Gig Harbor High School

1
Gig Harbor High School

• Senior Parent Night
• 2008 2009
• Welcome

2
Overview

• Counseling Office Assignments
• School Issues
• Senior Exhibition
• Changing Job Demographics
• Post High School Options
• Admissions
• Application Process
• Scholarship and Financial Aid Information
• Important Dates

3
Counseling Office Assignments

• Dave Burmark A Ch
• Matt Westby Ci Ha
• Jen Clarke Hb Mam
• Kyle Fordyce Man Rof
• Todd Davis Rog Z
• David Elkins Behavior Interventionist
• Julie Barnett Psychologist
• Shirley Ashpole Secretary
• Lily Benedict Secretary

4
Home School Communication

• Progress Reports
• Parent Connect
• Walk around
• Emails
• Snail mailed
• Teacher web sites www.schoolnotes.com
• Individual Conferences or Staffings
• Phone Contacts
• E-mails last name, first initial
  _at_peninsula.wednet.edu
• GHHS counseling website www.gigharborhs.psd.401.
  net/counseling

5
School Issues

• Attendance
• Excuses within 24 hours
• After 8 absences, students may lose credit
• Attendance line 253-530-1429
• Attendance office 253-530-1428
• Off Campus Passes
• Seniors only
• 2.5 GPA
• No discipline issues
• Parent signature in Main Office

6
Senior Exhibition

• Opportunity to explore interest
• Choose a topic based on
• - career choice
• - perceived need
• - skill you wish to learn
• - product you wish to create

7
The Exhibition Process

• Start - Explore Possible Topics
• Select - A topic for your project
• Secure - Teacher / Parent approval
• Find - An expert who will assist and mentor
• Work - Complete the project integrate
  community service research and interview experts
• Write - The paper explaining the journey
• Present - Gig Harbor High Schools Oral Boards
  (Parents are welcome to attend)

8
Changing Career Demographics

• Steady increase in skilled workforce
• College is for everybody

9
National Occupational Opportunities 1950
20 professional
60 unskilled
20 skilled
10
National Occupational Opportunities 1994
20 professional
35 unskilled
45 skilled
11
National Occupational Opportunities 2000
15 unskilled
20 professional
65 skilled
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Post High School Options

• Four year colleges - Public Private
• Community Colleges
• Technical Colleges
• Specialty schools - Cosmetology, Art, Fashion,
• Culinary, Commercial Diving, etc.
• Military
• Apprenticeships
• Community Service Volunteer Programs
• Full or part-time employment
• Stay home with parents and watch TV

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The Road to Success Education Plan
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The Road to Success Education Plan
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Parents Role in post high school planning

• Parents should
• Encourage career exploration
• Suggest based on interest /skills/requirements/emp
  loyment outlook
• Job shadow
• Internet searches (www.careercruising.com, logon
  PSD401, password tides)
• Where are You Going? career planning guide
• Recognize and encourage students right to choose
  
• Set financial parameters
• Seek best fit not best college

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College Credits Earned in High School

• Running Start Credits
• AP Courses
• Articulated Agreement Courses
• Dual Credit Courses
• www.peninsula.wednet.edu
• Go to Career Technical link
• CLEP credits (few colleges accept)
• Many colleges require placement exams in math and
  foreign language prior to admission

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Community College Technical College Admissions

• Community Colleges
• Placement exam required prior to entry
• Apply early
• Contact directly or online
• Know transfer requirements if seeking
  baccalaureate degree
• Technical Colleges
• Must have a career focus
• Compass/Asset entry assessments and orientation
• Waiting lists likely
• Contact directly or online

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Specialty School Admissions

• Criteria vary for each school
• Information available on the web or Career Center
  
• May require
• transcripts
• letters of recommendation
• interviews
• portfolios and/or auditions

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Military Service and Apprenticeships

• Apprenticeships
• Check out web sites www.LNI.wa.gov/scs/apprentice
  ship/default.htm
• Seek counselor input
• Military Service
• Explore/Compare career and education
  opportunities between branches
• Take the ASVAB exam first
• Require written assurances from recruiters
• ROTC vs. Military Academies

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Minimum University Entrance Requirements (HEC
Board)

• English 4 years (Some English classes may
  not meet requirements.)
• Math 3 years (high school level)
• Social Studies 3 years
• Science 2 years lab science (one must be year
  long)
• Foreign Language 2 years (progressive)
• Fine/Visual/Performing Art One unit (requirement
  varies among schools)

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Factors Influencing Admissions

• HEC board requirements must be met
• Trend towards whole student consideration
  rather than Academic Index
• Academic Index
• Used by some public universities in Washington
  State
• Grades weighted 3 to 1 over test scores
• ACT/SAT Writing scores not included in index

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(No Transcript)
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Factors Influencing Admission (cont.)

