Sophomore Guidance Information



Sophomore Guidance Newsletter

Class of 2019

Spring 2017

Pre-College Information

• Sign up to take the PSAT in October for more practice and to try to qualify for National Merit Scholarships.

• Make sure you sign up to take the SAT next spring 2018. Go to sat to register.

• Take a free official SAT practice test and receive a score and skills report by going to:

• You may also want to consider taking one or more SAT II subject tests in May or June of your junior year. Check with the colleges you are planning apply to see if this test is required

• Attend college fairs whenever possible.

Summer

• Complete “Summer Packets” for any Advanced or AP Courses you are signed up for.

• Do some “Volunteer” work in the local community and document what you do.

• Consider getting a “summer job”.

• Start looking at colleges. Do a virtual school tour by visiting:

• Explore college majors and careers by visiting:



Apply online to colleges

Complete a college search

 Information about SAT, PSAT, AP Test

Register for SAT

Prepare for SAT

  Download a practice test

Information on dates for testing and deadlines for registration

 Learn about college costs and financial aid



Complete a college search

Apply on line

Complete a scholarship search

Information on test prep for PSAT, SAT and ACT

Take virtual tours of colleges

Provides financial aid information

Utilize a career center



Complete a college search

Provides links to college web sites

Apply to school on line

Download practice tests for SAT and ACT

Advisement on choosing a major

Advisement on writing a college essay

Financial aid information

• Develop a list of colleges you may want to visit. Spring Break is a great time to do this.

• Start researching scholarships. In this newsletter we have supplied you with many scholarship search web sites.

• Update your activities and awards file. If you don’t already have this information written down, do it!!

• Make sure that you have selected the right courses for your junior year.

• Register to take the PSAT in September/Early October through your lunch blocks

September- December

• Take PSAT and review score report in December and work on your weak areas.

• If you are an athlete planning to continue playing a sport in college, register with the NCAA Clearinghouse near the end of junior year at:

January- June

• Take the SAT in the spring

• Work hard to maintain or improve your grades. Remember, your junior year grades are the most current ones the colleges will be reviewing. Show them your very best!

• Start thinking about your post secondary options: community college, 4 year college, technical or professional school, apprentice programs, the military, or going directly into the work force.

Career Exploration

Virginia Education Wizard



Virginia Wizard can help you choose a career, get the information you need to pursue your career, find the college that is right for you, pay for college, transfer from a community college to a university, and get answers to your questions about your future

ASVAB-The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery will be offered in November and February at GHS during the school day. The ASVAB is an excellent career exploration tool and includes a follow-up score interpretation session.

Financial Aid

FAFSA on the web

fafsa.

Federal Student Aid Hotline

1-800-4FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)

fafsa.

Scholarships

: Zinch is a college student’s one stop shop for scholarships that are creative, easy and fun to apply for and win.

Fastweb is a terrific, free resource where you’ll find thousands of scholarships at your fingertips.

ScholarshipPoints allows you to rack up points through a rewards system, making them eligible for different scholarships according to how many points they have earned.

Cappex offers ample scholarship opportunities and financial advice in addition to a college search.

wonderful resource for college students who want to look at colleges and scholarships! Pinpoint the specific scholarship by major, location or year in school.

Reminder to students in the Honors Program

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20 hours of community service are required as part of this program. Some examples of community service are as follows: tutoring sponsored by the National Honor Society, volunteering at a nursing home and cutting grass for an elderly neighbor. These hours are to be accumulated outside the regular school day and no money may be accepted for services rendered. You have from the 9th grade through the first quarter of your senior year to fulfill this requirement.

Students MUST SUBMIT completed community service documentation to their School Counselor by November of their senior year!

There is nothing wrong with applying to several long shot schools! However, make sure you pick a few sure shots as well!!

