Welcome to Postsecondary Night!

1. Welcome to Postsecondary Night! September 20, 2018 JS Byers Auditorium Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

2. Our goal- every student with a plan for the future that fits with his/her interests • Undecided about the future? • Take an interest inventory online through Career Cruising www.careercruising.com • First time logging in • Username: Homercenter, Password: Wildcats • Create an account • Pacareerzone.org Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

3. Career Opportunities Available Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

4. Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

5. Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

6. Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

7. Job Corps program offers College for Tuition for income elgible students for FREE • After completing the FAFSA a student eligible for the PELL grant can opt to enroll at CCAC or or BC3 under the Job Corps program for free. • Other perks include: • Uniform stipend • Clothing gift card • Gas card for transportation • Free vision coverage • Free housing Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

8. Timeline for Juniors • Start planning EARLY: (All juniors received an in-depth letter outlining the junior timeline in their school gmail inbox) +11th grade is the time for college visits & job shadowing, online research +Take advantage of postsecondary rep visits to HC +PSAT will be given every October at HC (October 10th) • You should take the SAT or ACT this school year • Apply for scholarships (those open to Juniors) • Junior Interviews: +Ongoing throughout the school year Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

9. Checklist for Seniors • Be aware of college application deadlines • If necessary, apply early (by Thanksgiving) • Fill out the FAFSA (financial aid) October 1st • Register online with the NCAA if planning to play Division I or Division II athletics • Register for College in the Classroom, Dual Enrollment or AP Exams, if applicable • Apply for scholarships • Ask teachers or counselors for letters of recommendation two weeks prior to needing them (compile a detailed list of all activities you have participated in from grades 9-12)

10. College Entrance Exams*Fee waivers available for both! PSAT -PRACTICE test SAT- College Board • Best practice measure for the SAT • Provides study tools tailored to your strengths/defecits • Offered one day only- Oct. 10th • All 11th graders will take, 10th grade by sign up • The real deal college entrance test (NOT practice) • Research shows that using the Khan Academy study tools on the College Board’s website increases student scores an average of 115 points Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

11. SAT School Day- NEW https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/sat-sd-parents-flyer.pdf Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

12. SAT School Day - Juniors and Seniors • SAT School Day • Take the SAT here at Homer-Center • March 6, 2019 • 8am-11:15am • Cost: $47.50- deadline to pay is January 10th, 2019 • Reduced fee is available for students who receive free or reduced price lunches - $8.00 per test • DEADLINE TO SIGN UP AND PAY JANUARY 10th, 2019, 3pm, no exceptions • Sign up and pay in the Guidance Office, checks made payable to Homer-Center School District Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

13. College Entrance Exams (Cont)ACT • In addition to reading and math there is also a science portion • Acceptable college entrance exam across the US • Fee waivers are available for eligible students Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

14. Scholarships A scholarship is like a job- in order to get one you must apply. There isn’t a scholarship fairy that’s going to drop free money on your lap. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

15. Scholarships (Academic, Departmental, Private) Scholarships Advertised at HC: • AM Announcements • Posted on School Website • Guidance Website • Scholarship Folders in Guidance Office0 • College Rep Visits- TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY • Scholarship PHEAA Presentation- 9/29 OUTSIDE RESOURCES: • Utilize the Internet • Check out sites like www.Fastweb.com www.findtuition.com www.scholarships.com www.unigo.com • Specific college & university scholarships- search their websites *Highlight your grades, extracurricular, volunteer work, test scores, community service

16. Use scholarship search engines https://www.unigo.com/scholarships Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

17. Military Service • Military Academies • Tuition Assistance • Recruiters from the following branches of military visit HC’s guidance office frequently : • Air Force • Marines • Navy • Army • National Guard Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

18. Check out your intended major by going to prospective school website & reviewing the course catalogue Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

