Class of 2017: Planning
for College and Career
Readiness
Presented by North Forsyth HS Counselors
Meet the Counseling Team
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Tracey Winkler
Kathy Wigley
Whitney Adams
Josh Owens
Sarah Kate Hampton
Leigh Ann Strickland
Kim Haynes
Claire Nicholson
Kim Grogan
Administrator
A
B – Da
De-Hi
Ho-Mi
Mo-Sc
Se-Z
Secretary
Registrar
In Your Packet
Junior Journey
 SAT/ACT Dates and Prep Resources
 Important Junior Information
 HOPE GPA Progress Report
 NFHS Transcript
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 Includes Cumulative GPA
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Graduation Progress Report
Graduation Requirements
(Minimum)
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4 - English
 4 - Math
 4 - Science
 3 – Social Studies
 3 - Language/Career Tech/Fine Arts
 ½ Health & ½ Personal Fitness
 4 - Additional Electives
 23 total credits
Raider Academic Assistance
We encourage parents to consistently check progress
via parent portal
 We encourage students to meet with teachers to discuss
their academic progress and develop a student success
plan
 Each department has a tutoring schedule for extra help
 Career Tech
 ELA
 Fine Arts
 Math
 PE & Health
 Science
 Social Studies
 World Language
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Raider Academic Assistance
Peer Tutoring Center is on Wednesdays during
Instructional Focus. Please fill out this survey for
more information. Students can also get
assistance from teachers during IF with a prearranged pass.
 The Raider Connection Center is also available
for student assistance on Tuesdays and
Thursdays in the Media Center from 4:00-5:00.
Bus transportation is available.
 Click here to view our Student Support Brochure
 Contact Julie Benvenuto, Student Support
Specialist with any questions about these
programs.
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Senior Scheduling Options
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On - Level
Advanced Composition
Precalculus or Advanced
Math Decision Making
(AMDM)
Human Anatomy,
Forensics, Physics, Earth
Systems, Environmental
Sci.
Government and
Economics
Language/CTAE/Fine Arts
Pathway
Electives
Advanced
 AP Literature/Comp
 DL Calculus, AP Calculus
AB/BC or AP Statistics
 AP Chemistry, AP Physics 1,
AP Environmental, AP
Biology
AP Government, AP
Economics
 Language/CTAE/Fine Arts
Pathway
 Electives
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Raider Pathways
Advanced Academic Pathways
Fine Arts Pathways
World Language Pathways
Career Tech Pathways
Students are encouraged to complete a pathway.
 A sequence of 3 or4 courses is needed to be a “Pathway Completer.”
 Students can complete more than one pathway.
 Some pathways require an End of Pathway Assessment.
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Advanced Academic Pathways
English, Math, Science
 Earn 4 required credits
 1 credit needs to be AP/IB/MOWR
Earn 2 sequential credits in a world language
Social Studies
 Earn 3 required credits
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 1 credit needs to be AP/IB/MOWR
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Earn 2 sequential credits in a world language
Fine Arts Pathways
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Music
Earn 3 Band credits or 3 Chorus credits
Drama
Earn 3 Acting, Tech Theatre, or Musical
Theatre credits
Visual Arts
Earn 3 Visual Arts, Drawing, Painting,
Photography, or Ceramics credits
Journalism
Earn 3 Journalism credits (Yearbook or
Newspaper)
World Language Pathways
Spanish
French
Russian
German
Latin
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Earn 3 credits in the
same World
Language
AP/IB/MOWR can
also count
Career Tech Pathways
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Agriculture
Leadership in
Horticulture
Audio-Video
Technology and Film
Computer Science
Food and Nutrition
Engineering and
Technology
Healthcare – Sports
Medicine
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Information Support
and Service
Marketing and
Management
Sports and
Entertainment
Marketing
Teaching as a
Profession
Marine Corps JROTC
FCS Pathway Recognitions
Click here for more info
Seal of Completion (Level I)
 Award: Seal of Completion on Diploma
Seal of Distinction (Level II)
 Award: Seal of Distinction on Diploma, Pin at
Graduation
Medallion (Level III - Highest)
 Award: Seal of Distinction on Diploma, Medallion
& Pin at Graduation
November 2015
Follow us on Twitter
@NFHSCounseling
Class of 2017 welcome to your Junior Year! This roadmap of your Junior Year is one that we hope you will use to plan the coming months
wisely! The JOURNEY to post-secondary options begins NOW!
