Transcript Planning for Your Post

What’s next for the class of 2013?
 Seniors will understand how their counselors
and the guidance office can assist them in
planning for life after high school
 Seniors will understand academic rules and
requirements for graduation, specific
scholarships, and activity eligibility
 Seniors will understand the process of
applying for college and ways to pay for it
 Senior Planning & Regents/Opportunity Scholarship
information (yellow)
 Senior Checklist (orange)
 Senior Questionnaire & Autobiographical Sketch (lime)
 Credit check (gold) and electronic credit check (white) ~we
will want these back
 Unofficial transcript (white) ~you can keep this
Counselors
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Paula Wilson
Kerri Stover
Kim Elder
Shirley Andrews
ABCEFG
HIJLMN
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D K W XY Z
Others
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Kathryn Sosa - Gifted Education Coordinator
David Herrick - Lifeways Advisor
Marcia Geyer - Registrar
Jenni Dragoo - Records Secretary
Brenda Sinclair - Secretary/Receptionist
 Look over your transcript. You will be asked to
submit an official high school transcript when you
pursue:
 college admission and scholarships
 military enlistment
 Employment
 Most of you will apply for college before winter
break; what you see on your transcript today is
what will be sent with your application.
 Stevens High School cannot release an official
transcript to you.
 Transcript - a record of all your high school classes with
grades and credits earned
 Is your transcript is correct?
 Have you re-taken any class for a better grade? If so, have
you completed the form to have the lower grade pulled
out of your GPA?
 GPA and class rank - at the bottom of the transcript ; write
those on your Senior Questionnaire (lime sheet)
 Two options for recording test out(s) on the
transcript:
Leave it as PAS, which indicates a test out,
or…
2) request that the letter grade (A or B) be listed
instead.
1)
 Must decide by the end of 1st semester how you
want a test out recorded.
 Be aware: some popular scholarships require
letter grades, not PAS, on the transcript.
 You are responsible for making sure you meet
graduation requirements.
 Your counselor helps by providing you with a
completed credit check.
 This credit check is for high school graduation
requirements only, NOT college admission
requirements.
Pathways for the Class of 2013
 2013 graduates are required by the state to be on a
Pathway for graduation.
 Your counselor will assume you are on the Advanced
Pathway unless you or your course selection tells her
otherwise.
 If you are on the Standard Pathway and have not yet
signed the Standard Pathway agreement, your parent
must make an appointment with your counselor as soon
as possible.
 If you are considering the Distinguished Pathway, make
sure you are enrolled in the appropriate classes.
 Review your credit check
 Will you have at least 22 total credits by the end of this
year?
 Is your Pathway marked correctly at the top? If not, fix
it.
 Are you meeting all the required (left column) and
elective (right column) course expectations?
 Are you still enrolled in the courses we have marked? If
not, make corrections.
 Are you in any online or college classes? If so, write
them on the credit check (bottom right side).
 All RCAS graduates must have passed a reading
test. If you are not in a reading class, you have
probably passed the test.
 Check with Jenni Dragoo, our Records Secretary, if
you are in doubt.
 New/transfer students should have been given the
reading test upon enrollment.
 Questions or concerns about your credit check or
graduation status ? See your counselor ASAP.
 If you fixed/corrected anything on your credit
check, let your counselor know. No one likes
surprises at graduation time.
 Initial and date the upper right hand corner of your
credit check form.
 Return your credit check and transcript.
Seniors must see their counselor for any
scheduling adjustments.
Your counselor monitors your credits, the
registrar does not.
Any schedule adjustments must be
documented on your credit check.
We don’t want you to risk coming up short for
graduation.
 This information is relevant if you are applying to
college and for scholarships, for employment, or
enlisting in the military. You will need to know:
 How to request an official transcript/other
school documents
 How to complete an application
 How to request letters of recommendation
• Colleges, scholarship committees, employers, and military recruiters
require transcripts from students. We don’t send them without your
written request.
 Jenni Dragoo, the Records Secretary, handles all transcript requests.
 There is a yellow Transcript Request Form in the guidance office that
must be completed to send an official transcript to a college or other
organization.
 It must be signed by you AND a parent if you are not yet 18 years old.
 A new Transcript Request Form must be completed for each place
you’d like your records sent.
 Complete your application either online or on paper.
 Request letters of recommendation*, if needed (not everyone
requires a letter). *More info on later slide
 Complete a transcript release form.
 If you complete a paper application, staple your check for the
application fee to the application.
 If you complete an application online, you will be asked to pay the
fee with a credit or debit card. Also, there may be forms you need
to print and bring to your counselor to complete.
 Clip all application materials together and submit to
our office (put in the Requested Transcripts basket).
 Jenni will gather all requested items on the transcript
release form, address an envelope and give the
application packet to your counselor or Mrs. Sosa.
 Your counselor/Mrs. Sosa will complete the counselor
evaluation part of the application, attach any letters
of recommendation, and mail your college application
in one package (highly recommended). We handle
postage for you.
 We document the date that the application leaves
our school.
 Be aware of deadlines. We need at least 5 school
days to process and complete transcript requests.
 December 1 and January 1 deadlines often fall
close to holidays, so plan ahead. Our office is
closed during all school year breaks.
