William Fleming High School



Name:_______________________

[pic]

William Fleming High School

2020-2021

Senior Planning Guide

“THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE BEAUTY OF THEIR DREAMS”

--Eleanor Roosevelt

Senior Planning Guide

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………….3-4

Graduation Requirements—Where are you?

SENIOR CHECKLIST…………………………………………………………………………..5-8

What you should be doing during your senior year

Testing dates (SAT and ACT)

THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS……………………………………..9-12

Tips, suggestions, etc.

What are colleges looking for?

College Terminology

WHAT IF I AM NOT GOING TO A FOUR YEAR COLLEGE?...13-15

Military Branches

Alternate continuing education opportunities

Career/job opportunities

NCAA ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS……………………………………………16

FINANCING YOUR EDUCATION………………………………………………..17-20

Financial aid overview

Types of aid

Completing the necessary forms

Applying for scholarships

WFHS COUNSELING DEPARTMENT…………………………………………….21

Contact Information

WFHS SENIORS! CLASS OF 2021!

Congratulations!! You are nearing an important milestone—high school graduation! In addition to completing your high school studies, you will also need to finalize your post secondary plans.

Do you want to go to college? Do you want to attend a trade or vocational school? Are you interested in joining a branch of the military? Would you prefer to enter the workforce?

Your counselor can help you finalize your post secondary plans, so be sure to visit your counselor as often as possible!

Let’s Get Started!!

Questions you should be able to answer:

I have a total of credits toward graduation.

I will need the following courses in order to graduate:

I am working towards an Advanced Studies Standard Diploma.

I have passed verified credits (SOLs) in English, in Math,

in Science, and in History. The total number of verified credits that I have passed is .

I will need to pass the following SOL tests to graduate:

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

for High School Class of 2021

| |Advanced Studies | |Standard Diploma | |

|Course |Units of Credit |Verified Credits |Units of Credit |Verified Credits |

|English | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 |

|Math | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 |

|Science | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 |

|History | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 |

|Health/PE | 2 | | 2 | |

|Foreign Language/Fine Arts or |3 of 1 or 2 of 2 to meet | | | |

|Career/Technical |Foreign Language Requirement | | | |

| |Plus 1 Fine or Career/Technical | | | |

|Fine/Practical Arts | 1 | | 1 | |

|Sequential Electives | | | 2 | |

|Finance | 1 | | 1 | |

|Other Electives | 3 | | 3 | |

|Student Selected SOL Test | | 1 | | 1 |

|TOTAL | 26 | 9 | 22 | 6 |

*Students must also pass an examination in Career Tech Ed and participate in an online experience for at least 1 class.

[pic]

SENIOR YEAR CHECKLIST

August – September

____Plan for college admissions: meet with admissions representatives

____ Secure letters of recommendations

____ Create a resume

____ Work on application essays

____ Attend WF Senior Parent Night September 21st

____ Narrow down your college choices to at least 4 schools

____Set up a calendar for the year that includes test dates, application deadlines, scholarship deadlines, interviews, meetings, etc.

October

_____ Create your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID at fsaid.

_____ Attend WF FAFSA Night October 1st

_____ Complete your FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1 every year you plan to attend college at fafsa.

____Find out if you your college requires you to complete additional financial aid applications and make note of any specific deadlines.

____ Sign up to take the SAT test at

____ Sign up to take the ACT test at

____ Contact Mr. Allgood in Main Guidance for fee waiver information

November – December

___ Complete your applications and submit your college applications

___If the college that you are applying to requires your counselor to complete a separate counselor/secondary school report form, you must send the form to your counselor before you submit your application.

___ Request your transcript be sent to the schools you have applied through parchment website ()

___ Add the schools you have applied to your SAT and ACT account so they are able to receive your scores.

January – May

___ Be on the lookout for acceptance letters and financial aid award letters

___Compare award letters to determine whether awarded financial aid and family resources cover college costs.

___Apply for additional financing if needed

___Select your college and mail in your tuition deposit by the deadline to secure your admission.

___Register for summer orientation at the school you’ve selected

___ June 11th Celebrate your high school graduation with family and friends

___Prepare for college by creating a checklist of things you need and tasks to complete

June – July

___ Be on the lookout for your college bills, and make sure costs are covered by financial aid and family resources; double check to make sure you have the money you need to cover college expenses.