Identify Sources of college
Be sure that you are
Attend Junior Parent
and career information.
challenging yourself
and
Student
Night.
Here are a few starters:
with a rigorous
If you are unable to attend please review the ppt
curriculum this year
or video on the NFHS Counseling Website. If you
www.gacollege411.org
still have questions, you can sign up for an
and when you are
www. careercruising.com
individual junior conference with your counselor.
selecting your courses
bigfuture.collegeboard.org
for Senior Year.
Begin to build a preliminary list of
Explore the
websites of these colleges for
admissions info, deadlines,
& virtual tours.
potential colleges. Plan to apply to 5-8
Colleges.
1-2 Dream/Reach:
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2-3 Moderate Level:
Visit several colleges of interest to determine
best fit. Colleges offer tours, open houses, and
you can sign up on their website. Some colleges
track demonstrated interest!
Review your PSAT Results.
The score report provides access
codes for My College QuickStart
which has tailored study questions,
college searches & a personality
test to find majors
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2-3 Safety/Fallback:
______________________
______________________
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Research scholarships for
Juniors & familiarize yourself w/ future
scholarship opportunities.
Here are some Scholarship Search
websites to get you started:
www.gacollege411.org www.fastweb.com
www.zinch.com www.gsfc.org
Also attend NFHS Financial
Aid Night Next Fall
Talk to friends,
parents, & faculty
members about various
colleges and careers
that you think you
might be interested
in.
Start Preparing for the
SAT/ACT by practicing
online or utilizing prep
courses. Visit NFHS
Counseling Page for
Resources. Sign up for
SAT/ACT no later than this
spring. Retake them as
needed through fall of the
Senior Year. Potential Tech
School students should
sign up for the Compass
and military should sign up
for the ASVAB.
College Admission Tips for
Juniors
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Do well in your classes and seek help when needed
Explore interests, strengths for careers
Take the PSAT
Consider extra prep for SAT/ACT
Sign up for SAT/ACT before senior year
Participate in extracurricular activities
Seek leadership opportunities
Start a resume to track involvement
Consider rigorous courses
Explore funding for college
Explore colleges through open houses, fairs, and online
Be aware of differences in college admissions and high school
graduation requirements: example 2 language credits, etc.
Consider summer activities for enrichment
Summer – explore application deadlines, who might write a
recommendation letter for you, and write essays
College Visitations
The best way to get to know more about a school and get a “feel”
for what it would be like to attend is to visit.
 NFHS Juniors and Seniors are permitted to take 4 days to visit
colleges (permission slip required prior to visiting).
 Typically you can sign up on the school’s website
 Ask questions
Do Your Research
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Plan a visit to tour campuses that are of
interest.
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Attend PROBE Fair in September
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Atlanta National College Fair Georgia International
Convention Center
Sunday, March 13: 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
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Meet with college/military representatives when
they come to visit
Considerations When Selecting a
College
Type of school – 2 year, 4 year or Technical
 Geographical Location
 Public or Private
 Size
 Living Facilities
 Co$t - $$$$
 Away or Stay Home
 Majors offered
 Clubs/Sports/Activities
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Well How Do I Choose?
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How does the BIG 3 affect my
admissions?
GPA, SAT/ACT,
curriculum strength.
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Have I narrowed my list down to 5 – 7
schools? 1-2 Dream/Reach, 2-3
Moderate level, 2-3 Safety/Fall Back.
Factors in the admission decision
Helpful College Admissions Links
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College Visits - What to ask.
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College visitation form for excused absence.
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Finding the best colleges for YOU!
