Parent Prep 101

Students, this is your sign to start your scholarship search. 💰
The Scholarship Search Tool connects you to opportunities that can help pay for college. Explore more here:

https://www.gafutures.org/scholarship-search

Students: Did you know you can track your HOPE Scholarship status right from your GAfutures account? Keep an eye on your My High School HOPE GPA to stay on top of your scholarship journey.

https://www.gafutures.org/hope-state-aid-programs/hope-zell-miller-scholarships/how-to-track-your-hope-academic-eligibility/my-high-school-hope-gpa/

There’s no such thing as too early when it comes to searching for scholarships. Whether you’re a freshman, senior, or something in between, the GAfutures Scholarship Search Tool can connect you with real opportunities to help fund your education. Explore more here:

https://www.gafutures.org/scholarship-search

Big news! GAfutures has teamed up with the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia to offer application fee waivers during the month of March! 💰 Don’t miss this chance to apply to your dream school—for FREE! Take advantage here:

https://www.gafutures.org/college-planning/apply-to-college/application-fee-waivers/

Here are 5 great tips on extra curricular activities! Remeber everthing your student is Involved in from the summer before 9th grade will be listed the college applications.

In the journey towards college admission, high school students often find themselves consumed by a whirlwind of academics, standardized tests, and GPA calculations. However, there’s another crucial aspect that plays a pivotal role in shaping a well-rounded and successful college application: extracurricular activities. With the limited “real estate” afforded by the Common App, your resume offers a unique opportunity to articulate your interests and values in action, proclaiming your personality and making you that much more memorable.

1. Prioritize Academic Activities: The most salient category of activities in the resumes of standout applicants center around a student’s academic or professional interest. These activities help contribute to the student’s narrative and demonstrate a commitment to pursuing academic rigor beyond the walls of the classroom. A business student should have entrepreneurial activities, a STEM student should pursue science outside of school, and so on. Academic activities also highlight discipline and initiative, qualities that admissions readers associate with academic success. Colleges seek students who demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a sustained interest in their intended field, as this suggests they will continue to be engaged learners on campus and develop the skills necessary for long-term career success.

2. Competitive Kids Compete: Dovetailing with the injunction to pursue academic activities, participating in academic competitions represents some of the most rigorous engagement possible. Furthermore, it has the added benefit of potentially yielding accolades you can report on your application to wow the reader! You don’t even need to come in first place to garner worthwhile accomplishments—advancing to regional or district competitions, reaching semifinals in the state competition, and more will all impress your reader. Academic competitions show perseverance, problem-solving skills, and the ability to perform under pressure, all traits that translate well to the college environment. Even if a student does not win, participation alone demonstrates ambition and resilience.

There are academic competitions available to students with virtually any conceivable interest, and ICC maintains a comprehensive database to help guide you.

3. Pursue an Independent Endeavor: Sometimes called “passion projects,” independent endeavors are undertakings that students conceive and execute through their own volition and imagination. These activities demonstrate creativity, resourcefulness, dedication, and leadership. They provide another opportunity to articulate your values and interests outside of the classroom. Additionally, colleges value students who can generate ideas and follow through with ex*****on, as these qualities contribute to innovation and leadership in college communities. Whether it’s starting your own business, hosting your own art exhibition, or creating green initiatives in your community, the possibilities are limitless. While they can seem daunting, ICC counselors know the tricks of the trade to bring your own unique project to fruition with relative ease.

4. Demonstrate Leadership: Leadership roles illustrate a student’s ability to inspire, organize, and take responsibility, traits that are essential for success in college and beyond. Extracurricular activities offer opportunities for students to take on leadership roles and demonstrate initiative. Whether it’s leading a club, organizing an event, or mentoring peers, these experiences exhibit a student’s ability to take charge and make a positive impact. Leadership also signals strong communication skills and an ability to work collaboratively. Colleges value applicants who can contribute positively to campus life and inspire their peers.

5. Undertake Community Service with Purpose: Community service and volunteering are not synonymous! While both entail doing something without compensation, the kind of community service that will serve you well exhibits the causes and issues most meaningful to you. It furthermore shows not only that you care, but also that you care enough to do something about it. If you care about human rights, work with a non-governmental organization (NGO). If you care about voting rights, seek opportunities with Get Out the Vote! Whatever your values, there are ways to make them tangible. Colleges seek students who are engaged citizens and demonstrate a genuine passion for making a difference. Meaningful service also provides insight into a student’s character, empathy, and willingness to contribute to a diverse and inclusive campus.

Northwestern Middle Parents, I am looking forward to our spirit night tomorrow at 7:00 pm .

After attending my youngest daughter’s rising 9th grade meeting last night , the conversation came up about transferring into your students dream college. That is a really great option for many students, and here is some information on how to include that in your students plan.

1. Be strategic about when you apply.
While many students may wish to transfer after one semester, they should be aware that many schools do not offer spring admissions, and those that do typically take far fewer students in the spring than in the fall. Furthermore, colleges tend to prefer applicants who apply during their sophomore year—they have a lengthier college record upon which they can be evaluated.