19. Advanced Placement (AP) Offerings WHAT IS AP? • AP tests are offered by the College Board to allow high school students to demonstrate college-level knowledge in a variety of subject areas • HC Students who have taken appropriate prerequisites can opt to take AP Calculus, AP Biology, AP English Literature, AP English Language & Composition, AP Geography, AP US History, AP European History BENEFITS OF TAKING AP COURSES: • Potential opportunity to earn college credit before entering college • Earning credit varies: obtain transfer credit information from your intended college. Many conversion charts are now online Ex: http://admissions.psu.edu/admissions/index.cfm/academics/credit/ap/ • Demonstration of readiness for college Admissions representatives look for difficulty of courses taken in on the high school transcript Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

20. AP Exam Quick Facts • AP Exams are given in early May at Homer-Center • Students can elect to sign up to take the exams. Sign ups are this fall. AP exams are optional • It is recommended but not mandated that students take AP courses before taking AP Exams • It is important to check with the colleges PRIOR to taking the AP exam to see what exam score is needed to obtain college credit (search college site online) • Ex: https://www.iup.edu/orientation/pretesting/equivalency-resources/advance-placement-equivalency-chart/ • As long as a student is carrying a 76% or higher in the AP course at the time the tests are ordered the school district will pay for the exam Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

21. College in the Classroom • Agreement between H-C and Mt. Aloysius • Take classes here at Homer-Center, receive college credit on a Mt. Aloysius transcript • Students taking an AP Course can participate during their 10th, 11th & 12th grade years • $55.00 per credit. Deadline to register 10/3. • Check with individual Admissions Offices regarding transferring credits- again, many schools have online transfer credit tools • Ex: https://www.iup.edu/admissions/undergraduate/requirements/transfer/credit-evaluation/ Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

22. Dual Enrollment • Agreement between Homer-Center and IUP • Students can take classes at IUP beginning the summer before their senior year and also during their senior year • Eligible sophomores and juniors may take on-line courses • Classes are offered at a 75% reduced rate • Students who participate will receive an IUP transcript • Check with individual Admissions Offices regarding transferring credits- check online Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

23. Again, refer to course catalogue Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

24. College Credit in HS - Quick Comparison Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

25. College Visits & Job Shadowing COLLEGE VISITS: • Research colleges online to for initial information • College visits are an integral part of the college search process JOB SHADOWING: • Students can independently set up visits or see a guidance counselor for help! • College Visit/Job Shadow/Military Business Forms -2 excused days per year for juniors and seniors *Permission Slips for College Visits and Job Shadowing are available in the Guidance Office. Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

26. Career PlanningWhat’s available in Western PA?? http://pittsburgh.careerboard.com/ https://regionalhelpwanted.com/western-pennsylvania/find-jobs/ Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

27. College search- q’s to ask • Does the college offer your major? • Is there a wide variety of major options in the event of a major change? • Professor accessibility in and out of classroom • Class size • What financial aid is offered (scholarships, grants) • Affordability • What’s the campus and surrounding area like • Alumni success stories • Clubs, sports, arts, cultural opportunities • Is this a good fit for me? Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

28. NCAA Eligiblity Center Any student with potential to play a Division 1 or 2 college sport must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center online preferably during the junior year. Fee waivers are available for students who get free/reduced priced lunches You must send your College Entrance scores directly to the NCAA Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

29. The Transition to Life After HS • Be aware of your child’s response to the changes that go along with leaving high school and starting life anew • Campus counseling • Community mental health services, you can start with your health care provider as well Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!

30. Contact Us At: Kristin Curci Guidance Counselor 7-12 kcurci@homercenter.org Kurt Krejocic Guidance Counselor K-12 kkrejocic@homercenter.org Jennifer Lieb Guidance Counselor K-6 jlieb@homercenter.org Erin Collins Guidance Secretary ecollins@homercenter.org Homer-Center Jr.-Sr. High School 70 Wildcat Lane Homer City, PA 15748 724-479-8026 Thank you for your attendance tonight. We wish you all happiness and success!! Take the Initiative- Start Planning Early!