The responsibilities of each party are outlined herein and the corresponding signature assures acceptance of responsibility of each party.

The student agrees to:

• Earn an Advanced Studies Diploma with a Governor's Seal;

  • To receive a Governor's seal, students must:

    • Complete the requirements for the Advanced Studies Diploma;

    • Earn a "B" average or higher; and

    • Successfully complete at least one Advanced Placement course (AP), international Baccalaureate (TB), or one college-level course for credit

• Earn at least 15 transferable college credits while enrolled in high school. College credits toward completion of this Agreement will be considered earned by:

  • Completing dual enrollment/dual credit courses and earning a "C" or better in the courses

  • Completing advanced placement courses Le., AP, Cambridge and

  • Scoring a "3" or higher on the AP examinations or

  • Scoring a "D" or better on the Cambridge examinations

  • Earning college credits by passing College Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations

  • Completing college-level courses and documenting credit awarded

• Apply and be accepted to a college or university

   

Student Signature                                                                                           Date                                                                    

The parent/guardian agrees to:

• Support and monitor student's academic work and progress in school, particularly as it relates to fulfillment of the requirements for the Governor's Early College Scholars Agreement.

I understand that the actual number of transferable college credits awarded depends on the criteria of the admitting college or university.

Parent/Guardian Signature                                                                          Date                                                                 

The high school agrees to: 

• Provide the student opportunities to access college-level courses and/or advanced placement courses needed to fulfill this agreement.

• Provide the counseling services needed to fulfill the requirements of the Governor's Early College Scholars Agreement, including assisting students in developing a program of study.

• Provide the Virginia Department of Education with data regarding participation and completion of the Governor's Early College Scholars program.

High School Principal Signature                                                                    Date                                                                       

High School Guidance Counselor                                                                 Date                                                                      

College Admission Testing

The SAT and ACT are college entrance examinations used by colleges and universities to assess a student's readiness for and potential to succeed in college. Almost all colleges require either scores from the SAT or the ACT; some colleges also require the SAT Subject tests as part of the admissions process.

SAT: The SAT test measures reasoning skills important to college success and helps colleges predict a student's college readiness and ability to succeed. It is composed of a reading and math test, and an optional writing test.

ACT: The ACT assesses general educational development and ability to complete college level work. Four skill areas are covered: English, math, reading and science.  An optional  writing test is included.

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language-  College  admissions  test  taken  by  students whose first language is not English.

AP: Advanced Placement- A placement test administered in May of each year. A qualifying score may allow students to waive and/or receive credit for the subject. Colleges vary in usage and score qualification.

ASVAB: Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery- this test provides academic and occupational composite scores, often taken by students interested in the military. However, there is no military obligation. This test is administered free once each year at the high school.

College Bound Athletes Ncaa Eligibility

Students who want to play Division I or II sports in college must meet the NCAA requirements. Students must register online by the end of junior year. If you qualify for free/reduced lunch, you may qualify for a fee waiver for NCAA registration

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CRITERIA WHAT DO COLLEGES LOOK FOR?

Most admissions officers will consider the following factors in the admissions process. Individual col­ leges, however, will differ in how this information is weighted and evaluated

• Grade Point Average (GPA) Class Rank

• Difficulty of Curriculum SAT I or ACT Scores

• Curricular & Extracurricular Activities

• Honors and Awards Recommendations Personal Essays

• Interviews and/or Audition

If you are aiming for admission to a top school, keep these factors in mind:

I. As the pool of applicants gets more competitive and the geographic fields enlarge, the competition is keener and the chances of success are statistically more difficult.

2.    Colleges would prefer to see slightly lower grades in a rigorous program, including advanced, AP, and Dual Enrollment courses, over straight A's in less challenging courses.

3.    High school counselors and college admissions directors stress intensity of commitment, a common success factor after grades and test scores are taken into consideration.

4.    The top schools are looking for a student who has exhibited a passionate interest in one or more areas and has excelled in those areas, rather than a long list of membership in clubs and activities.

5.    Admissions officers look for applicants who handle responsibility and have moved ahead in the cho­sen field of interest to positions of leadership and responsibility. Dedication, responsibility, and achievement  are a must.     -

6.    lf a top college is your goal, start early to excel in academics and school and community activities. Select an area of genuine interest and become passionately involved.

Take challenging classes and keep your grades up.

COMMUNITY/JUNIOR COLLEGE AS AN OPTION

Many students start their college studies at one of Virginia's 23 community colleges that offer several educational options.

I.    Transfer degree program: Attending community college for two years may allow you to transfer to a four-year college or university. Your community college credits will transfer. You will enter your four­ year college as a junior, and you will graduate with that college's diploma.

2.       Associate's degree:. You may chose to earn a two-year Associate's degree in a particular field of study.  Examples include Accounting, Culinary Arts, Nursing, Information  Systems Technology, Computer and Electronics Technology. A two-year degree may be all that is needed for your chosen career field.

3.       Community College Transfer Grant Program: The State of Virginia is offering a grant to students wanting to transfer from a community college to a four-year college. This grant will pay up to $2,000 per year of the cost of tuition to a four-year institute of higher education.  To obtain this  grant the student must have earned an associate degree at a Virginia community college, enrolled in a Virginia public or private college by the following fall, applied for financial aid, and maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. See your counselor for more information.

THE PSAT

The PSAT/NMQT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Qualifying Test) is given each October nationwide. Sophomores and juniors may take the test at their high schools for a small fee. It is great practice for the SAT, and juniors who take the test may qualify to enter National Merit Scholarship Corporation programs.

Results are returned in December with valuable feedback to help students prepare for the SAT. A question-by-question review of answers enables students to see what answers they got right and to refer to the original test booklet for additional practice. Students also receive a personalized statement of specific academic skills that need attention, along with suggested steps to improve those skills.

When students register to take the PSAT, they receive a Student Bulletin that contains useful information, including a full-length practice test. Students should review the bulletin and take the practice test to be sure they understand the directions and know the types of questions that will be asked.

Students can receive admissions and financial aid information from colleges, universities, and scholarship programs if they request it on the PSAT form. Students will also be able to use the College Board's new online career, major, and college exploration website.

Note: The PSAT results are not sent to colleges and universities. Taking the PSAT, even if the student does not do well, will not hurt the student's chances of getting into college.

(Adapted from College Counseling Sourcebook 2004.)