Class of 2018
Senior Handbook
Potomac Senior High School
A Guide from the Counseling Department
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO PLAN FOR LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL…
TABLE OF CONTENTS
People to Know …………………………………………… 3
Terms to Know …………………………………………… 4
Planning Checklist for Senior Year ………………………… 6
Basic Necessities to Apply to College
Applications, Essays, and Letters of Recommendation .... 8
Resume ……………………………………………….. 9
Testing, Transcript …………………………………… 10
Naviance ………………………………………………… 11
College Fairs ……………………………………..……… 12
Pathways to the Baccalaureate Program ………………… 13
Other Things You Need to Keep in Mind ……………… 14
Financial Aid Opportunities………………………………… 15
Post-Secondary Options …………………………………. 16
Where are the Jobs? ……………………………………… 17
Interview Questions ……………………………………… 18
Websites ………………………………………………….. 20
PEOPLE TO KNOW
ADMINISTRATION
Michael Wright Principal
Lorraine Sadler Assistant Principal
Regina Nash Assistant Principal
Stacy Norwood Assistant Principal
Christina Cotten Assistant Principal
Natalie Wright Counseling Director
Melissa Bankert Activities Director
SCHOOL COUNSELING STAFF
Natalie Wright Counseling Director
Kim Bryson A-Cer
Chloe Thomas Ces-Har
Melanie Deal Harr-McFar
Mark Williams McG-Sak
Brandon Carter Sal-Will
Shallene Austin Wilm-Z, College & Career Planning
Rainoa Figueroa Secretary
Corey Anderson Secretary
Kathy Mellott Registrar
IMPORTANT PEOPLE TO KNOW
Senior Class Sponsors Mrs. Hodge
Senior Class President/VP Oorvi Budhwar/Zoe Pair
SCA Sponsors Mrs. Mahalchick/Ms. Golnek
SCA President Lindy Minitrez
Graduation Information Mrs. Nash
Yearbook Ms. Golnek
Herff-Jones (Rings, Gowns, etc.) (703) 594-3982
Life Touch (Pictures) (800) 445-1191
School Website potomachs.pwcs.edu
School Phone (703) 441-4200
School Address 3401 Panther Pride Drive
Dumfries, VA 22026
TERMS TO KNOW
WHEN SPEAKING WITH YOUR COUNSELOR:
GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA): The grades used to determine class rank are all year-end marks for one credit courses or semester grades for ½ credit classes, night school grades, and summer school grades. In computing grade point average, failing as well as passing marks are included.
CLASS RANK: According to the calculated grade point average (GPA), this determines the numerical position of a student in his or her class.
PREREQUISITE: A requirement added to particular courses that mandate successful completion of courses prior to registration.
TRANSCRIPT: The official compilation of your courses, grades, credits, etc.
APPLICATIONS AND TYPES OF ADMISSIONS:
APPLICATION DEADLINE: A bona fide deadline. Example: January 15, NOT January 16 or 17. Get your applications in early!!
COMMON APPLICATION: An application form that has been standardized to ease the workload of students and high school counseling personnel. The application form is accepted by over 300 colleges. It includes a Secondary School Report form that should be given to your counselor, and a Teacher Recommendation form. www.commonapp.org
EARLY DECISION: An admissions plan for students who have a clear college preference. This is a binding agreement and the student must attend the college. There are two types:
SINGLE CHOICE: Students can only apply to one college until they have been notified of the application result.
FIRST CHOICE: Student may also apply to other colleges. If they have been accepted to the college under the early decision option, all other applications to other colleges must be withdrawn.
EARLY ACTION: Early action plans are nonbinding—students receive an early response to their application but do not have to commit to the college until the normal reply date.
OPEN ADMISSIONS POLICY: Almost all applicants who are high school graduates are accepted regardless of standardized test scores, grade average, or class rank. Ex: NVCC
ROLLING ADMISSION: “First come, first served” process. Admission decisions are made as soon as an applicant’s admission folder is complete (usually three weeks).
REGULAR DECISION: Applications and test scores must be submitted by a specific date, after which decisions of acceptance are made.
TYPES OF DEGREES:
ASSOCIATE DEGREE: Degree awarded after either a two-year college program or a terminal, one to three-year program providing training in a specific occupation.
BACHELOR’S DEGREE: Degree resulting from liberal arts, science, professional, or pre-professional program normally lasting four years.
