Senior Survival Guide

ACT.  This college admissions test, given six times a year, is accepted by all state colleges and universities in Georgia as well as many private and out-of-state schools. 

·        Test Centers - Pope HS-Sept. 24, Dec. 10, Feb. 11, & June 10^th.  Lassiter, Osborne, and Marietta High Schools , Life University and Southern Polytechnic.  Cost - $29.00

·        Registration - Register online at www.act.org or registration packets are available in the Guidance Office.

·        Registration deadlines - When registering by mail, the completed registration form and a check covering required fees must be postmarked by the registration postmark deadline for the test date chosen.  Listed below is the schedule for 2005-2006.

·         Bold Indicates ACT administered at Pope High School

ARMED FORCES.  Recruiters from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines come to Pope from time to time to talk with interested students.  Read the Guidance Calendar and listen to morning announcements to find out when they will be at Pope.

ASVAB (ARMED SERVICES VOCATIONAL APTITUDE BATTERY ).  This aptitude test is available to any interested student.   Although it is used for job placement by the military, it can give all students good information about their abilities.  Students interested in taking the ASVAB should check with the military liaisons.

ATTENDANCE.  The Pope faculty strongly believes that being in class is one of the most important factors in student success.  With block schedule, attendance is even more important since every class missed equals 90 minutes of instruction.

ACADEMIC GRADE POINT AVERAGE.  Most colleges calculate an academic grade point average for each applicant rather than use the overall grade point average (GPA) which appears on the transcript.  Usually only grades from English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Foreign Language classes are used in calculating this academic GPA.   Students should be aware that bonus quality points awarded for AP and honors level classes will probably not be recognized by colleges and universities when calculating academic grade point averages unless it is their policy to factor honors level courses for any student from any high school.  For example, Cobb County may have given you 3.5 quality points for making a "B" in UNITED STATES HISTORY 111 B HONORS but many colleges will only give you three (3) quality points for this class.  The only way to make sure how a particular college will view your grades is to ask that college.  The GPA on your Pope transcript is a weighted GPA.

CAMPUS VISITS (COLLEGE).  Campus visits are a very important part of the college selection process.  Some colleges have set times while others will help you set up a visit on an individual basis.  Here are some additional suggestions for planning your campus visits:

·        Call the admissions office of each college you would like to visit.

·        It is best to visit when classes are in session.  Try to arrange to sit in on a class if you can.

·        If you have a major in mind, try to talk with someone from that department while you are there.

·        Spend the night in a dorm if you can.  If you already know someone at the school, try to arrange to stay with them.  Some colleges will also help arrange overnight stays.

·        Use the student holidays on Oct. 14^th and Nov. 8^th to schedule campus visits.

·        Prepare a list of questions.  If you are not sure what to ask, see your counselor.

CAREER CENTER .  Located in Room 102, the Career Center has many books, pamphlets, handouts, computer programs, and other information about careers.  In addition, Georgia College 411 (www.gacollege411.com) and Career Cruising computer programs are available for students looking for career and college information. The Career Center is available for student and parent use from 7:45 am until 4:00 pm .

CLASS RANK.  Class rank is a way of comparing one student's record of academic performance with his/her classmates.  It is indicated on the transcript.  Class rank is one of the factors considered by competitive colleges.

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS – Preparing for College: The University System of Georgia .

Click on this website for a chart to compare student GPA's & test scores to the 2003-04 profile of public colleges and universities in GA. 

http://www.usg.edu/ga-easy/getintocollege/admiss/freshman/gpa_freshman.phtml

See attachment A (pp. 8-9) for detailed information.

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS REPRESENTATIVES. - The link between the college and the applicant, college admissions representatives are a good source of information about the college.  Students may speak with them by attending one of the PROBE College Fairs (See PROBE COLLEGE FAIRS, p. 5) or meeting with them when they visit the Pope campus.  Seniors wishing to speak with admissions rep when they are at Pope should take the following steps:

·        Step 1.  Be aware of the schedule of visiting college representatives by listening to the morning announcements, reading the TV announcements, or checking the calendar in Room 102.  This scheduled is also updated on the website monthly.

·        Step 2.  Request a pass from the Guidance Office before the scheduled visit of the admissions representative. 

