SURVIVING YOUR SENIOR YEAR

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SURVIVING YOUR SENIOR YEAR
Surviving Your
Senior Year
Class of 2009
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GHS Principal Marsha Grissom Dean of Students
Connie Barnett
GHS

• Guidance Staff
• Mary Langley A D
• Claudia Hurst E K
• Karin Harrington L R
• Nancy Seilheimer S Z

2008- 2009
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Reality Check Time

• Take full advantage of educational opportunities
  this year
• Double Check Graduation Requirements for Minimum,
  Recommended, Distinguished Achievement Plans
• TAKS Requirement

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You must know your graduation requirements!
I studied Shakespeare last semester. Doesnt
that count as a foreign language?
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SENIOR YEAR SUCCESS
Your graduation is dependent upon

• Regular Attendance
• Class Preparation
• Strong Study Skills
• Submitting Completed Assignments
• Meeting Deadlines

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Student Planners

• GHS Counseling Dept. Important Dates
• Senior Countdown Calendar
• The Application Process
• College planning and financial aid websites
• Financial aid step-by-step

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Student Planners

• How to use your planner
• Study and test taking skills
• Notes for each core subject area
• SAT and ACT test dates

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Post High Planning is Key

• You must take responsibility
• Gather information

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Planning is the Key

• Consider choices
• Make a plan
• Watch deadlines
• Compare your offers
• Make a decision

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INTERNET FOR INFORMATION

• www.collegeboard.com
• www.act.org and www.actstudent.org
• www.collegefortexans.com
• www.princetonreview.com
• www.google.com
• School web sites end in .edu
• www.wc.edu
• www.tarleton.edu
• www.tamu.edu
• www.utexas.edu
• www.unt.edu

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Knowing yourself helps you choose a major or
career!
Well, how about fashion merchandising? Thats
kind of like shopping!
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POST HIGH SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES

• Work
• Military
• Education

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Wouldnt it be great if it were this easy!
I know students have plenty of questions
concerning their futures, but consulting a
crystal ball is not considered to be standard
operating procedure.

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The World of Work Job Search

• Your Plan
• Gather information
• Prepare a resume
• MS Word Template
• DISCOVER
• Carefully complete applications
• Work on interview skills
• Make a good first impression
• Dont give up

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DISCOVER

• www.act.org/discover/login
• Inventories
• Interests
• Abilities
• Work Values
• Educational Information
• Career Information
• Job Hunting Information

Get login /password from a Counselor
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Research Opportunitiesin the Military

• military.com
• goarmy.com
• navy.com
• airforce.com
• marines.com
• uscg.com
• armyrotc.com
• nrotc.navy.mil
• afrotc.com

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EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

• TECHNICAL/VOCATIONAL TRAINING
• Community College
• Two Year Colleges
• Texas State Technical College
• Private (for profit) Schools
• TWO YEAR COLLEGES
• FOUR YEAR INSTITUTIONS

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Many Factors help students choose a college!
How about if I go to a two-year college for four
years?
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Finding the Right School

• Gather information school web sites end in .edu
• www.collegefortexans.com
• Visit schools
• Ask questions
• Talk to admissions
• Talk to students
• Talk to professors
• Talk to financial aid
• Look at dorms
• Go to class
• Compare information

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EVALUATING THE CAMPUS

• VISIT THE CAMPUS
• Choosing a college
• www.collegefortexans.com/applying/geninfo.cfm
• Checklist for comparing colleges
• www.collegefortexans.com/applying/checklist.cfm
• APPLY EARLY

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The Application Process

• Select schools
• Gather applications
• ApplyTexas Application www.applytexas.org
• Watch deadlines
• Fill out application carefully neatly
• Check on housing
• Application fee
• Request a transcript
• Letters of recommendation

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Top 10 Rule

• To be eligible for automatic admission, a student
  must
• Graduate in the top 10 percent of his or her
  class
• Enroll in college no more than two years after
  graduating from high school and
• Submit an application to a Texas public
  university for admission before the institution's
  application deadline
• Students are required to provide SAT or ACT
  scores, Students must also take the THEA test or
  alternate test, unless exempted from the TSI test
  requirement.
• Admission to a university does not guarantee
  acceptance into a particular college of study or
  department, however.

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Testing

• ACT www.actstudent.org
• SAT I www.collegeboard.com
• SAT II
• TAKS
• TSI (Texas Success Initiative)
• THEA, COMPASS, ACCUPLACER, ASSET
• ASVAB

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For Athletes Only

• Register with NCAA
• www.ncaa.org
• Worksheets are available in the counseling office

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Financial Aid

• TYPES
• Grants
• Scholarships
• Loans
• Work Study
• APPLYING
• FAFSA
• www.pin.ed.gov
• www.fafsa.ed.gov
• School applications
• Watch deadlines
• Some as early as Dec. 1st

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TEXAS GRANT

• Who is eligible?
• Texas resident
• Complete Recommended or Distinguished diploma
• Submit FAFSA to determine need and apply for
  financial aid
• Has not been convicted of a felony or crime
  involving a controlled substance
• Enroll in Texas public college at least ¾ time
  within 16 mo. of graduation

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Where to Get Information

• Financial Aid Office at the College
• Internet
• Counselor Web Page
• www.granburyisd.org
• Select a school GHS Campus Administration
  Counselors
• DISCOVER
• www.act.org/discover/login
• www.collegefortexans.com
• Books
• College and Career Center in the Counseling
  Office

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SELECTIVE SERVICE
All males must register within 30 days of their
18th birthday. Registration forms are available
at any Post Office or online at www.sss.gov. A
registration card will be sent to your home
address. Keep this card.
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Youre on your way

• By planning well and making good decisions you
  can have a memorable senior year.
• Enjoy the journey.