Jump Start Your Senior Year
Huron High School
August 28 & September 4, 5
Get Organized
First Quarter
• SEPTEMBER
•12 – Registration deadline for Oct. SAT
•13 – ACT Test
•16---College Fair @ Firelands College
•19--Registration Deadline for Oct. ACT
•20—Homecoming Dance
•24---Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
 OCTOBER
 1---Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
 9—Registration Deadline for Nov. SAT
 11– SAT Test
 17—No School (Teacher In-Service)
 24---End of first quarter
 25---ACT Test
Get Organized
First Quarter
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To Do’s:
◦ Register for and take college entrance tests
 Be sure to do some preparation for these tests
◦ Revise your student resume
 See Mrs. Henning or Mrs. Franks for examples if needed
◦ Ask at least 3 appropriate community leaders for letters of
recommendation (do not wait until last minute)
 Give them a copy of your resume
◦ Register with the NCAA if you are planning to play at a Division I or II
college
◦ Attend College Fair at Firelands College on SEPTEMBER 16
◦ Complete your college application list and become aware of their
application deadlines
◦ Visit Colleges
 Submit appropriate forms to office before your visit
◦ Continue scholarship search
◦ Finish your community service and turn in forms to the guidance office
◦ Keep working hard on your courses to boost your first semester gpa
College Considerations
Admission Requirements
 Size of classes
 Campus Life and Activities
 Geographic Location
 Strength & variety of programs
 Cost
 Faculty/student ratio
 Housing
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NCAA Clearinghouse
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Need to register if you plan to play at Division I or II level
www.ncaaclearinghouse.net or www.eligibilitycenter.org
Register on-line and then notify Guidance Office because we
have to send a preliminary transcript
You must send your ACT/SAT scores to them
$75
Do not “clear” until you graduate
Need to obtain specific ACT/SAT scores depending on
cumulative core GPA
Need to take specific # of courses
Testing
•
ACT or SAT
• Testing deadlines
• Make sure to take ACT Writing
• Send scores directly to colleges
•
BE SURE TO PREPARE!!
• Princetonreview.com,
kaplan.com, actstudent.org,
collegeboard.com
•
REGISTER ONLINE:
• Actstudent.org
• Sat.org/register
Sending Test Scores to Colleges
MOST schools want scores sent directly from the
testing company
• Can list schools each time you test because colleges
look for your best score
• If you wait until after you have finished testing:
• SAT will send all of your scores
• ACT will send only the scores you request
• Not sending your scores could delay your admission
• Must send scores to NCAA (9999)
•
Application Process
• How
to get
applications
•College Fair
•Email college
•On-line
•Common Application
• How
many
applications
•Variety of sizes
•Dream schools, realistic
choices
•Variety of costs (private
vrs. public)
Application Process

When to apply
 Check all deadlines
 Best to be done Nov. 1
 Need to complete “College & Scholarship Tracking Form” after
you have applied online or attach to your paper application
 Available in guidance office or at guidance website

Special Reminders
 Best to apply online
 Can work on & save
 Print out any special attachment forms to be mailed in with
transcript
 Resume, College Prep form, Teacher/Counselor Recommendation forms
 Neatness, correct spelling—count
 Meet all deadlines
 Give yourself time with the essays
 Teachers will proofread with advance notice
Letters of Recommendation
• Gather
early
• Best to get at least 3
•Core teachers, coaches, employers, church
personnel
• Provide
copy of resume
• Allow two weeks to be completed
• Send a thank you
• Store in a secure location (your file box)
so you can copy and attach as needed
Campus Visits
Two allowed days to visit
Student should schedule the visit
Parents should go with student
Visit request forms submitted a week in advance
Check college web site for specific tour dates or
call for a visit
 Research the school on your own
 Be sure to walk campus, ask questions, take the
tour, request specific meetings (financial aid,
coaches, professors in discipline of interest),
check out dorms, student union, rec center,
career center, financial aid office, safety,
transportation
 Record your impressions
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Get Organized
Second Quarter
 OCTOBER
 25—ACT Test
 27-31—Make-up OGT Testing for Juniors/Seniors
 NOVEMBER
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6—Registration Deadline for Dec. SAT
8—Registration Deadline for Dec. ACT
8—SAT Test
26—Thanksgiving Break begins
 DECEMBER
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6—SAT Test
13—ACT Test
17—Feast of Carols
20—Winter Break begins
29—Registration deadline for January SAT Test
JANUARY
TBA—Financial Aid Evening @ Firelands College
9—Registration deadline for February ACT Test
14-16—FINAL Final Exams
16—Last day to hand in community service
16—End of first semester
Get Organized
Second Quarter

