Welcome to the

NTHS Junior Parent Night

Class of 2015

Contact NTHS Counselors

Last name begins with…

A-G Mrs. Gonzales

H-O Ms. Bronemann

P-Z Mr. Wagner

9th Grade Ms. Abel

Liz Huston

Counseling Secretary

360-412-4810

Steve Yelenich

College & Career Center Specialist

360-412-4812

Handouts

Family Night Guide

• Parenting Resources

• High School Completion: Earning a Diploma

• Post-Secondary Education

• Career & Apprenticeship Information

• Useful Websites

Opportunities Publication

Which College is Right for You?

Tonight’s Agenda

High School Completion: Earning a Diploma

• Graduation requirements

• Educational planning

• Credit retrieval

Post Secondary Education

• College admission standards

• Admission and placement testing

• Helpful information

Career Exploration

• Washington Occupational Information System

• Apprenticeship

Graduation Requirements for

the NTHS Class of 2015

Earn the required number of credits in required subjects, (see NTHS Catalogue) Complete a “High School and Beyond Plan” Portfolio (through the NTHS Advisory Program)

Complete a NTHS Culminating Project Meet the HSPE & EOC requirements

Class of 2015 Graduation Requirements

English 3.0 Math 3.0 Science 2.0 Social Studies 3.0

World Studies 1.5, US History 1.0, Civics .5

Washington State History .5

Visual and Performing Arts 1.0 PE/Fitness 1.5 Health 0.5 Occupational Education 1.0 Electives 7.0+ • High School & Beyond Plan • Culminating Project • HSPEs and End-of-Course Exams

HSPEs & EOCs High School Proficiency Exams &

End-of-Course Exams

Students Must Pass: • Reading (400+)

• Writing (17+)

• Math End-of-Course Exam (EOC 400+)

• Biology End-of-Course Exam (EOC 400+)

Alternative Tests (must attempt the HSPE or

EOC at least once)

SAT (Reading=350, Math=390, Writing=380)

ACT (Reading=13, Math=16, Writing 15)

AP (Level 3 or above)

HSPEs & EOCs continued…

Other Alternatives to passing HSPEs/EOCs:

Grade Comparison

•Must have taken HSPE once. Calculated at the District Office.

Collection of Evidence (COE)

•Must have attempted the HSPE at least twice.

•Must be completed under teacher supervision.

•Scored at the state level by a panel of trained Washington

Educators.

High School Graduation Making Up Credits

• For a fee:

• NTHS Summer School

• NMSC Summer School

• Online courses

Satellite High School

Ind. Study U of Missouri

BYU

• Free

• Before and after school TA

• Zero Hour PE

• APEX online courses (for eligible Seniors)

• Olympia Regional Learning

Academy (ORLA)

orla@osd.wednet.edu

College Credits in High School

Running Start

Dual Credits

New Market Skills Center

Advanced Placement (AP)

Eligibility to Participate in

College Sports

Students who plan to participate in

college sports must register with the

NCAA while in high school.

www.ncaaeligibilitycenter.org

College Admissions

Common Application

Online application

Paper application

GPA trend

Financial Aid

Scholarship

Wait list

Placement Test

SAT/ACT Admissions tests

College Application

Terminology

How are students admitted to 4

year universities in Washington?

High School diploma

Grade Point Average (GPA)

SAT/ACT Tests

Extracurricular/Community Service

Leadership

Other (Essay, recommendation letter, etc)

College Entrance Requirements

o 4-year College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs)

*Includes 1 year of algebra-based Chemistry or Physics. 3 yrs of science recommended by

4-year colleges

**Check with Counselor

Course High School

College/

University

English 3.0 4.0

Math 3.0 4.0 (or through

Pre-Calculus)

Science 2.0 3.0*

Foreign

Language

0 2.0

Fine Arts 1.0 1.0**

The Most Popular Majors

for 4 year colleges are:

Business management

Professional education

Education

Arts and humanities

Social science/history

Engineering

Biological Science

The Most Popular Majors

for 2 year colleges are:

Liberal/General studies

Business Management

Health Professions

Engineering Technology

(ex. Centralia STEM)

Protective Services

Top 4 Reasons Students Quit after

the First Year of College

1. Financial difficulties

2. Academic difficulties

3. Change of mind about major

4. Personal reasons (failure to connect, homesickness, working, marriage, etc).

Community & Technical College

Tuition in Washington State

(2013-14)

Average Community College and

Technical College Tuition $4000* http://www.sbctc.ctc.edu/college/f_tuition.aspx

*based on 15 credits per quarter

Tips On College Admission

The most important: Academic rigor of the high school courses.

