Welcome to

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• Welcome to
• Senior Night

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Senior Night 2008Guilford High School
Guidance Department

• Janet Infante, Director of Guidance
• Jennifer Fitting Diane Hirsch
• Tracy Lenz Tammy Lizotte
• Nicole Rasmussen Laura Samperi
• Guidance Secretaries Juliet Calabrese, Nancy
  Cunningham Toni Fermo

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Graduation Requirements

• 22 Credits Total, including
• 4 English
• 3 Mathematics
• 3 Science
• 3 Social Studies (World Humanities, Civics/World
  Issues and US History)
• 2 PE/Health
• 1 Arts/Vocational Education
• 20 Hours Community Service
• Meet CAPT Requirements

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Transcript Evaluation

• Yearly list of classes taken, grades and credit
  earned
• Decile and Cumulative Point Average
• An explanation of our Grading System
• If you find an error
• With a Grade, Credit or Level please bring the
  transcript to the appropriate teacher and have
  them initial the change. And then return to your
  School Counselor.
• All Corrections need to be to the Guidance
  Department by October 3rd !!

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Post High School Options

• Full-Time Employment
• Armed Forces
• Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard
• 2 year College
• 4 year College
• Technical/Vocational School
• Post Graduate High School Year
• Peace Corps, Americorps, etc.

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Preparing for Full-Time Employment

• Complete an Interest Inventory
• Explore career options through internet sites,
• Myroads, Occupational Outlook Handbook
• Develop a Resume
• Job Shadowing
• Job Search
• Classified Ads, Internet Job Sites, Job Fairs,
  Networking with adults, teachers, past employers,
  etc.
• Meet with School Counselor throughout year.

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Armed Forces as a Career Choice

• Complete Interest Inventory
• Take ASVAB
• Contact recruiters to find out information
  about the different divisions
• Meet with School Counselor throughout year
  to narrow and finalize options

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The College Search and Application Process

• What to do now.

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Colleges Top Ten List

• Work or out of school experience
• A well written essay
• Teacher recommendations that describe special
  characteristics
• Supplementary recommendation from adults who have
  had significant contact with the student
• Anything special that makes the student stand
  out.

• Ability to master a challenging curriculum
• Grades that represent strong effort and an upward
  trend
• Solid scores on Standardized Tests SAT/ACT/SAT
  II
• Passionate Involvement in a few select
  activities.
• High quality community service activities

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How to decide if a school on your list is a
Reach, Realistic, or Safety

• REACH The reach college can be defined as the
  college where the individual student would have
  difficulty in gaining admission. Sometimes, it
  is due to the students record of achievement
  being lower than the records of the typically
  admitted student. Other times, colleges are
  considered reach schools because they admit a
  very small percentage of the applicants. Some
  colleges are considered reach schools for all
  applicants because of the small number of
  students they admit and the variety of
  characteristics they take into consideration.
• REALISTIC Schools that are realistic choices
  are those where the students record of
  achievement and the colleges typically admitted
  students records are closely aligned. While
  there are no certainties in this group, students
  will usually find one or more admission offers
  from this group.

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SAFETY Safety schools are those defined as
places where the applicants record exceeds the
records of the typically admitted students.
Admission to these colleges is highly likely.
Colleges in this group should be as carefully
selected as those in the other two groups since
it is possible that you will attend this
school. Important Points to Keep in Mind When
Choosing Colleges There is no absolute when it
comes to applying to a range of colleges. The
goal of course, is to be admitted to one college
of your choice. Most students will apply to
one or two schools in the reach category, two
or three in the realistic category, and at
least two in the safety category. The
definition of each category varies based on the
individual student. What may be a safety
school for you may well be someones reach
school. Give as much thought to your realistic
and safety schools as your reach schools Apply
only to schools where you believe you would be
happy for 4 years, even for safety
schools. Remember, you are looking for the best
match for you!
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Understanding Admissions Procedures

• Rolling Admissions
• Applications are reviewed on a continual basis
  and a decision is made when all information has
  been received.
• Early Decision Binding
• An application plan where students make a
  commitment to attend a college if accepted. Apply
  by Nov. 1, decision rendered by January 1.
• Early Action
• A form of early decision which also requires
  credentials be submitted early, however,
  students are not committed to enrolling.
• Early Action Single Choice
• A non commitment enrollment option but a
  student is only allowed to apply to one college
  under this option. The expectation is that the
  student doesnt apply to any other schools early.

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• Early Notification
• This concept is similar to early action, but
  requires a deposit on an accepted candidate.
• Regular Admissions
• The deadline for submission of applications
  ranges from January 1 April 1. Applicants are
  notified by April 15 and must reply to the
  college by about
• May 1.

