Junior / Senior College Planning Night

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Junior / Senior College Planning Night

• GCHS Guidance Department
• September 24, 2007

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Agenda

• Counselor Introductions
• GCH Guidance Web Site
• www.FACTS.org (academic evaluations more)
• Graduation Requirements
• Bright Futures Scholarships
• SAT / ACT
• Calculating Grade Point Averages
• Community Service
• College Application Process
• State University Admissions
• Community College Admissions
• Bright Futures Scholarships
• Financial Aid Process
• Local and State/National Scholarships

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GCHS Counselors

• Cindy Giles A E
• Kim Walsh F-H ESOL
• Heather Minsker I N, ACE
• Pam Berryman O-Q Gifted
• Kim Beyer R Z
• Connie Perrin ESE
• Linda Sharp Director

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Graduation RequirementsClasses of 2008 2009

• Reguired Credits 24
• English 4.0
• Math 3.0
• Science 3.0
• Social Science 3.0
• Practical/Performing Art 1.0
• Health .5
• Personal Fitness .5
• Pass the 10th Grade FCAT
• Earn a 2.0 unweighted GPA

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Bright Futures Scholarships

• Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (75 tuition and
  fees)
• Florida Medallion Scholars (100 tuition and fees
  at community colleges and 75 at 4 year state
  colleges)
• Academic Scholars (100 Tuition and fees and
  300.00 per semester for expenses)
• Each scholarship has specific GPA and ACT/SAT
  guidelines

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Registration for Bright Futures

• The application/registration process begins
  December 1st of the senior year
• Counselors will call seniors to a computer lab
  for Bright Futures Registration beginning in
  January
• Registration Instructions are also available on
  the Guidance Website under Scholarships/Bright
  Futures Registration Instructions
• The application must be completed in order to be
  eligible for Bright Futures Scholarships

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Differences Between ACT and SAT

• SAT focuses on college success
• skills writing, critical reading, and
  mathematics
• Time 3 hours and 45 minutes
• ACT is curriculum based in the areas of English,
  mathematics, reading and science (must take
  writing)
• Time 3 hours and 30 minutes
• Students should take one or both in the spring of
  their junior year

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SAT

• Test Date Test Deadline Late Fee
• Oct. 06, 2007 SAT I/II 9/10/07 09/14/07
• Nov. 3, 2007 SAT I/II 10/02/07 10/11/07
• Dec. 1, 2007 SAT I/II 10/30/07 11/08/07
• Jan. 26, 2008 SAT I/II 12/26/07 01/04/08
• Mar. 1, 2008 SAT I 01/29/08 02/07/08
• May 3, 2008 SAT I/II 04/01/08 04/10/08
• June 7, 2008 SAT I/II 05/06/08 05/15/08
• www.collegeboard.com

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ACT

• Test Date Test Deadline Late Fee
• Sept. 15, 2007 ACT 08/10/07 08/11/07
• Oct. 27, 2007 ACT 09/21/07 09/22/07
• Dec. 08, 2007 ACT 11/02/07 11/03/07
• Feb. 09, 2008 ACT 01/04/08 01/05/08
• Apr. 12, 2008 ACT 03/07/08 03/08/08
• Jun. 14, 2008 ACT 05/09/08 05/10/08
• www.act.org
• Please send scores to colleges when you register
  or when you take the tests

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SAT /ACT Prep Resources

• (It is recommended that all students take a prep
  course or independent study work)
• CAMP SAT
• Educational Pursuits
• Florida Gulf Coast University
• Huntington Learning Center
• MathWorks
• Sylvan Learning Center
• Private Tutors
• Collier County Adult Education (Spring)

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ACT/SAT RESOURCES

• Princeton Review Books
• The College Board Real SATs
• Barrons SAT Prep
• Up Your Score-the Underground Guide to the SAT
• testGear for SAT
• www.number2.com
• www.testu.com
• www.ACT.ORG
• www.COLLEGEBOARD.com

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Grades

• Calculation
• State unweighted for graduation
• County weighted for class ranking
• Recalculated academic core
• for universities and Bright Futures

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Weighted Calculations

• Honors/Dual Enrollment
• add .02 points to each semester with grade of
  C or better
• Ex. English 1 Hon. A 4.04
• Advanced Placement
• add .04 points to each semester with grade of
  C or better
• Ex. Biology Honors (AP) with AP Biology
• Grade A 4.16

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Community Service

• Not required for graduation
• Most scholarships many college applications
  will ask for or require it
• Cannot be affiliated with religious or political
  organizations
• Must obtain prior approval from your guidance
  counselor
• Forms available in guidance

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Selecting a College

• Cost-what are my cost limitations?
• Size-Large, medium or small
• Faculty/Student Ratio
• Rural or Urban-city scene or suburban?
• Location-out of state, close to home
• Campus-campus life, dorms, food, activities,
  athletics, Greek life
• Majors

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Selecting A College

• Do Your Research
• Visit the Colleges-Attend Open Houses
• Meet With College Recruiters at GCHS
• Attend College Fairs
• View College Websites
• Read Fiske Guide, US News and World Report, Ruggs
  etc.
• Read Student and Local Newspapers
• Determine if you fit the admissions profile

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What Colleges are Looking For

• The strength of your high school academic program
  (including the senior year)
• Recalculated Core GPA
• Difficulty of classes
• Highest Level of classes (honors, AP)
• Improvement
• Consistency
• Strong Performance in a Challenging Curriculum

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What Colleges Are Looking For

