Susquehannock High School
SENIOR NEWSLETTER This newsletter covers topics such as graduation requirements, College Board test dates, post-secondary application procedures, financial aid information, etc. As always, parents and students are encouraged to consult with their counselor individually if they have specific questions or need additional assistance.
EVENING HOURS OFFERED BY GUIDANCE COUNSELORS
THE GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT WILL BE OPEN DESIGNATED EVENINGS THIS FALL FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF PARENTS AND/OR STUDENTS. COUNSELORS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE FOLLOWING DATES: October 7, October 21, & November 5 6-8pm
We encourage you to make an appointment to insure that individual attention can be given to meet your needs and/or your child’s regarding academics, career questions or college research. Parents and students may also attend an information session about Naviance Family Connections. Naviance Family Connections is a comprehensive website that you and your student can use to make plans about colleges and careers. Family Connection is linked with Naviance, a service that we use in our office to track and analyze data about college and careers.
Refer to Cable Channel 99 for important guidance dates and deadlines.
ASSIGNMENT OF STUDENTS TO COUNSELORS Students are assigned to a counselor based on the first letter of their last name. Student distribution is as follows: A-D Mrs. Miklos E-K Ms. Kabke L-R Mr. Shervington S-Z Mrs. Dzwonczyk
Additional information can be found on the school website under the Susquehannock High School Guidance link. Inside this Issue:
Also check out Family Connections at http:// connection.naviance.com/ susquehannock/ for college and career information.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS 25.0 credits are needed to graduate from Susquehannock High School including a .5 credit graduation project. These credits include 4.0 of English, 4.0 of Social Studies, 3.0 each of Math and Science, .5 each of a Computer Technology course, Health I, Health II, Career Seminar, 1.0 in Physical Education and 2.0 credits in arts and humanities. In addition, a minimum of 4.0 credits must be passed in the senior year, regardless of accumulated credits.
Guidance Personnel are available to meet with you and answer your questions. Please telephone us or make an appointment. Office hours are 7:15 AM to 3:30 PM and our number is 235-4811 x4243 or x4284.
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Guidance Department September 2015
Graduation Requirements
College Application Process
Financial Aid
SAT and ACT Testing
NCAA Eligibility Center
Scholarship Information
What’s Next After High School? Most jobs after high school require some higher level of education or training. Training avenues include post-secondary education, the military, an apprenticeship or on-the-job training. A post-secondary education is still considered the way to better job opportunities, higher income, and in general, a more satisfactory lifestyle. However, attending a post-secondary institution is one of the largest single investments you or your child can ever make. Make sure you understand who will be paying for the coursework, fees, books, room and board, etc. and how much time and effort will be needed to earn the degree, diploma and/or certification. Formal education also includes vocational and technical training and answers the needs of many graduates, as well as the needs of industry and business. Explore careers as well as educational opportunities through shadowing or volunteering. Schedule an individual appointment with your guidance counselor to discuss your goals and explore your options.
Counselors are available from 7:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. Monday through Friday for appointments with parents and students. Contact your counselor for an appointment. Our numbers are 235-4811, ext. 4242 (Mrs. Miklos), ext. 4273 (Ms. Kabke), ext. 4246 (Mr. Shervington) and ext. 4241 (Mrs. Dzwonczyk).
CAREER SHADOWING/COLLEGE VISITATION Juniors and seniors are eligible to job shadow or attend college visitation days a total of five (5) times each school year. A signed letter from the employer/college is required for the absence to be excused. Attendance forms for this purpose are also available in the Guidance Office. If you did not complete the field work experiences for your graduation project last year, you must complete them in the fall of your senior year.
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BIG BUDDY PROGRAM
Each year the guidance departments of Southern Elementary and Susquehannock High School coordinate a Big/Little Buddy Program. If you would like to volunteer for this program please sign up in the high school guidance office. This is a year-long, weekly commitment. Please consider carefully if you are able to make the time to commit to this activity. The Little Buddy really counts on seeing you each week. Big Buddy candidates must have a 2.0 cumulative grade point average and a satisfactory attendance record.
