When a student applies to college in the fall of his/her senior year, high schools send the student’s six-semester transcript (freshman-junior year). During the senior year, a student is creating a post-high school college and career plan, but his/her grades still matter! Throughout this academic year, students need to narrow down their college and career choices and decide where to send applications.

🔲 Embrace Challenging Coursework Related to Future Career Aspirations No piece of the college application carries more weight than the academic record or transcript. Local Dual Credit, Statewide Dual Credit, Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment, and nationally recognized Industry Certification courses display a student’s intentional class selection and post-secondary preparedness. A student’s success in upper-level high school courses functions as a clear indicator of the skills required for post-secondary achievement.

🔲 Pursue Academic Excellence Senior year grades are sent to colleges at the end of the academic year. Admissions personnel can rescind a student’s collegiate offer based on senior year work. Grades matter!! If a student had a few marginal grades in 9th or 10th grade, improvement in the 11th and 12th grades show a college or employer how he/she learned how to overcome academic challenges.

🔲 Stay or Get Involved in Clubs and Activities that Spark Interest and Passions Students should create and/or update a high school resume, which highlights activities, talents, honors, leadership positions, interests, job experience, or community service.

🔲 Apply the Data Derived from Your YouScience Account The goal of YouScience is to help students uncover their natural abilities and find the career paths that will best utilize those talents. Students will play nine different brain games and have access to their account for ten years. From the brain games, YouScience provides a wealth of data related to careers, job outlook, and educational requirements.

🔲 Register for the ASVAB The ASVAB is not an intelligence test, but rather a test of one’s individual strengths and weaknesses in areas such as math, science, and reading, as well as one’s current knowledge of specific mechanical, electronic, automotive, and shop concepts. The ASVAB program helps students learn about their skills and interests, identify potential occupations, and discover all the pathways to career-field entry. We offer this test in the fall and spring.

🔲 Assume a Leadership Role in an Extracurricular Activity Leadership demonstrates commitment and motivation which are two qualities that admissions offices or future employers are seeking. Beyond elected positions, students should consider ways to more deeply contribute to organizations/our community.

🔲 Finalize Your a High School Resume Complete a list of activities, talents, honors, leadership positions, interests, and job experience and put it in a resume format. This resume will help in completing applications for scholarships, college, and job.

🔲 Take the ACT and/or SAT Keep track of ACT and SAT registration deadlines and test dates. College scholarships are often linked to GPA and ACT/SAT performance.

🔲 Consider College Majors Research careers that may spark interest in a specific major. Explore careers through YouScience and SchooLinks, then search for academic programming at post-secondary schools.

🔲 Visit Colleges (Fall) Use SchooLinks to explore colleges. Attend college or career fairs-Maryville College hosts a fall Blount County College Fair in September. MHS offers juniors and seniors two FREE excused college visit days, so take advantage of every opportunity to visit a college campus. Make an appointment to go on campus tours through the school’s admissions office -- preferably when the colleges are in session.

🔲 Apply to Colleges (Fall) Apply to post-high school programs in the fall of senior year. Have a trusted adult look over your application, personal statement, and essays before submission. Check your personal email address linked with applications regularly! Secure teacher recommendations, if applicable.

🔲 Complete the TN Promise Application (Fall) TN Promise is a mentoring and scholarship program for Tennessee high school graduates. The TN Promise is a last-dollar scholarship program to cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at our state’s 13 community colleges (PSTCC, Walters State, Roane State) or 27 colleges of applied technology (TCAT - Knoxville).

🔲 Student-Athletes: Educate Yourself on Eligibility and Marketing Register with the NCAA or NAIA, if playing a sport post-high school is realistic and/or feasible. Send your ACT score directly from ACT if you are a NCAA bound athlete.

🔲 Complete the FAFSA and Evaluate Your Financial Aid Offers (Spring) Cultivate a college list with your family’s financial contribution as a variable. Hold candid conversations about finances and post-high school aspirations.