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Map of Technical College System of Georgia
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Map of University System of Georgia Institutions
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High School Curriculum Requirements for the University System of Georgia
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collegescorecard.ed.gov/
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collegeappmap.org
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www.sreb.org/page/1304/academic_common_market.html
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bigfuture.collegeboard.org/
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www.nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator
Georgia School Averages
School
GPA
SAT
ACT
UGA
3.81-4.06
1810-2060
27-31
Georgia Tech
A average
2060-2250
30-33
Emory
3.7-3.97
2020-2260
30-34
Mercer
3.81
1210
28
UNG (4 year)
3.63
1117
24
Kennesaw State
3.22
1070
22
GCSU
3.26-3.37
1100-1240
23-27
Georgia Southern
3.24
1113
24
Georgia State
3.34
1053
22
Valdosta State
3.15
1050
22
Technical and 2 Year College
Options
Lanier Tech
www.laniertech.edu
Dawsonville, Cumming, Oakwood
Gwinnett Tech
www.gwinnetttech.edu
Alpharetta, Lawrencville
Chattahoochee Tech
www.chattahoocheetech.edu
Canton, Jasper, Woodstock
Georgia Perimeter College (Georgia
State)
www.gpc.edu
Alpharetta
University of North Georgia (2 year)
www.ung.edu
Cumming, Oakwood, Oconee
• Most Tech programs require a HS
diploma and COMPASS
•2 year colleges typically have lower
average scores for admission
Military Options
www.military.com
 www.navy.com
 www.marines.com
 www.army.com
 www.airforce.com
 Speak with a recruiter to learn about
options
 Take the ASVAB tentatively scheduled
for March
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Career Exploration
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The question is not “What am I going to do?”
Instead ask “What are my strengths and interests and how can I
explore those?”
“What do I value?”
“What do I know about my personality?”
Talk to friends and family: learn from what others have done
Consider job shadowing or apprenticeships
North Forsyth CTAE Pathways
Dual Enrollment – Lanier Tech
Online resources – take interest inventories or aptitude tests
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www.careercruising.com
www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org
www.gacollege411.org
Georgia's Hot Careers to 2020
Athletes - NCAA
 Students must register once their junior year courses
and grades are available on their transcript
 Submit the application at The NCAA Eligibility Center
 Submit an official high school transcript and official
SAT/ACT scores
College Admissions Testing
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Sign up for SAT at www.collegeboard.org
Sign up for ACT at www.actstudent.org
You can attempt each test multiple times
Most colleges will accept either test
Most colleges will super score
Check with colleges of interest to see if they require the Writing
Section
Send up to 4 free scores directly from the testing agency to the
colleges
Consider focusing on ACT until New SAT comes out, especially
if you took the New PSAT
Some colleges may not super score old and New SAT – check
with college
NFHS High School Code: 110921
Some Technical Schools do not require SAT/ACT but want
COMPASS (Lanier Tech)
College Admissions Testing
SAT
ACT
Test of critical thinking and
problem solving
Content based test
Test Dates
December 5
January 23
March 5 (NEW)
May 7
June 4
December 12
February 6
April 9
June 11
Penalty
YES – ¼ point
NO
Score
600-2400
1-36
Structure
Critical Reading
Math (Alg II)
Writing
English
Math (Some Trigonometry)
Reading
Science Reasoning
Writing (Optional)
THE CURRENT SAT® COMPARED TO THE NEW SAT
Current SAT
New SAT
Total testing time:
3 hours, 45 min.
Total testing time:
3 hours (+50 minutes if taking the SAT with Essay)
4 sections: Critical Reading,
Writing, Mathematics, Essay
2 sections (3 with SAT Essay):
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, Math
Essay: Required
Essay: Optional
Penalized for wrong answers
No penalty for guessing
Score scale: 600 to 2400
Score scale: 400 to 1600;
Essay scored separately
SAT FEE WAIVERS WILL CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL ELIGIBLE STUDENTS TO USE WITH EITHER VERSION OF THE SAT.
FIVE THINGS
STUDENTS NEED
TO KNOW ABOUT
THE NEW SAT®.
