Class of 2014
Your Senior Year!
School Counselor
Mrs. Karen Blair
(810) 794-4911 ext 1282
kblair@acsk12.us
@KarenBlairAHS
Facebook – AHS Counseling Department
www.algonac.k12.mi.us
Use the ACS Website
It’s a great resource!!
www.algonac.k12.mi.us
Use your Student Connect!
Graduating!
If
you are planning on graduating on June 6, 2014,
you have to know if you are going to have all the
graduation requirements met!
Look
at your transcript! Find “Total Credits Earned”
upper fight hand area of the transcript.
Right
Next
met”.
now you have to have at least 17.5 total credits.
you have to have the “graduation requirements
English
–4
Math – 4
Science – 3
Social Studies – 3
PE/Health - 1
1 VPAA
7.5 Electives
=23.5
 Graduation
audits went home
only to those students that are
in danger of not graduating.
 If you have questions about your
graduation status see me or Mrs.
Brutyn.
 You can also look up your
graduation requirements in
Student Connect!
If you’re on track to graduate, right now your
transcript should be showing that you need
the following credits still:
 1 English
 1 Math
 Maybe 1 SS (if you are a TEC student)
 Maybe 1 Science (again if TEC)
 Some elective credits
That’s it! If you need anything else, you are
supposed to be doing it in credit recovery.
Get your work in CR DONE!!
Attendance
•Don’t let attendance be the
reason why you don’t
graduate!
•You can lose credit because of
attendance.
•Don’t let the new freedom
with being able to leave to do
your online electives cause you
to mess up!
College Applications
 Apply Online! Apply NOW!!
 Complete all required steps for applying.
 Even if you are retaking the ACT, apply
now.
 Go to the AHS Website and click on
Parchment
 Request that your transcript be sent
electronically through that secure
website.
 It’s FREE!
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Go to www.parchment.com
Click on High School Student, register for an
account.
It’s going to ask for you email address.
This might be a good time to create an email
address for school/college related “stuff”.
Try for an email address that is just your
name or something like that. Not
superhottie@yahoo.com or
ticklemyelmo@aol.com colleges don’t want to
see those types of email addresses! They
really don’t!!
Read
and follow the directions for
making that account.
No skimming and scanning!
Keep a folder with all your college/ACT
stuff
Get your parents involved! You might
need their money to pay for school or
them to be cosigners on your student
loans.
Put the time in now so that you aren’t
stressed out all year!
Get your application in now and be
ahead of the other applicants. Get your
 Average application fees - $35 - $40
 Community College applications are FREE!
 Early Decision/Action – a guaranteed
answer by a set deadline when you meet
the early decision/action deadline.
 Check university websites.
 Make it your deadline to get college
applications in by October 31, 2013.
Retake the ACT!
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Every student should take the ACT more than once.
Studies show each time a student retakes the ACT, his or her
score increases by at least one point.
A one point difference can mean better chance of
admittance to college and scholarship money.
Do some test prep! Sign up for the ACT Workshops being
held at SC4 in the up coming weeks.
The national test dates will be on the next slide. National
test dates are on Saturdays (8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
We are NOT a national test center. Most students test at
Cardinal Mooney or St. Clair County Community College
(SC4). But they don’t give it every time. Check the ACT site.
Register to take the ACT at www.actstudent.org
$34.00
ACT Dates 2013/14

Test Date
Registration Deadline w/Late Fee
September 21, 2013 August 23, 2013
Aug 24 – Sept 6
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October 26, 2013
Sept 27, 2013
Sept 28 – Oct 11
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December 14, 2013
Nov 8, 2013
Nov 9-22
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February 8, 2014
Jan 10, 2014
Jan 11-24
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April 12, 2014
March 7, 2014
March 8-21
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June 14, 2014
May 9, 2014
May 10-23
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Register online at www.actstudent.org
ACT Fees
 Basic Fee (No Writing)
 ACT (Plus Writing)
 Late Fee
 Additional colleges
 Test date change
 Test center change
 Standby testing
 Viewing Scores Online
$36.00
$52.50
$23.00
$12.00 each
$22.00
$22.00
$45.00
Free
ACT Prep Workshops
 Improve Your ACT Score Workshop
Offered at SC4
 Four (4) Saturdays in October.
