College NOW Advisement:
Responsibility of course selection (& degree plans) is ultimately the responsibility of the student. Student-driven scheduling is the hallmark of FHS, and requires ongoing communication between the student, parent, counselors, and academic advisors.
- The first step is to meet with your grade-level counselor (and read below and follow the process at each grade level).
- Then, depending on the major interest for college after high school, talk to one of the Farmington High School dual credit teachers in that content area for advice (see the INSTRUCTORS tab).
- In addition, the State of Missouri just launched a new college planning website and all students who plan to take college courses while in high school should start using this ASAP: https://journeytocollege.mo.gov/.
- ALSO, students wishing to take more than 18 credit hours in a single semester must have "overload" approval from MAC's Academic Dean, and there is no guarantee since it is based on prior course-load and MAC GPA; see Ms. Andrea Richardson for details. State enrollment guidelines (CBHE) are listed below according to each grade level.
- NEXT, the student with a goal of completing an AA or 42 hour Gen Ed Block through Mineral Area College while in high school should:
- 9th grade & prior:
- earn high grades in rigorous courses to meet prerequisites required for college courses in core academic areas;
- meet with the 9th grade counselor to discuss plans & update individual Program of Study (may want to include parent);
- MAC has a Programs of Study resource page: http://www.mineralarea.edu/programsAndCourses/highSchoolPrograms/programsofstudy.aspx
- NEW starting FA17: If goal is an AA or AAS at MAC, fill out the MAC AA guidance application (link below) for an advising appointment with Julie Downs at MAC -- you should do this BEFORE you take your first college class, but it is not required (recommended); turn it in to Ms Andrea Richardson at FHS. Also, be sure to meet with Ms. Andrea Richardson at FHS (Office is around the corner from the counseling center by outer door #25) to coordinate FHS graduation requirements, etc.
- NEW starting SP18: 9TH GRADE students will be able to apply for the "42 Hr Block Gen Ed Scholarship" for the sophomore year, if eligible ACT composite score is on file (ACT composite minimum of 21) prior to the application deadline in February; TAKE THE OCT &/OR DEC ACT BECAUSE QUALIFYING SCORES MUST BE ON FILE BEFORE THE FEBRUARY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE (THE FEB TEST IS TOO LATE -- SCORES WON'T BE BACK IN TIME). See the new scholarship changes on the financial aide page here; 10-18-17 UPDATE: MAC FREE/REDUCED SCHOLARSHIP WAS ONLY FOR FA17, AND NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR SP18 AND SU18; Limited funds MAY be available for FA17, but there is no guarantee on amounts awarded in advance. NOTE: there is NO scholarship available to students without a minimum ACT Composite Score of 21 (new requirement)
- familiarize themselves with the College NOW website; take the ACT to determine college readiness and testing prerequisites; talk to current teachers about college classes to take next year (see 10th grade level advisement for approved 10th grade college courses)
- To be eligible to take college courses during 9th grade year, a student must have:
- a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, AND
- have an ACT composite score in the 90th percentile (28+) -- must be on file PRIOR to semester start, AND
- have a permission form signed by parent/counselor/FHS administrator, AND
- meet the course prerequisites for both FHS & college, and testing minimum scores (see the COURSES & INSTITUTIONS section)
- To be eligible to take college courses during 9th grade year, a student must have:
- 10th grade:
- MAY start the college experience while in high school by taking no more than 2 dual credit courses a semester, as long as minimum course & individual requirements are met (listed next to each course in the course listing section) and the class is not full --
- College American History 1 &/or 2; changing effective FA18: Coll World Civ 1 &/or 2
- College Public Speaking,
- College Human Growth/Development (online), OR
- College Art History 2,
- additionally, may take a college math course IF that is the next step in the mathematical progression;
- take FHS Chemistry 1 this year in order to meet the 2 year college science FHS prerequisites (double up Chem1 with Biology for sophomore year);
- student should schedule an appointment to meet with the College NOW director, Ms. Andrea Richardson, in October/November to develop a plan for the next two years, then student should discuss costs with parent(s);
- NEW starting FA17: If goal is an AA or AAS at MAC, fill out the MAC AA guidance application (link below) for an advising appointment with Julie Downs at MAC -- you should do this BEFORE you take your first college class (not required, but it is recommended). Also, be sure to meet with Ms. Andrea Richardson at FHS (Office is around the corner from the counseling center by outer door #25) to coordinate FHS graduation requirements, etc.