ATTENTION MALES MEN LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES MUST REGISTER WITH THE SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THEIR 18TH BIRTHDAY. IT’S THE LAW! REGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.SSS.GOV OR PICK UP A REGISTRATION CARD AT ANY POST OFFICE . FAILURE TO REGISTER MAY RESULT IN THE INABILITY TO RECEIVE FEDERAL AND STATE COLLEGE LOANS AND GRANTS, EMPLOYMENT TRAINING OR MANY STATE JOBS.
TIPS FOR SELECTING A POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTION 1. Organization is key. Keep application forms, test score results, correspondence and college literature in a large envelope or folder. Keep a calendar with test dates, application deadlines, financial aid deadlines, open house dates, as well as other important events in the process. 2. Think about what you want. What do you want from your college/school campus? Factors such as geographic location, available programs of study, size and locale of campus, extracurricular activities, facilities and admissions requirements and selectivity are important to consider. 3. Do your research. Consult your Guidance Counselor, Family Connections (for access information contact the Guidance Office), college fairs, alumni, the Internet and the college or school itself. 4. Use first-hand experience. Visit the campus and/or schedule an appointment with the admissions office. Arrange some shadowing experiences in order to research the career(s) you are considering and what training/ education you will need beyond high school.
COLLEGE AND CAREER SEARCH www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org www.educationplanner.org http://connection.naviance.com/ susquehannock/ www.peterson.com www.campustours.com www.fastweb.com www.OEDb.org
NEED MONEY FOR POST SECONDARY EDUCATION? WWW.FASTWEB.COM WWW.FINAID.ORG WWW.SCHOOLSOUP.COM WWW.OVERTUREMARKETPLACE.COM
FYI - Class Rank Class rank for seniors is calculated at the end of each of the first three marking periods. The final class rank is established at the end of the third marking period.
Transcripts with year-end grades and earned credits are sent automatically to the college of choice based on the information entered on the senior survey in the spring.
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The comprehensive college portal for Pennsylvania at www.OEDb.org/ pennsylvania provides clear, easily accessible information to explore on-line college options in Pennsylvania.
POST-SECONDARY APPLICATION PROCESS
Most applications can be completed online at the college’s website. Students can complete multiple applications at once by using the Common Application or SENDedu if the college participates. For most colleges, the application process has several parts: Application form and fee Admission essay(s) High school transcript College admission test scores (SAT/ACT) Letters of recommendation Before completing the application, read ALL the instructions. Be sure that anything you upload is readable. Important Information For College Applications CEEB Code or High School Code: 391-545 School Address: Susquehannock High School P.O. Box 128 3280 Fissels Church Road Glen Rock, PA 17327-0128 Fax Number: 717-235-8253 Counselor’s E-mail: Mrs. Miklos - kate.miklos@sycsd.org Ms. Kabke - evelyn.kabke@sycsd.org Mr. Shervington - matthew.shervington@sycsd.org Mrs. Dzwonczyk - colleen.dzwonczyk@sycsd.org
If a college requires an essay(s), it should be the best the student can write. Essays provide an important opportunity to relay information about student communication skills, unique circumstances, goals, etc. It is strongly recommended that essays be drafted, rewritten, proofread and then carefully typed or uploaded on the required form.
High school transcripts may be requested by completing a Transcript Request Form. These can be found in the Guidance Office. A parent signature must accompany the request if the student is under 18 years of age. An authorization to release student records is kept on file in the Guidance Office for this purpose. If you have not returned this signed authorization, please do so as soon as possible to avoid delays. Students are reminded that at least five (5) school days should be allowed for an application and/or transcript to be completely processed by the Guidance Office. Official transcripts must come dir ectly fr om our office. Unofficial transcripts are available upon request. Again, please allow five (5) school days for processing. An official transcript must be sent from the Guidance Office for each application. The only exception for this is the Common Application where one transcript request is sufficient for all Common Application schools. An application will NOT be processed by the college without a transcript. An acknowledgment from the college stating that your application has been received should come within six weeks of sending your application. Since application fees can be costly, select only the schools that you are really interested in attending. By following this guideline and applying to colleges not too far above or below your aptitude, you will have choices to make when the process is complete. When you make a final decision about which college or institution you will attend, notify (in writing) the other institutions that have offered you admission so they can offer admission to waitlisted students. If you have any questions about the college application process or would like to have a private consultation, please telephone the Guidance Office to set up an appointment with your counselor.
