Long Reach High School

1. Long Reach High School SENIOR PLANNING Congratulations, you made it to their senior year!

2. College Planning Know yourself Know how colleges/universities/ match your personality and needs Know how to distinguish yourself in the applicant pool Dr. Robert Massa, Dickenson College

3. KNOW YOUR DEADLINES! Early Decision Early Action Rolling Admission Regular Admission Scholarships Academy Deadlines Housing Teacher/Counselor recommendations

4. What do students need to do now? Create a calendar with deadlines Start filling out college applications Request teacher and counselor recommendations Request transcript packets SAT’s/ACT’s Check out scholarships HOW DO I HELP THEM GET ALL OF THIS DONE?

5. Larger vs. Smaller Public vs. Private Environment Location The Campus Visit Narrowing the Choices Down Two safe schools Two reach schools Two good fits “Know Yourself” Researching Colleges Start Early!!!

6. College Visits • Make visits to: • Urban • Rural • Suburban • Big • Small • Private – local Loyola, MSM, Washington • Public – St. Mary’s, UMCP, UMBC, Salisbury

7. Applications • Apply online or by mail - use pen – neatness counts • Check Deadlines • Make a copy of application to practice on • Use Common Application, if applicable • Letter of recommendation/Secondary School Report/Teacher/Counselor Recommendation form • Essay • Transcripts • Test Scores • College Visit Interview • Financial Aid • Mail by certified mail - verifies receipt of package

8. Essays • Start essay’s soon • Answer the question • Make it engaging • Proof read carefully • Ask English teacher to do a final edit

9. Teacher Give resume Self-Assessment info Make request before school is out Only ask for the # you need Ask academic teacher Good relationship Thank you note Counselor Give resume Self-Assessment info Make request early Thank you note Recommendations

10. SEPTEMBER Work on applications, write essays Register for SAT, ACT, SAT Subject Tests Take SAT Subject tests, if needed If you are interested in Military Academies/ROTC - see your counselor Look for scholarships – use College 411, FASTWEB, www.hcpss.org database, our scholarship update and files!!

11. SEPTEMBER Register for NCAA Clearing House- if they haven’t already!!!!! Print two copies of transcript request release form and fill out our pink transcript request form and turn that into Ms. Brown! Have your student check with their counselor if they had any missing graduation requirements that were marked as missing on the credit check sheet you received in the mail.

12. OCTOBER Keep visiting schools – Trade, 4 year, 2 year Visit with College Reps coming to Long Reach High School – sign up with Mrs. Emery Howard County College Fair Sunday, October 18, 2009 Atholton High School 1:00 - 4:00 pm

13. Stay on top of grades!!! Don’t let Senioritis set in!!

14. DECEMBER Many Regular Decision Applications are DUE in December and January Transcript requests need to be turned in three weeks before Winter Break!!!!!

15. Spring 2009 Scholarships—Local and College HCC Freshman Focus Deadline AP EXAMS Notify colleges if planning to attend their school. Notify Mrs. Emery what school attending-for final transcript to be sent- and if awarded any scholarships.

16. Financial Aid • Discuss early the limits and college options based on finances • Scholarships • Corporate – fall • Community – spring • Don’t overlook high end schools

17. What is Financial Aid? • Financial aid is funds provided to students and families to help pay for postsecondary educational expenses.

18. What is the Expected Family Contribution (EFC)? • Amount family can reasonably be expected to contribute • Stays the same regardless of college • Calculated using FAFSA data and a federal formula • Two components • Parent contribution • Student contribution

19. Definition of Need Cost of attendance (COA) • Expected Family Contribution =Financial Need

20. Need Varies Based on Cost COA $20,000 Less EFC $ 5,000 Need = $15,000

21. Sources of Aid • Federal • Pell Grant • Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant • FSEOG Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate students to promote access to postsecondary education. • Academic Competitiveness Grant • An Academic Competitiveness Grant provides $750 for the first year of study and $1,300 for the second year • Work Study – pays student directly • Perkins Loan • PLUS Loan –Stafford Loan • Subsidized • Low fixed interest rate, as low as 5.60% • No payments while enrolled in school or in deferment • No interest while enrolled in school or in deferment • Acceptance not based on credit • Unsubsidized • An Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is a federally guaranteed loan that is not based on financial need. Interest will accrue from the time the loan is disbursed to the school. You do not have to make interest or principal payments until six months after graduation, or six months after you drop below a half time status. • Increased limits - borrow up to $2,000 more • Fixed interest rate - 6.8% • No payments required while enrolled in school

22. Sources (continued) • State • Scholarships • Institution • Need based and non-need based scholarship program • Academic Athletic, special talent and departmental scholarships

23. Have FUN!!! • Don’t forget – the “Early Bird” gets the worm – prepare, work, enjoy! • Everything should be neat, in pen, and legible • Enjoy senior year - you only have one of them • Ask for help when needed and parents don’t be afraid to give assistance.

24. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) • Submit FAFSA after January 1, 2010 • Sign FAFSA electronically –will need student and parent pin – speeds processing • Obtain pin – www.pin.ed.gov • Collects personal and financial information used to calculate the family’s EFC

25. See your Counselor if you have any questions! Don’t wait until it is too late!