Shelton Senior Parent Guidance Workshop Helping with the College Process

1. Shelton Senior Parent Guidance WorkshopHelping with the College Process

2. Handouts • ACT Prep Handout • Senior Timeline • ACT Prep Book • Guide to Federal Student Aid • College Prep Handbook • PowerPoint Copies

3. What Seniors & Parents Can Expect from the Guidance Office • Provide Info on Colleges, Careers, Scholarships, FAFSA • Honor All Transcript Requests • Complete Necessary Recommendations • Assist with Making Major College/Financial Aid Decisions • Continued Personal Development during the year

4. However! While I Provide information, I will not chase a student down the halls to provide forms OR complete any forms for you!! You are ultimately responsible for deadlines, applications, etc. . .

5. Does Your Student Have A Career Path In Mind? • If Not-Don’t Panic • Main Focus Is to Get Them On Campus • Inventories (Interest) • Job Shadows • Change Majors 2-3 times (common)

6. Post Secondary Options

8. 4 Year College • Offer Bachelor’s degree • Universities are usually larger • Public and Private • Private(don’t charge out of state tuition), but are more expensive without scholarships, usually better student teacher ratios • Public(charge out of state tuition, larger classes)

9. 2 Year Colleges • Associate’s Degree • Academic Transfer Degree • Southeast Lincoln, CCC • Technical/Career School • Trade or Skill Specific • Southeast Milford, Curtis, Wyo Tech

10. Military Service • Many Benefits • Can also go to college while in service • Army Navy Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard • Guard has a program where they guarantee you to go to school for 2 years first

11. Senior Time Line • Handouts • College Bulletin • Focus on Month to Month

12. Admissions • Every School Is Different • Open/Selective/Highly Selective • Based on Many Variables • When in doubt, apply to the school you want to go to, talk to their admissions people • Online Applications can be free, and are faster • Complete applications to the schools you want to go to before Thanksgiving

13. Recommendations • Request Recommendation Form • Senior Profile to Guidance • 2 from School Faculty • 1 from Community • Don’t wait until you need these

14. College Testing • ACT, recommend you take this 4 times, the most important time is Oct, Senior Year • Be sure School Choices are listed to receive scores • Act.org or Mr. Brown’s Website(recommended) • John Baylor Test Prep • Compass/Asset • 2 year schools use this test • Can take it free on campus, this is a placement exam • I can set up a visit, and a test on the same day

15. NCAA Clearinghouse • Any Student who plans to compete in athletics at DI, II or III must complete the form • Does Your Child Meet the Core Requirements • Use my website under “Athletes” • Costs money $40

16. Transcript Requests • Use Website or handout • Each college will need a copy of your child’s transcript • I send them, request 4-5 days ahead of time minimum, in writing on the form • If your student has taken college classes, you must request those records be sent to the college of your choice at the end of the year

17. Campus Visits • Narrow Choices • 1 day for visit, 1 day for job shadowing, or 2 days visits no job shadowing • When to visit • Questions to ask • How to set it up • Departments to visit

18. Common Campus Visit Questions • Admission requirements • Does school have academic program to fit interests • Will they take all of my college class hours • Average class size • Classes taught by professors or assistants • Freshman orientation • Computer access, special abilities • Scholarship application process • Are residence halls pleasant • Nice town/city? • Are on or off campus jobs readily available • Does it feel like a comfortable fit

19. Financial Aid • Is the family’s Responsibility to Provide Funds For Child’s Post Secondary Education • Types of Aid • Federal Aid • Private Grants • Military Aid • National Guard • Scholarship

20. Federal Aid • Education Quest in Kearney is the key to your Federal Aid, free, by Walgreens, talk to them before you need them ask them for advice • Based on Family Income and Assets • Pell Grants • Work Study • Subsidized an Unsubsidized Loans • Parent Plus Loans • FAFSA completed by March • Financial Aid Night in Jan/Feb usually

21. Scholarships Types Local-School National and Regional from the College you are attending

22. College you are attending scholarships • Based on Academics, Leadership, or Activities • Every School is Different • Deadlines, • Dec 1st deadline for state colleges • Jan 1 for most Universities • ACT, GPA, Class Rank, and types of courses will be used to award academic scholarships • In some fields-nursing for example or diesel mechanics, they will pay you to go to school if you agree to work for them

23. National/Regional Scholarships • Fastweb.com, educationquest.org, my scholarship board • Keep a Resume and list of activites up to date, use career cruising or educationquest • Local Scholarships on my website, turn in to guidance office, some like the Duncan E. Lillian McGregor you can apply for every year

24. Funding Estimator • Use Educationquest’s website to calculate your expected family contribution • Use last year’s info

25. Together, we can do this!!!!! • Staying organized and motivated is the key • Start working with college recruiters • Follow the Senior Time Line • Email me at dabrown@esu10.org with questions, I will respond