TYPES OF ADMISSIONS DECISIONS:
Note: It is your responsibility to update your Naviance account with your given admission decision from each school.
WAIT-LISTED: You have not been denied! The college has finished reviewing your file and put you on a list for possible admission. It’s as if you have been asked to stay in the waiting room in a doctor’s office, pending an ultimate decision. The admissions committee may or may not admit students from this list. You can usually find out what has been done in the past. Either way, it is wise to deposit to another institution and ensure that you have a place somewhere else.
DEFERRED ADMISSION: An accepted candidate may be allowed by the school to postpone enrollment, generally for an academic term, but possibly for an entire year.
REJECTION: A college’s decision is not to accept a student as a candidate. A student can apply again later on and attend another school and reapply as a transfer student.
REPLY DATE: Date by which an accepted student must indicate whether he/she will attend the college that has accepted him/her. Failure to reply will mean that the acceptance will be withdrawn from the college. May 1 is the reply date for most colleges.
TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID:
FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is required in order to apply for any financial aid from an institution as well as many scholarships and grants. The FAFSA is only available online and should be completed as soon after October 1 as possible.
APPRENTICESHIP: To work for another for a specific amount of time in return for instruction in a trade, art or business.
CO-OP: A work-study program that may be available to sophomores, juniors, and seniors in college. This gives one the opportunity to pay for one’s education plus gain work experience.
Potomac HS Senior Planning Checklist
August
o Attend the PSHS Senior Breakfast
o Make Twitter account and follow @DPantherCounsel for college/career info
o Make a Common Application account at Commonapp.org
o Download the Common App application to keep up with deadlines
o Meet your counselor
o Get a FAFSA ID # for financial aid planning www.fafsa.gov
o Register for SAT/ACT. Deadlines are four to six weeks in advance of the test!
o Create a college planning calendar and folder
September
o Polish your list of colleges- Narrow to maximum of 8
o Start your applications
o Ask counselor for SAT/ACT college app fee waiver (if you qualify for free or reduced lunch)
o Meet with counselor when needed; finalize college list on Naviance Family Connection, including safety, target, and reach schools
o Begin writing college essay, if you haven’t already
o Start scholarship searches, local and national
o Get student and parent FSA Id number for FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov
o Complete activity resume
o Speak to teachers about letters of recommendation
o Attend College Rep Visits
October
o SAT Test held at Potomac on October 7th
o Attend the Financial Aid Information session on October 9th at 11:00am
o Decide if you are applying early action (EA) or early decision (ED)
o Get feedback on your college essay from teachers/counselors
o Work on college applications
o Polish your application essays
o Complete the FAFSA – Need prior year tax return
o Continue to narrow down list of colleges and update Naviance
o Continue scholarship search in Naviance and online
o Follow up with letters for recommendation
o Take ACT/SAT, if needed.
o Take ASVAB, if needed.
o Check @DPantherCounsel for updates
o Order cap and gown
November
o SAT Test
o Priority deadline for the NOVA Pathways to the Baccalaureate program
o Finish applications and essays
o Submit student transcript request form to counselor via Naviance
o Complete all final applications
o Complete FAFSA online at fafsa.gov
November (CONT’D)
o Apply for scholarships
o Check @DPantherCounsel for updates
o Request transcripts for schools that you will apply to over the holiday
o Meet with recruiters, if needed
December
o ACT held at Potomac on December 9th
o Apply for scholarships
o Collect or check Naviance for any remaining letters of recommendation from teachers
o Work on College Applications that are due over the holiday and Jan/Feb
o Continue the Scholarship Search
o Complete FAFSA
o Write thank you notes to teachers and counselors
January/February
o Check with colleges that all application materials have been received
o Complete applications for universities with Jan/Feb deadlines
o Continue scholarship search
o Begin considering an alternative post-high school plan
o Write thank you notes to teachers and counselors
o Maintain your grades
March
o Begin receiving decisions from colleges – update Naviance and your counselor with results
o Decline any acceptances to the admissions office via e-mail or letter
o Consider alternate plan, if needed.
o Meet with recruiters
o Maintain your grades
o Take ASVAB, if needed March 7th
April
o ACT held at Potomac on April 8th
o Confirm acceptances and make decisions about final university choice
o If attending NOVA, begin to apply and sign up for Fall classes
o Confirm housing opportunities after confirmation of acceptance
o Compare financial aid packages
o Make a final decision, accept the aid, make required deposit(s)
o Decline acceptances to admissions office via e-mail or letter
o Update Naviance and your counselor with acceptances. Most school acceptances to the admission office MUST BE COMPLETED BY MAY 1st
May/June/Summer
o SAT Test held at Potomac on May 5th
o Send AP/ Cambridge grade reports and final transcripts to your chose college
o If attending NOVA, sign up for fall classes
o Complete your Senior Survey on Naviance
o Thank your counselors/administrators/ teachers/ support staff at PSHS
o Enjoy Graduation!
