Senior Year

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Senior Year
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Senior Year

• The senior year is extremely busy with the
  college admissions process, financial aid, and
  scholarship applications.
• Deadlines are crucial. There will be many this
  year, so make a list
• The senior year courses should be challenging,
  and it is critical to maintain good grades.
• Stay involved with school activities
• Attend Open Houses

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Understand the different types of admissions and
the timelines

• Rolling Admissions
• You are accepted a few weeks after your
  application has been submitted
• Regular Decision
• Submit application anytime (usually by Feb.
  1st)
• Early Decision
• Deadline is usually in Oct. or Nov.
• Cannot apply anywhere else (unless rejected)
  and you are committed to that school
• Early Action
• Deadline is usually in Oct., Nov., or Dec.
• No commitment to the school
• Can still apply to other schools

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MINIMUM HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
22 Units of Credit
COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS VARY

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4 UNITS OF ENGLISH 1) ENGLISH 9 2) ENGLISH
10 3) ENGLISH 11 REGENTS 4) ENGLISH 12
or COLLEGE ENGLISH or VOTECH ENGLISH
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4 UNITS OF SOCIAL STUDIES 1) SOCIAL STUDIES 9 2)
SOCIAL STUDIES 10 GLOBAL REGENTS 3) SOCIAL
STUDIES 11 US HISTORY REGENTS 4)
ECONOMICS/GOVERNMENT
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3 UNITS OF SCIENCE 1) EARTH SCIENCE
REGENTS 2) LIVING ENVIRONMENT REGENTS 3)
CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS, VOTECH SCIENCE,
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, FISH WILDLIFE, ANATOMY
PHYSIOLOGY or ADVANCED CHEMISTRY DENOTES
ADVANCED REGENTS DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS
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3 UNITS OF MATH

• 1) ALGEBRA REGENTS
• 2) GEOMETRY REGENTS
• 3) INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA,
• ALGEBRA 2, APPLIED MATH, VOTECH
  MATH, PERSONAL FINANCE ACCOUNTING,
  PRE-CALCULUS, OR JCC CALCULUS
• ALGEBRA 2 HAS A REGENTS EXAM THAT IS NEEDED FOR
  THE ADVANCED REGENTS DIPLOMA

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FOREIGN LANGUGE SPANISH I PROFICIENCY
MINIMUM GRADUATION REQUIREMENT SPANISH
II SPANISH III REGENTS NEEDED FOR
ADVANCED REGENTS DIPLOMA
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2 UNITS PHYSICAL EDUCATION 1/2 UNIT HEALTH 1
UNIT ART OR MUSIC OR DDP
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REGENTS REQUIREMENTS

• Students must pass all 5 regents exams to
  graduate
• 1) English
• 2) Global Studies
• 3) US History
• 4) Math
• 5) Science

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ADVANCED REGENTS REQUIREMENTS

• English
• Global Studies
• US History
• Algebra Geometry Algebra 2
• Any two science exams
• Foreign Language
• must pass all exams with at least a 65

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Diplomas with Honors

• To receive a Regents or Advanced Regents with
  Honors, a student must have an average of 90.0
  or above on all qualifying exams.
• To receive Mastery in Math and/or Science on
  your diploma, you must score 85 or better on
  three math and/or three science exams.

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• Transcripts

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Class Rank and GPA

• Student with the highest overall average is
  ranked one in that class. Student with the
  second highest overall average is ranked two,
  etc.
• Final class rank will be determined following 3rd
  quarter report card of senior year.
• When determining class rank, courses that are of
  Regents or college level are given a weighted
  value.
• Regents course 1.03
• College/AP course 1.06
• Ex. 92 (Biology) 95
• 92 (JCC English) 98

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COLLEGE/SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS
(TYPICALLY) 4 UNITS ENGLISH 4 UNITS SOCIAL
STUDIES 3 UNITS MATH 3 UNITS SCIENCE 2-3 UNITS
FOREIGN LANGUAGE ACT/SAT EXTRACURRICULAR
ACTIVITES COMMUNITY SERVICE
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SAT/ACT

• When should you (re)take the SAT or ACT?

Fall of your Senior year
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The SAT

• The SAT is 52.50
• You can sign up online at sat.org/register
• Photo now required
• Fee waivers available if you qualify check with
  Mrs. Hazelton in the Guidance Office.

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The ACT

• The ACT without Writing is 38.00
• The ACT with Writing is 54.50
• Photo upload is now required
• Fee waivers available if you qualify check with
  Mrs. Hazelton in the Guidance Office.

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ACT VS. SAT

• Science reasoning section
• Math includes trigonometry
• Vocabulary less important
• Entirely multiple-choice
• No guessing penalty
• English grammar tested
• Math accounts for 25 of your score
• Easy and hard questions mixed within sections
• Based on high school curriculum

• No Science Section
• No Trigonometry Questions
• Vocabulary Emphasized
• Non multiple-choice questions included
• Guessing penalty
• Math accounts for 50 of your score
• Questions go from easy to hard in most sections

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Test Scores

• The ACT
• Top score of 36
• Average score is around 20
• English
• Math
• Reading
• Science
• Final score is average of all
• four sections

• The SAT
• Critical Reading 200-800
• Math 200-800
• Writing 200-800
• (Essay score of 2 12, 1/3 of writing score)
• (Multiple-choice 20 80, 2/3 of writing score)
• Average score of 1400-1500
• For a top score of 2400

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Preparing for the SAT

• Take free practice tests
• Guidance office reference
• Online tests - http//sat.collegeboard.org/pract
  ice/
• The Official SAT Online Course
• www.collegeboard.com
• Interactive lessons
• Practice tests
• Fee

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Preparing for the ACT

• Online Prep actstudent.org/onlineprep
• Practice tests with real ACT test questions
• Practice essays for the new optional ACT Writing
  Test, with real-time scoring
• Comprehensive content review for each of the
  ACT's four required testsEnglish, Math, Reading,
  and Science
• Diagnostic test and personalized Study Path
• Anywhere, anytime access via the Internet
• Website actstudent.org/testprep
• Each day they post a new question

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Attention!

