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Name: __________________________

T-2-4

SUCCESS

PLANNER

Dear SBISD Student,

In Spring Branch ISD we strive to prepare every child with the information and tools necessary to encourage their T-2-4 success beyond high school graduation. We are in constant pursuit of new tools and resources to help support you through the journey of discovering your future success.

We are excited to provide each of you your very own T-2-4 Success Planner. This workbook has been designed with you, the student, in mind. The pages will surely jump out at you. In this workbook we encourage you to work through the many unique activities from sharpening your understanding of yourself and your talents, all the way to exploring the world of possibilities that you can indeed pursue now and after high school.

We are excited about the conversations this workbook has the potential to insight between you and your family, your peers, and all the influential adults in your life.

Many thanks to our high school Guidance Counselors, Academic Advisors, and To and Through Department leadership for their work and contributions to this tool, including but not limited to: Lance Stallworth Hortencia Vega Erika Delgado Scott Fara Ranjbaran LaWanda Jenkins Cameron Raska Emilio Gonzalez Greg Fore Karren Sims

Beverly Martin Gene Rutland Maureen Gonzalez Shanbriel Woolridge Jacqueline Garcia Noemi Brito

Chelsea Champion Nadine Smith Sasha Argudin Devan Bell Lauren Ridder

Patti Pace Associate Superintendent

Inspiring minds. Shaping lives.

Independent School District

SpringBranch

Spring Branch Independent School District Division of Teaching & Learning

955 Campbell Road, Houston, Texas 77024

Phone (713) 251-2320 • Fax (713) 251-2320

[email protected]

Patti Pace, Associate Superintendent

Literacy…Find the Zone!

SPRING BRANCH ISD 3

Table of Contents

I. Self-Exploration & Career Clusters

II. T-2-4 Possibilities & My T-2-4 Profile

a. T-2-4 Career Options

b. T-2-4 Requirements

c. More on the “4” & College Match Tools

d. What’s Special about Texas?

e. College & University Comparison Chart

f. My T-2-4 Profile

i. Profile Analysis

ii. Am I on Track?

iii. Profile Reflections

iv. Beyond the Numbers

III. Choosing my Future

a. Define My Dreams

b. Declare My Goals

c. Develop My Support Team

IV. Taking Action: My Checklists & Timelines

a. Design My Plan

b. Important Milestones

c. Helpful Videos & Websites

V. My Important T-2-4 Information

a. Websites, Portals, & Log-ins

b. My T-2-4 Target Interests & Requirements

VI. Financial Aid & Beyond

VII. Appendices

a. Checklist & Timeline Worksheet

b. Essay Prompts

c. Essay Writing Tool

d. Naviance College Application Process

e. Campus Information (if applicable)

SPRING BRANCH ISD 4

“Find out what you like doing best and get someone to pay you for

doing it.” –Katherine Whitehorn

1) SELF EXPLORATION & CAREER CLUSTERS

Remember when you first started school and your teacher asked you “What do you want to be when you

grow up?” Well, what was your answer? What did you dream of becoming in the future? Did you picture

any of these careers?

You may not believe it, but you are closer to becoming what you’ve always wanted to be! This year will be

filled with many opportunities to continue on the journey to your future. Let’s start here.

Think about yourself and circle all the skills and abilities below that describe you best. Remember, you can

ask others for help. Many times others know you better than you know yourself.

Active Listener Like following

directions Like helping others

Information gatherer

Analytical Thinker

Flexible Natural Leader Problem Solver Easy to make

friends Willing to learn

Planner Creative Like working in

teams Like making

decisions Organizer

Develops Strategies Like using

technology Prefer to focus on

the details Loyal Motivator

Enjoy debating Like to draw or

paint Like to teach others

Like managing money

Like working with numbers

Goal setter Enjoy nature Like working with

animals Enjoys the abstract

and not details Enjoy Health &

Fitness

Enjoy working alone

Good writer Hard worker Observer more

than a talker Enjoy raising hand

in class

What extracurricular activities and classes do I enjoy most? Why?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

What motivates me? What keeps my attention?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

SPRING BRANCH ISD 5

SELF EXPLORATION & CAREER CLUSTERS

Did you know that most jobs fall into 1 of 16 Career Clusters?

Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Hospitality & Tourism

Architecture & Construction Human Services

Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communications Information Technology

Business Management & Administration Law, Public Safely, Corrections & Security

Education & Training Manufacturing

Finance Marketing

Government & Public Administration Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

Health Science Transportation, Distribution, & Logistics

If those career categories don’t look familiar, take a look at these sample jobs from each Cluster:

Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Agricultural and Food Science Technician, Animal

Scientist, Floral Designers, Zoologists

Hospitality & Tourism Chefs & Head Cooks, Tour Guides & Escorts, Lodging

Managers, Farm & Home Management Advisors

Architecture & Construction Architectural & Civil Drafters, Carpenters, Derrick

Operators, Oil & Gas, Interior Designers

Human Services Child Care, Fashion Designers, Health Care Social

Workers, Political Scientists, Social Worker

Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communications Actors, Desktop Publishers, Historians

Proofreaders & Copy Markers

Information Technology Computer & Information Systems Managers, Computer Programmers, Graphic Designers

Business Management & Administration Accountants, Chief Executives, Court Clerks

Training & Development Managers

Law, Public Safely, Corrections & Security Correctional Officers, Lawyers, Police Detectives, Paralegals & Legal Assistants, Forest Firefighters