___ Request that your final transcript be sent to the college you will be attending.

**If you are a student with disabilities (IEP or 504 Plan), be sure to consult with your case manager and your counselor regarding opportunities that may be available to you in college. Once you determine the college you will attend, be sure to contact their Student Support Services Office to discuss your unique needs. **

2020/21 SAT Test Dates

|TEST DATES | TEST |REGISTRATION DEADLINE |ON LINE - LATE REGISTRATION |

| | | |(Late fee applies) |

|August 29, 2020 |SAT or Subject Test |July 31, 2020 |August 18, 2020 |

|September 26, 2020 |SAT ONLY |August 26, 2020 |September 15, 2020 |

|October 3, 2020 |SAT or Subject Test |September 4, 2020 |September 22, 2020 |

|November 7, 2020 |SAT or Subject Test |October 7, 2020 |October 27, 2020 |

|December 5, 2020 |SAT or SAT Subject |November 5, 2020 |November 24, 2020 |

|March 13, 2021 |SAT ONLY |February 12, 2021 |March 2, 2021 |

|May 8, 2021 |SAT or Subject Test |April 8, 2021 |April 27, 2021 |

|June 5, 2021 |SAT or Subject Test |May 6, 2021 |May 26, 2021 |

*William Fleming High School’s school code is 471955.

*Register at

*Test fees are as follows:

--SAT: $49.50

--SAT With Essay: $64.50

--Late registration fee: $30.00

--Waitlist registration fee: $53.00

*Fee waivers are available for students that qualify. Contact Mr. Allgood in the School Counseling Office or email JAllgood@.

2020/21 ACT TEST DATES

|TEST DATES | TEST |REGISTRATION DEADLINE |LATE REGISTRATION |

| | | |(Late fee applies) |

|September 12, 2020 | ACT |August 14, 2020 |August 15 – 28 |

| | | | |

|October 24, 2020 | ACT |September 18 |September 19 – October 2 |

|December 12, 2020 | ACT |November 6 |November 7-November 20 |

|February 6, 2021 | ACT |January 8 |January 9 – 15 |

|April 17, 2021 | ACT |March 12 |March 13 – 26 |

|June 12, 2021 | ACT |May 7 |May 8 – 21 |

|July 17, 2021 | ACT |June 18 |June 18 - 25 |

William Fleming High School’s school code is 471955.

*Register at

*Test fees are as follows:

--ACT (No Writing): $50.50

--ACT (With Writing): $67.00

--Late registration fee: $30.00

--Change fee: $30.00

--Standby testing fee: 53.00

*Fee waivers are available for students that qualify. Contact Mr. Allgood in the School Counseling Office or email JAllgood@

THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS

*Narrow down your top college choices. Many students apply to an average of 4 schools. Discuss your choices with your parents and counselor. You should thoroughly research the schools that you are applying to, to be sure that they offer the program/major that you wish to enter.

*Your application is your opportunity to make a lasting impression on admissions staff. In most cases, it is best to apply online. However, if you plan to mail in your applications and they are poorly written or carelessly handled, this reflects poorly on you.

*Check with each college for its application deadline! Early decision deadlines are normally in November or December. You should try to have all applications (including regular admission) completed before you leave for Winter Break!

*Read the application carefully to be sure that you understand the questions. Check to be sure that you have answered all required questions and have someone proofread it before submitting the final application.

*If your application requires an essay, be sure to ask your English teacher to proofread it before submitting the final draft. If a college application states that the essay is optional, you should consider the essay as required.

*You must have your transcript sent through the parchment website.

*If you did not request that your SAT or ACT scores be sent to certain colleges at the time you registered for the test, you will need to request that your official scores be sent to each college that you are applying to. Scores are sent automatically to the colleges that you requested at the time of registration. To request scores to be sent, you must visit

*Some colleges will notify you that they have received all of your application materials and some will not. If you apply online, you can check the status of your application online. If you apply by mail, you may contact the college’s admissions office after a few weeks to be sure that all of your materials were received.

