College Knowledge

Senior Presentation:

Is there life after TERRA?

• Open Door policy during lunches and after school until 3:00 p.m., most days

• No appointment schedule since I cannot remove you from class. Parents can meet with me once you pre-arrange with your teacher (and me, duh). Do your best to keep them informed so that I can use my time for open door students.

• Available during class ONLY with a pass

• College Cabinet located near the front door, top drawer: shop around in files/pamphlets, but please don’t remove them from the room, and put the back in alphabetical order with no wrinkled pages or fingerprints :P

• Scholarship Station located near the front door, bottom drawer: shop through copies, take home, APPLY

Mi University Center essu University Center

• Sign up for email updates under the College Advising tab of the terrawolves.com site.

• Remind 101 for upperclassmen only:• Biomedical Seniors: text @2020srbio to 81010• Engineering Seniors: text @2020sreng to 81010• Environmental Seniors: text @2020srenv to 81010• Early Admissions Seniors: text @2020srea to 81010

Mi University Center essu University Center

Where to start

❑ Register and take SAT test. (www.collegeboard.com)

❑ Register and take ACT test. (www.act.org) Schools can use either.

❑ Take SAT Subject Tests if necessary. (contact colleges/universities applying to)

Registration available at www.collegeboard.com

❑ If applying to MDC, take placement test (PERT) if necessary

(exempt if SAT: V-440 M-500 or ACT: E-17, R-18, M-21)

❑ Attend college presentations and college fairs.

❑ Finalize college lists (Four or MORE, four or MORE!) – safety, match, reach

❑Maintain deadline calendar log: applications, scholarships,

essay requirements, etc. I MADE YOU ONE!

❑ Send and pay for completed college application.

❑ Send transcripts.

Where to start

Where to $tart: the extra$

❑ Athletes applying to a Division I or II schools MUST complete the NCAA Clearinghouse profile.

See Mr. Miller or visit www.ncaa.org

❑ Fill out CSS Profile in October if required by college/university (see list at www.collegeboard.com)

❑ Fill out and send Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov after

October 1st (senior year)

❑ Apply online for State Financial Aid at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org after October 1st (senior year)

❑ Apply for scholarships. Monthly scholarship newsletter available at the CAP office and online at

terrawolves.com/collegeadvising

fastweb.com (daily emails!)

bigfuture.collegeboard.org: scholarships, college searches

KEEP COPIES OF ALL FORMS YOU SUBMIT.

Yes, I’m YELLING.

❑ (Extra pointers that should go without saying, but I’m saying them):

❑Proofread (Florida vs. Federated States of Micronesia story)

❑Verify information (Yale kickback, SSAR)

❑ Do not lie/embellish (it can only come back to harm you in the end, often AT the end.)

(New College yearbook editor verification/rec letter confirmation)

Where to start

Testing

Yes, you should take both the ACT and SAT. What else do you do on Saturdays, anyway?

Waivers: Apply online at terrawolves.com under college advising tab. (maximum 2 for each exam – SAT, SAT Subject Area administrations – up to three exams each administration, ACT)

SAT waivers now allow you unlimited score reports, unlimited college application submissions, and free CSS Profile applications at participating schools, SAT question service (correct answers) and student answer service (analysis of your personal answers)

ACT waivers also exist, but the procedure is a bit different, and the schools that accept them are not as numerous.

NACAC also allows four application fee waivers using a different process also – see me for access to this form.

NEW: Fee waivers can be used for late registrations in the United States and U.S. territories at no additional charge (SAT ONLY – ACT: you must pay late fee.)

Testing fun facts

When should I send my scores? How do I do that?

SAT: Four scores sent for free at time of registration OR up to nine days after test date. If you don’t send then, it’s $12 for each one after this period. (NO FSU)

ACT: Four scores sent for free at time of registration through test date. Anything after is $13 for each one after this period.

But wait, Mrs. Vivian, shouldn’t I wait to see what they are first?

