Who Is My Counselor?
Mrs. Stout
Mu- R
Mrs. NGUYEN
A-C
Mr. ESCOBAR
D-H
Mrs. PAUL
I - MO
Mrs. BERRY
S-Z
What do school counselors do?
Academics
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Link Crew Orientation
Academic Success Lesson (PACE and grad requirements)
Freshman Focus (Support for freshmen with D’s or F’s)
Career / Future Planning
• College Expo
• Course Selection Lesson (self-evaluation of progress
towards PACE)
• Individual Course Selection Meeting
• Californiacolleges.edu
Personal / Social Support
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•
•
Student support groups
Crisis intervention
Provide school and community resources
San Marcos High School
Graduation Requirements
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English
Math
Social Studies
Science (Life & Physical)
PE
Foreign Lang./Fine Art
Electives
Total Credits
10 credits = 1 year
40 credits
20 credits
40 credits
20 credits
20 credits
10 credits
80 credits
230 credits
University Requirements “A-G”
(a) History
2 years
-World History
-American History / U.S. Government
(b) English
4 years college prep
(c) Mathematics
3 years required
-Minimum: Algebra 2
(d) Science
2 years with lab ( Biology, Chemistry,
Physics)
(e) Foreign Language
2 years same language
(f) Visual / Performing Arts 1 year
(g) Elective
1 year
PACE Promise
Requirements:
 Attend a high school in San Marcos for 4 years
 Complete the “Are you on PACE?” requirements
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C or better in every class (at least a 2.0)- meet the eligibility
index
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University minimum requirements also known as “a-g”
Grades COUNT!
Take additional CAASPP (state testing) Questions junior year
•
High scores in Math and English= PACE Scholarship ($1,000/year
for four years) and you can test out of remedial Math and English
college courses
AVID
Advancement Via Individual
Determination
 Support with college application,
financial aid, and scholarships
 Goal setting, organization and
study skills
 Tutoring
 College Field Trips
 Community Service
Application required- see Counseling
Office if interested
*School policy does
not allow teacher
requests or changes
How to Read Your Transcript
Grade Point Average
*reminder SMUSD does not rank*
Course Selection Schedule
Part 1: Presentation from counselors (course selection sheets, transcripts)
Part 2: Counselors meet one-on-one with each student
**CLASSESWILL NOT BE PUT IN THE COMPUTER WITHOUT PARENT
SIGNATURE** (change in policy)
Current 11th grade:
Part 1- February 17th
Part 2- week of February 23rd
Current 10th grade:
Part 1- February 20th
Part 2- week of March 2nd
Current 9th grade:
Part 1- March 9th
Part 2- week of March 19th
Choose Carrrr-fully…
CHOOSE CAREFULLY!!
 Students are given ample time to look through the
Online Course Catalog and ask questions of parents,
teachers, and counselors before making course
decisions.
 Allocation decisions for the following year are
based upon student requests.
 Please understand that students will not be able
to make changes to schedules (this includes
electives) once this school year ends, unless it is a
level change within the drop timeframe or
summer school attendance.
 All courses are year-long
 Course catalogue is online under Counseling tab
NEW HONORS/AP DROP POLICY
 Starting in fall of 2015, students
will have the first 3 weeks of first
semester in order to drop from
honors or AP into college prep.
 Students have the first 2 weeks of
second semester to drop from
honors or AP into college prep.
 Please see page 10 of the course
catalog online for the detailed
policy on adds/drops.
Spring Test Dates (2015)
SAT
 March 14
 May 2
 June 6
 www.collegeboard.com
Registration Deadline
February 13
April 6
May 8
ACT
 April 18
 June 13
 www.actstudent.org
Registration Deadline
March 13
May 8
Students are responsible for sending official scores from the testing
agency to the university.
SAT vs. ACT
 7 times per yr.
 ¼ pt. penalty for wrong
answers
 200 – 800
 2-12 on essay
 Score choice
 Aptitude – good test
taking
 10 sections
 *REDESIGNED
SAT beginning
March 2016
(check out
Collegeboard.org
for more details)
 6 times per yr.
 No penalty for wrong
answers
 1 – 36
 2-12 on essay
 Score choice
 Curricular based,
engaged classroom
learner
 5 sections
Summer School
 At SMHS
 Limited number of courses offered
 Registration day 8:30 am on Friday, June 19 at SMHS First
come, first served with priority to current juniors
 Session1: June 29- July 17
 Session 2: July 20- Aug 6
 Online (Plato) program for English and History courses.
INFORMATION AND FORMS AVAILABLE SOON
(on SMHS website)
NCAA
If you are hoping to compete in a sport in college
Inform your counselor, your coach and the
athletic director, Coach Meyer
Visit www.eligibilitycenter.org
You must register with NCAA in 11th grade
Parent & Student Stress
 “It’s hard for kids to get into colleges because they only
want to get into colleges that are hard to get into.” Bill Mayher,
Author: The College Admissions Mystique
 “Research demonstrates the ultimate success in life will be
determined by your child and not by the institution from which he or
she receives a diploma” (challengesuccess.org)
 Academics are the most reported stressors in teens lives; teens feel a
lot of pressure to do more
 Learning to lead a balanced life = doing what is meaningful, not doing
it all
There is no magic formula to College Admissions
Aim for a high GPA but don’t go for the “easy A”
 Choose most rigorous course of study without overwhelming the student.
