2017-2018 Junior Planning Guide Knightdale High School of Collaborative Design 1 KHSCD Junior Planning Guide Table of Contents Topic Page Number Contact Information 3 Graduation Requirements 4 Grading Scale 4 GPA Quality Points 4 Calculating Best Case Scenario GPA 5 Planning Calendar for Juniors 6 College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) 7-9 Choose a Path: Workforce 10 Choose a Path: Military 11 Choose a Path: Community College 11 Career and College Promise 12 Choose a Path: 4 Year College 13 UNC System Admission Requirements 13 The College Search Process 14 College Comparison Worksheet 15 College Visits 16 Questions to Ask a College Representative 17 College Admissions Vocabulary 18 Standardized Testing: SAT and ACT 19-20 Recommendations (Teacher and Counselor) 21 Sample Resume 21 Paying For College (Scholarships & Financial Aid) 22 Resources and Websites 23 NC College/University Admission Statistics (GPA, ACT, SAT) 24-25 2 Class of 2019 Planning Guide Juniors, use the information and resources in this planning guide to help you successfully complete your junior year, prepare for your final year of high school, and make postsecondary (after high school) plans. This guide can also be found on the KHSCD Student Services webpage (www.wcpss.net/knightdalehs) Student Services Team Contact Information Erica Clarkson Athena Kifah Tasia Sanders Dean of Students Counselor A-F (10-12) 9th Grade Counselor [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Twitter: @erica_clarkson Twitter: @tasia_sanders Jessica Holmes Kate Davis Jessica Martz Counselor O-Z (10-12) Counselor G-N (10-12) Student Assistance Program Counselor [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Twitter: @JHolmesKHSCD Twitter: @kdavisKHSCD Twitter: @Counselor_Martz Laura Argueta Sonya Meeks College Advisor Career Development Coordinator [email protected] [email protected] Twitter: @knightdalecgc Twitter: @cdc_khscd Sandra Winters Mary Wiggins Paulette Smith Financial Aid Advisor Guidance Technician Data Manager [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Lavon Barrett Student Services: College/CEEB/SAT/ACT Registrar/Records Request 919-217-5350 Code: 342124 [email protected] ext. 25132 Twitter: @BarrettLavon Twitter: @KHSCDCounselors 3 Class of 2019 Graduation Requirements 4 Credits of English (English I, II, III or AP English Language, IV or AP English Literature) 4 Credits of Math (Math I, II, III, 4th Math- Essentials of College Math, Advanced Functions & Modeling, or Honors Pre-Calculus) 4 Credits of Social Studies (World History, American History I & II, Civics and Economics) OR (World History, AP US History, SS Elective, Civics & Economics) 3 Credits of Science (Biology, Earth/Environmental Science or AP Environmental Science, Physical Science or Chemistry) 1 Health/PE 10 Electives (2 Credits of the same Foreign Language required if applying to a 4 year college) 26 Total Credits to Graduate Grading Scale Letter Grade Numerical Range A 90 to 100 B 80 to 89 C 70 to 79 D 60 to 69 F Less than 60 Quality Points Letter Grade Standard/ Honors Courses AP Courses Academic Courses A 4 4.5 5 B 3 3.5 4 C 2 2.5 3 D 1 1.5 2 F 0 0 0 4 Calculating Best-Case Scenario GPA The best-case scenario GPA is the highest possible GPA a student can have given past performance plus a perfect semester. Students can use this number to have an accurate picture of their potential cumulative GPA. It is calculated using the following method. 1) Number of credits X Current weighted GPA = Current points This step can be skipped (and is more accurate) if you can access the transcript, which has the weighted points earned. 2) Current points + Highest possible points for 1 semester* = Expected points *This amount is calculated based on the student earning an A in each of the courses he/she is taking during the semester. In this example, the student is taking one standard course, two honors courses, and an AP course (4 + 5 + 5 + 6). 3) Expected points ÷ (current credits + semester credits) = Best case scenario GPA Example 24 credits x 3.5 weighted GPA = 84 current points 84 points + 20 points = 104 expected points 104 expected points ÷ (24 + 4) = 3.71 Best case scenario GPA 5 Planning Calendar for Juniors February of your Junior Year Register to take the SATs/ACTs in May and/or June of this school year: www.collegeboard.org or www.actstudent.org See Mrs. Wiggins in Student Services if you are in need of a fee-waiver for the SAT/ACT Practice for the SAT/ACT (www.cfnc.org) (satpractice.org) (act.org/collegeprep) (KhanAcademy.org) Look into SAT II Subject Tests… do the schools that you are interested in require them? Research colleges using www.cfnc.org or www.collegeboard.org Make an activity sheet (resume) of your accomplishments, activities, and work experiences Request letters of