Juniors

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Juniors

• Class of 2009

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Course Requirements

• 4 English
• 3 Mathematics (including Algebra 1)
• 3 Social Studies (World History, American
  History, Government/Economics)
• 3 Science
• Health, Personal Fitness and P.E.
• 1 Practical or Performing Art
• 8.5 electives (most colleges require 3 academic
  electives)

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Foreign Language

• Not required for high school graduation BUT
  required to enter a four (4) year
  college/university
• Must be same language for two consecutive years.
• Some colleges/universities require three (3)
  credits

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Grade Point Average (GPA)

• GPA- Cumulative calculation of grades
• Weighted (district)-gives extra weight to Honors
  and Advanced Placement if grade is C or above
• Weighted GPA carries most weight for colleges
  because it reveals rigor of courses.
• Academic Core GPA- only academic classes
• Typically, colleges recalculate their own GPA,
  using mainly academic classes.
• Gold Cord- At least a 3.75 Weighted GPA
• 2.0 unweighted GPA is required to graduate
• (C Average)

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Volunteer Hours

• Must complete a total of 40 hours before high
  school graduation
• Must be approved by guidance counselor first if
  you have already done at least 40 hrs
• Florida Academic Scholars Award (Bright Futures
  Scholarship 100 paid tuition) Minimum of 75
  hours needed.
• Silver Cord 250 Hours
• Must log hours on Broward County Volunteer Form
• Great opportunity to build up resume

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FCAT
Must pass 10th grade FCAT

• After taking FCAT 3 times you may use SAT/ACT
  concordant score
• SAT
• Reading 410
• Math 370
• ACT
• Reading 15
• Math 15

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Preparing for College

• Take a rigorous course load.
• Take as many honors and advanced placement
  classes as you can handle.
• Get involved at Somerset and in the community
• Remember that quality is better than quantity

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Preparing For College

• Create a resume
• Colleges generally ask students to list
  activities, work, volunteer experiences, and
  awards received
• Resumes may be helpful to apply for jobs
• Working reveals responsibility and the ability to
  multi-task

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Preparing For College

• Take assessments to see which careers match your
  interests and personality
• Personality Assessments
• http//www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp
• www.flchoices.org
• Values Assessments
• www.flchoices.org
• Matching skills with careers
• http//online.onetcenter.org/skills/

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Preparing For College

• Start researching colleges now! Know deadlines
  and admissions requirements. You can start
  applying to college as early as July
• What month are most deadlines?
• Every college has different requirements
• Tour campuses
• Take SAT/ ACT no later than second semester of
  your Junior year
• If you are eligible for free/reduce lunch see
  Mrs. Matthews ?

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Preparing for College

• SAT Reasoning Tests (Scholastic Aptitude Test)
• www.collegeboard.com to register
• Tests Math, Reading, and Writing
• May be taken as many times as desired
• Begin taking Spring of Junior year
• Cost 41.50
• Offered seven (7) times a year
• Next SAT January 26
• Deadline to pay December 26
• The earlier you register, the closer the testing
  site will be to your home

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SAT

• SAT Subject Tests
• Typically required for ivy league universities
  and highly competitive universities(Columbia,
  Yale, Harvard, NYU, etc.)
• Tests your proficiency in a single subject. You
  choose the subjects.
• Often need 2 or 3 subject tests.
• Also register at www.collegeboard.com
• Check individual university websites for
  requirements.
• Schools that require Subject Tests often have
  December application deadlines
• Suggestion Take two Reasoning tests Junior year
  and Subject tests Senior year.

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Preparing For College

• www.actstudent.org
• Tests Reading, English, Math, Science and Writing
  (optional)
• Although Writing is currently optional, it may be
  required by the time you apply. You should take
  it!
• Cost 29.00 Add 14.00 for optional essay
• Offered 6 times a year
• Next ACT February 9
• Deadline January 4

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Median Scores That Colleges Are Looking For
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Scholarships

• Although most scholarships are for seniors, there
  are definitely some available for juniors
• Begin researching scholarships that you would
  qualify for
• www.fastweb.com
• BRACE Scholarship Bulletin
• Bright Futures Scholarships
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund
• College Net
• Princeton Review
• Wired Scholar
• Scholarship Scams
• Ask parents if their company provides
  scholarships
• All websites are located on the Somerset BRACE
  website

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Bright Futures Scholarships

• Florida Academic
• Pays 100 tuition
• Does not cover room board
• Gives up to 600 for books
• 3.5 Weighted GPA
• 75 Volunteer hours required
• SAT 1270 or ACT 28

• Florida Medallion
• Pays 100 tuition at a community college or 75
  tuition at a state university
• 3.0 weighted GPA
• No volunteer hours required
• SAT 970 or 20 ACT

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Silver Knight Award

• Community Service Scholarship
• If interested, start doing activity now. Dont
  wait until senior year.
• Can apply in 15 different categories
• Art, Athletics, Business, Drama, English, Foreign
  Language, General Scholarship, Journalism,
  Mathematics, Music, New Media, Science, Social
  Science, Speech, Vocational-Technical

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Financial Aid

• 3 types of aid
• Scholarships-free money based on merit
• Grants-free money from government based on
  financial need
• Loans-money borrowed from government or bank
• Must complete FAFSA to receive grants or loans.
  Apply at www.fafsa.ed.gov after January 1st of
  senior year

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Options After High School

• Community College- Earn AA Degree
• 4-year Public or Private University/College- Earn
  Bachelors and graduate degrees
• Workforce
• Military
• Liberal Arts College- small size, focusing on
  arts, humanities and sciences
• Technical School- earn certificate not a college
  degree

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Web Resources

• Virtual Counselor-graduation status
• STI-view current grades
• SAT-www.collegeboard.com
• ACT-www.actstudent.org
• FACTS.org-status of Bright Futures
• www.somersetacademy.com has links to all of the
  above websites

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BRACE Website

• Visit the Somerset BRACE and Guidance website for
  a complete listing of valuable websites,
  important dates and college visits!
• Go to www.somersetacademy.com, click on High
  School, Click on Guidance Department