Education & Training Athletic Coaches & Scouts, Interpreters &

Translators, Teachers, Judges

Manufacturing Automotive Technician, Electrical Engineer Tech,

Engine Assemblers, Welders & Cutters, Railcar Repair

Finance Budget Analysts, Financial Managers, Sales Agents,

Personal Financial Advisors

Marketing Advertising Manager, Models, Real Estate Broker,

Telemarketers

Government & Public Administration

Accountants & Auditors, Emergency Management Directors, Legislators, Urban & Regional Planners

Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Aerospace Engineers, Chemists, Geoscientists,

Microbiologists, Statisticians

Health Science Ambulance Drivers, Dietitians & Nutritionists,

Doctors, Massage Therapists

Transportation, Distribution, & Logistics Air Traffic Controllers, Commercial Pilots & Flight

Attendants, Shipping & Receiving

Have a better idea now of which Cluster your future career of interest falls under? If not, log into your

Naviance account to discover more about each cluster. Keep in mind to browse through the related skills

needed for each job and begin matching those skills with your own abilities. Remember, the above list is

just a sample. You can explore hundreds of related careers for each cluster through your Naviance Family

Connection account. Follow these easy steps to navigate Career Clusters in Naviance.

You can access the Naviance log-in website through your campus main web page.

SPRING BRANCH ISD 6

Click on the “Career” tab and follow any link under “explore careers” or “what are my interests.”

You can look for a specific career with the search and browse tools. You can even save your Career interests

and preferences under “My Careers.”

SPRING BRANCH ISD 7

After you explore the Career Clusters and find a potential career of interest, be sure to navigate the

“Credentials” tab. This will give you a better idea of whether or not your goals for education after high

school are on target.

Not sure what future career is your best fit? Don’t worry many students aren’t sure and need to explore

their interests. Your Naviance account has a few tools to help. On the same “Careers” tab, click on Do

What You Are, Cluster Finder or Cluster Interest Profiler to identify a top career cluster based on your

interests.

Keep in mind that most people change careers anywhere between 5-7 times in their lifetime. At this stage,

you are looking for somewhere to start, not determining your entire life. But remember, graduation is

coming soon, so you do have to start somewhere. Explore, explore, explore!

If you tried the “Do What You Are” or “Cluster Interest Profiler” to…

learn more about your interests, what did you discover?

learn more about required education for your career of interest, what did you discover?

My interest results were right on target with my career interests and job aspirations

My higher education goals are right on target with my career interests and job aspirations

My interest results showed me additional fields that might be a good fit for me

My higher education goals are higher than the minimum education required for my career interests and job aspirations

My interest results were very different from my initial career interests and job aspirations; I need to explore this information further

My higher education goals are lower than the minimum education required for my career interests and job aspirations

MORE EXPLORATION TOOLS

Here’s another way to research your future career interests. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has a nifty tool

like Naviance. You can look up the careers you think you’re interested in and navigate information like

median pay, typical education needed, and even discover the future job outlook for that type of position.

Take a look and let’s see what you think.

Visit www.bls.gov/k12/, click on Student Resources, and then click on the Career Exploration box. Now click

on any Career/Job of interest from the list to learn more.

http://www.bls.gov/k12/

SPRING BRANCH ISD 8

Pick one of the jobs you’re interested in and complete the questions below. Let’s explore how your initial

thoughts about this career match with what you learned from the career exploration tools.

MY ANTICIPATED FUTURE CAREER/JOB: ____________________________

JOB DUTIES- What do you think about the duties required for this job?

DUTIES I LIKE… DUTIES I DISLIKE… DUTIES THAT SURPRISED ME…

WORK ENVIRONMENT- What do you think about the work environment(s) for this job?

ENVIRONMENT ELEMENTS I

LIKE…

ENVIRONMENT ELEMENTS I

DISLIKE…

ENVIRONMENT ELEMENTS THAT

SURPRISED ME…

QUALITIES AND SKILLS- How do your current abilities stack up with what’s required?

TOP QUALITIES & SKILLS REQUIRED Needs

Improvement In

Development Well

Developed

EDUCATION- What do you think about the education required for this job?

How much education is required for this job? __________________________________________________

WHAT I EXPECTED… NOT WHAT I EXPECTED…

PAY & JOB OUTLOOK- What do you think of potential earnings and future outlook?

What is the median pay per year? $ __________________________

What is the projected outlook? ___________________%

What is the job projection? (# of jobs)

______________________

AS EXPTECTED EXPECTED MORE EXPECTED LESS

SPRING BRANCH ISD 9

Take into consideration all the information you’ve just learned. In summary, what do you think about this

career/job interest?

What I learned is what I expected. I think this is the right

career/job field for me!

Some of what I learned was a surprise and I may have to adjust

some of my expectations, but I still think I am on the right track

with this career/job field or something similar.

What I learned is very different from what I expected. I think I

need to consider a different career/job field.

Here are some questions to help you explore what action you may need to take next.

CURRENT EDUCATION FUTURE EDUCATION EXPECTATIONS

-What classes might I need to take to prepare for my future career? -Do the classes I do well in align

with my future career of interest?

-What level of higher education should I aim to achieve?

-Am I willing to commit time to complete this level of education?

-Do I need to adjust my salary or educational expectations?

