The Big Question: Whats Next

1
The Big Question Whats Next?

• Looking Ahead to Your Career and College Options

By Mrs. Susan Wales Athens High School
Counselor
2
The Options

• Post-Secondary Education
• 4-year Colleges and Universities
• 2-year Colleges (Community)
• Technical and Professional Schools
• Military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast
  Guard, National Guard)
• Work Force
• Apprenticeships

3
Choosing a CollegeThings to Consider

• Cost
• Size
• Location Rural/Urban, In State/Out of State
• Campus
• Social Activities
• Academics Major? Class Size?
• Religion
• Sports
• Special Programs Honors Programs, Internships,
  Co-ops, Study Abroad
• Pages 14-18 of the College and Career Guide

4
Choosing a College

• Be Realistic
• Narrow Your List
• VISIT the Schools You are Interested in Attending
• Make Sure You Meet the Application Deadlines!!!

5
Suggestions for College Visits

• Research a college before you go check out
  their website thoroughly
• Talk to students on campus
• Eat in one of the dining halls
• Tour the dorms
• Ask about class sizes, activities, safety
• Talk to professors in the discipline you are
  interested in majoring in
• Talk to people in financial aid
• Follow-up with a thank you note
• Pages 29-30 of the College and Career Guide

6
Some Examples of Technical and Professional
Schools

• Culinary School like Culinard in Bham
• Nashville Auto-Diesel College For more
  information, call Peter Muhr at 1-800-228-NADC,
  Ext. 8510.
• WyoTech Official technical school of NHRA
  specializing in automotive, diesel, collision and
  refinishing.
• The Art Institutes For more information, see
  AiAdvantage.com. Request info code HS 319.

7
What Are Colleges Looking For?

• Academic Record Grade Point Average (GPA),
  Difficulty of Classes, Class Rank
• Testing Scores ACT or SAT
• Extracurricular Activities, Awards/Honors,
  Community Service, Employment
• Sometimes Letters of Recommendation, Essays,
  Interviews

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Requirements for some local colleges
9
Calhoun Community College

• Admission Rolling Admission, Must have HS
  diploma
• Entrance Exam ACT is not required, but you must
  take Placement Tests for English and Math if you
  do not have ACT scores on file within the last 3
  years. (Score 20)
• Preview Night Oct. 28
• 600-800

10
University of North Alabama

• Admission For Unconditional Admission, students
  need ACT of 18, 2.0 GPA on Core Classes (4
  English, 2 Math, 2 Science, 3 Social Studies, 2
  Additional)
• Upcoming Preview Day Nov. 1

11
University of Alabama in Huntsville

• Admission Sliding Scale Based on GPA and ACT
  (3.0 GPA 20 ACT, 2.0 GPA 25 ACT). Average
  ACT is 24 and Average GPA is 3.4.
• Must have 4 English, 3 Math, 3 Science, 3 Social
  Studies, 6 Electives.

12
University of Alabama - Birmingham

• Admissions ACT 20
• Minimum 2.25 GPA in Academic Core Classes
  Including 4 English, 3 Science, 3 Social
  Studies, 3 Math (Alg. I and higher), 1 year
  Foreign Language.
• Preview Day Nov. 1

13
University of Alabama

• Admission Evaluated Based on ACT, GPA, and High
  School Course Load. ACT 21 and GPA 3.0 Mentioned
  in Literature.
• Require 4 English, 4 Social Sciences, 3 Math
  (Alg. I, Alg. II and Geometry), 1 Foreign
  Language, 3 Science, 5 Additional Units.

14
Auburn University

• Base Admissions on ACT, GPA and Classes Taken
• Must have 4 English, 3 Social Studies, 3 Math
  (Alg. I, Alg. II, Geometry), 2 Science.
• Average GPA is 3.61
• Average ACT is 25. Must have Writing Component
  of ACT.

