Senior FAQ's

A: When you enter the Guidance Office, there are notes available to leave for your counselor. If you have an emergency, please see Ms. Emily Noland at the front desk and she will get one of us right away, regardless of the posted schedule!

A: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be completed starting in December of your senior year. Upon completing the online application, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). The SAR will automatically tell you if you qualify for federal student loans, Pell grants, work study programs, and other grants that may be specific to your choice of major, ethnic background, area of disability, etc. The FAFSA can be a challenge to complete, so PLEASE take advantage of our financial aid nights (TBD) so that we can walk you through the process. We will need a copy of your completed tax return from the previous calendar year (and your parents’) to complete the FAFSA. There are many exceptions, exclusions, and additions to this and those will be discussed at a later date.

A: These are standardized tests that are meant to measure student achievement on an equal scale, no matter where you live, where you attend high school, etc. The majority of schools in the Southeast are more familiar with ACT, but both scores (one or the other OR both) are accepted by most schools. The SAT can be taken in Subject Specific sessions. The ACT is knowledge-based and is supposed to test what you have learned in school. The SAT is reasoning-based and is centered on comprehension. Please visit www.actstudent.org or www.collegeboard.org to learn more.

A: The ACT can be taken with or without the Writing Portion. However, more and more schools are requiring proof that the Writing Portion has been taken at least once. As of now, after you take the Writing Portion, the schools that require it will allow you to move that writing sub-score to any of your other attempts. It is always a great idea to contact the Admissions Office of a school-of-interest and ask about their requirements prior to registering for the test.

A: Many, not all, schools begin awarding automatic, partial tuition scholarships to students who have a 26+ on the ACT. Different scholarships and admissions offices require different scores. There is no easy answer to this question. Our best advice is to study for the ACT and take it at least twice.

A: All four-year colleges/universities require either an ACT or SAT score as part of the admission application. The majority of scholarship applications, both collegiate and endowed, require a score. Community colleges do NOT require an ACT or SAT score. However, if you plan to transfer to a four-year school after completing a two year program, it may be best to go ahead and take the test now. These tests are designed with high school curriculum in mind. Registration is an online process now and takes a good bit of time and patience to complete when you take the test for the first time. You will be asked to submit a fee waiver or pay with a credit card/debit card at the end of the application and a photo must also be uploaded to the application. Once you complete the online process, you must print a ticket and bring the ticket and photo ID with you on the day that you report to the test site.

A: Both the ACT and the SAT can be taken for free twice a year using a fee waiver form if you qualify for a fee waiver. Students must meet the following criteria: 
     a. Currently enrolled in grade 11 or 12
     b. Currently enrolled in the Federal Free and Reduced Price Lunch program
     c. Annual family income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA 
     d. Enrollment in a federal, state, or local program that aids low-income families 
     e. Student’s family receives public assistance 
     f. Student lives in federally subsidized public housing, a foster home, or is homeless
     g. Student is a ward of the state or an orphan

A: Athletic eligibility in college is different than eligibility rules with the Alabama High School Athletic Association. The NCAA has a set of standards to play a collegiate sport and courses that a student takes must be NCAA-approved. GPA and ACT score requirements vary on a sliding scale. If you are concerned about collegiate eligibility, please make an appointment with me and we will review your transcript together. This will allow for the most thorough explanation of where you are and where you need to be.

A: It is a good idea to narrow your college choice to no fewer than two and no greater than four. As I have mentioned previously, applying for colleges can become tedious and costly. Save yourself the stress and narrow your focus early on in the year. You can do this by looking at a school from a few major viewpoints. Think PLACES: 
Public vs. Private? 
Location and size?
Academic standards vs. your own academic achievement?
Cost to attend? 
Extracurricular activities of those enrolled vs. your own interests?
Scholarship and financial aid opportunities?