What You Need to Get into Virginia’s 4-Year Colleges

Averages based on students enrolled in 2015-2016 Academic Year

|Public College |Average GPA |Average SAT (verbal and math) |

|Christopher Newport University |3.4-3.9 |1070-1250 |

|College of William and Mary |3.97-4.39 |1260-1460 |

|George Mason University |3.43-3.90 |1040-1250 |

|James Madison University |3.59-4.03 |1040-1220 |

|Longwood University |3.16-3.73 |890-1090 |

|Norfolk University |2.58-3.62 |770-910 |

|Old Dominion University |2.92-3.62 |920-1140 |

|Radford University |2.80-3.49 |890-1050 |

|University of Mary Washington |3.25-3.87 |998-1210 |

|University of Virginia |4.10-4.42 |1250-1460 |

|University of Virginia at Wise |3.00-3.81 |850-1040 |

|Virginia Commonwealth University |3.30-3.95 |990-1200 |

|Virginia Military Institute |3.36-3.90 |1040-1240 |

|Virginia State University |2.58-3.25 |770-940 |

|Virginia Tech |3.76-4.20 |1100-1320 |

Glossary

Award letter-A means of notifying aid recipients of the financial aid assistance they are being offered by the college/university.

CB code- A four digit College Board number that students use to designate colleges or scholarship programs to receive their SAT score reports. High Schools have a CB code as well. Grafton’s is: 472-504

Early Action- A program in which the student receives a decision earlier than the standard response date but is NOT required to accept the admission offer or make a deposit before May 1st.

Early Decision- A program that commits students to enroll at the college if admitted and offered a satisfactory financial aid package. Application deadlines are usually in November or December, with a mid-to-late December notification date.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)-A form completed by all applicants for federal student aid. The FAFSA is available on the Web at fafsa.. There is no charge for completing this form. They will be available at the high school and may be filed any time after January 1, 2010.

NCAA Clearinghouse-The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) requires all prospective student athletes to register with its central clearinghouse. The clearinghouse determines an incoming freshman’s eligibility to participate in Division I or Division II college sports.

Open admission-A college admissions policy of admitting high school graduates without regard to conventional academic qualifications, such as good grades and acceptable admission test scores. Under open admission virtually all applicants are accepted.

Rolling admission-An admission procedure by which the college considers each student’s application as soon as all required credentials, such as school record and test scores, have been received. The college usually notifies an applicant of its decision without delay.

Transcript-A copy of a student’s official academic record, listing all courses taken and grades received.

Wait list-A list of students who meet the admissions requirements but will be offered a place in the class only if space becomes available.

YORK COUNTY SCHOOL DIVISION COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM

The York County School Division Community Service offers recognition for students who perform 150 or more hours of Community Service during grades 9 – 12. Community Service activities are those which students perform to benefit at least one other unrelated person and for which they receive no compensation or academic credit. Students will work under the auspices of an organization – government, school, non-profit organization, hospital, nursing home, church, shelter, etc. Service to benefit for-profit businesses will not be applied to the requirement. Students who successfully complete the Community Service Program are recognized with the Community Service Seal on their diplomas. Service that takes place during students’ class time may not be counted. However, the after-school hours of community service that is planned as part of a class project may be included.

Community Service Guidelines

Community Service Log: Hours earned as part of the Community Service Program must be documented on the Community Service Log Sheet. Students are required to log in hours, type of service and name of organization. Students are also responsible for identifying a supervisor for each community service activity. Supervisors must verify earned hours by signing the Community Service Log and providing their contact information. Students will submit Community Service Logs to the school principal or designee. Students may obtain community service logs from their school counseling office or on-line at YCSD Community Service Log.

Overnight Events: Students who volunteer for overnight events may log no more than 8 hours for each day of service

COMMUNITY SERVICE LOG

TURN IN COMMUNITY SERVICE LOGS TO MR. O’REGAN ROOM 400

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|DATE |HOURS |SERVICE |LOCATION OR ORGANIZATION |SUPERVISOR’S |SUPERVISOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION|

| | | | |SIGNATURE |(phone or email) |

| | | | |(verification of hours) | |

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|TOTAL |DATE RECEIVED BY SCHOOL OFFICIAL: |SCHOOL OFFICIAL’S SIGNATURE: |

|HOURS: | | |

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