Class of 2013

Glen Allen High School

Senior Class Handbook

September 2012

Dear Senior,

Congratulations on obtaining the rank of Senior! Along with this distinction comes a new level of responsibilities and excitement. Your future is truly in your hands and we want this year to be full of positive memories and achievements. Your School Counselor will be meeting with you to discuss your plans for the future. If you have not already thought about your post-graduation plans, now is the time! Time is of the essence this year and you want to be proactive in your planning.

This handbook contains a variety of information and resources to help guide you in planning your course of action. The School Counseling office will be providing information throughout the year specifically for seniors. Please take advantage of your meetings with your School Counselor and ASK QUESTIONS! We want to assist you as much as possible, but we need to know your needs.

Best wishes for an exciting and successful year!

Sincerely,

GAHS School Counseling Department

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Subject AreaStandardAdvanced Studies

English44

Mathematics34

Laboratory Science34

Social Studies:34

World History to 1500

OR1

World History From 1500

VA and U.S. History1

VA and U.S. Government1

Foreign Language3

(3 years of one language or

2 years of two languages)

Health and Physical Education22

Fine and Practical Arts11

Electives62

Total Units2224

Students completing the 22-unit program with an average grade of A or better will receive a Board of Education seal on their diploma. Those who complete the 24-unit Advanced Studies program with an average grade of B or better and successfully complete at least one advanced placement (AP) course or one college-level course for credit will receive a diploma with the Governor’s seal. Two electives must be sequential.

SOL VERIFIED CREDITS

Students must also earn verified credits by passing Standards of Learning (SOL) end-of-course tests in certain subjects. For the Class of 2013, students earning a Standard Diploma must pass 6 end-of-course tests: 2 English. 1 math, 1 science, 1 social studies and 1 of the student’s choosing. For the Advanced Studies Diploma students must pass 9 end-of-course tests: 2 English, 2 math, 2 science, 2 social studies, and 1 of the student's choice.

CLASS RANK

Students are ranked numerically, in descending order, according to GPA at the end of the junior year and at the end of the first semester of the senior year. The official ranking is not available until approximately October 1 of the senior year. Class rank is computed into percentile with 99% being the highest and 1% being the lowest.

The following point system is used in computing grade-point-average and rank-in-class:

ALL CLASSES

A = 4 points

B = 3 points

C = 2 points

D = 1 point

F = 0 points

WF = 0 points

WP = not factored into GPA

*Cumulative GPA = Total Grade Points + (.17 x Honors/AP Courses Passed)

Total Credits Attempted Number of years

All subjects are included in the ranking, and only final year grades are used.

GRADING SCALE

RANGE =70 - 100

A=93 - 100

B=85 - 92

C=77 - 84

D=70 - 76

F =Failure (below 70)

GROUPING LEVELS:

ADVANCED PLACEMENT(AP)

HONORS(A)

COLLEGE/CAREER PREP(C)

STANDARD(S)

HONOR ROLL

The following criteria are used to determine if a student is eligible for the honor roll:

  • The honor roll is calculated at the end of each marking period based on the grades earned in that marking period.
  • The honor roll is calculated using the weighted quality points method: A=4, B=3, etc., for all courses except honors/AP, where A=5, B=4, etc.
  • Students must be enrolled in classes equivalent to a minimum of 5 credits to be eligible for the honor roll.
  • Students with a D or F in the marking period are not eligible for the honor roll.
  • Students with a GPA of 3.0 to 3.4999 are placed on the 3.0 honor roll.
  • Students with a GPA of 3.5 to 3.999 are placed on the 3.5 honor roll.
  • Students with a GPA of 4.0 or above are placed on the 4.0 honor roll.

If You Plan to go to College

Selection of College:

Some things you need to consider when selecting colleges:

 Location and setting: distance from home, city, small town, or country setting

 Type: co-ed, men’s, women’s, liberal arts, technical, church related, state supported, university, junior college, community college, etc.

 Size/enrollment: 2,000 students or less (a little more than the size of Glen Allen High School), 5,000 (i.e. William & Mary), 17,000 (i.e. Virginia Tech), etc.

 Comprehensive costs: tuition, room & board, extra fees, books, travel expenses, spending

money, special clothing, etc.  Financial Aid: honor scholarships, grants, loans, work/study programs, campus jobs, etc.

 Special Programs/degrees: business, computers, engineering, marine biology, music,

political science, etc.

 Admission requirements: required subjects, entrance exams (SAT/ACT), GPA, class rank, recommendations, special talents, etc.

 Campus Life: cultural events, sports, clubs, fraternities, and sororities, recreational facilities, campus rules and regulations, campus atmosphere, etc.  Types of students who attend: abilities, interests, goals, background, etc.

Narrowing Down Your Search:

After careful study and weighing the pros and cons of the colleges that interest you, narrow down your list to between three and five schools. Generally students need not apply to more than five colleges.

