Senior Parent Night – Class of 2015
Guide to College Admissions
Presented by Cambridge Counseling Department
Overview
Item 1
Welcome & Program Overview
Item 2
Demystifying the College Admissions Process
Item 3
College Admission Testing
Item 4
Scholarships & Financial Aid Basics
Item 5
Procedures & Resources
Item 6
College Admissions Statistics
Demystifying the College Admission Process
Virginia Elliott
Admissions Advisor
Atlanta Regional Recruiter
Auburn University
What are colleges looking for
in my application?
When is the best time to apply?
How is my GPA calculated?
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Core vs. cumulative
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Weighted vs. unweighted
How important are my SAT/ACT scores?
Do colleges care about essays,
recommendations, and extracurricular
activities?
What are the benefits of an Honors
College and how do I apply?
College Admission Testing
Amey Rishel
Counselor
Cambridge High School
SAT & ACT
CHS CEEB Code: 112129
SAT (WWW.COLLEGEBOARD.ORG)
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SAT is a reasoning test
Administered 7 times a year
3 hours 45 minutes
Score: 200-800 per section
¼ point deducted for wrong answer
Writing (1 essay)
Reading
Math (up to basic geometry & algebra II)
Science: none
ACT (WWW.ACT.ORG)
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ACT is a content-based test
Administered 6 times a year
3 hours 30 minutes (with essay)
Score: 1-36 per section
No penalty for wrong answers
Writing (optional)
Reading
Math (up to trigonometry)
Science
English
Does your student still need to take the
SAT/ACT or the SAT Subject Tests?
SAT
ACT
October 11
(register by Sept 12)
September 13
(deadline passed)
November 8
(register by Oct 9)
October 25
(register by Sept 19)
December 6
(register by Nov 6)
December 13
(register by Nov 7)
Preparation
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Applerouth SAT/ACT Diagnostic Test
Saturday, September 13th
Register online at www.applerouth.com
Use event code: M139619
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Princeton Review Classes
Register for fall schedule now online
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Free Practice Test Booklets
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Online
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Media Center
Scholarship/Financial Aid Basics
Leigh Popp
Counselor
Cambridge High School
Georgia’s HOPE Program
HOPE – Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally – is Georgia’s unique
scholarships and grant program that rewards students with financial
assistance in degree, diploma, and certificate programs at eligible
Georgia public and private colleges and universities, and public
technical colleges
Qualifications:
 Be a U.S. citizen and legal resident of Georgia
 Be a graduate of an eligible high school
 Be registered with Selective Service (males)
Award Amounts
HOPE SCHOLARSHIP
Public Institutions:
Students attending public colleges or
universities receive a HOPE award
amount, up to a maximum of 15 hours,
based upon a per hour rate at the
institution he or she is attending. (see
chart on GACollege411.org)
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Private Institutions
• Full-time student
$1,910 per semester
• Half-time student
$955 per semester
ZELL MILLER SCHOLARSHIP
Public Institutions:
Pays current academic year standard
undergraduate tuition for number of
hours enrolled (public)
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Private Institutions:
Full-time student
$2,110 per semester
Half-time student
$1,055 per semester
GPA Requirements
HOPE SCHOLARSHIP
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Earn a 3.0 GPA in high school
(calculated by GA Student Finance
Commission)
Recipients must have 3.0 GPA at
checkpoints to maintain
ZELL MILLER SCHOLARSHIP
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Graduate valedictorian or salutatorian
OR
Earn a 3.7 GPA in high school AND earn
a 1200 combined score of reading and
math on a single administration of the
SAT or a 26 composite score on a single
administration of the ACT by your
graduation date
Recipients must
have 3.3 GPA at
checkpoints to
maintain.
