Guide to Successful Senior Year

Class of 2019-Senior Parent NightAugust 28, 2018

Senior Year =BUSY, BUSY!! Clubs, Sports, Volunteer, Job Senior Project Keeping GPA up-HOPE? SAT/ACT Post-secondary applications

(college, 2 year, military) Scholarship essays,

recommendation letters, financial aid

AP Exams

TIME MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING IS ESSENTIAL!!

Senior Portraits Cady and Cady will be at Hillgrove on

September 4th. Visit www.cadystudios.comfor information

You need to have a formal and a casual portrait taken during your session

Cady and Cady requires a small sitting fee. Please see Mr. Thomas if you have issues

Senior Portraits To be included in the yearbook, you must

be photographed by Cady and Cady Once you receive proofs, select the formal

and casual pose (Return portfolio) If you don’t choose a pose, a computer will

choose the photograph Even if you don’t purchase portraits, please

arrange to be photographed

Senior Portraits Important Dates September 8th - Last day to be

photographed October 1st - Last day to select pose September 4th- Cady and Cady at Hillgrove For Reminders: text 81010 with message:

@hillsnrs19

Yearbooks 2019 Yearbooks are $80 and will increase

to $90 this fall. All yearbooks will be ordered through the

school or www.yearbookordercenter.com . Don’t wait! Order and pay for your book

ASAP “Order Yearbook” tab on HHS web site

Yearbook Ads Baby pictures- $5; Due TBA (Information to

come) Senior Recognition Ads- Collect pictures

you would like to place in the yearbook Price range $90-$385

Deadline October 29th

Capstone: Mrs. Ellwood Guided by Senior Literature Teachers A unique culminating project to showcase and

demonstrate many skills learned throughout the student’s educational career: Research Time management Problem solving Organization Public Speaking

Two key parts: Research Paper (10%) & Presentation (10%)

Presentations: November 15th and April 18th

Senior Project-Judging

If you would like to be a judge on presentation night, email Kelly Colvin at Kelly.Colvin@cobbk12.org

Senior Class Info Student Activity Fee:

$100 for Seniors (paid in the athletic office by cafeteria and on Mondays during all lunches)

Includes sports pass and senior events Does not include Prom (those tickets are

purchased separately in the Spring) Dues must be paid before prom in order to

purchase a ticket to prom.

Senior Class Info-Tucker/Spruill Who’s Who – March 27 in the AM

Recognizes the top 10% of the senior class based on G.P.A, participation in extracurriculars, and student vote

Prom – April 13th, Saturday at Opera 7-11 PM Info about tickets and purchasing will come out in

February. Dues must be paid before prom in order to

purchase a ticket to prom.

Senior Class TEXT Notifications

It’s easy to set up! Send a text message:@tibbetts19 @yourcouTo: 81010 To: 81010Reminders/updates OpportunitiesSr. Activities ScholarshipsGraduation College Events

Senior Seminar: Aug. 20 - 24In your students’ packet: Graduation Status Report Unofficial Transcript College App Procedures (online) Internet Resources (online) High School Resume (turn in to Counseling Office) Senior Year Timeline (online) Scholarship Resources (online) Career Cruising Log-in College Visits handout HOPE GPA (online)

My resume….. Do you participate in extracurricular activities?

Athletics? Do you have leadership experience? Have you volunteered? Do you have a job? How do you positively contribute to Hillgrove? What is unique about you?

THESE ARE QUESTIONS COLLEGES ASK!

College InformationSeniors should be researching NOW! Visit college campuses Attend college information meetings at

HHS Internet-request/research college info Apply to College Day – Nov. 14th

College & Career Center Sessions

Seniors can request additional help with scholarships and applications during Hawk Hour.

Hillgrove Counseling BlogAccess from Hillgrove Home Page

www.cobblearning.net/hillgrovecounselors/

College Information All Scholarships Testing Information Summer Opportunities Grade Level Specific Info Upcoming Events Web Resources

College InformationPrepare a list of colleges planning to apply to: 3-5 One or two “safety” colleges: Colleges to which they will

almost certainly be admitted Some probables: Colleges where their GPA, test scores,

and other features look similar to recent entering classes

A “reach” (or two): Colleges where they meet the criteria for admission, but may not have the same qualifications of most first year students.

Excerpted from College Counseling Sourcebook 4th Edition. Copyright 2007 The College Board. Reproduced with Permission, Next Step Magazine.

