Senior Parent NightWelcome…

AHS

Class of 2016

September 29, 2015

7:00 p.m.

Guidance Department Mitzi Blackstone: Last names A-F Jane Whitfield: Last names G-N Sophia Wright: Last names O-Z Sherry Gamel: Graduation Coach Kathy Robertson: Records Clerk Bethany Dowda: College & Career

Center Lee Stanley: Social Worker

What Do I Do With My Senior?

Important Information Attendance at Alexander Checking In/Checking Out Senior Skip Days??? $$$ Senior Activities and

Expenses Senior Calendar: Sr. Ads due

10/23. Sr. Week is Oct. 26-30. Pass ALL Classes

Testing End of Course Tests Asset ASVAB ACT & SAT

Test ScoresFour year colleges and universities

require either the SAT or ACT. All

schools in Georgia will readily accept

either one. The score must be sent

directly from the testing company to

the school of the student’s choice.

There is no charge for the first four schools when indicated prior to taking the test.

School Website

The Guidance Department will be updating the school website with

Senior Information through out the year. Please be sure to check it out!!

The web address is http://alexander.dch.schoolinsites.com

Technology

Colleges rely heavily on computer based technology. Now is the time to begin

supporting your student to learn to troubleshoot these issues. Technology

problems can be very frustrating and cause bad feelings about the new

environment.

TechnologyIn college, assignments, quizzes, tests and projects all must be submitted on-line. Many high school teachers are beginning to utilize this technology as

well.

E-mail and social media is frequently the only means of communication with professors, RA’s and other college

staff.

Technology

While social networking sites can have their issues, it is important that

students be comfortable with these methods of communication. Just

remember—once it is on Facebook, it is out there never to be totally deleted.

College Application:What is the process?

Applying On-line: Print a request or release

of transcript and bring to Mrs. Dowda in

Room 11; We will then send your transcript. Paper Copy: Bring the application to Mrs. Dowda

with your application fee in Room 11; We will attach a transcript to the application and then mail the entire package.

Some schools in Georgia are now accepting self-report of transcripts. You may need an unofficial transcript to complete application.

Transcripts are $3.00It is the student’s responsibility!

Select Three Colleges Dream College

I Think I Can College

I Know I Can College

It is VERY important to

watch for deadlines!

GAcollege411.orgThe Georgia State Department of Education

has designed a web-site to help all high school students. The goal of the web site is

to help students:PlanApply for AdmissionSend transcriptPay

Check it out!

GAcollege411.orgIt is VERY important that each

student only owns one account. It is fine for both parent and student to share an account. Please make

sure you both log in and use the same password. State reporting goes through this website. Errors are created when one student has

multiple accounts.

How do colleges determine who gets accepted? Based on core GPA which is computed

by the college or university. Courses taken in high school;

It is important to keep grades up during Senior year.

SAT I Reasoning Test scores or

ACT scores Activities and/or essays

FYI about AdmissionsStats from UGA

5,300 Freshman at UGA 22, 225 Applications received 11, 602 admitted Your student will be competing

globally, not just with other seniors from Georgia or even the United States.

Averages for Admissions to UGA

SAT mid 50% is 2130-2240 ACT mid 50% is 32-34 GPA mid 50% is 4.0-4.18 Activities and/or essays

Averages for Admissions to Georgia

Tech SAT mid 50% is 2060-2250 ACT mid 50% is 30-33 Average student took 7-12 AP

courses.

What criteria are important for

admissions to UGA or GTI?

Rigor of High School Curriculum: 95% of all students have multiple AP courses.

GPA SAT or ACT score Activities and/or essays

Averages for Admissions to

Kennesaw State University

Average SAT score of freshman class is 1504.

Average ACT is 22. Most students took honors and AP

courses.

Admissions Board of Regents policies prohibit

students from admissions to all schools that test into three learning support classes. In the past, students could enter two year schools without an ACT or SAT. Students may want to take an ACT to exempt learning support through their scores.

Cost of UGA In-state Tuition $9364

Fees 2258

Typical Dorm 5494

Typical Meal Plan 3956

Books 840

Living Expenses 3222

Total $23,454

Other Colleges Georgia State University

Tuition and Fees: $10,686

University of West Georgia

Tuition and Fees: $8536

How does my student obtain funding for college?