🔲 Research Scholarships What are the financial aid policies of the colleges on your list? Do they offer merit based aid that does not consider need? Also, be sure to familiarize yourself with our MHS Canvas-Scholarship Info. Pay attention to specific schools' scholarship policies and deadlines!

🔲 Adhere to the May 1st Deadline Notify colleges of the intent to enroll or decline an admissions offer. Ensure that the TSAC account information account is accurate if the student plans to enroll at a state of Tennessee institution. Complete the MHS Senior Tasks as directed by the School Counseling team (request your final transcript, if applicable, update TSAC about your enrolling school, submit scholarship information, request any necessary documentation for post-secondary employment).

🔲 Enjoy Senior Events Attend MHS Senior Events! Celebrate with friends

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When a student applies to college in the fall of his/her senior year, high schools send the student’s six-semester transcript (freshman-junior year). During the senior year, a student is creating a post-high school college and career plan, but his/her grades still matter! Throughout this academic year, students need to narrow down their college and career choices and decide where to send applications.

🔲 Pursue Academic Excellence Senior year grades are sent to colleges at the end of the academic year. Admissions personnel can rescind a student’s collegiate offer based on senior year work. Grades matter!! If a student had a few marginal grades in 9th or 10th grade, improvement in the 11th and 12th grades show a college or employer how he/she learned how to overcome academic challenges.

🔲 Stay or Get Involved in Clubs and Activities that Spark Interest and Passions Students should create and/or update a high school resume, which highlights activities, talents, honors, leadership positions, interests, job experience, or community service.

🔲 Apply the Data Derived from Your YouScience Account The goal of YouScience is to help students uncover their natural abilities and find the career paths that will best utilize those talents. Students will play nine different brain games and have access to their account for ten years. From the brain games, YouScience provides a wealth of data related to careers, job outlook, and educational requirements.

🔲 Register for the ASVAB The ASVAB is not an intelligence test, but rather a test of one’s individual strengths and weaknesses in areas such as math, science, and reading, as well as one’s current knowledge of specific mechanical, electronic, automotive, and shop concepts. The ASVAB program helps students learn about their skills and interests, identify potential occupations, and discover all the pathways to career-field entry. We offer this test in the fall and spring.

🔲 Assume a Leadership Role in an Extracurricular Activity Leadership demonstrates commitment and motivation which are two qualities that admissions offices or future employers are seeking. Beyond elected positions, students should consider ways to more deeply contribute to organizations/our community.

🔲 Finalize Your a High School Resume Complete a list of activities, talents, honors, leadership positions, interests, and job experience and put it in a resume format. This resume will help in completing applications for scholarships, college, and job.

🔲 Take the ACT and/or SAT Keep track of ACT and SAT registration deadlines and test dates. College scholarships are often linked to GPA and ACT/SAT performance.

🔲 Consider College Majors Research careers that may spark interest in a specific major. Explore careers through YouScience and SchooLinks, then search for academic programming at post-secondary schools.

🔲 Visit Colleges (Fall) Use SchooLinks to explore colleges. Attend college or career fairs-Maryville College hosts a fall Blount County College Fair in September. MHS offers juniors and seniors two FREE excused college visit days, so take advantage of every opportunity to visit a college campus. Make an appointment to go on campus tours through the school’s admissions office -- preferably when the colleges are in session.

🔲 Apply to Colleges (Fall) Apply to post-high school programs in the fall of senior year. Have a trusted adult look over your application, personal statement, and essays before submission. Check your personal email address linked with applications regularly! Secure teacher recommendations, if applicable.

🔲 Complete the TN Promise Application (Fall) TN Promise is a mentoring and scholarship program for Tennessee high school graduates. The TN Promise is a last-dollar scholarship program to cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at our state’s 13 community colleges (PSTCC, Walters State, Roane State) or 27 colleges of applied technology (TCAT - Knoxville).

🔲 Student-Athletes: Educate Yourself on Eligibility and Marketing Register with the NCAA or NAIA, if playing a sport post-high school is realistic and/or feasible. Send your ACT score directly from ACT if you are a NCAA bound athlete.