To Do’s:
◦ Complete college applications
 Be aware of college application deadlines
 Make a copy of your application for your records
 Notify the Guidance Office that you have done an online application by completing
the “College & Scholarship Tracking Form”. Attach your resume and any other parts
of your application to this
◦ Make sure you have contacted 3 people and asked them to write letters
of recommendation for you
 Give them a copy of your resume
◦ Continue your scholarship search
◦ Finish your college visits
◦ Make sure you have turned in all community service hours to
Guidance before January 16 if you are planning on the Diploma of
Distinction
◦ Attend Financial Aid Evening
◦ Submit your FAFSA
◦ Prepare for last set of semester exams to help your cumulative gpa
Common Application
• Over
525 colleges use this form
• Has many pieces and parts to it
• Complete it once and you can copy it and
use it again for all other schools that
accept this form
• In-state: Baldwin Wallace, Case Western,
Wooster, Denison, Hiram, John Carroll,
Kenyon, Marietta, Miami, Oberlin, OSU,
Otterbein, Cincinnati, Dayton, Findlay,
Wittenberg, Xavier
Application Process

Parents Role
◦ Don’t be a helicopter parent!
◦ Advise, visit with them, process information, support, LET
STUDENT DO THE WORK—YOU PROOF IT
◦ Empower your student to become RESPONSIBLE and learn to
function INDEPENDENT of you

Guidance Office
◦ Attaches transcript, school profile, student senior schedule,
◦ Pays the postage
◦ Records the date file leaves our office

Student Role
◦ Does the application, attaches student resume, letters of
recommendation, College Prep form, Counselor Form and
completes a College Tracking Form
Application Mistakes
Be sure to make a copy of all applications
Use an appropriate email address
Do all sections neatly
Be aware of deadlines
Obey word limits on sections/essays-follow
directions to a “T”
 Proof read for spelling, grammatical and
factual errors
 Don’t treat application like a Facebook page
or text message
 Be sure to put your best self forward
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College Essays
• Do
not procrastinate
• College personnel DO READ THESE!
• Distinguish yourself
• Have someone else proofread
• Consider your audience
• Common mistakes
•Misspellings
•run on sentences
Additional Considerations
•
Early Action (non-binding) and Early Decision (binding-only
one) plans should be used with discretion.
• If a student has any reservations about attending that school, or if
their application profile is not complete, they should wait to apply
regular decision.
• The applicant pool for early decisions is extremely discriminating.
If your students record is not superior in every way, he/she should
devote their energies to strengthening it and applying to regular
decision instead.
In addition, many early decision/early action schools who
deny a student early admission may not allow them to apply
for regular decision.
• Early admissions programs can be very advantageous. A high
school student who is sure of what school they want to go to
and whose profile is superb can benefit from early admissions.
• Students who have any questions at all are not encouraged to
apply early, as they are then required to forgo all other
options and commit to spending four years and thousands of
dollars at a particular institution..
•
Get Organized
Third Quarter
Jan. 24—SAT Test
Jan. 29—Local Scholarship Application
packets distributed
 Feb. 7–- ACT Test
 Feb. 22 -– College Goal Sunday
 Feb. 27—Special Diploma List Posted
 March 10—Local Scholarship Application
deadline
 March 14—SAT Test
 March 16-20—OGT Testing
 March 20—End of third quarter
 March 23—Last day to verify diploma list
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Get Organized
Third Quarter
 To Do’s
 Attend Financial Aid Evening to learn about the FAFSA,
College Loans, Work Study, Scholarships
 Submit your FAFSA
 Different colleges have different deadlines
 Attend College Goal Sunday if you need assistance
completing your FAFSA
 Need to register in advance and is held at Firelands College
 Complete and turn in your local scholarships
 Be sure to have all pieces and parts together for submission by due
date at the latest
 No copying pieces and parts at school the day it is due
 Check Diploma list to make sure you will graduate with
the diploma you are qualified to receive.
 Notify the college you will be attending
 Send in housing deposit
Types of Diplomas