- NEW starting SP18: 9th grade students will eligible to apply for MAC's new "42 Hr Gen Ed Block Scholarship," which can be started as early as the sophomore year, if eligible ACT composite score of 21 is on file by the deadline. See the new scholarship changes on the financial aide page here; 10-18-17 UPDATE: MAC FREE/REDUCED SCHOLARSHIP WAS ONLY FOR FA17, AND NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR SP18 AND SU18; limited funds might be available for FA18, but there is no guarantee on awards or amount awarded. There is NO scholarship available to students without a minimum ACT Composite Score of 21 (new requirement). If you DO NOT YET HAVE QUALIFYING SCORES ON FILE, TAKE THE OCT &/OR DEC ACT BECAUSE QUALIFYING SCORES MUST BE ON FILE BEFORE THE FEBRUARY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE (THE FEB TEST IS TOO LATE -- SCORES WON'T BE BACK IN TIME).
- take the ACT in October or December, (the February test may be too late to have qualifying scores on record) IF you plan to apply for the "42 Hr Gen Ed Block" Scholarship for next year (requires a composite ACT score minimum of 21 BEFORE the deadline of the last Friday in FEBRUARY each year; this is a change from two years ago); There are restrictions on allowed maximum credit hours for 10th grade, but those restrictions end after May of 10th grade year. Additionally, the scholarship is restricted to courses required on the 42 Hr Gen Ed Block, so AA students on the "42 Hr Gen Ed Block" scholarship will have to pay full price for electives and PE.
- once successful with a dual credit course, student MAY want to take a summer course at MAC (or online, like College Fit for Life or College Algebra, if you had Formal Geometry 10th grade year and plan to take College Trig and College Precalculus next year). Watch for the emails about "dual enrollment" since it is a different process than dual credit -- signups are in the middle of the semester prior to the course start;
- To be eligible to take college courses during 10th grade year, a student must have
- a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, AND
- have a permission form (white RECOMMENDATION FORM for MAC, yellow for MoBap) signed by parent/counselor/FHS administrator, AND
- meet the course prerequisites for both FHS & college, and testing minimum scores (see the COURSES & INSTITUTIONS section)
- To be eligible to take college courses during 10th grade year, a student must have
- MAY start the college experience while in high school by taking no more than 2 dual credit courses a semester, as long as minimum course & individual requirements are met (listed next to each course in the course listing section) and the class is not full --
- 11th grade:
- schedule an appointment to meet with the College NOW director, Ms. Andrea Richardson, in October/November, and again in February, to develop/update a plan for the next year; once successful with a dual credit course, student MAY need to take a summer course (or courses) at MAC (or online, like College Fit for Life and other dual enrollment courses required for the degree plan); SEE WARNINGS: be careful not to overload! If you DO NOT YET HAVE QUALIFYING SCORES ON FILE, TAKE THE OCT &/OR DEC ACT BECAUSE QUALIFYING SCORES MUST BE ON FILE BEFORE THE FEBRUARY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE (THE FEB TEST IS TOO LATE -- SCORES WON'T BE BACK IN TIME). See the new scholarship changes on the financial aide page here; 10-18-17 UPDATE: MAC FREE/REDUCED SCHOLARSHIP WAS ONLY FOR FA17, AND NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR SP18 AND SU18; limited funds might be available for FA18, but there is no guarantee on awards or amount awarded. There is NO scholarship available to students without a minimum ACT Composite Score of 21 (new requirement). If you DO NOT YET HAVE QUALIFYING SCORES ON FILE, TAKE THE OCT &/OR DEC ACT BECAUSE QUALIFYING SCORES MUST BE ON FILE BEFORE THE FEBRUARY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE (THE FEB TEST IS TOO LATE -- SCORES WON'T BE BACK IN TIME).
- To be eligible to take college courses during 11th grade year, a student must have:
- meet the course prerequisites for both FHS & college, and testing minimum scores (see the COURSES & INSTITUTIONS section)
- a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, OR, for those with an unweighted GPA of 2.5-2.99, a permission (white RECOMMENDATION FORM for MAC, yellow for MoBap) form signed by parent/counselor/FHS administrator is required, AND
- Plan to meet with Ms Andrea Richardson the week after the school year ends to make sure your 12th grade schedule is complete and you are enrolled in any needed dual enrollment classes for Summer and Fall (should be completed in Feb/March, but late additions/changes may be possible if caught before the start of June).
