Seniors

  • Graduation Information

    Cap and gown fees (also known as senior dues) cover cap, gown, stole, tassel, diploma cover, and other costs associated with graduation and senior activities.  All seniors participating in the graduation ceremony must order a cap and gown from 3rd Ascent.  Seniors cannot use a cap and gown from a previous year because the company that makes them sometimes changes the color blocking during production.

    You may order directly from the 3rd Ascent website at https://3rdascent.com/. 

    Ms. Jeanne Scholle is your school contact person for cap and gowns. Ms. Scholle is available at 706-357-5200 ext. 17432 or by email at schollej@clarke.k12.ga.us.  Students may stop by her classroom before or after school (Room 184-West Wing).

     

    Senior Post-secondary Planning Information

    Post-secondary Planning Presentation

    This presentation was shared with all 4th year students through their senior ELA classes in the fall.

    CCHS Counseling Senior Newsletter (Fall 2019)

    This newsletter provides resources, dates, and information important to seniors.

     

    Senior Timeline for College Admissions

    March-October (Junior/Senior Years):

    • Complete college admissions tests (SAT/ACT/ACCUPLACER). Register to take SAT subject area tests if required by the colleges you are considering. Contact Ms. Savage (savagek@clarke.k12.ga.us) or Mr. Smallwood (smallwoodg@clarke.k12.ga.us) in the counseling office if you need assistance with a fee waiver.

    Summer:

    • Complete college research and visit colleges.
    • Narrow college choices to those to which you want to apply (5-10).
    • Establish a resume which includes co-curricular activities, honors/awards, leadership, and community service hours. Provide this resume to your school counselor and others who may write your recommendations.

    August-September:

    • Register to retake admissions exams if necessary.
    • Request appropriate letters of recommendation if they are required by the school to which you are applying. Give your recommenders at least 2 weeks’ notice (3 weeks preferably).
    • Draft scholarship application essays. 
    • Attend college fairs, such as PROBE, and speak to representatives of the colleges in which you are interested.
    • Arrange fall college visits.
    • Meet with your school counselor for your one-on-one Senior Meeting.
    • Not going to college? Meet with a military recruiter.
    • Create FAFSA IDs for you and your parents.

    October-November:

    • Complete admissions applications by college deadlines (especially applications intended for early decision or scholarships).
    • Research each school to see if an institutional financial aid form or the CSS Profile is required in addition to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
    • Complete and submit your FAFSA application as soon as possible. Do not wait to be accepted by colleges to complete financial aid forms! You may complete your FAFSA starting October 1st at fafsa.ed.gov. 
    • If you are interested in the military, take the ASVAB.  This test is offered at CCHS in November and February each year.

    December-January:

    • Enjoy winter break!
    • Consider visiting any schools you’ve not seen yet.
    • Continue to research and apply for private scholarships.
    • Review your Student Aid Report (SAR) which gives you an overview of the information you completed on your FAFSA.

    February-March: 

    • Students will begin to receive admissions decisions from colleges though they may arrive as late as April 1. 

    March-April:

    • Review college acceptance letters and financial award letters.
    • If necessary, make an appointment with your school counselor or college adviser to discuss your final college decision.
    • If you have not visited the schools you are considering, this is the last chance before you have to make a decision.

    April-May:

    • Decide which school you will attend and inform that school of your choice. You may be asked to submit a deposit at that time.
    • Send your SAR to that school if they require it.
    • Decline any other offers of admission in writing. 

    May:

    • Enjoy the rest of your senior year!
    • Make housing plans.
    • Be sure to request that your final transcript is sent to the college you will be attending (all seniors will be asked to complete a final transcript request form at graduation practice).

     

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How are Honor Graduates determined?

    Any senior with a cumulative numeric average of 90 or above at the end of the 3rd quarter grading period will be recognized as an Honor Graduate.  Honor graduate status is determined using transcript grade point average plus grades at the senior year March progress report.  This policy is documented in the CCSD Program of Study.

     

    FAFSA

    FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid.  FAFSA is a financial aid application that every student should complete.  The FAFSA is used to determine if students qualify for need-based financial aid at college (work-study, Pell Grant, low-interest federal student loans, and institutional need-based financial aid).  The FAFSA is also used as one of the entry ways for applying for HOPE programs.  There is no fee for completing this application (beware because some sites try to trick you into thinking they're the official site but charge a fee).  Our College Adviser will schedule FAFSA Nights and Apply to College events throughout the year and she is also available to schedule one-on-one meetings to assist families with FAFSA completion.  If you have special circumstances that you need to discuss, please reach out for assistance.

     

    When will I hear back from my colleges regarding acceptance/financial aid?

    Some colleges will say directly that they will notify students regarding acceptance on a specific date. May 1st tends to be a common date. Others have "rolling" admissions, which means they will accept or deny a student as soon as they have received all materials and have had time to review the file to make a decision. The key is to be patient. Colleges are receiving thousands of applications and need to consider each one in turn.

     

     

    How do I sign up for SAT or ACT?

    To register for the SAT, you will need to create an account at www.collegeboard.org and follow the prompts for registration.  To register for the ACT, you will need to create an account at www.act.org and follow the prompts for registration.  Students may be eligible for test fee waivers. Contact Ms. Savage (savagek@clarke.k12.ga.us) or Mr. Smallwood (smallwoodg@clarke.k12.ga.us) in the counseling office for assistance.

     

    What is my GPA?

    Your GPA is listed on your official CCSD transcript on a 100 point scale and on the 4.0 scale.

     

    How do I check my HOPE GPA and how is it calculated?

    CCSD does not calculate your HOPE GPA and this is not listed on your high school transcript.  Your HOPE GPA is calculated by the Georgia Student Finance Commission and is finalized in June after graduation.  Your HOPE GPA is calculated using the grades in your academic classes only (no electives).  Grades in your academic classes are converted to a 4.0 scale (A=4, B=3, C=2, F=0).  For AP & Dual Enrollment courses, HOPE removes the 10 additional bonus points that CCSD adds, converts those grades on a 4.0 scale, and then adds .5 quality points.  For example: If your final transcript grade in an AP class was 95:  95 -10 = 85 = 3.0 + .5 = 3.5. Your HOPE GPA does not include courses taken in middle school for high school credit in the HOPE GPA calculation.

    You can view your HOPE GPA now by logging in to your GAFutures account.

     

    CCHS College Adviser

    Mr. Gabriel Smallwood is our full-time College Adviser through the Georgia College Advising Corps Program. Mr. Smallwood is available to assist students with the college admissions process and other post-secondary planning. He can assist with college applications, financial aid, scholarships, college entrance examinations, fee waiver eligibility, resume building, and mock-interviews. He also coordinates special programs for CCHS students including college visits, our annual college and career fair, financial aid workshops, and more!

    Follow the College Advising Instagram @CCHSCollegeBound for updates and information.  Seniors are also encouraged to sign up for senior Remind updates by texting cen2020 to 81010.  Contact Mr. Smallwood at smallwoodg@clarke.k12.ga.us.

    The Georgia College Advising Corps is a university-based, grant-funded near-peer initiative that seeks to help more Georgia students from low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented backgrounds attend college. It is sponsored by the University of Georgia Institute of Higher Education and the Watson-Brown Foundation, Inc. Recent college graduates serve as college access advisers in selected public high schools throughout the state of Georgia. Working alongside the school's counseling staff, advisers assist students with navigating the college admissions process.