JUNIOR
INFORMATION
●
October 2014
Counseling Webpage
Located off the main FCHS website.
Visit it often! New information posted weekly.
SAT / ACT sign up information
Dual Enrollment Information
GPAs
Scholarship and Summer Opportunities are posted
Test Preparation Information
Financial Aid / Hope Scholarship details
And More…..
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Four Year Plan
23 credits are needed for graduation, if you began 9th grade
in the Fall of 2011.
- 4 English
- 4 Math
- 4 Science
- 3 Social Studies
- 3 CTAE / Language / Fine Art courses
- 1 Personal Fitness & Health
- 4 Electives
All students must earn all credits and pass the writing
section of the GHSGT.
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College Information
Students receive 4 college visit days. Must bring back signed
documentation on college letterhead for the absence to count as a
field trip.
SAT / ACT – most take in the spring for the first time, most twoyear and four-year schools do require these test scores for
admission.
Those wanting to attend a technical school should take the
ASSET test with the technical school.
Begin looking at scholarship searches.
Utilize www.gacollege411.org for information.
Your GPA is very important. Need at least a 2.0 – 2.2 cumulative
GPA for admission to 2 year schools, much higher for 4 year
schools.
Think about adding some rigor to your senior schedule!
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Work Information
Use the career planning tools on the
www.gacollege411.org website for help understanding what
might be a good fit.
Don't wait until the last minute to find a job.
Take the ASVAB (a career planning test sponsored by the
military.... a FREE exam with no commitment to the armed
services). It will be offered on October 15.
Work on building your resume.
Network, shadow, and interview people who can help you
get started after high school.
Consider furthering your education by just taking a class or
two at a local college.
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Military
Talk to recruiters now....don't wait!
Bring a trusted individual with you – parent/guardian/friend.
Do not sign anything until you are ready. You are
committed once you sign documents.
Explore your options within the military.
Take the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude
Battery). All branches require this test be taken.
Be sure you also talk to the recruiter about funding for
college to ensure you are eligible for aid.
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HOPE SCHOLARSHIP
How do you earn the HOPE scholarship?
The current HOPE regulations state that you must have a 3.0 Core or Academic
Grade Point Average in order to be eligible to receive HOPE.
It is calculated over all four years of high school, not just your senior year!
Must have a valid social security number on file in our office to receive HOPE –
must bring card to counseling office if we do not have it on file.
New Rigor Requirements! All current juniors must have THREE HOPE rigor
courses to be eligible in addition to the GPA requirement.
What are the award amounts?
The HOPE Scholarship award varies and depends on the type of institution you are
attending and your specific hours of enrollment. There is a chart on the GA College 411
website to determine this information.
Public Institutions - Students attending public colleges or universities receive a HOPE
award amount, up to a maximum of 15 hours, based upon a per hour rate at the
institution he or she is attending.
Private Institutions - Students attending private colleges or universities receive a
HOPE award amount, up to a maximum of 12 hours, based on a half-time or full-time
enrollment status.
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HOPE SCHOLARSHIP – Rigor Requirements
Beginning with students graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2016, in order to
be eligible to receive a HOPE scholarship, a student must receive at least three
credits in courses from the following categories, prior to graduating from high
school:
1) Advanced math, such as Advanced algebra and trigonometry, math III, or an equivalent
or higher course;
2) Advanced science, such as chemistry, physics, biology II, or an equivalent or higher
course;
3) Advanced Placement courses in core subjects (English, math, science, social studies,
and foreign language);
4) International Baccalaureate courses in core subjects (English, math, science, social
studies and foreign language);
5) Dual credit courses in Core subjects taken during Dual Credit Enrollment at an Eligible
Postsecondary Institution;
6) Courses taken at a unit of the University System of Georgia in core subjects (English,
math, science, social studies and foreign language) where such courses are not remedial
and developmental courses; or
7) Advanced foreign language courses.
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Zell Miller Scholarship
Graduate from an eligible high school with a minimum 3.7 grade point average
combined with a minimum score of 1200 on the math and reading portions of the SAT
test or a composite score of 26 on the ACT test in a single national test
administration.
While you have until the last day of classes or exams to submit your application, in
order to receive Zell Miller funds for that semester or quarter, we highly recommend
submitting your HOPE application as early as possible.
