Class of 2017

Countdown to Graduation
Where are you headed?
https://youtu.be/J7Jh31p9RME

Which Path Will You Choose?

Full-Time Employment
Military
Four Year Colleges
Apprenticeship Programs: Earn while you learn
Trade / Business / Technical Schools
Two-Year Community Colleges

Now its time to develop your action plan

Military
Enlistment
Step 1: Sign up for the ASVAB at AHS on
Nov. 28th at 7:20 am in the Career Center
Step 2: Speak to a recruiter
ROTC program at a 4 year school
Step 1: Go to Family Connections and research
schools that have ROTC (Reserve Officers
Training
Corps) programs
Step 2: Recruiters advise you to take both the SAT
and the ACT

Apprenticeship Programs &

Trade/Business/Technical Schools
Apprenticeship Programs
Step 1: Find resources in the Career Center and/or
online to research programs that interest you
Step 2: Follow the application process
Trade/Business/Technical Schools
(Electrician, Auto Mechanics, Cosmetology, Dental Hygiene)
Step 1: Research schools online and in the
Career Center (community colleges may offer
very
similar programs at much cheaper prices)
Step 2: Complete the application process

Two-Year Community Colleges

2 years-> Career

Step 1: Apply Online in the Spring

Step 2: Take the math & English placement tests
Step 3: Make an appointment with community
college counselor

Pathway to the Baccalaureate Program

Step 1: Get the application from your counselor,
complete it, and return it ASAP
(there is
a limited number of spots)
Step 2: Work with the Pathway Counselor &
attend meetings

Four Year Colleges

Step 1: Take SATs & ACTs
Register NOW for a fall test
Fee Waivers available if you have free or reduced lunch
Have all of your tests done by Winter Break
SAT will waive 4 college application fees if you use a
registration fee waiver
AHS cannot send SAT & ACT scores you must have
your scores sent directly from the testing companies

SAT Registration Instructions

You must register for the exam beforehand
NO Test Day changes
You MUST present an admission ticket and an
acceptable ID or you WILL NOT be allowed to test
Your FULL name on your photo ID must be exactly the
same as the FULL name on your admission ticket
You are required to upload a recent, front-facing, clear
photo to register for an exam

SAT I

Exam on 11/5 ; Registration deadline is 10/7

Exam on 12/3; Registration deadline is 11/3
www.collegeboard.com = registration website
Cost = $45 (without essay) and $57 (with essay)

ACT

Exam on 10/22; Registration deadline is 9/16

Exam on 12/10; Registration deadline on 11/4
www.actstudent.org = registration website
Cost = $42.50 (no writing) and $58.50 (with writing)

TOEFL

If English is not is not your 1st language and you have

been in the country 5 years or less, you should think
about taking the TOEFL
Fee waivers available

Four Year Colleges Continued

Step 2: Narrow down the number of schools you
going to apply to (6 to 8 is the average
number)
Reach schools: academic/financial stretch
Match schools: likely to meet your needs and
accept you
Safety schools: fairly certain to accept you

are

Narrow Your Choices by Utilizing

Scattergrams

How do you compare to the colleges freshmen class profile?

(GPA & SAT/ACT scores)

Look for a school that matches you

and what you want.

Consider:
Cost
Size & Setting
Academic programs
Campus life
Academic competitiveness

Use Family Connections to research schools

and see where you stand based on GPA &
test scores

Four Year College Continued

Step 3: Request Transcripts
Go to Family Connection and add your schools to the
Colleges Im Thinking About under the Colleges tab
Your transcript will be sent using one of the following
three methods:
1. Electronically via eDoc (applies to most colleges)
2. Common Application via US Mail
3. Paper forms via US Mail (rarely used)
All official transcripts require a Transcript Release
Form
Carefully follow the instructions on the form and
return it to Ms. Lopez

 The forms are located in Student Services or in

the Family Connections Document Library
SUBMIT TRANSCRIPT REQUEST FORMS
3 WEEKS BEFORE THE APPLICATION DEADLINE
(not counting holidays)!
If you have a Jan 1st, 5th, or 15th deadline
date, you need to get us the form by Nov 28th
The earlier the better!

Activity Sheet
Record of what you have
done or currently do
outside of the classroom
(i.e. clubs, part time jobs,
sports, volunteer
opportunities, summer
programs)
Include leadership
positions, honors, & awards
Keep to one page if
possible and turn it in with
the transcript release
form
E-mail a copy of it to your
counselor

Four Year Colleges Continued

Step 4: College Applications
Go to college web sites to create accounts for
applications
Keep track of and meet all of your deadlines
Determine the type of admission

Early Decision = binding agreement

Early Action = can apply to as many of these as you want
Regular Decision = set deadline date
Rolling Admissions = decisions made throughout the year

Using the Common Application to Apply

to Colleges
What is the Common App?
Only one application needs to be completed
online and the information will be submitted to
all your participating schools with the same
information going to each
The website is www.commonapp.org
Many colleges use the Common Application and
You can find a list of these colleges on the
website

The College Essay

What to put in the essay:
Something that is not already in the application
Make it personal. Write about something/someone
that impacted you; dont just give facts
Focus on a small piece of your story, event, or
experience
Have several people proofread your essay.
Do not rely on spell check!

Four Year College Continued

Step 5: Get Counselor and/or Teacher Recommendations
If you need a counselor recommendation, mark it on
the Transcript Release form & attach the required
Request for Recommendation Letter form
Give counselor and teachers a minimum of 3 weeks to
write your letter of recommendation
Teachers may have you fill out a form to help them
write the letter (located in Family Connections
document library)
Supply them with a stamped envelope with the
universitys address for each school, if necessary or
send them the link via e-mail

College Visits
Attend AHS College Visits! Several college
representatives will be available in the Career Center
this fall (Complete list on Family Connection)
Check the college website to see if you need a
reservation and set up a time to talk to an admissions
rep when you visit the campus
Visit when college classes are in session
Demonstrate to the college that you are interested (a
lot of schools document how many times they interact
with you)
Notify the AHS attendance office to excuse an absence
for a college visit

Changes You Need to Know

Collegeboard is now sending out verifications to
select students via e-mail. IF YOU DO NOT
RESPOND, YOU WILL NOT BE REGISTERED FOR
THE TEST! After you register, check your e-mail
DAILY
You can start submitting the FAFSA in October.
AHS is hosting a FAFSA workshop on Nov 12th
from 9 am-3 pm
GMU and Lynchburg are now accepting the
Common App

A few last details

Make sure that your email address in BlackBoard
is correct
If you are planning to apply to colleges early,
please notify your counselor to schedule a senior
interview sooner than later
Come to Senior Parent/Student Night
September 20th, 7:00 pm in the Lecture Hall