Houston High SchoolHouston High SchoolClass of 2012Class of 2012

Senior InformationSenior Information

Important DatesImportant Dates

►Oct. 15Oct. 15thth – Senior portraits are due for the – Senior portraits are due for the Yearbook. Yearbook. See Mr. Wagoner if you still need a See Mr. Wagoner if you still need a photographer.photographer.

►Oct. 23Oct. 23rdrd-24-24thth College Fair – Anchorage College Fair – Anchorage►Oct. 27Oct. 27thth - WHS Financial Aid Info. 6:30 - WHS Financial Aid Info. 6:30►Nov. 15Nov. 15thth – ASVAB – ASVAB►Nov. 30Nov. 30thth – HHS College and Career Fair – HHS College and Career Fair►Dec. 15Dec. 15thth – Senior recognition ads due – Senior recognition ads due. (If you . (If you

order before Nov. 1order before Nov. 1stst you can get a free yearbook or get the you can get a free yearbook or get the cost of your yearbook deducted from your ad price!)cost of your yearbook deducted from your ad price!)

►Dec. 14Dec. 14thth-16-16thth - Semester Finals - Semester Finals

► Jan. 1Jan. 1stst – FAFSA 2012 – FAFSA 2012►April 16April 16thth All correspondence should All correspondence should

be completed to walk at graduation.be completed to walk at graduation.►April 14April 14thth – Prom – Prom►May 8May 8thth-10-10thth Senior Finals Senior Finals►May 17May 17thth graduation practice 9am- graduation practice 9am-

1pm1pm►May 17May 17thth Graduation 7:00PM Menard Graduation 7:00PM Menard

Sports ComplexSports Complex

A Few SuggestionsA Few Suggestions

Students:Students:► Be organizedBe organized► Meet deadlinesMeet deadlines► Stay in the race until Stay in the race until

you cross the finish you cross the finish line.line.

► Actions = Actions = ConsequenceConsequence

► Make good Make good decisions!decisions!

Post High School PlanningPost High School Planning

What is Success?

College Degree:*Associates*Bachelor*Master

*Doctorate

Vocational Training:*Certificate*Associates

*Apprenticeship*On the job training

Military:*Air Force

*Army/Marine*Coast Guard

*Navy

AKCISAKCIS

www.akcis.org User Name: houstonhs

Password: 4akcis

Information on careers, colleges, and scholarships. Specific to Alaska as well

as other states. Lots of information!

ACTACT

Test Date:Test Date:► October 22, 2011October 22, 2011

► December 10, 2011December 10, 2011

► February 11, 2012February 11, 2012

► Answer every question. Answer every question. There is no penalty for There is no penalty for guessing on the ACT.guessing on the ACT.

Registration Deadline:Registration Deadline:

► September 16, 2011 September 16, 2011 (Late: Sept. 30, 2011)(Late: Sept. 30, 2011)

► November 4, 2011 November 4, 2011 (Late: Nov. 18, 2011)(Late: Nov. 18, 2011)

► January 13, 2012 January 13, 2012 (Late: Jan 20, 2011)(Late: Jan 20, 2011)

► ACT includes: English, ACT includes: English, Math, Reading, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing.Science, and Writing.

SATSAT

Test Date:Test Date:► November 5, 2011November 5, 2011

► December 3, 2011December 3, 2011

► January 28, 2012January 28, 2012

► March 10, 2012March 10, 2012

► Don’t guess. Points are taken off Don’t guess. Points are taken off for incorrect answers on the SAT.for incorrect answers on the SAT.

Registration Deadline:Registration Deadline:► October 7, 2011 (Late: Oct. October 7, 2011 (Late: Oct.

21, 2011)21, 2011)► November 8, 2011 (Late: Nov. November 8, 2011 (Late: Nov.

20, 2011)20, 2011)► December 30, 2011 (Late: Jan. December 30, 2011 (Late: Jan.

13, 2012)13, 2012)► February 10, 2012 (Late: Feb. February 10, 2012 (Late: Feb.