College Applications View Hillgrove Counseling Department

College Application Procedures

Read the procedures thoroughly Teacher recommendations Counselor recommendations Essays

Transcript Requests Colleges will require an OFFICIAL transcript. Students request an official copy by completing

their Transcript Request Card with our front clerk in the Counseling Office.

Cost is $2.00 per transcript Transcript will be sent within 24 hours. Exceptions: Common App, Coalition, SEND

EDU, UGA portal – these are sent by counselors for free

Transcript Requests Counseling office cannot include SAT/ACT

scores along with the transcript (not considered official). Students should request their scores be sent directly from the testing agency.

SAT – www.collegeboard.org ACT – www.actstudent.org

Teacher Recommendations Get to know your teachers! The more they

know about you, the more personal the recommendation!

Give teachers 2-3 weeks notice to write letters of recommendation

Send teachers a link to access – they submit the letter electronically

Sometimes sent by mail directly to college

Counselor Recommendations Counselors need as much information as possible

when preparing your recommendation. Students completed a High School Resume during Senior Seminar.

2-3 weeks notice for Counselor forms/letters Some colleges have their own form for counselors

to fill out; check individual college websites to download the necessary forms.

GPA: What’s the difference? Overall Weighted GPA: All grades count. Bonus

QP are included (Honors, AP). Used to determine class rank. Listed on transcript.

Overall Unweighted GPA: All grades count. NO bonus QP are included. Also listed on transcript.

Academic (core) GPA: Only courses from Math, English, Social Studies, Science, and Foreign Language count.

How Colleges view GPA:

Some colleges use a bonus quality point system (for honors and AP) and some do not.

Most colleges RECALCULATE an academic GPA using only the core classes (think: HOPE GPA)

Am I HOPE Eligible?AWARD TYPE Requirement

HOPE Scholarship3.0 Unweighted GPA of ALL core courses attempted (AP/DE classes .5 weighted, no honors weight)

Zell Miller Scholarship

3.7 Unweighted GPA of ALL core courses1200 CR+M on SAT or 26 composite ACT

***All grades, including failing grades, earned in core academic courses in high school will be used when calculating GPA.***

HOPE ScholarshipRegular HOPE 3.0 Core GPA, as calculated by GSFC HOPE Scholarship will pay a

PERCENTAGE of the tuition charges (see gafutures.org for chart, listed by college)

4 rigorous courses required (Chemistry, Physics, Alg II, 2nd FL count)

HOPE Scholarship: Zell Miller Scholar Program 3.7 CORE GPA as calculated by GSFC

AND 1200 COMBINED (CR & M) on SAT or 26

on ACT Zell Miller Scholar Program will pay 100%

student tuition charges

Is your student HOPE Eligible?You can check NOW to see your current HOPE

GPA Progress Report on www.gafutures.org

Log into your gafutures account (or create one) Select “My HOPE GPA”

PRELIMINARY HOPE ELIGIBILITY LETTERS GO OUT IN FEBRUARY OF SENIOR YEAR!

Final HOPE is calculated after graduation (first week of June)

HOPE Scholarship-How to Apply FAFSA -This form is used by ALL colleges to determine eligibility

for need-based financial aid, as well as apply for HOPE scholarship and HOPE grant.Can complete FAFSA after October 1st of senior year (based on the “prior, prior” tax year)

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov

OR

GSFAPPS Application- Electronic HOPE application may be used if your college accepts it.

http://www.gafutures.org

Planning to play college sports? Students planning to participate

in athletics must register with NCAA Clearinghouse

Complete the registration online at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

Request transcript through the Counseling office

Scholarships/Financial AidSources of information:

Scholarship Bulletin on Counseling blog Scholarship books in Career Center Internet Local community, parents’ companies Teacher nomination for local scholarships!!

Paying for College Night

October 4, 2018 at 6:30PM Hosted by Georgia Student Finance

Commission - in Hillgrove theater FAFSA / Student Loans Updated HOPE Scholarship information Other Scholarships or Grants

2018 SAT/ACT Fall Test Dates SAT

October 6, 2018November 3, 2018December 1, 2018

www.collegeboard.org

ACT

September 8, 2018October 27, 2018December 8, 2018

www.actstudent.org

College Night September 11, 2018 7:00-8:30 p.m. Hillgrove Theatre and Cafeteria 14 Colleges represented Information posted on the HHS Counseling

Blog

Hillgrove School CounselorsA-Ci Ms. Peggy HurstCl-Gr Dr. Mirna WynnGu-K Ms. Elizabeth HawesL-Op Ms. Heather BoyleOr-So Ms. Myesha DavisSp-Z Ms. Jacqueline Medley