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1 TAKING THE NEXT STEP Resource Guide Table of Contents Why is College Important?...................................................................2 Where to Start?....................................................................................2 Gathering What You Need……………………….………………………..2 Standardized Testing………………………………..……………………..3-4 Essay Help…………………………………………...……………………..5 Financial Aid…………………………………………..…………………….6 Application Booster…………………………………..…………………….7 Finding the Right Fit for You! …………………….……………………….7 School Profiles……………………………………………………………...8-17 About Us………………………………..…………………………………...18 Program to Encourage Higher Education December 2015 Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.-Nelson Mandela

Taking the Next Step Resource Guide

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TAKING THE NEXT STEP

Resource Guide

Table of Contents

Why is College Important?...................................................................2

Where to Start?....................................................................................2

Gathering What You Need……………………….………………………..2

Standardized Testing………………………………..……………………..3-4

Essay Help…………………………………………...……………………..5

Financial Aid…………………………………………..…………………….6

Application Booster…………………………………..…………………….7

Finding the Right Fit for You! …………………….……………………….7

School Profiles……………………………………………………………...8-17

About Us………………………………..…………………………………...18

Program to Encourage Higher Education December 2015

“Education is the most powerful weapon

which you can use to change the

world.” -Nelson Mandela

2

What’s the Big Deal Anyway? Higher Education, whether it be a 2 year college, a 4 year uni-

versity, a technical school, or certification training, can be a very

rewarding experience. Higher Education can increase job secu-

rity and on average someone with a form of higher education

makes more money. Higher Education also has other benefits

such as allowing you to be more exposed to new environments,

experiences, and new people. It can be a time when you learn

about people that are different than you and you come in con-

tact with new cultures. Higher Education can also help you find

your passion in life. You many not know what you want to do

and a form of higher education can help you figure it out.

Some facts about Higher Education:

the unemployment rate is 1/3 of what it is for high school

graduates

Earn $1 million over someone with a high school diploma

over a lifetime

69% of those with a Bachelor’s degree receive health insur-

ance compared to only 55% of high school graduates

Where to Start?

You should start by gathering materials you need apply to

schools, as a starting point you can view the checklist on this

page. You can also talk to your high school counselor for more

information on anything within this packet as well as more infor-

mation about financial waivers. Individual school websites can

also be helpful in identifying specific steps you need to take as

well as materials you might need.

Remember, all of your high school career is evaluated by admis-

sions departments of colleges and universities. It is important to

beginning thinking about college in 9th or 10th grade so that you

can be prepared and you do not have to spend time catching up

later on.

Check List

Transcript (from your high

school counselor)

ACT or SAT Scores (you can

send them online)

Application (can be found

online on schools’ websites)

Letters of Recommendation

(from teachers, coaches,

school staff, boss, church

leaders, etc.)

Essay or Personal Statement

FAFSA/ CSS Profile for Fi-

nancial Aid

Application Fee (waiver’s are

available through your

school counselor)

3

Standardized Testing

The ACT is a content-based test, and includes sections on English, Reading, Math, and Sci-

ence. It has an optional Writing portion, which is required by some colleges. Many experts be-

lieve the ACT is a better measure of a student's retention of high school curriculum because it

is more content-oriented. The SAT, on the other hand, is often considered to be more of an in-

telligence test because it focuses on a student's problem-solving and reasoning abilities. The

SAT includes Reading, Math, and a required Writing portion. Most students today are taking

both tests multiple times. If you plan to only take one test, we recommend that you do a bit of

research to determine whether that test should be the ACT or the SAT. First, check with the

colleges and universities to which you plan to apply. The admissions department may require

one or the other, and may also offer scholarships based on scores from a specific test. If the

college accepts both tests, analyze your strengths; students who are strong in math and sci-

ence typically do well on the ACT, while students who excel in English and literature perform

better on the SAT. (from www.powerscore.com)

4

Standardized Testing Resources

http://www.actstudent.org/sampletest/

https://www.powerscore.com/act/help/

https://www.powerscore.com/sat/help/

content_practice_tests.cfm

https://www.4tests.com/act

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/practice

http://www.majortests.com/sat/

http://www.veritasprep.com/free-sat-resources/

http://ineedapencil.ck12.org/

http://www.kaptest.com/act/enroll?

zip=48205&tab=events

https://uniontestprep.com/sat/practice-test

Official Sites

http://www.actstudent.org/

https://www.collegeboard.org/ (SAT site)

5

Essay Help

Your college application essay is a great way to show colleges who you really are. This is

more than statistics on a page and really allows you to personalize your application. You can

write about something your passionate about, a struggle you’ve had, important live events, or

anything that you think really exemplifies who you are. This is an extremely integral part of

your application, so here are some great resources that can help you out.