 Be careful with texts and comments made on social
networks; any negativity could impact a person’s
willingness to write you a letter. Many employers, colleges,
& scholarship boards ask for access to Facebook pages.
 Be kind - request letters at least two weeks in advance.
 Be clear – who is the letter to and when do you need it?
 Be prepared – provide your autobiographical sketch.
 Be resourceful – when necessary, request additional copies
of letters written on your behalf.
 Be grateful - send a thank you.
 Technical schools, colleges, & universities
required that you take an entrance exam:
 ACT or SAT (4 year schools)
 COMPASS (2 year schools)
 The ACT test is more widely accepted than the
SAT test.
 The COMPASS test is offered at WDT frequently.
You need not plan to attend WDT to take the
COMPASS exam there.
You can register online at:
http://www.actstudent.org/
September 21 (Friday) is the registration deadline
for the October 27 ACT test.
SAT~
You can register online at:
www.collegeboard.com
October 4 is the registration deadline for the
November 3 SAT test.
 www.library.sd.gov- Learning Express
 Online, free, accessible from home (with library card) or
school.
 www.sdmylife.com -Method Test Prep
 Online, free, part of your Career Cruising program, accessible
from home or school.
 www.studentedge.com
 Suggested book – The Real ACT
There are multiple test prep options. See your
counselor for more detailed information.
 To participate in any Stevens sport and/or
activity (including fine arts), you must have
passed 4 classes in your previous semester, and
be enrolled in 4 classes in the current semester.
 What you do this semester will affect second
semester participation.
 See Mr. Vasquez with questions.
 Athletes wishing to compete at the college
level must register with the NCAA or NAIA.
 Links to the NCAA and NAIA websites can be
found at www.raiderscorner.com.
 Online classes may not be accepted by
NCAA. See your counselor with questions.
 Post-High Planning Day will be at the Civic
Center on Tuesday, Oct 23, 2012.
 Over fifty in-state and out-of-state post-
secondary schools will be represented at this
event.
 You will need to register online for this
event.
 More information will be handed out in US
Government classes.
 Students are encouraged to see the college
and military recruiters who visit our school.
 Listen to the announcements or check in
the guidance office for scheduled dates,
times, and locations of visits.
 Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) –
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offered at Stevens in January
www.sdmylife.com – see our Registrar, Marcia Geyer,
for your username and password
Beyond the Books (formerly Learn & Serve) - .5 credit
class with some openings semester 2
Wise Individual Senior Experience (WISE) - .5 credit
class; see Mrs. Storm in room S203
Community Service – .5 credit opportunity; see Mrs.
Storm
 College websites – freshman scholarships are often
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available
WUE – Western Undergraduate Exchange
Reciprocity – with Minnesota colleges and universities
National scholarship websites – see your counselor for
a list
Stevens High Scholarship Listserv*
Federal Aid* – complete the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after
the new year
*More information on following slides
For scholarships, please check the following:
 the scholarship board and file located in the guidance
office AND on the SHS website
 the Stevens High School Scholarship Listserv -- sign up
at:
www.k12.sd.us/Listserv/StevensScholarships
Join this list and receive announcements of scholarships
as they are received by us.
**Please Note: Scholarships are not printed or read in
the daily announcements.
 83% of SD college students receive financial
assistance to pay for college.
 Your counselors will host a *FAFSA/Financial Aid
Information Night for you and your parents in
January 2013.
www.sdbor.edu
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4 English
4 math (Algebra 1 and higher)
4 science (including biology and chemistry or physics)
3 social studies
2 of the same foreign language
1 fine art
.5 computer
3.0 GPA
 *.5 PE (must earn a letter grade, not Pass/Fail)
 *.5 personal finance or economics
*Not required for Regents, but required for graduation and the SD
Opportunity Scholarship
Follow Distinguished Pathway curriculum
Earn a 24 ACT, or a combined math & verbal SAT of 1090.
No PAS on the transcript in any required core classes
No core class below a C
3.0 GPA (unweighted)
Attend a SD college/university/tech school
$5,000 scholarship over 4 years
Graduate from an accredited SD high school
GPA of 2.8 or higher
ACT of 24 or higher
Agree in writing to work in a critical need occupation in
the state of SD after graduation (limited time)
Competitive; scholarship covers full tuition and fees at a
participating SD college
February 1 deadline
Learn more at:
http://www.state.sd.us/dakotacorps/default.html
 There are counselor sections on most college
applications; therefore, information about you is
often requested of us.
 Please complete the Senior Questionnaire and
Autobiographical Sketch and turn in to your English
teacher or your counselor.
 Please keep a copy of your final answers for yourself
so you can share it with those you ask to write
letters of recommendation.
 Want help with future planning? Make an appointment
to see your counselor (not during class time).
 Appointments are made by our secretary, Brenda
Sinclair.
 Appointment times - 7:45 – 3:00 each day classes are in
session. (No afternoon appointments on early release
days.)
 Mrs. Andrews is here Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Friday
afternoons.
When in doubt about planning for life after high
school, make an appointment to see your
counselor/advisor. We want to help!
 Paula Wilson – A B C E F G
 Kerri Stover – H I J L M N
 Kim Elder – O – V
 Shirley Andrews – D K W X Y Z
 Kathryn Sosa – A – Z (Gifted Education)