This document provides information to senior students about life after high school. It discusses post-secondary education options including two-year colleges, four-year colleges, career and technical schools, the military, and jobs. Specific Colorado schools are listed for each option. Requirements for graduation from Vista Peak are outlined. The differences between the ACT and SAT exams are explained. Financial aid options like grants, scholarships, loans, and the FAFSA process are covered. Important upcoming dates are listed. Students are advised on steps to take like visiting schools, applying to colleges, requesting letters of recommendation, and applying for scholarships.

1. SENIOR CLASS PRESENTATION
LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL!

2. LEARNING TARGETS
• Counselor breakdown
• Discuss options for life
• Explore college options
• Discuss salaries related to education levels
• Discuss general college and scholarship procedures
• ACT VS SAT
• What should you be doing right now

3. VISTA PEAK COUNSELORS
Mrs. Lyle A-G
Ms. Berry H-P
Ms. Husk Q-Z

4. ARE YOU ON TRACK TO GRADUATE
VP Graduation Requirements HEAR Graduation Requirements
Subject Required Credits
English 4.0 units of credit
Math 4.0 units of credit
Science 3.0 units of credit
Social Science 1.5 units of credit
US History 1.0 units of credit
Civics 0.5 units of credit
World Language 2.0 units of credit
Electives 6.0 units of credit
Minimum credits to
Graduate 22.0 units of credit
Subject Required
Years
English 4 Years
Math (must include algebra 1,
Geometry, Algebra II or
equivalents)
4 Years
Natural/Physical Science (two
units must be lab based)
3 Years
Social Science 1.5 Years
US History 1 Year
Civics 0.5 Years
Foreign Language 1 Year
Academic Electives 2 years

5. HOW MANY GRADUATION CREDITS SHOULD I
HAVE?
CLASS 2015
Subject Credits
English 3.0 Credits
Math 3.0 Credits
Science 3.0 Credits
Social Science 1.0-1.5 Credits
Civics .5 Credits
US History 1.0 Credits
Electives/World Language 1.0-2.0 Credits
Total credits that you should have
now!
Minimum of 15 credits to graduate
on time!

6. WHAT OPTIONS DO I HAVE AFTER VP
• Not finishing High School 
• Working at a job after graduating high school
• Save $$ for college
• Take a gap year
• Gain real world experience
• Apprentice Programs
• Training for a specific job
• Earn while you learn
• Career and Technical Training
• Military
• Two-Year College (Community College)
• Four-Year College

7. • Branches
• ARMY
• NAVY
• AIR FORCE
• MARINES
• COAST GUARD
• RESERVES
MILITARY
• Benefits
• Serving Country
• Learn skills and a Trade
• Earn money $$$$ for College
• Start a Career
• Minimum commitment of 2 Years

8. • Low cost
• May take longer than other
Career Schools
• Quality instructors that have
worked in specific career field
• Hands on career specific
training
• Job placement (sometimes)
• Emily Griffith Opportunity
School
• Pickens Technical College
(Aurora Public Schools)
• Wyotec
CAREER & TECHNICAL SCHOOLS
Local Schools Facts

9. OTHER CAREER & TECHNICAL SCHOOLS
• Promise faster completion
• Higher tuition with more loan debt
• Credits usually do not transfer to
Community College or 4-year
University
BEAWARE!!!!!!
Schools
you see
on TV

10. • Smaller Class size
• Affordable tuition
• You do not have to live on-campus
• Guaranteed admission
• May work with undocumented
students
• Community College of Aurora
• Community College of Denver
• Red Rocks Community
College
• Arapahoe Community College
• Front Range Community
College
COLORADO TWO YEAR COLLEGES
Local Community Colleges Community College Facts

11. COLORADO TWO YEAR COLLEGE CONT.
Other Two-Year Colleges Two-Year College Facts
• Low cost tuition
• Located in Rural or Mountain
area across Colorado
• On-campus housing
• looser admission
requirements
• May have low to no wait-list
for programs
• Aims Community College
• Colorado Mountain College
• Colorado Northwest
Community College
• Lamar Community College
• Pikes Peak Community
College

12. • Career and Vocational focused
• Guaranteed admissions
• Smaller classes than traditional 4
year colleges
• two –year college with on
campus housing
• Opportunity to participate in
NCAA sports
• Otero Junior College, La
Junta
• Trinidad Junior College,
Trinidad
• Blair Junior College
• Northeastern Junior College,
Sterling
COLORADO JUNIOR COLLEGES
Junior Colleges Junior College Facts

13. • Larger class size
• Harder admission requirements
• More options for Majors
• Usually provide good Financial
Aid options
• Options to participate in NCAA
sports (competitive)
• Adams State College, Alamosa
• Colorado School of Mines, Golden
Colorado
• Colorado State University,
• - Fort Collins (Main Campus) &
Pueblo
• Fort Lewis College
• Mesa University, Grand Junction
• Metropolitan State University of
Denver, Denver
FOUR YEAR COLORADO
COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES
Four Year Colleges/Universities Four Year College/University -Facts