- see details above (under 10th grade planning, and on the Financial Aid page) about scholarship changes
- To be eligible to take college courses during 11th grade year, a student must have:
- schedule an appointment to meet with the College NOW director, Ms. Andrea Richardson, in October/November, and again in February, to develop/update a plan for the next year; once successful with a dual credit course, student MAY need to take a summer course (or courses) at MAC (or online, like College Fit for Life and other dual enrollment courses required for the degree plan); SEE WARNINGS: be careful not to overload! If you DO NOT YET HAVE QUALIFYING SCORES ON FILE, TAKE THE OCT &/OR DEC ACT BECAUSE QUALIFYING SCORES MUST BE ON FILE BEFORE THE FEBRUARY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE (THE FEB TEST IS TOO LATE -- SCORES WON'T BE BACK IN TIME). See the new scholarship changes on the financial aide page here; 10-18-17 UPDATE: MAC FREE/REDUCED SCHOLARSHIP WAS ONLY FOR FA17, AND NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR SP18 AND SU18; limited funds might be available for FA18, but there is no guarantee on awards or amount awarded. There is NO scholarship available to students without a minimum ACT Composite Score of 21 (new requirement). If you DO NOT YET HAVE QUALIFYING SCORES ON FILE, TAKE THE OCT &/OR DEC ACT BECAUSE QUALIFYING SCORES MUST BE ON FILE BEFORE THE FEBRUARY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE (THE FEB TEST IS TOO LATE -- SCORES WON'T BE BACK IN TIME).
- 12th grade:
- be sure to meet with the College NOW director, Ms. Andrea Richardson, during Senior registration day (or registration week, at the very latest) to ensure correct course enrollment & finalize enrollment requests for Spring semester; meet again in October to register for Spring semester, both dual credit paperwork and dual enrollment registration online so that your registration is complete prior to meeting with Julie Downs to fill out graduation paperwork during the first two weeks of November (**AFTER meeting with Julie Downs at MAC, you'll keep a copy and bring me a copy. Be sure to call Deb Labruyere at (573) 518-2155 [email protected] for an appointment with Julie Downs). AA/AAS students will have to pay the graduation fee prior to the 3rd Friday in January; 42 Hr Gen Ed Block students do not have a fee. AA/AAS/42 Block students: remember to bring copies to Ms. Andrea Richardson to keep on file the minute you have finished your advising appointment with Julie Downs.
- To be eligible to take college courses during 12th grade year, a student must have:
- a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, OR, for those with an unweighted GPA of 2.5-2.99, a permission (white RECOMMENDATION FORM for MAC, yellow for MoBap) form signed by parent/counselor/FHS administrator is required, AND
- meet the course prerequisites for both FHS & college, and testing minimum scores (see the COURSES & INSTITUTIONS section)
- Once your AA or AAS graduation application and fee are to the Business Office/Registrar at MAC, then you will have to meet these MAC requirements:
- sign up for a Graduation Seminar (required for AA)
- sign up for an Exit Exam at MAC (required for AA)
- go to the MAC bookstore to be fitted for your cap and gown (check, this may be outdated since it is now listed on the AA/AAS graduation application)
- continue to check MAC emails daily
- To be eligible to take college courses during 12th grade year, a student must have:
- be sure to meet with the College NOW director, Ms. Andrea Richardson, during Senior registration day (or registration week, at the very latest) to ensure correct course enrollment & finalize enrollment requests for Spring semester; meet again in October to register for Spring semester, both dual credit paperwork and dual enrollment registration online so that your registration is complete prior to meeting with Julie Downs to fill out graduation paperwork during the first two weeks of November (**AFTER meeting with Julie Downs at MAC, you'll keep a copy and bring me a copy. Be sure to call Deb Labruyere at (573) 518-2155 [email protected] for an appointment with Julie Downs). AA/AAS students will have to pay the graduation fee prior to the 3rd Friday in January; 42 Hr Gen Ed Block students do not have a fee. AA/AAS/42 Block students: remember to bring copies to Ms. Andrea Richardson to keep on file the minute you have finished your advising appointment with Julie Downs.