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Why your
child's high school GPA is important
High school grade point average (GPA) and
success within a college preparatory curriculum are the most critical indicators of college
success, admissions counselors agree.
Why?
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The college preparatory curriculum
establishes an appropriate foundation for college course work.
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A solid GPA in a college preparatory curriculum demonstrates to potential colleges and universities that a student is capable of being academically successful in challenging courses.
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A sound GPA in a high school college preparatory curriculum demonstrates that a student has initiative and persistence.
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Completion of a college preparatory curriculum with
an appropriate GPA maximizes a student's possibility of gaining admission to the institution of
his or her choice.
What you
should know about pre-college tests such as the SAT
Admissions counselors recommend pre-college testing in the
high school student’s junior year.
What is pre-college testing?
The SAT and ACT are the most common standardized tests used by
U.S. colleges and universities. Scores on these tests are
used to evaluate a student’s eligibility for admission to college, as well as for scholarships. The tests consist of verbal, math and writing sections.
Your child probably receives training for these tests in high school, but most students find it beneficial to receive additional preparation for this exam. This is particularly important with increased competition at the college level.
How can you help?
Numerous books and Web sites are available to
help you and your child prepare for these tests. A few examples:
How can CSU help?
CSU's
Continuing Education
division offers review courses that will help your child prepare for both the verbal and math portion of the SAT.
CSU's
Testing Center is a test site for the SAT and offers relevant
information.
For more information on study classes at CSU,
call 706-507-8070 or visit
Continuing Education online.
What
your child should be studying before college
Your child should
follow a basic college prep course of study to help ensure admission into
college. It is important that you are aware of your child’s
course selection beginning in middle or junior high school. High school course requirements will vary according to each
college.
An important tip for college success: Taking AP (Advanced Placement) courses in high school
will better prepare a student for college courses. AP
programs allow high school students to study college-level
subjects and receive advanced placement and-or credit upon
entering college. Parents should meet with school counselors and
also attend high school college preparation meetings when making
decisions about these programs.
Basic guidelines on what your child should be studying:
Middle school or junior high
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Math
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English
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Science
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History
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Geography
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Foreign
language
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Computer
science
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The Arts
High school
Minimum of four English courses, chosen from:
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Advanced
Composition
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Literature
(American, English, & World)
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Grammar and
Usage
Minimum of four mathematics
courses:
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Algebra (if
not completed in eighth grade)
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Geometry
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Algebra II
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Advanced Math
beyond Algebra II
Minimum of three
social studies courses, chosen from:
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Geography
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U.S. History
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World History
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Citizenship
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Economics
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American
Government
Minimum of three
science courses (including at least one lab), chosen from:
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Biology
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Earth Science
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Chemistry
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Physics
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Physical
Science
Minimum of two
courses in the same foreign language, chosen from:
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French
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Spanish
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German
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Latin
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Russian
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Japanese
Minimum of one
visual or performing arts course, chosen from:
Minimum of one to
three electives, chosen from:
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Economics
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Psychology
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Statistics
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Computer
Science
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Communication
Activities
outside the classroom are also recommended for college
preparation, including:
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Participation in school clubs,
student newspaper, athletics, musical activities, art, drama
- Skills
instruction in computer
technology and-or typing
- Reading fiction,
non-fiction, magazines and newspapers
- Summer jobs and other work experience
- Tutoring, volunteering and other forms of community
service
What
you should know about paying for college
College can be expensive!
But help is available. Early preparation is recommended.
Typical costs include:
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Tuition: The charge for courses your child will take.
Costs are generally based on the number of hours per course. For example, some courses are three hours long while others may be one hour. Each college usually posts
a chart of tuition charges.
Warning! Be sure to check the difference
between in-state tuition and out-of-state tuition. In-state
tuition is charged if you are a resident of the state where
your child applies to attend school. Out-of-state tuition is higher and can be a surprise!
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Fees: These are the charges for health services, athletics, technology, parking, etc.
Plus, many courses, such as science labs, charge extra fees
because of extra costs.
If your child plans to live on campus, you will need to be prepared for these expenses:
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Room
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Meals
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Books
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Personal expenses
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Transportation
Need to find help?
Multiple sources of financial aid are
available. Programs are based on academic merit, financial need
and other criteria. Programs are offered on the federal, state and university level.
General categories of financial aid include:
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Grants: Aid that does not have to be repaid, usually awarded to a student for reasons other than achievement. One example is the Pell Grant, awarded only to students who have not received a bachelor’s or professional degree.
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Scholarship: A type of aid that is awarded to a
student based on academic merit or achievement. Scholarships
do not have to be repaid. It's important that your child is active in your community while in high school. A solid resume with community and school involvement plays a key factor in scholarship award decisions.
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Parent and student loans: Need-based or not based on need-based.
A variety of lenders make loans to students
and parents.
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Student employment: On-campus student assistant jobs that can help with finances. Students should visit the school’s career center for more information about available
jobs.
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Federal Work Study: Jobs for undergraduate and graduate students
with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay for educational expenses.
Payment depends on when the student applies, their level of need and the funding of the school.
The sooner students begin the process of
applying for financial aid, the better their chance of receiving funds in a timely manner. For more helpful information on understanding financial aid, estimating the costs of college and how to apply, go to
the Georgia
College 411 Web site.
How you can
help your
child consider career options
It's not unusual for college students to be undeclared or undecided about a major or career.
Plus, most freshmen who believe they have decided on a major
will change their minds. Strategies for strengthening
your child’s ideas about a major or career:
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Encourage your child to volunteer at businesses or companies
that offer careers in their area of interest. For example, if
he or she is interested in being a nurse or doctor, a great
start would be a visit to the local hospital or a doctor’s
office.
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Talk about careers while your child is watching television or reading books about occupations.
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Talk to your children about their favorite
academic subjects and how they relate to careers.
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Explore
Georgia College 411, a great place for career exploration
that will help your child match occupations with academic skills,
interests, likes and dislikes.
Important concepts to remember:
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Students are not choosing what they have to do for the rest of their lives!
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There is no “perfect” or “right” major or career.
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There is no magical test that will help students choose a major.
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Career exploration is a process. Students shouldn't expect to choose a major
or career overnight.
Process for choosing a career:
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Step 1: Research, explore and collect information about self,
careers, majors and minors.
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Step 2: Evaluate information and make decisions.
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Step 3: Take action and re-evaluate each decision.
How you can visit and tour campuses
When should I take my child to visit
colleges?
A campus tour can give you first-hand experience with a school. You
should get a chance to meet with
professors, staff and current students. Most colleges send
invitations to students in their junior and senior year for
college visitation days. College Web sites are another easy way
to find out about visitation days and, in most cases, you can
register to attend such days online.
What if I want to visit CSU?
There are two ways to visit CSU: on a campus tour or during
Visitation Day.
Campus tour (Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. or 2 p.m.)
Each tour begins with the student and parents meeting with a
representative from recruitment. Families take a walking tour of
campus and an optional tour of our downtown RiverPark campus.
Please contact us for a tour at least one week in
advance.
Register online or call 706-507-8800. Schwob School of
Music prospects should call the School of Music at 706-649-7225.
Visitation Day
CSU organizes three visitation days each year for high school
students and their parents. These visits give prospective
students the opportunity to tour the campus, meet current CSU
students and speak with professors in their area of
interest. The dates for the 2008-2009 academic year are:
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Register
online or call 706-507-8800.
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