24, 2012)24, 2012)

► SAT includes: Reading, Math, SAT includes: Reading, Math, and Writing.and Writing.

College College ► ApplicationApplication► Transcripts: Ms. Bell, RegistrarTranscripts: Ms. Bell, Registrar►GPA/RankGPA/Rank► Letters of RecommendationLetters of Recommendation► Exams:Exams:

SAT SAT http://www.collegeboard.com

ACTACT http://www.actstudent.org

HHS code: 020178HHS code: 020178

Organize college, financial aide Organize college, financial aide & scholarship information…& scholarship information…

► Visit the college fair and college campuses if Visit the college fair and college campuses if possible. Also listen for announcements when possible. Also listen for announcements when colleges visit HHS.colleges visit HHS.

► Select 3 to 5 colleges – create a folder for each one Select 3 to 5 colleges – create a folder for each one with deadlines and requirements written on the with deadlines and requirements written on the outside of each folder.outside of each folder.

► Separate folders for copies of transcripts, letters of Separate folders for copies of transcripts, letters of recommendations, resumes and essays (have recommendations, resumes and essays (have several copies of each).several copies of each).

► Make a folder for each scholarship that you apply Make a folder for each scholarship that you apply for. for.

► Complete the financial comparison sheet as you Complete the financial comparison sheet as you have the information provided.have the information provided.

Financial AidFinancial Aid

► Attend the Financial Attend the Financial Aide presentation at Aide presentation at WHS, Oct. 27WHS, Oct. 27thth @ 6:30 @ 6:30

► Attend HHS College & Attend HHS College & Career Fair Nov. 30Career Fair Nov. 30thth..

► Funding comes from Funding comes from many sources – Each many sources – Each college’s financial aid college’s financial aid department will create department will create a proposal for you a proposal for you based on the FAFSA.based on the FAFSA.

FAFSA After Jan 1st

www.fafsa.ed.gov

Personal: EFC

EstimatedFamily

Contribution

FED. Gov’t:Grants

Subsidized &Unsubsidized

LoansWork Study

Scholarship:AcademicAptitudeAthleticUnique

Any and all

ScholarshipsScholarships

► Weekly updates in the counseling departmentWeekly updates in the counseling department► www.Fastweb.com – excellent source of scholarship www.Fastweb.com – excellent source of scholarship

information information ► WUE – Western Undergraduate ExchangeWUE – Western Undergraduate Exchange► Google search for scholarships – watch for scams. Google search for scholarships – watch for scams. ► Each college you apply to will have scholarships, Each college you apply to will have scholarships,

normally linked under financial aid.normally linked under financial aid.► Typically the closer the source of money the more Typically the closer the source of money the more

likely you’ll get the award.likely you’ll get the award.► Do not rule yourself out of applying…Do not rule yourself out of applying…► Meet deadlines and be professional in your Meet deadlines and be professional in your

presentation.presentation.

FAFSA – Free Application for FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student AidFederal Student Aid

► January 1January 1stst – you’ll need an accurate estimate of your – you’ll need an accurate estimate of your income and expected taxesincome and expected taxes

► www.fafsa.ed.gov ► You’ll need to apply for a pin number a few day’s prior to You’ll need to apply for a pin number a few day’s prior to

actually completing the FAFSA. (It’s an electronic actually completing the FAFSA. (It’s an electronic signature)signature)

► You’ll be given an EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) You’ll be given an EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) amount and the EFC will be sent electronically to each amount and the EFC will be sent electronically to each college you designated on the FAFSA application.college you designated on the FAFSA application.

► The college financial aid office will create a Financial The college financial aid office will create a Financial Award Proposal and it will be sent to you for approval.Award Proposal and it will be sent to you for approval.

► Keep a file to refer to when you renew the FAFSA each Keep a file to refer to when you renew the FAFSA each year of college and grad. School.year of college and grad. School.

► UAA Mat-Su offers FAFSA Saturdays to assist in the UAA Mat-Su offers FAFSA Saturdays to assist in the application process. application process.