Senior Parent Night

1. Senior Parent Night Helping your senior make it to graduation and beyond

2. Welcome Parents and Guardians Counselors: • Mrs. Nielsen: EMITT(A-S) ext. 13013 • Mrs. Dolan: BAMIT EMITT (T-Z) ext. 13014 • Mrs. Pauley: HS ext. 13020 • Mrs. Grygiel: HPS (A-L) ext. 13017 • Ms. Roberts: HPS (M-Z) ext. 13016 (814)654-4870

3. Overview • Staying Connected • Graduation Requirements • Tutoring programs • Planning for the Future • College Application Process • Scholarships and Financial Aid • NCAA • Caps and Gowns

4. Staying Connected • REMIND notifications…get text reminders about upcoming events and dates for seniors • Text @gvike2017 to 81010 • Guilford website…counselor page • Home Access Center to monitor grades, attendance, discipline. • Parent Portal and Student Portal • Access throughRPS 205 website or • Access through eSchool Plus Family app

5. Graduation Requirements • 48 credits to earn diploma • Individual Senior Appointments to review progress toward graduation and future plans. Meetings scheduled now through end of October. • Senior Letter to be mailed home in November

6. Fall 2016 • Re: Johnny Viking • Dear Parent: • This is to update you on your student’s progress towards graduation on May 25, 2017. Your student is working toward a high school diploma in which forty-eight (48) credits are needed for graduation. Your student currently has 40 credits. • The following specific courses are required for Graduation: • SEMESTER 1SEMESTER 2 • English 12-1 English 12-2 • Economics Government • Team Sports Team Sports • Math Topics Math Topics • Geometry 2 (night school)        • In addition, your student will need to pass 0 elective classes to bring the total number of credits to 48. Your student has selected the following Elective Classes: • Tech Theater Tech Theater • Zoology Zoology • Intro Industrial Tech Intro Industrial Tech • YOUR STUDENT MUST PASS ALL 9 OF THE SPECIFIC COURSES REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION AND 0 OF THE ELECTIVES LISTED ABOVE.

7. FERPA--(Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act)

8. Tutoring • After school tutoring • Monday through Thursday 3:50-4:40 • Activity Bus at 4:45 • Complete ASAP (After School Achievement Program) form • Lunch tutoring programs • Mandatory study tables is assigned to students based on grades • Peer tutoring in lunch is voluntary

9. Edmentum • New Credit Recovery Program adopted by RPS • Beginning with English 9, Algebra 1, Biology 1 • First targeting seniors who need these make-up credits to graduate. • More info coming soon

10. Planning for the Future • Websites for Career and College Planning • Discuss options with your student • Keep involved in every step of the process

11. Post-secondary options • 4 year college or university—29% • 2 year (community) college—46% • Vocational or Technical Schools—3% • Military—5% • Work/Apprenticeships—8% • Did Not Respond—8% **Data from Class of 2016

12. Criteria to Consider in Colleges • Location and Setting • Major • Admission Difficulty • Tuition/Financial Aid • Housing • Size • Athletics • Student Life

13. Career Cruising Website Self-Assessment Take Matchmaker Interest Inventory Career Searching Search for Careers based on School Subject Search for Careers based on Career Cluster College Searching Search for Colleges and Majors Use School Selector Tool Compare Schools

14. College Admission Requirements • Requirements vary • Highly selective to open admission • What is your best academic fit?

15. 3-6 Postsecondary Options • Apply to schools that are a good educational fit for your academic credentials. • You could also apply to some of the following: • Reach school…possibly a dream school, where you are unsure if you will be admitted based on your GPA/ACT • Safety school…a school that you are positive you will be admitted based on academics • Financial safety school…a school with a price point that initially more affordable

16. Rock Valley College • Open Admission School • ACT Cut-off scores for college level coursework • English—19 • Reading—19 • Math—18 • Accuplacer test is required if these minimum scores are not met.

