Welcome Students & Parents

1. Welcome Students & Parents College Information Night College is Possible! Si, Se Puede!

2. Preparing for College as a Junior Keep your grades up and know where you stand Get/stay involved in school clubs, community activities, sportsand keep a list of activities Prepare for your ACT and SAT - PSAT Explore summer school/summer programs Continue to develop good study habits Create an employment and/or educational resume Meet with your counselor Include parents/guardians with your college search Sign up for the College Opportunity Fund (COF)

3. Preparing for College as a Junior Research, research, research Attend college fairs (School District #51 College Fair and Western Slope College Fair in Aspen) Visit college campuses Sign up for the Mesa Experience Visitation Program Saturday, November 13, 2010 Saturday, February 26, 2011 Friday, March 25, 2011 Saturday, April 16, 2011 Tour campus if you can’t make the Mesa Experience

4. Preparing for College as a Senior Keep your grades up Include your parents/guardians as part of the process Select 3 colleges/universities/technical schools Apply to college between November-January Apply for Housing & Residence Life You don’t have to pay for it all by yourself!Start the financial aid process in January Apply for scholarships (college & private)

5. Preparing for College as a Senior Check transcripts for Graduation Requirements Meet with your counselor for senior interview Retake the ACT, if necessary Sign up for the College Opportunity Fund (COF) if you haven’t NCAA transcript evaluation (speak with your school’s athletic director) Attend College Fairs Sign up for the Mesa Experience: Saturday, February 26, 2011 Follow-up with the college process

6. Preparing for College During Your College Visits: Meet with an admissions counselor Take your transcript with you Verify the admission requirements Meet with a financial aid counselor and talk about opportunities Tour the campus Attend a class … explore programs that may interest you and meet with professors! Ask questions and take notes Also know when counselors will be visiting your high school. Visit mesastate.edu/roadshow.

7. Preparing for College as a Senior Prepare for transition from school to career Career exploration, what skills will you need? Work Keys test for employment resume’ September: Begin scholarship search October-November: Complete scholarship search Finalize educational and/or employment resume Ask for Letters of Recommendation (allow at least 2 weeks as a courtesy) Begin writing your personal essay and have 2 people proof read it Make a final list of college choices Make a professional email address to use for all your educational or employment emails

8. A Partnership for Your Success High school students can enroll in courses at MSC and WCCC and earn college credit while still in high school. Concurrent & Fast Track Enrollment is available WCCC offers open admission (cool, so, what’s that mean to me?) Feeling unsure? Courses that prepare you for college study WCCC offers a variety of certificate programs (9 months), associate degree programs (2 years) and many skills courses Ready for a 4-year degree… Mesa State College Questions Along the Way? Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1765

9. Invest in Yourself and Your Future Average annual income Without a high school diploma/GED: $19,915 With a high school diploma/GED: $29,448 With a certificate or some college: $31,421 With an associate’s degree: $37,990 With a bachelor’s degree: $54,689 With a master’s degree: $67,898 With a doctoral degree: $92,863 With a professional degree: $119,009 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005 data, as reported on www.actstudent.org/college Questions Along the Way? • Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1765

10. What Does College Cost? Tuition: The cost of attending a class Fees: The cost for activities, athletics, clubs and other special events Housing & Meals: Living in a residence hall and eating at the dining hall Books & Supplies: Textbooks, workbooks, equipment, notepads, paper, etc. Personal Items: Clothing, cleaning, etc. Transportation: Bus, car, etc. Questions Along the Way? • Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1765

11. What Does Mesa State Cost? In-State Student Tuition Rates and Average Other Expenses

12. What If I Don’t Qualify for In-State? Out-of-State Student Tuition Rates Apply and Average Other Expenses

13. Save Money By Staying at Home Mesa County Students can live with their families

14. You Don’t Have to Pay It All! • Grants: Do not have to be repaid • Loans (Subsidized and Unsubsidized): Have to be repaid upon graduation • Work-Study: Allows you to earn a paycheck • College Opportunity Fund (COF): Colorado’s contribution to your education • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): This application must be completed to receive financial aid • Learn more about all of these online at • http://www.mesastate.edu/finaid/finaidtypes.html • or call 970-248-1396 and we’ll help! Financial Aid will help offset the cost of attending college

15. Financial Aid Can Reduce Your Cost Questions Along the Way? Call Financial Aid at 970-248-1396

16. If You Work Hard and Invest In Yourself, We’ll Invest in You. Merit Scholarships for high-achieving students: $1,200 up to full tuition and fees Mesa State First Generation Scholarship : $1,000 per year Renewable scholarship (120 credit hour maximum) awarded to entering Western Colorado freshmen whose parents have not graduated from college. Recipient must document financial need. Award is based on a combination of any two of the three following criteria: 2.5 GPA; top 25% of their class; or a 21 ACT or 970 SAT. Students considered for scholarships must meet the following individual test score minimums, even if test scores are not one of the two criteria used to determine award: ACT English 18; ACT Math 19; ACT Reading/Social Science 17 or SAT math 460; SAT verbal 440. • Learn more online at www.mesastate.edu/finaid/newandtransfer.html

17. Mark Your Calendars Wednesday, January 26, 2011 Free Financial Aid Workshop that you don’t want to miss Make sure your 2010 taxes are done first Get in-depth explanations of the types of financial aid and how you can navigate the process Free help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) You can do it. We can help. Questions Along the Way? • Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1765