🔲 Complete the FAFSA and Evaluate Your Financial Aid Offers (Spring) Cultivate a college list with your family’s financial contribution as a variable. Hold candid conversations about finances and post-high school aspirations.

🔲 Research Scholarships What are the financial aid policies of the colleges on your list? Do they offer merit based aid that does not consider need? Also, be sure to familiarize yourself with our MHS Canvas-Scholarship Info. Pay attention to specific schools' scholarship policies and deadlines!

🔲 Adhere to the May 1st Deadline Notify colleges of the intent to enroll or decline an admissions offer. Ensure that the TSAC account information account is accurate if the student plans to enroll at a state of Tennessee institution. Complete the MHS Senior Tasks as directed by the School Counseling team (request your final transcript, if applicable, update TSAC about your enrolling school, submit scholarship information, request any necessary documentation for post-secondary employment).

🔲 Enjoy Senior Events Attend MHS Senior Events! Celebrate with friends

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While a student’s college and career future seems far away, in 10th grade, individual students need to keep long-term goals in mind. A student’s current class selection and academic performance might be indicators of future job aspirations. Students need to stay abreast of current academic work, take challenging courses, and gain depth of commitment through extracurricular activities. As sophomores start navigating the college and career exploration process, they can always reach out to MHS School Counselors for direction.

🔲 Take Challenging Courses Success in challenging academic courses provides the college admissions and human resources personnel with the best evidence of ability to succeed in college and career. In fact, many admissions offices will remove elective course grades when they calculate a core high school GPA. Not only should students focus heavily on their academic coursework, but they should seek out career specific coursework as applicable. Employers may also look at an academic transcript when a student applies for jobs to see evidence of his/her work ethic and school performance.

🔲 Focus on Grades A student’s academic transcript displays his/her diligence in the classroom, as well as providing a glimpse into his/her self-discipline and time management skills.

🔲 Put Effort into Extracurricular Activities Focus more on the meaningful activities, but do not be afraid to try something new. Get a jumpstart on completing community service hours, and find activities that demonstrate passions.

🔲 Set up YouScience MHS students can access a personal YouScience Invitation to activate their accounts. The goal of YouScience is to help students uncover and understand their natural abilities and find the career paths that will best use those talents. Students will play nine different brain games and have access to their account for ten years.

🔲 Register for the ASVAB The ASVAB is not an intelligence test, but rather a test of one’s individual strengths and weaknesses in areas such as math, science, and reading, as well as one’s current knowledge of specific mechanical, electronic, automotive, and shop concepts. The ASVAB program helps students learn about their skills and interests, identify potential occupations, and discover all the pathways to career-field entry. We offer this test in the fall and spring.

🔲 Create a High School Resume Complete a list of activities, talents, honors, leadership positions, interests, and job experience and put it in a resume format. This will save time and help students remember everything in the future for scholarship, college, and/or job applications.

🔲 Consider College Majors or Potential Career Fields Research careers that may spark interest in a specific major. Job shadow within these professions. Explore careers through YouScience and SchooLinks.

🔲 Keep Reading This is good advice for any grade level. The more students read, the stronger a student’s verbal, writing and critical thinking abilities will be. Reading beyond homework will help students perform better on the ACT, ASVAB, SAT, and in college. Reading improves vocabulary and exposes students to new ideas and higher level concepts.

🔲 Research and Visit Colleges & Potential Employers Use SchooLinks to explore colleges. Attend college or career fairs-Maryville College hosts a fall Blount County College Fair in September. MHS offers juniors and seniors two FREE excused college visit days, so take advantage of every opportunity to visit a college campus. Make an appointment to go on campus tours through the school’s admissions office -- preferably when the colleges are in session.

🔲 Have a Summer Plan There’s no formula to what defines a productive summer, but students should make sure they do something that leads to personal growth and valuable experiences. Research summer enrichment programs at colleges, internships, volunteer opportunities, camps, and summer jobs.

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