Senior
Handbook
General Senior
Information
Freeman Counseling
Department
September, 2014
CONGRATULATIONS - - You’ve made it through eleven years of school and now you’re on the home
stretch toward getting your high school diploma -- a paper that will open many doors for you: to
employment or to further education, whichever you choose. We hope this final year at Douglas Freeman
will be your best, and one that you will remember with pride and joy all the rest of your life.
To help you through the maze of details that seem to be the lot of every potential graduate, we’ve prepared
this booklet for you. Here are information and guidelines that will be useful to you throughout the year.
There is also some information for you personally. We hope you will use this booklet and that you will find
it helpful. Your parents, no doubt, will also be interested in the information in this booklet.
We in the school counseling office want to help you have the most successful school year possible.
Although you are assigned to a particular counselor, all members of the school counseling staff are glad to
help you in any way possible.
We sincerely want you to have the best year ever and to complete it successfully. If any cloud appears to
darken your days, let us try to help.
Sincerely,
Douglas Freeman High School
Counseling Department
GOALS FOR LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL:
1. If your goal is to work, start, if you have not already, reading the classified ads, especially those in
the Sunday newspaper. Also, talk to the teachers of Business and/or Marketing for more
information.
2. If your goal is to join the military, talk to the recruiters when they visit Freeman. You may also want
to sign up for the ASVAB tests given in January or February.
3. If your goal is to attend a trade or technical school, check the catalogs, pamphlets, and CD’s in the
school counseling office. You may wish to consider an apprenticeship. Talk to the teachers at the
tech centers.
4. If your goal is to attend college, don’t procrastinate. Check the deadlines, requirements, costs, etc.
in The College Handbook located in the school counseling office. The best resource is to use your
computer to look at an individual college’s website. From there you can apply on-line or get contact
information.
CLASS RANK:
Since the primary purpose of class rank is to aid students in gaining acceptance to a college program that
will match their academic ability, class rank should reflect as accurately as possible a student’s intellectual
or academic accomplishments. A four-point system is used for all courses in computing rank-in-class for
each student. A .17 value is added to the final GPA for the year for each honors/AP course passed.
ALL CLASSES
A = 4 points
B = 3 points
C = 2 points
D = 1 point
F = 0 points
WF = 0 point (withdrawn failing / counted in GPA)
WP = (withdrawn passing/ not counted in GPA)
Cumulative GPA =
Total Quality Points
Total Credits Attempted
+
(.17 x Honors/AP course passed)
Number of years
All subjects taken in high school are included in the ranking and only final grades are used.
Students are ranked numerically, in descending order, according to GPA at the end of the junior year.
This GPA is the one reported to colleges as you complete your applications in the fall of your senior year
and will be available to you in early October.
A final ranking is computed at the end of the first semester of your senior year and given to you for
use with scholarship opportunities.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS Class of 2014:
See pages 8-14 of the HCPS Program of Studies Planning Guide
General College Information:
VISITS BY COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES
Throughout the year colleges will send representatives to speak to juniors and seniors during lunch.
College reps bring valuable information, updates, materials, and the inside scoop on how a college will
evaluate a student profile for admission purposes. A calendar of these visits is kept in the school
counseling office and is posted in one of the windows.
Great Opportunity
Henrico County Public Schools College and Career Night will be held the evening of November 12th at
Glen Allen High School from 6:30-8:00pm. This is a great opportunity to meet and speak with a wide
variety of college admissions counselors as well as many area businesses. Please try to take advantage of
this.
STUDENTS: Which college admission process best suits YOU?
Non-Restrictive
Restrictive
Regular Decision
Rolling Admission
Early Action
Early Decision
Definition:
Definition:
Definition:
Definition:
Submit an
application by
specific date and
receive a decision
Applications are
reviewed as they
are received and
admissions
decisions made
throughout
admission cycle
Student apply early
and receive
decision well in
advance of the
regular decision
date
Student commits to
first choice school
where, if admitted
they will definitely
attend. Application
and decision occur
early
Non-binding
Non-binding
Non-binding
Binding
Restrictive Early
Action
Definition:
Student applies to
school and receive
early decision. May
be restricted from
applying ED or EA
to other schools. If
admitted have until
May 1 to confirm
Non-binding
Students aren’t restricted from applying to other institutions and
Students are responsible for
have until May 1 to consider their options and confirm enrollment. determining and following restrictions.
NCAA CLEARINGHOUSE
Any senior who hopes to participate in a college sports program must obtain the NCAA
Clearinghouse Form found on-line at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net. Please follow the directions on the form
and submit appropriate copies to your counselor with $5.00 for the transcript fee. The NCAA form is
required for anyone who plans to play a Division I or II college/university level sport.
COLLEGE ADMISSION TESTS
The student and parent need to study college websites to determine which tests are required for admission.