GPA Calculation
HOPE Scholarship & Zell Miller Scholarship
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Final calculations are conducted by GA Student Finance
Commission after student graduates from high school
ALL core classes are used for the calculation (English, Math,
Science, Social Studies, World Language)
GPAs are not rounded (2.9999 is not a 3.0)
Conversion:
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Remove all honors points
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Convert individual grades to 4.0 scale
(A = 4; B = 3; C = 2, F = 0)
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Add .5 weight to AP and College courses only
(up to 4.0)
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Divide by total number of grades
Rigor Requirements
Class of 2015 – 2 full credits from list below
English/ELA
AP Language/Composition
AP Literature/Composition
Mathematics
GPS Advanced Algebra
GPS Pre-Calculus
Accelerated GPS Pre-Calculus H
Accelerated CCGPS Pre-Calculus H
CCGPS Advanced Algebra
CCGPS Pre-Calculus
AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC
AP Statistics
Multivariable Calculus (GA Tech)
Social Studies
AP Psychology
AP Government/Politics: United States
AP Government/Politics: Comparative
AP Macroeconomics
AP Microeconomics
AP Human Geography
AP World History
AP United States History
AP European History
Science
AP Computer Science
AP Biology
AP Environmental Science
Human Anatomy/Physiology
Chemistry
AP Chemistry
Physics
AP Physics B
AP Physics C: Mechanics
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
World Language
French II
French III
French IV
French V
AP French/Language
Spanish II
Spanish III
Spanish IV
Spanish V
Spanish VI
AP Spanish/Language
AP Spanish/Literature
Latin II
Latin III
AP Latin: Vergil
HOPE Grant
Zell Miller Grant
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Available to students seeking a
technical certification or diploma
regardless of high school grade
point average or graduation date
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Available to students seeking a
technical certification or diploma
regardless of high school grade point
average or graduation date
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Covers a percentage amount of
the standard tuition charges from
the previous year
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Covers full standard rate of tuition
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Cumulative GPA
of 3.5 each term
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Must earn cumulative GPA of 2.0
at 30 semester hours/60 semester
hours to maintain
Financial Aid Applications
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Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
* Available January 1 of senior year
* Must complete FAFSA each year
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Complete the GSFAPPS (Georgia Student Financial Aid Application System)
• You do not need to reapply each year
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SSN must be on file at Cambridge HS
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Be sure to attend our Financial Aid Night on
Tuesday, November 18th for more information
on this process!
Georgia Career Information System (GCIS)
www.gcic.peachnet.edu
User Name: s (student ID number) OR cambridgehs
Password: fulton1OR gcis7516
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Education Tab
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Financial Aid Sort
Keyword Search
Search by college
College
Comparison
Scre
Chart from
GCIS
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More Scholarship Resources
a
Cambridge Guidance Website – www.cambridgeguidance.com
Scholarship Tab
GA College 411 – www.gacollege411.org
 Financial Aid Planning Tab
Atlanta Scholarships – www.atlantascholarships.com
 Local scholarship resources in Greater Atlanta area
College Navigator -nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
 General college, cost & financial aid information
Fast Web – www.fastweb.com
 Free scholarship search website
College Board – www.collegeboard.com
 General college information & scholarship searches
Scholarships – www.scholarships.com
 Free scholarship search website
Merit Aid – www.meritaid.org
 College cost, financial aid & scholarship
information
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Sources of College Scholarships & Grants
Cambridge High School
Counseling Office
Procedures & Resources
The Application Process
Carefully follow ALL directions
Submit Application (during fall of senior year)
•Online (Preferred)
•Paper
Send Test Scores (if required)
•SAT/ACT/AP scores are not included on the high school
transcript
•Students send scores directly from the testing agency
Cambridge Transcript/Recommendation Request Process
(ALL Colleges except COMMON APPLICATION)
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Step 1: Visit www.parchment.com and create an account.
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Step 2: Associate yourself with Cambridge High School when Parchment asks “Where
would you like your transcript sent from”.
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Step 3: Request your transcript be sent to your college (all except Common Application).
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Step 4: If the school also has a required counselor form/school report/letter of
recommendation, the form MUST be sent to your counselor electronically. Allow 10
School Days for processing.
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Step 5: Complete your Senior Information Sheet (download from
Counseling website or pick up in Counseling Office). Submit to your
counselor via email or in person after first transcript request.
Parchment Registration Tips
Step 1: Register
• Go to www.parchment.com and Sign Up Manually
• You DO NOT Need a Registration Code
• Complete the Registration Form
• Under 18? Register With Your Parent
Step 2: Order/Request
• Click Transcripts
• Select a Destination
• Submit Payment by credit card (if necessary)
• Wait for Confirmation
Step 3: Track
• Log in to Your Parchment Account
• Click Transcripts
• Click Order History
Applying Using the Common Application
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Step 1: Create your account on Commonapp.org and complete the required
forms.