15
Birmingham-Southern College

• Admission Based on Essay, ACT or SAT Scores and
  School Recommendation
• Must Have 16 Units Including 4 English, 2
  Foreign Language, History, Math (Alg. I, Alg. II
  and Above), Natural Science, Social Science

16
Alabama AM University

• Admission Must have 18 ACT
• Must have a high school diploma

17
Troy University

• Admission 19 ACT, 2.0 GPA
• Preview Days Oct. 18, Nov. 22, Dec. 6, Jan. 17,
  Feb. 21, Mar. 21, Ap. 18

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Other Universities

• University of Montevallo
• ACT 18, 2.0 GPA
• University of South Alabama
• ACT 19
• University of West Alabama
• ACT 18
• Samford University
• 21 ACT
• Jacksonville State
• 19 ACT

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Student Athletes

• To play at a Division I or Division II school,
  athletes must meet requirements set forth by the
  NCAA.
• 2.0 GPA in 16 core academic courses plus the
  required ACT or SAT score
• Students must register with NCAA Clearinghouse.
  Online form at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.
• Page 23 of College and Career Guide

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ACT Testing Dates

• December 13 Register by Nov. 7
• February 7 Register by Jan. 6
• April 4 Register by Feb. 27
• June 13 Register by May 8
• Page 26 College and Career
  Guide

21
How will you pay for college?
22
Types of Financial Aid

• Grants These are typically need-based and do
  not have to be repaid. Examples Pell, FSEOG,
  SMART.
• Scholarships These are typically based on merit
  and do not have to be repaid. Examples
  Academic, Athletic, Leadership.
• Work-Study Students work for the university on
  a part-time basis.
• Loans These are lower interest loans by the
  federal government PLUS, Stafford, Perkins.
• See pages 38-40 of College and Career Guide.

23
FAFSA Forms

• To receive any type of financial aid, students
  must fill out the Free Application for Federal
  Student Aid (FAFSA). This may be filled out
  online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
• It is based on family income for 2008.
• A pin number must be obtained at www.pin.ed.gov.
• A Student Aid Report showing Expected Family
  Contribution to College will be sent to you.

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Free Help with FAFSA Forms

• Mr. Lewis Jones with the North Alabama Center for
  Educational Excellence is available to help
  parents with FAFSA forms.
• His office is located in the QuadPlex (corner of
  Hobbs St. and Thomas St.)
• His number is 233-1220.
• There is no cost for this service.

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Some examples of scholarships available
26
ROTC Scholarships for Military Minded Students

• UNA Army ROTC 19 ACT, 2.5 GPA. Jan. 10
  Deadline.
• NROTC Scholarships require an ACT score of 21 in
  Math and 22 in English.
• Air Force ROTC Scholarships require a 24
  Composite ACT, GPA 3.0, Class Rank of Top 40.

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Academic Scholarships

• Different schools have different requirements.
  It pays to do your research online and check out
  the websites of the schools you are interested in
  applying to.
• You must meet the deadlines!
• Dont forget to consider some of the smaller
  schools. They offer good scholarships as well.
• Some schools have you fill out separate
  scholarship applications.
• Some departments give out scholarships and you
  must fill out separate applications.

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Academic Scholarships Available

• UAH Deadline is Dec. 1.
• UAH scholarships start with 24 ACT and 3.0 GPA.
  As scores go up, the amount of the scholarships
  go up. There are also a number of endowed
  scholarships and departmental scholarships. See
  the website for more details.

