Welcome Sophomores Class of 2015

1. Welcome SophomoresClass of 2015 This power point is available on the counselors scholarship web page

2. Sophomores • Self-Assessment • How was your freshman year? Did You: • Join any activities • Improve your study skills • work up to your ability • learn the attendance and school procedures • Get the most from your counselor and teachers

3. Decisions • Time to decide what you want to do after you complete high school • Community College • University (requirements) • Military • Trade School • Get a job • Resources • OOHB www.bls.gov/oco/ • Arizona career Info www.azcis.intocareers.org

4. Credit Check • Are you on track to graduate • Do you need to retake any classes • Failures or improve grade English 4 credits Math (Alg I, Geom, Alg II +) 4 credits Science 3 credits History 3 credits Fine Arts /Voc 1 credit Elective 7 credits

5. University Bound • 3.0 GPA in 16 core classes • Rank in top 50% considered • 2.0 in the following core classes • 4 credits of English • 4 credits of Math • 3 credits of Science • 2 credits of Social Science • 2 credits of Foreign Language • 1 credit of Fine Arts • Always check with your college for changes

6. University Bound • ACT test • SAT test • Scholarships • Involved with your school and community • GPA • Letters of recommendations • NHS…. GPA/3 leaderships/3 community services

7. AIMS SCHOLARSHIP25% fixed tuition waiver renewable based on university discretion • 3.5 in 16 college core • No “C”s in core • Exceed all 3 aims by end of Junior Year • 28 ACT or 1300 on SAT 1 (rdg + math)

8. 10th Grade Checklist • August • Re-evaluate your high school plan to make sure you are on track for graduation. Review your course selections to make sure you are meeting college requirements. • Ask your counselor if honors level classes are good for you. Update • your personal file. Get involved in school and community. Join school clubs.

9. September • Visit the counseling office and career center to explore college catalogs and other materials. See your counselor and sign up to take the PSAT. . try out for sports if you haven’t already done so. • October • Take the PSAT Test. Draw up a list of careers that interest you and determine the best post secondary path to achieve them. Juniors get first chance

10. November • College fairs can be a great way to “see” many schools at once. Start thinking about the elective classes you would like to take next year. • December • Discuss your progress with your counselor, and figure out how to make improvements if needed. Talk to parents, teachers, and classmates about the classes you are interested in taking for next school year.

11. January • Explore AZCIS for careers and post-secondary schools. Re-evaluate your high school plan to make sure you are on track for graduation. Review your course selections to make sure you are meeting college requirements. Join school clubs. • February • Try out for sports; do volunteer work in the community. • Keep a record of the hours you volunteer, the organization, and describe the kind of volunteer work that you do. • March • Update your personal file and start working on a resume. See your counselor or English teacher for suggestions.

12. April • You may want to find web sites that offer sample ACT and SAT tests. Take the tests and then talk to your teachers regarding questions you did not answer correctly. • May • Get a summer job if possible; continue to do volunteer work; • June • Read at least 2 books during the summer. • Learn new vocabulary words. • Vocabulary skills come in handy on college entrance exams.

13. Your counselors work for you!!!!! Get your money’s worth

14. QUIZ TIME • What is a GPA? • When do I take the AIMS? • Where can I get a copy of this PP? • Can you take the ACT test this year? • How many credits do you need to graduate? • How many science classes are required? • Where can I get a 4 year planner? • What is AZCIS