Junior Jumpstart
Class of 2017
Three Main Things Colleges Use
in Determining Acceptance
 GPA
 SAT/ACT Scores
 Application/extracurricular activities
What is most important to
colleges?
 It depends on the college…
GPA
 GPA (Grade Point Average) is very important junior year.
 Usually students apply to college in September and
October so colleges will not see senior grades until the
end of senior year.
 It is crucial that students take challenging classes as a
junior and make good grades. Continue this next year
too. Colleges look for class RIGOR even senior year.
 All colleges ask to see a copy of the final transcript.
 The UNC colleges require a Minimum GPA of 2.5.
 Even if a student does not have the minimum GPA
requirement they can still go to a community college and
then transfer to a four year college.
GPA Reminders
Students’ GPA will be calculated at the end of each semester.
Prior to this year Cabarrus County used the graduated scale that you
see below. Beginning this year North Carolina uses a 10 point scale:
A=93-100
96-100%=4.0
B=85-92
91%=3.375
C=77-84
86%=2.750
D=70-76
81%=2.125
F=0-69
76%=1.500
95%=3.875
90%=3.250
85%=2.625
80%=2.000
75%=1.375
94%=3.75
89%=3.125
84%=2.500
79%=1.875
74%=1.250
93%=3.625
88%=3.000
83%=2.375
78%=1.750
73%=1.125
92%=3.500
87%=2.875
82%=2.250
77%=1.625
70-72%=1.000
<69%=0
New 10 point Scale
A=90-100
B=80-89
C=70-79
D=60-69
F=0-59
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0
Ways to Improve a GPA
 Make all A’s!!!
 Remember that Honors classes have 1 quality point.
So if a student makes a 95 in Honors English III that
translates to a 5.0.
 AP Classes have 2 quality points. So if a student makes
a 95 in AP English Language that will be calculated as
6.0 in the GPA.
 Remember that below 60 is still a 0 even if it is an
honors or AP class.
Transcript….


A transcript is a four-year report card that
includes EVERY final course grade for
EVERY class a student takes in high school
It also contains…. transcript
Student Information
 Credit History
 Grade History
 GPA (it is cumulative and is the average of quality points

earned)

Class Rank (a number that tells the student where he/she

EOC scores
stands in relation to his/her peers in the grade level)
Should Students take the SAT or ACT?
 Students must register online to take either test.
 SAT: www.collegeboard.org
 ACT: www.actstudent.org
 Colleges in this area accept the SAT and the ACT.
SAT
 Register online at www.collegeboard.org
 Usually January of Junior year is a good time to take the first SAT.
This year since collegeboard is introducing the new redesigned
SAT we are encouraging juniors to sign up to take the SAT in
March. We are hosting the June SAT as well.
 Includes an evidence-based reading and writing, math, and
optional essay section.
 Math section tests algebra, problem solving and data analysis,
geometry, trigonometry, radian measures, and arithmetic of
complex numbers.
 Tests your ability to apply a deep understanding of the
knowledge and skills most important for college and career
readiness.
 No longer a penalty for guessing.
 800 is the highest score on each section
SAT Subject Tests
 SAT subject tests are not required at the majority of
colleges and universities in the United States.
 But some colleges will require an SAT Subject Test or
two (even if you send in ACT scores)
 As you develop your college list, be sure to check out
each school’s website to see if they require an SAT
subject test.
 http://collegeapps.about.com/od/sat/a/sat-subjecttest-required.htm
ACT
 All Juniors are going to take the ACT March 1st during
school hours for free. Students can use the score for college
admissions. They do NOT need to sign up for this one.
 Be sure your student lists the colleges they may apply to on
the ACT form that day so the scores will be sent to the
college for free! If they wait, they will have to pay about $11
per college.
 Students can take the test again if needed on a Saturday
by registering online at www.actstudent.org
 Includes a science, math, verbal, and an optional writing
section.
 Math section tests up to trigonometry
 Composite Score: 1-36
 Points are not deducted for guessing
 Curriculum based test
SAT vs ACT scores
SAT CR+M (Score
Range)
ACT Composite Score
SAT CR+M (Single Score)
1600
36
1600
1540–1590
35
1560
1490–1530
34
1510
1440–1480
33
1460
1400–1430
32
1420
1360–1390
31
1380
1330–1350
30
1340
1290–1320
29
1300
1250–1280
28
1260
1210–1240
27
1220
1170–1200
26
1190
1130–1160
25
1150
1090–1120
24
1110
1050–1080
23
1070
1020–1040
22
1030
980–1010
21
990
940–970
20
950
900–930
19
910
860–890
18
870
820–850
17
830
770–810
16
790
720–760
15
740
670–710
14
690
620–660
13
640
560–610
12
590
510–550
11
530
Extracurricular Activities and
college applications
 Extracurricular activities set a student aside from others
so make sure they are actively involved. This is a
section on most college applications.
 Students can use www.cfnc.org to help organize their
activities. Under their profile is a place to save all of
their activities, honors, sports, etc. This will then transfer
to their college applications if they use cfnc.org to
apply to a North Carolina college.
Student Athletes
 If your child would like to play sports in college they must
be considered “eligible” through NCAA.
 All athletes need to register at
www.ncaaclearinghouse.net by the end of junior year.
This includes sending a transcript which they can get from
our registrar in the guidance department. There is a fee
for this service and students on F/R lunch can ask their
counselor for a fee waiver.
 Be careful about flexing classes next year. Make sure
your student athlete is taking at least three classes per
semester and if he/she chooses to flex a class they must
pass all three classes that they are taking.
 Also check out the HRHS student athlete webpage for
more information.
Researching Colleges
 Junior year should be spent not only researching
colleges, but also visiting perspective colleges.
 www.cfnc.org has some great ways to research colleges
 www.collegeboard.org does too
 What do you look for in your search?
 College admissions – What GPA do they typically
accept? What SAT/ACT scores do they typically want?
 What major is your child considering? Do they have it?
 How far away is the college? What is the surrounding
city/town like?
Campus Visit Score Card

