CAUTION: Your FUTURE Ahead!!!

1. CAUTION:Your FUTURE Ahead!!! A Guide for Planning Throughout High School for Post-High School Success

2. JCHS School Counselors: 10th-12th • Rebekah Linn: Students A-Co (AP Coordinator and Coordinator for Foreign Exchange Students) • rlinn@k12tn.net • Dwayne Montgomery: Students Cr-He (Adult High School and Alternative School Coordinator) • dmontgomery@k12tn.net • Susan Roach: Students Hf-Mc (Scholarship and Dual Enrollment Coordinator) • roachs4@k12tn.net • Renae Byrd: Students Md-Se (Governor School Coordinator and Early Graduate Coordinator) • mbyrd@k12tn.net • Jessica Jennings: Students Sf-Z (Career-Technical Education and Academic Co-Op Coordinator) • jjennings@k12tn.net

3. Start Now…. • The college and career planning process is ongoing and takes place throughout high school. • Preparing and planning throughout your high school years will help when managing time once you begin your senior year. • THE EARLIER YOU BEGIN THE COLLEGE AND CAREER PLANNING PROCESS, THE BETTER!!!! • To better prepare, check out this college planning timeline!

4. Key Topics during Your Senior Year • Keep up your grades!!! • Retake ACT, if needed. • Applications, applications, applications!! • Submit early, early, early!!! • Know the deadlines!! • Research scholarship/financial aid options. • Compare financial offers between schools. • Campus Visits/Open Houses • FAFSA

5. Review Courses You are Taking in High School • DO NOT TAKE THE EASY ROAD!!! • Check your course selections to make sure they are challenging! • Colleges/Employers will review the courses taken throughout high school; the more challenging the course, the better it looks! • ALL grades your throughout high school are important!!!

6. Options for College-Prep Classes • AP (Advanced Placement) • Check the JCHS Curriculum Guide to learn about the AP classes offered at JCHS. • Dual Enrollment • Dual Enrollment Grant: http://www.tn.gov/collegepays/mon_college/dual_enroll_grant_rules.htm • Dual Credit • Some CTE classes are certified as dual credit classes. Students should check with their counselor to learn more.

7. Keep in Mind: Factors in the College Admission Decision NACAC Admissions Trend Survey 2011

8. Attendance is Important • In order to be successful, YOU MUST BE HERE!!! • Colleges and employers will look at your attendance. • Letters of recommendation could be impacted by your attendance. • If you do not have good attendance, individuals could assume the trend will carry once you leave high school. • Be here to be the best prepared you can be!!!

9. Beware of Social Media • Once you post it, it’s there to stay! • College admissions reps and employers may “review” your social media profiles. • Think before you post!!

10. Research Colleges • Begin to make a list of potential post-high school institutions that interest you. • Research the schools; find information regarding: location, type of institution, campus life, size, admissions requirements, & cost/financial aid/scholarships. • Compare information between colleges and start narrowing down your list of choices. • Use the following website to compare up to 3 colleges at a time: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/compare-colleges

11. Be Organized in Your College Search • Organization is critical! • Begin your research early on to determine the application requirements and deadlines for each college. • Pay attention to the details. • Be sure to submit all materials! (application, transcript, ACT scores, senior year schedule)

12. Be Realistic in the Search! • Browse a school’s website and look at the most recent freshman class profile. • Compare your GPA and ACT/SAT scores to the profile. • Review all of the materials and rank your schools: • Likely to be admitted • Solid chance of being admitted • Possibly out of reach

13. College is a Match to be Made, Not a Prize to be Won!! • Ways Students Match with a College: • Educational Match • Geographical Match • Social Match • Spiritual Match • Other?...

14. Plan College Visits • Schedule college visits. Different schools offer different options, so be sure to contact the school to set-up an appointment/visit. • Possibly plan follow-up visits for your top schools in the summer of junior year/fall of senior year to see what the campus is like school is in full session. This is the best way to get a feel for campus life!

15. Resume • Begin compiling a resume. • Many scholarships will ask that you send a resume with your application; if possible, begin working on this early, it will help in completing applications later! • Sample Resume • This form will help with compiling honors/awards you may have received to place on your resume. • Start a folder to keep everything organized!

16. Scholarships • Students can begin to research scholarships NOW! • Making a list of scholarships and their deadlines will help when it is time to apply. • Review the Steps for Getting a Scholarship to learn more about the scholarship search/application process.