ABOUT THE
NEW SAT®
1. Rights-only scoring.
Students earn points
for each correct answer.
There’s no penalty
for guessing.
Students are encouraged to read each
question and select the answer they
think is best.
ABOUT THE
NEW SAT®
2. No obscure vocabulary.
The new SAT focuses on words
students are most likely to use
again throughout college and career.
Students won’t see words like
“prevaricate” or “sagacious.”
They will need to understand how
words like “synthesis” or “alleviate”
are used in context.
ABOUT THE
NEW SAT®
3. More focused math.
Focuses on the math skills most
widely used in college and career.
Most questions are multiple choice.
Calculators are allowed on only one
section. Some questions are easier to
solve without a calculator.
ABOUT THE
NEW SAT®
4. Analysis, not opinion.
The SAT Essay will ask students to read
a passage and:
Provide a written analysis of the text.
Use critical reasoning skills to show
how the author builds an argument.
Use evidence from the text to
support their analysis.
Students should check individual
college websites to see if schools they’re
interested in require the SAT Essay.
ABOUT THE
NEW SAT®
5. Free, world-class test
practice for all.
Free Official SAT Practice on Khan
Academy® created in partnership with
the College Board.
Personalized practice pathways
provided to each student.
Full-length practice tests and
thousands of sample questions.
Accessible through any computer
with Internet access.
Materials also available to print.
Test Prep
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Best prep: rigorous courses
There are a variety of test prep options
Free, online classes, in person classes, small
groups, and individual
Fees go up for more individualized
PSAT score report is a great place to start
 Receive a unique SAT study plan based on your
performance on the PSAT/NMSQT that features:
○ Personalized online practice tailored to your strengths and
weaknesses.
○ SAT practice questions and full-length tests.
○ Detailed feedback on your progress.
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PSAT score reports will be distributed this winter
Test Prep Resources
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ACT
College Board
Kaplan
Princeton Review
Method
Khan Academy
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C2 Education
Sycamore Learning
Huntington
Beestar
Edsortium
Grockit
•NFHS teachers Mr. Selman (Math) and Ms. Richardson (Verbal)
will once again be offering customized SAT and ACT courses this
year at NFHS. Click here to view dates and register.
• Sycamore Learning Company will be offering a seminar at NFHS
on the New SAT on February 29th/March 1st and seminar on the
ACT on March 21st/22nd. There is a fee and registration is required.
Info will be posted to the NFHS website.
Advanced Placement (AP)
Classes
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Earn college credit with
certain AP exam scores
(depends on university)
Experience college rigor
Get challenged, learn how to
study and manage your time
Shorten the amount of time to
earn a degree
1 Extra Quality Point added to
Cumulative GPA, .5 for HOPE
Needed for selective
university admissionnationally recognized
Middle 50% of UGA freshman
have taken 4-8
Middle 50 % of GT freshman
have taken 7-12
 How do I get in? Teacher
recommendations or waivers
for core classes. Some AP
classes are electives (AP
Psych, AP Euro, etc.)
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Advanced Placement Options
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AP
Literature/Composition
AP American Lit
Language/Composition
AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC
AP Statistics
AP Human Geography
AP World History
AP US History
AP Macroeconomics
AP Microeconomics
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AP Government/Politics
AP Psychology
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
AP Environmental
Science
AP Physics 1
AP Computer Science
AP Spanish Language
AP Studio 3D: Design
Portfolio
AP Studio: Drawing
Portfolio
Should I try AP?
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Consider current
grades/study habits
Consider
strengths/interests
How busy are you?
Talk with current
teachers and students
Can I get into college
without AP?