Students can have two excused absences in junior year and two in
senior year (county policy) for college visits. They can use the “College
Visit Score Card” located in the guidance office and turn that in to the
attendance office when they return.
Planning for college
 www.cfnc.org is a great tool to help
students research colleges
Should your child pick a
major?
 The “college matching assistant” on www.cfnc.org
can help students find colleges with the major that
they would like to study.
 They can also look at school size and location.
 But should your child pick a major or apply to college
as “undecided”?
 As you tour colleges, this is a good question to ask.
 We have had students get deferred from some colleges
because they couldn’t get into the major they selected,
but they probably would have been accepted if they
had gone in “undecided.”
 Consider your senior year classes as you think about your
major (Ex: applying for an engineering major without
taking a math or science in senior year)
Other ways to get ready for
College
 County wide College Fair- they will be able to meet
college representatives and learn more about a
variety of different colleges. The College fair is
typically held at the Cabarrus Arena in September
 Financial aid nights- we also have county wide
financial aid nights to help you prepare for paying for
college (typically in November and January of senior
year)
A glimpse of some colleges
 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
 9 of our seniors went to Carolina last year
Student
GPA
Class Rank
ACT Score
1
4.82
7th out of 332
28
2
4.43
35th out of 332
25
Colleges (Continued)
 University of North Carolina at Charlotte
 61 of our seniors went to UNCC
Student
GPA
Class Rank
ACT
Score
1
3.15
195th out of 332
26
2
3.41
168th out of 332
22
3
3.53
148th out of 332
18
Colleges (Continued)
 Western Carolina
 15 of our seniors went to Western
Student
GPA
Class Rank
ACT Score
1
3.7
120
19
2
2.98
215
16
Get Ready for a Busy
Summer
 Students can find a summer job or participate in a
summer program. This will help get them ready for
college.
 Visit potential colleges. This is the best way to see if
they are a good fit for your student. Visit the dorms,
cafeteria, library and classrooms. See if they can sit in
on a class.
 Make a calendar of open houses.
 Get on colleges’ mailing lists. Some colleges might
email scholarship and other important information.
What about a two year
Community College?
 Have you considered a two-year community college
for your child?
 Community Colleges are traditionally cheaper than
four year Universities
 Students can get a 2 year Associate’s Degree or
consider the Transfer Program
 Research all the degrees and opportunities available
at our local community colleges:
 www.rccc.edu
 www.cpcc.edu
 www.stanly.edu
Joining the Military
 This is a great option too. If your child is thinking about
this option, start talking to a recruiter. A few recruiters
visit during lunch. This is a great time to ask them
questions and learn more about the process.
Beginning of 12th grade
 Counselors will meet with the seniors in a group setting
to explain the college application process.
 How to apply to college, send a transcript, request a
letter of recommendation, send SAT/ACT scores, apply
for financial aid and scholarships, etc.
 We will ask for an email address from each senior so we
can send senior notes each month. Senior notes will
contain local and national scholarships as well as
graduation and other senior year information. If you want
your email address to be included, please have your
student submit it to us at that time.
 Each senior will then meet with their counselor
individually to go over the process again and address
any concerns.
Scholarships and Financial
Aid
 Be on the lookout for SENIOR NOTES at the beginning
of each month next year.
 Seniors will get emailed once a month with all the
scholarships that we know of with deadlines for that
month and the next.
 You can apply for financial aid in January of your
child’s senior year through the FAFSA (Free Application
for Financial Student Aid)
 Cabarrus County Schools provides two Financial Aid
nights each year
 We will host a Senior Parent Night in September
Questions
 This is an exciting time for your student… remember
they can always ask their counselor for help.