-Do I need to be willing to work harder than I originally expected?

Did you find the Naviance and/or Bureau of Labor tools helpful? Still not sure about a career path?

Try the activity below to learn more about yourself and what career(s) might be your best fit:

Interview adults and peers in your life to learn more about how others see you. Talk to as many people

as you can and try asking these questions:

o What do you think I’m good at?

o What have you seen me get excited about?

o What are some of my natural abilities that you’ve observed?

o What types of careers do you think I’d thrive in?

o What are my strengths?

o What are my weaknesses?

Interview adults in your life about their careers. Talk to your parents, family members, family friends,

your friend’s parents, adults at school, and professionals in the community. Talk to as many people as

you can and try asking these questions:

o What do you do on a daily basis?

o What do you like about job?

o What is challenging about your job?

o How much higher education did you have to pursue to secure and keep your job?

o What skills did you bring to the job?

o What skills did you have to develop on the job?

o What are your professional aspirations and how is this job helping you achieve those goals?

NOTES & QUESTIONS:

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

SPRING BRANCH ISD 10

“High achievement always takes place in the framework of high

expectation.” –Charles Kettering

2) T-2-4 POSSIBILITIES & MY T-2-4 PROFILE

Now that you’ve explored your interests and possible careers, let’s think about the different types of higher

education you can pursue. Not sure exactly what your T-2-4 options are? Let’s have a look at the

possibilities.

Remember, in today’s world, nearly every job requires some type of training and/or higher education.

“T” (Trade Training or Technical Certificate) Credentials in the “T” category are commonly offered at community colleges. Students electing this path of higher education are prepared for the workforce with training in a specific trade career and/or certification in a technical field of study. Credentials in this category typically require anywhere from 14 weeks to 18 months of study and/or hands-on training. With a few exceptions, credits earned in this category are not typically transferable to a 4-year college or university. Examples of training/certificate programs include:

Heating, Ventilating, & A/C Technician

Computer Aided Drafting

Basic Firefighting Certified Nurse Aide

Cyber Security Desktop Support &

Networking Specialist EKG Technician Electrician Technician

Machining Paralegal Truck Driving Welding

Accounting Payroll Specialist

Basic Air Conditioning & Refrigeration

Light Automotive Maintenance Tech

General Drafting

Electrical Helper Machining Technology Medical Coding PC Support

Plumbing Helper Plumbing Technology Infant & Toddler

Teacher Basic Welding Helper

*You may already be taking classes at the Guthrie Center or any of the colleges listed below that are preparing you for some type(s) of certification.


“2” (2-Year Associate Degree) Degrees in the “2” category are commonly offered at community colleges. Students electing this path of higher education are prepared for careers in a wide range of industry fields or use this as a starting point for transfer to a 4-year college or university. Credentials in this category typically require at least 2 years of study. Degree seekers must meet certain academic standards to earn credit for their coursework toward degree completion and must verify the transferability of coursework if planning for a 4-year degree. Examples of 2-year degree programs include:

Accounting Automotive Technician Biology Business

Computer Programming Cosmetology Criminal Justice Culinary Arts

Dental Hygiene Digital Gaming Engineering Licensed Vocational

Nurse

Physical Therapist Assistant

Respiratory Therapist Surgical Technology Teacher Education

*You may already be taking classes at the Guthrie Center or any of the colleges listed above that are preparing you for some type(s) of certification.

“4” (4-Year Bachelor’s Degree) Degrees in the “4” category are commonly offered at public and private 4-year colleges and universities. Students electing this path of higher education are prepared for careers in a wide range of fields as well as for continuing study for Master’s and Doctoral degrees. Credentials in this category typically require at least 4 years of study. Prospective students seeking a 4-year degree must meet certain admission criteria before enrolling in a college or university. Admission standards vary greatly among institutions across the nation. Most colleges and universities offer hundreds of degrees with the opportunity to choose from and combine different majors and minors of study. Examples of 4-year degree programs include:

Marketing Dance Languages Genetics

International Studies Kinesiology Business Psychology

Sports Management Leadership Studies Zoology Mathematics

Music Construction Science Engineering Art


“M” (Military Training)

Included in the T-2-4 options are various pathways to military training. Examples of military options include:

Direct Enlistment Military Academies ROTC Programs Reserves

Students may enlist in the military at 17 with parental consent or at

18 years of age without consent. Branches of the military include

Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine

Corps. Many branches require at least a GED for enlistment. The

average service time is 4 years and most branches

encourage enlisted members to continue their education while

enlisted and even after being discharged from

service.

The most competitive and rigorous route to the

military. Students earn a 4-year degree upon

completion. Applicants must be recommended to

attend and must follow strict timelines to apply.

Federal Service Academies require

students to enter military service upon graduating

from an Academy. (US Air Force Academy,

US Coast Guard Academy, US Merchant

Marine Academy, US Military Academy- West

Point, US Naval Academy)

ROTC programs provide students with tuition scholarships for the

pursuit of a 2-year or 4-year degree while also

taking ROTC courses. Students must be eligible

for admission to the college/university in

addition to being admitted to the ROTC

program. Upon graduation from the

college/university students will be required

to enter active duty service for a minimum

number of years as designated by the military

branch.

Reserve programs offer part-time employment, training, and financial

and educational benefits. A majority of

those serving in the Reserves have other full-

time careers or are continuing their

education.

