Senior Parent Night – Class of 2015Guide to College AdmissionsPresented by Cambridge Counseling Department

Overview

Demystifying the College Admissions Process

College Admission Testing

College Admissions Statistics

Welcome & Program OverviewItem 1

Scholarships & Financial Aid Basics

Item 2

Item 3

Item 4

Item 5

Item 6

Procedures & Resources

Demystifying the College Admission Process

Virginia ElliottAdmissions AdvisorAtlanta Regional RecruiterAuburn University

What are colleges looking for in my application?

When is the best time to apply?

How is my GPA calculated?

• Core vs. cumulative

• Weighted vs. unweighted

How important are my SAT/ACT scores?

Do colleges care about essays, recommendations, and extracurricular

activities?

What are the benefits of an Honors College and how do I apply?

College Admission Testing

Amey RishelCounselorCambridge High School

SAT (WWW.COLLEGEBOARD.ORG)• SAT is a reasoning test• Administered 7 times a year• 3 hours 45 minutes• Score: 200-800 per section• ¼ point deducted for wrong answer• Writing (1 essay)

ReadingMath (up to basic geometry & algebra II)Science: none

• ACT is a content-based test• Administered 6 times a year• 3 hours 30 minutes (with essay)• Score: 1-36 per section• No penalty for wrong answers• Writing (optional)

ReadingMath (up to trigonometry)ScienceEnglish

ACT (WWW.ACT.ORG)

SAT & ACTCHS CEEB Code: 112129

Does your student still need to take the SAT/ACT or the SAT Subject Tests?

SAT ACT

October 11 (register by Sept 12)

September 13 (deadline passed)

November 8(register by Oct 9)

October 25 (register by Sept 19)

December 6 (register by Nov 6)

December 13 (register by Nov 7)

Preparation

• Applerouth SAT/ACT Diagnostic TestSaturday, September 13th Register online at www.applerouth.com Use event code: M139619

• Princeton Review ClassesRegister for fall schedule now online

• Free Practice Test Booklets

• Online

• Media Center

Scholarship/Financial Aid Basics

Leigh PoppCounselorCambridge High School

Georgia’s HOPE Program

HOPE – Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally – is Georgia’s unique scholarships and grant program that rewards students with financial assistance in degree, diploma, and certificate programs at eligible Georgia public and private colleges and universities, and public technical colleges

Qualifications: Be a U.S. citizen and legal resident of Georgia Be a graduate of an eligible high school Be registered with Selective Service (males)

HOPE SCHOLARSHIP

• Public Institutions:Students attending public colleges or universities receive a HOPE award amount, up to a maximum of 15 hours, based upon a per hour rate at the institution he or she is attending. (see chart on GACollege411.org)

• Private Institutions• Full-time student

$1,910 per semester • Half-time student

$955 per semester

• Public Institutions:Pays current academic year standard undergraduate tuition for number of hours enrolled (public)

• Private Institutions:• Full-time student $2,110 per semester• Half-time student $1,055 per semester

ZELL MILLER SCHOLARSHIP

Award Amounts

HOPE SCHOLARSHIP

• Earn a 3.0 GPA in high school (calculated by GA Student Finance Commission)

• Recipients must have 3.0 GPA at checkpoints to maintain

• Graduate valedictorian or salutatorian OR

• Earn a 3.7 GPA in high school AND earn a 1200 combined score of reading and math on a single administration of the SAT or a 26 composite score on a single administration of the ACT by your graduation date

• Recipients must have 3.3 GPA at checkpoints to maintain.

