Class Presentations 2023-2024
Probably the last college presentation
of the year is happening for juniors only tomorrow from 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm in the Gear Up Student Center. (6th period)
The University of Arizona admissions representative is going to address the application timeline and much more. I highly encourage you to attend.
Let's review your transcript and what it means at this point in high school.
So, where are you now? Look at your transcript. Find your cumulative unweighted GPA.
Many 4-year universities will admit students with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
Community Colleges can offer scholarships to students with a 2.5 or higher
Community Colleges admit any students who have a high school diploma
Technical and Trade schools admit students who graduate high school, but they usually cost significantly more than a community college.
Military branches require specific scores on the ASVAB test. The higher your score, the more available job choices you have.
95% means that you are missing less than one class per month.
75% means that you are missing about 4.5 classes per month.
16457ce6a91a492ea262882470718e5b (1).mp4
If you could ask your future-college-self any questions, what would they be?
This Thursday, during 3rd hour, come to the college student panel in Gear UP for questions and answers directly from current college students. Sign up in Gear Up.
What is on your resume? What should be?
Think about ways to be involved in your school, and in your community. Create a folder, a portfolio, or just a paper with a list to record what, when, why and how. If your responsibilities keep you at home, think about what you do there, how you have grown and matured, and what lessons you may be learning along the way.
NAU will be here on Thursday during 3rd period in the Gear Up Student Center.
Junior Scholarships... and online portfolios
Let's talk about Major Clarity for a second. Do you need to go through this to graduate?
Raise.me - Worth checking out
Bold.org - Worth creating an account
Junior year
work or school? Clubs or Sports? What do I need for my resume, scholarships, and college admissions?
How Does College work?
Credits-> Sweet 16 are used to help determine admissions and automatic merit scholarships.
Senior Updates and reminders
- FSA-ID
Need Social Security Number
Needs to be done before December 1st (ideally)
parents will need to create an FSA-ID too. But if they do not have a social security number, there will be an alternate method. I *think* that students will send an "invite" to a parent that will have other options. But I do not know. In any case, parents should have an email address.
- Arizona Day
is coming up on October 4th. All seniors who have been admitted to the U of A will be recognized and receive some swag. If you would like to be recognized, be sure to submit your application no later than September 27th.
This Thursday (9/21) is an ASU application workshop
in the Gear Up Student Center during the 4th hour. If you would like to apply to ASU or finish your application, come to this workshop! No sign-up is required. Just talk to your 4th-hour teacher to get permission.
- This Friday (9/22) is the Army ROTC presentation
in the Gear Up Student Center during 3rd hour. If you are interested to see how the Army can help you pay for college, and about how you can enter active service as an officer by attending college first, come to this presentation. No sign-up is required. Just talk to your 3rd-hour teacher to get permission.
Welcome back from Labor day!
- PSAT signup- this week. Email jparham@amphi.com
- College presentations
- Scholarships
ASU- Raise.me
General scholarships- Bold.org
Junior year planning
What can you control, right now?
Grades.
Grades, asking for help, studying, and working with like-minded groups is the singular most important thing that is within your control when it comes to having options as a senior and beyond.
Involvement
Many scholarships ask you to write about the growth that you made by taking on one task or another. Sometimes they ask about a difference that you have made. The best way to have those stories to tell is to find something, like a club, a sport, or a passion that you can be involved with. Genuinely try to help, to take on areas of weakness that help you grow this year.
Actively turn on your radar for opportunities to be involved. Check your email every day. Listen to the announcements. Read flyers posted around the school. Like sifting for gold, most of it won't apply to you. But if you see or hear something interesting, take the next step to find out more.
College Searches
Start having conversations with friends and family about what your life looks like after high school. It's okay to change your mind. But be brave enough to speak out loud your hopes and fears. These kinds of conversations engage your minds to sort through ideas, even when you are doing other things.
Talk to me, your Gear Up coach, or your counselor for college specifics. Believe it or not, some applications are open for you next semester!
ASU scholarship estimator https://scholarships.asu.edu/estimator
Please contact me! We can meet in person, on zoom or just communicate through email. Whatever works for you. It is important that I work individually with every one of you this semester.
ACT on April 4th.
(Note about absences.)
ACT Practice--> https://cloud.e.act.org/free-practice-act-test
If you Google "ACT practice test", you will see some questions. Let's see what we see.
Presentation Opportunities
Tucson Fire Department- This Wednesday from 1-2pm
Tucson Police Department- check your email later today
U of A Juniors presentation on 4/19 (and maybe tomorrow?!- I will email today with updates.)
Oregon on March 30th.
U of A student Panel on 3/22
ASU direct virtual connect. Email me if you would like to talk to an admissions representative.
What shows up on scholarships? How to prepare now.
Reminders for Juniors
Grades (always)
Fieldtrips (wnmu link)
Email - Check it.
