When you are a junior or senior, the ECO volunteers can set up an job shadow, which is a one-on-one visit with an individual in a specific field to find out information about a career you are interested in. They can also administer career tests and inventories to help you sort out your goals. You can also spend time by yourself looking through the books, pamphlets, and computer information ECO has to offer.

When can I use ECO?

The ECO office (Room #14) is open every day. You can make an appointment to come in during a study hall or other arrangements can be made. ECO is open to all students, and juniors will come to the ECO office at least twice. You do not have to be "called in" to ECO. You may make appointments to come in at any time.

Why should I use ECO's resources?

There is a wide variety of career options available, and your choices should not be limited to those you know about now. The more facts you have, the better choices you can make.

Guidance Website - OnLine Guidance Office Resources -www.schs.org/guidance/

We have an exciting collection of online resources available for students' use during study hall and/or at home via the internet. These resources are available to you whatever your plans are after high school. It gives you an opportunity to research careers that match your values, skills, interests and personality style, get information on military, look for jobs, practice for the ACT or PSAT tests, and much more. Some sites include detailed descriptions of any career that you might imagine as well as college, scholarship, and financial aid databases. If you would like help navigating these resources, please contact a counselor at South.

WHAT CAN I DO IN HIGH SCHOOL TO PREPARE FOR COLLEGE

It usually takes students a semester or two to adjust to college. You can hasten that adjustment by preparing yourself now--in high school--with a solid academic program, good study habits, and solid learning skills.

What Courses Should I Take?

"Take the most rigorous courses you can possibly handle in high school", advised the director of admissions of a private university in Texas. "Take four years of English, all the mathematics and science courses your school offers, and do not neglect foreign languages."

"If you do this, you will be far better prepared for college than someone who didn't," she said. "The stronger your high school curriculum, the better your study skills, and therefore the better your preparation to succeed in college."

"College admissions counselors want to see how well you respond to challenge. They don't want you to slide by on easy courses," she said.

A record of consistently high performance is good, but improvement counts in college admissions, too. If you did not do well in grades 9 and 10, don't give up. Work hard to improve your performance in grades 11 and 12, to show that you can succeed when you apply yourself.

What If I Hate Math?

Today, math avoidance will foreclose or limit careers in many fields. In addition to those in health, science, and technology, it will also limit your ability to understand what is happening in the world and in your community. Math is part of our language. It is the only language in which we can express certain important ideas and bodies of information. Hate it or not, every student needs to learn as much mathematics as he or she can.

If you are weak in math, ask a math teacher for advice: Is there an introductory or summer course you can take? A basic text you can study? A software program you can use?

What Skills Will I Need?

The courses you select today can provide a solid foundation for college, but success in college, as in high school, requires certain skills.

Reading skills are important. One admissions director advises high school students to "turn off the TV and read for an hour every night." To get the most benefit from your reading, select materials that will stretch your knowledge by introducing you to new words and concepts.

While you read, make an effort to increase your speed and comprehension. Consider taking a speed-reading course if necessary.

Writing skills, too, are essential in college. The quality of your work and your chances for success will improve greatly if you can write with skill.

Before you start a writing assignment, develop a brief and logical outline of what you want to say. When you write, use precise, clear language. Avoid cliches.

Research abilities are important also. In college you must know how to use library services, to synthesize information, and to prepare an outline.

Computer literacy helps too. Take a word processing course and become proficient with computers in high school.

What Other Skills Will I Need?

In college, you will have to take good notes in your lecture courses--notes that make sense days and months later. To improve your notetaking, try to do more listening than writing. Wait until you have a complete thought; then summarize it in your own words.

To reduce the pressure of college, learn how to manage your time now. Develop a schedule for your regular class assignments, and schedule reviews at regular intervals weeks and days before a test. As soon as you receive a major assignment, break it into manageable tasks and develop a schedule for each one. Make use of an assignment notebook such as the Agenda.

What About Extracurricular Activities, Volunteer Work, and Jobs?

Don't neglect school and community activities in your desire to prepare for college work. In addition to scholarships, colleges look for evidence of leadership, maturity, and special talents. Do what you can to increase the intensity and quality of your participation in extracurricular activities, summer programs, and volunteer activities.

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Getting admitted to the college of your choice takes some planning and preparation. It is a four year process that includes work in each of the following areas:

* Students seeking admission to highly competitive institutions should consider as many Advanced Placement (AP) classes as possible; complete 4 years of the same foreign language; and pursue advanced levels of coursework in science.

** Like every expectation, there are exceptions and if you have questions about specific admissions policies it is importatnt to contact the admissions office of the school(s) to which you are applying.

*** Factors such as your grade point average, college test scores, special abilities, extra curricular activities, community service, and work experience are also important for college admission.

Academic Pin and Letter

An academic letter is awarded to the student who:

An academic pin is awarded to the student who meets the above criteria for two or more additional semesters.

These awards are presented at the Academic Breakfast in the spring of your junior and senior year.

ACT Scores

The American College Test is required for college admission (with some exceptions). Scores range from 1-36, and the average score at South Christian last year was 2. The test is usually taken for the first time in February or April of the junior year and may be taken as many times as you wish.

Class Rank

Class rank is determined by a student's GPA. The student with the highest g.p.a. in his/her class is ranked number one. The student with the lowest GPA. in his class is ranked 172nd (or however many students are in the class). College and scholarship sources usually ask for class rank.

Credits

South Christian requires 22 credits for graduation. 16½ or 17 are required credits (depending on whether you fulfill your fine arts requirement through Art or Music) and the rest are electives. Most students graduate with more credits than are required. Credits are as follows:
9 week class = ¼ credit
Semester class (18 weeks) = ½ credit
Every other day class for one year = ½ credit

Electives

These are classes not specifically required by South Christian but offered to fulfill the 22 credits needed for graduation.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

The GPA is determined by dividing the total number of honor points by the number of credits taken.
A = 4.0
A- = 3.67
B+ = 3.33
B = 3.0
B- = 2.67
C+ = 2.33
C = 2.0
C- = 1.67
D+ = 1.33
D = 1.0
D- = 0.67
E = 0.0

Since students are applying to colleges in the fall of the senior year, the grades from freshman through junior years are often the ones used to determine college admission and scholarships. However, if the first semester senior year grades show improvement, the new transcript can be send to colleges for consideration. Additionally, all colleges request that a final transcript of grades be send in June of the senior year.

President's Education Award for Educational Excellence

This is awarded the spring of the senior year to students who have at least a 3.5 GPA and who achieve in the 85^th percentile or better in math or reading on the ACT or SAT. This award originates from the U.S. Department of Education.

Transcript

This is a written record of all the classes you have taken in high school with the grade you received in each class. It also includes cumulative GPA and standardized test scores. Colleges request a copy of this when you apply, and after you graduate from South Christian, your final transcript is sent to the college you attend. Copies of your transcript are kept in the Main Office.

Educational Development Plan (EDP)

The Educational Development Plan (EDP) is a form designed to assist students in exploring careers. The EDP is one tool among many available for your use as you continue to reflect on the next step following your graduation from high school. Our hope is that the information on this sheet will direct and focus your attention throughout the time you spend as a student at South.