·        Step 3.  Get permission from your teacher to be out of class.  He/she must sign your pass before you will be allowed to meet with the Rep.

Students may also talk with college reps when visiting college campuses.

COLLEGE CATALOGS.  Admissions information is available on the website of the college or university. The Pope Guidance Office has catalogs from many of the colleges and universities in Georgia and other states.  Students and parents may use them in the Guidance Office or check them out overnight.

COLLEGE PREP DIPLOMAS.  Students in the Class of 2006 must meet the requirements for one of the following diplomas:

·        College Prep – primarily for students planning to attend two year colleges

·        College Prep With Distinction – primarily for students planning to attend four year colleges

Students wanting to go to University of Georgia , Georgia State University, Georgia Tech, or Medical College of Georgia must also complete two additional core electives beyond the requirements for the College Prep With Distinction diploma.  

COLLEGE SEARCH.  Students needing assistance in finding colleges and universities may sign up to use one of the computer college search programs in the Guidance Office.  Stop by Room 102 to sign up for a time.

COMPUTER RESOURCES.  The Pope Guidance Office has a number of computer programs available for student use.  In addition, we are connected to the Internet and highly recommend it as an excellent source of information.  You may want to bookmark the following websites on your computer as they are especially helpful. 

Also check out Attachment B (pp.9-10) which many additional websites that we have found to be helpful.

DIPLOMAS.  Diploma order forms will be completed during the senior class activities on Oct. 12, 2005 .  Be prepared to provide your complete "official" name spelled correctly.  Neither nicknames nor initials will be accepted.  There is no charge for the initial diploma but a fee will be imposed if a reorder is necessary due to student error.

DIPLOMA OPTIONS.  In order to graduate, students must meet the requirements for one of the following diplomas:

·        College Prep

·        College Prep With Distinction

·        Technology/Career

·        Technology/Career With Distinction

If you have any questions about which diploma you are working toward, or if you need to review your progress toward meeting the requirements for the diploma you have chosen, please see your counselors as soon as possible.

FINAL TRANSCRIPT.  If you will be attending a college, university, technical institute, or other type of school next fall, you will be required to have a final transcript sent to the institution as proof that you have graduated.  Seniors will be notified in May when to sign for final transcripts.  There is a fee of $2.00 per final transcript.  Note: The Guidance Office will need the complete mailing address of the institution to which we will be sending the final transcript.

FINANCIAL AID FORMS.  There are several forms which are used to apply for need based financial aid:

·        FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA) - This form is used by all colleges to determine eligibility for need-based financial aid.  It is also used to establish eligibility for the HOPE Grant.  FAFSAs will be available in the Guidance Office after January 1, 2006 . 

·        E-HOPE APPLICATION .  e-HOPE Application at www.gsfc.org/ehope. This may be used in lieu of the FAFSA if your college accepts it.  Check with the Financial Aid Office at your college for more information, they may require additional paperwork.

·        PROFILE - This form is also required by some colleges as a supplement to the FAFSA.  Forms are available in the Guidance Office.

FINANCIAL AID SEMINAR.  Students and parents needing help with the FAFSA should plan to attend the Financial Aid Seminar which will be held in the Pope Theater, January 12, 2006 .  Allen May, a financial aid specialist from the Georgia Student Finance Corporation will discuss the HOPE Scholarship, answer questions about financial aid and discuss in detail completion of the FAFSA.

GRADUATION CEREMONIES.  At this time we do not have a final date and time for Graduation, that information will be published, as soon it is available.

GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS.  Orders will be taken in late fall for spring delivery.  Don't wait until the last minute to order.

HONOR GRADUATES.  Any student completing high school with a weighted GPA of 3.5 or better (no rounding) will be designated an honor graduate.  Honor graduates will be announced during the last graduation practice.

HOPE SCHOLARSHIP.  Students who meet the criteria listed below qualify for tuition assistance if they attend college in Georgia .

          *Core classes include English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Foreign Language.

The student and their parents must complete a FAFSA or e-HOPE Application (See Financial Aid Forms on p. 4).  Students will be informed of their initial HOPE status in February.  Eligibility is reported by social security number, so it is very important that each student check his/her transcript to make sure that the social security number showing on the transcript is correct.

