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Class of 2015. Post-Secondary Planning- Answering Your Questions about Life After RBHS. The When and Where….
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Class of 2015 Post-Secondary Planning- Answering Your Questions about Life After RBHS
The When and Where…. • WHEN?You should start applying to schools now. Several schools have priority scholarshipdeadlines in November or December and you need to apply for admission before you can apply for scholarships. • MU’s priority scholarship deadline is December 15th, but you must apply for admission by December 1st in order to apply for scholarships. • Even if a school’s admission deadline is later, you have to apply by the priority scholarship deadline if you want to be ensured scholarship $$. On the flip side, even if you don’t meet the scholarship deadline, you can still apply to the school by the application deadline. • WHERE? If you need help researching schools/post-secondary options, see our Guidance website for information and helpful resources or schedule a time to meet with your counselor. • We typically recommend students apply to no more than 5-7 schools and their list includes a “reach school”(a school that might be a little more difficult to get into based on a students grades/test scores), and a “safe school” (a school to which a student is sure to be accepted).
How do I start applying? • Most schools’ applications are available on their website. • Common Application https://www.commonapp.org • Each school will have different application requirements. • Application fee (varies by school) • Letters of Recommendation* • Ask at least TWO weeks before due • Complete recommendation info form • Available on Guidance Forms webpage • Send THANK YOU notes to your recommenders • Essay* • Transcript • see Mrs. Davis in Guidance to get a transcript release form • You need this even if you submit your application through CommonApp, SendEdu, or other similar sites. • Need a parent signature if you’re under 18 years old • Transcripts cost $2 each • Allow 2 weeks for processing *Not all schools require letters of rec or an essay. Check out the school’s website to determine what you need
ACT Test Dates • Register online at www.actstudent.org • ACT Prep Info available in Guidanceor on Guidance’s ACT/SAT/ PSAT Info Website: • Super Saturdays • October 11, 2014 • April 11, 2015 • Before/After School Test Prep • before December and February Tests • Career Center Test Prep *Students who receive Free/Reduced lunch or who have significant financial hardship should see their counselor re. ACT fee waivers.
Campus Visits • Visit the schools you are applying to- experience it for yourself, don’t just assume you’ll love it based on the experiences of others or the pictures you see online. • Meet with the admissions counselor • See the campus-take a tour, attend a class, talk with students and professors, eat in the dining hall, stay in a dorm if you can, and check out all the amenities like the rec center or library! • Meet with a financial aid officer- you won’t get your financial aid package until after you have applied and have been accepted (typically in April) but the financial aid officer can give you a good estimate of how much aid you might receive and what you can expect to pay at that school. • Visit with college reps who come to Rock Bridge! • It’s a great way to get your foot in the door and make an impression on the admissions rep who will be reviewing your application file. Sometimes having a face to put with a name on a file can make the difference in acceptance vs. denial. • Find out who’s coming on the Guidance website, by following the Guidance Twitter account, or in the Info Bruin.
Paying for College….Financial Aid • The financial aid equation: • Cost of Attendance- Estimated Family Contribution (determined by FAFSA) = Financial Need (Aid) • There are different types of aid. Some you do not have to pay back (grants, scholarships, work-study), some you do have to pay back (loans). • FAFSA- Free Application for Federal Student Aid(available January 1,2015) • Think of it as the gateway to almost all of the $ for college (including some scholarships). • The FAFSA is used to determine the amount of money a family is expected to pay for attending a post-secondary institution. • The results of the FAFSA are used to award grants, work-study, loans, and sometimes scholarships. • To get an estimate of your EFC, you can complete the FAFSA4casterhttps://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?execution=e2s1**Be sure to have your most recent tax info available • You can also complete the Net Price Calculator available on most schools’ Financial Aid website to get a more accurate estimate of the cost. • We recommend ALL students fill out the FAFSA as soon as it becomes available on January 1st. • Many types of institutional aid are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis so it’s better to fill out the FAFSA early even if you use estimates and have to make corrections later. • Many schools require the FAFSA to be completed before a student can receive any type of financial aid including scholarships and loans. If you’re in the A+ Program, you will have to fill out the FAFSA to receive the A+ Scholarship.
Paying for College…Scholarships • Scholarship info is on the Guidance website http://www.cpsk12.org/domain/5783 • University/College scholarships- • usually on the college’s financial aid/scholarship website • Merit scholarships (ex. If you have a 27+ on the ACT & are in the top 50% of your class, you automatically get MU’s Excellence Award of $1,000 ($2,000 if you’re in the top 25% of your class) Since RB is a non-ranking school, MU will use a weighted core GPA for scholarship consideration • Competitive/Departmental Scholarships (require an application) • Community Scholarships- info coming in February! • A+ Scholarship- pays for 2 years of tuition at a community college or tech school in Missouri (pending availability of state funding). • 4 year schools may offer A+ incentive scholarships also! Ex: Columbia College offers $2,500/year; MO Valley offers ½ tuition! • Nov. 1stis the deadline for seniors to enroll in A+ Program!
Check out the Guidance Website! Answers to a lot of your questions can be found here! • TONS OF INFO on: • Academic Support/Tutoring • A+ Program • ACT/SAT/PSAT • COMPASS/ASVAB/CLEP Exams • College Visits • Important Guidance Forms • Job Opportunities • Post-Secondary Planning & FAFSA • Scholarships
Guidance is now on Twitter!! • FOLLOW US @RBHSGuidance for lots of fabulous information! • Scholarship info and deadlines • College visits • ACT/SAT reminders • Free giveaways (like free Andy’s!) • And more!
To Review… • Start applying NOW- pay attention to admissions AND scholarship deadlines. • SEE MRS. DAVIS in Guidance to have your transcript sent. • Take/re-take the ACT (and/or SAT) if needed • Complete the FAFSA4caster or Net Price Calculator to get a better estimate of how much colleges of interest will cost you • Sign up for A+ by November 1, 2014 • Fill out the FAFSA ASAP after January 1, 2015 • QUESTIONS??? : )