LET’S PUT TOGETHER WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED SO FAR…

1. What I’m good at...what

I’m interested in…

2. The type of career or job

that fits what I’m good at

and interested in…

3. The Career Clusters that

my career/job of interest

falls under…

4. The T-2-4 option(s) that

offer education in these

Career Clusters…

Now, in the next section

we’re going to explore

more about which options

fit best with your

academic profile. Keep

working through the next

pages!


T-2-4 POSSIBILITIES & MY T-2-4 PROFILE

There are a wide range of requirements associated with every T-2-4 option. It is important to know what those are and how your work in high school has prepared you to meet those requirements. Let’s take a look at general requirements:

T (Trade/Training)

High school diploma or GED required

No minimum TSI scores required to enroll

2-Year (Associate)


Test scores at or above TSI “College Ready” levels or exemption from TSI through SAT/ACT scores required to enroll in credit bearing courses **Not meeting minimum

scores requires students to take remedial courses for

which students have to pay but receive no credit toward

their degree plan.**

4-Year (Bachelor’s)


Test at or above TSI “College Ready” levels The following can be considered in varying

levels at 4-year colleges/universities:

Academic rigor, GPA & class rank

SAT/ACT Scores Extracurricular

activities & work/life experiences

Recommendations

Military

High school diploma or GED required The following can be considered in varying levels depending on

preferred military path: Academic

performance Extracurricular

activities Work & life

experiences Recommendations

MORE ON THE “4” While the “T” and “2” programs do not have minimum entrance requirements and are what we call “Open Admission” the “4” options do publicize grade and test score ranges that applicants should aim to meet. Keep in mind these are general ranges for these types of colleges/universities and you should check each institution’s website for more information. The varying degrees of “competitive” refer to the academic profiles of students typically securing admission to schools in each category. **GPAs are on a 4.0 scale**

Most to Extremely Competitive

Top 1-5% of graduating class

GPA= 4.1-4.2+ (on 4.0) SAT=1300-1400+ ACT=30-32+ SAT Subject Test=650-

700+ AP Test=3-4+

Highly to Very Competitive

Top 6-10% of graduating class

GPA= 3.8-4.09+ (on 4.0) SAT=1100-1200+ ACT=23-27+ SAT Subject Test=530-

600+ AP Test=3+

Competitive GPA= 3.7-3.79+ (on 4.0) SAT=<1100 ACT=<23 SAT Subject Test=<530 AP Test= 2-3+

Less Competitive GPA range= <3.5 (on 4.0) SAT=<1000 ACT=<20

Not Competitive GPA= <3.0 (on 4.0) SAT= <900 ACT= <19

Some colleges and universities in the Most Competitive to Competitive categories are test optional and/or flexible, meaning more emphasis is placed on other factors besides test scores.

Mostly Competitive to Competitive schools place a stronger emphasis on: Did you take advantage of the most challenging classes offered at your school? What do your teachers say about you as a student? Were you successful over time in high school or does your transcript show fluctuations

in your performance? If there are fluctuations, is there a particular reason why? Do you show academic promise (the ability to succeed in college level courses)? Did you exhibit leadership in your community and extracurricular involvement? Have you experienced some life hardship or disadvantage?


RESEARCHING 2 & 4 OPTIONS

By this point, you likely have a better idea of whether or not you’re interested in the “2” or “4” options. If so, you’ll want to spend some time discovering which schools have what you’re looking for. Use the Super Match College Search feature in your Naviance Family Connection Account. Click on the “colleges” tab, then click on the Super Match College Search link.

Here, you can input your academic profile and the search feature will give you a list of schools you may want to consider based on the information you provided.

Input your preferences and

information in as many of the

categories from the orange

drop down list to the left of the

screen. Start broad to begin.

For example, if you want to

stay in Texas, just select Texas

and enter your test scores and

major. Then based on the

results you can continue to

narrow your search from there.

Don’t pass up school names you

don’t recognize. You never

know, that school might be

your best fit school

academically & financially!


You can also explore bigfuture.collegeboard.org for a similar search and match experience. Log in to this

site to save your search and access your previous testing information.

You can start anywhere on this

page to begin your search.

Type in a specific school you

want to learn more about, or

start with the statements on

the left hand side.

You can also click on Search to

navigate directly to the College

Search page.


Similar to the Naviance Super Match feature, you can enter your preferences and your academic profile here and navigate the results to find your best fit.

After your research, what schools made your list? Why?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NOTES & QUESTIONS:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Log in to the left to save

your info & search!


WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT TEXAS?

Texas offers students who graduate in the top 10% of their high school class the opportunity to be offered admission on an “automatic” basis to any Texas public college or university. Here are examples of additional Automatic and Assured Admission programs around the state:

Assured Admission for… Website…

University of Texas, Austin Top 7% only www.utexas.edu

University of Houston-Downtown Top 25% www.uhd.edu

Sam Houston State University Top 25% www.shsu.edu

University of Texas, San Antonio Top 25% www.utsa.edu

University of Texas, Arlington Top 25% www.uta.edu

*Remember, if you graduate in the top 10% you can be automatically admitted to any Texas public 4-year institution*

Based on your class rank would you qualify for any Automatic or Assured Admission programs? If

so, in which ones are you most interested?