Superscoring: best part of each exam you take

Score Choice: the freedom to send all scores for specific test dates only

Check with your school - requirements vary

College information

You are selling yourself – be your best commercial.

WATCH OUT FOR:

Inappropriate email addresses

Social media posts and photos (even if you’re tagged)

…EVEN if it’s private

College information

What’s next? Where to go? How to choose? Bigfuture.collegeboard.org College Search

Location: Snow? Big cities? Rural farmland? Beaches? Mountains? Staying close to home? Getting as far away as possible? Different people? Different cultures? Plenty of activities or plenty of study time? Fading into the crowd or standing out with the few? Close personal attention or being left to sink or swim?

Each college or university has their own personality. By doing your own investigation, you may find out what college environment best suits you. Your own personal success is often determined by how comfortable and happy you are in your new environment. Google, join social media groups, take Youtube tours.

Admission Requirements: know your deadline dates!

Know if either early action or early decision are offered, know about letters of recommendation and essays, know what their mid-range GPA and SAT/ACT scores are, determine if you match the qualifications a college is looking for and your realistic chances of getting accepted. Reach school? Safe school?

Application fees: UF/UCF/FSU/FIU- $30, UM - $70, Georgia Tech/Harvard - $75, Columbia - $85

College information

Costs: get an idea of what tuition, room and board, books, travel, etc. will cost you and your family. This is a great time to learn about financial aid and how it works; most importantly, talk this over with your parents, know what they can afford, and then do some soul searching to determine what you will have to do to make up any shortages. Investigate what you may qualify for in financial aid. Check out what institutional aid is available - know what GPA and SAT/ACT scores are required to qualify for an institutional scholarship. All institutions are different and many offer great awards to worthy students. Now is the time to do your research - if your SAT or GPA is a few points off the mark, now is the time to plan to take the first ACT offered in September, or the first SAT offered in October. Plan out your strategy prior to the date that your college application is due.

USE THE NET PRICE CALCULATORS. USE THEM.

Remember this is so true: “YOU WILL END UP GOING TO THE COLLEGE THAT YOUR PARENTS CAN MOST AFFORD.” It’s very important to learn as much as you can about available scholarships that your college offers and read up on the financial aid process.

College information

Academics: Always allow yourself some flexibility. Know that most small or liberal arts colleges may offer a limited number of programs and majors. That's fine if you are sure you know what you want to study, but not so good if you want to study Physical Therapy and they don't offer it. Universities usually offer a wide variety of programs and majors. If you are like most college students, you may end up changing your major several times. Universities may offer the flexibility that a fickle mind needs.

Visits: When you have developed a list of colleges, please plan a visit to your colleges. Call ahead to arrange a tour. Pay attention to the atmosphere of the college as well as the students who attend there. Visit a class if possible; ask about institutional scholarships as well as financial aid. Most importantly, get a feel as to how you will fit into the college culture and if it will meet your scholastic as well as career goals. If visiting your college selections is too costly, consider applying to these colleges and then visit them in the spring. (Spring weekends) By that time, you would have been accepted and in some cases you would have already received your financial and scholarship package.

(Thanks to Mr. Roddy, CAP @ Krop High School)

College information

College visits: complete the online registration form. (It closes one week prior to reserve space; walk-ins won’t be welcome, sorry.)

Submit so that you can receive the confirmation email for your teacher to sign allowing you to leave class. Your teacher must sign the pass to release you (unless it’s a lunch visit, duh) – inform them before it’s time to go; no one will be allowed into the visit without a signed pass.

Most visits will be held in the University Center, so space is tight. Choose selectively – it is not not not not not just an excuse to get out of class. I will sniff that out and make it disappear.

Includes: MIT, Dartmouth, University of Alabama, Boston College, UCF, UM, UF, FSU, Embry Riddle, FIU for all.

Caution: For-profit colleges/universities – verify accreditation is legitimate and transferable

Scholarship fee services: do not pay!