 You may want to apply to one “stretch” school. This is a college that may be at the top of your list in terms of preferences, but you think your chances of admission are slim.

 Your list may also include a “50/50” school. This is a college where you meet the majority of the admission requirements, but due to the number of applicants and the percentage that are admitted, you may only have a 50% chance of being admitted.

 Always apply to one “safety” school. This is a college where you are confident that you will be admitted. In the unlikely event that other colleges on your list turn you down, you will still have a college option. Your “safety” school should be a school that you would actually like to attend.

Entrance Requirements:

Most admission officers agree that the following factors are considered in the admission process:

GPA (may be recalculated using only academic subjects) SAT or ACT Difficulty of Curriculum Extracurricular activities Recommendations Interviews Application Essays

Often colleges publish “profiles” by which you can compare yourself with students accepted and enrolled in previous years.

Entrance Exams:

The SAT (old SAT Reasoning Test) is a three and a half hour test, primarily multiple-choice, that measures verbal and mathematical reasoning abilities. The SAT should have been taken for the first time in the spring of your junior year. If you have not taken the SAT and plan to go to college, you should register as soon as possible. College Board recommends that students apply on-line at

Some students may be required to take the SAT Subject tests. SAT Subject tests are required by some schools for admission or for placement in Freshman college courses. Be sure to check with the college to see if these are requirements. .

The ACT consists of four multiple-choice tests: English, reading, math and science reasoning. The scores for each section range from 1-36. The sum of the four separate scores is averaged and thus you will end up with the composite score. The national average composite score is 21. Students may apply on-line at

The ACT will be offered at Glen Allen High School October 27th, December 8th, and April 13th .

The TOEFL is used to evaluate the English proficiency of students whose native language is not English. The TOEFL consists of listening comprehension, structure and written expression, and vocabulary and reading comprehension sections. To view more details and test dates, check the website

SAT Test Dates: Register by: ACT Test Dates: Register By:

October 6th / September 7th / September 8th / August 17th
November 3rd / October 4th / *October 27th / September 21st
December 1st / November 1st / *December 8th / November 2nd
January 26th / December 28th / February 9th / January 11th
March 9th / February 8th / *April 13th / March 8th
May 4th / April 5th / June 8th / May 3rd
June 1st / May 2nd / *GAHS will be a testing site.

ADMISSIONS GLOSSARY:

Rolling Admission – Applications are reviewed and candidates are notified as soon as their files are complete and until the freshman class is full. This plan is common in state universities.

Regular Admission – Each college has a specific deadline for regular admission. Consult the college for further information.

Early Decision – A special agreement between applicant and college. In return for the applicant’s commitment to attend the college if accepted, the college provides notice well in advance of standard notification dates. Admitted students are expected to withdraw applications to other colleges. Dates may vary from college to college. Often the application is due by November and notification is December 1. If you have strong credentials, using this option may be in your favor as it clearly communicates your serious intent. Some candidates may be deferred to the regular “pool”.

Early Action – Some colleges do not require commitment to attend under this plan. If you wish to apply under the early action plan, you are encouraged to contact the college to determine its requirement for early action. Colleges differ in their requirements for early action. If accepted under Early Action, you have until May 1 to reply and make a deposit. Typically, you must apply by November 1 and will hear by January 1. This plan communicates a keen interest in the college. It gives the applicant a chance to compete in a smaller pool and relieves “admission anxiety”, although many decisions are deferred to regular notification date.

Deferred Enrollment – Many colleges allow an accepted candidate to defer enrollment for a year if he/she plans to work, travel, perform military service, or develop programs of independent study or community service. Generally, a student may not defer in order to become a full-time student at another college.

Senioritis Means Trouble…

No college acceptance is final until the satisfactory completion of the requirements for graduation. If performance drops in the senior year, the college may review and reverse the original decision.

A declining academic record in the senior year raises concerns about a student’s ability to succeed in college. If the decline is the result of senioritis, the student’s offer of admission may be withdrawn. Senioritis may signal a lack of motivation essential in a rigorous academic environment.

Many college admissions committees require a written explanation for final grades of “D” or “F” or for a significant drop in the difficulty level of courses completed by a senior. If extenuating circumstances have caused the declining performance, the student may be allowed to enroll. However, if senioritis has been the cause, the admissions offer may be withdrawn.

Seniors should be aware of senioritis- it may cost them the opportunity to attend the college or university of their choice.

So you’re checking out a college…

When you’re on your college visit, remember to include these important elements, whenever possible; and always ask anyone you see these questions – not just the counselor or tour guide:

√ A campus tour – regardless of what else your visit includes, you should arrange to do a formal campus tour (and group information session, if that’s the alternative to a personal interview.) Is the campus easy to get around? What is the mix of old buildings/new construction? Are the older buildings in good shape? Is the campus clean? Do you go in a lot of buildings or does the tour guide just point out things?