 Cost -- $25 per session
 Contact Dena Norrod for more info -Norrod.Dena@sccresa.org
Other ACT PREP Information …
You can access FREE ACT Prep resources
at Michigan Electronic Library at
www.mel.org
 Visit this link for additional resources –
http://www.actstudent.org/testprep
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ACT Admissions Standards
OPEN – All high school graduates
are accepted until the school’s
enrollment capacity is reached.
16 – 21
LIBERAL – Some freshmen who are
accepted are in the lower half of
their high school graduating class.
17 – 22
TRADITIONAL – The majority of
freshmen accepted are in the top 50
percent of their high school
graduating class.
18 – 24
SELECTIVE – The majority of
freshmen accepted are in the top 25
percent of their high school
graduating class.
21 – 26
HIGHLY SELECTIVE – The majority
of freshmen accepted are in the top
10 percent of their high school
graduating class.
25 – 30
The SAT
Out
of State, Highly Selective and Private Colleges
sometimes prefer the SAT over the ACT.
Visit the website of the school you are interested in
to determine which admission test is preferred.
Register to take the SAT at www.collegeboard.com
2013/14 Dates
October 5, 2013
November 2, 2013
December 7, 2013
January 25, 2014
March 8, 2014
May 3, 2014
June 7, 2014
College Visits (Off Campus)
 Seniors are encouraged to visit college
campuses.
 They may use two (2) school business “off
campus” days for that purpose.
 Student must provide written documentation
of visit to the attendance secretary.
 Student arranges college visit through
college/university website or by calling
college/university.
Fall Open Houses (Off Campus)
 Nearly all colleges host a fall “Open House” on
their campus
 At these events students are able to take a tour,
meet students, listen to presentations, go to a
football game, even spend the night in the dorms!
 Many have on-site admissions as well.
 Visit the website of the college you are interested
in or look at the showcase in the senior hall.
 Student arranges the visit.
College Visitation (On-Campus)
The counseling center hosts visits from many colleges.
Representatives from the respective college will set up
a time during our school day to visit with any
prospective applicant.
 Seniors are allowed four (4) on-campus college visits.
The absence will be marked as school business.
 College visits are publicized in the daily
announcements. Students can sign up in the Student
Services.
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College Visits On Campus
Central Michigan University
Northern Michigan University
Michigan State University
Sept 23
Michigan Technological University
Olivet College
Oakland University
Oct 5
Western Michigan University
University of Detroit – Mercy
University of Michigan
Albion College
Kettering University
Oct 24
Adrian College
Sept 12
Sept 20
Sept 26
Sept 28
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
18
19
19
20
Nov 8
St. Clair County Community College (SC4)
College Night
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Tuesday, October 22, 2013
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Citizens First Michigan Technical Education Center
Corner of Erie Street & Glenwood Avenue
Over 40 institutions will be represented.
ALSO --- INFORMATION SESSIONS ON SC4
First session – 6:45 to 7:15 p.m.
Second session – 7:30 to 8 p.m.
Take in as much info as you can from
visiting college campuses and college
fairs. Also do some work online. Visit
these websites:
www.collegecoard.com
www.collegexpress.com
www.collegeispossible.org
www.c3apply.org
www.collegeview.com
Financial Aid Basics
Scholarships(free money) – does not have to be
paid back
TWO KINDS
 Merit Based – based on grades, involvement in
school and community, character
 Need Based – based on parents financial situation
(income, assets, debts)
 Grants (free money) – does not have to be paid
back (based on income) FAFSA
 Loan – must be paid back (may be subsidized
(borrower does not pay interest) or unsubsidized
(borrower does pay interest)
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What is the FAFSA?
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
is the first step in the financial aid process. Use it to
apply for federal student financial aid, such as Pell
grant, student loans, and college work-study.
 In addition, most states and schools use FAFSA
information to award their financial aid.
 www.fafsa.gov
 Begin application January of the graduating year.
 Priority deadline March 1st
 College Goal Sunday @ SC4 – Sunday, Feb 23, 2014
(2-4)
 Students will work on FAFSA in senior math class
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Other Forms of Financial Aid
 AHS Local Scholarships
 College Websites
 Community Foundation of St. Clair County
www.stclairfoundation.org
 Check out your parent’s affiliations – employers,
unions, religious affiliations, etc for scholarships
available
Tuition Incentive Program - TIP
 Eligibility based on being on Medicaid.
 Award letter came to your house. Look for it.
From the state of Michigan. If you can’t find it
call this number 1-888-447-2687
 Pays for an associates degree. Go to SC4 or
Macomb!
