Seniors
Sheila Scott
Counselor
sheilascott@jefcoed.com
Phone: (205) 379-3500
Fax: (205) 379-3545
Our school hours are 7:55 am to 3:00 pm Monday-Friday.
A student’s senior year is the shortest year of his high school career and often the most critical in terms of his future.
Hello Class of 2009,
It’s finally here. YOUR SENIOR YEAR!!! I too am excited about your senior year and all the things to come before graduation in May!
I want every senior to graduate and realize his/her potential.
Please read the following as it is very important. May will be here before we realize it and I want you to be prepared.
Credits, GPA, and AHSGE
These are the requirements to earn a diploma required by the state of Alabama. Complete a credit check to make sure you’re on track to graduate. Students in Alabama must have 28 SPECIFIC credits to graduate.
Make sure you have the following: (I will also check and call each of you into my office to verify).
4 credits of English
4 credits of Math, including Algebra I or Algebra A/B and Geometry (Pre-Calculus or Algebra II with Trig is required for the Advanced Diploma)
4 credits of History including World History, US History I to 1500, US History II to 20th Century, Government/Economics
4 credits of Science, including a physical science and Biology (Note: Chemistry is required for the Advanced Diploma)
1 credit Physical Education
.5 credit Health (JefCoEd students will have earned 1 credit)
1 credit Fine Arts
1 credit Computer Applications
2 credits Foreign Language in the same language (Only required for the Advanced Diploma)
Electives (number will vary due to the diploma type)
Total must equal to a minimum of 28 credits
Must
pass
Note: If you need to change you diploma type, your parent must submit the request in writing.
B. Check you Grade Point Average (GPA)
1. Always check your GPA against what the computer computes. If you see a discrepancy, come see me.
2. 4 year schools require a minimum GPA to apply. The requirement varies from school to school but it must always be at least a 2.0.
3. Some 4 year schools figure your GPA on you academic courses only. Often times your grade point average will be lower when figured on you academic courses.
C. Alabama High School Graduation Exam
You must pass all 5 portions to receive a diploma.
The next test is March 3-7.
Speak with you academic teachers for remediation materials.
You can go to the Alabama state website to download practice tests in each area. (www.alsde.edu)
In the blue area to the left, click on Selections.
Scroll down and click on Curriculum and Instruction.
In the blue area to the left, click on Publications.
Scroll to Assessments and click on AHSGE Item Specs.
Click on the specific part needed.
Click download.
ACT and
www.act.org (ACT information)
www.collegeboard.com (
If you are thinking about college and have not taken ACT or
ACT
and
You
can take the ACT or
Jeff. State offers ACT test prep classes. You may also want to purchase a test prep book from amazon.com or Barnes & Noble or any major book store.
Most academic scholarships will need at 25+ on the ACT plus a 3.5 GPA (this is a general rule). Other scholarships may focus on leadership, extracurricular activities, volunteer involvement etc.
College and Career
College applications and catalogs are in the guidance office. We have limited applications since colleges now encourage students to apply by going online. Students can use the library for internet success if they do not have it at home.
Once
you have made an application to a college, you must have Fultondale High School
send an official transcript. High school transcripts may be requested by asking
Mrs. Scott or Mrs. Ellis. Your
transcript contains all final grades, your GPA, you class rank, and scores from
any ACT or
Develop a resume with career, college, and scholarship application.
Apply to 1-3 colleges of your choice.
Ask your teachers and counselor to write any necessary recommendations for jobs, college acceptance, and scholarships. Give anyone writing a letter of recommendation a two week notice prior to your deadline.
Pick up financial aid information in the guidance office and share with your parents. FAFSA applications should be available in December and need to be mailed by February 15th. (Also, I will notify you soon about a date that we will make available to fill out the FAFSA here at school. I have invited Dr. Payne from Jeff. State to assist us. Info to come)
Talk
to coaches about NCAA eligibility if you are an athlete. You must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse
if you are thinking of athletic participation in college. www.ncaaclearinghouse.net
. All NCAA forms must be completed
via the Internet.
