What’s next for the class of 2014?
Counselors
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Paula Wilson
Kerri Severson Stover
Kim Elder
Melissa Good-Mitzel
ABCEFG
HIJLMN
O-V
D K W XY Z
Others
• Kathryn Sosa - Gifted Ed. Coordinator
• David Herrick - Lifeways Advisor
• Marcia Geyer - Registrar
• Jenni Dragoo - Records Secretary
• Brenda Sinclair - Secretary/Receptionist
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Seniors will understand how their counselor
and the guidance office can support them in
planning for life after high school
Seniors will understand academic rules and
requirements for graduation, specific
scholarships, and activity eligibility in high
school
Seniors will understand the process of
applying for college and ways to pay for it
Bright green sheet
 Autobiographical Sketch assignment
 Senior Questionnaire assignment
 Blue and white sheets – Credit check and transcript
 Yellow sheet – Transcript Release Form
 Hot pink sheet
 Senior Planning
 Scholarship Information for SD high school graduates
 Light pink sheet – general planning information
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There are counselor sections on most
college/scholarship applications, so information about
you is frequently requested of us. To best represent
you, we need to know you or have info about you.

Please complete the Autobiographical Sketch and
Senior Questionnaire and turn it in to your English
teacher (if given as an assignment) or counselor.

Keep a copy for yourself to give to others from whom
you may need a letter of support.
 Look
over your transcript. You will be asked to
submit your high school transcript when you
pursue:
 college admission and scholarships
 military enlistment
 employment
 Most
of you will apply for college before winter
break; what you see on your transcript today is
what will be sent with your application.

A transcript is a record of all your high school
classes with grade and credit earned.
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Is your transcript correct?

GPA and class rank are at the bottom of the
transcript.

Please write your GPA and class rank on your
Senior Questionnaire (bright green sheet).
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1)
2)
Students who tested out of a class have two
options for recording it on their transcript:
You can leave it as PAS, which indicates a test
out, or…
you can request that the letter grade (A or B)
be listed instead (letter grade will not impact
GPA).

Decide by the end of 1st semester which way
you want a test out recorded.
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Be aware: some common scholarships require
letter grades, not PAS, on the transcript.
 You
are responsible for making sure you meet
graduation requirements.
 Your
counselor helps by providing you with a
completed credit check.
 This
credit check is for high school graduation
requirements only, NOT college admission
requirements.

Review your credit check – the minimum required
to graduate is 22 credits.

The required classes are listed on the left side of
your credit check; electives on the right.

If you are waiving a math or science class, your
parents must sign a waiver before you can
graduate. See your counselor for the waiver form.
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All RCAS graduates must have passed a reading
test. If you are not in a reading class, you have
probably passed the test.
Check with Jenni Dragoo, our Records Secretary,
if you are in doubt.
New/transfer students should have been given
the reading test upon enrollment.
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If there are questions regarding your credit check,
please see your counselor. No one likes surprises
at graduation time.
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If you are taking an online or off-campus class
that isn’t on your credit check, please let your
counselor know.
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If you are planning to graduate at the end of
semester one, you must let Jenni Dragoo know.
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If you make a correction on your credit check
form, please see your counselor to be sure the
change doesn’t impact required classes/credits for
graduation.

Initial and date the upper right hand corner of
your credit check form.
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Return your credit check & transcript to your
counselor.
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We encourage you to see us sometime this semester.

Appointments can be made through the guidance office
secretaries.

Appointment times are from 7:45 – 3:00 each day classes
are in session. (No afternoon appointments on early
release days.)
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Mrs. Good-Mitzel is here Tuesdays, Thursdays, and
Friday afternoons.
Seniors must see their counselors
regarding any schedule adjustments so
we can document those changes on
your credit check.
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Colleges, scholarship committees, employers, and
military recruiters require transcripts (and sometimes
more information) from students.
Jenni Dragoo, the Records Secretary, handles all
transcript requests.
Refer to your yellow Transcript Release Form. These are
in the guidance office and must be completed when you
need documents from Stevens to be sent anywhere.
It must be signed by you AND a parent if you are not yet
18. We don’t send anything without your written request.
A new Transcript Release Form must be completed for
each place you’d like your records sent.
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Complete your application either online or on paper.
Online - you will be asked to pay the fee with a credit or
debit card. There may be forms you need to print and
bring to your counselor to complete.
On paper - staple your check for the application fee to the
application .
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Ask people for letters of recommendation, if needed.
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Complete the Transcript Release Form (yellow handout).
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Submit all required items to our office (put in the
Requested Transcripts basket).
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Jenni will gather all requested documents from the
Transcript Release Form, address an envelope and
give the application packet to your counselor or Mrs.
Sosa.
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Your counselor/Mrs. Sosa will complete the counselor
evaluation part of the application, gather the
materials you submitted, and mail your college
application in one package.
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Colleges appreciate receiving all application materials
in one package.
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We document the date that the application leaves our
school.
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Be aware of deadlines. We need at least 5 school days
to process and complete transcript requests.
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December 1 and January 1 deadlines often fall close to
holidays, so plan ahead. Our office is closed during
all school year breaks.