17. TN Hope Scholarship • Must have either a 21 on the ACT OR a 3.0 GPA; apply by completing the FAFSA • www.tn.gov/collegepays • Up to $6,000 per year at an eligible four-year postsecondary institution or a two-year eligible postsecondary institution.  • Up to $3,000 per year at an eligible two-year postsecondary institution.  • The award is divided equally between fall, spring and summer semesters. (i.e. If only taking fall/spring classes, students will receive $4,000 or $2,000)

18. Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant • How to Qualify: Enroll in a certificate or diploma program at a Tennessee Technology Center. • Available to all students enrolled at a Tennessee Technology Center who are TN residents 1 year prior to the term school begins. • Award Amounts:$2,000 (no more than cost of attendance) • How to Apply: Complete your FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1.

19. tnAchieves Scholars Program • To be a tnAchieves Scholar, you must... • Submit a completed application by the October 4, 2013 deadline (the application will be available on our website in August).  • Communicate with your mentor every 2 weeks. • Attend a mandatory team meeting in January (See the "Team Meeting Dates" tab for date, time and locations). • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form by February 1, 2014. • Apply to one of the approved Community Colleges or Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology by February 15, 2014. • Attend a mandatory team meeting in March. • Complete the American College Test (ACT) by April 12, 2014. • Register for classes at one of the approved community colleges by July 1, 2014. • Carry a minimum of 12 credit hours (if you graduated before December 2012, you are only required to have 6 hours). • Attend your assigned mandatory New Student Orientation in June or July. • Maintain a 2.0 GPA. • Attend a mandatory college meeting in September. • Complete and submit one approved 8-hour community service project per semester.

20. Financial Aid • Students and parents/guardians should have open communication when it comes to talking about financial aid. • Begin discussing plans for application fees and making a list of schools you definitely want to apply to. Remember, each school has a different application fee. • Start discussing realistic financial college expenses. Discuss loans, grants, scholarships, etc. now, so these things do not sneak up on you during your senior year. • Learn more about financial aid: http://studentaid.ed.gov/

21. FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) • The FAFSA is the form to complete to receive federal and state funds to further your education. • Students can begin applying January 1 of their senior year. • The sooner you file the FAFSA, the better shot you will have at receiving federal and state funds. Some federal funds are on a first come, first serve basis, so the EARLIER you apply, the better!! • www.fafsa.ed.gov (Only official website to complete the FAFSA)

22. College for TN/Big Future • Choosing your path is a big and exciting decision. Use the following sites to explore your interests and take the time to find a college/career that will put you on a path to a bright future. • College for TN: https://collegefortn.org/ • Big Future: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/

23. ACT Prep • Check with the colleges you are interested in to learn about ACT score admissions requirements. • ACT Prep through College for TN. • Create a free “College for TN” account. • Click on College Planning, then Test Prep. • Schedule to take the test! • Register online at: http://www.actstudent.org/regist/ • ACT Test Dates: • September 21, 2013, October 26, 2013, December 14, 2013, February 8, 2014*, April 12, 2014, June 14, 2014 • All 11th graders will be offered the opportunity to test during the Spring of their Junior year.

24. Considering Playing College Sports? • If you are considering playing sports in college, there are two different forms (depending on the school) you will need to complete your senior year to become eligible: • NCAA Clearinghouse (Division I, II, & III sports) • NAIA (form for small, independent colleges) • For NCAA Eligibility requirements, click here. • For NAIA Eligibility requirements, click here.

25. GET INVOLVED!!! • One key thing you can do throughout high school is GET INVOLVED!!! • Many scholarships are awarded to students who are involved in school and in the community. • Volunteer hours will help your resume and will present you as a well-rounded individual! • Remember, in order to be considered a TN Scholar, you must complete a minimum of 80 hours of community service.

26. Basic Tips • Practice completing online applications(filling out rough drafts, without submitting them) • Review applications, especially the essays. Asks others to proof the essay for any grammar, content or punctuation errors. • Read all college mail and send reply cards back to schools of interest. • Search and apply for as many scholarships as possible!

27. JCHS Counseling Office Website • For the most up-to-date information from the counseling office, be sure to check out our webpage. The site is full of academic, personal/social, and college/career planning information!

28. *Questions?* • Students are encouraged to visit their counselor if they have ANY questions about college and career planning! Remember, the earlier you start preparing for post-high school success, the better!!!