     Beginning with the Spring term of 2005, all full-time HOPE Scholarship recipients must have a cumulative college grade point average of at least a 3.0 at the end of each Spring term in order to renew their scholarship. Less than full-time college freshmen will have their grade point average checked after three terms, and thereafter at the end of each Spring term. The current checkpoints of 30, 60, and 90 semester hours or 45, 90, and 135 quarter hours will continue.  Half-time students (6-11 hours) attending private colleges will be eligible, starting with Fall term of 2004, for a HOPE Scholarship award of $1,500 per academic year. Private college students must still be full-time (12 hours) in order to receive the Tuition Equalization Grant.

 Beginning with the Class of 2007, students will have to graduate from high school with at least a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale, to be eligible for a HOPE Scholarship. Students, who graduated as HOPE Scholars in 1993 through 2006 and have not received the HOPE Scholarship until after May 1, 2007 , must also meet the new grade point average requirements.  For students entering as college freshmen on May 1, 2007 and after, the Georgia Student Finance Commission, rather than high schools will calculate the grade point averages for purposes of the HOPE Scholarship. GSFC will utilize the local school system's grading scale and convert the grades to a 4.0 grade point average. The Georgia Student Finance Commission will weight grades for coursework that is classified as advanced placement or international baccalaureate. Honors and other coursework will not be weighted.

NCAA FORMS.  Registration for NCAA Clearinghouse must be completed online at https://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net/ncaa/NCAA/student/index_student.html.  Transcript requests are processed through the guidance office. 

PROBE COLLEGE FAIRS.  Meet with college admissions reps at one of the fairs listed below:

Day/Date                                   Time                      Location

Tuesday, September 20, 2005                 6-9 PM                              North Point Mall

Thursday, September 22, 2005               6-8:30 PM                Convocation Hall/ Gym at KSU

Monday, September 26, 2005                 6-8:30 PM                Cobb County Civic Center

More information is available at www.gaprobe.org

Information on other college fairs in our area will be published when it is received by the Guidance Office.

RECOMMENDATIONS.  If a narrative counselor recommendation is required as part of your college admission application, you need to see your counselor as soon as possible to make arrangements.  You will be asked to complete a Recommendation Request Form (Peach) to tell us about yourself, and to give 4 Teacher Reference Forms (Green) to teachers you select as references.  You should see your counselor as soon as possible, but no later than the appropriate deadline shown in the table below.  Please adhere to these deadlines so that the counselors will have adequate time to prepare a good recommendation.   Requests made after the dates shown will not be honored!

SAT I.  This college admissions test, given seven times a year, is accepted by most colleges and universities.  Listed below is additional information about the SAT I.

·        Test Centers - Nearby test centers include Pope, Walton, Sprayberry, and Marietta High Schools , as well as Life University and Southern Poly.  Not every test center gives the SAT on every date, so it would be wise to check the registration booklet to determine the schedule for the test center you choose.  Dates for testing at Pope are Oct. 8, 2005; November 5, 2005; December 3, 2005; January 28, 2006, and May 6, 2006; June 3, 2006.

·        Cost - $41.50

·        For more information about the new writing section visit their website. www.collegeboard.com

·        Registration - Registration bulletins, which contain registration information, are available in the Guidance Office.   Listed below is the schedule for the rest of 2005.

SAT II.  These subject area tests are given at the same time and location as the SAT.  See College Board for registration information.  Some colleges require specific tests.  It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of each college's requirement in this area.  Students should take this test only if required by a college or university to which they are applying.  See your counselor for additional information.

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION.  To keep seniors posted with current scholarship information, the PHS Guidance Office offers the following:

·        An information sheet labeled “SCHOLARSHIP SOURCES” is sent to senior homerooms.  It contains information about scholarship sources.  See Mrs. Smith in Guidance if you have any questions.

·        TV announcements.  Some of the scholarship opportunities listed on the “SCHOLARSHIP SOURCES” handout are also listed on the TV announcements.  Be sure to watch them every day for updates. 

