Post-High School Planning Liberty High School Class of 2015

1. Post-High School PlanningLiberty High SchoolClass of 2015

2. Options after High School • Four-year college • Two-year college • Trade/Technical school • Hands on experience • Job placement • Military • Free education (college and technical) • Employment

3. Double Check Your Graduation Requirements! • Total of twenty-five (25) credits • Including 4 credits senior year • Four years of attendance after grade 8 • Seventy five (75) service learning hours • 55 hours by the end of this year • Pass all of the HSA’s • Algebra, English, Biology • Check the letter you receive in June!

4. Specific Graduation Requirements Academic AreaCredits • English 4 • Social Studies 3 Govt., U.S. Hist., World Hist. • Science 3 Physics, Chemistry, Biology • Mathematics 4 Algebra, Intermediate Alg, Geometry, Algebra II (unless you did a completer program- then you need 2 credits of Algebra and 1 credit of Geometry) Academic AreaCredits • Fine Arts 1 • Technology Education1 • Physical Education1 • Health ½ • World Language2 (AND Algebra II) OR Advanced Technology2 (AND Algebra II) OR Completer Program4 – 9 • Financial Literacy ½

5. To Do During Your Junior Year • Review your senior year course selections to ensure rigor. • Keep your grades up. This semester is the last to factor into your cumulative GPA. • Use websites to explore colleges, majors, and careers. • Register with NCAA Clearinghouse and Service Academies (if applicable). • Think about application essays and who to ask for letters of recommendation. • Take the tests! • SAT, SAT II (Subject Tests), ACT, ASVAB, AP

6. Starting Your College Search- Know your GPA and SAT scores

7. How To Get More Information About Colleges • Online Searches • www.collegeboard.com • Use your PSAT code for My College Quickstart • www.getin2college.com • (password protected, access from School Counseling section of LHS website or your Blue Handbook) • College Visits & Open Houses (excused absence for 3 days with pre-approval) • College Information Sessions at LHS during PAWS- sign up in counseling office • College Fairs- county college fair in October

8. Things to Consider When Looking at Colleges • Size • Small: under 3,000 • Medium: 3,000 - 10,000 • Large: 10,000 - 20,000 • Largest: over 20,000 • Location (city, state, distance from home) • Public or Private • Cost • Majors offered • Academic and Social Atmosphere • Teacher to Student ratio • Campus Setting • Urban, Suburb, Rural

9. What Colleges are Looking For Academic Record: GPA, class rank, consistency, improvement, difficulty of classes Testing: SAT, SAT II, ACT, AP Extracurricular Activities: Sports, clubs, leadership roles Letters of Recommendation: At least one person who has background knowledge of your academic ability Honors and Awards: Special recognition for skill or talent Essay/Personal Statement: How are you unique? Interview: Personal presentation, questions to demonstrate knowledge of the college

10. Is Community College Right for Me? Provides time to explore options and improve your GPA Offers significant cost savings Simple application process Begin a bachelor’s and prepare to transfer credits or earn certification training (non-credit) through Career Here If your GPA is competitive, consider the Hill Scholar’s program at Carroll.

11. Employment? Look for training opportunities • Apprenticeships • On the job training • Career Programs • Career Here ( and other non credit training programs) • BERC (Business Employment Resource Center) • DORS(resource for students with IEPs and 504s) • May include tuition reimbursement • Volunteer Work (Peace Corps and / or Americorps)

12. Joining the Military(Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard ) • Earn money • Expenses, from housing and food to health care and life insurance are paid • Help pay for college • ROTC programs in college • Partial or full scholarships • Upon graduation, students are military officers • Serve on active duty, Army Reserves, or the National Guard. • Take the ASVAB (Wednesday, March 26th) • www.asvabprogram.com • Contact recruiters • Decide if the military is the right career path for you

13. Planning For Your Senior Year • Internships – see Ms. Linfield this year (you must be working on a completer or career major to do an internship) • Dual Enrollment – see your counselor the semester before you’d like to enroll • FAQ on the LHS School Counseling Website • Parent meeting required

14. Senior Year Timeline • Summer • Visit Colleges • Narrow your choices • Finish your college essay/personal statement • Look at applications and deadlines • Schedule senior meeting with your counselor • Fall • Take SAT and/or ACT one last time • Start sending out your applications (early deadlines begin in October) • Request transcripts from School Counseling Office • Ask for Teacher/Counselor recommendations • Keep your grades up. Colleges will still review quarter one and mid year grades.

15. Questions? • Counselors will be meeting individually with all juniors to discuss senior year and post secondary plans. • Please come prepared to ask questions! • Visit the LHS School Counseling Website

16. Need More Information? Upcoming Paws Sessions College search resources Career search resources Testing information : SAT v. ACT, SAT II, AP College Application Process Please sign up! During your senior year, we would like to email you important information, such as upcoming college visits and college deadlines. Please provide your or your parents’ email address if you would like this information.