Deadlines are critical in the application process.
TEST FEES AND REGISTRATION
The student is responsible for completing the registration form for the specific test they plan to take. The
preferred method is on-line but mail in applications are in the counseling office or can be requested through
SAT or ACT websites. The websites are listed at the end of this newsletter.
Please be aware that there have been several changes to the registration process for both ACT and SAT.
Make sure you check their websites or the information in the counseling office so you are aware of changes
for admission and registration.
SECONDARY SCHOOL CODE NUMBER (CEEB #) -- 471 850 is your high school code.
TEST DATES
Testing dates are published annually and posted in the school counseling office. As a minimum it is
suggested that the college-bound student take the SAT or ACT once in the spring of the junior year and
once in the fall of the senior year. College catalogs should be consulted for preferred dates.
SAT & SAT Subject Tests
REGISTRATION DEADLINES
Test Dates
Regular
Late
October 5*
November 2
December 7*
January 25
March 8 * (**)
May 3
June 7*
Sept. 6
Oct. 3
Nov. 8
Dec. 27
Feb. 7
April 4
May 9
Sept. 20
Oct. 18
Nov. 22
Jan. 10
Feb. 21
April 18
May 23
* Test is given at Freeman High School
** No subject tests are given on the March test date
ACT TEST
Test Dates
Regular
Late
September 21*
October 26 *
December 14*
February 8
April 12
June 14
Aug. 23
Sept. 27
Nov. 8
Jan. 10
March 7
May 9
Sept. 6
Oct. 11
Nov. 22
Jan. 24
March 21
May 23
*Test is given at Freeman High School
TEST SCORES
We recommend that, when registering for SAT’s, you code in the colleges to which you are applying.
Colleges listed on a current SAT registration form will receive all scores of tests taken to date. Colleges
listed on previous test registration forms that you do not list on the current form will not receive current
scores.
The School counseling Office sends all test scores with transcripts, schools cannot provide the option of
score choice. We send all available SAT/ACT scores for that student. However, to be considered official,
most colleges require that the scores be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service. It is the
student’s responsibility to have scores sent to colleges through the registration packet.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT TESTS
Some colleges will give college credit for high scores on the Advanced Placement Tests. Other
colleges will allow students to skip courses but will not give credit. Students enrolled in an AP class will be
given registration information in class.
Students not enrolled in the AP class but who are interested in the Advanced Placement Tests
should talk with their counselor in February. The tests will be given in May but the deadline to sign up is
usually mid to late March.
The College Application Process in 5 Easy Steps
1) Go to the school counseling office:
a) Pick up a college folder. This is how you request transcripts being sent as well as turn in any other
parts of the application the counseling department sends with your transcript.
b) Inside you will find one blue colored “Request for a Recommendation from Your Counselor” form. Fill it
out and return to your counselor. This helps your counselor in writing your recommendation. There is
also an optional questionnaire for your parents to fill out that gives your counselor even more
information. It is a good idea to have that done as well. Even if you opt not to have your parents answer
the questions, they must sign the statement at the top of the form before a letter of
recommendation will be written. There are 2 pink forms you can give to teachers who know you well.
They will fill them out and five back to your counselor so there is even more information available when
writing your recommendation.
2) Complete your college application on-line. Make sure you download and print the counselor page, if it
is a part of the application. It may be titled Secondary School report, Counselor Recommendation, etc.
Most schools have a check list you can use to make sure all information has been filled out. Failing to
turn in counselor pages will slow down your admission process. Many of the most common forms
have been loaded into school space under your class content folder.
3) Return the transcript request folder, have the front filled out with the appropriate columns checked and
the following in the folder:
a) the “Counselor School Report” from your application (if applicable)
b) the blue “Request for a Recommendation from your Counselor” form. (This only needs to be done
once.)
c) $5.00 for each transcript request (the first 2 are free)
4) The counseling department handles thousands of transcript requests so there is a 2 week time frame
whenever you ask for a transcript. Plan your request based on when your application is due. This
is your responsibility!!!
5) Be sure to research the college’s testing requirements—SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Tests
and/or ACT tests—and have those sent directly from College Board or ACT to your colleges. Use the
correct school codes. Tests should be completed by the December test date. The scores we have on
file are automatically sent but many schools require them to come directly from SAT or ACT.
*Remember holiday dates such as Thanksgiving and Winter Break. Monday, November 13, 2013 is
the deadline for December 1 application due date and Monday, December 2, 2013 is the deadline for a
January 1 due date.
Terms Associated with Financial Aid and College Costs
Award package – This is the way a college delivers its news about student eligibility for financial aid or
grants at the institution. The most common packages include Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, and/or WorkStudy.
Cost of Education – This includes tuition, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, and
miscellaneous expenses. A student’s financial aid eligibility is the difference between the cost of education
and the Expected Family Contribution as computed by the federal government using the Free Application of
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Federal Pell Grant Program – A federally-sponsored and administered program that provides grants
based on need to undergraduate students. Congress sets the appropriation annually. This is “free” money
and does not have to be repaid.
Federal Perkins Loans Program – A federal program based on need that allows a student to borrow
money for educational expenses directly from banks and other lending institutions (sometimes from the
colleges themselves). These loans may be either subsidized or unsubsidized. Repayments begin six (6)
months after a student’s course load drops to less than half time. The loans must be repaid within ten (10)
years.
Federal Work-Study Program – A federally financed program that arranges for students to combine parttime employment and college study. The employment may be an integral part of the academic program (as
in cooperative education or internships) or simply a means of paying for college.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid – This is the federal government’s instrument for calculating
need-based aid. The application is available from high school counseling offices, college financial aid
offices, and the Internet (www.fafsa.gov). The form should be completed by the early spring.
Grants – A financial aid award that does not have to be repaid. Grants are available through the federal
government, state agencies, colleges, and private sources.
Room and Board – The actual on-campus room and board charges or estimated off-campus room and
board charges, determined by the institutions, used to calculate student’s cost of attendance (COA).
Student Aid Report (SAR) – Report of the government’s review of a student’s FAFSA. The SAR is sent to
the student and released electronically to the schools that the student listed. The SAR doesn’t supply a
“real money” figure for aid but rather, indicates whether the student is eligible for federal and state grants
and other types of financial aid.
Subsidized Loan – A loan where the government pays the interest while the student is in school, during
the six-month grace period and during any deferment periods. Subsidized loans are awarded based on
financial need.
Unsubsidized Loan – A loan for which the government does not pay the interest. The borrower is
responsible for the interest on an unsubsidized loan(s) from the date the loan(s) is disbursed even while the
student is in school.
Tuition and Fees – Amount of money charged to students for instructional or other services. Tuition may
be charged per term, per course, or per credit.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND SCHOLARSHIPS
-Most colleges provide funds, in the form of loans and grants, to assist those who need financial
aid.
-The Federal Government will offer needs analysis forms for use by students applying for financial
aid. The form is called the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and is available on line (see
helpful websites for address). The data collected can be used to determine eligibility for the Pell Grant
program, state and federal financial aid programs, and many institutional and private programs.
-Financial aid can be in the form of grants, scholarships, loans, and work study programs.
-The school counseling office will sponsor a Financial Aid Workshop in January for interested
parents of Juniors and Seniors.
-Other sources of information concerning scholarships and financial assistance are available in the
public libraries and the school counseling office. The senior counselor posts scholarship announcements
from October – May, and all students need to read these weekly and apply when appropriate. There are
numerous web sites with an exhaustive listing of scholarship opportunities.
-Colleges usually notify students concerning financial aid awards after April 1.
If you and your parents have questions, please set up an appointment with Mrs. Anderson, our GRASP
(GReat Aspirations Scholarship Program) coordinator. She is a wealth of information for parents and
students seeking scholarships and financial aid. She is here once a week. Please stop by the School
Counseling Office to make an appointment.
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
Scholarship information is available from the School Counseling Office. A newsletter is posted in school
space under class of 2014 information. The newsletters are also posted on the bulletin boards in the
counseling office as well as the bulletin board in the hall and are available on the Freeman website under
the counseling page.
Military Information
If you are exploring the option of joining the military, you will want to meet with the different recruiters that
visit during lunch. Recruiters will also be available to speak to you at College and Career Night. The
ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) test is a good test not only for the military but also to
look at your strengths for career planning purposes. It will be given here at Freeman on February 12, 2014.
See your counselor to get signed up.
Community College Options
If you are thinking of attending a community college, the application process is similar. You must apply online and send a final transcript at the end of the year. Community colleges don’t require SAT or ACT tests
but DO require placement tests in English, Math and Writing. You will need to visit the college website to
see when the tests are given and how to sign up. Many colleges in Virginia offer a Guaranteed Transfer
Admissions Agreement with the community college system. Please see your counselor to discuss this
option.
College and Career Information
Virginia Wizard is a great website that allows you to complete several career interest tests as well as
explore in-state 2 and 4 year colleges/universities. The site has on-line applications, virtual tours as well as
comparative admissions information. There are SAT, ACT, and GED test preparation materials as well. It is
a great resource for any student. The address to access the site is:
www.vawizard.org
Other Helpful Website Addresses
Website Description
Address (http://www.)
ACT registration/practice
act.org
College search
uscollegesearch.org
College & career search program
vawizard.org
College search program
collegeboard.org
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Fafsa.ed.sgov
SAT registration/practice
collegeboard.org
Scholarship search program
fastweb.com
Scholarship and student loan program
federalscholarships.org
Scholarship search program (Sallie May)
collegeanswer.com