*You are responsible for sending your Virginia Western transcripts to colleges if you participated in the Dual Enrollment program, as well as sending your AP test scores if you took AP exams.

What are colleges looking for?

Good question!! Most colleges will be looking for the following:

1. Challenging coursework—this should continue through your senior

year; Admissions representatives want to see that you have taken challenging courses and that you did not “slack off” during your senior year.

2. GPA/Class Rank—It does make a difference!

3. SAT &/or ACT scores—Each college is different with regards to standardized testing requirements; Consult the individual college’s website or The College Handbook for this information.

4. Extra-curricular/Community Activities—More is better!

5. Leadership Abilities &/or Awards/Honors

6. Recommendations—Ask teachers, community leaders, & other people that can speak highly of your abilities and qualities.

7. Personal Statement/Essay—This is your chance to show

admissions staff who you are and what you have to offer.

COLLEGE TERMINOLOGY

Early Decision—Applying to a college in the early Fall. If accepted, you must attend that college and withdraw any applications sent to other schools. You will not be able to compare financial aid offers.

Early Action—Applying to a college in the early Fall. You may compare admissions and financial aid offers and wait to commit to the college at a later time.

Rolling Admissions—There is no set application deadline date.

Deferred Admissions—An admission plan that permits you to postpone enrollment at that college for one year after acceptance to the college is offered to you

Accepted—You’re in!! The college has approved you for admission, pending your high school graduation and successful completion of admission requirements.

Denied—You were not admitted to the college. This school may not have been the best fit for you.

Wait Listed—You have not been denied or accepted. The college is waiting to make a decision regarding your application, based on confirmation received by applicants they have accepted. Wait listed applicants will be admitted as openings in the freshmen class become available.

Undergraduate Student—A student that has not yet completed a Bachelor’s Degree (This would be you!)

FAFSA—Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This must be completed to find out how much federal aid you are eligible to receive.

EFC—Estimated Family Contribution. The amount students and their family are expected to contribute toward the cost of attending a college.

Cost of Attendance—Includes any costs associated with attending college (tuition, fees, room and board, books, etc.)

Award Letter—Tells you how much financial aid your college is offering you. It includes the types and amount of aid offered. You may choose to accept some or all of what is offered.

Grant—Money that is given because of financial need. This does not have to be repaid.

Scholarship—Money that is awarded to you because of exceptional academic achievement, talent, skills, volunteerism, specific major, etc. This does not have to be repaid.

Loan—Borrowed money that must be repaid.

Work Study—Money that a student earns by working at an on-campus job.

State Grant—Specific grants awarded to students who meet the state requirements. In the state of Virginia it is called the Tuition Assistance Grant.

[pic]

WHAT IF I AM NOT GOING TO A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE?

US Military Branches

The United Stated Military trains men and women so that they can serve and protect our country. The military offers a good salary and free job training, provides discipline and structure, and opportunities for career advancement and travel. You may choose to join a particular branch of the military and then go to college to further your education. Most military branches will fund your education while you serve.

If you are interested in a branch of the military, you should sign up to take the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) when it is offered at WFHS or other area locations. The ASVAB consists of eight individual tests on a variety of subject areas. The military uses your ASVAB scores to help identify occupations that best suit your abilities.

*There are several military branches, all of which have different requirements, benefits, and careers. Visit or to find out which branch may be right for you.

You can also visit websites for each individual branch. The websites are listed below:

US Army/Army National Guard or army.mil

Marine Corps or usmc.mil

Navy or navy.mil

Air Force/Air Guard or af.mil

Coast Guard or uscg.mil

Two-Year/Trade Schools/Apprenticeships

*What is the difference?

--Two-year school—An educational institution that offers a two

year program of study that is generally equal to the first two

years of a four-year undergraduate program. One example of a

two-year school in the Roanoke Valley is Virginia Western

Community College.

--Trade School—A secondary school that offers instruction in

skilled trades, also known as vocational school. Examples of

trade schools in the Roanoke Valley include Skyline College,

National College, ITT Tech, & Miller-Motte Tech.