recommendation from two teachers and your counselor Plan to visit colleges this spring (while school is in session) Register to take your AP exams if applicable to you Apply for Summer College Programs- watch deadlines Take ACT for FREE- February 27th Write in any due dates/deadlines/appointments that are unique to your application process on the blank lines below: ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ March and April of your Junior Year Attend the NACAC College Fair- Tuesday, March 20th from 4:30p-7:20p @ the Raleigh Convention Center Visit colleges! Make appointments, get business cards, and send follow up thank you notes! Look for great summer opportunities- college programs, internships, volunteering, or a summer job Build your portfolio or prepare your audition if you plan to apply to specialty schools Write in any due dates/deadlines/appointments that are unique to your application process on the blank lines below: ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ May and June of your Junior Year Take the SAT and/or ACT Keep in touch with college admissions counselors Continue to visit college campuses Write in any due dates/deadlines/appointments that are unique to your application process on the blank lines below: ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ July and August before your Senior Year Attend summer activities (college programs, internships, summer jobs) Try to narrow your list of colleges to five-eight schools now. Your counselor will be asking for your list in September! Register with NCAA if you plan to compete in Division I or II college sports (can do this as early as your sophomore year) Study for the SAT and ACT. Be aware of any college entrance exam test dates and deadlines Write in any due dates/deadlines/appointments that are unique to your application process on the blank lines below: ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ 6 College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) is a free service of the State of North Carolina that helps students plan, apply, and pay for college. CFNC is a partnership of Pathways, the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority, and College Foundation, Inc. Please use the steps on the following two pages to create a CFNC (parents and students), watch Let Me Tell You Videos, complete a practice application, search and explore colleges, search and explore college program majors, take short quizzes on interests, skills, and work values, explore careers, find scholarship and financial aid information, study for the SAT and ACT, etc. CFNC will be a valuable resource for your senior year. You will be able to apply to colleges in North Carolina through CFNC, send your transcripts to colleges in NC, apply for scholarships, etc. 7 How to Create a CFNC Account 1. Go to www.cfnc.org 2. Find the login credentials on the left-hand side of the homepage. 3. If you already have an account and know your CFNC login information, type it in here. Otherwise, click on CREATE MY CFNC ACCOUNT. 4. Follow the steps on the next few pages to finish creating your account. 5. After you have successfully created your account, write your username and password below on the lines. Username:__________________________________ Password:____________________________________ How to Login and Watch Let Me Tell You Videos 1. Go to www.cfnc.org. 2. Find the login credentials on the left-hand side of the homepage. 3. Enter your username and password. 4. Click on Log in. 5. Now, you are logged in. On the same page, scroll down to the bottom and find the Let Me Tell You video link that looks like this 6. Click on that link. 7. On the Let Me Tell You page, click on the Continue to Let Me Tell You button. 8. You are now able to watch videos on college topics! How to Complete a Practice Application 1. Go to www.cfnc.org 2. Click on Apply. 3. Click on To College. 4. Click on Complete a Practice Application. 5. You will need your username and password in order to complete a practice application. How to Search and Explore Colleges 1. Go to www.cfnc.org 2. Click on Plan. 3. Click on For College. 4. Click on Explore Postsecondary Schools. 5. You can search for colleges based on the school name or number of years you must attend. 6. Click on any school from the college list to find out more information. 8 How to Search and Explore College Programs Majors 1. Go to www.cfnc.org 2. Click on Plan. 3. Click on For College. 4. Click on Explore Programs and Majors. 5. You can search for a specific program or major or browse programs and majors. How to Determine You Interests, Skills, and Work Values (short quizzes) 1. Go to www.cfnc.org 2. Click on Plan. 3. Click on For a Career. 4. Click on Learn About Yourself. 5. Take all 9 assessments to discover your interests, skills, and work values.