This document provides information for senior parents from Marietta High School's Professional School Counseling Department. It includes: 1) Contact information for senior counselors and information on cap and gown ordering. 2) Details on NCAA and NAIA eligibility requirements for college athletics. 3) An overview of Marietta High School's graduation requirements and information on honor graduates. 4) Details on the senior exit interview process, graduation dates, and an explanation of post-secondary options for students.

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

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

3. Herff Jones
• Cap & Gown & Announcements Ordering Dates
• October 1, 2014
• December 16, 2014
• Cap & Gown & Announcement Delivery Dates
• March 3, 2015
• April 9, 2015
• Contact Information: 770-795-1626
• Website:www.herffatlanta.com
• Buy your gowns early!!!! Prices will increase throughout the year!

4. 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

5. DO YOU KNOW
WHAT THE
GRADUATION
REQUIREMENTS
ARE?

6. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Subject Units Required Courses
English 4 1 unit of American Literature or AP Language
Math 4 Courses vary
Science 4 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
Social Studies 3 1 unit World History
1 unit U.S. History
½ unit Economics
½ unit American Government or Civics
CTAE, Foreign Language, Fine Arts 3 This area can be a combination
Health/Personal Fitness .5 each
Electives 4
Total 23
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.

7. 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

8. What Do You Need to
Know About Graduation?
Graduation requirements
Exit exams
--All students must pass the Georgia High School Writing exam
High honor graduates
GPA is 4.0 and above
Honor Graduates
GPA 3.5-3.99
Graduation date: Saturday, May 23, 2015
Graduation practice: May 20-22, 2015
--Attendance is mandatory

9. HEADED
IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION

10. 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?

11. 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

12. 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 fairs in the area

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 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!

16. The
College and
Scholarship
Application Process

17. Secure applications from colleges either online or by the
traditional method (on-line is preferred)
 Students can apply to in-state schools using their
GACollege411.org account
Apply early and organize deadlines
Gather application fees
Request letters of recommendation
Create resume
Compose essays
Make copies of everything you send out

18. 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 or on the MHS Webpage.
•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.
You must submit final transcript requests through GACollege411.org
for in-state schools. Only final transcripts for out-of-state schools are
mailed from the Marietta High School Counseling office.

19. 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)

20. 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

21. 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

22. SCHOLARSHIPS
AND
HOPE

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

24. 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.

25. 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

26. 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.

27. HOPE Scholarship
Rigor Requirements
Beginning with students graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2015, in order to be
eligible to receive the HOPE scholarship, a student must receive at least two credits in courses
from the following categories, prior to graduating from high school:
• Advanced math, such as advanced algebra and trigonometry, math III, or an equivalent or
higher course taken at an eligible high school or taken for degree level credit at an eligible
postsecondary institution
• Advanced science, such as chemistry, physics, biology II, or an equivalent or higher course
taken at an eligible high school or taken for degree level credit at an eligible postsecondary
institution;
• Advanced foreign language courses taken at an eligible high school or taken for degree level
credit at an eligible postsecondary institution;
• Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or dual credit enrollment courses in core
subjects (English, math, science, social studies, or foreign language)

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 Post-
secondary 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
Georgia Apply to College Event
 November 19, 2014 in the MHS Seminar Room
Financial Aid Meeting
--January 15, 2015 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
College Representatives at MHS
College Visits

32. Senior Financial Aid Night
Date: January 14, 2015
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

33. Test Reminders
SAT Reasoning and Subject Tests
www.collegeboard.org
ACT
www.actstudent.org
 Compass Exam
 ASVAB

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

35. Questions???
Ask
Now!!!