• Best Predictors of success
• Course Rigor (more core)
• Cumulative GPA
• Other factors considered
• SAT or ACT Scores
• Essays
• Activities
• Talent
• Diversity
• Special circumstances
• Character

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10 tips to strengthen your application (adapted
from WWU admissions packet)

• Take courses beyond minimum core
• Finish strong (grade trends matter)
• Write a compelling personal statement
• Make a positive difference in the lives of others
• Demonstrate sustained involvement
• Convey personal contributions to the college
• Express appreciation for cultural diversity
• Take risks (embrace challenges)
• Follow application instructions
• Personally contact (not through parents)

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ACT / SAT?

• Test requirements vary by school
• Revised ACT
• English
• Math
• Reading
• Science
• Writing test is optional
• Revised SAT has three sections
• Critical Reading
• Writing
• Math
• SAT 2 (subject specific tests, select schools
  only)
• WASL?

26
Private College Admissions and Other
Considerations

• Additional admissions requirements
• Letters of recommendation (most private schools)
• Interviews and connections (select schools)
• Other Factors
• Increased costs
• Financial aid likely
• Small class sizes
• Elevated Four Year Graduation rates
• Fewer programs/majors
• Less diverse student body/shared values (some
  schools)

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Choosing A University

• Admission requirements
• Courses of study offered
• Financial costs
• College reputation (Be cautious of rankings and
  rumors.)
• College environment
• Size
• Climate
• Religious affiliations
• Urban vs. rural
• Distance from home
• Sports programs
• Dorms vs. Greek system
• Class size
• Gender ratios
• Friends choices

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Application Process

• Know the deadlines!
• Early Decision, Early Action, Rolling Decisions
• Encourage online applications
• Professional appearance
• Keep a copy
• All written correspondence evaluated
• If required to declare a major, make sure the
  school offers this.
• Undecided is OK unless the college has impacted
  majors.

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Application Process (cont.)

• Two Week Notice Required
• Online Applications
• Complete Notice of Online Application form (in
  Counseling Office or online at GHHS website)
• Letters of Recommendation
• Best to include in single mailing
• Personal Data Form
• Mailing of Information
• All printed applications through counseling
  office
• 1.00 handling and postage per application
• No self-addressed or stamped envelopes

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Financial Aid

• FAFSA application required for financial aid.
• www.FAFSA4caster.ed.gov
• Complete on-line after January 1st
• Sooner is better
• Four means of assistance
• Grants
• Scholarships
• Loans
• Work Study
• Profile form may also be required
• Loans can also be obtained through local lending
  institutions
• WUE The Western Undergraduate Exchange Program
• reduced tuition (150 of receiving schools
  residential rate)
• www.wiche.edu
• Financial aid from private institutions can often
  neutralize the costs

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Scholarship Information

• Scholarship information
• - GHHS website, Career Center and APB/Decisions
  classrooms
• Scholarship Notebooks
• Submitted between Dec. 1st and Thurs., Jan. 22nd
  730AM
• Contact individual schools and programs
• Most schools have their own scholarships
• Scholarship deadlines often differ from
  application dates
• Some require supplementary financial aid info
• Check parents place of employment, organizations
  and banks/credit unions
• Check scholarship websites
• Be cautious about paying for scholarship search
  programs

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Important Dates to Remember

• Oct. 13th Parent/teacher conferences (500
  -730 PM)
• Nov. 20th Financial Aid Meeting (630 PM)
• Jan. 22nd Scholarship Notebooks Due (730
  AM)
• April 8/9th Senior Project service
  completion date
• May 1st Senior Project paper due
• June 4th Scholarship Awards Assembly (630 PM)
• June 4th Senior Exhibition, Oral Boards
• June 10th Seniors check out day
• June 11th Graduation Rehearsal
• June 14th Graduation!! (330 PM)