SIOUX FALLS WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPARTMENT
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Onward. Warriors.
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INFORMATION FOR SENIORS
CLASS of 2016


Step 1: Getting to Graduation (Class of 2015)
ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS (4.0 CREDITS)
English IA _______ English IB _______
English IIA _______ English IIB _______
American Lit. _______ Composition _______
Speech/Debate _______ Eng Elective _______

MATH REQUIREMENTS (3.0 CREDITS)
Algebra IA _______ Algebra IB _______
Geometry A _______ Geometry B _______
Algebra IIA _______ Algebra IIB _______

SCIENCE REQUIREMENTS (3.0 CREDITS)
Physical Sci A _______ Physical Sci B _______ 
Biology A _______ Biology B _______
Chemistry A _______ Chemistry B _______
Physics A _______ Physics B _______

SOCIAL STUDIES REQUIREMENTS (3.0 CREDITS)
World Geo _______ World History _______
Am History A _______ Am History B _______
Government _______ SS Elective _______

FINE ARTS REQUIREMENT (1.0 CREDIT)
Credit _______ Credit _______

PHYSICAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT (0.5 CREDIT)
Physical Ed _______

ECONOMICS / PERSONAL FINANCE REQUIREMENT (0.5 CREDIT)
Econ / PF _______

Total credits needed to graduate: 22


Step 2: Identifying Careers

5 Ways to Find Career Ideas- retrieved from Collegeboard.com
1. Think About What You Love
What classes have you found especially inspiring? What activities keep you so absorbed that you don't even notice how much time has passed? Listing 10 things you love can help reveal possible paths.
2. Identify Defining Experiences
Think about three experiences that taught you something about yourself. If you can pinpoint what makes you happy, you can aim toward a career that will provide those types of experiences.
3. Create a Self-Portrait
Are you friendly, creative, impatient, funny, organized? Try writing down a list of 10 qualities you feel describe your personality. Ask your friends and family to name some of your qualities – sometimes other people see us more clearly than we see ourselves. Add their suggestions to your list. Now think about what sort of career fits the person your list describes.
4. Consider Your Strengths and Weaknesses
Make a list of your five top strengths and weaknesses. What sorts of employers would be interested in your strengths? If you're a good public speaker, for example, explore what types of careers call for that skill.
Your weaknesses can also tell you a lot about where you might go. You can either steer away from careers that require skills you're not confident about or work to improve weaknesses that may keep you from your goals.
5. Explore Careers
What do actuaries or archaeologists really do? What sorts of opportunities will there be in the future for architects or art directors? 

Other Components to Career Planning
• Know The Labor Market: You need to research the employment outlook, training requirements and entry level earnings for occupations in which you have an interest. "SD My Life" is a wonderful resource for learning about a labor market.
• Know Your Resource: To bring goals to life, we must relate them to achievable activities. If you need more training or education to accomplish your career goal, you need to assess the program available and establish a time line for application, enrollment and completion.

Career Planning Opportunities @ WHS
Shadow Ed
To complete a Shadow Ed experience come to the counseling office and pick up an application. A Job Shadow will allow you to spend time with an individual in an occupation seeing what they actually do within their career. The Shadow Ed Coordinator will be at WHS weekly to speak with. 
SD My Life
"SD My Life" is a free computer based program to provide students an opportunity in finding out what are their interests, aptitudes and values. Students have the ability to research post-secondary options, scholarship information, job trends and career clusters. You can access "SD My Life" at www.sdmylife.com. You can log in with your state email account, or see your couselor or your username and password.
See Your School Counselor
Your counselor is an excellent resource for post-secondary and career planning. If you would like to visit with your counselor, make an appointment at the school counseling office.

Not Going To College? 
Job Placement Sources – How do i find a job?
• Newspaper classified ads- Help Wanted Section.
• Referrals by friends who are employed by a large business.
• Personnel offices of companies, businesses, or corporations. 
• National Career Readiness Certificate-The National Career Readiness Certificate is an industry-recognized, portable, evidence-based credential that certifies essential skills needed for workplace success. 
• South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation http://dlr.sd.gov/
• The University Center can inform you if a business has the opportunity for career advancement.