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY COMPARISON CHART

Use this chart to help you rate each school of interest based on what is important to you. On a scale of 1-5 rate each factor; 1=Not so great, 5=Amazing. You decide what rating each category receives. It’s your preference. Write the name of each school at the top of each column.

SAMPLE College 1 Name College 2 Name College 3 Name College 4 Name

CHARACTERISTIC Univ. of Utown

School Size 4

Location 4

Distance from Home 2

Academic Programs 4

Student Life 4

Diversity of Students 3

Housing Options 2

Athletics 2

Cost 3

Financial Aid Offered 5

Facilities 3

Campus Safety 4

Overall Impression 3.5

Total Rating 43.5

http://www.uhd.edu/

http://www.shsu.edu/

http://www.utsa.edu/

http://www.uta.edu/


MY T-2-4 PROFILE ANALYSIS

Now that you’ve had a look at all the possibilities, it’s time to take a look at your T-2-4 Profile and begin finalizing your game plan for your “best fit” T-2-4 options. Remember, success looks different for everyone depending on a variety of factors. There is a path to any goal and aspiration you have; you’ll just need a plan to achieve those goals and aspirations.

Your Credit Checklist and T-2-4 Plan Worksheet summarize your successes and challenges in the

classroom during your time as a student. You may feel this record accurately represents your academic work and investment. Or, you may feel you did not maximize your potential in the classroom and your record clearly shows that to be true. Whatever your story, this is your opportunity to decide how to move forward.

Use and review the Credit Checklist with your Counselor to be sure every class you’ve taken is accounted for

and every grade you’ve earned is accurately reflected.

Use and review the T-2-4 Plan Worksheet with a Counselor or Academic Advisor to better understand your

current academic standings and how those standings influence and impact your T-2-4 options.

NOTES & QUESTIONS: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________


MY T-2-4 PROFILE ANALYSIS - AM I ON TRACK?

What is my graduation plan?

What T-2-4 options will this graduation plan allow me to access?

T (Trade/Training)

2-YEAR

4-YEAR

MILITARY

Am I on track to earn the required credits to graduate?

YES

NO

If no, what ACTION can I take to get back on track?

Night School

Summer School

CBEs

Virtual School

Retake at my home campus

Who are the right people to help me take this action?

In what Quartile am I ranked? 1ST 3RD

2ND 4TH

Does my Quartile rank qualify me for any automatic admissions program?

YES

NO

What is my college GPA? (on a 4.0 scale)

What T-2-4 options are available to me with this GPA?

T (Trade/Training)

2-YEAR

4-YEAR

MILITARY

What advanced courses have I taken and what were my grades? (Pre AP, AP, IB)

What Dual Credit courses have I taken and what were my grades?

What has been my grade trend in high school?

Grade trend inclining

Grade trend declining

Grade trend steady


How could my course selection be described?

Most Rigorous

Rigorous

Less Rigorous

Not Rigorous

Have I taken an SAT? YES

NO

If yes, what are my highest scores?

Have I taken an ACT? YES

NO

If yes, what are my highest scores?

Am I exempt from the TSI test? YES

NO

If not, have I taken the test? YES

NO

If no, when should I plan to take the test?

DATE:

TIME:

LOCATION:

If I haven’t taken the test, and do not plan to take it, why?

Is this reason supported by my Counselor/Advisor?

YES

NO

Has someone explained to me why achieving the minimum scores on the TSI test is important?

YES

NO

Based on my goals and the scholarships I hope to compete for, should I plan to retest (SAT or ACT)?

YES

NO

Have I used Khan Academy/Shmoop to study for the SAT?

YES

NO

If not, do I need someone to show me how to access this tool?

YES

NO

Now that you have analyzed your current academic standings, later in this workbook you will be able to make a “game plan” for the year.


MY T-2-4 PROFILE REFLECTIONS

Now you’ve seen all of your grades and test scores. You’ve determined if you’re on the right track or if you have some course correcting to do. So how do you feel right now about what you’ve reviewed?

What are your initial reflections about your academic profile?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

What have been your greatest challenges in school?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

What have been your greatest successes?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________ ___

_____________________________________________________________________

What behaviors, either positive or negative, led to the results of your current academic record?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________ ___

_____________________________________________________________________

If the behaviors you’ve described are not positive, what can you begin to do differently?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________


BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Now that you’ve had a look at the many careers and the academic background needed for the various T-2-4 options, it’s time to think outside of the classroom. So, what’s special about YOU?

If I could spend more time outside of class I would like to spend that time…

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If asked to describe my family and cultural background, I would say… _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

One challenge I’ve faced in my life is…

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I am most proud of…

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Describe in your own words the non-academic attributes about yourself that are not represented

in your academic profile?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

NOTES:

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

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“Goals are dreams with deadlines.” –Diane Scharf Hunt

3) CHOOSING MY FUTURE

Take some time to consider what exactly you hope to achieve this year, after high school, in the next few

years, and in life. You are encouraged to dream as big as you possibly can. From those dreams you can set

goals, identify your support team, and finally, design your own “game-plan” to help you achieve your goals

and accomplish your dreams. Let’s get started!

Define My Dreams: What do I want to do & who do I want to become?

Declare My Goals: What accomplishments will get me closer to achieving my dreams?

Dream #1: Goals Dream #2: Goals Dream #3: Goals

1. 2. 3.

1. 2. 3.

1. 2. 3.

