Transcript Slide 1

Helping the Class of 2015
Plan for Life After High
School
 Learn
important steps to take when planning
for life after high school (refer to your
orange handout)
 Understand
the many ways in which
guidance department staff members can
support you as you transition away from SHS
Counselors
Paula Wilson
 Melissa Good-Mitzel
 Kim Elder
 Katie Baskerville

ABCEFG
HIJLMN
O-V
DKWXYZ
Others
Kathryn Sosa – Gifted Education Coordinator
 Bob Burke - Lifeways Advisor
 Marcia Geyer – Registrar
 Jenni Dragoo – Records Secretary
 Brenda Sinclair - Secretary

 Counselors
are often asked to provide
information about you to colleges and
scholarship committees.
 Please complete the Autobiographical Sketch
and the Senior Questionnaire. Turn it in to
your English teacher (if given as an
assignment) or your counselor.
 Be thorough; the Sketch helps us help you.
 Keep a copy for yourself; you may need to
give it to others from whom you request a
letter of recommendation.
Review your transcript.
You will be asked to submit your 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.
A
transcript is a record of all your high school
classes with FINAL grades and credits earned.
 GPA
2.
and class rank are at the bottom of page
 Write
your GPA and class rank on your Senior
Questionnaire.
 If
you have questions about your transcript,
see Jenni Dragoo, Records Secretary.
Two options for recording test out on your
transcript:
 Leave it as PAS or TST, which indicates a test
out, or
 request that the letter grade (A or B) be
listed instead. The letter grade will not
impact the GPA.
Decide by the end of semester 1 how you want
it recorded.
Be aware: Some scholarships require letter
grades.
 If
you have re-taken a class for a better
grade, you must complete a Grade
Replacement Form to have the lower grade
removed from your GPA.
 Some
 See
restrictions apply.
Brenda in guidance for the form or your
counselor with any questions.
 Review
your credit check. Required classes
are on the left; electives on the right.
 You are responsible for meeting graduation
requirements.
 High school graduation requirements may
differ from college admission requirements.
 If you are waiving a math or science class,
your parents must sign the waiver(s) before
you can graduate. See your counselor for
the form(s).
 If
you are taking an off-campus or online
class, please let your counselor know. These
classes have early May deadlines.
 If
you are planning to graduate at the end of
semester one, tell Jenni Dragoo, Records
Secretary, as soon as possible.
 If
you have questions about your credit
check, make an appointment to see your
counselor.
 To
graduate from a South Dakota high school,
all students must have completed a Personal
Learning Plan (PLP) in their SDMyLife
portfolio.
 A completed PLP shows a minimum of 22
credits & includes all required courses.
 Students have worked on their PLPs at school
in grades 8 – 11. Please log in to update it
and verify its completion.
 See Marcia Geyer, registrar, in the guidance
office for usernames and passwords.
Possibilities:
 *Continue your education to pursue a
profession/career (you don’t have to know
exactly what profession just yet)
 Join the military
 Sign up for volunteer work (Americorps,
Peace Corps, church mission, etc), which
often provides travel opportunities
 Work (because you love it or because your
goals aren’t yet clear)
*Most of our presentation will focus on this, but come see us for
more info about the other options
 Military?
Talk to a recruiter. They visit SHS
frequently.
 Volunteer? Research programs. Ask your
counselor for help.
 Work or on the job training? Search for
satisfying employment. There is a Job Board
in the guidance office.
 College?
We are discussing this next.
Looking for direction? The options below can
help you clarify your own interests,
priorities, and career possibilities.
 www.sdmylife.com
 ASVAB
– offered on campus October 8, 2014
and March 25, 2015 during early release.
 www.studentedge.com
#1 on orange handout
 Challenge
yourself now
 Do the best you can all year long; finish high
school strong/no regrets
 Consider opportunities outside of Stevens
(dual enrollment)
 Prepare for and take college entrance exams:
*ACT and/or **SAT (4 year schools), or the
ACCUPLACER (2 year schools)
*The ACT has a writing component not all colleges require; check
the admissions requirements of your college(s)
**The SAT has subject tests your college may require you to take
#2 on orange handout
 college
degree/major
 military experience & training/education
 on-the-job training
#3 on orange handout
PERSONAL –
 Where do you want to live?
 Community size? School campus size?
 What do you do for fun?
 What sacrifices are you willing to make?
 Does the school offer the degree I want or meet
my career path?
FINANCIAL –
 How much are you willing to spend/invest?
 What assistance is available?
 How much should you/can you earn to support
the lifestyle you want?
#3 on orange handout
Know YOUR goals
 Make a list of colleges
 Research and gather information--Google, attend
college rep visits at SHS, make phone calls, talk
to your parents and your counselor
 Narrow your list
 Tour the campuses, when possible