√ Visiting a class – the reason you are going to college (presumably) is to be a student. Sitting in on a class in an area of interest will tell you a lot. Are most classes small or large lectures? How interested are the students in the class? How prepared are they? Does the professor (assuming it is a professor and not a teaching assistant) seem to know the students? Do students remain after class to ask questions?

√ See the dorms – are the dormitories coed or single sex? How many students per room, and are they organized by suites? Do most students live on-campus, and is housing on-campus available/required? Are the dorms quiet enough to study in? Are they clean? Do they have laundry and kitchen facilities?

√ Eat a meal – food is very important to most college students. Is the food edible and/or plentiful? What options are available under the meal plan? Are special diets available? Does the faculty eat with students?

√ Check out the library – because the library is one of the most valuable tools available to a college student, you should look it over carefully. Does the library maintain open stacks? What are the library hours? (Seeing how late the library stays open on Friday and Saturday nights is a good indication of how serious the academic program is.) How extensive are the journal and periodical collections? Is the library on-line with other libraries? Are students studying in the middle of the day, and at night is the library quiet or a social center?

√ Go by the student union/campus center – do students hang out in the middle of the day? What kinds of souvenirs/personal items/books other than textbooks are available in the bookstore? What kinds of posters for clubs, organizations and events are there?

√ Athletic facilities – how extensive are the athletic/fitness facilities for students who are not varsity athletes?

√ Other – depending on your particular needs and interests, you might also arrange to meet with individuals such as the financial aid director, a coach, the pre-med advisor, or a professor in your area of academic interest.

√ After – as soon as you finish your visit, take some time to make some notes. Collect them with any pictures you’ve taken too. What did you like, or not like, and why? What are your parents’ reactions?

FINANCIAL AID

If you are considering financial aid for college, remember the following things:

1) Contact the financial aid officers of the colleges or schools in which you are interested to ascertain information about financial aid they offer and about procedures and deadlines for applying for financial aid.

2) Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to apply for the Federal Title IV student aid. Students are encouraged to apply on-line at

3) Complete the CSS/Financial Aid Profile ONLY if you are required by the colleges to which you are applying. Check the CSS Code List.

4) Remember to apply for the Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG) if you are considering a private school in the State of Virginia. TAG’s are awarded without regard to financial need and no repayment is required.

5) Explore opportunities offered by the Armed Services. The school counseling office has information about the military academies and various ROTC programs.

6) Students and parents should check other sources of financial aid, such as religious affiliations, community organizations, clubs, colleges, and employers, etc.

7) Students are encouraged to read the Scholarship Newsletters, read morning announcements, and

speak with your School Counselor for scholarship information throughout the year.

8) Meet with your Greater Richmond Area Scholarship Program advisor (GRASP). Appointments can be set up in the School Counseling Office.

OTHER HELPFUL SCHOLARSHIP HINTS:

 Start early. Finding and applying for scholarships takes time, energy and

persistence.

 Do not rule out private schools until you have seen their financial packages.

 Apply for local scholarships.

 Be organized. Meet all scholarship deadlines. Know what materials need to be

included in the scholarship packet.

 Prepare a resume indicating your school and community activities, leadership opportunities, and honors.

 Type or use black ink when filling out scholarship applications. Be thorough and

accurate.

 Obtain all teacher and/or other recommendations. This is YOUR responsibility.

 Allow adequate time (two weeks) for transcript/letter of recommendation

requests.

 Scholarship searches that charge a fee are very seldom worth the money and may be scams.

Scholarship Interviews

(from FASTWEB- College Gold)

Your application was perfect, your essay was brilliant, and now you are in the home stretch…and then they ask you to interview live in person with a scholarship judge.

It’s natural to feel a little nervous. The scholarship is on the line. You might not be comfortable or confident talking about yourself. Fortunately, you can turn what feels like an impending interrogation into a revealing conversation.

Remember that they expect you to be nervous. Of course a scholarship judge is comparing you to other candidates but remember that he or she is hoping you’ll do well. Most of the time, the interviewer is a volunteer whose job is to identify the most appropriate candidates, not destroy your ego.

The biggest difference between a stellar interview and a mediocre one is your level of preparation. With that in mind, use the following techniques to do your best.

  • Stay relevant
  • Prepare stories
  • Prepare questions
  • Practice answers
  • Review current events
  • Arrive a few minutes early
  • Dress for success
  • Show your manners
  • Be decisive
  • Listen and clarify
  • Avoid extreme answers
  • Be concise
  • Expect the unexpected
  • Expect interviews to differ
  • Have background information on the scholarship

NCAA Clearinghouse Parent Information

Division 1 Core-Course Requirements

16 Core Courses

  • 4 years English
  • 3 years Math (Algebra I or higher)
  • Please note that students who took Integrated Math Freshman Year will need to take an additional math class
  • 2 years natural/physical science (1 year of lab offered by high school)
  • 1 year additional English, Math or Science
  • 2 years social science
  • 4 years additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or comparative religion/philosophy)

Division II Core-Course Requirements