Class of 2013

1. Class of 2013 College Application Process Walton High School Guidance Department

2. Senior Information 2012-2013 • Counselor Assignments • A-C Mrs. Clary • D-G Mrs. Ferguson • H-K Mrs. Dunham • L-O Mrs. Carlson • P-S Mrs. LaVangie • T-Z Mrs. Wise • Each counselor has a blog for reminders

3. Senior Information 2012-2013 • Guidance Personnel • Mrs. Cheryl Lenenski: College Corner Advisor, College Representative Visits • Mrs. Melissa Schrenk: Records Room Clerk • Scholarships & Financial Aid • Blog: www.waltonhigh.org, click on Departments, click on Guidance, find scholarship information.

4. Senior Application Process • College Applications & Transcripts • If no teacher recommendations or secondary school report, complete application on-line & submit. Order transcript from the Records Room. • If recommendations and/or school report required, allow about 3-4 weeks for completion from the counselor & teacher.

5. Senior Application Process • If the application contains multiple sections, download paper copies for a reference • Your child is the applicant – BUT if they are disorganized you may help with that • Watch Deadlines – Set up a calendar! • Pay with the same credit card for tracking

6. Common Application • To be completed on-line. • Make sure a receipt is printed. • Ensure that we are aware of EVERY institution to which you applying. • One request from records and one request for standardized tests • Make sure the essay for the application is generic. It will be sent to all of the schools you apply to.

7. Common Application • If the School requires a supplement, make sure that it is school specific. • Always have essays in the first person and ANSWER the question • Download receipts of submission – they have the date and time • Request recs. from Counselor and teachers on-time

8. UGA - 2012 • Part I only is required for Early Action. • Due by Oct 15, 2012 • Part I has a section for outside activities. • If not enough space, combine types of activities and/or abbreviate. • No teacher recommendation • Counselor Recommendation is required

9. UGA • Part I. • Each applicant to self-report Academic Profile • UGA still wants an official transcript sent. • Do not report MS grades or activities • Abbreviations are acceptable • For example, Lit, Geog, Hist, etc.

10. UGA • Standardized Tests • Only report SAT & ACT due to field restriction. • Print out receipt. After midnight on October 15th, the Early Action is closed. • You may apply Regular Decision (Jan 15th) before October 15th. • You do not have a better chance if deferred vs Regular Admission

11. UGA • If deferred • Need teacher recommendation • Part II must be completed • If deferred and decide not to attend UGA – • Go to “MY STATUS” and select “cancel application option.”

12. Senior Information 2012-2013 • College Applications & Transcripts • Complete “Transcript Card” in Records Room. • Fee for each transcript (except final) is $2.00 • Standardized test scores are only accepted from the governing office: (www.collegeboard.com or www.actstudent.org)

13. Senior Information 2012-2013 • Graduate Exit Exam • All portions of the GHSGT/GHSWT must be passed before graduation or a congruent Subject Area End of Course Test. • Diploma Order Forms • Honor Graduates • PROBE Fairs • Tuesday, September 11th, 6-9 pm, Northpoint Mall

14. Senior Information 2012-2013 • Financial Aid Night • November 12, 6:30 pm, Walton Theater • GSFC representative • HOPE Information • FAFSA • Other sources of financial aid. • CSS Profile – High Dollar Private Institutions

15. Senior Year Checklist • Applications • Some are due on Nov 1 • Others need to be mailed by Nov 1 • Apply to 5-8 schools • Reach, Range, and/or Safety • Contact Financial Aid Offices of each college • Keep up your grades! Senior grades DO count!

16. Senior Year Checklist • Expect notifications from most schools by the 1st week in April. • Financial Aid packages should be received in April. • Most schools require a deposit and/or a letter by May 1. • Request a final copy of your high school transcript to be sent to your college of choice.

17. Colleges vary in terms of: Academic program Length of study Size Type of Community Location Admission policy Affiliation Housing Cost Activities Athletics Student body composition How to Choose a College

18. How Colleges Choose Among the Applicants • Colleges look at the following ranked in order of importance: • High School academic record • Rigor of curriculum • Grades • SAT or ACT Scores • Essays – YOUR Child’s Essay • Recommendations

19. How Colleges Choose Among the Applicants • Colleges look at the following ranked in order of importance: • Special abilities: Art, Music, Athletics, Leadership • Community Service & Extracurricular Activities • Neatness and accuracy of the application….

20. How Colleges Choose Among the Applicants • Points to consider • Most colleges only consider academic courses when calculating GPA – or fine arts for specific programs. • In most cases, recalculated GPA will be lower than the GPA stated on your transcript.

