Weekly Rundowns for January 12-23, 2016

Happy 2016, Hickory High School!

Exams are in full swing and next semester will be here before we know it. Make sure you are following us on Facebook or Twitter, or checking our Counseling website for regular Counseling Department-related announcements.

We have some friendly reminders for you all for the next couple weeks:

Tuesday, Jan. 12:

• The last (late) day to register for the January SAT. A fee may apply. If you have never taken the SAT before, do not sign up for the January SAT. You will need/want to sign up for the March 2016 or later SAT test dates so that your test scores are super-scored. 

Wednesday, Jan. 13:

• Gates Millennium Scholars Scholarship Deadline  – Students who are African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander or Hispanic American can apply. You must be a citizen or legal residence, have a GPA of 3.3 (unweighted), have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other activities, and apply for the FAFSA. Apply at http://www.gmsp.org. 

Thursday, Jan. 14:

• Lenoir-Rhyne Scholars Info Session - at 7:00 PM at LR's McCrorie Center - for anyone interested in taking all senior year classes at Lenoir-Rhyne. Visit http://www.lr.edu/admissions/high-school/scholars-academy for more info.
• Just a heads up: The deadline to apply for LR Scholars Program for the 2016-17 school year is February, 1, 2016!

Friday, Jan. 15:

• Last day of the Fall 2015 semester. 
• Late ACT registration deadline for the February ACT
• Scholarship Deadline: The Harry W. Clarke Memorial Scholarship Programs awards two scholarships to graduating seniors with financial need, academic ability/achievement, good moral character, community service, extracurricular activities, and work experience. One scholarship is for $2,000 for students attending a North Carolina Community College and one scholarship is for $8,000 for a student attending a North Carolina four-year college or university. Apply through The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. Click through scholarship names to find the above mentioned scholarship, go to the online instructions and read carefully, view the applicant video and begin the process. You must use the following code to enter into the system once you have logged on: CLA1 to begin the application. 

Monday, Jan. 18:

• No School for Students or Staff - Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

Tuesday, Jan. 19: 

• No School for Students - Teacher Workday 

Wednesday, Jan. 20: 

• No School for Students - Teacher Workday
• Scholarship Deadline: RMHC/HACER offers four $100,000 scholarships each year as well as local scholarships to Hispanic students. Applications are available through January 20. Get your application and full details at MeEncanta.com.

Thursday, Jan. 21:

• First day of the Spring 2016 semester

Saturday, Jan. 23: 

• January SAT test date - make sure you ATTEND if you are REGISTERED!

-Your HHS School Counselors 

The Last Weekly Rundown of 2015...

Seniors:
We wanted to go ahead & let you know what all is going on prior to & during Christmas break so that you are on top of everything!

• This Saturday (12/12) is the December ACT test date. 
• Next Tuesday, (12/15) is the scholarship deadline for the the Flossum Scholarship. Info can be found in the December Senior Newsletter.
• Next Friday, (12/18), is the scholarship deadline for the Young Entrepreneur Award. Info can be found in the December Senior Newsletter. 
• Monday, 12/28 is the registration deadline for the  January SAT for those who are NOT using a fee waiver. Register online at collegeboard.com. 
• Thursday, 12/31 is the CrossLites scholarship deadline. Info can be found in the December Senior Newsletter. 

Students taking Apex courses:

• Remember that you need to have your course(s) COMPLETE by the end of the semester.
• Mrs. Mullen will continue to offer tutorial opportunities for those wanting to have extra time during school to work on increasing their progress. Tutorials will be offered Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays durings A & B lunch. The week of January 4th will be the last week tutorial is offered. 
• If you need Apex assistance over Christmas break, email Mrs. Mullen (mullenni@hickoryschools.net) or Mrs. Guill (guillle@hickoryschools.net). We will assist you as quickly as we can, but know that it may not be immediate. We will message you back when we have assisted you. 
• If you are not on target to finish your course(s) on time, you need to be working DAILY online to increase your progress to ensure you do not fail the course. 
• Remember: You can access Apex anywhere you have internet access. If you do not have internet access at home, we recommend finding a friend or family member who can let you work from their home, or going to the public library. 

We wish you a happy and safe holiday! 

Sincerely,

Your HHS School Counselors

Governor's School 2016 Auditions Update

We had several students who are competing at the state level for a chance to attend Governor’s School 2016. Performing Arts students are required to audition and several have been asking about audition information. As promised, we want to update you as we get pertinent information. The following information was given to HHS and we would like to share with those auditioning.

