Set . . . Pursue . . . Reach . . .
BHS Class of 2014
Sometimes taking the next step
can may you feel like this . . .
But no need to fear, your counselors are here
to help you set, pursue, and reach your goals!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZnlB9fG39E
Agenda
 Senior Review
 Graduation
requirements
 Planning for life after
Brookwood HS
 Senior checklist
You must schedule
a Senior Review
 Who? – Anyone who is planning on graduating in
December 2013, Spring or Summer 2014
 When? – You need to schedule an appointment with your
counselor between September 3—October 1.
 How? – Contact Mrs. Smith in A1
 Why? – To complete graduation application and start
planning for college and life after high school.
Find your counselor
by your last name
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A-C
D-H
I - Mo
Mp - Sh
Si - Z
 9th Grade
 Interventions
Ms. Medlin
Dr. Benton
Dr. Benjamin
Dr. Dehnke
Mrs. Kennedy
Dr. Ricks
Mrs. Byrd
Office Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., M-F
Graduation Requirements
You must have 23 credits
Those credits must generally include the following:
4 Language Arts
4 Math
4 Science
1 Health/PE
3 Social Studies (U.S. History and World History,
Economics and Political Systems)
 3 Electives (Fine Art/Technology/Foreign Language)
 4 additional electives
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Application for Graduation
Meet with your counselor (Senior Review)
Review requirements for graduation participation
Discuss your future plans
Complete and submit a student brag form if you need a
letter of recommendation
 Review your test scores and learn more about retest
options, if needed
 Provide your Social Security number
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If you have failed a required class,
it is your responsibility to:
 Check on grades
 Contact a counselor to determine options
 Review School Plus options
 Phoenix
 Community Schools
 Credit Recovery*
 Review online options like
www.gwinnettonlinecampus.com
* Brookwood Community School’s Credit Recovery Program
for Fall 2013 is offering 10th grade Language Arts, second semester; Biology,
second semester; Chemistry, second semester; and Algebra I CC, second semester. The cost is
$100 and students must have made a previous grade of 60-69 for the course in order to be eligible.
The registration deadline is September 13th.
PLEASE NOTE:
ALL course requirements must be completed in order to
participate in the graduation ceremony!
SENIOR CLASS SPONSORS
 Mrs. Dee Anna Bean  Mrs. Susan Lockwood
(Room B27)
(Room B29)
Please see them about graduation events, such as:
• Senior Picnic
• Graduation announcements, robes, and accessories
• Graduation Ceremony
Life after Brookwood High School
Do you know what you want to do?
If the answer is no, please talk with a counselor to
learn more about your options.
If the answer is yes, please let your counselor
know during your senior review.
FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES
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Bachelor’s Degrees
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Public Colleges/Universities
Private
Colleges/Universities
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Admissions Requirements
 SAT and/or ACT for
entrance exam
 May require letters of
recommendation
Admissions statistics from three largest
research universities in Georgia from
2012-2013
Middle 50%
Middle 50%
Core GPA:
3.7-4.05
SAT(CR+M+W):
1790-2060
ACT:
27-32
AP/IB:
4-6
Middle 50%
Core GPA:
3.2-3.7
Core GPA:
3.8-4.11
SAT(CR+M):
1030-1200
SAT:
2000-2210
ACT:
22-27
ACT:
29-33
AP/IB:
6-11
TWO-YEAR COLLEGES
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Associate Degrees
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Public
Private
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Entrance Exams Vary
 Compass
 ACT or SAT
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Transfer to a four-year
college
 TAG Program
Two-year colleges BHS students
most frequently apply to are:
University of North Georgia,
Cumming, Gainesville, and Oconee
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Public, liberal arts college/university
Two-year programs at the abovementioned locations. At the
completion of the associate program,
a student may transition into a
bachelor’s degree program within the
University of North Georgia.
Rolling Admissions, Selection based
on SAT/ACT scores and high school
performance
Enrollment: 8,000 (for two-year
programs)
*Now requires two years of the same F.L.
Colleges may work with you on a case-by-case basis regarding
the F.L. requirements. Contact the college admissions office for
further questions.
Georgia Perimeter College*
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Public, liberal arts college
Rolling Admissions, 2.0 or higher and
SAT/ACT/Compass
Enrollment: 23,000
As a GPC student and Transfer
Admission Guarantee (TAG)
program, a student can complete
their core courses or earn an
associate degree and transfer to their
choice of more than 36 four-year
schools in Georgia and beyond—
guaranteed.
*Now requires two years of the same F.L.
TECHNICAL COLLEGES
Programs
 Degree
 Certificate or Diploma
 Compass Exam for Degree Program
 No SAT/ACT
Gwinnett Technical College offers more than 50 programs of study that a
student can finish in two years or less.
MILITARY