Step 3: College Knowledge
College Planning Checklist

_____Narrow the list of possible postsecondary institutions. Tour when possible.
_____Check internet websites for scholarship information. 
_____Check internet for virtual tours of schools in which you are interested.
_____Take the ACT (American College Test) or SAT (Scholastic Achievement Test).
_____Obtain the applications from the college or technical institute.
_____Gather all necessary information needed to complete the application.
_____Follow all procedures and dates given on application.
_____Fill-out application completely.
_____Proofread application for errors.
_____Request a transcript from the registrar.
_____Complete FAFSA

Important Dates To Remember 2014-15
ACT
Septembers 13, 2014
October 25th, 2014
December 13, 2014
February 7th, 2015
April 18th, 2015
June 13th, 2015

ASVAB
TBD October 2014

PLAN
TBD November 2014

SAT
Visit the Counseling office

How To Request A Transcript?
A transcript is an official document from our school that will provide a detailed list of your courses and grades you have received in high school. A transcript also includes grade point average, class rank, and ACT scores. All post-secondary institutions, including technical schools and community colleges, require a transcript.

1. Please request transcript by completing a transcript request form. There will be at least two days to process request. Forms are available in the counseling office. Students are responsible to pick-up transcripts from the registrar.
2. A student receives two transcripts free of charge. After that each transcript will cost $1.00.
3. It is best to send post-high school applications, fees and transcripts in one envelope.
4. Students request a final transcript by completing a transcript request form and giving it to the registrar prior to the last day of school. 

Are You Considering A 2-Year Tech School or Community College?
Applicants must have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate, awarded for passing the General Education Development Test for full-time admission. Applicants must complete the application process for each school as listed. Applicants must meet the requirements of each program. Applicants must meet minimum entrance examination requirements. Most SD Technical Schools require either an ACT or ACCPLACER assessment test score for entrance and/or program placement.

Are You Considering A 4-Year In-State College or University?
Admissions Requirements
1. Four years of English.
2. Three years of Social Studies.
3. One year of Fine Arts. 
4. Three years of advanced Mathematics (Algebra I and above).
5. Three years of lab Science (biology, chemistry, physics, and physical science, etc.).
6. Economics or Personal Finance

AND one of the following: a 2.6 high school GPA, an ACT composite score of 18, or top 60% of graduating class. (SD School of Mines Requires an ACT composite score of 25 and a 3.5 GPA and USD requires an ACT composite score of 21 and a GPA of 2.6)

Are You Considering Attending An Out-of-State College?
This option may change your class selection during your senior year. It is always best to contact the school or program for specific programs. It is very common for out of state colleges to require 4 years of Math, 4 years of Science, and 2 years of the same World Language for their standard admission. This criteria is different from South Dakota, and you are encouraged to visit with your counselor for more information.

If you are interested in applying for admission to an out-of-state college/technical institute, you should do so early in your senior year. Contact the Director of Admissions at the College/Technical Institute of your choice and ask for catalogs, admissions and scholarship applications or access application via Internet. For addresses, go to the WHS School Counseling office and the WHS library. Admissions to out of state colleges are based upon your cumulative GPA and ACT/SAT test scores. You may be required to write an essay and be interviewed.

College Entrance Exams
The ACT test is the admission test required by colleges in South Dakota. It is given 5 times a year on nationally scheduled test dates. Registration Packets are available in the school counseling office or students may register online at www.ACTstudent.org . It is highly suggested juniors take the ACT at the end of their junior year. Seniors are recommended to take the ACT no later than the October test if they plan to apply for scholarships. The ACT can be taken as many times as the student chooses. Colleges will usually use the student's highest composite score. For more information, contact your counselor and www.ACTstudent.org. WHS students may complete a free practice ACT test and study program through "SD My Life" or www.Number2.com. 


The SAT I test is a college admission test which should be taken at the end of the 11th grade. The SAT I test is administered in approximately three hours and covers verbal, math and writing skills. Scores range from 200-800 points. The SAT II tests are subject tests that some colleges may require. For more information, contact your counselor or go online at www.collegeboard.org. WHS students may complete a free practice SAT test at http://sat.collegeboard.org/home.

ACT & SAT TEST CODE NUMBER FOR WHS
421-185

Advanced Placement Examinations
Advanced Placement examinations are administered in mid-May. Students who pass these tests with a score of 3, 4, or 5 are generally awarded college credit. Check with individual colleges to see if they will accept the AP class for college credit.

Step 4: Scholarship and Financial Aid
What Is Financial Aid?
Financial aid is any money you may receive to assist in paying for post-secondary education. Financial Aid comes in several different packages: scholarships, merit-based, and need-based. One of the most reliable resources for information regarding financial aid is Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation. Great Lakes will provide a variety of financial aid services: offering options and answering questions. Their goal is to meet the needs of students and their families in financing higher education. Use the Internet to connect with Great Lakes: www.mygreatlakes.org.