Begin to understand REAL college costs.
myintuition.org for TOP students
Merit Scholarships
Arizona Promise Program
Financial Aid
Scholarships (AZ community foundation Jan-Feb)
Visits in the summer?
Dialogue with parents. Costs have changed! They need to understand.
Examples of Total cost of attendance:
WNMU- refer to the card
Pima "trinity" -whiteboard
Lastly- Dual Enrollment news!
The number 1 thing you need to know right now: you can contact me.
instagram: @amphi_college_advising
web: amphiC.com
appointment: https://calendly.com/amphiparham/inperson
Your basic Junior-year, college preparation should include:
listen to college presenters
visit campuses when possible
research programs and majors
prepare for the ACT this spring
look at junior scholarships
MOST IMPORTANTLY: establish the best routine and environment to get the best grades you can this year. Link to why.
What impacts grades? Attendance. Friends. Home routine for study.
This is your LAST YEAR to improve your GPA for merit-based scholarships.
Presentations coming up!
4/8- NAU 3rd hour
4/11- WNMU 5th hour
4/12- NMSU 5th hour
4/12- UA 3rd hour
4/21- Pima 2nd hour
4/22- GCU 6th hour
Send me an email if you want to come to any of these (or sign up in the office).
Most schools are doing on-campus tours. Go to their websites, under admissions to find tour options. Consider making a trip in the summer!
make a list... Scholarships to keep on your radars
Arizona Community Foundations opens January 1st every year
Dorrance Scholarship, opens October 1st, always due in February
Flinn Scholarship - Opens in August, closes in September
Questbridge Match - Opens in summer, first application due in September
Gates Scholarship - Opens July 15th, closes September 15th
Earn to Learn - Opens in early Fall until 100 spots are filled
Valley Foundation Scholarship, local - Opens in early Fall, due in February
APIA Scholarship (Asian Pacific Islanders) - Opens in September, Closes in January
HSF Scholar Application (Hispanic Scholars Fund- can create profile anytime) - Opens Jan 1, closes March 1
TheDream.us scholarship (for undocumented youth, essentially can replace FAFSA) - Opens in January, Due in February
McDonald's Hacer Scholarship - Opens ??? Closes early February
COA dates
If you meet all the priority deadlines, you will start seeing ACTUAL COAs as early as December or January. Otherwise, look to February and beyond. Pima in April and beyond.
English 12- Mr. Thornburg
College presentations
Reminders for Juniors
Grades (always)
Fieldtrips (NAU??)
Email - Check it.
Begin to understand REAL college costs.
myintuition.org for TOP students
Merit Scholarships
Arizona Promise Program
Financial Aid
Scholarships (AZ community foundation Jan-Feb)
Visits in the summer?
Dialogue with parents. Costs have changed! They need to understand.
Presentations! Check your email! (or go to the office)
Link: https://calendly.com/amphiparham
This semester almost all of the schools will start to focus on the Junior Class. Your best move right now is to learn about programs available, basic admissions requirements, and keeping your grades up. (This is your last semester for many merit-based scholarships!)
We've talked about a lot of things related to preparing for life after graduation.
This is school.... so it must be time to check what you've learned.
POP QUIZ! time
Do you know the #1 indicator for predicting which college a student actually attends?
...
...
...
Examples:
Peer Coach interest
Interview in the Spring with Americorps
Go to training next August on two Saturdays
Work with students in your senior class on FAFSA, Applications, career searches, and other "prepare for life" things.
Have a designated class (or two if preferred) in your schedule next year.
Do specific "service hours" outside of class time (MLK Day, September Service)
Earn College credit (two years ago it was a full 4 units)
Earn a $1200-$1400 scholarship if you complete the hours all year.
If you are interested in learning more, you can email me at jparham@amphi.com.
Junior Scholarships
Where did I find these?
I Googled "Scholarships for Juniors". Then I clicked on the Scholarships.com link (because I know this is a legitimate website).
I recommend setting up at BOLD.org account to get emails about new scholarships as well.
In review- Conversations
Have you been having them about life after high school?
College Presentations are good for you!
Check the office every week or so to see if more presentations are available.
This morning, an email with a link was sent to all Juniors relating to the WNMU presentation on 10/4.
What strengths do schools promote about themselves?
Example: NMSU today spent a good part of their presentation talking about their Engineering program and outdoor activities.
Scholarship Club
Begins tomorrow during lunch
Juniors typically have a hard time finding and applying for scholarships, since most scholarships are aimed at Seniors.
Tomorrow, I am going to recommend to Juniors to set up Bold.org accounts and to begin developing their profiles.
If you do this, be careful about ads and raffles.
So, what is the most important thing right now?
It is still GRADES and ATTENDANCE
Transcripts
Weighted versus unweighted grades.
NMSU example
Why College?
It is NOT the only option. I want all students to have a clear path, whatever that is.
That said, people who earn college degrees, industry certifications or other advanced training tend to make more money and/or have more opportunity than people who immediately enter a full-time career after high school.
