The document provides information about post-secondary planning resources for high school students, including: 1) Contact information for school counselors who can assist with college research, applications, financial aid, and career exploration. 2) An overview of factors like GPA, test scores, and college profiles that determine if schools are safety, target, or reach options. 3) Details on financial aid programs in Georgia like HOPE and Zell Miller scholarships, and the FAFSA application process. 4) Recommendations to utilize the school counseling office, career center, and websites to research private scholarships and career interests.

2. Who is your school counselor?
School Counseling Office – Room 608
A-C Richardson
D-H Schult
I-M Wright
N-R Hartline
S-Z Perozzi
Registrar Loftin
Career Center Counselor Ryder

3. School Counseling Standards
Career Development (C)
Standard A: Students will acquire the skills to
investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge
of self and to make informed career decisions.
C:A1 – Develop Career Awareness

4. How do I put my post-secondary plan into
action?

5. Let’s talk about…
 Researching and selecting colleges
 Financial Aid resources and HOPE
 Next steps
 Career & Education Exploration via GACollege411

6. How do I get to college?
 Make a list of potential schools
 Compare your profile to the school’s freshman profile
 Review each school’s application:
 Online application (preferred)
Know your
 Transcript application
deadlines!
 Application fee
 Recommendations (if needed)
 Counselor Recommendation (or school evaluation)
 Teacher Recommendation (letter or form)

7. Where will my GPA and test scores take me?
Your GPA and test scores are two major factors
colleges take into consideration.
 REACH school – your core GPA and test scores are BELOW
the college freshmen profile from last year
 TARGET school – your core GPA and test scores MATCH the
college freshmen profile from last year
 SAFE school – your core GPA and test scores are ABOVE the
college freshmen profile from last year

8. Grants & Scholarships
– Do not have to be repaid
– Based on specific requirements
Loans
– Need to be repaid after college
Work-study Programs
– Student has a job on campus
– Money earned helps pay for college or
expenses

9. Is there HOPE for me?
Scholarship Grant
 3.0 Core GPA Needed  No GPA requirement
 Two year or four year  Technical certificate or
degree diploma
 Must graduate from a GA  Must have a high school
high school diploma or GED
 Must be a GA resident  Must be a GA resident
for at least one year for at least one year
 Covers a percentage of  Covers a percentage of
tuition tuition
Apply for HOPE through FAFSA after January 1 of your senior year.

10. Is there HOPE for me?
Zell Miller Scholarship
 3.7 Core GPA Required
 1200 SAT Math and Reading/Verbal or 26 ACT
 Two year or four year degree
 Must graduate from a Georgia High School
 Covers full tuition
 Valedictorian or Salutatorian
Check your HOPE GPA on GACollege411

11. Nuts and bolts of finding money
Where do I find money? How do I get the money?
 My school counselor and  Apply early and often –
career center scholarships have
 GACollege411 deadlines too!
 Websites such as fastweb  Put together a resume
 My employer or my
and prepare a personal
parent’s employer statement so you will be
ready to apply
 My college’s financial aid
 Complete the FAFSA as
office
soon as possible after
 Community resources
January 1 of senior year!

12. Financial Aid
You can find private scholarship information by:
 Receiving the Monthly Scholarship Newsletter from
the School Counseling Office
 Visiting or calling the Financial Aid Office at the
college you are hoping to attend
 Visiting the Career Center in the Counseling Office
(Room 608) to look up scholarships
 Going to www.fastweb.com or www.schoolsoup.com
YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO PAY TO SEARCH
FOR SCHOLARSHIPS. ALL OF THE ABOVE
OPTIONS ARE FREE!

13. Did you know…..
 85% of the workforce requires some type of post high
school education/training
- 20% of these jobs require 4-year degrees
- 65% of these jobs require a 2-year
degree, a technical certificate or diploma
or some other type of training
 Only 15% of the workforce requires only a high school
diploma

14. What do I need to do now?
 Choose a path to take after high school graduation
 Know the requirements for your post-secondary plans
 Prepare for and take the SAT or ACT if you plan to
apply for a 4 year or 2 year college
If you are planning to participate in Division I or Division II athletics,
you will need to register with the NCAA Clearinghouse at :
www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

15. Sign up to visit the Career Center
Our Career Counselor is here to help you! Mrs.
Ryder can help you to:
• Research & apply to technical colleges,
2-year colleges, and 4-year colleges
• Register for the ACT or SAT
• Complete a career interest inventory
You can sign up in the School Counseling Office (608)

16. What’s next?
www.gacollege411.org