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Standardized Tests

• SAT I Reasoning Test
• A 3 hour and 45 minute test which measures
  critical reading, mathematical and writing
  abilities. Required of all applicants by many
  colleges and sponsors of financial aid.
• SAT II Subject Tests
• A test in a specific subject which is used by
  colleges in deciding admissions, and/or,
  placement for classes.
• ACT
• A test similar to the SAT it includes English,
  Mathematics, Social Studies, Natural Science.
  The score referred to in a college description is
  an average of the four tests. Should be taken
  with the writing option.

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September/October/November

• Register for Standardized Testing SAT I, SAT II,
  ACT
• Finalize college list and begin working on
  applications and essays.
• Decide which teachers to ask for letters of
  recommendation.
• Apply early decision/early action if applicable.
• File CSS Profile
• Register for your FAFSA Pin number
• Make appointments with your School Counselor
• DEADLINES, DEADLINES, DEADLINES STAY ON TOP OF
  THEM!

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December/January/February

• Register for Standardized Testing SAT I, SAT
  II, ACT
• Finish applications
• File FAFSA (Earliest can file is Jan. 1, 2009)
• Finalize essays get help if needed
• Meet with School Counselor regularly
• DEADLINES Be Aware of them

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March/April/May

• Send any new material colleges may need
• Review financial aid offers
• Take AP Exam if applicable
• Meet with your School Counselor and notify her of
  your final decision
• Typical notification of acceptance is April
• Dont get senioritis colleges do pay attention
  to your grades all year!!!

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Senior Packet

• SAT / ACT Dates
• NCAA Clearinghouse
• Resources / Websites
• What Are Your Chances for Admissions
• Admission Plans

• Senior Year Timeline
• College Application Checklist
• Transcript Request
• Resume Sample
• Candidate Statement

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• Jill W. Student
• 10 South Main Street
• Guilford, Connecticut 06437
• [phone]
• Education
• 2005-2009 Guilford High School, Guilford,
  Connecticut
• Expected date of Graduation, June 2009
• Student Activities
• 2007 Adopt-A-Freshman Program
• 2005-Present Athletic Leadership Team
• 2005-Present Student Senate
• 2005-Present Class Secretary
• Athletics
• 2008-Present Captain-Varsity Softball
• 2008-Present Varsity Field Hockey
• 2008 SCC-All Conference Softball Selection
• 2006 Junior Varsity Field Hockey

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• Candidate Statement
• The admissions personnel at the schools and
  colleges to which you will apply will look to
  your transcript for traditional signs of academic
  achievement and promise - grades, class rank,
  course levels and test scores. In addition they
  will try to discern through personal statements
  made on your application and your resume, a
  potential for self-directed work, community
  service and creativity, among other things.
  Utilizing all this information, they will
  evaluate your potential for making a unique
  contribution to their college.
• In addition, counselor references are an
  important part of your college admissions folder.
  By answering the questions listed below, plus a
  personal conference, you will help me learn more
  about you and whats important to you. Remember
  to be specific, do not write in general terms and
  give examples when appropriate. Please write a
  brief statement on each of the following. Note
  The more detail you provide, the better it will
  assist the counselor in writing about you.
• Any specific reasons you may have for attending
  college and selecting a particular field of
  study.
• Any strong feelings you have for the colleges or
  universities to which you are applying and/or
  specific area of study you are interested in.
• Discuss any specific talents or skills you
  possess.
• Discuss any causes/ programs/activities in or out
  of school about which you are especially
  enthusiastic.
• Write about your involvement in any community
  agencies or activities.
• Write briefly about any special circumstances
  which you feel contributed to your high school
  performance (positive or negative).
• Write about any other information you feel is
  important for an admissions person to know about
  you.

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(No Transcript)
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• College/University Application Checklist
• For Guidance
• _____ Review Transcript for accuracy-corrections
  due by October 3rd.
• _____ Transcript Request Form with 3.50 fee per
  transcript from Senior Packet
• _____ Resume/Candidate Statement from Senior
  Packet
• Secondary School Report form from college
  application not required as GHS has their own
  approved form
• Guidance will release a packet to the school that
  includes transcript, class decile rank,
  cumulative grade point average, school profile,
  counselor recommendation, and secondary school
  report from application (if applicable) within
  three weeks (15 business days) of all materials
  being handed in.
• For Teacher 1
• _____ Resume
• _____ Teacher recommendation/evaluation form (if
  applicable) from college application
• _____ Stamped, addressed envelope to the school
  indicate deadlines
• _____ Additional materials requested by teacher
  _________________________________
• Teacher will release a packet of information to
  the school within 15-20 business days, using the
  stamped envelope. The packet will include their
  written recommendation and teacher evaluation
  form (if applicable).
• For Teacher 2
• _____ Resume
• _____ Teacher recommendation/evaluation form (if
  applicable)

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JUNE

• Class of 2009
• GRADUATION!!!