Senior Parent Night – Class of 2014Guide to College AdmissionsPresented by Cambridge Counseling Department

Overview

Demystifying the College Admissions Process

College Admission Testing

Procedures & Resources

Welcome & Program OverviewItem 1

Scholarships & Financial Aid Basics

Item 2

Item 3

Item 4

Item 5

Demystifying the College Admission Process

Will BrownRegional Recruitment Admissions CounselorGeorgia College

What are colleges looking for in my application?

• Minimum-based admissions vs. holistic review (academics & non-academics)

• Safety schools vs. reach schools

When is the best time to apply?

• Early Action/Decision/Notification/Admission

• Regular Consideration

• Rolling Admission

How is my GPA calculated?

• Core vs. cumulative

• Weighted vs. unweighted

• Rigor of curriculum

• HOPE Scholarship GPA calculator

How important are my SAT/ACT scores?

• When to take tests

• When to submit test scores

• Super-scoring

Do colleges care about my extracurriculars?

• How to submit essays, resumes, recommendation letters, etc

• Demonstrated interest

College Admission Testing

Samiah GarciaHead CounselorCambridge High School

SAT (WWW.COLLEGEBOARD.COM)• SAT is a reasoning test• Administered 7 times a year• 3 hours 45 minutes• Score: 200-800 per section• ¼ point deducted for wrong answer• Writing (1 essay)

ReadingMath (up to basic geometry & algebra II)Science: none

• ACT is a content-based test• Administered 6 times a year• 3 hours 30minutes (with essay)• Score: 1-36 per section• No penalty for wrong answers• Writing (optional)

ReadingMath (up to trigonometry)ScienceEnglish

ACT (WWW.ACT.ORG)

SAT & ACTCHS CEEB Code: 112129

Does your student still need to take the SAT/ACT or the SAT Subject Tests?

SAT ACTOctober 5

(register by Sept 6)September 21

(register late by Sept 6)

November 2 (register by Oct 3)

October 26 (register by Sept 27)

December 7 (register by Nov 8)

December 14 (register by Nov 8)

Preparation

• PRA Exam (Practice SAT & ACT)Saturday, October 5th Register online $20 at door

• Princeton Review ClassesRegister for fall schedule now online

• Free Practice Test Booklets• Online• Media Center

What about other tests?

• SAT Subjects• Advanced Placement (AP Exams)

Scholarship/Financial Aid Basics

Leigh PoppCounselorCambridge High School

Georgia’s HOPE Program

HOPE – Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally – is Georgia’s unique scholarships and grant program that rewards students with financial assistance in degree, diploma, and certificate programs at eligible Georgia public and private colleges and universities, and public technical colleges

Qualifications: Be a U.S. citizen and legal resident of Georgia Be a graduate of an eligible high school Be registered with Selective Service (males)

HOPE SCHOLARSHIP

• Earn a 3.0 GPA in high school (calculated by GA Student Finance Commission)

• Recipients must have 3.0 GPA at checkpoints to maintain

• Graduate valedictorian or salutatorian OR

• Earn a 3.7 GPA in high school AND earn a 1200 combined score of reading and math on a single administration of the SAT or a 26 composite score on a single administration of the ACT by your graduation date

• Recipients must have 3.3 GPA at checkpoints to maintain.

ZELL MILLER SCHOLARSHIP

Academic Requirements

HOPE SCHOLARSHIP

• Public Institutions:Students attending public colleges or universities receive a HOPE award amount, up to a maximum of 15 hours, based upon a per hour rate at the institution he or she is attending. (see chart on GACollege411.org)

• Private Institutions• Full-time student$1,854 per semester • Half-time student$927 per semester

• Public Institutions:Pays current academic year standard undergraduate tuition for number of hours enrolled (public)

• Private Institutions:• Full-time student $2,000 per semester• Half-time student $1,000 per semester

ZELL MILLER SCHOLARSHIP

Award Amounts

GPA Calculation

• Final calculations are conducted by GA Student Finance Commission after student graduates from high school

• ALL core classes are used for the calculation (English, Math, Science, Social Studies, World Language)

• GPAs are not rounded (2.9999 is not a 3.0)• Conversion:

Remove all honors points Convert individual grades to 4.0 scale

(A = 4; B = 3; C = 2, F = 0) Add .5 weight to AP courses only (up to 4.0) Divide by total number of grades

HOPE Scholarship & Zell Miller Scholarship

HOPE Grant

• Available to students seeking a technical certification or diploma regardless of high school grade point average or graduation date

• Covers a percentage amount of the standard tuition charges from the previous year

• Must earn cumulative GPA of 2.0 at 30 semester hours/60 semester hours to maintain

Financial Aid Applications

• Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)* Available January 1 of senior year* Must complete FAFSA each year

• Complete the GSFAPPS (Georgia Student Financial Aid Application System)* You do not need to reapply each year

• Be sure to attend our Financial Aid Night on Thursday, November 21st for more information on this process!

Sources of College Scholarships & Grants

Federal Gov-ernment; 44%

Colleges; 36%

State Gov-ernments; 9%

Employers; 7%Private Sources; 4%

Scholarships

• GAcollege411 – Financial Aid Planning Tab

“Search for Scholarships” (based on key words)

“Scholarship Finder” (find scholarships that match your skills and accomplishments)

More Scholarship Resourcesa Atlanta Scholarships – www.atlantascholarships.com

Local scholarship resources in Greater Atlanta area College Navigator -nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/

General college, cost & financial aid information Fast Web – www.fastweb.com

Free scholarship search website College Board – www.collegeboard.com

General college information & scholarship searches Scholarships – www.scholarships.com

Free scholarship search website Merit Aid – www.meritaid.org

College cost, financial aid & scholarship information

Cambridge High School Counseling Office

Procedures & Resources

• Online (Preferred)• Paper

Submit Application (during fall of senior year)

• SAT/ACT/AP scores are not included on the high school transcript• Students send scores directly from the testing company

Send Test Scores (if required)

• Seniors must submit “Senior Information Sheet” prior to requesting transcripts•“Parent Response Form” optional•Complete transcript card in counseling office•Pay $3 if requesting paper transcript•2-3 school day turnaround

Transcripts (if required)

•Complete procedures for transcript requests•Provide stamped envelope if requesting paper recommendation•Attach required forms to transcript request with the student section completed.•Allow 2 school weeks for processing. Documents will be mailed directly from the school

Recommendations/School Report (if required)

ApplicationsCarefully follow ALL directions

Sample Transcript Card

• College Rep VisitsJuniors and Seniors may sign up least two days in advanceRegister online at cambridgeguidane.com, in the cafeteria on Tues/Thurs or in counseling office

• Campus VisitsFollow preapproved absence procedure with the Attendance Office.

Events

• College FairsGA PROBE (North Point Mall) Tuesday, September 10th at 6:00pmPerforming & Visual Arts College Fair (Cobb County Center for Excellence

in the Performing Arts) Tuesday, October 1st at 7:00pm

• Scholarship Financial Aid WorkshopThursday, November 21st

Scheduled College Visits• Sept 4 – Georgia Southwestern State University• Sept 4 – Georgia Regents University• Sept 5 – Georgia College (GCSU)• Sept 6 – Florida Atlantic College• Sept 10 – Belmont University• Sept 10 – University of Florida• Sept 11 – Georgia Southern University• Sept 16 – Georgia Tech• Sept 18 – University of Alabama• Sept 18 – Miami University• Sept 18 – Davidson College• Sept 19 – Louisiana State University• Sept 19 – Mercer University• Sept 25 – Purdue University• Oct 3 – University of North Georgia• Oct 8 – University of South Carolina• Oct 9 – Mississippi State University

Remind 101Texting Service

Cambridge Counseling Workshops & Events

• HS 101 Workshop (9/26)

• Scholarship/Financial Aid Workshop (11/21)

Stay Connected

Counseling Websitewww.CambridgeGuidance.com

Counseling Staff

• Leigh Popp, Counselor (A-E)

• Bonnie Schechter, Counselor (F-Lal)

• Gwen Danner, Counselor (Lam-Ri)

• Samiah Garcia, Head Counselor (Rj-Z)

• Chip Flemmer, Graduation Coach

• Stephanie Schuette, School Social Worker

• Nancy Sheridan, Records Coordinator

• Tammy Speer, Guidance Secretary