Lists posted Feb. 27—students
notify of problems by March 23
◦ Standard Diploma
 21 Credits,
 pass all sections of OGT,
 at least a 1.6 cum GPA
◦ Diploma of Distinction
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50 hours of community service,
23 credits,
2.6 cum GPA,
pass all sections of OGT
◦ Diploma of Honors
 Meet 7 of 8 criteria
Financial Aid
Financial Aid Night is the
beginning of January
 Get in touch with Financial
Aid Office at college where
student will be attending
 Loans, Grants, Scholarships,
Merit Scholarships, Work
Study Program
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FAFSA
www.fafsa.ed.gov
Federal Student Aid, a part of the U.S. Department of Education, is the largest
provider of student financial aid in the nation. At the office of Federal Student Aid,
our 1,200 employees help make college education possible for every dedicated
mind by providing more than $150 billion in federal grants, loans, and work-study
funds each year to more than 15 million students paying for college or career
school. We are proud to sponsor millions of American minds pursuing their
educational dreams.
FAFSA4caster
Use FAFSA4caster to see how federal
student aid can help you pay for
college!
College Goal Sunday
Held at Firelands College on Sunday,
February 22
 Concerned about completing your
FAFSA
 Register for this event at by calling
Firelands College
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National Scholarships
• Books available at library
• Listing in the Senior Handbook
and
Scholarship Guide
• Check out the HHS Guidance website
• Various search engines such as:
• Fastaid.com
• Studentaid.gov
• Collegenet.com
• College-scholarships.com
• Scholarships.com
• Wiredscholar.com
• Free-4u.com
• Studentservices.com
• Srnexpress.com
Scholarships
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Merit Scholarships
• Can be worth $500 to a full ride
• Be sure to meet all deadlines
• Honors Programs included in this alert!
• Check out the college web site or view book for
information
• Be very neat in all applications
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ROTC Scholarships
• Generally include tuition, room & board, books and a
monthly stipend
• Obligations
• Weekly/monthly special meetings
• Military service
Local Scholarships
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Check with your place of employment
Check with groups you belong to
Lists posted in several locations
On daily announcements which also go to EHOVE
and are posted
Check file cabinet in Guidance Office
Check at guidance site at www.huronhs.com
Special packet of local scholarships will become
available on January 29 and be due by March 10
 Applications available online
Get Organized
Fourth Quarter
 May 5—AP Calculus Test in AM
 May 6—AP English Literature &
Composition Test in AM
 May 14—AP Macroeconomics Test in Am
 May 18—Senior Recognition Evening
 May 29--Graduation
Get Organized
Fourth Quarter
 To Do’s:
 Finish strong in your high school and college classes
 Notify the guidance office of your college plans
 Notify the guidance office of any scholarships you receive
 Do some job shadowing to get some career ideas
See Mrs. Henning for forms to do this or ideas of
where to go
 Attend Scholarship Evening if invited
Anyone who gets a scholarship from their college, a
local one or one they have secured outside of our local
list is invited
 Be sure to turn in all graduation forms as requested
Job Shadowing
Take a survey online
 Find a career you might consider
 Call someone working that job
 See Mrs. Henning for a field trip form
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College Majors
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Books
◦ Local library
◦ Look on Amazon.com

Hot Jobs of the Future
◦ Understand where the jobs will be when you graduate
◦ Google search “hot jobs in the future”
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Web Sites
◦ Mymajors.com
◦ Collegeboard.com, actstudent.org
Scholarship Evening
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May 21 in the Cedar Point Center at Firelands
College
Any student is receiving any type of scholarship
is invited along with their family
Local scholarship winners are announced by the
scholarship donors
Statistics
•
•
Nearly half of all freshmen will either drop out before
obtaining degree or complete degree elsewhere
10 Reasons students leave or drop out
• Too much fun at expense of classes & grades
• Sense of not belonging, isolation, homesickness
• Academically unprepared
• Financial constraints
• Personal family issues
• Academic climate/fit
• Major not offered
• Lack of advising
• Demands from part or full time job
• Move to different geographic location