An official transcript contains a school seal and is sent directly from the Guidance Office to the college or university.
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PENN STATE ADMISSIONS Penn State follows a modified rolling admissions process. Applications are accepted throughout the year, however, students who apply by November 30 receive first consideration. Admissions criteria typically increases after November 30. Four Year Programs Available at Campuses Other than University Park Penn State/York—English, Communication Arts and Sciences, Biology, Business, Electromechanical Engineering Technology, Human Development and Family Studies, Information Sciences and Technology, Psychology, and Science. Penn State/Mont Alto— Business, Health Policy and Administration, Human Development and Family Studies, Information Sciences and Technology, Nursing, Letters Arts and Sciences. Penn State/Harrisburg— numerous engineering degrees in addition to many others. Students apply online. Be sure to request a transcript from the guidance office after you apply online. Arrange for your SAT/ACT scores to be sent directly to Penn State from the testing agency.
TIPS ON WRITING THE COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAY Many students are anxious or procrastinators when writing their application essay(s). Like letters of recommendation, colleges/universities use the essay as a way of gathering more information about a prospective student and as a tool to examine communication skills. The essay is a chance to let the college know the student more personally. Students should view the essay as a mechanism for “selling” themselves to the college.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD ESSAY? Pay attention to the basics: neatness, check grammar, sentence structure and spelling. Write in an interesting manner. Remember that college admissions personnel read a large number of essays. Be yourself. Do not attempt to use a style or vocabulary that is not a normal part of your writing. Provide insight into your character. Reveal information about you as a person that may not appear anywhere else in your application. Use anecdotes or personal experiences to explain character development. Share your essay with at least two other people (parents, teachers, counselors or friends) before you send it. They can be invaluable in detecting errors and suggesting improvements.
SHS COLLEGE NIGHT Susquehannock High School will host the Southern York County Post-Secondary Education Fair this year on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. This is an excellent opportunity for students and parents to shop for post-secondary institutions including business schools, technical schools, junior colleges, two-year colleges, and four-year colleges as well as meet with military personnel.
The York County Regional College Fair will be held on Monday, October 19, 2015 from 6 to 8 p.m. at York College in the Grumbacher Sport and Fitness Center.
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TEST SCORES
COLLEGE ADMISSION TESTS
Each time you register to take the SAT or ACT you will be given the option to create a list of schools that will receive a copy of your scores. You will also be asked if you want a copy of your scores sent to your high school. We strongly recommend you do this so that we may include a copy of your scores with your transcript. Be awar e that some schools will still want these scores sent directly to them by the testing company.
If you are considering a two or four-year college, check the college website for required admission tests. Most colleges in the United States accept the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) (Reasoning Test) and the American College Test (ACT).
Check out the guide at: www.onlineschools.org/college-testguide for tips on managing different types of exams and questions, overcoming test anxiety, and where to find online study resources.
*Administered at Susquehannock High School.
Test Date Registration Deadline Test *October 3, 2015 September 3 SAT and Subject November 7, 2015 October 9 SAT and Subject December 5, 2015 November 5 SAT and Subject January 23, 2016 December 28 SAT and Subject *March 5, 2016 February 5 SAT ONLY May 7, 2016 April 8 SAT and Subject June 4, 2016 May 5 SAT and Subject
Test fees: SAT Reasoning Test $54.50 REGISTER FOR SAT ONLINE AT WWW.COLLEGEBOARD.ORG
THE FOLLOWING COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES NO LONGER ACCEPT SAT/ACT SCORES SENT WITH TRANSCRIPTS. SCORES MUST COME DIRECTLY FROM COLLEGE BOARD TO THESE INSTITUTIONS. PENN STATE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE TOWSON UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
Test Date *October 24, 2015 December 12, 2015 February 6, 2016 *April 9, 2016 June 11, 2016
IN ADDITION, THE NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER WILL ONLY ACCEPT TEST SCORES SENT DIRECTLY FROM THE TESTING AGENCIES.
