1. SANDRA DAY
O’CONNOR

2. T HE O’C ONNOR H IGH S CHOOL
C OUNSELING O FFICE
COUNSELOR ASSIGNMENTS
 Head Counselor Ivette Bruno
 A – Cla Janelle Appleby
 Cle- Gi Debbie Harding
 Gla – Le Cindy Stanford
 Li – O Kimberly Schmidt
 P – Se Debra Roland
 Sh – Z Kristina Holder
 Counselor Intern Elizabeth Jablonski
 Career Center Technician Elsa Cruz
 Academic Dean Connie Bridges

3. S PECIAL G UESTS
 Col. Payne (USAF Ret.)/Capt. Stacy Lange –
Military Academy
 Larry Ynman – Café College
 Sarah Cardenas – OC Graduate
 Brittany Haby – OC Graduate
 College & University Representatives
 Military Representatives
 Kaplan College

4. D UAL C REDIT – VS - AP
Dual Credit Advanced Placement
 Student must qualify  Students placed by teacher
recommendation
 Application is now open
 College level course work
 Go to www.applytexas.org
 Student encouraged to
 Deadline to complete take AP exam in May
application- Feb. 10, 2012
 3, 4, 5 score- most
 Test scores must be sent colleges/universities will
directly to NVC from award credit for the
Agency course. Check with the
college for details.
 Additional paperwork may
be required  Course taken at HS
 Courses taken at HS or NVC

5. PANTHER T RACKS
N EWSLETTER

6. J UNIOR /S ENIOR G UIDEBOOK
 2 year booklet
 Admissions
 Financial Aid
 Scholarships
 NCAA
 SAT, ACT, and test prep information
 Popular Websites

7. JUNIOR PLANNING CALENDAR
PG. 7

8. J UNIOR P LANNING
C ALENDAR

9. C OMPUTING A
G RADE P OINT AVERAGE
P G . 23
Freshman Year Sophomore Year
1st Sem. 2nd Sem. Honors Pts. 1st Sem. 2nd Sem. Honors Pts.
91 85 92 90
90 92 81 79 5 + 5 = 10
84 80 5 + 5 = 10 93 91
81 75 5 + 5 = 10 96 94
88 86 87 85 5 + 5 = 10
97 95 84 80
531 513 20 533 519 20
Total Total Total Pts. Total # of GPA as of
Freshman Sophomore For Both Courses to Current
Yr. Yr Years Taken Date
+ Honors + Honors
Pts. Pts.
531 + 513 533 + 519 1064 + ÷24 89
+10 + 10 + 10 + 10 1072
1064 1072 2136

10. G RADE AVERAGING FACTS
 If you fail a course, your semester averages are
computed in your grade point average (GPA).
 If you pass a course and repeat it for strength, the
highest averages will be used in the GPA.
 Averages in courses you do not get credit for are not
computed in the GPA. (For example, athletics, after the
two credit maximum has been reached.)

11. W HAT O PTIONS D O I H AVE ?
P G . 24
•Work

12. C OLLEGE V ISITATIONS
 Visit several college and
universities that you are
interested in during
second semester and
summer.
 Check with Mrs. Cruz in
the Career Center for
college campus visit
dates and college
representatives visiting
OHS
 Why visit a college or
university?

13. T HE C OUNSELOR ’ S L ETTER
OF R ECOMMENDATION
Help the counselor write a powerful letter of recommendation
for you by supplying the completed:
 Student Brag Sheet
 Parent Brag Sheet
 Teacher Evaluation Sheets
 Updated Resume
“The Packet” is available online on the
OHS Counselor Webpage
http://oconnorcounseling.weebly.com/

14. I MPORTANT I NFORMATION
 Deadlines for colleges and universities are
changing. Ex: UT-Austin and TX A&M. Students
will have to use 6th semester GPA for admissions.
 Due to new TREx (Texas Records Exchange)
system…Make sure to send your SAT and ACT
scores directly to the university you are applying
to.
 New Top 10% Rule (Senate Bill 175)- UT only
 Class of 2013 = Top 8%

15. SAT/ACT T ESTS
 SAT/ACT are college entrance exams that students are
required to take to be admitted into a 4-year university
 Sign up for tests during spring 2012
 Fee waivers are available for students who qualify for
financial need
 Visit with Mrs. Cruz in the career center for registration
information
 Prepare for exam by using free SAT/ACT prep websites
or fee-based prep classes

16. SAT/ACT T EST D ATES

17. H OW TO P REPARE FOR
THE T EST
 Read the preparation booklets
 Study and understand the test
directions
 Take the sample tests included in
the preparation booklets
 Review PSAT Test
 See Panther Tracks for free websites

18. T HE S ERVICE A CADEMIES
P G . 62
 West Point Academy
 Naval Academy
 Air Force Academy
 Coast Guard Academy
 Merchant Marine Academy
Be on the lookout for “Academy Day”
@ USAA in March 2012

19. WANT TO PLAY COLLEGE
SPORTS?
PG. 46

20. R ESOURCES B EYOND OC
 Financial Aid
 College Applications
 One on One Advising
 Workshops to fit your needs

21. S CHOLARSHIP S CAMS
H OW TO TELL THE GOOD
FROM THE BAD !
Scammer: Legitimate Service:
 You’ve won an award for  Sends information about
which you didn’t apply. awards when you
request it.
 Does not supply valid
contact information.  Makes contact
information available
 Guarantees you will win upon request.
an award.
 DOES NOT guarantee
 Requires personal you will win an award.
financial information
(credit card numbers,  Should not direct you to
bank account number) a fee-based provider
to “hold” a scholarship. because they know info
is available for free.
Scam Site - www.fafsa.com
Legitimate site – www.fafsa.gov

22. J UNIOR T IPS
 Get started NOW!
 Sign up and take SAT/ACT in Spring 2012
 Write essays now. Go to
www.applytexas.org, view and complete
the essay topics. Practice and fine tune
them. Essays are IMPORTANT!
 Write or update your resume. Update
current activities, awards, leadership
positions, etc.

23. Q&A