It’s likely that at least one of these goals will require you to do something immediately after high school.

We’ve discussed many different options in the previous sections. Declare your T-2-4 intentions now.

What is your goal immediately after high school? Enroll in a Technical Trade or Certificate program

Enroll in a 2-year Degree program

Enroll in a 4-year Degree program

Enroll in a “Gap-Year” program

Immediately enter the workforce

Enlist in the Military (or enter an ROTC program or Military Academy)

Take a semester or year off

Dream #1 Dream #2 Dream #3


Develop My Support Team: Who are the people that I can count on to support me?

Remember to include on your support team at least one person who has achieved what you hope to

achieve. Many people can encourage you, but having access to someone who can share their experiences

with you will help maintain focus on your dreams.

Is there anyone who could possibly distract you from accomplishing your goals this year or in the future?

Does this person have similar goals as you? Think about how you might handle this relationship this year as

you focus on taking action to accomplish your goals.

PEOPLE AT HOME PEOPLE AT SCHOOL

FRIENDS & MENTORS OTHER PEOPLE


“Infuse your life with action. Don’t wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. –Bradley Whitford

4) TAKING ACTION: MY CHECKLISTS & TIMELINES

Design My Plan: What action steps should I take?

To accomplish your goals and achieve your dreams you MUST have a plan. You took your dreams and

identified smaller goals that would get you closer to achieving your big dream. Now take your goals and

identify the smaller action steps you must take to accomplish those goals. Let’s start with your T-2-4 goal.

This goal will determine your personal action plan. Based on your intended path, take a look at some

information you will need to gather and a few check points to keep in mind.

T 2 4 M

Decide which Trade/Certificate to pursue

Research which schools offer the program

Visit each schools’ website or call the admission office to learn:

1. How to apply (can I use Apply Texas?)

2. If the school offers financial aid and if so how to apply

3. When the program starts and ends

4. What I need to do to officially enroll in the program

5. If any courses can be taken while I’m still in high school

Create your personal checklist and timeline including the required actions to pursue this path

Decide which 2-year program to pursue


Visit each schools’ website or call the admission office to learn:

1. How to apply (can I use Apply Texas?)

2. What credentials I need to enroll in the program

3. What tests I need to take

4. What materials I need to submit

5. How to apply for financial aid and scholarships

If you plan to transfer to a 4-year school check with the school for the best classes to take at the 2-year school and what GPA you should plan to earn


Decide which 4-year program to pursue


Visit each schools’ website or call each school’s admission office to learn:

1. How to apply (can I use Apply Texas or Common App?)

2. What are the application deadlines

3. What are Admission requirements

4. Are SAT Subject Tests required

5. What materials I need to submit (essays, letters of recommendation, test scores, transcript, application fee, etc.)

6. How to apply for financial aid and scholarships and by what deadlines


Decide which route to the Military to pursue (Direct enlistment, ROTC, Military Academies)

Make contact with the branch or program to learn:

1. Requirements for enrollment

2. Timeline for enlisting, enrolling, or applying

3. What materials I need to submit

4. What will be offered financially and academically by the program or branch


MY T-2-4 GOAL


MILESTONES Keep in mind, not all milestones will apply to you based on your T-2-4 path of choice. Use these milestones to build your personalized ACTION PLAN.

SUMMER (JUNE-JULY)

Discuss ideas about future

with parent(s) or guardian(s)

or another influential adult

Meet with a Counselor or

Advisor to discuss ideas about

what to do after high school

Work through this workbook

Research programs and

schools of interest

Practice writing college essays

Work on a resume

Research scholarships

Study for SAT or ACT tests

Make a list of teachers and

mentors to ask for letters of

recommendation

Visit colleges and universities

even if you don’t plan to

attend immediately after high

school

Use Naviance and other tools

in this workbook to explore

Careers

Use FAFSA Forecaster and Net

Price Calculators to estimate

college costs

Work on your personalized

ACTION PLAN for this year

FALL (AUG-DEC)

Meet with a Counselor or Advisor

to finalize plans and check-in

about ACTION PLAN

Review transcript before sending

it to schools and make sure

everything is correct

Create Apply Texas and/or

Common App accounts

Begin and submit college

applications by Dec. 1 (or earlier

if required by the school)

Link Common App to Naviance

account (if applicable) (See Counselor or Advisor for fee

waiver if you qualify)

Ask to have applications reviewed

to make sure all responses are

correct

Update Naviance “Colleges I’m

Applying To” list

Gather your parents and your tax

information (if biological parents

tax info is inaccessible talk to a

Counselor or Advisor)

Begin and submit a FAFSA/ TASFA

or CSS Profile (or all if applicable)

Register and study for SAT/ACT

test and/or prepare to take the

TSI (if applicable)

Get feedback on college essays &

resume

Apply for scholarships

Ask teachers/mentors for letters

of recommendation

Share admission decisions with

Counselor & Advisor as you

receive them

Complete Rank decision form Visit colleges and universities

Finalize ACTION PLAN for this

year

SPRING (JAN-MAY)

Meet with a Counselor or

Advisor to check-in about

ACTION PLAN

Update personalized ACTION

PLAN for this year

Continue and submit any

outstanding college

applications

Ask to have applications

reviewed to make sure all

responses are correct

Set up and regularly check

student portal accounts for

the colleges to which you

applied

Continue applying for

scholarships

Check on FAFSA status and

complete Verification

paperwork (if required)

Check on TASFA status (if

applicable)

Check AP Exam Registration

dates and take Exams

Schedule a time to review ALL

financial aid award letters with

a Counselor or Advisor

Keep grades up- many schools

look at senior grades

Commit to academic and

financial best fit school by May

1st (Deposit may be required)

Sign-up for housing

Sign-up for orientation

Submit shot records

(Meningitis shot required)


HELPFUL VIDEOS & WEBSITES

These videos can help walk you through important steps to various parts of your T-2-4 process.