(fastweb.com, bigfuture.collegeboard.org, cappex.com, scholly.com)

College and Resource Fair: Thursday, October 29th (12:30-2:00 – all grades)

College visit research: what to ask reps

Important Dates: Early decision deadline/Regular application

deadline/Financial aid application deadline/Campus housing

deadlines

Admission Questions:

• What was the average SAT/ACT scores of the entering

freshman class?

• What was the average high school GPA of the entering

freshman class?

• (Show your personal data sheet.) What are my chances for

being accepted?

• Which high school courses are required?

• How many years of a foreign language are required?

General Questions:• What can this school offer me that is different from, better

than, or more unique than similar schools?• How would you describe the typical student?• How large is your campus?• What is the average class size?• What is the nature of the faculty?• If a large school or university, ask what percent of classes

are taught by graduate students.• What are the five strongest majors at your institution?• What type of high school background are you looking for

in an applicant?• How can I arrange a campus visit? Are there any special

visitation days on your campus?• Do you accept Advanced Placement test credits? If so, with

what scores?• What percentage of a typical freshman class will actually

graduate from your college?

College visit research: what to ask reps

• What is the college’s procedure for class placement in

English and Mathematics?

• Do you have programs for study abroad?

• How important is student government?

• When must I choose a major?

• What procedure is used to assign a faculty advisor when the

student is undecided as to the major area of study?

• What additional academic services do you offer to students

(tutoring, career counseling, study skills)?

• How effective is your institution’s honor code? What is the

penalty for cheating?

• What percent of students from last year’s freshman class

returned for their sophomore year?

• How does your institution place students in their freshman

classes?

• What percentage of the freshman class earned better than a 2.0 GPA last year?

• If accepted, can you tell me what my predicted freshman grade point average will be?

• Is there adequate housing for all your students?• If not, what arrangements are made?• How are roommates selected?• How many students reside on campus?• What are some of the rules and regulations which govern

residence halls? Are there coeducational residence halls?• Is your school a “suitcase college” on weekends?• If not, what are some weekend activities for students on

campus?• What type of extra-curricular activities are on campus?• How safe is your school? Where can I obtain statistics about

crime on campus?

School Dates to Know 2018 freshmen profile

(mid 50%) test scores

2018 freshmen profile

(mid 50%) weighted GPA

UF November 1st (scores due by 12/15) SAT: 1360

ACT: 30

GPA: 4.4

AP/DE courses: 7-9

FSU November 1st/February 7th SAT: 1270-1390

ACT: 28-32

GPA: 4.1 - 4.5

UCF May 1 SAT: 1320

ACT: 28

GPA: 4.1

FIU November 1 (merit scholarships – admitted

by date)

April 15 (fall)

SAT: 1290

ACT: 28

GPA: 4.2

FGCU November 15 (merit scholarships)

February 15 (priority)

May 1

SAT: 1140

ACT: 24

GPA: 3.8

USF January 15 (merit scholarships)

March 1

SAT: 1280

ACT: 27

GPA: 4.1

MD Honors

College

February 1 (priority)

April 1 (final)

Varies GPA: 3.7

UM November 1 (ED1: binding)

November 1 (EA: nonbinding)

January 1 (ED2/RD)

SAT: 1320-1460

ACT: 30-33

GPA: 4.2

Georgia

Tech

October 15 (EA: nonbinding)

January 1

SAT: 1400-1520

ACT: 31-34 (superscored!)

(19% non-Georgia admit rate)

GPA: 3.98

AP/DE courses: 8-13

College applications: Coffee. Lots of coffee.

• Nearly all online: CHECK which parts are needed! (Ex. Application, test scores, transcripts/SSAR)

• Tedious and repetitive

• Less focus on teacher/counselor recommendations, but still a part of many. Know if a school needs a letter!

• Most require essays (more on this soon, bwa ha ha ha). Common App displays supplements, but always check the school website first.

• Short answer responses need to be focused and insightful.