Register online at www.act.org
GO TO WWW.COLLEGEBOARD.ORG OR WWW.ACT.ORG TO REQUEST SCORES AT AN ADDITIONAL COST PER REPORT IF YOU DID NOT REQUEST YOUR SCORES TO BE SENT VIA YOUR ORIGINAL REGISTRATION.
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SAT
ACT Registration Deadline September 18 November 6 January 8 March 4 May 6
*Administered at Susquehannock High School Test Fees: $ 39.50 (No Writing) $ 56.50 (With Writing)
ACT & SAT - FYI Students must have an acceptable photo ID and admission ticket to be admitted to the test center. An acceptable photo ID includes a driver’s license, school ID or valid passport. NOTE: An uploaded photo of the student is required to register.
FALL SAT PREP CLASSES—YORK COLLEGE October 26, November 2, 9, 16, 23 6:00-9:00 p.m., $165 per session, To register, complete the registration form found at www.ycp.edu/offices-and-services/academic-services/ community-education/noncredit-courses/collegeentrance-exams/ and mail to: Office of Community Education, York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA 17403-3651. For further information contact the Office of Community Education at (717) 851-1451 or email: oced@ycp.edu.
The student bulletins, Preparing for the ACT Assessment and Getting Ready for the SAT, are available in the Guidance Office.
SAT PREP CLASSES - PENN STATE YORK Saturdays: October 10, 17, 24, 31 8:30-12:30 p.m., $ 210 per session Room 112, Pullo Center To register, complete the registration form found online at york.psu.edu/ce/32065.htm For further information contact Judy Woods at 717771-4032 or email: jxw@psu.edu.
ACT The American College Testing Program (ACT) measures a student’s knowledge in the areas of English, Mathematics, Reading and Natural Science. Traditionally this test is preferred by many of the colleges and universities in the South and Midwest, but all colleges will accept ACT scores and/or SAT scores. A student with a strong background in science and social studies may want to consider this test in addition to the SAT. The writing portion of the ACT is optional during registration, but is required by some colleges for admission. Before registering to take the ACT, check if the schools you are applying to require the ACT writing test.
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ASVAB TESTING ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) will be given free of charge at SHS on October 23, 2015 and the April 22, 2016, periods 1-3. Sign up in the Guidance Office. This test is part of the enlistment process. For more information: www.asvabprogram.com
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
FINANCIAL AID
Admission to most colleges and universities is more and more competitive so letters of recommendation are important in the admission decision. Guidance counselors and teaching staff, in an effort to compose enlightening and informative letters of recommendation, ask the following assistance from students and parents:
If financial aid is needed to meet college expenses, research possible sources by contacting the individual financial aid office at each college that your child is considering. In order to increase the likelihood of receiving a scholarship, it is important to follow these rules:
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Ask for letters of recommendation from teachers and counselors only if the college or university request them. Many colleges/univer sities (especially lar ge ones) do not use recommendations as part of the admission process. If a recommendation is not requested and there are special circumstances about which you want the college/university to be aware, consult with your counselor. When letters of recommendation are needed from school personnel, use the following procedure : Ask the staff member at least ten (10) days in advance of when the letter is needed. At the time of the request, hand a copy of your Senior Information Sheet and the Letter of Recommendation Request Form to the person writing the recommendation. (These are available in the Guidance Office.) These forms will require the following information: 1. Name of the student requesting the letter. 2. To whom and where the letter(s) is/are to be addressed. 3. Processing instructions. (Is the faculty member to send the letter? Can it be forwarded to the SHS Guidance Office? Is it to be handcarried by the student?) 4. Due date.
Be selective when you choose someone to write a letter of recommendation. Ask those who know you well. This can include teachers, coaches, youth leaders, employers, etc. What is written should add to a student’s profile.
Keep track of recommendations to make sure that they get written and sent on time. (This is the student’s responsibility.)
You may want to give those writing the letters the option of composing an Open Letter of Recommendation that can be sent with any admissions application. The Guidance Office can keep the original on file and send a copy with your transcript.