21. Preliminary List of Colleges • Reach School(s) • I might be accepted • Dream School • Range School(s) • I should be accepted • 50/50 chance of being admitted • Safety School(s) • I will be accepted

22. College Admissions ProgramsImportant Terms • Regular Admission • Fixed application date; often January 15 • Rolling Admission • College considers application as soon as all application materials have been received. • Open Admission • College grants acceptance to all high school graduates without regard to additional qualifications.

23. College Admissions ProgramsImportant Terms • Early Decision • Legally Binding • Definite 1st choice college • Withdraw all other applications, if accepted • If not, usually deferred or denied.

24. College Admissions ProgramsImportant Terms • Early Action • Non-binding • Have until May 1 to accept admission’s offer • Early Action – Single Choice • New option • Non-binding • Do not apply Early Action to another school

25. College Admissions ProgramsImportant Terms • Deferred Enrollment • Delay enrollments for a semester or a year. • Delayed/Provisional Admissions • Students are accepted, but usually after completion of a summer program or a fall semester at another college.

26. College Websites • www.collegeboard.com • www.GAcollege411.org • www.fastweb.com or www.fastaid.com • www.careercruising.com • UserID: Walton • Password: Raiders • www.commonapp.org • www.ncaa.org

27. College Admissions Tests • Must take 1 of 2 primary admissions tests.. • SAT (Highest possible score 2400) • ACT (Highest possible score 36) • Walton is an official test center for both (except June administration). • Must have taken the Writing section at least ONCE. • SAT IIs are specific subject tests. Research your college to determine if needed as part of the application.

28. Senior Year Checklist • SAT, SAT Subject Tests and/or ACT • SAT and/or ACT are usually required • SAT Subject Tests are required by Ivy and highly selective Universities and Colleges • SAT – Oct 6, Nov 3, Dec 1 • SAT Subjects – same dates – can take up to three tests per sitting • ACT –Sept 8, Oct 27, Dec 8

29. Funding Your Education • Dos: • Start Early!!! • Make sure you have a valid & Correct SSN on file. • If male and 17 ½ or older, you must register for selective service. • Make personal contacts with college financial aid office. • Search the internet. • Check Guidance Blog. • Be willing to write essays.

30. Scholarships /Financial Aide • Scholarships can be Merit or Need Based • Try to avoid Loans – if needed use Federal Based loans – int. rate is lower than private • 80% of dollars are from the College or University

31. Scholarships and Financial Aid • Check the Guidance Blog for Scholarships – updated weekly • Try for locals – less applicants • Nomination Scholarships by school – watch deadlines and committee decisions • Fill out FAFSA regardless of income

32. Funding Your Education • Don’ts: • Rule out a college b/c of the “sticker” price. • Wait until you are accepted to inquire about financial aid. • Allow bogus search companies to scam you. No service can guarantee a scholarship. Any advertisement that has a fee is a SCAM!!!! Throw it out!

33. HOPE Scholarship Calculation • A complete transcript is submitted to GSFC after graduation. A mid year report will be generated an available to students on-line after first semester each school year • Nominal Standard for eligibility: • 3.0 on a 4.0 scale • All academic credits counted in calculation • English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and World Languages • Extra Weight: AP and IB only (0.5)

34. Zell Miller Scholarship - 2012 • Full tuition • Includes SAT/ACT component • SAT 1200 CR and Math Total/one sitting • ACT – Composite of 26 in one sitting • 3.7 calculated HOPE GPA based on CORE attempted courses

35. Senior Grades Second Semester • All acceptances are conditional!! • Seniors who develop “Senioritis” may have that acceptance rescinded if grades or attendance decline significantly • All colleges regardless of the level of difficulty of entry require that students maintain approx. the same grade average through their senior year.

36. Walton Statistics - 2012 • 99% of our Graduates are now attending college (94% – 4 year) • Attending 37 states and 5 Countries • In State – approximately 60% • Retention – a good thing in college –over 85%

37. Walton UGA STATS - 2012 • Number of applicants – 229 • Number accepted –144 • Waitlisted – 16 • Denied – 68 • Canceled App by student - 11 • Senior honors courses/average 7 • Senior AP courses/average - 8

38. Walton Ga Tech STATS • Applicants 102 • Accepted – 64 – 70% - highest in the State – average 47% • Average GPA 3.96 • Average SAT 2100 ACT 31 • Honors Courses average – 6 • AP Courses average -8

39. Keeping your Sanity • The year goes quickly! • Enjoy your child’s last full year at home. • Keep communication open and feel free to contact or e-mail your child’s counselor. • Check the Walton Website for all senior information and deadlines – Sr. section