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/essays/8-tips-for-crafting-

your-best-college-essay

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/essays/tips-for-writing-an-

effective-application-essay-college-admissions

http://www.essayhell.com/2014/10/essay-hells-top-10-tips.html

http://www.collegeessayorganizer.com/

https://www.grammarly.com/

http://college.usatoday.com/2014/10/23/9-essay-writing-tips-to-wow-

college-admissions-officers/

http://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/college-essay

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Financial Aid One of the biggest factors in pursuing higher education is the cost associated with it. This

can put a lot of stress on students and their families. There are many types of financial aid.

The first are scholarships and grants, these are gifts of money that you do not need to pay

back; however they may be certain criteria that needs to be maintained such as GPA or

athletic status. Loans are another type of financial aid, that you need to pay back after com-

pleting school. Some loans are offered by the Federal Government and can have less of an

interest amount and have longer grace periods. The third type of financial aid is work-study,

which is basically a guaranteed on campus job to help you work while on campus and earn-

ing your degree or certification.

The biggest factors for receiving financial aid are filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for

Federal Student Aid) to be considered for aid from the federal government. You can also

apply for financial aid directly from the colleges you’re applying to and from private organi-

zations. Some of these may require you to submit theCSS/Financial Aid PROFILE or other

forms. It is also important to look out for local scholarships and scholarships offered by the

school you are interested in attending. You can look for these online.

https://fafsa.ed.gov/

https://student.collegeboard.org/css

-financial-aid-profile

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/

pay-for-college/financial-aid-101/

financial-aid-can-help-you-afford-

college

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/

pay-for-college/financial-aid

http://www.finaid.org/

Scholarship Searches:

http://www.fastweb.com/

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/

scholarship-search

CollegeNet.com

Scholarships.com

ScholarshipMonkey.com

FindTuition.com

https://www.petersons.com/college-

search/scholarship-search.aspx

www.scholarshipexperts.com

https://www.chegg.com/

scholarships

http://www.scholarships360.org/

https://www.cappex.com/

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Application Boosters!

Some other great things that you can do in high school to improve your application include:

Letters of Recommendation: Build relationships with your teachers, school staff,

coachers, community leaders, and other influential adults in your life. This can help you

build a good base to get through high school, but down the line they can also write letters

of recommendation for you when you are applying!

Extracurriculars: Programs like to see that students are well rounded. You want to

get involved outside of the classroom and join a club, a sports team, or get involved some-

where in your community. This is way for you to show schools what you are passionate

about. This is also a bunch of fun!

Leadership: It is important to try and take on a leadership role in different situations.

Whether it is team captain, club vice president, taking on a role at your local church or

community center, it is really important to show your leadership skills. This not only shows

your involved, but it shows your dedicated and passionate.

Awards: If you received any awards throughout high school, in any area, it can be

helpful to include a list of them on your application. It can be helpful to keep track of these

through the four years, so when you are a senior you remember what went on Freshman

year.

Think about what you like and don’t like: it can be helpful to start thinking about

what you want to pursue in higher education. You don’t have to make any decisions right

away, but it can helpful to narrow things down a bit.

Finding the Right Fit for You!

Finding the right type of higher education for you can seem a bit intimidating, but don’t be

afraid to explore your options and talk you counselor, parents, and teachers! On the next few

pages are profiles on some schools that we thought could be of interest to you. All of this in-

formation was found on the internet, so don’t be afraid to do your research also, but we hope

that this can be a good foundation and starting point for you. We wish you the best of luck with

your pursuit of higher education.

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Wayne State University

Location: Detroit, Michigan

4 years

Enrollment: 25,619

Acceptance rate: 76%

Most Popular Majors: Pre-Med, Psychology Nurs-

ing, and Business

Minimum ACT score of 21

Average GPA: 3.2 , min: 2.75 GPA

Transcript Needed

Online Application

Application Deadline: August 1st (for Fall Semester)

Financial Aid: FASFA + CSS

Scholarships of Interest: Detroit Urban Scholarship;

Detroit Compact, Wade McCree Incentive Scholar-

ship

School Profiles

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School Profiles

Western Michigan University

Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan

4 years

Enrollment: 18,889

Acceptance rate: 84.1%

Most Popular Majors: Health and Medical Administrative Ser-

vices ,Business Administration and Management

Average ACT score of 23

Average GPA: 3.41

Online Application

Application Deadline: Rolling Admission

Financial Aid: FASFA

They offer free scholarship workshops in the Detroit and Metro

Detroit Area that could be beneficial to attend.

10

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

4 years

Enrollment: 28,395,

Acceptance rate: 32.2%

Most Popular Majors: Economics, Psychology, Busi-

ness, Political Science, Neuroscience,

Average Test Scores: ACT(30-34) or SAT(2040-

2280)

Average GPA: 3.85

Transcript Needed

Letter of Recommendation Needed

Online Application: Common Application

Application Deadline: Early Action: November 1st,

Final February 1st.