17. Rock Valley College—Accuplacer Test • Untimed tests • Review skills before test • Accuplacer App--free • Online practice tests • Important to do your best and place into college-level course work: • Developmental Courses… $$$, no college credit

18. Rock Valley College • Getting Started Session • Optional • The purpose of this session is to familiarize students with information needed to successfully transition to RVC, learn about degree options, and register for classes. • Meet with an Advisor to help you choose classes to meet your goal.

19. Rock Valley College • Explore RVC Events! • October 10th at 9am (Columbus Day) • November 11th at 9am (Veteran’s Day) • February 20th at 9am (President’s Day) Call (815)921-4274 to reserve your spot!

20. Comparing College Entrance Requirements

21. Comparing College Entrance Requirements

22. College Night at RVC • Wednesday, October 5th from 6:00-8:00pm in the RVC PEC Building • Meet with representatives from about 120 colleges, universities, and vocational/technical schools. • The reps are often the ones to evaluate your application for admission. • Ask individualized questions. • Great for parents to attend with students.

23. College Visits • Visit Campuses (many scheduled on School Holidays) • Call admissions office to set up a visit. Any time…now through mid-April. • Tour, see dorms, sit in on a class, etc. • Excused absences from school. • Sign up in Room 234 to meet with College Reps visiting Guilford High School. • Limited to 3 per semester • Unlimited during your lunch period. • Must have 2.5 GPA for most visits

24. College Application Process • Most applications are online • Watch application deadlines (priority deadlines) • All applications should be submitted by December 1st • Variety of options…include safety schools, financial safety schools • Apply to anywhere from three to six schools • Make your final decision by May 1st

25. Applications include • Online application • Official Transcript • Submission of Test Scores • Application Fee • Sometimes includes: • Personal Statement • Letters of Recommendation • Counselor Recommendation Form • Activities Resume

26. Transcript Requests • PARCHMENT • All transcripts are processed electronically. • Go to www.parchment.com to create an account. • Select Guilford High School (Rockford, IL) as your school. • All requests to IL schools are free, and many others are as well. Some may have $2 fee. Please allow time for processing!

27. Requesting Letters of Rec • Please give adults 2 weeks notice to compose a letter of recommendation. • Please complete a Senior Profile Sheet (have copy on file with your counselor), give a copy to recommender. • Only ask for a letter of recommendation if it is a required part of the application.

28. What is financial aid? Financial aid makes college affordable for you. • Financial aid refers to specific borrowed, given, or earned money that can be obtained from various sources to help pay for college. • It is intended to make up the difference between what your family can afford to pay and what college costs.  If you think you can’t afford college, think again. There’s lots of aid out there.

29. Types of Financial Aid There are many types of financial aid. Grants Scholarships Work-Study Loans gift-aid self-help aid These funds may be merit-based, need-based, or non need-based.

30. Sources of Financial Aid Financial aid comes from a variety of sources. federal government state government college (institutional aid) outside/ private sources

31. Sources of Financial AidThe “Must-Get-To-Know” Financial Aid Sources U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid www.StudentAid.gov The federal agency that provides college funding in the form of grant, scholarship, work-study, and educational loan programs. Illinois Student Assistance Commission www.ISAC.org The college access and financial aid agency in the state of Illinois that administers scholarship, grant, prepaid tuition, and student loan repayment/forgiveness programs. .

32. Financial Need How much aid can a student receive? Cost of Attendance (COA) Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Financial Need - =

33. What are the costs? Tuition & Fees Direct expenses Room & Board Direct/Indirect expenses Transportation Indirect expenses Books & Supplies + Miscellaneous Living Expenses Cost of Attendance (COA)

34. Expected Family Contribution EFC Expected Family Contribution A need analysis formula established by Congress determines a student’s Expected Family Contribution; using information reported on the FAFSA.

