Transcript Planning for Your Post

WHAT’S NEXT?
Planning for Life After High School
Stevens High School
Guidance Department
Fall 2011
LEARNING TARGETS
Seniors will have a better understanding of the
ways their counselor and the guidance office
can support them in their senior year and in
planning for life after high school
 Seniors will understand academic rules and
requirements for graduation, specific
scholarships, and activity eligibility both in high
school and college
 Seniors will further understand college entrance
exam planning, and the process of applying for
college

Guidance Staff
Counselors
Paula Wilson
ABCEFG
Kerri Stover
HIJLMN
Kim Elder
O-V
Shirley Andrews
D K W XY Z
Others
• Kathryn Sosa - Gifted Ed. Coordinator
• David Herrick - Lifeways Advisor
• Marcia Geyer - Registrar
• Jenni Dragoo -Records Secretary
• Brenda Sinclair - Secretary/Receptionist

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
High School Transcripts
 Look
over your transcript.
 When
you pursue:
College admission
Military enlistment
Employment
you will likely be asked to submit your
high school transcript.
 Most
of you will need to apply for college
before winter break, so what you see
today is what will be sent with your
application.
High School Transcripts continued
 TRANSCRIPT
- a record of all your high
school classes with your grade and credit
earned.
 Is
your transcript is correct?
 GPA
and class rank – at the bottom of
the transcript. Colleges require this
information.
 Please
write your GPA and class rank on
your Senior Questionnaire.
TEST OUTS / Transcripts

1)
2)
Students who tested out of a class have two
options for recording it on their transcript:
You can leave it as “PAS”, which indicates a
test out, OR…
you can request that the test out grade (an A
or B) be listed on the transcript.

Decide by the end of 1st semester which way
you want a test out recorded.

The SD Opportunity Scholarship does not
recognize PASS/FAIL or TEST OUT in a
required core course . You must have a letter
grade.
Senior Credit Checks
 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.
There is a difference.
Senior Credit Checks –
Continued

Review your credit check – you will need
22 credits or more to graduate.

Make sure your Pathway is marked
correctly at the top of your credit check.

The required classes are listed on the left
side of your credit check; electives on the
right.
Senior Credit Checkscontinued
Pathways for the Class of 2012
2012 graduates are required by the state to declare 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. See
your counselor with any questions.

Senior Credit Checks –
continued
All RCAS graduates must have passed
the Gates MacGinitie reading test. If you
are not in a reading class, you have
probably passed this test.
 Check with Jenni, our Records Secretary,
if you are in doubt.
 New/transfer students should have been
given the reading test upon enrollment.

Senior Credit Checks –
continued
 If there are questions regarding your
credit check, please see your counselor to
clarify. No one likes surprises at
graduation time.

If you are taking an online or off-campus
class, please write that down on your
credit check; see your counselor to
ensure these courses count toward
graduation.
Senior Credit Checks –
continued

If you make a correction on your credit
check form, please see your counselor to
be sure graduation is still on track.

Initial and date the upper right hand
corner of your credit check form

Return your credit check & transcript to
your counselor.
Guidance Office Appointments

We recommend you see us sometime this
semester (not during class time). We want to
be aware of your future plans and help you, if
necessary.

Appointments are made by our secretary,
Brenda Sinclair.

Appointment times are from 7:45 – 3:00 each
day classes are in session (no in-service days).

Mrs. Andrews is here Tuesdays,Thursdays, and
Friday afternoons.
Senior Schedule Changes
Seniors, see your counselor (not
the Registrar) regarding any
schedule changes so we can
document those changes on
your credit check.
Transcript Requests

Jenni Dragoo, the Records Secretary, handles all
transcript requests.

There is a 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.
College Application Procedures

Complete your application either online or on
paper.

Request letters of recommendation*, if needed.

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.
*More info on later slide
College Application Procedures
- continued
 Submit
all items 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.
College Application Procedures continued
 Colleges
appreciate receiving all application
materials in one package.
 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.
*Letters of Recommendation
 Watch
what you say via text and social networks; any
cruel words or negativity could impact someone’s
willingness to write you a letter. Also, employers,
colleges, & scholarship committees are starting to look
at Facebook pages.
 Be
kind and request letters two weeks in advance.
 Be
clear – who is the letter to and when do you need it?
 Provide
your autobiographical sketch.
 Request
additional copies of letters written on your
behalf.