Another consideration is the strength of a student’s high school grades. The greater the proximity to high school, the more weight colleges will place on the high school grades and curriculum. So if a student’s high school grades and courses are strong, they might have good results applying to transfer in freshman year. If grades and classes are not as strong, students should consider waiting until sophomore year to put some distance between themselves and their old transcript.

2. College grades and classes matter.
Successful transfer applicants are doing very well in their current academic environment and taking challenging classes relevant to their intended major. Students can make themselves more appealing by finishing their general education requirements or foundational classes within their major. They should prioritize academic performance, especially if attempting to transfer to a more competitive college. It’s vital to demonstrate the ability to thrive in challenging environments that demand independence and motivation.

3. Extracurriculars matter less when transferring colleges, but they still matter.
Colleges place less weight on extracurricular activities in the transfer process, but they still play a role. If a student is planning to transfer, they should involve themselves in campus life, community service, and/or research relevant to their major. Demonstrating a robust engagement with an intended field of academic concentration is a more important criterion in transfer admissions than in first year admissions.

4. The applications are challenging, so start early.
Transfer applications are much longer than first-year applications. Many schools use the Common App for transfers, but it’s important to note that the application is completely different from the first-year application. These applications require a lot of writing and bureaucratic work. For example, the character limit for the extracurricular section is significantly longer, and appicants must coordinate with various third parties to ensure timely submission of various required forms, reports, and transcripts. Each school may also have long supplemental applications that require unique, lengthy pieces of writing. Additionally, a considerable number of schools that use the Common App for first-year admissions do not use them in transfers admissions. Columbia, for example, requires transfer students to use the Coalition App, and Wake Forest requires the applicant to use their own application.

5. Writing strong essays is essential.
Transfer essays vary from school to school but typically cluster around a core group of questions. Admission committees often want to know why a student is dissatisfied with their present academic experience, why they think transferring in general will rectify these problems, and why their school in particular will allow them to thrive. The latter requires detailed research into each school, while the former two require students to identify educational goals that are well-considered and mature. A student may want to transfer to a “better school,” but this is not something they should spotlight in their essays! ICC counselors can help identify more compelling reasons to explore.

Also remember, when crafting a transfer essay, avoid any negative comments about the current school. Instead, the focus should be on highlighting the positive aspects of the experience while clearly explaining why the new institution is a better fit for academic goals and aspirations.

6. Build a robust list.
Transfer admission exists to fill what colleges call “melt:” spaces that open up in their undergraduate roster due to students dropping out, transferring, switching majors, studying abroad, under-enrollment, or new financial and/or demographic priorities. Selectivity is less easy to predict than it is in first-year admissions, so applying widely is critical to maximizing your options. That said, it’s possible to identify some schools as, broadly speaking, “transfer friendly” or, conversely, “transfer averse.” ICC’s transfer specialists draw on collections of data and statistics to identify good fits and build smart lists.

7. Craft a Strategic Transfer Plan.
There is no standard rule about what and when a student needs to transfer. Some schools may have a minimum or maximum credit threshold. Others may require transfer in the first year only. Certain universities may require the fulfillment of a slate of subject distributions. Guaranteed transfer programs will typically dictate their own unique parameters. In all cases, there is generally little flexibility, so students should carefully read the transfer websites of each school they are considering.

Senior parents, in order for your students to receive HOPE , ZELL or MERIT scholarships you must fill out the FAFSA form before June .

Federal Student Aid

The new ACT Test enhancements -

What's Changing-

Reduced the number of questions overall (44 fewer)
Reduced the test length. Students can receive their college-reportable Composite score after 125 minutes of testing, rather than up to 195.
More time per question.
Reduced the number of answer choices in math questions from five to four.
Students can now choose to take the ACT National test with or without the science section. State and district customers will choose whether to include the science section with the ACT test for their students.

What's Not Changing-

The ACT scale will remain 1-36 with no changes to ACT benchmarks or state-specific achievement standards.
Scores from tests taken prior to the rollout of the new Composite score will not change.
Ability to predict success in first-year college credit-bearing courses will not change.
Both paper-and-pencil course will continue to be available.

ACT Test Enhancements The ACT test is becoming more flexible and less time-consuming, and will offer even more choice for students to tailor their test experience!

High School Seniors: Join us at our GEORGIA MATCH Day events to explore the various options available after high school. Whether you're interested in college admissions, financing college, career exploration, entrepreneurship, or military services, we are here to guide you. All events are from 5-7 PM. Learn more here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/o/georgia-student-finance-commission-8030590369

📢📢 Calling the Class of 2025: Your GEORGIA MATCH letters are on their way to your mailbox! Keep an eye out for a special envelope, as thrilling news awaits you inside. Be sure to follow us for more details!

https://www.gafutures.org/GEORGIAMATCH

If you are in the McClure school district or just want to join tonight’s webinar, you can register at
https://bit.ly/45ltMno