Benefit of AP is
learning how to study
Move On When Ready
(dual enrollment)
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Provides opportunities to earn credit at BOTH
at the high school and at the postsecondary
institution
Attend class on college campus
Shorten the amount of time to earn a degree
Paid for by MOWR funds that do not count
toward HOPE hours
1 Extra Quality point added to Cumulative
GPA, .5 for HOPE
Must apply to the college and meet admission
requirements
UNG – Cumming MOWR Program
Information
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High School Required Core GPA of 3.25
480 Critical Reading and 440 Math on the SAT with at least a
combined 970, OR 20 English and 18 Mathematics on the ACT
with composite score of at least 20
MOWR funds pay for tuition/fees/books
You will pay any course-specific fees, such as lab fees.
Preferred Deadline May 1st and Final Deadline is July 1st.
UNG – Cumming Campus Informational Night January 26th
or 28th at 6pm
Lanier Tech Dual Enrollment
Information
Earn CTAE course credit and Technical
Certificate or Associate Degree
 Graduate from high school with
employable skill and certification
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Students do NOT need the SAT or ACT but
must take the Compass
 MOWR funds pay for tuition/fees/books
 Informational Night TBD
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Lanier Tech Tentative Course
Offerings
Forsyth Campus
 Nurse Assisting
 Criminal Justice
 Design and Media
Production
 Interior Design
 Horticulture
 Child Development
 Accounting
 PC and Network Tech
Dawson Campus
 Nurse Assisting
 Welding
 Shampoo Tech
(Cosmetology)
 Residential Wiring
 Design and Media
Production
 Automotive
Financial Aid Planning
 Determine the cost of a college
 Don't let the cost of a particular college keep you
from applying
 Investigate all resources for funding
 Resources
gradnation.org/learn/dollars-college-toolkit
www.fastweb.com
studentaid.ed.gov
NFHS Counseling Website
Financing Aid Planning
 Hope
Program
 College Scholarships
 Local Scholarships
 National Merit Scholarships
 Government Financial Aid – Loans, Grants
HOPE Program
HOPE Scholarship
 3.0 Core GPA (English, Math, Science,
Social Studies, World Language)
 Rigor Requirements
 Covers a portion of standard tuition for
public and some private institutions
 For a tuition award chart visit
www.gacollege411.org
HOPE Program
Zell Miller Scholarship
 3.7 Core GPA
 Rigor Requirements
 Test Component – (no super score)
○ 1200 SAT combined score (Critical Reading &
Math)
○ 26 ACT composite score
 Covers Full Standard Tuition
 For a tuition award chart visit
www.gacollege411.org
HOPE Rigor Requirements
The Class of 2017 must pass four courses
from the approved list
 Math Examples: Algebra II, Precalculus,
AMDM
 Science Examples: Chemistry, Physics,
Human Anatomy, Forensic Science
 Language examples: Spanish II, French II,
German II, Russian II, Latin II, or higher
 Any AP or dual enrollment core course
 For a complete list visit
www.gacollege411.org
HOPE Grant
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High School GPA and/or test scores are not
considered
Must be enrolled in a certificate or diploma
program at a technical school
Pays a portion of standard tuition
Students enrolled in an approved program
may receive the SIWDG
Strategic Industries Work Force Development
Grant
 Examples: Commercial Truck Driving, PC and
Network Repair Tech, Heavy Diesel Service
Technician, Welding, Pharmacy Assistant, among
many others
Future Planning Opportunities

Keys to the Dawg House – November 19th 7pm
 UGA admission reps will be here
 Visit NFHS webpage or click here for registration link
 Open to all grades
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AP Night – TBD (January/February)
UNG Cumming MOWR Night – January 26th or 28th
6pm
Lanier Tech MOWR Night – TBD
"Finding Your Future" College Seminar, Nov. 15th,
Living Stones Church, 6:00 PM.
 Mr. Gary Bulley, father of NFHS graduates, will present
information about finding the right college for your child
and finding money to help pay for it.
Ways We Communicate
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NFHS School Messenger (update portal
info if not receiving communication from
school)
NFHS Facebook/Twitter
Counseling Webpage – tonight’s
presentation is located there under Junior
News
Itslearning
School Video Announcements
Follow us on Twitter @NFHSCounseling
Counseling Website
Questions?
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Please sign and
return graduation
checklist before you
leave.
Baskets located in
the hallway.