• Transcripts: submit online request with Ms. Bermudez through the Student Services tab of the terrawolves.com website Mondays – Thursdays by 2:20 for Friday availability. Any requests submitted after Thursday at 2:20 will be processed the following Friday. Know if/when transcripts are needed – YES: FIU, NO: UF, FSU, UM (all Common App/SSAR Coalition) – don’t make extra work or panic for yourself.

• Make sure counselor name (for online requests) includes me.

• DO NOT COPY. (Turnintin story)

College applications: Coffee. Lots of coffee.

• Common Application: > 700 schools, including Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Cornell, and Colorado State. (Yes, I stopped at the ‘C’ list.)

• Coalition App: UF and FSU included. (No recs needed for UF/FSU.) SSAR needed, no transcripts. USE COMMON APP IF YOU CAN.

• If teacher recs needed, : start now. Teachers will say no. Choose recommenders who can evaluate you positively – move on if it’s a sketchy choice.

• Use brag sheet as foundation (terrawolves.com/collegeadvising or hard copies in the University Center)

• The dreaded supplements: good luck. (Check with each school you’re applying to.)

Financial Aid (aka Vivian Betta Have My Money)

• Bright Futures opens up October 1st. Apply or I will hunt you down.

• Come to my office and apply in front of me – I will help with questions, if needed.

• www.FloridaStudentFinancialAidsg.org

• Recipients will receive a fixed cost per credit hour based on award level, institution type, and credit type.

• Three levels:

• Florida Academic Scholars: 100% tuition, fees, and $300/semester book stipend

• Florida Medallion Scholars: 75% tuition and fees

• Florida Gold Seal Vocational ($39-$48 depending on program and degree)

Florida Academic

Scholars

Florida Medallion Scholars Gold Seal Vocational

GPA: 3.5

16 course credits

4 English

4 Mathematics(at or above the Algebra 1 level)

3 Natural Science

3 Social Studies

2 Foreign Languages(sequential, in same language)

100 Community Service Hours

SAT: 1290

ACT: 29

GPA: 3.0

16 course credits

4 English

4 Mathematics

(at or above the Algebra 1 level)

3 Natural Science

3 Social Studies

2 Foreign Languages

(sequential, in same language)

75 Community Service Hours

SAT: 1170

ACT: 26

GPA: 3.0

16.5 course credits

4 English

4 Mathematics

3 Natural Science

3 Social Studies

1 PA or FA

.5 P.E /.5 P.F. /Health

GPA : 3.5 including

3 VOCATIONAL CREDITS

30 COMMUNITY HRS

SAT: R(440) M (440)

ACT: E(17) R(19) M(19)

PERT: R(106) W(103) M(114)

Financial Aid (aka Vivian Betta Have My Money)

• FYI, evaluation for Bright Futures includes an unrounded weighted high school GPA (calculated to two decimal places) in the 16 college-

preparatory credits. The following courses are weighted .25 per semester

course or .50 per year course in the calculation of the GPA: Advanced

Placement (AP), Honors, or academic Dual Enrollment. For example,

whereas an ‘A’ equals 4 quality points for an unweighted course, an ‘A’

would equal 4.5 quality points for a weighted course

Financial Aid (aka Vivian Betta Have My Money)

• Bright Futures uses the best section score from any sitting of the same entrance exam to give the student the best possible overall composite score.

• Does NOT use the writing section score from either test.

• The ACT® composite score is the average of the best scores across the four subject area sections from any test sitting: English, Math, Reading and Science. Composite scores ending in 0.50 will be rounded up to the next whole number.

• The SAT® combined score is the sum of the best Critical Reading and Math sections from any test sitting.

• The ACT®/SAT® exams may be taken through June 30 of the student’s graduation year (or through January 31 for mid-year graduates).

• There is no limit to the number of times a student may retake the test through June 30 of the student’s graduation year.

• .Request test scores be sent to one of Florida’s 12 state universities, Florida state colleges (public community colleges), or public high schools when registering for the ACT®/SAT® so that test scores will be sent to the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) repository.