• Standardized Tests
• Extracurricular Activities
• Special Talents/Interests
• Athletics
• Community Service (not a laundry list-depth
  breadth)
• Leadership
• Employment

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Getting Started

• Terminology
• Regular Admission
• Early Admission(full time dual enrollment)
• Early Application
• Early Action (Non Binding) UM
• Early Decision (Binding)
• Flagler (80 of freshman class from ED)
• Rolling Admissions- Colleges accept applications
  make decisions continuously

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SUS Admissions Deadlines

• FSU has 3 admissions deadlines
• 10/10/07, 01/02/2008, 02/13/08
• UF has an admissions deadline of November 1 (all
  other applications are on a space available
  basis)
• FIU has a deadline of Dec. 1 (all other
  applications are on a space available basis)
• UNF has 3 admission deadlines
• 11/01/07, 02/01/08, 04/01/08
• New College has 4 admissions dates
• FAU, FGCU have rolling admissions with a priority
  deadline of February 15.
• The other 4 year state universities are on a
  rolling admissions schedule.
• Please note that generally to be considered for
  scholarships, students must apply at the first
  deadline

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Four Year State Universities

• Minimum Admission Requirements
• Graduation From an Accredited High School
• 18 Core Academic Credits
• SAT or ACT Scores
• Specific Requirements (GPA, Test Scores Essays)
  vary From College to College

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Where to Find State College Information

• Florida A M University(FAMU) Tallahassee
  www.famu.edu
• Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Boca Raton
  www.fau.edu
• Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) Fort Myers
  www.fgcu.edu
• Florida International University (FIU) Miami
  www.fiu.edu
• Florida State University (FSU) Tallahassee
  www.fsu.edu

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State Colleges

• New College of Florida (NCF) Sarasota
  www.ncf.edu
• University of Central Florida (UCF) Orlando
  www.ucf.edu
• University of Florida (UF) Gainesville
  www.ufl.edu
• University of North Florida (UNF) Jacksonville
  www.unf.edu
• University of South Florida (USF) Tampa
  www.usf.edu
• University of West Florida (UWF) Pensacola
  www.uwf.edu

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State University System Matrix

• College MR GPA MR SAT MR ACT
• FGCU 3.0-3.7 960-1110 20-24
• FSU F 3.4-4.1 F-1140-1280 F-25-28
• S 3.3- 3.9 S-1040-1180 S- 22-25
• UF 3.9-4.3 1220-1390 25-31
• USF 3.30-3.97 1060-1220 22-27

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College Application Process

• Select up to 5 colleges and visit their websites
  to obtain their application procedures-most
  colleges require/prefer online applications
• Get Started Now if you are a senior
• Update your resume. Teachers and counselors
  require a resume in order to write a letter of
  recommendation
• Complete a pink slip in guidance to request an
  official transcript for each college application
• Once an official transcript has been sent to a
  college, NO SCHEDULES WILL BE CHANGED

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Community Colleges

• 28 community Colleges in Florida
• 52 Campuses
• Serve over 900,000 students
• 67 enrolled in AA transfer Program
• 33 enrolled in AS certificate program

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Community Colleges

• Why Attend A Community College
• Open access/close to home
• Quality Instruction at low cost
• Low student/instructor ratios
• Small Classes
• Instructors with primary Focus on Teaching
• Flexibility in Scheduling
• Bright Futures Medallion pays 100

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Community Colleges Admissions

• Standard High School Diploma
• GED
• ACT/SAT or College Placement Test
• Special Diploma students may earn non-college
  credit career and technical certificate programs
• Once an AA degree is earned, student may transfer
  to a 4 year college with a minimum of a 2.0 GPA

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Scholarships

• Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance
• www.floridafinancialaid.org
• Florida Financial Aid Applications
• Florida Bright Futures Scholarships
• Talented 20 Program
• State Grant and Scholarship Programs

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Scholarships at GCHS 2007

• Bright Futures Scholarships
• Total 2,204,000
• Community Scholarships
• Total 359,951
• College/University Scholarships
• Total 1,795,138
• Grand Total 4,359,089

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Gulf Coast High School Scholarship List

• www.gulfcoastsharks.com
• Hard Copies in Guidance
• State/National List is now available and has
  weekly updates
• Local Scholarship List will be available in
  February of 2008
• Assembly on 2/11/08 at 900 AM
• Financial Aid Night 01/28/08 at 700PM

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Scholarship National Search Sites

• www.scholarships.com
• www.fastweb.com
• www.collegenet.com
• www.collegeanswer.com
• www.fastaid.com
• www.schoolsoup.com
• See GCHS Web Site for additional search engines
  and information.

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College Recruiters at Gulf Coast High School

• Students sign up in Guidance
• List of recruiters visiting posted in Guidance
  Office, announcements and on-line at
• www.gulfcoastsharks.com
• Upcoming visits include UCF, FSU, Stetson
  University, more!

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NCAA

• In order to play college sports, students must
  register with NCAA
• www.ncaa.org (online registration) the fee is
  50.00
• Athletes must be certified by the NCAA
  Clearinghouse and meet academic and athletic
  requirements
• A copy of the NCAA release must be given to Mrs.
  Sharp in order for transcripts to be released to
  colleges and coaches

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Did you know..

• Check your students grades on-line
• www.gradebook.collier.k12.fl.us
• Username 6 digit student number
• Password Birth Month and Day
• June 7, (0607)
• Contact Teachers
• www.gulfcoastsharks.com
• Click Faculty for email addresses