Be sure to check with the school you are applying to for application deadlines for financial aid. Read about the financial aid process and sources of aid. (Information is available in the Guidance Office and public libraries.) File the application for aid on-line as soon as possible. Financial aid forms cannot be filed until after January 1, 2016 for the upcoming 2016-2017 academic year. Be sure to note the deadlines of the schools to which you are applying. Follow the exact directions when filling out forms. Financial aid and scholarship information is provided by the Guidance Office. Students should periodically pick up an updated scholarship bulletin located in an envelope outside the Guidance Office. The paper color and date of this bulletin changes when the content is updated. Scholarship bulletins are also sent to senior homerooms for distribution and are available online at www.sycsd.org under newsletter link under the high school tab.
FINANCIAL AID SEMINAR A Financial Aid Seminar is scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. in the high school cafeteria for parents of juniors and seniors. The purpose of this seminar is to provide essential financial aid application hints and a question and answer session. More information about financial aid and the seminar will be available at a later time.
10 Scam Warning Signs (from FastWeb.com) Knowing these warning signs can keep you from being a scholarship scam victim. 1. Fees: You should not have to pay to sear ch for or apply for scholarships. Check out the free scholarship search at FastWeb.com. 2. Credit Card or Bank Account Information Needed: You should never have to give credit card or bank account information to award providers. 3. Scholarship Guarantee: No one can guar antee that you will win a scholarship because no one can control scholarship judges' decisions. Also, be wary of "high success rates" - they usually do not refer to actual award winners. 4. No Work Involved: Scholar ship awar ds r equir e that you complete an application. 5. No Contact Information: Legitimate sponsor s should provide contact information upon request. If the sponsor does not supply a valid e-mail address, phone number and mailing address (not a P.O. Box) after you have asked for one, that could be the sign of a scam. 6. Unsolicited Scholarships: If you ar e called to r eceive an award for which you never applied, be alert - it is most likely a scam. 7. Pressure Tactics: Do not allow your self to be pr essured into applying for a scholarship, especially if the sponsor is asking for money up front. 8. Claims of "Exclusive" Scholarships: Sponsor s do not make their scholarships available through only one service. 9. Sponsor Goes Out of Their Way to Sound "Official": Scammers sometimes use official sounding words like "national," "education" or "federal" or they display an official-looking seal to fool you into thinking they are legit. Check with your school if you question a scholarship provider's legitimacy. 10. Your Questions Are Not Answered Directly: If you can't get a straight answer from a sponsor regarding what will be done with the information on your application, proceed with caution. GO TO WWW.FASTWEB.COM for more infor-
What are the NCAA Eligibility Center Standards a student must meet? The standards issued by the Clearinghouse are slightly different for Division I and Division II but are based on the same principles: 1. 2. 3.
Students must graduate from high school. Students must successfully complete all needed core courses. Students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA in the core courses.
Q: Who should register with the NCAA Eligibility Center? A: Any cur r ent Sophomor e, J unior or Senior who wishes to participate in inter-collegiate athletics at an NCAA Division I or II college/university. Q: What test scores are required by the NCAA? A: All SAT and ACT scor es must be sent dir ectly by the testing agency. Use the Eligibility Center code of 9999 when registering for the SAT or ACT. Requirements vary between Division I and Division II.
In Division I, a sliding scale, based on the student’s core course GPA is used. The higher the GPA, the lower the test scores needed for qualification.
In Division II, test score requirements are the same for each student, regardless of GPA. At least 820 must be achieved on the SAT or a sum score of 68 on the ACT.
Test scores are calculated using only the math and critical reading subsections of the SAT and the Math, Science, English and Reading subsections of the ACT. The writing component of the ACT or SAT is not used to determine qualifier status. STUDENT ATHLETE REGISTRATION WEBSITE: www.eligibilitycenter.org
Registration Fee $75.00 For more information go to www.ncaa.org. This is the governing body of college athletics. It consists of approximately 900 schools that are classified into three (3) divisions. What is the NCAA Eligibility Center? This organization was established by the NCAA to verify eligibility. Student athletes must register with this organization if they want to participate in Division I or Division II college athletics. It ensur es that a student athlete has met all requirements set by the NCAA before an official visit is made to a school.
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