Be careful with your electronic/social media
communications; any negativity could impact a person’s
willingness to write you a letter. Many employers, colleges,
& scholarship boards ask for access to Facebook pages.

Be kind by requesting letters two weeks in advance.
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Be clear – who is the letter to and when do you need it?
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Provide your autobiographical sketch.
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Request additional copies of letters written on your behalf.
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Offer thanks to anyone who writes you a letter.
 Required
for 2 or 4 year colleges:
ACT or SAT (4 year schools)
ACCUPLACER (2 year schools)
 Both ACT
and SAT tests are accepted
everywhere.
 The ACCUPLACER
test is offered at WDT
frequently. You can take the ACCUPLACER
there even if you don’t plan to attend WDT.
Register online at:
http://www.actstudent.org/
September 27 (Friday) is the next regular
deadline date to register for the October 26
ACT.
SAT~
Register online at:
www.collegeboard.com
October 3 is the regular deadline date for the
November 2 SAT.

www.library.sd.gov (Learning Express)
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Online, free, accessible from home (with library card) or
school.

www.sdmylife.com
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Online, free, part of your SD My Life program, accessible
from home or school.

www.studentedge.com
Suggested book – The Real ACT
Listen to announcements for ACT prep sessions
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To participate in any Stevens sports and/or
activities (including fine arts), you must have
passed 4 classes in your previous semester and
be enrolled in 4 classes in your current
semester.

What you do this semester will affect second
semester participation.

See Mr. Vasquez with questions.
Athletes wishing to compete at the college
level must register with the NCAA or NAIA.
There are requirements you must meet now
to be eligible for sport competition in
college.
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Links to the NCAA and NAIA websites can
be found at www.raiderscorner.com.

Online classes may not be accepted by
NCAA. See your counselor with questions.
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Mrs. Storm (room S203) handles the
Community Volunteer credit and teaches the
internship component of the Beyond the
Books class.
Mrs. Jangula (room 224) teaches the service
learning component of the Beyond the Books
class.
For more information about these
opportunities , contact either of the teachers
above.
The guidance department hosts several events
to support you as you plan for life after high
school. Events include:
 Post
High Planning Days – Oct 24
(pre-registration recommended)
 The Stevens Seminar
 Financial Aid
– Dec 3
Night – Jan 9
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Students are encouraged to visit with the
college and military recruiters who
schedule visits to our school.

Listen to the announcements or check in
the guidance office for visit dates, times,
and locations.
In the Guidance Office you will find:
 Computers for use in college planning, scholarship searches, ACT/SAT
test registration, career research, etc.
 College and two year school handbooks
 Scholarship Board & file
 Financial Aid materials
 Majors & Minors Resource book
 Career Resource books
 Test Preparation books
 School catalogs from all across the nation and abroad
 www.sdmylife.com username and password (See Marcia Geyer,
Registrar)
For scholarships, please check the following:
 the scholarship board and file located in the guidance
office AND on the SHS website
 the Stevens High School Scholarship Listserv -sign up at:
www.k12.sd.us/Listserv/StevensScholarships
This web page is written on your hot pink handout.
Join this list and receive announcements of scholarships
as they are received by us.
**Please Note: Scholarships are not included in the daily
announcements.
 South
Dakota Opportunity Scholarship
 Dakota Corps Scholarship
When in doubt about planning for life after high
school, make an appointment to see your
counselor/advisor. We want to help!
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Paula Wilson – A B C E F G
Kerri Stover – H I J L M N
Kim Elder – O – V
Melissa Good-Mitzel – D K W X Y Z
Kathryn Sosa – A – Z (Gifted Education)