Financial Aid: FASFA + CSS

Scholarships of Interest: De-

troit Urban Scholarship; De-

troit Compact, Wade McCree

Incentive Scholarship

School Profiles

11

School Profiles

Eastern Michigan University

Location: Ypsilanti, Michigan

4 years

Enrollment: 18,208

Acceptance rate: 68.8%

Most Popular Majors: Business, Health, Education,

Psychology

Average ACT score of 22

Minimum GPA: 3.1

Online Application

Deadlines: January 15th for Financial Aid, July 1st

for Fall Semester

Application Deadline: Rolling Admission

Financial Aid: FASFA , they have many scholarships

available, please visit their website www.emich.edu.

12

College For Creative Studies

Location: Detroit, Michigan

4 years

Enrollment: 1,401

Acceptance rate: 48.6%

Average Test Scores: ACT(22) or SAT(1059)

Transcript Needed

5-8 Piece Portfolio Needed

Online Application

Application Deadline: Early Action: December 1st,

February 1st for financial aid, Rolling Admission

through May

Financial Aid: FASFA

Scholarships of Interest: 36th District Court Spon-sored Project Scholarship, Mitch Albom Detroit Dream Scholars Fund, Mitch Albom Detroit Dream Fund, CE City Scholarship , Detroit Society of Wom-en Painters and Sculptors Scholarship, Ford WPP Team Detroit Scholarship,

School Profiles

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School Profiles

Oakland University

Location: Rochester Michigan

4 years

Enrollment: 16,935

Acceptance rate: 67.4%

Most Popular Majors: Business, Health, Communi-

cation/Journalism, Education, Psychology

Minimum ACT score of 18

Minimum GPA: 2.5

Average GPA: 3.2

Online Application

Deadlines: March 1st for Financial Aid, After: Rolling

Admission

Financial Aid: FASFA , they have many scholarships

available, please visit their website

www.oakland.edu.

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Spelman College

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

4 years

Historically Black College for Women

Enrollment: 2,135

Acceptance rate: 54.0%

Most Popular Majors: Psychology, Biology, Political

Science, and English

Average GPA: 3.6

Average Test Scores: ACT(22) or SAT(1027)

Transcript Needed

2 Letters of Recommendation Needed

Online Application: Common Application

Application Deadline: Early Action: November1st,

February 1st

Financial Aid: FASFA

Scholarships of Interest: they have many scholarships available, please visit their website www.spelman.edu

School Profiles

15

School Profiles

Howard University

Location: Washington D.C.

4 years

Historically Black Co-Ed College

Enrollment: 7,013

Acceptance rate: 48.4%

Most Popular Majors: Communications, Social Sci-

ences, Business, Health, Biology

Average Test Scores: ACT 23.7 or SAT I Math/

Reading 548

Average GPA: 3.38

Online Application: Common Application

Deadlines: Early Action: November 1st, Deadline

February 15th

Financial Aid: FASFA , they

have many scholarships avail-

able, please visit their website

www.howard.edu.

16

Oakland Community College

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

2 years

Enrollment: 2,135

Acceptance rate: 54.0%

Most Popular Majors: Psychology, Biology, Political

Science, and English

Average GPA: 3.6

Average Test Scores: ACT(22) or SAT(1027)

Transcript Needed

2 Letters of Recommendation Needed

Online Application: Common Application

Application Deadline: Early Action: November1st,

February 1st

Financial Aid: FASFA

Scholarships of Interest: they have many scholarships available, please visit their web-site www.spelman.edu

School Profiles

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School Profiles

Wayne County Community College

Location: Washington D.C.

2 years

Enrollment: 7,013

Acceptance rate: 48.4%

Most Popular Majors: Communications, Social Sci-

ences, Business, Health, Biology

Average Test Scores: ACT 23.7 or SAT I Math/

Reading 548

Average GPA: 3.38

Online Application: Common Application

Deadlines: Early Action: November 1st, Deadline

February 15th

Financial Aid: FASFA , they

have many scholarships availa-

ble, please visit their website

www.howard.edu.

Contact Us

Kathleen Hurley

[email protected]

Riley Banks

[email protected]

Stephen Lin

[email protected]

CASC Program

[email protected]

About Taking The Next Step

This program was developed by a group of students as part of a class through the Community Action and Social Change Minor through the School of Social Work at the University of Michigan. Our group choose to create this project in hopes of helping offer more information to students about higher education and the re-sources they can use to pursue it. We hope that students benefited from our in class programs and will continue to benefit from this resource guide. Our target audience was intended for 9th and 10th graders to begin to start thinking about college early in order to be prepared later on when the time comes to apply. If you have any questions about the program or this resource guide, please feel free to contact us.

December 2015