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Junior Seminar November 2013. The important Junior Year. Why is junior year considered the most important year of your high school career? Meeting requirements for graduation Planning for post-secondary goals: college, career-readiness, and other pathways.
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The important Junior Year • Why is junior year considered the most important year of your high school career? • Meeting requirements for graduation • Planning for post-secondary goals: college, career-readiness, and other pathways
Graduation will be here before you know it… WILL YOU BE PREPARED FOR WHAT’S NEXT?
GOALS OF JUNIOR SEMINAR • Review graduation requirements/transcript • Understand college admission criteria • Identify resources available for help • Establish a timeline for junior year
Standard Diploma 22 standard credits 4 English 4 Social Studies 3 Math 3 Science 2 Health & PE 5 Electives (Must include 1 fine art or career/tech elective; and 2 sequential electives) 1 Econ & Personal Finance Verified credits (6) Advanced Diploma 26 standard credits 4 English 4 Social Studies 4 Math 4 Science 2 Health & PE 3 World Language (or 2x2) 1 Fine art or career tech 1 Econ & Personal Finance 3 other electives Verified Credits (9) Standard vs. Advanced
What are verified credits? • A verified credit is earned when a student passes a course and the associated end-of-course SOL test. • In some cases, students may utilize substitute tests or certifications to earn verified credits
What is a TRANSCRIPT?? • The transcript is a report of all the courses you have taken and the final grades in each course. • The level of rigor of each class is included on the transcript (AP, Honors). • Your GPA (grade point average) for each year and the cumulative GPA for all the years up to now. • The GPA is weighted—extra points for Honors and AP classes are accounted for. • Your attendance record • Your verified credits
What do colleges want? • Strong academic record • Extracurricular, Athletic, and Community Involvement • Well-prepared application package – required demographic forms, essays/personal statements, and teacher/counselor recommendations • It is very important to get to know a few of your teachers and your school counselor so that you can get good recommendations for college
College Entrance Exams • ACT (American College Test) • Consists of five subjects: English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing • Writing component is optional (though recommended) • Top composite score is 36 • SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) • Consists of three subjects: Verbal, Math, Writing • Each test is scored on a scale of 200-800 • TEST FEE WAIVERS are AVAILABLE if your receive FREE/REDUCED lunch!! • Take the SAT and/or ACT in the Spring of 2014
“What if I’m not ready to go to college?” • Gap Year • Military • Apprenticeship programs (through FCPS ACE) • Two-year Colleges/Community Colleges • Employment
Use Your Resources School Counselors Mrs. Foster @ the Career Center Teachers Share plans with us and we will help you explore your options!
FCPS 24-7 and Family Connection • To get to Family Connection you must enter through your Blackboard/FCPS • 24‐7 account (http://fcps.blackboard.com). Click on Family Connection logo.
View and exchange information about your plans with school counseling staff through this extensive resource! • About Me -Develop plans -Record activities -Identify skills & interests (Interest Surveys) • About College -Search for colleges -See College acceptances (Scatergrams) • FromYour School -Messages from Mrs. Foster -Additional resources for career & college exploration
Junior Timeline • Fall 2013 – Review graduation requirements to make sure you’re on track • Winter 2014 – Begin exploring Family Connection as a research tool for college and careers • February/March 2014 – Register for college entrance exams SAT or ACT • Spring - Summer 2014 – Visit colleges, start college essays, start college list. Counselors will be meeting juniors individually at this time for course registration. • September 2014 – Tentative college list is submitted • October 2014 – Early Decision/Early Action requests for transcripts, counselor recommendations are submitted to your counselor