Opportunities
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Training
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Education
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Travel

Policies/Expectations/Commitment

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude
Battery (ASVAB)—September 12 or
Spring 2014,
sign up in A1.
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Scholarships

Must be a high school graduate,
no GED
ENTERING THE WORK FORCE
IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIGH SCHOOL
CAREER INFORMATION
 www.gacollege411.org
 www.careercruising.com
 College and Career Room
 DVD Library
 Books
 Dictionary of
Occupational Titles
 Occupational Outlook
Handbook
College Planning
The College Application Process
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The Application
Application Fees
Transcripts
Letter of Recommendation
College Visits
Financial Planning
HOW MANY?
 “Dream School”
 Likely—a pretty good chance of getting in
 Safety—a sure thing for admission and cost
 1 to 2 schools in each category
THE APPLICATION
 Sources
 College Admissions Office
 College web site
 BHS College and Career Room
 www.gacollege411.org
 When
 “the early bird….?”
 Deadlines
Applying Early?
Early decision and early action plans allow you to apply early (usually by
October or November) and get an admissions decision December or January.
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Early Decision versus Early Action
Early decision plans are binding. A student who is accepted as an ED
applicant must attend the college.
Early action plans are similar but are not binding, which means
students receive an early response but do not have to commit to the
college until the normal reply date of May 1.
Please check the policies of the individual colleges/universities you are
applying to if you are applying early.
College and Career Specialist
 Mrs. Donna Varzaly
 Transcripts
 Provides requests for
recommendations to
counselors
 Great resource for
scholarships – Check the
Senior Bulletin
 Fee waivers -(SAT/ACT/
college application, if
qualified)
 www.gacollege411.org
“OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT”
 OUT OF STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
 Request “paper” transcript from Counseling Office –
College and Career Room
 $5.00 cost
 Student must stamp, address, and mail sealed
envelope.
 GEORGIA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ONLY
 FREE Online through www.gacollege411.org
 Mid-Year and Final
 Will send paper copy for Final Transcript ($5.00)
To learn how to request and request your transcript via GAcollege411, go to
https://secure.gacollege411.org/College_Planning/Applications_and_Transcripts/_default.aspx
COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS/TESTS
S.A.T. I (reasoning tests)
A.C.T.
S.A.T. II (subject area tests)
T.O.E.F.L.
ASSET/COMPASS
 Most public two-year colleges and technical
schools in Georgia (UNG requires SAT/ACT)
 Armed Services Vocational Battery Aptitude
(ASVAB)
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TEST PREP RESOURCES
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www.gacollege411.org
Core classes at Brookwood High School
Brookwood Community School
Commercial organizations
Tutor list
Media Center
College and Career Room
Free online resources
Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are written only
when requested
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Find the Student/Parent Brag forms online
at www.brookwoodcounseling.com
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Complete the forms and bring them to Mrs.
Varzaly in the College and Career Room.
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Plan ahead – Allow two weeks for your
counselor to complete your letter of
recommendation
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Your part of the application is expected to
be completed beforehand.
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Please be polite when requesting a letter of
recommendation
College Visits
 Visit during regular session
 Pre-arranged absences
 Better in the fall (exam exemptions)
 List of questions to ask
 Contact the college to set up
THE LETTER OR EMAIL ARRIVES. . . .
 ACCEPTED! (Hooray)
 Send deposits
 May 1, 2014 deadline
 Celebrate
 Wait-listed
 Don’t panic
 Evaluate back-up plan
 Denied—
 It’ll be okay
 Go to back-up plan
FINANCIAL PLANNING
 College Financial Aid
Office
 Georgia Student Finance
Commission
 Forms
 F.A.F.S.A.
 GA. Tuition
Equalization Grant
 GSFAppS (HOPE)
TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID
 Scholarships
 Academic
 Special talents
 Special circumstances
 Grants
 Generally don’t require repayment
 Based on financial need
 Federal Pell Grant Program
 Loans
 Subsidized, unsubsidized, and private
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(F.A.F.S.A.)
 http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
 English and Español version
 First Step in Financial Planning
 Need parent(s) tax returns (Form 1040)
 The parent/guardian that claims the student as a
dependent.
 The F.A.F.S.A. determines a student’s eligibility for
grants and loans
ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS
 Register with www.ncaaclearinghouse.net
 Send a transcript
 S.A.T./A.C.T. scores must be sent directly from the
testing service
 Calculate core average according to NCAA requirements
 Please review NCAA policies and procedures
Hope Scholarship and Zell Miller Scholars
To qualify for the HOPE Scholarship, a student must:

Earn a minimum of 3.0 cumulative grade point average in all
academic classes (e.g., Language Arts, Math, Science, Social
Studies, and Foreign Language)
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Must meet Georgia residency requirements and be a U.S.
citizen or an eligible non-citizen
To qualify for the Zell Miller scholarship, a student must:
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Meet all of the requirements above
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Must be their high school’s valedictorian or salutatorian, OR
earn a 3.7 high school GPA or higher and post, in one sitting,
an SAT combined score of 1200 or higher in math and reading
or an ACT score of 26 or higher.
HOPE CALCULATIONS
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A = 4.0
B = 3.0
C = 2.0
D = 1.0
Advanced Placement Classes
 10 pts. Subtracted
 .5 added
The Georgia Student Finance Commission calculates HOPE averages based on transcript information. GCPS does not calculate HOPE
averages and does no have access to the state’s calculations. Please check GAcollege411 for your “HOPE” GPA.
HOPE GRANT
 No minimum average required
 Applicable at technical colleges for diploma and
certificate programs
Ready, Set, Go!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Schedule your Senior Review (counselor and student)
Complete an application for graduation with your
counselor
Refresh your www.gacollege411.org account
Complete and submit brag forms to Mrs. Varzaly in the
College and Career Room, if letter of recommendation
is needed
Make sure you understand and have reviewed the
application requirements for college/military
Know application deadlines
Ready, Set, Go!, continued
7. Schedule tests (e.g., SAT/Subject/ACT/Compass/ASVAB)
8. Research scholarships and track scholarship
opportunities (some scholarships can be found in your
bi-weekly Senior Bulletin)
9. Fill out FAFSA (anytime after your parents have tax
information)
10. Attend Financial Aid Night, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
11. Request your final transcript
HELPFUL WEB SITES
 Brookwood HS Counseling Department
 www.brookwoodcounseling.com
 Brookwood High School
 www.brookwoodhighschool.net
 College Board/S.A.T.
 www.sat.collegeboard.com
 A.C.T.
 www.ACTstudent.org
 Commons Application:
 www.commonapp.org
HELPFUL WEB SITES, CONT’D
 Online applications for colleges in Georgia and much
more
 www.gacollege411.org
 Georgia Student Finance Commission (H.O.P.E.)
 www.gsfc.org
 Free application for Federal Student Aid
 http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
Sources of Information from
BHS Counseling Department
 BHS Counseling Dept. website at
www.brookwoodcounseling.com
 Senior Bulletin

http://www.brookwoodcounseling.com/senior-bulletin.html
 BHS Counseling Dept. on Facebook
 The Tack Room
 Subscribe at school website -> “Bronco eNews” ->
“Join Our Mailing List”
SET, PURSUE, and REACH YOUR GOALS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2DKmAV2o5s