*Make sure that the school you are considering is an

accredited institution.

--Apprenticeship—A paid or unpaid field-based experience with a

supervising instructor where the apprentice receives job training,

work experience, and technical training. Programs can last

from 1-6 years.

*For more information about two year and/or trade schools, see your counselor or visit the College Advisor. You can also visit the following websites:



trade- trade-



*For more information about apprenticeships, see your counselor or visit the following websites:



Job/Career Choices

*You should narrow down your career/occupational interests before exploring the above options. Consult your counselor, the College Advisor, and your parents for help.

*You can also visit Major Clarity to explore possible careers.

There are many resources available in the Roanoke Valley to help you find a job or career that is right for you.

Consult the Roanoke Times for the latest job openings in the area. You can visit their website at or purchase the Sunday newspaper weekly for updated openings.

*There are numerous temporary job agencies in the area that will help place you in a job that suits the skills and experience that you have. In many instances, those jobs can turn into permanent employment with the company where you are placed. Consult the Career Coach or the Yellow Pages for a listing of temporary job agencies in the area.

*Always remember that although you may not be interested in or suited for a four-year institution, there are many opportunities and options available to you. It is very important to continue your education, in some way, throughout life.

NCAA ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

FOR COLLEGE BOUND ATHLETES

*If you plan to play sports in college, you must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse. Ideally, this should have taken place before the end of your junior year. However, if you still need to register, you can go to and complete the registration process.

**All eligibility requirements can be accessed by visiting the NCAA Clearinghouse website.**

*Be sure that you have taken the appropriate courses required for NCAA eligibility & that you know and understand the requirements for admission to the schools you are interested in attending.

*Athletes who want to go to a Division I or Division II college must have a minimum GPA in a specified number of core courses. Students must also meet the SAT or ACT required scores.

--ACT/SAT score requirements for Division I colleges are based on a sliding scale. (The higher the core GPA, the lower the test score that is required, and vice versa.)

*Please see your athletic coach or Miss Moore (Counseling Coordinator) with questions and concerns regarding NCAA Eligibility.

*Fee waivers for the NCAA Clearinghouse registration are available for students that qualify. Contact Ms. Moore in the School Counseling Office.

FINANCING YOUR EDUCATION

Most financial aid is based on evidence of financial need, but there are also scholarships available that are based on merit or other requirements. Financial aid often makes it possible for students to attend colleges that may be too expensive if the aid was not available. Parents and students should never assume that they can not afford to attend college.

Financial aid packages that colleges normally offer students may include a combination of grant money, student loans, and/or work study programs. These packages are put together by the college’s financial aid office.

The WFHS Counseling Department has extensive information about many different types of financial aid and publishes a newsletter containing the scholarships available to you. The financial aid office of the college that you are interested in can also provide you with a great deal of information, and you should contact them about your special needs and concerns.

Types of Aid

*Need-Based Aid—The majority of financial aid available falls into this category and is based on a family’s need for financial assistance.

--Students must complete the Free Application for Federal

Student Aid (FAFSA). Colleges use the information from the

FAFSA to develop a financial aid package to assist you in

meeting your need.

--The package offered to you may meet all or part of the need as

computed by the FAFSA Profile. Packages offered to you by

different colleges may vary, and you will want to consider all of

your options carefully.

*No-Need Aid—Scholarships, grants, and financial aid that can be divided into two categories: Talent-Based Scholarships and Private Scholarships

--Talent-Based Scholarships are usually given by the college as a

reward for proven talents including academic, athletic, and

artistic/musical scholarships. You have to continue to meet

certain criteria each year to maintain the scholarship. Contact

the college you are interested in for information regarding

talent-based scholarships

--Private Scholarship Programs are scholarships that are given to

students by community, religious, and professional organizations.

Some may have special qualification requirements or restrictions

in order to be eligible to apply. You should check the eligibility

requirements and stipulations carefully before applying.

*The WFHS Counseling Dept is a great resource for many of the

private scholarships available to WFHS Seniors! Deadlines for

applications will vary, so be sure to check each application

deadline carefully!