Send a thank you.
College Admission Exams
 Seniors
planning to attend college are
required to take a college entrance exam:
ACT or SAT (4 year schools), or the
COMPASS (2 year schools).
 The ACT
test is more widely accepted by
colleges 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.
ACT
You can register online at:
http://www.actstudent.org/
September 16 (tomorrow) is the next
regular deadline date to register for the
October 22 ACT test.
SAT
You can register online at:
www.collegeboard.com
October 7 is the regular deadline date for
the November 5 SAT test.
ACT/SAT Preparation

www.library.sd.gov (Learning Express)

Online, free, accessible from home (with library
card) or school.

www.sdmylife.com

Online, free, part of your Career Cruising program,
accessible from home or school.
www.studentedge.com
Ask your counselor for instructions on
how to use any of these programs.

SDHSAA Eligibility

To participate in SDHSAA sports and
activities (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 2nd
semester participation.

See Mr.Vasquez with questions.
NCAA and NAIA Prospective College Athletes

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.

You can check your eligibility requirements at
these websites and learn which classes you will
need to have before high school graduation.

Online classes may not be accepted by NCAA.
See your counselor with questions.
Community Service Credit, Learn
& Serve, and W.I.S.E.
Lori Storm handles both the Community
Volunteer credit and the Learn & Serve
credit.
 Nancy May handles the W.I.S.E.
internships/credit.
 For more information, contact Mrs.
Storm in room S203, and listen to the
announcements for information about
W.I.S.E.

Stevens Seminar
The Stevens Seminar offers presentations to
students and their parents on various topics
including student growth and development,
career exploration, searching for scholarships,
and post-high school planning.
 Dinner is provided. The evening is free of charge.
Hundreds of people come every year!
•
Don’t miss this very informative evening!
Date -- December 1, 2011
Post-High Planning Day

Post-High Planning Day will be at the
Civic Center on Thursday, October 20,
2011.

Over fifty in-state and out-of-state postsecondary schools will be represented at
this event.

More information will be handed out to
you in your US Government classes.

Parents are encouraged to attend!
Post-High Planning Day
Registration (new)
Go to www.sdcollegefairs.com, choose your
planning day site (Rapid City), and register.
 Print your admittance pass with bar code and
bring it with you to post high day.
• The bar code will automatically enter you in a
$500 scholarship drawing, and make requesting
info from colleges much easier (they’ll scan your
code so you don’t have to complete numerous
request cards)

College/Military Recruiters

Students are encouraged to visit with the
college and military recruiters who schedule
visits to our school.

Listen to the announcements or check in the
guidance office for visit dates, times, and
locations.
College/Career Center
In the Guidance Office you will find:
 Computers for use in college planning, scholarship
searches, ACT/SAT test registration, career research, etc.
 College Handbooks,Two Year Schools
 Scholarship Board & File
 Financial Aid materials (Information Night in January)
 Majors & Minors Resource Book
 Career Resource Books
 Test Preparation Books
 School catalogs from all across the nation and abroad filed by state or region.
 Career Cruising username and password (See Marcia
Geyer, Registrar)
Scholarship Information
For scholarship information, 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 included in
the daily announcements.
Financial Aid Night
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 on
January 5, 2012.

*Free Application for Federal Student Aid
South Dakota Board of Regents
Scholar Curriculum
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
½ computer
3.0 GPA
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*½ PE (must earn a letter grade, not Pass/Fail)
*½ personal finance or economics
*Not required for Regents, but required for graduation and the SD
Opportunity Scholarship
SD Opportunity Scholarship
Follow Distinguished Pathway curriculum
Earn a 24 ACT, or a combined math & verbal SAT of
1090.
No Pass/Fail or Test Out 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
$5000 Scholarship over 4 years
Dakota Corps Scholarship
Graduate of 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
Senior Questionnaire and
Autobiographical Sketch

Information about you is consistently requested of us
when completing college applications. To best help you,
we need to know about you!

Please complete the Senior Questionnaire and
Autobiographical Sketch assignment as directed by your
English teacher or 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.
The End!
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 Ed)