Apply!
#4 on orange handout
 Consult
each college’s website to find out
what is required with your application;
most applications are now online.
 CHECK
DEADLINES for early decision, early
admission, regular admission and
scholarships.
 Write
admission essay(s), if needed.
 Ask
for *letters of recommendation, if
requested.
#6 on orange handout
o
Use manners when on social media sites; what you
put out there could impact a person’s willingness to
write you a letter. Many employers, colleges, &
scholarship boards ask for access to Facebook pages.
o
Be kind-request letters two weeks in advance.
o
Be clear – who is the letter to and when will you pick
it up?
o
Provide your autobiographical sketch.
You can request additional copies of letters written
on your behalf.
Offer thanks to anyone who writes you a letter.
o
o
 Be
prepared to pay your application fee(s)
via bank card or check.
 Assemble
all required application materials.
Bring them to SHS with your…
 …completed
Transcript Release Form. This
form allows SHS to send required documents
to your prospective colleges. Allow 4-5
school days for us to complete transcript
requests.
#6 on orange handout
IMPORTANT NOTES:
 December 1 and January 1 deadlines often fall
close to holidays. Plan ahead so deadlines don’t
catch you off guard.

The SHS guidance office is closed during school
year breaks.

Your counselor or Mrs. Sosa can help you with
any part of this process. Please ask!
#6 on orange handout
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FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Apply in Jan-Feb of your senior year.
National websites – www.fastweb.com,
www.schoolsoup.com, www.studentaid.ed.gov
Stevens Scholarship Listserv
Freshman scholarships from colleges - based on
majors, activities, need, academics, etc.
Work – your employer, your parents’ employers
Private loans
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)/reciprocity
with Minnesota schools
Military
SD Opportunity Scholarship
Dakota Corps Scholarship

#5 on orange handout
 FAFSA
award letters are sent to colleges in
the spring; therefore, you may not make
your final college choice until you see the
financial packages offered by the schools to
which you applied
 Consider ALL your goals (educational,
personal, financial) when making your final
decision
 Notify the college you plan to attend
#7 on orange handout
 Athletes
who wish to compete at the college
level must register online with NAIA or NCAA.
 Be aware of your academic eligibility
requirements to be a college athlete (both
GPA and curriculum).
 Technical Writing & Informal Geometry don’t
toward eligibility.
 Links to NAIA and NCAA can be found at
www.raiderscorner.com. Click on college
athletics on the left side.
 College
representatives and military
recruiters visit SHS all the time. Listen to
the announcements or see the calendar of
visits on our dept door.
 Ongoing – ACT test prep sessions, the ASVAB,
a FAFSA completion day, Accuplacer test days
 Raiders Senior College Prep Night - November
6, 2014
 Post High Planning Days – October 23, 2014
 Financial Aid Night – January 8, 2015
 Please
see your counselor with any
questions. An appointment can be made
through our secretaries.
 See only your counselor for any schedule
adjustments/issues. We document those
changes on your credit checks.
 Counselors do their best work one on one
with students. If we know your individual
needs, goals, fears, and hopes, then we
know how best to serve YOU.
Enjoy your senior year!
See us with questions –
Paula Wilson – A B C E F G
Melissa Good-Mitzel – H I J L M N
Kim Elder – O through V
Katie Baskverville – D K W X Y Z
Kathryn Sosa – A through Z Gifted Education