Senior Year 101:

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Senior Year 101

• Helpful Hints and Tips to make the most of your
  Senior year!

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Senior Checklists
Watch for Passes from Ms. Castello and Ms.
Fingland for scheduled appointments during Study
Halls or Lunch!
or Stop into the Guidance Office and make an
appointment to meet with your Counselor!
Ms. Castello Last names A-K Ms. Fingland Last
names L-Z
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Senior Checklists

• Check your transcript
• Familiarize yourself with your transcript
• Check to be sure that you are taking at least 5 ½
  credits this year
• Keep track of your GPA and current class rank.
• Be sure that you have passed all of the required
  regents exams
• Be familiar with the different diploma
  types-which one will you be receiving??

• File Data Sheet
• Be sure to complete the yellow information card
  and return to guidance ASAP
• List your plans for next year College? Work?
  Tech school?
• List all community service activities throughout
  the last 3 years
• List any and all extracurricular activities that
  you have participated in Sports? School
  musicals? Key club? SADD? Student council?

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Wait a minute!

• You mean to tell me theres more than one kind of
  Diploma I couldve earned from this place?!?!

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Theres actually 3 Different Kinds of Diplomas!

• Advanced Regents Diploma
• Regents Diploma
• Local Diploma
• Ready for what the differences are?
• Well buckle your seat belts

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Advanced Regents Diploma RequirementsClass of
2010
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Regents Diploma RequirementsClass of 2010
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Local Diploma RequirementsClass of 2010
Class and credit requirements are the same for
the Local as they are for the Regents Diploma
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One more thing

• Honors Diploma Of your required Regents Exam
  scores average a 90 or higher, you can earn a
  Diploma with Honors!
• Distinction Diploma Of your required Regents
  Exam scores average an 85 or higher you can earn
  a Diploma with Distinction!

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Senior Year TimelineWhat should I be doing and
When?

• Beginning Now!
• Begin reviewing college reference materials in
  the guidance office, online or through the mail
• Watch for college reps at the guidance office -
  refer to the weekly menu
• Register for SAT and/or ACT. NOTE DEADLINES!
• Make an appointment with your counselor for
  specific SAT/ACT/College information questions
• Take a look at the guidance website at
• www.hannibalcsd.org

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Its getting cooler outside Maybe I should spend
some time inside researching colleges!

• October
• Meet with your counselor to go over your senior
  checklist
• Begin completing college applications bring them
  to the Guidance Office and we will send out your
  transcripts for you
• Utilize the CHOICES software program on the
  school computers
• SAT Oct 10th
• ACT Oct 24th

• November
• Your college choices should be narrowed down now
• Continue completing college applications and
  bring them to Guidance ASAP!
• Arrange for letters of recommendations if needed
  by teachers and/or counselors
• SAT Nov 7th
• NO ACT THIS MONTH

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So many holidays and snow days coming upWhich
means extra free time to fill out my Financial
Aid forms and research Scholarships!

• December
• Attend Financial Aid Night at Fulton High
  School(Date TBA)
• All college applications must be turned into
  Guidance no later than Dec 14th if you want them
  mailed before Christmas break
• SAT Dec 5th
• ACT Dec 12th

• January
• File your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal
  Student Aid) ASAP after 1/1 (online)
• Request that your mid-year grades get sent to the
  colleges that you are applying to
• Watch for admission letters from colleges! Be
  sure to share the good news with your Counselor!
• SAT Jan 23rd
• NO ACT THIS MONTH

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Busy time of yearBut hey, Im really beginning
to get the hang of this senior year thing!

• February/March
• File your FAFSA if you havent already done so
• Get serious about researching scholarships that
  pertain to you
• SAT March 13th
• ACT February 6th

• April
• Tuition and housing costs are due May 1st
• Notify colleges if you are declining admission
• NO SAT THIS MONTH
• ACT April 10th

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Spring is in the airand I am almost there!!!

• May
• Let your counselors know which college you have
  selected
• Start looking for the perfect summer job
• SAT May 1st
• NO ACT THIS MONTH

• June
• Return any borrowed materials to the Guidance
  Office
• SAT June 5th
• ACT June 12th
• Collect your cap and gown
• Walk the stage and make you parents proud!

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Mark Your Calendars!

• Check the Guidance website for SAT/ACT dates and
  registration deadlines!
• Check the weekly menu for college rep visits and
  college open houses

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Why should I go to Guidance?
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I have no idea where to apply!
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Heres some things to consider

• First of allRELAX. This is a process.
• Start out by asking yourself a few questions?
  What am I looking for?
• 2 year or 4 year school?
• Location?
• Size?
• Majors offered?
• Sports teams?

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Research and become an informed applicant

• Start a college folder, keeping catalogs of
  campuses that interest you
• Start visiting if you have not done so already
  attend Fall Open House events
• Many colleges offer students application fee
  waivers for visiting their campus! Save Mom and
  Dad some money!
• A student should NEVER decide on a college
  without visiting first. This is going to be home
  for 9 months, be comfortable there!

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If you need some help getting started, here are
some great websites!