• General audition information is already available on page 8 of the Nomination Packet.
•  In early January, each nominee will receive an official audition invitation letter with specific details on assigned times, locations, parking and more. Also, the Governor’s School website is being updated with detailed info on each audition area so students can begin their preparations.
• IN-PERSON AUDITIONS –Here is the schedule:
•  Saturday, February 6 – Dance audition #1 only (Statesville High School, Statesville)
•  Saturday, February 13 – Instrumental Music, Theater and Visual Art auditions only (Meredith College, Raleigh)
•  Saturday, February 20 – Choral Music auditions and Dance audition #2 only (Meredith College, Raleigh)
•  Last year, Governor’s School offered an alternate audition (i.e., YouTube video) option for Choral Music, Instrumental Music and Theater nominees with a school-related schedule conflict. It was favorably received, and this year they are expanding this option to include Visual Art and for any predetermined reason (e.g., schedule conflict, travel distance/time, finances, etc.). Please know that the video closely replicates the in-person audition experience in both structure and rigor; neither provides a selection advantage. Once again, this is an option but it can only be requested by the school. This option should not be viewed as an ‘easy out.’ More info is coming later this month to the school contacts (Mrs. Mullen), along with an official request form. Alternate audition requests cannot be made prior to that time.
• NOTE: This alternate option is not available for Dance, due to the interactive and responsive nature of that audition. To accommodate this, Governor’s School is offering two in-person Dance audition opportunities, as noted above. A Dance student can participate in either audition (but not both), whichever is more convenient.
•  If there is a sudden weather event that prevents students from attending the in-person audition, we will extend the video option to those students. No need to worry about those details right now; just know that a plan is in place if needed.

Stay tuned for more information!

Weekly Rundown: October 31 - November 7, 2015

We hope you enjoyed your 4-day week this week. We are now in the 2nd 9 weeks of the semester so make sure you get those grades up and keep them up!! If you struggled the 1st 9 weeks, now is your chance to redeem yourself!

There's a lot going on next week...

Counselors will be in the computers lab assisting students Monday - Thursday for College Application Week. College Application Week (November 2 – 6) is a statewide program to provide seniors the opportunity to apply to college online through CFNC. To participate you must have an updated and accurate CFNC.org account. (See your counselors to find your username or rest your password.) Also, research colleges and universities prior to the event to find out what schools offer the “best fit.” For more assistance, see the downloadable document, “Updating Your CFNC.org Account,” on the CAW Seniors page. Students that qualified for Fee Waivers through the SAT College Board programs are available to students electronically through their College Board Account. This year, all 110 NC colleges and universities have agreed to accept the College Board fee waiver for students who are eligible. Additionally, some schools have decided to go above and beyond and outright waive their application fees for all students applying during CAW. If you do not qualify for a fee waiver, you will need to pay the application fee to submit your application unless the fee has been waived by the college you are interested in. Seniors, if you are interested in applying to colleges through this program next week, please sign up for a morning or afternoon session. Sign-up sheets are available in the Counseling Office. You will receive a pass to come to the media center the day you choose to participate. For additional information, please visit the CFNC College Application Week Website or see your counselor.

Also...

Saturday, October 31st:

• Coca Cola Scholars scholarship deadline (info in October's Senior Newsletter)

Sunday, November 1st:

• Champions for Christ scholarship deadline (info in October's Senior Newsletter)

Monday, November 2nd:

• All completed Governor's School packets are due to Mrs. Mullen by the end of the day. We will NOT accept late packets. Packets must include: 2 page application, 2 page experience form, 2 essays, 2 SEALED recommendation letters. If you have a question about the packet, see Mrs. Mullen prior to to ensure your packet is complete. 

Tuesday, November 3rd:

• Prudential Award scholarship deadline (info on our Announcements page on our Counseling website)
• Jack Kent Cooke scholarship deadline (info in October's Senior Newsletter)

Thursday, November 5th:

• Registration deadline for the December SAT

Friday, November 6th: 

• Registration deadline for the December ACT 

Saturday, November 7th:

• November SAT test date. HHS students more than likely registered to take the SAT at Lenoir-Rhyne. Make sure you have your admission ticket and are on time!! 

Seniors, make sure you're turning in admissions letters and copies of any scholarship money you're getting. We want to celebrate you! 

Have a good weekend,

Your HHS Counselors

Governor's School Info 2015-2016

It's that time of the year again...Governor's School time!! Some of you have been anxiously awaiting info on Governor's School and some of you may have never heard of Governor's School.

Here's what you need to know right now:

What is it? The oldest statewide summer residential program for gifted and talented high school students in the nation. It's for current high school juniors at the top of their game in certain subject areas. Certain areas allow sophomores to also participate (see below). Area options are:

• English
• Math
• Science
• Social Studies
• Spanish
• French
• Visual Arts
• Instrumental Music**
• Choral Music**
• Theater
• Dance**

** = Sophomores can apply as well. 

Mrs. Mullen and/or Mr. Pait will be visiting some applicable classrooms to advertise the opportunity. We will also have an information meeting for all interested students during SMART Lunch B on Wednesday, Oct. 21 in the Student Services Room (located in Counseling office). 

Handout distributed in classroom & SMART Lunch information meetings: Basic Governor's School Information & the 2015-16 Timeline

A Governor's School representative will be coming to HHS Wednesday, Oct. 21st from 6:00 - 7:00 PM to tell you everything you need to know & to answer your questions. This is a local event, open to all surrounding counties and schools and their students and parents as well. Last year, HHS had student Natalie Alms attend, and she will be there that evening to answer any questions you have for her as well.

We are taking teacher- and self-nominations October 15-22. A teacher nominee isn't held in any higher regard than a self-nominee, just so you are aware! We simply want to make sure we get the opinions of the teachers and the students in ensuring we get the best of the best and no one is overlooked!!

If you are interested at all, nominate yourself!
Don't know if a teacher nominated you? It doesn't matter. Nominate yourself!

Not sure if you qualify? Nominate yourself anyways!

You never know! There is no obligation to anything to nominate yourself!

Once someone is nominated, we check their eligibility. All eligible students will need to attend a brief info session Friday, Oct. 23rd at 7:30AM in the mall/cafeteria to get additional info to proceed and to receive a nomination packet. All nominees will be notified from Counseling via letter to let them know if they were eligible or not.

What makes a student eligible? You have to be a legal resident (not necessarily a citizen) of NC, a current junior (or applicable sophomore-- see above), and score at least in the 92nd percentile on a qualifying achievement test. Options include but are not limited to: ACT, SAT, PSAT, PLAN, or an EOC exam. See page 7 of the Nomination Packet for more information.

Again, if you aren't sure if you'll qualify, nominate yourself anyways!

Why are we advertising this so much? BECAUSE IT IS A BIG DEAL! It is a big deal to be considered. It is an even bigger deal to attend and we want all of HHS' best in the running to attend Governor's School 2016!! Governor's School looks FANTASTIC on a college application and resume!!

All Governor's School documents are located on the HHS Counselors' website under the Useful Links and Documents tab.

Got questions?? See Mrs. Mullen. You can stop by her office, email her, or call 828-322-5860 ext. 1110.

Good luck, nominees!! 

Financial Aid FAQs, Updates, and Need-To-Know Info!

Mrs. Mullen and Ms. Lovelace recently attended a College Board workshop and, in that workshop, was given some information that may be helpful to students and parents needing information on financial aid. We know this is a lot of info, but it's all stuff you need to know or info that can definitely help you. Let us know if you have any questions after reviewing it.


Financial Aid Universal Philosophy:

• Students and their family(ies) have the primary responsibility to pay for college.
• Sacrifice is assumed.
• Financial aid assessment is NOT a cash flow analysis but rather an evaluation of an individual family's economic strength.
• The contribution is determined by a standard formula that assesses a family's ability to pay.
• Willingness to pay is NOT a factor.

Direct costs typically charged by the college includes: tuition and fees, cost of living on campus, cost of on-campus meal plans.

There are some indirect costs that may NOT be charged by the college, that you must also consider: allowances for books and supplies, allowances for personal expenses and off-campus meals, and allowances for transportation. 

Have you heard of the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE? 

• This is an application developed by the College Board, overseen by practicing financial aid officers, and used by over 260 colleges and 125 scholarship agencies to award non-federal aid. 
• The FAFSA is a must to receive federal financial aid.
• PROFILE is a plus and may be required to receive institutional financial aid at many colleges.
• The 2016-17 application will be available October 2015.
• Students with  College Board fee waivers (for the SAT) get access to a fee waiver for the PROFILE. 
• Students will use their same login for the PROFILE as they did for the SAT

Financial Aid MYTHS (meaning not necessarily true):