35. Three Examples COA (Cost of Attendance) EFC (Expected Family Contribution) Financial Need College A $10,000 $3,000 $7,000 - = College B $20,000 $3,000 $17,000 - = College C $35,000 $3,000 $32,000 - =

36. Financial Aid Awards The financial aid administrator at the college will package all available aid and send an award offer for consideration. Goal: To meet a student’s need.

37. Applying for Financial Aid • FAFSA(Free Application for Federal Student Aid) • Determines aid from State and Federal Government • Gift Aid: Grants (examples: Federal Pell Grant, Illinois MAP Grant) • Self-Help Aid: Loans and work-study • Apply after October 1st of senior year, Watch Deadlines • Considers family income, family size and many other factors • Determines your estimated family contribution (EFC) • www.fafsa.gov

38. NEW CHANGES to FAFSA • Starting with the 2017-2018 FAFSA: • You’ll be able to submit earlier. October 1st • You’ll be able to use earlier income tax information. --Prior, Prior Year tax information

39. FAFSA 2017-2018 Application (the year your student will be attending college) Fall 2016: The year you should be completing the application 2015: The tax year information you will be submitting

40. Benefits of new changes • You should have completed 2015 taxes and will not need to estimate income information • You should be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import your tax information into your FAFSA. • More time to explore and understand your financial aid options before deadlines.

41. Financial Aid Events at Guilford • Every Wednesday, ISAC reps are available during lunches to work with students and parents • FAFSA Completion Workshops: • Tues., Oct. 4th from 5-7pm Guilford library • Wed., Oct. 12th from 4-6pm Guilford library • Wed., Oct. 12th from 6-8pm at RVC Student Center • Thurs., Oct. 20th from 5-7pm Guilford library • Wed., Oct. 26th from 4:30-7:30pm Guilford library (during Parent/Teacher conference)

42. What you can do now: • Get your FSA ID! • Federal Student Aid ID • Student and Parent • Use each year you apply for financial aid • Use different email addresses to create each ID www.studentaid.gov/fsaid

43. Scholarships • Merit-Based Scholarships • Scholarship Listings created by counseling office every month. Emailed to seniors and parents. Also posted on Guilford Website under counseling section. • Be sure to leave your email address with us today. • Community Scholarship Fair at Mendolsohn Center of Tuesday, December 6th from 5:00-7:30pm. • Research scholarship opportunities from the colleges you want to attend.

44. Scholarship Scams • Avoid paying any fees for scholarships. • Do not trust anyone that guarantees scholarships for their services. • All searches for scholarship opportunities can be done for FREE! • If in doubt, check with Federal Trade Commission. • Do not pay to complete FAFSA…it is a FREE application. www.fafsa.gov

45. NCAA—College Athletics • Division I and Division II offer athletic scholarships • Check with counselor to make sure proper course sequences to meet requirements • Register online at www.eligibilitycenter.org • Send official transcript and official ACT scores • $75 registration fee • Official visits with college coaches can begin after registration is complete

46. Military • Contact local recruiters to set up appointments and have all of your questions answered. • ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) • All males must register with the Selective Service at age 18. www.sss.gov

47. Graduation • May 25, 2017 at 10:00am at the Rock Valley College PE Center • Students will receive tickets for guests to attend (approx. 6-8 per student) • Cap and Gown required to participate Order through Jostens in October

48. Cap and Gown Orders • Assembly October 17th for seniors to get ordering information • Orders during lunch periods on October 26th • Orders during Parent/Teacher Conferences on October 26th • Only the cap and gown required. (approx $25-$30) Many other packages are available. Price does increase throughout the year due to shipping charges.

49. Deadlines • Do not miss out on opportunities because of missed deadlines! • Do not wait until the last minute! • Deadlines are the student’s responsibility.

50. Basic Timeline to Sum up • October: FAFSA • October/November: College Applications • December: Scholarship searches • Jan/Feb/March: Local scholarship deadlines • March: compare financial aid packages • Anytime now through mid-April: college visits • May 1st: Official decision deadline (can decide sooner)