Druid Hills High School

Druid Hills High School Graduation Requirements and Post High School Planning

DHHS Guidance Department • Maura Pannier (A-C) (678) 874-6327 Maura_L_Pannier@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us • Darryl Robinson (D-Kh) (678) 874-6328 Darryl_D_Robinson@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us • Nelsonya McAdoo (Ki-Re) (678) 874-6324 Nelsonya_McAdoo@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us • Hanna Hopkins (Rf-Z) (678) 874-6330 Hanna_E_Hopkins@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us • Susan Buchanan (Secretary) (678) 874-6332 • Michelle Swanson(Registrar) (678) 874-6306

Graduating from High SchoolStudents are eager to graduate from high school and move on to the next part of their lives. In order to graduate, students in Georgia must: • Select a program of study (college prep or career tech) • Successfully complete the required high school coursework • Pass the Georgia High School WritingTest

Programs of Study Students may choose from the following programs of study. Type of Program of Study Units College Preparatory Seal (CP) 24 Technology/Career Preparatory Seal (TC) 24 *Honors and Distinction Seal (CP) 24 *Must take three years of the same World Language 3.0 core CPA is required ( All Academic classes and World Language) 3.5 cumulative GPA required

College Planning and College Application Procedures • Checklist for senior planning • Early Admission vs. Early Decision • Campus Visits • Applying to Schools • Essay Writing • Testing • Letter of Recommendations

College Planning August • Investigate post-secondary options • Visit GAcollege411.org • Explore programs and majors • Research Colleges and Universities • Review your HOPE GPA

College Planning September Review graduation requirements and GPA. Finalize the list of colleges/technical colleges to which you want to apply. Listen to announcement for college and technical college representatives who will be visiting. Sign up to take the ACT or SAT if you have not done so or if you have not achieved the score you wish. Attend upcoming college fairs if you have not selected a college/technical college.

College Planning October • Attend upcoming college fairs if you have not selected a college. • Request recommendations and give teachers and counselors the forms. • File early-action and early-decision applications. • Fill out a request for transcript form in the Guidance office or request a transcript online. Remember the envelope and postage. • If you haven't already visited colleges, take advantage of upcoming holidays to do so.

College Planning November • Research scholarships. Check scholarship websites and college financial aid webpages. • Write and polish any required essays. December • Complete requests for recommendations from counseling staff to get applications with January deadlines.

College Planning January • Begin to work on your financial aid forms after you and your parents compute your respective income tax forms. February • Send mid-year grade reports to schools that have requested them. • Submit financial aid forms to colleges

College Planning March-April • Will start getting acceptance letters from colleges • Review college acceptance letters and compare financial aid offers. • Decide which school to attend, send in your deposit May • Take advantage of the orientation and registration program at the college you wish to attend • Fill out the appropriate form with the guidance secretary to have your final transcript sent to the college you plan to attend • Inform all colleges which accepted you whether or not you plan to attend. You may want to transfer to one of the other colleges at a later time.

Early Action vs. Early Decision

Early Decision Early decision plans allow you to apply early (usually in November) and get an admission decision from the college well in advance of the usual notification date.

But there is a catch!!! Early decision plans are "binding," meaning if you apply as an early decision candidate, you agree to attend the college if it accepts you and offers an adequate financial aid package. Although you can apply to only one college for early decision, you may apply to other colleges under regular admission. If you're accepted by your first-choice college early, you must withdraw all other applications. Usually, colleges insist on a nonrefundable deposit well before May 1.

Early Action • Early action plans are similar to early decision plans in that you can learn early in the admission cycle (usually in January or February) whether a college has accepted you. But unlike early decision, most early action plans are not binding, meaning you do NOT have to commit to a college to which you've applied for early action. Under these plans, you may apply to other colleges. Usually, you can let the college know of your decision in the late spring or whenever you've decided.

College Credit Now • Programs that allow students to earn both high school and postsecondary credit or advanced placement credit simultaneously while in high school.

Programs • At high school: Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes • Scores on AP or IB tests may be recognized by colleges for credit • At colleges: Dual Enrollment, Move on When Ready (MOWR) • Dual enrollment: one or more core classes taken at a college for high school and college credit • MOWR: all classes taken at a college for high school and college credit

Testing Information • SAT • ACT

HOPE Scholarship and Eligibility

To Qualify for HOPE • College Preparatory Diploma: Cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Technical/Career Diploma: Cumulative GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. • At private colleges, HOPE awarded $3,700 for the 2013-2014 academic year. To determine the HOPE Award Amount, please refer to the chart provided at http://GAcollege411.org during the spring of a student’s senior year. To apply for HOPE a student/parent MUST complete the GSFAPPS or FAFSA form; students are limited on the number of hours they can use HOPE funding For more information contact the Georgia Student Finance Commission www.GAcollege411.org

Zell Miller Scholarship • Georgia residents enrolling in a degree program at an eligible institution • 3.7 GPA • 1200 Combined SAT score (critical reading/math) * • 26 Composite ACT score * • Valedictorian and salutatorian Zell Miller Scholarship will cover tuition at 100% for an academic year. *Test scores must come from a single test sitting.

How do I pay for college?

Categories of Financial Aid • Merit-based (or non-need) • Aid based on your grades, test scores, hobbies and special talents (artistic, athletic, etc.) • Need-based • Aid based on your financial situation

Sources of Financial Aid • Federal and State Grants • Federal Work-Study • Federal Loans • Institutional Aid • Private / Other Government Aid

Application Process For ALL SCHOOLS • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) • Required for federal and state aid Deadlines vary depending on the school • Filing methods: • FAFSA on the WEB www.fafsa.ed.gov

PROBE College Fairs 2014 Dekalb North Fair October 15, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tucker High School Gwinnett South Fair October 5, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Shiloh High School For more college fairs and information: www.gaprobe.org

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Druid Hills High School