Class of 2017
Parent Night
February 3, 2016
Ms. Snelson, College Counselor
Mr. Smith, Upper Academy School Counselor
Mrs. Kaczmarczyk, Upper Academy Principal
A+ Program
• Free tuition at a Missouri community college and/or
technical college
• Some Missouri schools give out scholarship money based
on A+ eligibility status
• Requirements
– U.S. citizen, permanent resident, lawfully present in US
– A+ Agreement on file with GCAA College Counselor
– Attend a designated A+ high school for 3 consecutive years
immediately prior to graduation
– Graduate with overall GPA of 2.5 or higher
– At least a 95% attendance overall for grades 9-12
– Perform at least 50 hours of unpaid tutoring/mentoring at GCAA
– Good citizenship record
– Proficient or Advanced on Algebra I End of Course Exam (EOC)
**Appeals can be made with GCAA’s College Counselor**
GCAA COLLEGE READINESS
ASSESSMENTS
• Junior Year
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PSAT-October 2015 (all juniors)
ACT-April 2016 (free for all juniors in Missouri)
SAT- independently
ACT- independently
• Senior Year
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ASVAB (all seniors)
ACT-independently
SAT-independently
Acuplacer (community college)
ACT & SAT
• College Readiness
– Used frequently in the college admission process.
• Cost
– SAT ($43 without essay/$54.50 with essay)
– ACT ($39.50 without essay/$56.50 with essay)
• Fee Waivers
– Students who qualify for Free/Reduced lunch are
allowed 2 free fee waivers
• Test Preparation
– Students should take advantage of test prep sessions
offered in/outside of school (local colleges)
– Khan Academy (SAT)
• Testing Accommodations (students with IEPs/504 Plans)
– See Ms. Snelson for accommodations documentation
ACT
• Subtests (according to ACT)
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English (21-College Readiness)
Math (22-College Readiness)
Reading (21-College Readiness)
Science (24-College Readiness)
English, Mathematics, Science, Essay (optional)
WWW.ACTSTUDENT.ORG
Next test date:
Tuesday, April 19, 2016 @ GCAA
New SAT
• There are 20 SAT Subject Tests in five general
subject areas: English, history, languages,
mathematics and science.
• Each Subject Test is an hour long. They are all
multiple-choice and scored on a 200–800 scale.
• Subject Tests test you on your knowledge of
subjects on a high school level. The best way to
prepare is to take the relevant courses and work
hard in them.
• PSAT are aligned to the new SAT
www.collegeboard.org
College Athletics & Academic Eligibility
3 Separate College Athletic Associations
• NCAA (Division I,II, III) www.web1.ncaa.org
– Core GPA and ACT subscores determine eligibility
• NAIA www.playnaia.org
– Must have 2 of 3 requirements:
• 18 ACT
• 2.0 Cumulative GPA
• 50% or higher class rank
• NJCAA (Community College) www.njcaa.org
– ACT
– High School Transcript
**Students need to notify Ms. Snelson if this is an option ASAP**
POST-SECONDARY OPTIONS
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Community College
Technical College
4 year College
4 year University
Conservatory
Military
Companies (dance/theater/etc.)
Work Force
Resumes/Portfolios
• Resumes (Admissions)
– Students should be documenting ANY/ALL recognitions (in/out of school),
their participation in ANY/ALL clubs/organizations (in/out of school), any
honors, college prep courses, community service, work experience, leadership
experiences, etc..
• Academic Portfolio
– All students should have an academic portfolio where they keep any/all
academic achievement awards, recognitions, letters of recommendation,
admission letters, etc..
• Letters of Recommendation (at least 3)
– Ask the writer to give a hard copy and an electronic copy showcasing your
abilities
• Performing Arts Portfolio
– Students should work with pathway instructors on building their portfolio
– Be in contact with interested schools to know what is required
GET INVOLVED!!!!!!!!!!
COLLEGE SEARCHES
• There are numerous websites available to
conduct free college searches
– www.collegeboard.com
– www.nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator
– www.collegedata.com
COLLEGE EXPOSURE
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Individual campus tours (3 per year-excused absences)
GCAA college campus tours
Attend college representative visits
Explore college websites/virtual tours
Speak to admission representatives
Attend Junior/Senior campus events
College and Scholarship fairs
Types of Admissions
• Rolling Admissions (majority of colleges)
– Apply Aug-Oct of senior year/earlier the better
– Find out within 3-4 weeks usually
• Regular Admissions
– Apply before Nov 1 to a competitive college
• Early Action
– Apply before Nov 1
– Decision mid December
• Early Action-Single Choice
– Apply before Nov 1
– Decision mid December
– Can only apply to one EA school
• Early Decision
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Apply before Nov 1
Decision mid December
MUST go to this school if accepted and financial aid package is doable
MUST take back all other college applications you have out there
COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
• Paper vs On-line Applications
– On-line is much more convenient and easy to track
• Application Fees
– Most schools have application fees so be sure all schools your applying
to have the program of study of your interest and you have/close to
having all the admission requirements
– Students with free/reduced lunch are eligible for fee waivers (See Ms.
