Life is like the movies. We produce our own show. –Mike Todd

1. Life is like the movies.We produce our own show. –Mike Todd

2. Checklists • 10th Grade Checklist • Spring: • _____ Take STAAR EOC Tests – English II • _____ Make course selections for junior year • _____ Apply to work program if applicable • _____ Investigate college requirements (online, college catalogs, Go Center) • _____ Begin a resume of activities, awards, community service, & etc. • _____ Begin talking to people about various career &college options • _____ Take TSI Test if taking any college classes during junior year (note exemptions) • 11th Grade Checklist • October _____PSAT Test • November _____College Fair at high school • December ____STAAR Re-tests • January _____Review and update 4-year graduation plan • _____Make course selections for senior year • _____Register for ACT/SAT • _____Continue research on colleges • February _____ Plan spring college visits to more competitive colleges • March _____Job Shadowing • May _____STAAR EOC Testing • _____AP test for AP English III • _____Summer school notification if needed • _____Take ACT/SAT • June _____Take ACT/SAT • _____Take THEA if not exempt • _____Summer school • _____View perspective college campuses • _____Improve reading and vocabulary skills • _____Start working on a personal essay for college applications • _____Plan fall college visit(s) • July _____STAAR exams for retesters • _____Narrow down list of colleges and begin filling out applications

3. More Information about College Admissions and Testing By review – for applicants not in the top ten percent. The entire application will be reviewed to consider: college preparatory course work, class rank and SAT/ACT scores, extra curricular activities, leadership qualities, community/volunteer service work, awards and achievements, employment and/or internships, and family educational background and household income. Also, the student’s freshman admission essay is very important. WHAT IS TSI? It is the Texas Success Initiative, and measures the ability of students—as indicated by their skills in Reading, Writing and Math—to do college-level course work. Students who do not meet exemption criteria or pass all sections of placement testing will be required to enroll in Developmental/College Preparatory Courses for areas in which they have not passed. Find out more about Testing at NCTC. NOTE – All of the information on the previous slide is subject to change at any time. Check with the individual colleges and universities to get updated information! The counseling office will be glad to help!

4. Dual Credit Information Dual credit refers to courses taught by NCTC in which students are eligible to receive college and high school credit simultaneously. Eligibility is determined by test scores and: -minimum of a “B” (2.0) high school grade point average -must exhibit maturity and social behavior necessary to be enrolled in a college level course -must be at least a junior in high school (12 credits) To apply, follow these steps in the spring of 2014: Complete a “Dual Credit Agreement” form. It must be signed by a parent, the student and a H.S. counselor or designee. Complete the NCTC Application for Admission, available on the website, www.nctc.edu . Send an official high school transcript to NCTC admissions. See your counselor at GHS to request a transcript. Pay for tuition and fees. ( NCTC does honor free lunch qualification with free tuition.*) Pay for books. (You may be able to buy a used book to cut costs.)

5. General Test Information for Dual Credit To qualify for a college class you must meet TSI testing requirements or be exempt. Test exemption score requirements are: SAT – 1070 and 500 in Math and 500 in Verbal ACT – 23 Composite and 19 in Math and 19 in Verbal PSAT – 107 combined scores of reading and math ONLY, 50 in each subject relative to course taken PLAN – 23 combined, 19 in Math/English How the test scores fit to the dual credit classes offered: • READING: TSI status must be College Ready in Reading to enroll in HIST1301 or 1302 (U.S. History); GOVT2305 or 2306 (American Government); ANY sophomore literature course; or PSYC2301 (General Psychology). • MATHEMATICS: TSI status must be College Ready in Math to enroll in MATH 1314 (College Algebra); MATH 1332 (Math for Liberal Arts); MATH 1342 (Elementary Statistics);  MATH 1316 (Trigonometry).  • WRITING: TSI status must be College Ready in Writing to enroll in ENGL1301 (Grammar & Composition); ENGL1302 (Literature & Composition); or ANY sophomore literature course  Watch for an evening presentation on dual credit in the Spring of 2014. The NCTC staff will come to GHS to help you get registered on designated dates in the spring that are TBD. *Students who qualify for free lunches need to submit a letter (free lunch waiver) from the high school at the time of registration.

6. Important Websites Career and College Planning: www.tbecachievetexas.com Password: “Steers” unless you specified something different Login is specific to you. If you are new, register as a new student. School Access Code: N3282367BWR School Zip Code: 76450 Career Projections through 2016: www.twc.state.tx.us Where the Jobs are: www.workintexas.com College Planning: www.collegefortexans.com www.GenTX.org College Planning in and out of state: www.collegeboard.com - go to the college search, also helpful with test prep www.act.org - also helpful with test prep and college searches Free Test Prep for ACT/SAT and others: www.number2.com www.march2success.com - for the military tests, but other tests as well Free Scholarship Searches: www.fastweb.com www.scholarship.com