Listen
to announcements over the intercom regarding careers, colleges, scholarships,
and financial aid. Also, I will give
info as available to your senior teachers to announce in class.
Look
up career, college, and scholarship information on www.careercruising.com .
User
Name: Fultondalehs
Password: careers
Scholarships
Honor
graduates must have an advanced diploma and a GPA of 4.0+. The Jefferson County School District
recognizes all students with a grade point average of 4.0 and above as honor
graduates with a class rank of #1.
Remember, your class rank can change at the end of each term throughout
your high school career. We will not
know for sure who the honor graduates are until grades are posted after final
exams are given in May.
Check
with your parents to see if their employers have a scholarship for
children. Check with your own employer
if you work to se what is available for you.
Complete
and file the FAFSA-Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This form will tell every college or
university whether to count you as a need based scholarship recipient or a
non-need based scholarship recipient. It
is vitally important that each college bound senior complete the FAFSA. These forms are available in the guidance
office in December or you can go online to apply. (www.fafsa.ed.gov) or www.ed.gov/studentaid. You call also call 1-800-4-
You
need to file after January 1 and mail by February 15th. Many colleges use this information as a base
line to determine your scholarship or loan needs. Make a copy for your records.
Many
armed service related scholarships are available for those who qualify and
commit to service in the organization.
Talk to recruiters as they visit Fultondale High, or ask Mrs. Scott to
set up an appointment for you.
All
scholarships that come through the guidance office will be made available to
you. Ask for any information you may
need. It is the responsibility of the
student and his parent to complete the applications and to respect the
deadlines regarding any scholarship opportunity.
Ask
your teachers about scholarships that fall under his/her particular department
of expertise. Examples would be art,
drama, choir, band, and athletics.
The
more research that you do, the better your chance at finding the scholarship or
loan program that best suits your needs.
Federal Loan Programs
Explore
options for federal loan programs. Call
(888)972-6315 for more details or to receive a packet of information. There is no fee to apply for federal loan
programs. You can also apply online at www.collegeloancorp.com
. Most students and parents are eligible
for low interest, no collateral loans guaranteed by the government.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
If
you have a learning disability or physical disability, you may be eligible for
Vocational Rehab. Services which could
pay your tuition, books, and/or sometimes provide a tutor at a state university
or college.
Talk
to you exceptional education teacher or see me.
Veteran’s Administration
The
veteran’s administration will pay tuition and/or books to anyone who has a
parent who has been injured or killed while in the military service.
Prep for College Calendar
What to do January-May 2009. Apply to Colleges. Make decisions.
January- § Complete FAFSA application. § Parents must start gathering their tax information for the prior year and complete the FAFSA. Do as soon after January 1 as possible. § Let Mrs. Scott know if you need you first semester grades sent to colleges to which you have applied. § Continue to research scholarship opportunities.
February, March, and April- § Mail FAFSA application by February 15th. § If you submitted you FAFSA by the deadline, you should receive your student aid report (SAR) indicating your eligibility for aid in March. § Explore your options for federal loan programs. § Check to make sure that you have completed any additional financial aid forms with the college you plan to attend. § Two year colleges have scholarship deadlines during these months. § Apply for any other scholarships and pay particular notice to deadlines. § Scholarship offers will start coming in March and April. § Keep your grades strong.
Before May 1- § Colleges will notify you about acceptances or rejections and financial aid packages. Compare which packages best meet your needs. § Decide on the college you plan to attend. § Send tuition deposit. § Notify other colleges that accepted you that you have selected another college.
May- § Make sure you have notified Mrs. Scott of any scholarships you have received. I will need to make a copy of your scholarship offer to keep on file. § Sign up in the guidance office to send your financial transcript to the college you will attend.
In addition, I have a folder for each senior containing much information. I will get this to you in your classrooms. Should you not get your senior folder, stop by guidance and pick it up.
Best of Luck to each of you. Remember, I am here to help you.
Mrs.Scott