You are responsible for submitting your Official test scores from College Board or
ACT to the Georgia Student Finance Commission. FCHS does not submit test
scores to the GSFC. We will upload your transcript at the end of the year for
verification, but you are responsible for submitting your test scores by the deadline.
For all the requirements please visit the GA College 411 webpage and click on the
Financial Aid Tab.
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Grade Point Averages
Two main types of GPA's.
Cumulative
Core
Cumulative is EVERYTHING you have ever taken 9th
through 12th grades.
Core is only your academic subject areas (English,
Math, Science, Social Studies, and Foreign Language.)
It also includes any academic electives such as
psychology, sociology, or AP European History, Dual
Enrollment classes, etc... See your counselor if you have
questions.
Most colleges primarily look at your Core GPA for
admission, not your cumulative. Ask them before you
apply!
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Advanced Placement & Dual Enrollment
If you score a 70 or higher in an AP or Dual Enrollment
class, an additional quality point is added in the GPA
calculation.
For your cumulative GPA, a full quality point is added
(ex: if you get an A, you get 5 quality points instead of 4.
For a B, you get 4 instead of 3, etc.)
For your HOPE or Academic GPA, only a ½ quality point
is added and nothing is added if you get an A. (ex: an A
is only worth 4 quality points, a B is worth 3.5 and a C is
worth 2.5).
This helps to explain why your cumulative GPA may be
higher than your HOPE GPA.
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Honor Graduate
You need a 3.5 CUMULATIVE GPA to be considered an
Honor Graduate at the graduation ceremonies.
This is a high honor and you will receive a stole to wear at
graduation.
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Dual Enrollment Options
Dual enrollment programs provide opportunities for FCS high
school students to take college-level courses and earn
concurrent credit toward a high school diploma and a college
degree while still in high school.
To apply students must meet SAT/ACT testing requirements.
Have a minimum 3.0 Grade Point Average
Talk with your counselor if this is something you would like to do
your senior year.
Listen for announcements for a meeting in January or February.
PARENT/STUDENT INFORMATION NIGHTS:
**Will be announced in the spring semester.
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CENTRAL STARS
A program which honors students who have a combined
score utilizing the Critical Reading and Math scores on the
SAT of an 1100 or higher and a composite score of a 24 or
higher on the ACT exams.
This will be held on January 28 at 9:00am in the New Gym.
If you think you should be included please make sure to notify
your counselor prior to January 8, 2015.
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Credit Recovery
Do you need to make up a failed class? Make sure to
make up missed courses BEFORE your senior year. Do not
wait! See your counselor before you sign up to get it
approved.
Some options for making up courses:
Summer School
Mountain Education Center
Georgia Virtual School
Forsyth Academy (Day)
IACHIEVE
Online options - other
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Shortened School Day (ie2)
If you are caught up on all your credits and on track for graduation you
may want to consider the ie2 option for seniors.
Seniors will be required to sign up for a minimum of 4 courses. If you
play any type of sport you will be required to sign up for a minimum of 5
classes in order to still be eligible to play.
Just because you are interested in the ie2 option, does not mean it will
logistically work with your schedule. We will not know until the summer.
We will try our best to make it work for you!
Contracts for the ie2 program will be available during course
registration in February or March. They must be submitted by the
deadline.
Must have a parent/guardian sign off on forms. Counselors verify all
signatures.
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Registration for Senior Classes
Begin thinking about what classes you would like to take
your senior year. Talk with your teachers about their
recommendations.
If you are recommended to take an AP course and do not
want to take it, you MUST complete a course waiver to have
the class dropped from your schedule.
There will be no changes after the first week of school.
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Sports in College!
If you would like to play a division I or II sport in college,
you need to follow some necessary steps.
Register with the NCAA clearinghouse.
Transcripts must be sent to them. A preliminary one & a final one.
Should prepare a sports resume.
Begin talking with your coaches about prospective opportunities.
Contact various organizations for more guidance:
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA)
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)
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Counselor Information
If you have questions, email your counselor!
Ms. Kozee– (A – E)
akozee@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Mrs. Chilson – (F - L)
echilson@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Mrs. Miller – (M - R)
dtmiller@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Ms. Savage – (S – Z and all ELL Students)
gsavage@forsyth.k12.ga.us
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