Counseling  >  Information for Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshmen
Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors. . . . and their parents
Parents and Students,

We hope that the following resources will help to make the journey through high school a little easier to navigate. Please let us know if we can help any way!

McIntosh High School Counselors
Facts for Freshmen
Freshmen . . . .What is high school all about??

Entering the world of high school can be very scary and challenging for many 9th graders. It is bigger, there is much more freedom, and teachers are not constantly watching over your shoulder. The freedom is awesome. . .but with it comes accountability and responsibility. The following are some tips to help you to have a GREAT freshman year:
  • Set goals for each year. What do you want your grades to be at the end of the first semester? Year?
  • Seek help if you are struggling academically or socially. Your teachers and counselor want to help! Don't be afraid or embarassed to ask!
  • Take good notes in class and review each night. Research says that as little as 15 minutes of review can result in long term memory retrieval.
  • Use your agenda. Some kind of organizational tool is essential! Write down your assignments, check them off when done, and turn them in on time. READ your agenda to learn the rules and procedures too!
  • Come to school. Missing school and having make up work is one of the most common causes for stress in high school. 
  • Get involved. Statistics prove that students who become involved in a sport, club or some other extracurricular activity have higher grade point averages, better attendance, and fewer discipline incidents. 
 Need more tips on studying? Click HERE to download our Study Skills Strategies.

To view the power point from the Freshmen Parent Night 2012, click here.

Parents, we have provided two four year "plans" to help you and your student plan coursework over the next four years. Click HERE to download our Four Year Plan Worksheet .
Other Resources
Military Service Academies
Military Service Academies
Thinking About ROTC and/or the Military??

If you are thinking that you may enjoy a career in the military - regular enlistment, an Academy, or ROTC - please view the following guidelines EARLY in your high school career: Military Academy/ROTC Guidelines

If you need the name of your local recruiter, please see your counselor.

Military Service Academies

Military Service Academies
Academic Dishonesty
Academic Dishonesty
Academic Dishonesty. . .what is it? What does cheating mean??? 
  • Is copying a friend's homework considered cheating? YES!
  • Is it cheating if I let a friend look at my ideas and then use them? YES!
  • My teacher tells me that it is okay to do my homework - or a project - or study with friends. Is that cheating? NO!
Bottom line: cheating is a VERY serious offense that could have consequences beyond the zero you will get on the assignment or the ISS. It could prevent your acceptance into college and/or a scholarship offering. DON'T DO IT! IT IS NOT WORTH IT! If you are not sure, check with your teacher.

See the real survey done in Spring of 2010 regarding Academic Dishonesty and how colleges in the southeastern U.S. view the offense: Academic Dishonesty Survey.

Academic Dishonesty

Academic Dishonesty
Math Stuff
Math Stuff
Math and Science have changed. See the math and science course descriptions and flow charts below.
See the four year planning chart for students entering 9th grade in 2008-2009 and beyond: Four year plan chart

There is a new math curriculum for students beginning high school in 2012 and beyond.  The following files are for students entering high school this fall.
Math Stuff

Math Stuff
NCAA and NAIA - Prospective College Athletes
NCAA and NAIA - Prospective College Athletes
Are you planning to play a sport at a Division I, II or III level college? Please check out the link to the NCAA Clearinghouse: Guide for Student Athletes. Students, see our Records Clerk in Guidance to request that transcripts be sent to the Clearinghouse. Download the brochure from the NCAA: Student-Athlete Brochure.

Be sure to check out the new (July 2010) NCAA guidelines regarding on-line course credit. BYU Center for Independent Study courses are no longer accepted by the NCAA. See the following documents from the NCAA website:
Please note that you should start this process in the junior year. . .but check it out before then if you think you may be interested in playing sports in college.

The following document was developed by Fayette County to help students understand eligibility.
NCAA and NAIA - Prospective College Athletes

NCAA and NAIA - Prospective College Athletes
For International Students
For International Students
Are you a foreign national interested in pursuing post-secondary studies in the United States? If so, check this site. Click on "Links" to learn more about Immigration, Visa and Financial Aid Issues including a list of colleges and universities that award financial aid (pdf) to international students.

For International Students

For International Students
For Students with Disabilities
For Students with Disabilities
Does the mere presence of a disability guarantee accommodations for students in the admission process or on college campuses once enrolled? Elizabeth Hamblet, a post secondary learning disabilities specialist, provides guidance and resources to help students with disabilities navigate the college going process.

For Students with Disabilities

For Students with Disabilities
Stuff for Sophomores and Their Parents


It is not too early to start looking at your post-secondary options! Begin with the following steps:
  1. Update/create your GACollege411 electronic portfolio. Also visit other sites such as Collegeboard, ACT, Peterson's, and others. See the Useful Links page on this site for more information.
  2. Plan to take the PSAT on October 12 of this year. Prepare for it in advance using tips from College Board.
  3. Keep your grades strong. 
  4. Plan to begin visiting colleges during the summer between your sophomore and junior year or before.
  5. View the Sophomore power point presentation from the 2012 presentation here: Sophomore Parent Night
Just for Juniors
Class of 2013 and Parents,

Wow! Only a year away from graduation and on to the next step. . ..some kind of post-secondary education. There are options out there for every single student - four year colleges, two year colleges, technical colleges, military opportunities, and the world of work. Advanced planning will reduce stress and anxiety for students and parents.

View the power point from the Jump Start College ; Part Two Jumpstart College ; Financial Aid workshop on July 29, 2011.

Please also see the Serious Stuff for Seniors page, Test Preparation page, and Scholarship page on this site for more information.

Wondering what it takes to get into the University of Georgia or Georgia Tech? Please view the 2010 powerpoint presented by admissions representatives from these schools: UGA/Tech Powerpoint.

The rapidly growing list of accredited, four-year colleges and universities that do not require the submission of ACT or SAT scores as part of their admission requirements is nearing 750! You can see the entire list at:
 The ACT and SAT are very different college entrance tests. Now that every college in the country will accept either test result, you might be interested in an approximation of how your result equates with scores on the "other" test.
 Curious about college rankings? Check this link to learn more about how the editors at U.S. News & World Report arrive at their results:
 The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) conducted annually by the Indiana University at Bloomington provides a comprehensive overview of outcomes for participating institutions. To learn more about this resource, visit their site and go to the "Students and Parents" page: