Important+Upperclassmen+Information

**IMPORTANT JUNIOR INFORMATION: **

__CAREER AND COLLEGE EXPLORATION __ - 11th grade students will have the opportunity to complete career exploration activities using various programs. "Career Cruising" is a program licensed by CCPS and includes career and college exploration. Students can access the Career Cruising Program anywhere that they have internet access. Interested students will also learn how to search for colleges and majors on the College Board and My Majors websites. Students can sign up or talk to Mrs. Moore about scheduling time to do this in school or they can also access the sites at home.

__SAT’s __ - We recommend that students bound for four-year colleges directly after high school begin taking the SAT's in the spring of their junior year. These tests are administered on Saturdays at various locations throughout the region (not BMHS) and students must register directly with College Board to take the SAT's. More information about SAT's can be found at www.collegeboard.org.

__Six Year Plans __ - Mrs. Moore will be meeting individually with all 11th grade students to review credits earned, make tentative plans for senior year, and discuss post-high school goals.

__HSA's __ Please refer to the HSA Test Prep Information link on my wiki space and to HSAexam.org for additional information regarding HSA preparation.

__JUNIOR YEAR COLLEGE PREP TIMELINE __ //FALL // · Take the PSAT’s in October · Plan a family college discussion · Review your courses with your high school counselor: take challenging courses. · Participate in extra-curricular activities. · Research colleges using a variety of sources. · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Attend college fairs.

· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Review PSAT results with your counselor. · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Continue to research and develop a list of colleges. · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Take the SAT practice tests online. · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Research financial aid. Learn about grants, loans, work study, and scholarships.
 * //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">WINTER //**

· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Make college visits. Check for open house dates. · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Take your first SAT. · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Line up a summer job, summer volunteer work, and/or a summer college class. · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Plan a rigorous senior year class schedule.
 * //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">SPRING //**

· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Continue to make college visits. · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Continue to research financial aid. · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Decide which teachers you will ask for recommendations. · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Talk to college friends who are home for the summer. · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Preview college applications and write practice essays. · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Be prepared to apply to your choice of schools in the fall.
 * //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">SUMMER //**

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) produces the Junior/Senior MDgo4it Calendar for students in 11th grade. This 15-month calendar begins in the spring of junior year and continues to the end of senior year. It is designed to assist students with organizing, planning, and tracking the many obligations and important dates as they prepare for postsecondary education options. This includes deadline dates for state student financial aid, SAT test dates, important tips on preparing for postsecondary education, college admission information, and resources on careers. You can access this calendar on MHEC’s website at <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[|www.MDgo4it.org] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">, under “Preparing for College” (left hand column) and then “Calendar to Assist High School Juniors and Seniors.”
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;">CALENDAR FOR COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENTS **


 * __<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Other things to keep in mind: __**

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">If you have a 2.0 GPA or above, **and** you have met the H.S.A. and Service Learning graduation requirements, **and** you have room in your schedule, **and** you would like to take college courses next year, you may want to apply for a Senior Waiver. Deadline for a first semester waiver is June 15, and for second semester, it is December 10. See page 34 of the Student Education Planning Guide or Mrs. Moore for more information.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">INTERESTED IN A SENIOR WAIVER? **

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Are you interested in a military career? Are you a top notch student in excellent physical condition? Would you like to receive an outstanding college education…FREE? If you answered “yes” to these questions, you may be interested in one of the United States Service Academies. You need to act now! Visit the website for the academy of interest to you to determine what you need to do in your junior year to prepare to apply to an academy. Also, most students who earn admission to academies participate in summer programs for those academies. (See SUMMER PROGRAMS below) Make sure to note the deadlines. Here are the websites: · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">West Point (Army) – [|www.usma.edu] · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Naval Academy – [|www.usna.edu] · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Air Force Academy – [|www.usafa.edu] · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Coast Guard Academy – [|www.uscga.edu] · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Merchant Marine Academy – [|www.usmma.edu]
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">INTERESTED IN A MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMY? **

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">At American Legion Boys/Girls State, participants are exposed to the U. S. Constitutional form of government. This one-week residential summer program will emphasize the necessity of students’ future participation as a citizen in the government process to insure continuing freedom and rights. If you are interested in participating in this leadership experience, visit the website and/or contact Dorothy Stryker at 410-398-4525. · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Boys State – [|www.mdlegion.org/boysstate.htm]. · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Girls State – [|www.girlsnation-auxilary.com/girlsstate.asp], [|www.alamd.org].
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">INTERESTED IN BOYS STATE/GIRLS STATE? **


 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">CECIL COLLEGE CLASSES AT BHS (Something to keep in mind) **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Upperclassmen **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">have the option of taking Cecil College classes right here at BHS! Classes are taught by Cecil College staff, and students must register with the college and pay the cost of tuition. Students must have at least a 2.0 GPA. Students with a 2.5 GPA or higher will receive a 50% discount on tuition. Classes typically meet two days per week.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 16pt;">Interested in Being a College Athlete?

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">1. Logging on to the Eligibility Center's new Web site at [|www.eligibilitycenter.org]; <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">2. Beginning the registration process. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Now is the time for college-bound student-athletes who are juniors to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center if they plan on participating in college athletics. Early registration promotes positive planning and involvement, bypasses the last-minute rush and helps college-bound student-athletes avoid issues that may delay their academic and amateur certifications. The registration process is easy and can be done by:
 * **<span style="color: white; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Applying to College ** ||


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">College-bound student-athletes need to apply to the college or university they are interested in attending. Some student-athletes think that because they are being recruited or because they have registered with the Eligibility Center, they do not need to apply for admission. Athletic eligibility and admission to a college or university are two separate processes and both need to be completed. ||

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">At American Legion Boys/Girls State, participants are exposed to the United States Constitutional form of government. This is a one-week residential summer program that will emphasize the necessity of students’ future participation as a citizen in the government process to insure continuing freedom and rights. If you are interested in participating in this leadership experience, please check out the websites below. · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Boys State – [|www.mdlegion.org/boysstate.htm]. · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Girls State – [|www.girlsnation-auxilary.com/girlsstate.asp], [|www.alamd.org].
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 18pt;">BOYS STATE/GIRLS STATE **