Senior Information

1. CLASS OF 2014
SENIOR PARENT INFORMATION MEETING
Presented by
Marietta High School
Professional School Counseling Department

2. Professional Counselor
Assignments
•
•
•
•
•
A-Dr
Ds-Kh
Ki-Ra
Rb-Z
PLC
Ms. Joann Kinlaw
Ms. Chenedra Corbin
Mrs. Nancy Hill
Mrs. Betsy Alpert
Ms. BJ Smith

3. Olympian Contact Information
Linda Turner, Adviser
lturner@marietta-city.k12.ga.us
• Yearbooks are $85 for the rest of first semester. The price goes to $100
Second Semester. Payment plans are available!!!
• Parents may purchase yearbooks online at www.balfour.com ($1.00 fee
added).
• Senior Ad (Memory Page) Contracts are due September 30 (payment plans
available)
• Senior Pictures: Students must call Prestige Portraits (Lifetouch) @ 770424-3002 to schedule their sitting prior to October 13

4. Herff Jones
•
September 10, 2013--Senior Class Meeting to distribute Cap & Gown & Graduation
Announcement Ordering Packets
•
Cap & Gown & Announcements Ordering Dates
• September 16, 2013
• October 02, 2013
• October 3, 2013
• December 17, 2013
•
Cap & Gown & Announcement Delivery Dates
• March 4, 2014
• April 10, 2014
• April 28, 2014
•
Contact Information: 770-795-1626
•
Website:www.herffatlanta.com
•
Buy your gowns early!!!! Prices will increase throughout the year!

5. Is Your Student Interested in
College Athletics?
Two Governing Bodies
• NAIA – National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics – no national
clearinghouse, simple requirements www.naia.org
• NCAA – National Collegiate Athletic Association – requires potential Div 1
and 2 student athletes to register at ncaaclearinghouse.com
Please note that it is the parent’s or student’s responsibility to register
See Paul Hall, MHS Athletic Director, for more information
770-428-2631, Ext. 2241 Room A224

6. DO YOU KNOW
WHAT THE
GRADUATION
REQUIREMENTS
ARE?

7. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
The requirements below represent minimal courses needed for high school graduation. Some academic programs of study or diploma options
require additional units of credit beyond the minimal requirements listed. For example, IB Diploma requires a minimum of 27.5 credits.
Students must also pass the Georgia High School Writing Exam and the four parts of the Georgia High School Graduation Tests or the
corresponding EOCT.
Subject
English
Math
Science
Units
4
4
4
Social Studies
3
CTAE, Foreign Language, or Fine
Arts
Health/Personal Fitness
3
Electives
Total
½ unit
each
4
23
Required Courses
1 unit of American Literature or AP Language
Courses vary
1 unit Physical Science or Physics
1 unit of Biology
1 unit of Chemistry or Environmental Science or AP Science
4th Science may be used to meet both elective and science
requirements
1 unit World History
1 unit U.S. History
½ unit Economics
½ unit American Government or Civics
This area can be a combination

8. How Will I Know if
My Student is on Track?
Senior Exit Interviews for seniors will be completed
by Thanksgiving.
 Indicates what credits are completed and what
credits remain to be passed during the senior
year

9. What Do You Need to
Know About Graduation?
Graduation requirements
Exit exams
--All students must pass the Georgia High School Writing exam
--Students must pass one EOCT from each subject area or the
corresponding Georgia High School Graduation Test.
High honor graduates
GPA is 4.0 and above
Honor Graduates
GPA 3.5-3.99
Graduation date: Saturday, May 24, 2014
Graduation practice: May 21-23, 2014
--Attendance is mandatory

10. HEADED
IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION

11. Post Secondary Options
Can Include
Traditional 4-year schools
2 year colleges for associates degree or to
transfer to a 4-year college/university
Technical Colleges
Professional Training Programs
Military
Work
Which is appropriate for your student?

12. Factors to Consider When
Choosing a College
Major or Program of study
Location and Environment
Includes housing opportunities
In-state vs. Out-of-state
Public vs. Private
Size of School
Extra-curricular activities offered

13. How Do I Learn More About Schools?
Research
Meet with College Reps when they visit
On-site campus visits
Open houses sponsored by colleges
Internet
www.GACollege411.org

if password is lost, have students to see their advisor or contact Mrs. McCormick, the
school registrar.
Attend College Probe Fair at Marietta High School
Attend other college fairs in the area

14. How Do Colleges Choose Who Will
Be Accepted?
High school academic record and course rigor
SAT/ACT scores
Essays
Recommendations
Special Abilities
Service to school or community
Extracurricular activities
Interview
Neatness and accuracy of application

15. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket!
Students need to apply to more than one school
•Typically students apply to 3-5 schools
•Dream Schools – may not get in, but is their top
choice
•Reach Schools—student stands a good chance of
admission
•Safety School – backup plan in case they need it.