The very first step is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

This form is commonly known as the FAFSA.

Information from the current 2015 tax returns is needed to complete the form.

The correct version of the form will not be available until after December 31, 2015.

Georgia schools are using the FAFSA to prove legal residence in Georgia.

How does my student obtain funding for college?

The FAFSA form is located on line at fafsa.gov.

Be very careful to go to that specific web address. There are imitators!

Your student will receive a student aid report which will indicate the amount of federal money for which the student is eligible.

The report will also indicate the expected amount the family will be expected to contribute.

How does my student obtain funding for college?

In order to qualify for student loans, the student must have completed the FAFSA.

The family contribution will vary based upon the cost of the institution and other financial information.

How does my student obtain funding for college?

Tentative Financial Aid Parent Night will be Thursday, January 21 at 7:00 p.m.

A representative from Georgia Student Finance, who administers the HOPE Scholarship, will be here.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Please know that there is no magic pot of money at the end of the rainbow! Researching and applying for scholarships takes a lot of time and effort on your part!

The HOPE Scholarship

HOPE Scholar: 3.0 core GPA Zell Miller Scholar: 3.7 core GPA

with qualifying SAT or ACT score.

All grades (including F’s) from all core classes attempted will be counted when determining the core grade point average for the HOPE scholarship.

See GACollege411.org for specifics.

The HOPE ScholarshipAP and dual enrollment courses

receive an additional .5 in the GPA calculation. For example, a student who makes a 92 in AP U. S. History has the five points subtracted to equal an average of 87. An 87 is a B which earns 3 points in the GPA calculation. Since it is an AP course, .5 is added to get a sum of 3.5 which is used for the calculation.

How does my student apply for the HOPE scholarship?

Complete the FAFSA form. Student must have three HOPE

Rigor Courses on their final transcript.

Records of students who do not meet the rigor requirement will not be calculated.

GPA must meet requirement or there is no HOPE for you!

How does my student apply for the HOPE scholarship?

AHS must have actual correct SSN for student or records will not transmit to HOPE.

If your records do not transmit, they cannot be transmitted until the next year and the student must qualify under next years requirements.

Important HOPE Information

Even if student is eligible, student will not receive HOPE, if there is no SSN match among:

Infinite Campus (student information system) FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student

Aid) My411 account on GACollege411 College/university application Financial aid documentation at college,

university, and/or technical college

Areas that cause an eligible student not to show eligible for the HOPE:

800 number is in the student information system rather than valid Social Security Number

Incorrect Social Security Number Incorrect Legal Name Incorrect birth date and/or high school

name

Carefully and continually check your HOPE information on your My411 account on GACollege411.org

College/Technical College Visitation Days

Students get two days to visit campuses A note from a parent must be brought in

to Mrs. Dowda 3 days prior to the visit; students will receive a college visit form

Students must have an appointment with the admissions office; The admissions office must sign the college visit form

Bring the signed form back to school the next day so the absence is excused!

NCAA ClearinghouseStudents who are interested in playing

athletics at an NCAA Division I or Division II school must be registered with the NCAA

Clearinghouse. Register on-line at:

www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

SAT/ACT scores must be sent directly to the Clearinghouse

(use code #9999)

Graduation Ceremony

University of West Georgia Coliseum

Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 9:00 am. Board Scholars are recognized. All Seniors need to pay for final

transcripts.

Senior Evaluations

Forms have already been mailed to your home address. Please check the form carefully and call your student’s counselor with any questions.

CongratulationsAHS

Class of 2016!

Federal law prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, race, color or national Origin (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1962); sex (Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and the Perkins Act of 1998); or disability (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990) in educational programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. Employees, students and the general public are hereby notified that the Douglas County Board of Education does not discriminate in any educational programs or activities or in employment policies. Inquiries may be addressed to the Douglas County Board of Education, PO Box 1077, Douglasville, GA 30133; Regional Office for Civil Rights, Atlanta, GA 30323; or Office of Civil Rights, Education Department, Washington, DC 20201.