• September 19th is the registration deadline for
  the October 25th ACT
• October 9th is the registration deadline for the
  November 8th SAT

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Career Searching

• Guidance office has several reference books
• www.princetonreview.com
• This site lists many career options and a little
  background information about certain careers
• www.collegeboard.com
• This site has information on careers and majors
  for college. Everyone who took the PSAT has a
  free membership to MY COLLEGE QUICKSTART

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College Quickstart

• My College QuickStart includes these features
• My Online Score Report An enhanced score report
  that allows you to review each test question,
  your answer, and the correct answer with answer
  explanations.
• My SAT Study Plan A customized SAT study plan
  based on your PSAT/NMSQT test performance,
  highlighting skills for review and practice.
• My College Matches A starter list of colleges
  based on your home state and indicated choice of
  major.
• My Major Career Matches Personalized lists of
  majors and careers plus access to a personality
  assessment that suggests other compatible
  possibilities.

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College Admissions Check-List

• Required Tests and Courses
• Essays
• Resumes
• Letters of recommendation
• Deadlines
• College credit for classes taken in high school

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Academic Checklist

• Degrees/programs offered
• Majors
• Clubs/Associations
• Career placement services
• Internship opportunities

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Financial Check List

• Cost of attending college
• Grants (do not need to be paid back)
• Loans (have to be paid back)
• Employment (work-study)
• Academic and need-based scholarships
• Deadlines
• FAFSA (ASAP after Jan. 1st)
• FINANCIAL AID NIGHT SPONSORED BY SUNY FREDONIA
  12/10/14 _at_ 7PM

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Applying for Financial Aid

• Request a federal PIN at now _at_ www.pin.ed.gov
• Fill out the 2015-16 FAFSA on the Web Worksheet
  in December (Do Not Mail this Worksheet)
• Complete FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov in
  January 2015! DONT WAIT UNTIL TAXES ARE FILED
• Print the confirmation page
• Use the link to apply for TAP
• Keep records

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FAFSA4casterLets students and parents receive
an early estimate of eligibility for federal
student aid. It will increase knowledge of the
financial aid process and provide an opportunity
to investigate other sources of aid (e.g.
grants, scholarships).
http//www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov
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FAFSA4caster

• Provide general information about federal student
  aid
• Foster early awareness and create familiarity
  with the financial aid application process and
  form
• Serve as an early analysis tool informing college
  affordability
• Reduce the time required to submit the "official"
  financial aid application in the student's senior
  year and beyond

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Financial Aid cont.

• EFC is determined by
• Students income and assets
• Parents income and assets
• Size of family
• Number of children in college
• Annual Cost minus EFC Need
• Visit www.collegeboard.com to use the award
  comparison calculator

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Questions for families to askand not assume!!

• How do outside awards affect the aid package?
• What is the schools policy on non-custodial
  parents?
• What is the average student debt level?
• Are the scholarships/grants renewable each year?
• How might awards change in future years?
• What happens if financial circumstances change?

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Financial Aid Facts of Life for Families

• Dont rule out a school just because of its cost!
• Apply to one or two financially safe schools.
• Meet deadlines!
• Keep copies of all forms filed.
• Student loans are a way of life.
• Families should save as much as they can. No
  amount is too small!

• Plan ahead! Think about how you will pay for each
  year of the students program.
• Appeal if circumstances change.
• Look at all financing optionsstart with those
  offered by the college at which the student
  enrolls!
• Dont assumeask!
• Early application is critical

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Scholarship Checklist

• High School Guidance Office
• Organizations your parents belong to
• Places of employment
• Search the web
• www.fastweb.com
• www.schoolsoup.com
• Announcements at school
• Colleges you are applying to

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Campus Life Check-list

• Who attends the college
• Sports
• Music
• Theater
• Art
• Library
• Publications

• Extracurricular Activities
• Housing
• Health services
• Counseling services
• Safety information
• Community information

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College Visits

• Go now while the weather is still nice!!!!
• Look online for the Open House dates

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QUESTIONS TO ASK A COLLEGE

• What activities and services are available to
  help students get settled (academically and
  socially during their first year?
• How big are the classes?
• How easy is it to meet with faculty?
• Are you able to register for the classes you
  want?
• What is the total cost of attending the college?
• Are all freshmen assigned an academic counselor?

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COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

• A good rule is that when you think turkey you
  should be completing your college applications. I
  highly recommend finishing applications by Dec.
  1st.

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COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

• Complete all parts
• Proof-read your essays
• Have someone else proof your essays
• Allow 2-3 weeks for someone to write you a letter
  of recommendation
• Request an Official Transcript
• Copy everything that you mail
• Request a Final transcript at the end of the year

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12th Grade Checklist

• Apply to 3-5 colleges (have a back-up plan)
• Take or re-take SAT or ACT
• Research and apply for scholarships
• Keep grades up and stay involved in activities
• Complete FAFSA in January
• Choose a college and send in all paperwork

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QUESTIONS?
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THANK YOU!