A: Choosing a major or career path can be very challenging for some students. I have numerous resources in my office that will help you to determine your strengths and interests, and I will be happy to help you. You do not have to declare a major on a college application and can put "undecided" until you figure it out. Keep in mind that some departments will send out scholarship information specifically to students who intend to major in that area of study, but this is not always the case. Also, remember that this can, and probably will, change many times throughout college. Our only expectation is that each senior have a plan for the following fall semester prior to high school graduation. We do not expect you to map out the next ten years.

A: Once you decide on up to four colleges you are interested in attending, you should begin the application process. Most 4-year applications will open in July/August of your senior year and can be completed online. The application will require an official transcript and your ACT or SAT scores. Some schools will automatically consider you for scholarships with your admissions application while others require a separate application. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the website of the colleges you are interested in and click on undergraduate admissions.

A: I am always happy to complete a recommendation letter! In order to write the best letter possible, please be sure to provide me with the following information: a copy of your resume, a brief description of the scholarship/institution to which you are applying, and a phone number or email address in case I have questions. It is also helpful to provide me with the deadline. 

A: Whether you are at the top of your class or struggling to complete your required courses, you should never lose motivation to work hard until May. While many will have already applied, and even been offered scholarships, colleges and universities can follow up to be sure that their requirements are still being met for the scholarship and that the student is still reaching expectations. Also, many of the more selective schools have an option to defer an admissions application until the student’s final transcript becomes available. In other words, they will wait to make a decision about whether or not you can enroll until after they see how well your GPA looks when you finish high school. Acceptance letters frequently state that admission is contingent upon final transcript.

A: The cap/gown/tassel/diploma/diploma cover are ordered by the counselor for every 12th grader at FHS. There is a $90.00 Graduation fee on each student's fee list at the start of the school year that covers the expense of these items. There is an additional $50 Senior Fee that covers expenses related to 12th grade field trips, postage for scholarship materials being sent from the Guidance Department, and the commencement ceremony.

A: Graduating with an Alabama High School diploma is dependent upon successful completion of required coursework and regular attendance. A complete list of all course requirements can be found in the Guidance Office. Regardless of a final average, credit can be withheld from a student due to excessive unexcused absences. Credit recovery can be done via our APEX or ACCESS courses. Beginning with the class of 2026, seniors must attain a College and Career Readiness Indicator (CCRI) in addition to previously added graduation requirements.

A: FHS uses the Parchment Program for all transcript requests. Students will be instructed on how to create an account prior to senior year via classroom counselor visits. The first three transactions are free once you create a Parchment account; each transaction after that will cost $5 and should be paid via the online program. You can request an unofficial self-view of the transcript for free at any time. 

A: No, a student's standardized test scores are no longer included when FHS sends an official student transcript. Scores must be sent directly from the testing company to the recipient via the student's ACT online portal account. For assistance, students can come by the Guidance Office to receive instructions on this process.

A: Your GPA is your cumulative Grade Point Average and includes courses taken in grades 9-12. If you took Algebra I and Spanish I in the 8th grade, these will also be included. The GPA’s only change at the end of each semester, not the end of each grading period. Your current GPA will not change until we return from Christmas Break. Parents may not call and request this be given to them over the phone. The Parchment system must be used to locate this information.

A: Loans are borrowed money that you must pay back, with interest. Grants are free money that you will never be obligated to repay. A scholarship is free money that is awarded through a competitive application process. You could be asked to repay previous award amounts and no longer receive money if you fail to continue meeting the academic eligibility requirements of your annual scholarship, get in trouble with the university or law enforcement, or have poor attendance.

A: Yes, there is a dress code for graduation:
Boys' Attire - Khaki dress pants (no cargo pockets), white button-down shirt with collar, appropriate dress tie, black or brown dress shoes (no flipflops or tennis shoes)
Girls' Attire - Dress with modest neckline; hem line should not show beneath hem of gown, black or brown dress shoes (no flipflops or tennis shoes); If you choose to wear pantyhose, they must be flesh colored. 
Jewelry for all students must be modest.