Encourage balance
 Stress the importance of grades and extra-curricular activities but let them still enjoy being a kid
Value vs. Volume
 Admissions officers are more impressed by the quality of a student's participation in extracurricular
activities--leadership positions held, honors won, programs started--than by the quantity of activities
What’s your LID Factor?
Concept courtesy of UCLA admissions
CA Public & Private Colleges
 Community Colleges – 112 campuses www.cccco.edu
 California State University – 23 campuses
www.csumentor.edu
 University of California – 9 campuses
www.universityofcalifornia.edu
 Private Universities in CA – 75+ www.aiccu.edu
 Out of State Private and Public Universities – 3000+
 Vocational, Trade and Art Schools
WWW.CALIFORNIACOLLEGES.EDU
Nationwide University Search and College Planning Resources
Western Undergraduate Exchange
www.wiche.edu/sep/wue
 Our students like colleges in neighboring states and
those colleges like our students
 Program of the Western Interstate Commission for
Higher Education
 Students in western states may apply to enroll in
participating out of state 2 and 4 year colleges at
reduced tuition – 150% of resident tuition
 College and major participation varies, check
website for specifics
Hidden Gems
 University of Iowa – Top in Writing – 80%
 Guilford College -N. Carolina–Award winning newspaper-68%
 St Mary’s of California – Nursing – 69%
 Western Washington University – pre professional programs, lots
of environmental majors –84%
 Clark University – Colleges That Change Lives – 78%
 Ithaca – Performing arts, Radio, TV – 67%
 Univ. of Northern Colorado-outdoor pursuits, free bikes – 70%
 George Mason – diverse, outside of D.C. – 62%
 Landmark College - 2 year, ADHD, ASD – 86%
 Pace University–NYC–77%/Suffolk–Boston–83%/USF 61%
 Quinnipac College-New Eng., high tech.–Video gaming-67%
 Western Oregon University – D2 Football - 88%
 University of Idaho – College of Art and Architecture – 66%
It’s all about the fit…’
bout the fit!
 Do I want to commute or live on campus?
 What kind of weather do I prefer?
 Does fraternity or sorority life interest me?
 Do I want to attend college in a city or in a small college town?
 In what area of the country would I like to attend college?
 What size college appeals to me?
 Small: up to 5,000 students
 Medium: 5,000-10,000 students
 Large: over 10,000 students
 Do I want an extensive athletics program?
 Do I want a strong creative arts program?
What Can I Do Now?
 Visiting campuses over the summer
(student led tours)
 UCSD = Large UC
 SDSU = CSU
 USD = Private
 Summer Programs
 Volunteer/Job Shadow/Internship/Work
 Do online research using GPA, SAT/ACT
scores and major.
 www.collegeboard.com
 www.californiacolleges.edu
Counseling Help Senior Year
 Academic Success Lesson
(self-review of transcript and A-G in English classes)
 CSU, UC, USC, Common Application Workshops
 FAFSA Pin Workshop
 Parent College Seminars
 Palomar EAP (placement testing)
 College Expo
*Please check Counseling website and remember to read our
monthly newsletter
 Sign up for REMIND 101 to receive
Periodic updates from the counseling
office
ENTER THIS NUMBER (760) 621-5502
WITH THIS MESSAGE @35ed77
College & Career Center
Room 158 (in the Student Union)
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$$$ Scholarship information
FAFSA
Computer Lab
Jobs (work permits)
Military
Vocational Opportunities
7:00 AM – 3:30 PM every school
day.
Visit at least once a week!
SMHS GEAR UP
ROOM 301
Programs and Services
 In class/lunch/ and after
school tutoring
 Mentoring
 Educational Workshop
activities
 Parent student engagement
 College Visits
*REPRESENTING Class of 2017
and Class of 2018
KNIGHT ZONE
Jovana Arellano x 2268
Room 305
FREE tutoring everyday 3-6PM
(schedule posted online)
Academic Enrichment, Dance,
Game Development, Woodturning,
Jewelry Club, Karaoke, Drivers Ed,
Poetry, and much more!
Career Center
COFFEE TALKS
 Wednesday, February 18th
 8:30-9:30 AM
 Career Center- Room 158
 Topics to discuss:
- Meeting our NEW Guidance Tech!
- California Colleges Website
- Resources at your fingertips
- NEW Instagram account
- Events to come
The SMHS Counseling Office Presents…
College
Conversations
Grade-level parent meetings
with former Senior Director of Admissions at USC and the Director of College
Counseling at The Buckley School, ANN RIKE
Ann will share suggestions for college planning based on your child’s grade in
school and recommend action steps for you and your future college student.
8:30-9:30am
Career Center
11th grade
Tuesday, April
14th
10th grade
Tuesday, April
21st
9th grade
Tuesday, May
5th
Selective College
Admissions Seminar
ALL 11TH GRADERS ARE INVITED!
TUESDAY, JUNE 2ND
8:00 – 8:45 am
Career Center
Counselor Contact
 A-C… Lori Nguyen x2219 lori.nguyen@smusd.org
 D-H… Ruben Escobar x2252 ruben.escobar@smusd.org
 I-Mo… Janet Paul x2220 janet.paul@smusd.org
 Mu-R... Lisa Stout x2259
lisa.stout@smusd.org
 S-Z... Lisa Berry x2227 lisa.berry@smusd.org
The End…