Junior Information

GSA Artshops

Newsletter #3

1. Take academically challenging courses that meet pre-college curriculum. A tougher course load may pay off in scholarships and admissions offers. Check with colleges about entrance requirements, especially those in other states. Their pre-college curriculum may differ from that of Kentucky.
2. Check your KEES Scholarship money. For every year in high school that you earn a 2.5 grade point average or higher---you are earning money. You also receive money for taking the ACT or SAT if score is high enough.
3. Register online at www.fastweb.com for free scholarship and college search. You can also try www.salliemae.com for more sights to visit. Go on eguidance and look at the free scholarship service.
4. Develop your resume of activities and think about what you can do this year to strengthen the extracurricular portion of your college application when the time comes. Go online at www.resumeedge.com Click on Get Started Now. Save the resume on a disk so you can edit later.
5. Work on study habits. A strong high school course load and good grades are important.
6. Take the ACT and/or SAT in the spring of your junior year. You must register at least 4-6 weeks prior to testing to avoid a late fee. You could register now. Packets are in the guidance office or you can register online (ACT – www.actstudent.org and SAT – www.collegeboard.com) Practice tests are provided and all should take advantage of these and any other practice tests. Be sure to do the interest inventory in the registration materials because this is a tool that may help you in choosing a career area.
7. OCC is offering review session – Call 686-4444 to register. (This information was given to you on a previous letter. It also listed review sessions that will be held at Apollo).
8. Think seriously about your career possibilities. Talk to those in the career about likes and dislikes where they received their training and what high school courses would help prepare for that career. Pay attention to job duties and responsibilities, entry-level salaries, opportunities for advancement and training required. A good source of information is the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Copies are available in guidance office or online at www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm
9. There is also a Kentucky Occupational Outlook Report available at http://desky.org/lmi/occupation/outlook.htm
10. Continue to be involved in the community and at school.
11. Explore to find which colleges offer a program of studies in your career area. Begin to develop a list of schools you are interested in and write them for more information. Gather and read various college catalogs and go online to do college searches. (www.fastweb.com)
12. Make college visits over the breaks. Try to attend some classes, visit housing, and the food service area. Talk to students about the education provided and social activities. Call the admissions office at the school to set this up.
13. If your career major is not offered I the state of Kentucky, you may want to check out the Academic Common Market. You may be able to go out-of-state and pay-in state tuition. To learn more, go online to www.cpt.state.ky.us or call 502-573-1555.
14. At the end of the junior year, ATHLETES who plan to play Division I or II sports need to register with the Clearinghouse. Come see me!