ZELL MILLER SCHOLARSHIP

GPA Requirements

GPA Calculation

• Final calculations are conducted by GA Student Finance Commission after student graduates from high school

• ALL core classes are used for the calculation (English, Math, Science, Social Studies, World Language)

• GPAs are not rounded (2.9999 is not a 3.0)• Conversion:

Remove all honors points Convert individual grades to 4.0 scale

(A = 4; B = 3; C = 2, F = 0) Add .5 weight to AP and College courses only

(up to 4.0) Divide by total number of grades

HOPE Scholarship & Zell Miller Scholarship

English/ELAAP Language/Composition AP Literature/CompositionMathematicsGPS Advanced AlgebraGPS Pre-Calculus Accelerated GPS Pre-Calculus H Accelerated CCGPS Pre-Calculus H CCGPS Advanced Algebra CCGPS Pre-CalculusAP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC AP Statistics Multivariable Calculus (GA Tech)Social StudiesAP Psychology AP Government/Politics: United StatesAP Government/Politics: ComparativeAP Macroeconomics AP Microeconomics AP Human Geography AP World History AP United States History AP European History

ScienceAP Computer ScienceAP BiologyAP Environmental ScienceHuman Anatomy/PhysiologyChemistryAP ChemistryPhysicsAP Physics BAP Physics C: MechanicsAP Physics C: Electricity and MagnetismWorld LanguageFrench IIFrench IIIFrench IVFrench VAP French/LanguageSpanish IISpanish IIISpanish IVSpanish VSpanish VIAP Spanish/LanguageAP Spanish/LiteratureLatin IILatin IIIAP Latin: Vergil

Rigor RequirementsClass of 2015 – 2 full credits from list below

HOPE Grant

• Available to students seeking a technical certification or diploma regardless of high school grade point average or graduation date

• Covers a percentage amount of the standard tuition charges from the previous year

• Must earn cumulative GPA of 2.0 at 30 semester hours/60 semester hours to maintain

• Available to students seeking a technical certification or diploma regardless of high school grade point average or graduation date

• Covers full standard rate of tuition

• Cumulative GPA of 3.5 each term

Zell Miller Grant

Financial Aid Applications

• Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)* Available January 1 of senior year* Must complete FAFSA each year

• Complete the GSFAPPS (Georgia Student Financial Aid Application System)• You do not need to reapply each year

• SSN must be on file at Cambridge HS

• Be sure to attend our Financial Aid Night on Tuesday, November 18th for more information on this process!

Georgia Career Information System (GCIS)

www.gcic.peachnet.eduUser Name: s (student ID number) OR cambridgehsPassword: fulton1OR gcis7516

Education Tab Financial Aid Sort Keyword Search Search by college

Scre

College Comparison Chart from

GCIS

More Scholarship Resourcesa Cambridge Guidance Website – www.cambridgeguidance.com

Scholarship Tab GA College 411 – www.gacollege411.org

Financial Aid Planning Tab Atlanta Scholarships – www.atlantascholarships.com

Local scholarship resources in Greater Atlanta area College Navigator -nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/

General college, cost & financial aid information Fast Web – www.fastweb.com

Free scholarship search website College Board – www.collegeboard.com

General college information & scholarship searches Scholarships – www.scholarships.com

Free scholarship search website Merit Aid – www.meritaid.org

College cost, financial aid & scholarship information

Sources of College Scholarships & Grants

Cambridge High School Counseling Office

Procedures & Resources

•Online (Preferred)•Paper

Submit Application (during fall of senior year)

• SAT/ACT/AP scores are not included on the high school transcript

• Students send scores directly from the testing agency

Send Test Scores (if required)

The Application ProcessCarefully follow ALL directions

• Step 1: Visit www.parchment.com and create an account.

• Step 2: Associate yourself with Cambridge High School when Parchment asks “Where would you like your transcript sent from”.

• Step 3: Request your transcript be sent to your college (all except Common Application).

• Step 4: If the school also has a required counselor form/school report/letter of recommendation, the form MUST be sent to your counselor electronically. Allow 10 School Days for processing.

• Step 5: Complete your Senior Information Sheet (download from Counseling website or pick up in Counseling Office). Submit to your counselor via email or in person after first transcript request.

Cambridge Transcript/Recommendation Request Process(ALL Colleges except COMMON APPLICATION)

Step 1: Register• Go to www.parchment.com and Sign Up Manually• You DO NOT Need a Registration Code• Complete the Registration Form• Under 18? Register With Your Parent

Step 2: Order/Request• Click Transcripts• Select a Destination• Submit Payment by credit card (if necessary)• Wait for Confirmation

Step 3: Track• Log in to Your Parchment Account• Click Transcripts• Click Order History

Parchment Registration Tips

• Step 1: Create your account on Commonapp.org and complete the required forms.