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UNA Academic Scholarships

• Deadline is Feb. 2.
• Scholarships start with 3.0 GPA on core
  curriculum and 25 ACT.
• 25 ACT 2,000/year
• 26-27 ACT 2,800/year
• 28 ACT 4,000/year
• 29-31 ACT Full Tuition
• 32 ACT Full Tuition Room
• 33-36 ACT Full Tuition Room Books

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University of Alabama Academic Scholarships

• Deadline is Dec. 1.
• Must fill out scholarship application in MyBama
  (http//mybama.ua.edu).
• Scholarships start with 27 ACT and 3.5 GPA -
  1,500/year
• 28-29 ACT, 3.5 GPA - 3,500/year
• 30-36 ACT, 3.5 GPA Full Tuition

31
Auburn University Academic Scholarships

• Spirit of Auburn Scholarships
• Deadline is Dec. 1.
• 28-29 ACT and 3.25 or higher GPA 1,500/year
• 30-32 ACT and 3.25-3.49 GPA 1,500/year
• 30-32 ACT and 3.5 GPA Full Tuition
• 33-36 ACT and 3.25-3.49 GPA 1,500/year
• 33-36 ACT and 3.5-3.74 GPA Full Tuition
• 33-36 ACT and 3.75 GPA Tuition Plus

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Leadership Scholarships

• Many of the smaller schools offer good leadership
  scholarships with a little bit lower ACT score
  required. For example
• UNA Minimum 18 ACT, Core Curriculum GPA 2.75,
  Resume required. From 1,200/year to full
  tuition.
• Troy 22 ACT, 3.0 GPA. Girls State
  Representative Scholarship.
• University of West Alabama Gives scholarships
  to those who held leadership positions in high
  school such as SCA President, Sr. Class
  President, Yearbook Editor, etc.
  2,500-3,500/year.

33
Community College Scholarships

• Many community colleges offer a variety of
  scholarships.
• Deadline for Calhoun is March 1.
• Scholarship application at www.calhoun.edu.
• Calhoun offers Foundation Scholarships, Athletic
  Scholarships, Fine Arts Scholarships, Many
  Leadership Scholarships for Those Active in
  Calhouns Student Government Association, College
  Literary Magazine, Warhawks, etc.

34
Local Scholarships

• Local scholarship information is typically sent
  out in the spring.
• Watch the newsletter, school bulletin boards and
  website for details of local scholarships being
  offered.

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More Information

• Come and visit the College and Career Room
  located in the back of the Guidance Department.
  Mrs. Austin and I will be glad to help you look
  up materials. We have handouts from different
  colleges.
• I will be glad to work with you on learning to
  read a college catalog so you can investigate
  different programs of study.

36
More Information

• Make sure you read the newsletters from the
  Guidance Department each month. Every bit of
  information that we receive regarding
  scholarships, visitation days and other college
  related information is posted in those
  newsletters.
• The newsletters are also available on the school
  website www.athenshighschool.org.

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College and Career Guides

• These are full of great information but they
  wont be of use to you unless you read them!
• There are forms in the back for College
  Visitation Days and Transcript Requests.
• There are also sample resumes. For some
  applications, you need to include a resume. To
  help in writing letters of recommendation,
  teachers and counselors need a copy of your
  resume.

38
STI HomePlus

• This is a great way of keeping up with your
  grades. Students were given pin numbers at the
  beginning of the year.

39
Good Websites

• www.getin2college.com Their handbook has a lot
  of useful tips.
• www.mapping-your-future.org This has a lot of
  helpful information.
• College Searches www.petersons.com,
  www.collegeboard.com, www.princetonreview.com,
  http//education.yahoo.com/college/essentials/

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Final Thoughts

• If you have applied and been accepted to more
  than 1 college, let the ones that you will not be
  attending know before May 1. That will open a
  spot for another student.
• Let Ms. Malone know when you need transcripts
  sent. Forms are available in the guidance
  office. First 4 are free, after that, they are
  1 each. (p. 55)
• Let Ms. Russell know when you need to take a
  college visitation day. Seniors are allowed 2
  but you must have 5 days prior approval. Forms
  are available from Ms. Griggs. (p.56)

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The Last Word

• I am enjoying working with you at Athens High
  School. Please feel free to drop by and see me.
  I have an open door policy. The only time my
  door is closed is if I am in a meeting with
  someone. You are my priority. I will be glad to
  help you prepare for your future in any way I
  can.
• Mrs. Wales