16. Parental Stumbling Blocks
Dictating exactly where your student must apply and
attend
Completing your student’s applications. Colleges can
usually tell the difference.
Doing all the work for your student doesn’t teach him/her
the coping skills needed for college or in life!

17. The
College and
Scholarship
Application Process

18. Secure applications from colleges either online or by the
traditional method (on-line is preferred)
Apply early and organize deadlines
Gather application fees
Request letters of recommendation
Create resume
Compose essays
Make copies of everything you send out

19. College Application Process
Transcripts for in-state schools should be requested electronically
through GAcollge411.org. There is no charge. Students should see
their advisors or Mrs. McCormick if passwords are lost.
Request out-of-state transcripts using the transcript request
form, found in the counseling office.
•Hard copies of official transcripts must be requested in writing.
•Students receive three free paper transcripts. Each additional
transcript will cost $2.
See your counselor if your college requires a counselor/school
evaluation form. Bring the form or send the link to our e-mail account.
The Professional Counseling Department does not mail applications.
The Professional Counseling Department mails counselor evaluation
forms unless we are asked not to.
Only the FINAL transcript is mailed from the Marietta High School
Guidance office.

20. College Application Process
Obtain the application
•on-line (preferred method)
 print application copy for your records
•at Probe Fairs
•through the college admissions office
Complete the application
•early! Your goal should be to apply by Thanksgiving
•neatly and free or errors
•thoroughly
•in blue or black ink, if handwritten
Send test scores from ACT or College Board (many
schools will not accept unofficial copies)

21. Letters of Recommendation
Request letters of recommendation from:
--teachers, advisors, coaches, counselors, and/or
employers
Submit student profile or resume
Double check application instructions. If the school does
not ask for a letter of recommendation, then don’t send
one!
Request at least two weeks in advance
--Follow up with a reminder
--Make sure letters are signed

22. Resume
This document will give your prospective
admissions office or employers an idea of who you
are
Sample subjects to include:
--Education
--Activities
--Sports
--Clubs
--Employment
--Community Service
--Awards and Achievements

23. SCHOLARSHIPS
AND
HOPE

24. How Do I Find $$ for
College?
 Scholarship Link on MHS Counseling Web Page
 Research
 Handouts in Senior Advisements
 Colleges and Financial Aid Offices
 FAFSA and CSS Profile
 Websites
--www.fastweb.com
--www.gacollege411.org for special state and federal grants.

25. Scholarship Search
Services
We follow the guidelines set forth by the
Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC)
and recommend that you DO NOT use a
scholarship search service.
The same resources that you will be charged
in excess of $500 are available for free.

26. Georgia’s HOPE Program
Zell Miller Scholarship—
 Must earn a 3.7 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale in
all English, math, science, social studies and
foreign language coursework attempted between
grades 9-12 and at least a 1200 on the Math and
Reading/Verbal portions of the SAT in one test
administration or score at least a 26 composite
score on the ACT
OR
Graduate as the Valedictorian or Salutatorian and
meet the requirements of the HOPE Scholarship

27. HOPE Scholarship- Must earn a 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale for
all English, math, science, social studies, and
foreign language coursework in the high school
curriculum
HOPE Grant—available to students who are seeking a
technical certificate or diploma, regardless of
student’s high school grade point average or
gradation date.

28. All three HOPE programs will require students to:
 Be a legal resident of Georgia
 Be registered with Selective Service, if male
 Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990
 Meet HOPE’s US citizenship or eligible non-citizen
requirements
 Attend an eligible Georgia school
To see the full list of program requirements, visit
www.gacollege411.org

29. How to Check Your
Current HOPE GPA
• Go to www.gacollege411.org
• From Home Page, go to “Your HOPE
GPA” in right panel
• Create your account
• Follow directions to get your HOPE
GPA.

30. Miscellaneous

31. Events to Look for Senior Year
PROBE College Fairs
--September 23, 2013 from 6:30 p.m. -8:30 p.m.
Financial Aid Meeting
--January 14, 2014 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (this is a
change from the date on the Senior Calendar sent out earlier this year)
College Representatives at MHS
College Visits

32. Marietta High to Host
College Probe Fair!!
Date:
Time:
Place:
Monday, September 23, 2013
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Marietta High Performance Gym
There will be over 100 representatives from four- and two-year
colleges and universities, technical schools, and business
schools
There will be a representative from the Georgia Student
Finance Commission (GSFC)
Find out more about application requirements, financial
aid, scholarships, campus life, and housing

33. Senior Financial Aid Night
Date: January 14, 2014
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Parents/Guardians are encouraged to attend
with their students
Guest presenter from the Georgia Student
Finance Commission
Topics Covered
--FAFSA Application Process
--Financial Aid

34. Test Reminders
SAT Reasoning and Subject Tests
www.collegeboard.org
ACT
www.actstudent.org

35. Final Thoughts
• Apply early
• Encourage independence
• Enjoy your seniors as much as we have
enjoyed working with them

36. Questions???
Ask
Now!!!