Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.

1. How are parents kept informed about important dates and deadlines?
2. How often can I expect my child to meet with his counselor?
3. How does the counselor help with the college selection/ app. process?
4. What are colleges/universities looking for other than grades?
5. What about agencies who promise scholarship money for a fee?

How are parents kept informed about important dates and deadlines?

Parents and students can: 
(1) Refer to the Announcements link on the Student Services website.  
(2) Student Services publishes an UPDATES page at the beginning of each 
    month. These are available in the Main Office and in the Student Services 
    Office.  This is also available on the Student Services website.
(3) There is a bulletin board for seniors just outside the Student Services 
    Office with scholarship listings, open house dates, special programs and
    more.  
(4) There are also links for various websites concerning college, 
    career, scholarships, and the SAT and ACT that have this information.

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How often can I expect my child to meet with his counselor?

The counselors have an open door policy.  Students can request to see their 
counselor by filling out a form at Mrs. Stout's desk.  Seniors are required 
to meet with their counselor for a senior meeting to discuss plans for after 
graduation.

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How does the counselor help with the college selection/ app. process?

There is a college fair each year in early Fall for New Hanover County at 
UNCW to help students get familar with various colleges. Counselors can help 
students narrow down their search by providing information about colleges, 
such as programs of study available, GPA requirements, SAT/ACT score 
requirements, etc. in order to meet their needs.  Counselors also make sure 
students have all of the necessary materials to apply to the college/s of 
their choice.  The Career Center has a file with applications and other 
information for colleges.

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What are colleges/universities looking for other than grades?

Most colleges are looking for students who are a good fit for that particular 
college's environment and their offerings of majors.  They want well-rounded 
students who will acclimate themselves to the college environment.  
(1) They look at grades on the transcript to see if there is a steady trend 
of academic performance.  
(2) They look at SAT or ACT scores to predict readiness for college level 
work.
(3) They look at class rank to see how the student did in comparison to other 
students who had the same course offerings and opportunities.  
(4) They look at attendance on the transcript.  Students who miss a lot of 
school in high school (where attendance is mandatory and parents are often 
waking them each morning to get them off to school) are a poor risk at 
college where attendance is the responsibility of the student.  Students who 
miss classes in college seldom succeed.  
(5) They look for community involvement or volunteer service.  
(4) They look for club participation---not so much being a member of a lot of 
clubs, but being an active participant in a few.  
(5) They look for evidence of leadership.

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What about agencies who promise scholarship money for a fee?

No one can promise you will win a scholarship.  You have to meet the criteria 
and be chosen by the provider of the scholarship.  If they offer a guarantee, 
there are usually strings attached.  For example, they might require that you 
prove you did not receive the scholarship funds for the list of scholarships 
they provided to you.  You need to know that most scholarship programs do NOT 
send letters or notify people who do NOT receive the money.  They only notify 
the winners.  Therefore, you cannot "prove" you didn't get the scholarship.  
In general, don't pay money to someone to help you get money.  You can do 
Internet searches or take advantage of scholarships announced through Ashley 
High yourself.

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