Completing the Necessary Forms

*To receive need-based financial aid, you must complete and submit the necessary forms by the deadline. If you are eligible for aid, the college’s financial aid office will put together a financial aid package for you.

--The FAFSA is an objective way to determine how much a family

can afford to pay. The FAFSA asks for information regarding

income, assets, etc. The information you provide is then applied

to a formula and the amount a family should be able to afford,

called Estimated Family Contribution (EFC), is calculated.

--You and your parents should obtain a PIN number and begin

working on the FAFSA in December of your senior year. Go to

fafsa. to complete the application online.

--Financial aid is awarded on a “first come, first serve”, so

submit your FAFSA early!

--Some colleges have their own financial aid application for that

you must complete. This form is generally included with the

application for admissions.

--Some private colleges and scholarship programs require you to

complete the CSS PROFILE in addition to the FAFSA. Go to

for information about the PROFILE.

--State grants are generally awarded to students who live and go

to college in their home state. In most states, you apply for

grants just by completing the FAFSA.

--Loans—You may decide to take out a student loan if you need

additional funds to cover college costs. Students are usually

offered Subsidized Stafford Loans as part of their financial aid

package, but students without financial need can get

unsubsidized Stafford Loans from lenders. Low interest Federal

Perkins Loans are also available for students with exceptional

need.

Applying For Scholarships

**Most scholarships have specific eligibility criteria that students must meet in order to receive the award.**

*Applicants are usually expected to have excellent recommendations, and be involved in extracurricular and/or community service activities.

Students should consult the WFHS scholarship newsletter and Mrs. Morgan in the School Counseling Office for updated scholarship opportunities.

When looking for scholarships, please keep the following in mind:

1. Start early. Begin looking into scholarships at the beginning of

your senior year.

2. Contact the financial aid office of the college(s) you are

considering and ask them for information on the scholarships

that they offer.

3. Private colleges are usually more generous when awarding

scholarships so that they can remain competitive in price, so

don’t rule out a private college until you’ve seen their aid package.

4. Apply for local scholarships! These are generally smaller

amounts ($100-$1000), but they are usually easier to get.

5. Scholarship applications become available throughout your

senior year. Some may be due only weeks after being publicized, so be mindful of deadlines! You are responsible for turning in

your scholarship applications (with all requirements) on time.

6. Network. Check for scholarship opportunities with your place of

employment, church, or any organizations that you or your parents belong to.

7. Make sure that teachers, counselors, etc. have plenty of time to

write recommendations and prepare transcripts. BE AWARE OF DEADLINES!!

8. Always check to see if financial aid and scholarships are

renewable. A one-year scholarship is for one year only; a renewable scholarship can become a four-year scholarship.

9. Be suspicious of scholarship services that ask you to pay them money for their services. Most of those are scams!

10. Search for scholarships on the Internet. The websites listed below are free and they provide excellent information. They match a student’s interests, plans, background, and special circumstances with many government, community, and campus-based scholarships.







11. Make sure that all applications are completed correctly.

Neatness and spelling count! Make sure that they include everything that has been requested, and that your name is on each page.

WFHS COUNSELING DEPARTMENT

The Counseling Department at WFHS is committed to helping you succeed. You should visit your Counselor as often as possible to discuss any issues, questions, concerns, etc. that you may have.

“Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.”

-African Proverb

Counselor listings by alphabet:

A—Di Camper Hall Amanda Young (540)853-2019

amandayoung@

Do—K Hart Hall Rajeeyah Congleton-Rahman (540)853-2024

rcongleton-rahman@

L—Ri Smith Hall Heaven Chumley (540)853-1875

hchumley@

Ro—Z Coulter Hall Elizabeth Gillespie (540)853-2022

egillespie@

ELL Yara Ochoa (540)853-2154

yochoa@

College & Career Advisor Jeffery Allgood (540)853-2021

JAllgood@

Registrar: Kim Harlow (540)853-1881

Secretary: Deanna Morgan (540)853-2892

Counseling Coordinator & Governor School Counselor: Jacqui Moore (540)853-6227

HAVE A GREAT SENIOR YEAR!!!! (

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download