Class of 2015Rigor,

Relevance,Relationships

Welcome Seniors! Please find your Advisory’s assigned seats, then turn

off and put away your cell phone and/or other electronics. Thank you!

-Your Guidance Team

Overview

• Resources• Graduation: Credit & Subject

Requirements• Graduation: Testing Requirements• ECAPs• Student Athletes• Standardized Testing• Deadlines• Official Transcript Requests• Financial Aid: Scholarships/FAFSA• Choices

Guidance Counselors

• Mr. Britton – last name A-C• Mrs. Hink – last name D-H• Ms. Russo – last name I-N• Mrs. Padilla – last name O-R and EAP• Mrs. Pond – last name S-Z

College & Career Center• Mr. Cravens, Career Specialist• Before school, after school, lunches, by

appointment• Discuss post high school plans• College • Military• Employment• Trade schools• Other related information (scholarships,

financial aid, resume’ writing, field trips, visits, AzCIS, WestMEC, interviews, etc)

Graduation RequirementsThe 28 credit requirement is broken down as follows:

4 credits of English

4 credits of Math (1 Upper Level and all 1B or higher)

3 credits of Science (One must be Biology)

3 credits of Social Science

1 credit of Personal Development

1 credit of International Language (2 of same language if University-bound)

2 credits of Fine Arts/CTE

10 credits of Electives

* Any core courses you take above the required number count as elective credits

• Please note that this portion of your transcript is not always accurate. Please be sure you check with your counselor.

• Meets or Exceeds on AIMS: Writing, Reading and Math

AIMS

• Fall 2014 Scores• Electronic results to counselors by Dec 16• Student Score Reports (paper) arrive during

Winter Break – students will receive after Winter Break

• ACT/SAT • 16 on ACT or 420 on SAT

• Spring testing:• Writing – Monday, February 23rd • Reading – Tuesday, February 24th • Math – Wednesday, February 25th • NO make-up testing – you MUST be here

ECAP(Education and Career Action Plan)

• “Reflects a plan of coursework, career aspirations, and extended learning opportunities in order to develop the student’s individual academic and career goals.”• www.azcis.intocareers.org

• Needs to be updated for early graduates, TA’s, and early releases

• Inventories (Career Clusters, Interest, etc.)• List of careers may want to consider

• Resumes, Scholarships, Application Tracker, Compare Colleges, & much more

• Extended Learning Opportunities• Field Trips & College/Military Visits• Application Day• College & Financial Aid Night• Presentations and more…

Athletics

• NCAA Division I, II, and III and NAIA require you to be “cleared”• For NCAA, go to www.eligibilitycenter.org • For NAIA, go to www.playnaia.org• Review the websites for more information,

including core course/credit requirements, testing requirements, rules on non-traditional courses (A+, Transition, online, etc.)• Fee waivers available for those who qualify

for free/reduced lunch. See your counselor.

Standardized Testing

• ACT/SAT/Subject Tests – 4 yr. college/university • Should test by Dec if applying for Fall 2015• After Dec, pay attention to your college’s

admission deadline • If you receive free/reduced lunch, you may be

eligible for a fee waiver• www.actstudent.org• www.sat.collegeboard.org

• ACCUPLACER - Community college, placement test• Spring field trip to EMCC includes the taking of

the placement test

Official Transcript

• Parchment• Register at www.parchment.com/register • Request your transcript

• Includes, required payment of $3.50/transcript

• Track your transcript• Transcript Request Form

• Available in the Guidance and Registrar’s offices.• Admission’s Office mailing address must be

provided for out-of-state schools• Mrs. Campillo, Registrar, is in the Career

Center area (2nd office on the left)

Deadlines

• Check each college for their application deadline• ASU – 2/2015• U of A – 5/2015 • NAU – 7/2015

• Confirm college received all required materials BEFORE the application deadline• Remember, offers of admission are conditional.

You will need to submit a final, official transcript that shows completion of your requirements. Your entire senior year matters!

Financial Aid

• Provided by:• Federal & State Government• College-based Aid• Private Sources

• Types of:• Gift Aid

• Grants• Scholarships

• Optional aid• College work programs• Loans

Scholarships

• Class of 2014 earned just over $6.7 million in scholarships• Resources:

• www.aguafria.org/dehsguidance (College & Career:

Scholarships; also, College & Career: Links)• College/university• Scholarship Searches (AzCIS, College Board, &

others)• Library, Chamber of Commerce, Clubs, Religious

Organizations, Employer, Newspaper• Suggestions:

• Apply early & often• Complete the application• Neatness, spelling, and grammar count

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

• www.fafsa.ed.gov• Federal grants, work-study, and loans• Eligibility

• U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (with alien registration number)

• Have a valid Social Security Number• Have a High School Diploma or GED• Enrolled or plan to be enrolled in college and be

working toward an eligible program of study• Be registered with the Selective Service

• The law requires that you sign up for Selective Service within thirty (30) days of your eighteenth (18) birthday

• You can register at any Post Office or at www.sss.gov

FAFSA Application Process• Complete the FAFSA on (or soon after) January

1st• You & your parent will need a PIN – you can get it now!• Based on previous tax year…don’t wait, estimate• IRS Data Retrieval Tool – use to retrieve tax information• Schools & state may use for non-federal aid • Review your Student Aid Report (SAR)• Make any corrections/changes• Schools listed on FAFSA will receive SAR data electronically

• Contact the schools you might attend• Confirm they have information needed to determine your

financial aid offer• Compare offers from schools, if applicable• Accept offer

FAFSA Resources

• College Goal Sunday• www.collegegoalsunday.com/cgs/

• College Financial Aid Office• Department of Education – 800-433-3243 • www.studentaid.gov • www.aguafria.org/dehsguidance (College &

Career: Financial Aid)• FAFSA on the Web Worksheet• What is a Federal Student Aid PIN and Why do

I Need One? Worksheet• The How-To Guide for High School Students:

FAF$A

We “R” Desert Edge

High school is a small amount of time in your life, but potentially a very influential part of your life. Keep in mind, the choices you make may have different consequences depending on your age.

Be smart. Do not make a choice that may lead to legal actions and/or college, military, scholarship, employment ramifications.

Be responsible. Be positive. Be proud.

In summary…

• Schedule an appointment with your counselor to review your graduation status and post high school plans…talk with Mr. Cravens, too!• Log in to AzCIS…let it help you with your post

high school planning• Register with the NCAA and/or NAIA, if

applicable• Request official transcripts, as needed• Get your FAFSA PIN and get ready to apply for

financial aid• Look for scholarships• Meet or beat deadlines• Have fun, be responsible