14. • Higher tuition than Community College
• Competitive admission requirements
• More major options
• Larger campuses
• May offer good Financial Aid package
• Opportunity to participate in NCAA sports
(competitive)
• University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder
(main campus)
• University of Colorado at Colorado
Springs, Colorado Springs
• University of Colorado at Denver, Denver
• University of Colorado Health and Science
Center, Aurora
• University of Northern Colorado, Greeley
• Western State College of Colorado,
Gunnison
FOUR YEAR COLORADO
COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES CONTINUED
Four Year Colleges/Universities Four Year College/University Facts

15. PRIVATE COLORADO FOUR-YEAR
COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES
Colorado Private Colleges Private Institution Facts
• Smaller college
• Tuition is higher
• Some give more Financial Aid
and large scholarship
endowments
• No COF requirement and may
work for undocumented students
• Opportunity to participate in
NCAA college sports
• Colorado College, Colorado
Springs
• Colorado Christian University,
Lakewood
• Johnson & Wales, Denver
• Regis University, Denver
• Rocky Mountain College of Art
and Design, Denver
• University of Denver

16. AVERAGE ANNUAL EARNINGS FOR COLLEGE
GRADUATES AND NON-GRADUATE
SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, CURRENT
POPULATION SURVEY, MARCH 1998,1999,AND 2000

17. WHAT STEPS TO TAKE NEXT
• Visit schools that you may be
interested in attending
• Apply to at least five schools. Make
sure you have two safe schools
• Talk to your family about Post-
Secondary plans (Financial Aid,
Colleges)
• Check Naviance and the Counseling
Center for upcoming Events,
Scholarships and Post –Secondary
information
• Talk to Counselors to discuss options
to make up credits.
• Examine you ACT score, Look at
upcoming ACT retest dates.
• Check for Scholarship and College
Application deadlines. (research)
• Apply for scholarships that meet your
qualifications
• Talk to your counselor to see if you are
on track
• Talk to teachers about
recommendation letters

18. ADDITIONAL APPLICATION PROCEDURES
College Application
• Complete your college application online
• Keep a Copy and communicate with Counselors and let them know if you need fee
waivers ( you must receive free and/or reduced lunch to qualify)
Transcripts
• Request Official transcripts
• Allow 10 days for transcript request to be processed
Recommendation Letter Requests
• Please fill out Letter of Recommendation Request Form for recommendation letters
• Please allow two weeks for letters to be completed
Scholarship
• Pay attention to scholarship guidelines and deadlines
• Make sure applications are completes and sent off in a timely manner

19. IMPORTANT DATES
Event Date
October 25, 2014 ACT Deadline for registration is
September 19, 2014
October Power Session October 20-24
Concurrent Enrollment
Registration
November 2014
College Goal Sunday February 2015 TBA
FASFA Priority Deadline March 1, 2015
Graduation May 27, 2015

20. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ACT & SAT?
• ACT – measures what you currently know. It is an
achievement test. (approx 3 hrs)
• SAT – measures your potential (critical thinking
ability). It is an aptitude test. (approx 3.5 hrs)

21. ACT
• The ACT is a national college admission examination that consists of subject area tests in
English, Math, Reading and Science.
• The ACT Plus Writing includes the four subject area tests and a 30-minute Writing Test.
• The ACT includes 215 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 3 hours and
30 minutes to complete with breaks (or just over four hours if you are taking the Writing Test).
Actual testing time is 2 hours and 55 minutes (plus 30 minutes if you are taking the Writing
Test).

22. SAT
• The SAT Reasoning Test is a measure of the critical thinking skills you'll need for academic
success in college.
• The SAT assesses how well you analyze and solve problems—skills you learned in school
that you'll need in college.
• The SAT includes a Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing section. The 25-minute essay
will always be the first section of the SAT, and the 10-minute multiple-choice writing section
will always be the final section. The remaining six 25-minute sections can appear in any
order, as can the two 20-minute sections.

23. GRANTS VS SCHOLARSHIPS
Grants = Free money you don’t have to pay back
Scholarships=Free money-academic, athletic, service
Application, essays, interviews
(more to come)
Loans= must pay back once you graduate

24. FAFSA
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid
• Is FREE on fafsa.edu.gov-you should not pay for it!!!
• Need based
• Can start applying Jan 1, 2015
• College Goal Sunday Feb 2015 CCA
• Apply early
• More on this topic to come

25. COLLEGE ESSAY
• Needs to reflect who you are NOT what you did
• Make it personal-how did you feel, what did you think,what
did you learn
• Be honest
• Leave people with hope
• What is your message to the world
• We will explore topics

26. WHAT SHOULD I BE DOING NOW
• Keeping your GPA Solid
• Be involved
• Looking at Colleges- Dream school, Likely, For sures
• Talking to College Reps/College Fairs/College Visits
• Looking at College Index Score
• Write your College Essay/Personal Statement
• Get 2 good letters of recommendation from people who say good things about you and
know you!
• Talk to your parents-really
• Look for scholarships and start applying

27. QUESTIONS