·        The internet is now a valuable tool in the search for scholarship information.  See COMPUTER RESOURCES on p. 3.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.  These numbers are used as student ID numbers by Pope High School as well as most colleges.   We strongly encourage students to check their transcripts to make sure that the number being used is correct.   Incorrect numbers can cause significant delays in college acceptance and HOPE Scholarship qualification!

TRANSCRIPTS.  Students applying to a university/college or other postsecondary institutions must always arrange for an official transcript to be sent to the school.  A transcript is a history of your academic record and test scores for grades 9 and higher.  It also shows your grade point average and class rank.  The first transcript requested is free; there is a fee of $2.00 each for subsequent ones. 

             There are two kinds of transcripts:

·        Official - Printed on special transcript paper with Dr. Stower's signature and the school seal.  Required when applying to college. The Guidance Office can mail it directly to the college or it can be given to students or parents in a sealed envelope.

·        Unofficial - does not have Dr. Stower’s signature or the school seal.  May be given to students or parents.  May not be used to apply to college.

     Important Note: Transcripts are sent to the admissions office of the college unless otherwise indicated.  If someone else at the college (a coach, the band director, a scholarship committee) wants to see a transcript, you must request additional transcripts and indicate the name and address of the person(s) to whom the transcripts should be sent.

VIDEOS.  The Pope Guidance Office has a number of videos covering colleges, SAT preparation, ACT preparation, the college selection process and financial aid.   Students or parents may view them in the Guidance Office or check them out for home viewing.

WORK PERMITS.  Any student who is not yet 18 and has a job must obtain a work permit if he/she has not already done so.  Work permits are available in the Guidance Office.

Appendix A

Preparing for College

University System of Georgia

     To succeed in college, students must have strong academic preparation in high school. The Board of Regents, which governs the University System of Georgia's 34 institutions, believes that success in selected high school courses contributes immeasurably to a student's success in college.

ENTERING FRESHMEN COLLEGE PREPARATORY CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS

     All students must complete the University System of Georgia's College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) requirements and graduate from an accredited high school. Students applying to any institution must present the following 16 specified CPC units (a unit is often referred to as a Carnegie Unit and represents a full academic year of credit):

       CPC REQUIRED COURSES  INSTRUCTIONAL EMPHASIS

       4 units Mathematics: Algebra 1 and 2, geometry and a fourth year to include

                                     courses such as: algebra 3, advanced algebra & trigonometry, pre-    

                                     calculus, discrete mathematics, calculus, AP calculus, statistics, IB                  

                                     mathematics, analysis

       4 units English:     Literature (American, English, World) integrated with grammar and                                     

                                     usage and advanced composition skills

       3 units Science:     Must include one lab course each from life sciences and the physical sciences

       3 units Social Science: Must include US history and world history

       2 units Foreign Language: Same language emphasizing speaking, listening, reading and writing

     University System of Georgia CPC courses/units that are completed in the middle-school grades are acceptable for meeting USG admission requirements.

      FRESHMAN ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

          The 16 units College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) is required for admission to any University System of Georgia college or university.            

          A Freshman Index (FI) also will determine eligibility for admission. The FI is based on a student's SAT or ACT score and high school core grade point average or HSGPA.

          For admissions purposes, the HSGPA is calculated on the16 CPC units required for all students. If a student takes more than the required number of units in any one area, the best grades may be used in the calculation of the HSGPA (instead of the first units taken that satisfy the requirement).

               FI (w/SAT) = 500 x (HSGPA) + SAT I Verbal + SAT I  Math

               FI (w/ACT) = 500 x (HSGPA) + (ACT Composite x 42) + 88

(Please Note: Core GPA for the Freshman Index is an unweighted GPA. )

The chart on pages 9 & 10 will let you compare your Freshman Index  to Colleges and Universities in Georgia . The chart was taken from the Georgia Easy website, address below.  Keep in mind that the FI is the minimum requirement for each school and does not guarantee admission.  Students are strongly encouraged to take additional higher-level courses in high school to improve their chances for admission into the college of their choice. Admission to a USG college or university requires graduation from an accredited high school.  In Georgia , students must pass the Georgia High School Graduation Test to receive a diploma and be classified as a high school graduate. Go to www.usg.edu/ga-easy/  for additional information on Georgia ’s University System schools.