1. The published cost represents the true cost of a college or university.
• The Larger Story: What really matters to the student is the amount the student will pay for college. This is called the "net price." Some colleges have Net Price Calculators on their websites.
2. Students borrow over $100,000.
• The Larger Story: Only 4% of individuals with outstanding student debt owe $100,000 or more, and most of these individuals have advanced degrees (Masters degrees or above.)
3. Student debt is at a crisis level.
• The Larger Story: More students are going to college and therefore, more students are borrowing money to go to college. 
4. Only low-income families qualify for financial aid.
• Truth: The EFC should be less than the cost of attendance for a student to qualify for need or merit-based aid. 
• Once you complete your FAFSA, you will be given your EFC. Your EFC (Expected Family Contribution) is a quotient, not an actual number or amount of money. The quotient is used in a formula to determine need. 
• Cost of attendance - EFC = Financial Need ... so it is not necessarily based on income
• If a family has more than one members enrolled in college that year, their EFC would be divided by the number of college students, and that would be the EFC per student. 
5. Saving for college hurts the chances of getting aid.
• Truth: If you save, you won't need to borrow or borrow as much. The EFC includes only 5.64% of the net worth of assets (after allowances for retirement and emergencies are removed.) 
6. The FAFSA is too complex and takes too long to complete.
• Truth: For more first-time filers, the FAFSA takes less than 30 minutes to complete. Repeat filers spend less than 20 minutes completing their FAFSA.
7. Students borrow more because college costs more.
• Truth: College DOES cost more, but families are also less prepared to pay for college. Only 51% of college-bound families saved for college.
• Truth: College costs increased due to the cost of labor and other expenses. The college has to pay highly educated individuals to teach and work at the school, and they also pay for expenses that are outside of the inflation rate, such as medical insurance, retirement, and utility bills. 
• Truth: The length of time for students to graduate college is increasing. 40% of undergraduates graduate in 4 years. 58% of undergraduates graduate in 5 years. You now have to pay for an extra year of school and that prevents you from earning money for a year. -- This is why it is so important to know what you want to go to college for & to start and end at the right college for you!! 
8. There is less aid available.
• Truth: In 2013-14, over $184 billion was awarded in financial aid to undergraduates. Grants represented 57% of the total resources awarded to the student. Another 8% are given to the family in tax credits. 
9. Loans are too hard to pay back.
• Truth: Income contingent payment plans are available. PAYE (Pay As You Earn) only asks for payments of 10% of a borrower's net income. This allows borrowers to opt into other payment plans without a penalty.
10. The return on a college degree is less because of the increase in the cost of an education.
• Truth: The college degree is at its highest premium. College graduate salaries decreased by 5% during the Great Recession, while those without a degree had a 10-12% decline. The number of college graduates getting jobs remain steady throughout the Great Recession. Those without a degree experienced 8-10% unemployment. 
11. Colleges will offer grants in the first years but only offer loans in the later years.
• Truth: If the family's economy remains similar from year to year and the student makes satisfactory progress towards a degree, then the financial aid offered in the first year will be renewed annually.

NEEDING COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID 2016-17 SCHOOL YEAR (CURRENT SENIORS)??:

• The FAFSA may be filed at any time during an academic year, but no earlier than January 1, 2016. Visit fafsa.gov to file. Reminder: NEVER pay to complete your FAFSA. It is FREE! 
• There ARE changes coming to this for the FOLLOWING year, but we won't bombard you with that info just yet. 
• While most colleges set FAFSA deadlines, do not forget to check for STATE filing deadlines. 
• If you have ever completed a FAFSA, you know about PIN #s. NEW: There is no more PIN numbers to sign your FAFSA!!! Students will now create a FSA ID. Yes, parents will also create their own FSA ID. Both the student and at least one parent will use their individual FSA ID to electronically sign the student's FAFSA. 
• Parents, file your federal tax return as soon as possible. Some school's offer their financial aid first come, first serve, and only offer financial aid to those with completed FAFSAs. 
• It is best to wait approximately two weeks after filing your taxes to complete your FAFSA if you are using the Data Retrieval Tool (DRT). Please know if you do NOT use the DRT, your file is more likely to be audited. 
• Notify the school if you end up having to file an extension. 
• Use the Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) to update any estimates. 
• Be aware of the school's deadlines. Better to provide estimated information than miss the deadline.

Financial Aid Best Practices: 

• Get your FSA ID as soon as possible.
• Attend financial aid presentations as early as the freshman year in high school.
• Always ask tough questions of all offices. Such as, "WHy does your college cost $___?"
• Ask about medians. Averages are influenced by the outliers. 
• Complete applications before the earliest deadline and know all the deadlines. 
• Know requirements to complete awarding and dispersing. There's more to financial aid than getting the award letter!!
• When in doubt, ask your school's financial aid officer.
• Keep all tax records up to date. File as early as possible. 
• When possible, use the Data Retrieval Tool (DRT). 
• Review the Student Aid Report (SAR), which are your results after you file your FAFSA.
• Compare your award letters!!! Make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Some award letters look like they're giving you more financial aid, but the total includes loans while some schools' letters do not.

Top 5 Things Counselors Should Tell Students About Financial Aid:

1. Never rule out a college because of cost alone.
2. Compare costs before applying. Net price calculators can provide an estimate of financial aid eligibility and remaining college costs. Net price calculators should be available on every college's website. 
3. Remember to apply. FAFSA deadlines are available online at fafsa.ed.gov/deadlines.htm. Many colleges also provide funds through an institutional application, the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE, and/or a state application. 
4. Get advice. The financial aid office at local colleges often provide workshops or can give advice.
5. Compare awards. Look at grants, loans, and parental contributions before making a final decision on a college.

Additional Financial Aid Tools & Resources:

• To learn about specific state higher education agencies, visit http://www2.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html. 
• http://bigfuture.collegeboard.org is also a great tool to search for scholarships & grants!!
• Award Letter Comparison Tool: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/financial-aid-awards/compare-aid-calculator 
• FastWeb, a scholarship & grant search tool: http://www.fastweb.com
• My College Dollars: a scholarship & grant search tool: https://mycollegedollars.hyfnrsx1.com  

Domestic Violence: A message from one of our own...

From our very own Visual Art teacher, Michelle Fairchild:

Once upon a time, domestic violence statistics meant absolutely nothing to me.
I tuned out news stories about husbands shooting wives in Walmart parking lots. I turned a deaf ear to 1 in 3 women will be victims of domestic violence in her lifetime. That never happened to people I knew….

Until it happened to me and I was strangled and left for dead in an act of domestic violence.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Just how aware are YOU? What can YOU do to make a difference?

I challenge you to put your daughter’s face on these statistics. What about the young women (and men) sitting in your classroom? Your sister? The lady leading the choir? The teacher across the hall? Domestic violence has no boundaries and it doesn’t apply to certain groups of people. It affects everyone.

• 1 in 3 women will be a victim of violence in her lifetime.
• 1 in 3 adolescent GIRLS will be victims of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner.
• More than 3 million children witness domestic violence in their homes every year. What choices will these children make as they develop their own romantic relationships?
• Children who live in homes where there is domestic violence also suffer abuse or neglect at high rates (30% to 60%).
• Children exposed to domestic violence at home are more likely to have health problems, including becoming sick more often, having frequent headaches or stomachaches, and being more tired and lethargic.
• Young people aged 12-19, experience the highest rate of rape and sexual assault.
• 50% of youth reporting dating violence and rape also reported attempting suicide. This is compared to 12.5% of non-abused girls and 5.4% of non-abused

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. Be aware. Be educated. Look for red flags.

Don’t wait for someone else to make a difference. Let it be you.

The first line of defense is education. A boyfriend or girlfriend calling to check each and every move is not healthy. A boyfriend or girlfriend hitting a locker out of anger is not healthy. Both are warning signs of abuse, however, teenagers, teachers, and many parents do not have that background education! 

If you notice couples interacting in unhealthy ways-do something. Speak up! www.loveisnotabuse.com is a site dedicated to the education of teenagers on the sticky subject of dating violence. There are action steps listed as well.

Everyone deserves a healthy relationship safe from violence and fear. Protect your teens from an abusive situation by learning these warning signs. 

SIGNS OF DATING ABUSE: 

Your teen may be experiencing patterns of an unhealthy relationship if:

Your Teen:

• Apologizes and/or makes excuses for his/her partner's behavior.
• Loses interest in activities that he/she used to enjoy.
• Stops seeing friends and family members and becomes more and more isolated.
• Casually mentions the partner's violent behavior, but laughs it off as a joke.
• Often has unexplained injuries or the explanations often don't make sense.

The Partner:

• Calls your teen names and puts him/her down in front of others.
• Acts extremely jealous of others who pay attention to your teen.
• Thinks or tells your teen that you, the parent(s), don't like them.
• Controls your teen's behavior, checking up constantly, calling or texting, and demanding to know who he/she has been with.
• Violently strikes objects or breaks things.

Thank you, Mrs. Fairchild, for sharing this VERY important message to us all.