Work Hard and Plan Well

Freshmen and sophomores' primary emphasis in preparing for college should be to take challenging courses, work hard, and make excellent grades. Good grades expands the number of colleges students may attend and increases opportunities for earning scholarships.

Critical Tasks - Do Not Wait Until Your Senior Year to Start!

• Freshmen should create an account at www.gacollege411.org right away. Sophomores should create an account if they haven't done it yet.
• Read the college planning timelines for Junors and Seniors so you know what to expect.
• After the first semester of the freshman year, and each semester thereafter, check your HOPE GPA on www.gacollege411.org.
  • Select "My HOPE GPA" on the home page.
  • Sign in to your account
  • You will need to know your social security number.
  • Be sure to select Jackson County High School. (There is a Jackson High School, without the "County." That's not us.)
  • After viewing your HOPE GPA, select the option to view the details. You will see your transcript. Check to be sure there are no errors. If there are, contact the counseling department.
• Freshmen and Sophomores should also explore careers which interest them by using these websites:
  • www.gacollege411.org. Select the Careers tab, then "Career Key."
  • www.gcic.edu: Request a login and password here. Sign in, and select "Occupation Sort" under "Exploration" on the upper left hand side of the first screen after signing in.
• Read the college selection guidelines and be prepared to have your college list narrowed to no more than six by the beginning of your senior year. Make an appointment with a counselor to help you with this process.
• Start planning for financial aid now:
  • Read "All About Financial Aid" on PantherHelp. and follow the links found on that page.
  • Become involved in extracurricular activities in the school and in the community. That's a critical component for earning scholarships.
  • Begin building a portfolio on www.gacollege411.org while in the ninth grade. Select the "Student Planner" tab on the home page.

Counseling Department
Jackson County Comprehensive High School
1668 Winder Highway
Jefferson, Georgia 30549
Phone: 706-367-5003
Fax: 706-367-7275
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