Money matters: federal/state, institutional, private

Bright Futures –

• After state evaluations and eligibility notifications (typically in March), the student will be prompted

to designate which post-secondary institution they will be attending.

• Your college will be informed of all eligible students.

• After registration, funds will be applied to the student’s bill (after the drop/add period) to either fulfill the

bill or, in case of a surplus (woohoo!) be distributed back to the student.

• Renewable each year with GPA and credit maintenance:

(2.75/3.0) and minimum of (24) credits for full-time students or (6) credits per term for part-time students

Financial Aid (aka Vivian Betta Have My Money)

• FAFSA – required, opens October 1st, 2019. (See previous threat.)

• It’s what schools use as the basis for financial aid awards – it calculates family contribution and resulting need:

• May result in grant/loan offers such as:

• Pell Grant (up to $6195 maximum per year, need based)

• Stafford Loans (subsidized: interest paid by government while still in school/unsubsidized loan accumulates interest on loan balance)

• Work Study programs

• CSS Profile – additional financial aid form, very detailed, required by some institutions, available now (due soon!)

Work it, earn it: scholarshipsScholarship Dates to Know Requirements Eligibility

Questbridge September 27 (11:59 pm) – a

series of deadlines after initial

application including college

rankings and MATCH form.)

Application (with 2

essays and short

answer responses), 2

rec letters, SSR,

transcript, test scores

Academic: top 5-10%

of class/SAT (R+M)

> 1250/ACT > 27

Financial: < $60k

(family of 4)

Raise.me Ongoing per college: if you’re

even THINKING about FIU,

do this.

Updated portfolio,

“follow” schools you’re

interested in. They will

pull your profile info.

per their own due

dates.

Admission into each

school. Awards then

become part of the

financial aid package.

Monthly newsletter: The Way of theWolf published online/hard copies in the UC

Silver Knight awards

• The Miami Herald Silver Knight Awards is one of the nation’s most highly regarded student awards programs.

• The purpose of this Awards program is to recognize outstanding students who have not only maintained good grades but have also unselfishly applied their special knowledge and talents to contribute significant service to their schools and communities.

• The Silver Knight Awards program was instituted at The Miami Herald in 1959 by John S. Knight, past publisher of The Miami Herald, founder and editor emeritus of Knight-Ridder Newspapers and 1968 Pulitzer Prize winner.

Silver Knight awards

• Awards: $2,000 cash, Silver Knight statuette (think Oscar!) medallion from American Airlines (usually one RT plane ticket as well)

• Honorable mentions: $500 cash, engraved plaque

• PLUS, the prestige of the award and a tightly knit networking community throughout the country (Amazon.com/Payless/Build-A-Bear/politicians/judges/medicine/international relations/finance)

Silver Knight awards

• 12th grade students only• This is a community-service based award: your individual contribution/personal initiative

secures a nomination/award – not cumulative hours• 3.2. unweighted GPA• Category specific: one of (15) with appropriate academic concentration, though the major

service project does not need to match• A Silver Knight is one whose record of service to the school and community best

exemplifies an unselfish and continuous use of one’s talents in helping others. Service does not have to be related to a nominee’s category, but some achievements both in and out of the classroom must be related to the category. Judges evaluate community service especially during the full high school career, 9th through 12th grades. Nominees are evaluated based on the following criteria: service, achievements, character, leadership and interview skills.

• Two major factors to be weighed are consistency and lasting impact of service. Other factors include independent thinking, creative problem solving, leadership in getting others involved, and perseverance in overcoming obstacles. Most nominees will have a wide range of service activities.

Silver Knight awards

• Complete preliminary application – Word .doc downloaded from school website

• Prelims due to Mrs. Vivian by September 27th

• Selection committee will evaluate all applications

• Nominations announced November/December

This year will fly by. FLY. Enjoy the ride, and look forward to the future that you’re creating.

Don’t Blink.