Financial Aid Timeline
September through April – Visit with your counselor and browse list of scholarships available in WHS Counseling office at least 2 times per month. Also found at www.whscounseling.com

December: Obtain Pin # online for FAFSA "Free Application For Federal Student Aid" (www.fafsa.ed.gov) **Do not go to Fafsa.com or Google "Fafsa." Never pay for this application.

January: Go online and Complete FAFSA

January 12, 2015: Financial Aid Night (7pm WHS Aud.) 

February: Complete and return FAFSA mid-February

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Form
FAFSA opens the door to the federal student aid process. To apply for federal student financial aid and to apply to some lending institutions, students need to complete a FAFSA form, even if you believe you will not qualify for assistance. You may go online to complete the FAFSA form after January 1st of your senior year by going to www.fafsa.ed.gov . **DO NOT GO TO FAFSA.COM or Google fafsa. These sites will require payment to utilize their scholarship locating services

For the most accurate financial aid information for the school of your choice please contact the Director of Financial Aid at that institution.

Scholarships
Scholarships awarded by colleges/universities technical schools usually come under one of the following categories: academic, departmental, performance / athletic, leadership / service, and minority. Privately funded scholarships are also available. Complete lists of privately funded local scholarships is located at www.whscounseling.com
www.fastweb.com and www.zinch.com . 

Tips For Learning About College Scholarships (Retrieved from www.collegeboard.org) 
1. Start with a personal inventory, ask yourself:
• Do I want to participate in a competition? If so, what are my talents and interests?
• What subject do I plan to major in?
• What career do I plan to pursue?
• Do I want to apply for all types of aid or only scholarships?
2. Research local scholarships first
• Stop by the counseling office, counselors will have information regarding scholarships. 
• The public library may have books on financial aid/scholarships, such as the Scholarship Handbook.
3. Check membership organizations and employers
• Explore categories you have not have considered, i.e. religious, community service, fraternal, military, union and professional.
• Many companies offer scholarships or tuition programs for children of employees, so don't forget to ask your parents.
4. Use a free scholarship search service
• A scholarship search company collects information on awards and compares your student characteristics with scholarship restrictions. Based on your answers to a questionnaire, you receive a list of possible scholarships.
• Free scholarship search services: Scholarship Search, Fastweb, and Sallie Mae.
5. Contact your State Department of Higher Education
• Almost every state has a scholarship program for residents; however the awards are usually limited to students who attend college in-state.
6. Research institutional scholarships
• Research what kinds of scholarships are available at the colleges that interest you
• Are scholarships awarded automatically if a student matches certain criteria? i.e. GPA, ACT or SAT scores.
• What is the application procedure? What materials are required?
• Is the award renewable? What are the requirements to maintain the award?


Step 5: Are you Considering the Military?
Military Service
One option for the graduating senior is to enlist in a branch of the military. There is literature available from all branches of the military service in the counseling office. Students may also receive valuable information from visiting with military representatives. The representatives will also have current information on the GI bill, which is college tuition money for active members. A good website for information on all 5 branches in the military is www.careersinthemilitary.com

ASVAB (Offered at WHS November 8th)
The ASVAB is a group of ten tests that measures one's aptitude or ability in seven separate career areas and provides an indication of one's academic and occupational aptitudes. The military services use the ASVAB scores to help determine the qualifications of young people for enlistment and to place them in occupational specialties. However, no military obligation is required by taking this battery of tests. The ASVAB is given annually at WHS.
ROTC Scholarships
The Reserve Officer Training Corps of the Army, Air Force and Navy (including the Marine option) offer an excellent scholarship program to the college-bound student willing to make a commitment to several years of active duty with the military after college. The ROTC scholarship provides an opportunity to attend a civilian college or university while studying officer training as part of the total undergraduate program. The application process for an ROTC scholarship is detailed and must be followed carefully. Deadlines for receiving application materials are early in the senior year and must be adhered to strictly. The selection process is lengthy. Any interested student should see their school counselor in the spring of their junior year or very early in their senior year for the application packet and detailed information.

Contact US 
Washington High School
501 North Sycamore Avenue
Sioux FAlls, SD 57110
(phone) 605-367-7973
(Fax) 605-367-7982

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 7:15am-3:45pm

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