Academic achievement “trend” ….not just an overall GPA

Standardized test scores: SAT and/or ACT

Personal profile that reflects leadership and what the candidate does outside the classroom, including a strong personal essay.

The College Application

Read through all the material before filling in

any information.

Be aware of application deadlines.

The application should be typed or neatly

printed.

If you apply online, make sure to keep a

copy for your records.

The College Essay

The best essays are not only well-written, but present what are often ordinary events from an unusual perspective.

In the essay, the student should describe thoughts, events, or personal characteristics that they have not communicated elsewhere in the application.

The essay should be honest and accurate.

Letters of Recommendation Washington State Public Universities do not require letters of

recommendation. Most will not even read them.

The student is responsible for making sure that all letters of

recommendation are written and mailed on time.

The student should make sure that the “NTHS Senior Survey,” is

complete and on file.

Provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope

Indicate to the college that the letter is “Confidential.”

Give teachers/counselor at least two week’s before deadline.

If student is applying online through Common App or SendEDU,

student must make an appointment with their counselor.

Summary: Points to Keep In Mind About the

Application Process

Consider applying to a “reach” and a “safety” college

in addition to those considered “possibilities.” Don’t

let college selectivity be the end-all be-all.

Don’t become over anxious! ~ 92% will get their 1st

or 2nd choice. There is a good college for everyone.

Work with your student’s school counselor, but

realize that you and your student must take charge.

Make an appointment with counselor after applying

online via SendEDU or Common Application.

4-Year Resident Tuition (2013-2014)

WA Public Universities: WA Private Universities:

2013 figures Tuition, Fees, Books,

Room & other costs:

Central Wash. U. $18,854 ($8,977)

Eastern Wash. U. $18,026 ($7,961)

Evergreen State $21,780 ($8,172)

U.W. Seattle $24,355 ($12,397)

U.W. Tacoma

U.W. Bothell

$22,906 ($11,904)

$22,915 ($11,911)

Wash. State Univ. $24,154 ($12,326)

WSU Vancouver ($11,386)

Western Wash. U. $22,670 ($8,862)

total (tuition & fees)

2013 figures Tuition & Fees

Only

Whitworth $36,012

Gonzaga Spokane $35,062

Pacific Lutheran $34,440

Seattle Pacific U. $33,813

St. Martin’s Univ. $30,290

Seattle University $35,865

U. of Puget Sound $41,640

Walla Walla Univ. $25,377

Whitman $43,500

Financing The College Of Choice

Federal Government contributes the largest percentage of college aid.

Independent sources.

States contribute a portion.

Colleges will compete if they want you.

Eligibility is based on need not just on income.

NTHS has a Financial Aid Night in December every year.

Financing The College of Choice

Financial Aid Programs:

Grants

Federal Subsidized Student loans

Federal un-subsidized loans

Work-study

Washington State

Student Financial Aid Programs

State Need Grant/state work study

◦ Families with significant financial need may be

eligible.

◦ Eligible students are considered after filing the

FAFSA and should contact the college’s

financial Aid office for more information.

Washington State

Student Financial Aid Program

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)

150% of receiving school’s resident tuition

2 or 4 year college or university

15 western states participate

Website: www.wiche.edu

Financing the College of Choice:

Money Saving Tips (1)

Choose the college wisely. Changing colleges may

result in loss of credits. (private for profits)

Take more than 4 years to earn your degree; take

fewer credits and work part time.

Enroll in a co-op education program.

Go ROTC, Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Air

Force.

Financing the College of Choice:

Money Saving Tips (2)

Attend a community college first, then transfer to

4-year college after basic requirements are met.

Enroll in an upside-down degree program.

Check out a 3-year bachelor program.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)

Scholarships

thewashboard.org

fastweb.com

Fill out the “NTHS Senior Survey” in

the College & Career Center for

nomination scholarships

Points to Remember for Financial Aid

To be considered for financial aid, you must apply.

Attend the NTHS Financial Aid Night in early December.

Be concerned about your total cost, not just the tuition.

Estimate total cost by using the Net Price Calculator.

Well-endowed, private colleges can be, and usually are,

more generous and flexible in their financial aid packages

than public universities.

Most merit scholarships from colleges are awarded for

students with outstanding academic records and

demonstrated leadership.

College and Career Selection

• Accessing WOIS online

• Go to www.wois.org

• Click Online Information on the

Navigation bar

• Enter the following information:

• User ID: nthurstonhs

• Site key: GPR585

• Click “Use WOIS” to explore Career

and Educational Planning resources

College is not the only

way to a bright future.

Apprenticeship- “The Other 4 Year Degree”

• Numerous highly skilled occupations

• On-the-job training “OJT”

• Classroom instruction

• www.lni.wa.gov/scs/apprenticeship

• Please see handout for more information.