVE TO PAY BACK! • STUDENT LOANS- This is money that you DO have to pay back. There are different types of loans with different types of interest accrual and different interest rates. Be careful about taking out large amounts of student loan money because you could end up with a large amount of student debt later on. Parents can also take out certain types of loans.

21. How to Get financial aid and scholarships • Get college applications in early so that you don’t miss out on scholarship priority deadlines. • Go on your college’s website and/or call their financial aid office to ask about scholarship opportunities. Some scholarships are automatic, some require separate applications. • Complete the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1st. (Federal Aid is first-come first-serve and there are limits to how much you need-based aid you can receive.) • Stay up to date with scholarship opportunities that we will publish at www.jcschools.us/domain/1740 (be sure to sign up to receive email updates). • In Mid-December you can pick up the JCHS Common Scholarship Application for many local scholarship opportunities. Make sure you have an ACT score on file before December so that you can fill this out completely! • ** JCHS does not give out scholarships, and it is not your counselor’s job to hunt you down and make you apply. We help point you in the right direction, provide links to applications, and help you along the way, but it is each student’s responsibility to research and apply for scholarships. If you don’t put the work in, you will miss out!

22. A+ Program • Are you signed up for the A+ program? Who can list the requirements to be eligible for A+? • 50 hours of community service • 95% Attendance • Good Citizenship • Graduate with a GPA of 2.5 or higher • Submit a FAFSA before April 1 • Attend an A+ school for 3 consecutive years prior to graduation • Register for selective service, if applicable • Make sure you have your tutoring set up with a teacher prior to the start of the term when you plan to tutor. It is your responsibility to contact a teacher to work with. • You can see a list of community colleges and career and technical schools that accept A+ money by clicking here. • *If you have questions regarding A+ contact Karen Brickeyor visit the • A+ webpage.

23. Thinking of playing a sport in college? • Be sure to attend College Bound Athlete Night on November 5th with Wes Simmons at 7:00pm in the Little Theatre. • Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse • Visit the Jefferson City Sports webpage at www.jeffersoncitysports.org and click on: • NCAA Clearinghouse Eligibiligyfor more info.

24. RESOURCES FOR SENIORS • Using your Senior Portfolio • Guidance Website

25. SIGN UP FOR scholarship UPDATES and GUIDANCE NEWS • 1. Go to http://www.jcschools.us/jchsClick on the "Register" button in the top right corner. • 2. You'll be asked to submit your date of birth to ensure you are at least 13 years old. This ensures our site is compliant with the COPPA federal law. Your birth date will not be stored. • 3. Next, you can enter your personal information. Only the fields with a red triangle in the corner (first name, last name, email address, user name and password) are required. You must also check the box, ensuring you agree with the SchoolWires Terms of Use. You'll want to keep the "Please send me E-Alerts from this site" box selected as well - an E-Alert is the format we'll use to send the Key Communicator. • 4. You'll then prompted to select the "Sign In" button. Once signed in, you'll be able to select "My Account" in the top right corner, and then click "Edit Account Settings.” • 5. Your Account Settings is where you can sign up to receive notifications when a webpage has been updated, such as the Daily Announcements. To do this, select "Subscriptions" on the left side of your Account Settings page. Then, click "Manage Subscriptions." You'll see you can subscribe to any JCPS building homepages and calendars, or even the district homepage/calendar. • • To sign up for the Daily Announcements, select "Other Areas of Interest." Type “Daily Announcements" into the search box on the right (be sure JCHS is selected in the far left drop down menu) and click "Search." Check the box next to the Daily Announcements page and click "I'm Done." You can always add more subscriptions by selecting "Manage Subscriptions.”

26. Sign up for remind 101 texts or emails TO RECEIVE TEXT UPDATES: To: (424) 277-2594 Message: @jcsr2014 TO RECEIVE EMAIL UPDATES Send and email to jcsr2014@mail.remind101.com (Leave the subject blank)

27. STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOUR COUNSELOR • Like our FB page JCHS Guidance • Receive Texts from Remind 101 • Email your counselor: • anna.mcmillen@jcschools.us (A-Cor) • susan.webb@jcschools.us (Cos-H) • diane.clayton@jcschools.us (I-Mo) • kelli.murphysmall@jcschools.us (Mp-Sid) • brandy.martin@jcschools.us (Sie-Z) • *To set up your Senior Visit, email your counselor or leave us a note with your: • Name: Be thinking about: • Cell number or email address: Plans for after high school • Best block(s) to call you out: Any specific questions you have