 Worth about $6,000!
 Find out if you are eligible for this!
Local Scholarships
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Local Scholarship Applications for the 2013/14 school
year will be available via the web beginning in January
2014.
Deadline will be March 31, 2014.
Local scholarships are available to AHS seniors only.
Merit and need based scholarships
Many award students for community service
Need two letters of recommendation
Over $43,000 in scholarship money given away
All are listed at the Student Services portion of the
AHS Website.
Senior Awards Assembly
•All
seniors and their parents should
plan to attend the annual senior
awards assembly Friday, June 6, 2014.
•Begins at 8:00 AM
•Ends approximately 11:00 AM
•Local Scholarships are presented as
well as many other awards, including
those from St. Clair TEC.
Timelines for the senior year
September 2013
 All seniors will attend a presentation in the counseling center. If
your student has additional questions, he or she should meet
with the counselor.
 The student should get started on applications right away
especially if they plan to apply through an Early Decision or Early
Action programs. Deadlines for early applications tend to fall in
October or November.
 Students should start working on college essays. They should
write essays that focus on experiences and make them stand out
from the crowd.
 Student should update their "resume" -- list accomplishments,
involvements, and work experiences -- with the senior year
activities. The resume will help the student complete the
applications and essays.
 Retake the ACT!
October 2013
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Gather letters of recommendation. Student should ask
counselor, teachers, and coaches, or employers for letters of
recommendation. Give them plenty of time to meet the
deadlines and be sure to give them a list of your activities &
accomplishments.
Take ACT/SAT tests.
If you are applying under an Early Decision or Early Action
program, be sure to get all forms in as soon as possible.
Applying online might be the right option for you.
Look for scholarships – Student Services Website, with search
engines like Fast Web, through community and parental
involvement.
November 2013
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Student should submit early decision and early action
applications on time.
Student should work hard at completing college
essays. Proofreading them rigorously for mistakes.
Mail applications as early as possible for colleges with
"rolling" deadlines (admission decisions are made as
applications are received).
Take /ACTSAT tests. Make sure your scores are sent to
each one of your colleges.
Continue to look for and submit applications for
scholarships.
December 2013
Students should try to wrap up college applications
before Christmas break. Make copies of each
application before they are sent.
 Take ACT/SAT tests. Make sure your scores are sent
to each one of your colleges.
 Early Decision and Early Application responses arrive
this month.
 Continue to look for and submit applications for
scholarships.
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January 2014
Early Decision and Early Application responses arrive
this month.
 Some colleges include first-semester grades as part
of your application folder. This is called the mid-year
grade report. Student should have the counselor
send grades to colleges that require them.
 Complete FAFSA – www.fafsa.gov
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February/March 2014
Student should contact colleges to confirm that all
necessary application materials have been received.
 Encourage students not to get senioritis! Colleges
want to see strong second half grades.
 Some admissions decisions arrive this month. Read
everything carefully, as some of it may require
action on the student and parent’s part.
 Attend FAFSA workshop if you need help completing
the FAFSA at SC4 on Sunday, Feb 23, 2014 (2-4 PM)
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April 2014
Most admissions decisions and financial aid award
letters arrive this month Read everything carefully, as
some of it may require action on your part.
 Make a final decision, and mail the enrollment form
and deposit check to the school the student selects
before May 1 (the enrollment deadline for most
schools).
 Notify each of the schools to which student was
accepted that he or she will not be attending in
writing so that the spot can be freed up for another
student.
 On the waiting list? Contact the admissions office and
let them know of continued interest in the college and
update them on spring semester grades and activities.
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May & June 2014
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May 2014 -- Finalize housing plans.
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday – June 2, 3 & 4, 2014
Senior Exams
Thursday, June 5, 2014 Graduation Practice (1:00 PM)
Friday, June 6, 2014 – Senior Awards Assembly –
beginning at 8:00 a.m. AHS Gymnasium
Friday, June 6,2014- Graduation
6:00 p.m. Truman Pippel Stadium (weather permitting)
Additional Resources
 ALWAYS look to the AHS “Student Services
Website” for information that you might
need -http://algonac.k12.mi.us/schools/algonac_h
igh_school/counseling_center/index.html

Check out the AHS Counseling Department
page on Facebook -https://www.facebook.com/#!/AlgonacHigh
SchoolCounselingDepartment
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Follow Mrs. Blair on Twitter -KarenBlairAHS