18. Mark Your Calendars Financial Aid Counselors Also Visit Your School Talk to your high school counselor to get the dates College Goal Sunday on February 13, 2011 Every year, minority, low income, and/or first-generation college students lose money for college because they do not complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1. We can help! Plan to attend. Questions Along the Way? • Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1396

19. The Possibilities Are Endless 9-month and Two-Year Career & Technical Programs at Western Colorado Community College Two-year (Associate) Programs to transfer to another college or university Four-year (Bachelor’s) Programs at MSC

20. Applying to MSC Complete the application process online at www.mesastate.edu/apply Request official high school transcripts or GED scores be sent to MSC. Write an optional personal essay $30 application fee (can be waived if hardship) Apply for Housingwww.mesastate.edu/housing Questions Along the Way? • Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1765

21. Admission Standards for Colorado’s Four-Year Colleges (HEAR Requirements) English 4 units Math 4 units (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II and higher Natural/Physical Science 3 units (Two units must be lab-based) Social Science 3 units World Language 1 units(some colleges require more) Academic Electives 2 units 17 units total One unit equals one full year of credit (Carnegie Unit) Questions Along the Way? • Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1765

22. Applying to WCCC Complete the application (Go to www.mesastate.edu/wccc/apply.html to get application form or complete it online)Bring your completed application to WCCC or mail to:Western Colorado Community CollegeAttn: Student Services2508 Blichmann AvenueGrand Junction, CO  81505 Request official high school and college transcripts or GED scores be sent to WCCC. Find additional Steps to Success online at www.mesastate.edu/wccc/apply.html Questions Along the Way? Call 970-255-2670

23. Important Dates • Financial Aid Nights December-March • FAFSA Deadline for Seniors February • 2-year Colleges Expo February • State ACT (all juniors) April 27 • Graduation May Questions Along the Way? • Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1765

24. Serving Students is Our Business Once You’re Here We'll Partner with You to Achieve Success Kennilyn: Diversity & Student Advocacy Student Services Mentoring Program Student Cultural Diversity Board & Organizations MSC Cultural Advisory Board Housing and Residence Life Advising & Academic Services Academic Advising Tutorial Learning Center (TLC) Educational Access Services Freshman Year Initiative (FYI) Program Questions Along the Way? • Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1765

25. What Do All These Terms Mean? ACT / SAT Test: College entrance tests Admission: Requirements to be accepted into college/university Open admission: Admits almost all high school graduates/GED completers without taking grades or test scores into account. WCCC is the open admission division of MSC. Certificate programs (9 months) Associate degrees (2 years) Bachelor’s degrees (4-5 years, but can do it in 3) Credit hours: A value given to a class. Usually ranges from 1-4 Full-time study: Enrolling in at least 12 credit hours per semester Part-time study: Enrolling in less than 12 credit hours per semester Questions Along the Way? • Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1765

26. Who’s On Your Team at MSC Mesa State College Admissions Office1100 North Avenue Grand Junction, Colorado 81501-3122www.mesastate.edu or 970-248-1875 Paige Cadman- Admission Counselor for District 51970-248-1940 or pcadman@mesastate.edu Kennilyn A. Marquez Wright- Manager of Student Diversity & Advocacy Recruitment for First-Generation & Minority Students and Families for District 51970-248-1765 or kwright@mesastate.edu

27. Who’s On Your Team at WCCC Western Colorado Community College Student Services 2508 Blichmann Avenue, Grand Junction, CO  81505 Heather Exby / Sandra Menke 970.255.2600 970-255-2670 wccc@mesastate.edu

28. Who’s On Your Team at Central High • Student Services Staff • LEAG Lupe Navarro • ESL/ELL Ms. Johnson, Mrs. Dunkin, Ms. Burton • AVID Doug Beach-9th • Kristie Simonson-10th, • Tanya Smith-11th, • Jim Givens-11th& 12th • GEAR UP Phyllis Hunsinger • Kim Harrison • MIGRANT Hilda Gonzalez • Progress Monitors Debbie Cain • Katrina Flores • Liza Hines • Megan Mertes • School-to-Career Michele Soderborg Counseling Staff- 970-254-6101 Stacey Pottorff A-De Kerri Spore D-H Liza Hines I-Mi Shauna Hobbs Mj-Sh Misty SelldenSi-Z Delaine SchlangerPost-Grad Serenity SantistevanPost-Grad Debbie Ross Registrar Wendy Martin Counseling Secretary Mary McCallisterCounseling Secretary

29. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) For more information visit these websites MSC/WCCC Financial Aid: www.mesastate.edu/finaid/finaidfaqs.html MSC Admissions: www.mesastate.edu/admissions WCCC Student Services www.mesastate.edu/wccc/studentservices.html College in Colorado: www.collegeincolorado.com COF (College Opportunity Fund): https://cofweb.cslp.org/cofapp/ Hands On Banking: www.handsonbanking.org Scholarship Search: www.fastweb.com Mapping Your Future: www.mapping-your-future.org FAFSA: www.fafsa.ed.gov U.S. Department of Education: www.studentaid.ed.gov Questions Along the Way? • Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1765

30. Thank You!Questions Along the Way? Call WCCC Student Services at 970-255-2670 Call Kennilyn Wright at 970-248-1765Call MSC Admissions at 970-248-1875Call Financial Aid at 970-248-1396Go online to www.mesastate.edu/futureGo online to wccc.mesastate.edu/