Snelson for waivers)**some schools might not accept application fee
waivers at all
• Common Application www.commonapp.org
– One application (only use if there are more than 2 of your potential
schools that use it)
– MUCH longer application than traditional applications
ADMISSION CRITERIA
• Be sure to research and KNOW the admission
criteria of the desired schools
• GPA, Student Rank, ACT/SAT
– Specific, Index Score Calculator, 2/3 of criteria
• Some schools will use H.S. courses for
placement purposes
• KNOW the timelines/deadlines
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA)
https://fafsa.ed.gov/
• Dependent/Independent
• FSA ID (Student AND Parent)-electronic signature
• Timeline
• FSA ID-anytime
• Begin FAFSA-October 1, 2016 (Prior-Prior Year)
• IRS Retrieval-once taxes are complete (if file)
• FAFSA identifies:
• Estimated Family Contribution (EFC)-how much government
feels you can contribute to your student’s education
• Federal Stafford Loans-(subsidized/unsubsidized) amount given
SCHOLARSHIPS
• Merit Based Scholarships
– Based on GPA/ACT/SAT/Rank
– Start with colleges/universities you’ve applied for
– Some with show up automatically on financial aid award letter
but others you have to apply for
• Local Scholarships
– Scholarship Foundation www.stlgraduates.org
• National Scholarship Searches
– www.scholarpro.com www.cappex.com
– www.scholarships.com www.zinch.com www.meritaid.com
• Place of Employment
– Ask Human Resource with companies/organizations
SENIOR SCHEDULES
• Registration
– Presentation (Monday, February 8th)
– Students will be able to log on through their
student portal of IC and choose classes they wish
to take next year
– Approvals from teachers for advanced/honors
ACADEMIC PREPARATION
• Honors Courses
– High school students are enrolled at GCAA in honors classes based on
formal assessments/teacher recommendations
• AP Courses (weighted)
– High school students take AP courses at GCAA, taught by GCAA
teacher, held to college level standards, students take an AP test at the
end of the course, colleges use the score to determine if college credit
should be issued, used in college course placement
• Dual Enrollment
– High school students are enrolled at GCAA and a local junior college
where they attend class as a typical college student
• Dual Credit/SLU 1818 (weighted)
– High school students are enrolled at GCAA in a SLU 1818 course,
taught by GCAA teacher, student earns high school credit and
potentially college credit as well (based on class grade/payment)
• Project Interface
– GCAA partners with community members to offer GCAA students
hands-on experience within their interested pathway (75 hours-1/2
Practical Art credit issued)
DUAL CREDIT VS DUAL ENROLLMENT
Dual Credit
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Taught by GCAA faculty
Taught at GCAA
GCAA purchases book(s)
More class time
$64 per credit hour
Receives both high school
and college credit
• Student receives actual
college transcript
(UMSL/SLU)
• Limited class options
Dual Enrollment
• Taught by college professor
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Taught on college campus
Student purchases book(s)
College schedule
$103 per credit hour
Student receives actual
college transcript
• No financial aid offered
• More class options
DUAL CREDIT/ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES
Advanced Placement (AP) Courses
• Students can enroll in class but chose not to
take the AP test and still earn HS credit
Dual Credit Courses-1818
• Students can enroll in class and withdraw/
drop from college roster based on college’s
deadlines but still earn only HS credit
AP Courses
1. Recommendations for student participation:
a) Sophomore, junior, or senior standing depending upon the course
description or prerequisites.
b) A 3.5 GPA or better in the subject area.
c) Recommendation from a teacher or department chair.
d) Recommendation from school counselor.
e) Parental consent.
2. Students who do not meet one or more of the above recommended criteria may be
asked to sign a waiver that they and their parents understand that the
student may not be prepared for the level of difficulty of the course(s).
Advanced Placement (AP) Courses
• AP Government
• AP Psychology
• AP Biology
• AP Chemistry
• AP Environmental Science
• AP Art Studio I
• AP Art Studio II
• AP US History
• AP World History
• AP Music Theory
 Subject to change for 16-17 school year depending on requests
Dual Credit (1818) Requirements
• Be a student in Grades 10-12
– 10th graders must seek school approval
• Carry a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above (on an
unweighted 4.0 scale)
• Have written endorsement from the teacher,
counselor or principal
Dual Credit (1818)
SLU 1818
• 1818 Elementary Stats w/ Computers
• 1818 Calculus 1
• 1818 Advanced Composition
• 1818 Literature (2)
• 1818 America’s Music
• 1818 Theatre
• 1818 Public Speaking
• 1818 Writing Composition
UMSL
• College Algebra
 Subject to change for 16-17 school year pending requests
SENIOR YEAR TIMELINE/College Admission
Now-August 2016
• At least 1-2 scores (ACT/SAT)
• Narrow college choices down
• Campus visits
• Know admission requirements/representatives
August-October 2015 (prime time)
• Submit college applications
October 2016
• FASFA**
March-May 2016**
• Receive Financial Aid Award Letters
• Verify attendance
• Sign-up for registration/housing
August 2016-August 2017
• Scholarship searches
Financial Aid Awareness Night
Fall 2016
FASFA Frenzy
October 2016-ongoing
Family Meeting with College Counselor
By appointment
REMIND MESSAGES
Parents can sign up to receive text messages/emails from
me regarding upcoming events/deadlines.
TEXT 81010, and in the space for the message,
enter @gcaa2017
OR
EMAIL gcaa2017@mail.remind.com and leave
the subject and message are blank
GCAA Counseling Department
• http://www.grandcenterartsacademy.org/counseling-department/
• Erica Snelson
– College Counselor/Department Chair
• Erica.snelson@grandcenterartsacademy.org
• 314.533.1791 ext. 6003
• Rusty Smith
– Upper Academy School Counselor
• Russell.smith@grandcenterartsacademy.org
• 314.533.1791 ext. 6203
Questions