Bring Your Application to Life https://zeemee.com

Creating an Apply Texas Account https://youtu.be/n53mT30cOPc

CommonAppMedia Channel https://goo.gl/V1n3Ql

College Board Big Future Channel https://goo.gl/kEbz7s

College Board SAT Channel https://goo.gl/m4SzTW

Khan Academy SAT Channel https://goo.gl/T6CHof

Federal Student Aid Channel https://goo.gl/gXv8TE

TASFA Application https://youtu.be/j94zx8ojbic

CSS Profile Tutorials https://youtu.be/QC2ylWT9Wek

Earn Micro-Scholarships https://raise.com

United We Dream (DACA Info) https://goo.gl/X6rPSO

Virtual College Campus Tours http://youvisit.com

Shmoop Test Prep https://cms.springbranchisd.com/shmoop/

Planning Video https://www.collegeweeklive.com/

Did you find other videos that were helpful? Keep track of them here:

https://zeemee.com/

https://youtu.be/n53mT30cOPc

https://goo.gl/V1n3Ql

https://goo.gl/kEbz7s

https://goo.gl/m4SzTW

https://goo.gl/T6CHof

https://goo.gl/gXv8TE

https://youtu.be/j94zx8ojbic

https://youtu.be/QC2ylWT9Wek

https://raise.com/

https://goo.gl/X6rPSO

http://youvisit.com/

https://cms.springbranchisd.com/shmoop/

https://www.collegeweeklive.com/


5) MY IMPORTANT INFORMATION

WEBSITES, PORTALS & LOG-INS Sites with a * can be accessed by navigating to your high school webpage, clicking the Naviance icon and

logging in to your Naviance Family Access account.

Make note of the email address you plan to use for all your T-2-4 applications and communications. Make

sure it’s professional. Using your first and last name and a number is always a good idea.

My Email: My Email Password:

Naviance Access link through HS site Username: Password:

*Skyward Family Access Login ID: Password:

*SAT (College Board & Big Future)

student.collegeboard.org Username: Password:

*ACT www.act.org User ID: Password:

*Apply Texas applytexas.org Username: Password:

*Common App commonapp.org Email: Password:

FAFSA fafsa.ed.gov FAFSA FSA Username and Password should be kept in a safe

place. This is your official signature for the FAFSA application. We recommend saving it somewhere safe.

TASFA collegeforalltexans.com No log-in required No password required

If you apply to a college or university they will likely assign you a Student Portal account. Keep track of all your portal accounts here. Make sure you keep this page safe!


MY T-2-4 TARGET INTERESTS & REQUIREMENTS

List your programs and/or colleges/universities of interest & make note of their admission requirements.

You can find this information on their admission websites.

Program/College or University Admission Requirements

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.


6) FINANCIAL AID & BEYOND

Continuing your education after high school is an important part of you achieving your goals and dreams.

Cost is not a reason to not pursue higher education or training. Here is an introduction to basic financial aid

and scholarship info. Financial aid describes any funding you receive to pay for educational expenses.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) The Department of Education through the Federal Student Aid FAFSA awards billions of dollars to students every

year in the form of grants, scholarships, and low-interest loans. U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, and eligible

Non-Citizens can submit a FAFSA using their 2015 taxes beginning on October 1, 2016 to compete for funding for

the 2017-2018 academic year. The FAFSA does not require a minimum income nor does it have an income

maximum to apply and compete for aid. The application is FREE and can be submitted electronically.

TAFSA (Texas Application for State Aid) The State of Texas through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board awards eligible Non-Citizens and

DACA students state financial aid through the TASFA application. Students must have lived in Texas for 36

consecutive months leading up to graduating from a Texas high school and must live in Texas for 12 months prior

to attending a Texas college or university. The TASFA requires submission of a notarized Residency Affidavit

(which can be notarized on campus), a tax transcript, proof of registration for selective service (males only), and

a statement of cash earnings if taxes are not filed. The application is FREE and cannot be submitted

electronically but must be delivered to each institution via their preferred method of delivery.

CSS/Financial Aid Profile

The College Board, in cooperation with colleges and universities across the nation, utilizes the CSS/Financial Aid

Profile to award students institutional aid using similar information as is required on the FAFSA. This form is not

used to award federal financial aid. There is a fee to submit the application. Students qualifying for a submission

fee waiver will be notified once they have entered all necessary information and arrive at the payment page for

the application.

FAFSA4caster & Net Price Calculator

These tools are designed to assist students and families with determining the potential cost of higher education.

The FAFSA main page contains a link for the 4caster and every college and university is now required to have a

Net Price Calculator on their financial aid webpage.

uAspire In partnership with this college affordability organization, SBISD students have access to cutting edge financial

aid information and with their families can receive assistance with interpreting financial aid award letters and

making the best financially fit decision for continuing their education.


SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES *The following resources require students to create an account/profile for each site. Please read Terms of Use

and Privacy Policies on each site before completing sign up.

Naviance Family Connection Family Connection includes a scholarship directory that students can browse to find scholarships and also

includes a “scholarship match” link on the College tab to will assist students with finding scholarships that match

their profile. Please keep in mind, scholarships on the “scholarship list” are updated by SBISD and may not reflect the

most recent information or due dates for each scholarship. Students are encouraged to visit company/organization

websites for the most updated information.

Raise.me As early as freshman year students can begin earning “micro-scholarships” to pay for their higher education.

Students earn scholarships dollars from colleges & universities across the nation for their high school

accomplishments like taking certain classes, earning certain grades, and participating in certain activities.

Raise.me is completely free to students.

redkite

Red Kite Matching Engine searches through $20 billion in scholarships to find the opportunities that best fit a

student’s profile. The site also allows students to compare costs between college and universities and track their

scholarship and loan applications.

**As you apply for and receive scholarship awards please see your Counselor or Academic Advisor for

instructions on how to update you campuses scholarships registry. **


APPENDIX A: MY CHECKLIST & TIMELINE - MONTH: __________ DATES: _______

What I need to do… By when… Help/Resources I need… Did I complete this task?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16


APPENDIX B: ESSAY PROMPTS

APPLY TEXAS ESSAY PROMPTS Essay A: What was the environment in which you were raised? Describe your family, home, neighborhood, or

community, and explain how it has shaped you as a person.

Essay B: Some students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. If you are one of

these students, then tell us about yourself.

Essay C: You’ve got a ticket in your hand - Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there?

COMMON APPLICATION ESSAY PROMPTS Essay 1: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their

application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

Essay 2: The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you

experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Essay 3: Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same

decision again?

Essay 4: Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a

research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its

significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

Essay 5: Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, which marked your transition from childhood to

adulthood within your culture, community, or family.


APPENDIX C1: ESSAY WRITING BRAINSTORMING EXERCISE

What is your

family story?

Meaningfulness &

why?

Unique aspects? First in family to

go to college

graduate high

school or go to

college?

Significant cultural

influences?

How did you

realize you

were a leader?

Lessons learned

from

experiences?

How have you

demonstrated it? How have you

grown as a result?

MY STORY

Leadership

Background

Hardships/other

life experiences?

How will they help

expand your

opportunities?

How have you put

them to work?

How will they

help build your

future?

What are they &

why?

Interests Significant impact on

character/development

Something not on

your resume

Specific skills

acquired?

Activities


How does this differentiate

you from other applicants?

APPENDIX C2: ESSAY WRITING BRAINSTORMING EXERCISE

Changes in

attitude?

What stands out?

Provide context!

How did it alter

your future

opportunities?

Significant

incident or

decision that

brought great

consequences?

How would you advise others

in the same situation?

Did anyone help

you overcome?

Describe the

struggle- what

was it like?

How have you

grown as a result? Why was it

significant?

MY STORY

Challenges

Overcome

Lesson

Learned

How have you

grown as a result?

Obligations

preventing you

from being

involved at the

same level as

your peers?

Impact of these

circumstances on

you?

Extenuating

circumstances?

Special

Situations

Impact on

your personal

perspective

Connection between

your life & the lives

impacted?

Describe the

significance of

the experiences

Service

Projects


APPENDIX D: NAVIANCE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS

_____Complete the Common Application at www.commonapp.org or Apply Texas Application at www.applytexas.org

Check your Family Connection Account information before setting up your Common App account to ensure you are

using the same name

_____Complete the Initial Common App Tasks before matching your account in Naviance Family Connection (Common App only)

Complete the education section

Add at least one college to My Colleges list

Read and sign the FERPA release authorization

_____Match your Common Application in Naviance Family Connection (Common App only)

Your name must match your Family Connection profile and Your Common App account

You must enter the same email address you used for your Common App

Your date of birth must match your Family Connection profile and your Common App account

_____Add Colleges to the “Colleges I’m Applying to List” in Naviance Family Connection

These colleges are the ones to which you have serious intentions of actually applying

_____Request Transcript in Naviance Family Connection

Submit the class rank decision form before any requests are processed Request transcripts (follow the required process for your campus) Complete a records request form and have your parent sign it if you are under 18 Specify how you want the records delivered

a. Naviance (including Common Application) b. Printed and sealed for student pick-up

_____Personally visit each teacher you want to write you a letter of recommendation

Choose a teacher who knows the best quality of your work and provide him/her with your resume (if requested) If the teacher agrees, tell him/her that you will send them a teacher recommendation request in Naviance Remind them to complete the teacher evaluation form provided for them in Naviance

_____Request Teacher Letter of Recommendations in Naviance Family Connection

If you are seeking a letter of recommendation from a non-SBISD teacher or mentor the letter cannot be submitted

through Naviance (must mail their letter directly to the college)

_____Obtain and mail Fee Waiver to the college (if applicable)

_____Obtain and mail Affidavit (if applicable)

_____Constantly monitor your application process

_____Maintain constant communication with teachers, counselors, staff and the college you are applying to

Pay close attention to all deadlines. If you miss one deadline, you could put your entire college career in jeopardy.

http://www.commonapp.org/

http://www.applytexas.org/

name: i achieve success planner...

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