THE BASIC NECESSITIES TO APPLY TO COLLEGE:
It is your responsibility to check the admissions requirements for each college.
Class Rank and GPA are computed during the end of Junior year, at the end of the first semester of Senior year, and at the end of the year. At the end of the first semester, your new GPA and Class Rank are sent to all of the colleges to which you have applied.
ü College Applications
- Colleges prefer if you apply online. However, you can request an application from the college that you are interested in.
- Start a folder for each college.
- Apply to at least 6-8 colleges.
- It is your responsibility to submit the application directly to the college or university.
- It is your responsibility to submit the transcript request form through Naviance. Otherwise, your transcript will NOT be sent and your application will not be incomplete.
ü College Essays
The essay is a chance for you to “talk” directly to the college’s admissions committee. It helps them “see” you as a person, rather than simply a set of impersonal statistics. It is your only chance to share your thoughts, insights, and opinions; to highlight your accomplishments; and to convey your maturity and outlook on life. If you see the college essay in this way, then it is clearly worth the effort to put some extra time, thought, and energy into writing it.
Do’s
- Do think “small” and write about something that you know about
- Do reveal yourself in your writing.
- Do show rather than tell. Giving examples and illustrating your topic helps bring it to life.
- Do write in your own “voice” and style.
Don’ts
- Don’t write what you think others want to read.
- Don’t exaggerate or write to impress.
- Don’t use a flowery, inflated, or pretentious style.
- Don’t neglect the technical part of your essay (grammar, spelling, sentence structure).
- Don’t ramble – say what you have to say and conclude.
ü Letters of Recommendations
- Allow teachers at least 4 weeks to write your letter. You must make a request in person, then add the formal request in the “recommendation” section of your Naviance account.
- Teacher letters cover student’s academic ability, work ethics, and skills
- Counselor/Coach/Misc. letters cover character, personality, activities, contributions, etc.
ü Resume
Below is an example of what a resume may look like. If you do not have an activity in one of these categories, leave it out! It is unwise to point out to a college or employer what you have NOT done!
Your Name
165 Telegraph Road ∙ Dumfries, VA, 22025
Home (703)-555-5555 ∙ Cell (571)-555-5555
Email:
EDUCATION
Potomac Senior High School, Advanced Diploma, 2014-2018/ List courses relative to what you want to study.
LANGUAGES
First language is Spanish; speak and write fluently
VOLUNTEER WORK
Southbridge Community Center: To help clean up the neighborhood
ACTS Thrift Store: Sorting donated clothes
Habitat for Humanity: Answered phone calls and filed paper work
SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS
Future Business Leaders of America: Member, 2013-2015
Vice-President, 2013-2014
Varsity Lacrosse: 2013- present
Junior Varsity Football: 2014-2016
Key Club: 2013-2015
AWARDS
Varsity Lacrosse Coach’s Award, 2015
Academic Honor Roll, 2013-Present
WORK EXPERIENCE
Weans Food Markets 05/28 – Present
Provide customer service
Operate computerized cash register system
Work with Bilingual customers and co-workers
REFERENCES
Steven Brown (Youth Minister) Kim Bryson (School Consoler)
13000 Victory Ridge PL. Potomac High School
Manassas VA, 20112 (703)943-6606 3401 Panther Pride Drive
Dumfries, VA, 22191 (703) 441-4200
Several job search engines have resume-building pages on their websites that will give you step-by-step guidelines to writing a resume. Some popular sites to check out include:
Monster Jobs: www.monster.com CareerBuilder: www.careerbuilder.com Job Web: www.jobweb.com
Yahoo! Hot Jobs: www.hotjobs.yahoo.com
MSN Careers: www.careers.msn.com Job Sniper: www.jobsniper.com
ü Testing! Testing!
- Many schools only accept official scores. This means they must be sent directly to the college/university from the testing organization.
- To ensure your score is sent, enter the college’s testing code when registering.
- Potomac’s CEEB Code: 472464 This is the same for both tests!
SAT Test Dates