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Step 2: Electronically invite your counselor to be the recommender. Your
counselor will complete the secondary school report and upload your
transcript. Allow 10 School Days for processing.
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Step 3: Complete the Senior Information Sheet (download from
www.cambridgeguidance.com or pick up copy in Counseling Office.) Submit
to your counselor via email or in person after first transcript
request.
** Students applying to schools using Common App
WILL NOT request transcripts to the same schools
using Parchment.
Unofficial Transcripts can be printed from Home Access Center or Student
Access Center.
If you prefer paper transcripts, please visit the Counseling Office. Paper
Transcripts from CHS are $3.00 and include postage and envelope.
Our office will process all Transcript and Letter of Recommendation requests
within 10 school days. Be mindful of this fact when college/scholarship
deadlines occur right before/after holidays.
Events
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College Fairs
GA PROBE (North Point Mall) Tuesday, September 23rd from 6-9pm
Performing & Visual Arts College Fair (Cobb County Center for Excellence
in the Performing Arts) Monday, September 29th from 7-9pm
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College Rep Visits at Cambridge HS
Juniors and Seniors must sign up 24 hrs in advance
Register online at cambridgeguidance.com or in counseling office
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College Campus Visits
Follow preapproved absence procedure with the Attendance Office.
(6 days allowed; request 3 days in advance)
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Keys to the Dawg House
UGA Admissions Session at CHS
Monday, October 27 at 6:00pm
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Scholarship Financial Aid Workshop
Tuesday, November 18th at 6:30pm
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PROBE College Fair at Cambridge HS
Monday, March 23rd at 6:00pm
Scheduled College Visits at CHS
College
Belmont University
Emory University
Date/Time Scheduled
9/4/14 Thur @ 10:20
9/5/14 Fri @12:10
Georgia State University
9/8/14 Mon @ 1:32
Georgia Tech
9/9/14 Tues @ 11:15
University of Alabama
9/9/14 Tues @ 1:00
University of Missouri
9/10/14 Wed @ 11:30
Kennesaw State University
9/11/14 Thurs @ 8:30
Miami University (Ohio)
9/12/14 Fri @ 9:25
Florida State University
9/16/14 Tues @ 1:00
University of Florida
9/17/14 Wed @ 1:35
University of Tennessee
9/18/2014 Wed @ 8:30
Georgia Southern University
9/18/14 Thurs @ 2:00
Mercer University
9/23/14 Tues @ 2:00
University of Kentucky
9/24 Wed @ 11:30
Elon University
9/24 Wed @ 12:30
Auburn University
University of S. Carolina
Ga. Southwestern St. Univ.
University of Dayton
Furman University
9/25/14 Thurs @ 1:00
10/6 Mon @ 12:30
10/7 Tue @ 10:14-12:54
10/17 Fri @ 10:14
10/22/14 Wed @ 10:30
College Admission Statistics – Class of 2014
Gwen Danner
Counselor
Cambridge High School
Stay Connected
Cambridge Counseling
Workshops & Events
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Keys to the Dawg House
(10/27)
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Scholarship/Financial Aid
Night (11/18)
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PROBE College Fair (3/23)
Counseling Website
www.CambridgeGuidance.com
Remind 101
Texting Service
Counseling Staff
• Leigh Popp, Counselor (A-De)
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Bonnie Schechter (Steve Creel), Counselor (Df-I)
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Gwen Danner, Counselor (J-M)
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Amey Rishel, Counselor (N-Su)
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Samiah Garcia, Head Counselor (Sw-Z)
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Chip Flemmer, Graduation Coach
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Stephanie Schuette, School Social Worker
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Nancy Sheridan, Records Coordinator
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Tammy Speer, Guidance Secretary
Q&A
* Please complete the Survey and drop it in box in the Auditorium Lobby *
It is the policy of the Fulton County School System not to discriminate
on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, or
disability in any employment practice, educational program, or any
other program, activity or service.