• www.collegeboard.com
• www.collegenet.com
• www.collegeview.com
• www.collegeguides.com
• www.petersons.com
• www.fastweb.com
• www.collegecompare.com

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Toto, I dont think were in Hannibal anymore

• The campus visit is a vital part of this process.
• Remember, a college may have the major that you
  want but you also have to get the right feel for
  the campus.
• Dont just like it love it!
• Listen to your instincts a comfortable
  environment will help to lead you to success.

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Types of Degrees

• Associates Degree awarded for successful
  completion of a 2 year program, providing
  training for a specific occupation
• Bachelors Degree a degree that normally requires
  at least 4, but not more than 5 years of
  full-time equivalent college-level work
• Masters Degree successful completion of a
  program of full-time study for 1-2 years beyond a
  Bachelors degree

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College Terms to Know

• Open Admissions virtually all secondary school
  graduates or students with a GED are admitted
  without regard to academic record, test scores,
  or other qualifications
• Early Decision THIS IS A BINDING AGREEMENT a
  plan that permits students to apply and be
  notified of an admission decision early, but it
  is a commitment by the student, that if accepted,
  he/she will withdraw all other applications and
  attend that college.
• Early Action THIS IS A NON-BINDING AGREEMENT a
  plan that allows students to apply and be
  notified of an admission decision well in advance
  of the regular notification dates.

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So, what are colleges looking for in an applicant
anyway?
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Factors in the Selection Process

• GPA your overall grade point average is the
  first thing that colleges look at
• Strength of Schedule colleges want to see
  students with a rigorous and appropriately
  challenging course load throughout high school
  INCLUDING SENIOR YEAR!
• SAT/ACT Scores colleges typically provide a
  range of where they like potential students to
  fall
• Extracurricular Activities well-rounded students
  who can balance academics and extracurriculars
  are very appealing to admission committees GET
  INVOLVED!
• Recommendations colleges depend on teachers and
  counselors to provide further insight as to the
  students work ethic, potential for success, etc.

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Time to Apply!
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Some Application Tips

• Apply early on in senior year, you can start
  now!
• ALL applications are processed through the
  Guidance Office.
• We review, make copies, document the date mailed,
  and send your official transcript. We also mail
  them for you
• APPLY ONLINE this is the preferred method, and
  also speeds up the process. Please remember to
  print out any counselor forms or transcript
  release forms and bring them to us. You MUST let
  us know when you have applied online to a college
  so we can keep track.

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The rubber band analogy
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GPA/COURSE RIGOR/TEST SCORES

• Think of it this way you have some pull, but if
  one of these is too far out of whack, then the
  rubber band snaps

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Fall Visitations

• College Reps will be visiting the Guidance office
  throughout the fall
• This is a great opportunity for you to learn more
  about requirements and program offerings at
  select schools
• Announcements will be made to let you know when
  these visits will occur, also check the menu
• College Fall Open Houses

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How many colleges should I apply to?

• There is no magic number, however most students
  apply to 3 5 different colleges
• Pay careful attention to Deadlines
• Keeping a college calendar is a good idea
• No matter what HAVE A BACK UP PLAN!
• It is also very important to continue to perform
  well academically!
• Most colleges request report cards and mid-year
  grades

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NCAA Clearinghouse

• If you plan on playing a sport in college at the
  Division I or Division II level, you must
  register with the Clearinghouse immediately. See
  Miss Fingland about the process.

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The Counselors Role

• We are here for everything
• questions that need to be answered
• help filling out applications
• contacting admissions, etc.
• Use us a resource!
• there are no stupid questions ever!
• Our goal is to provide support to students and
  parents throughout the entire College process

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Sometimes a little nagging too
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How am I going to pay for all of this?!?
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Scholarships

• Students must assume responsibility for this
  process
• listen to announcements, read the weekly menu,
  come to Guidance, and do your Research!
• Scholarship Packet
• applications are in the Guidance Office
• Once you are accepted to a college, you are
  considered for certain scholarships if you meet
  eligibility requirements
• Please beware of scholarship scams
• applying for a scholarship should NEVER cost you
  anything and credit card information should never
  be asked for
• If you are unsure is something is legit, come see
  us

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Financial Aid

• Attend Financial Aid Night (typically in
  December) held at Fulton High School
• presentation given on how to complete the FAFSA
  (Free Application of Federal Student Aid)
• You will be able to apply for financial aid
  beginning January 1st, 2010 (not before)
• Online application is preferred
  (www.fafsa.ed.gov)
• Once you apply, your financial information is
  shared with the colleges that you apply to and
  they create your financial aid packages

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What if I want to work after graduation or enter
the military?

• We can help you with this too!
• We have access to computer programs, resource
  manuals, local recruiter information, union
  apprenticeship information, etc.

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Some Final Thoughts

• Be realistic
• Set limits at the beginning that are important to
  you (cost, distance from home, etc.)
• Communicate with your parents
• Press to get straight answers from admissions and
  financial aid offices
• Contact colleges yourself! They love this!
• Keep everything in perspective
• Include us in your plans let us know where you
  decide to go!
• Keep a sense of humor ?

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Contact Information

• Guidance Office 564-7910, ext. 3

Ms. Castello Last names A-K jcastell_at_hannibalcsd
.org Ms. Fingland Last names L-Z bfingland_at_hanni
balcsd.org
CEEB CODE 332-265
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Questions???
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GOOD LUCK!