• Step 2: Electronically invite your counselor to be the recommender. Your counselor will complete the secondary school report and upload your transcript. Allow 10 School Days for processing.

• Step 3: Complete the Senior Information Sheet (download from www.cambridgeguidance.com or pick up copy in Counseling Office.) Submit to your counselor via email or in person after first transcript

request.

** Students applying to schools using Common App WILL NOT request transcripts to the same schools using Parchment.

Applying Using the Common Application

Unofficial Transcripts can be printed from Home Access Center or Student Access Center.

If you prefer paper transcripts, please visit the Counseling Office. Paper Transcripts from CHS are $3.00 and include postage and envelope.

Our office will process all Transcript and Letter of Recommendation requests within 10 school days. Be mindful of this fact when college/scholarship deadlines occur right before/after holidays.

• College Rep Visits at Cambridge HSJuniors and Seniors must sign up 24 hrs in advanceRegister online at cambridgeguidance.com or in counseling office

• College Campus VisitsFollow preapproved absence procedure with the Attendance Office. (6 days allowed; request 3 days in advance)

Events • College FairsGA PROBE (North Point Mall) Tuesday, September 23rd from 6-9pmPerforming & Visual Arts College Fair (Cobb County Center for Excellence

in the Performing Arts) Monday, September 29th from 7-9pm

• Keys to the Dawg House UGA Admissions Session at CHS Monday, October 27 at 6:00pm

• Scholarship Financial Aid WorkshopTuesday, November 18th at 6:30pm

• PROBE College Fair at Cambridge HSMonday, March 23rd at 6:00pm

Scheduled College Visits at CHSCollege Date/Time Scheduled

Belmont University 9/4/14 Thur @ 10:20

Emory University 9/5/14 Fri @12:10

Georgia State University 9/8/14 Mon @ 1:32

Georgia Tech 9/9/14 Tues @ 11:15

University of Alabama 9/9/14 Tues @ 1:00

University of Missouri 9/10/14 Wed @ 11:30

Kennesaw State University 9/11/14 Thurs @ 8:30

Miami University (Ohio) 9/12/14 Fri @ 9:25

Florida State University 9/16/14 Tues @ 1:00

University of Florida 9/17/14 Wed @ 1:35

University of Tennessee 9/18/2014 Wed @ 8:30

Georgia Southern University 9/18/14 Thurs @ 2:00

Mercer University 9/23/14 Tues @ 2:00

University of Kentucky 9/24 Wed @ 11:30

Elon University 9/24 Wed @ 12:30

Auburn University 9/25/14 Thurs @ 1:00

University of S. Carolina 10/6 Mon @ 12:30

Ga. Southwestern St. Univ. 10/7 Tue @ 10:14-12:54

University of Dayton 10/17 Fri @ 10:14

Furman University 10/22/14 Wed @ 10:30

Gwen DannerCounselorCambridge High School

College Admission Statistics – Class of 2014

Remind 101Texting Service

Cambridge Counseling Workshops & Events

• Keys to the Dawg House (10/27)

• Scholarship/Financial Aid Night (11/18)

• PROBE College Fair (3/23)

Stay Connected

Counseling Websitewww.CambridgeGuidance.com

Counseling Staff

• Leigh Popp, Counselor (A-De)

• Bonnie Schechter (Steve Creel), Counselor (Df-I)

• Gwen Danner, Counselor (J-M)

• Amey Rishel, Counselor (N-Su)

• Samiah Garcia, Head Counselor (Sw-Z)

• Chip Flemmer, Graduation Coach

• Stephanie Schuette, School Social Worker

• Nancy Sheridan, Records Coordinator

• Tammy Speer, Guidance Secretary

Q & A

* Please complete the Survey and drop it in box in the Auditorium Lobby *

It is the policy of the Fulton County School System not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national

origin, age, or disability in any employment practice, educational program, or any other program, activity or

service.