Helpful tips to planning your education as a student-athlete

What to consider when deciding on a school

Location Size of town/city Class sizes Cost of tuition Majors offered Climate

Consider the surroundings…and the distance from home.

What does the campus have to offer? What is the enrollment? What are the demographics of the student population? What extracurricular offerings are available? Clubs Intramural sports Campus life

How much are you prepared to spend and/or take out in student loans? Tuition Books Housing Transportation/Parking Food Laundry

What should you be doing now?

 FRESHMAN YEAR- meet with high school advisor and complete a 4 year plan  Enroll in courses that meet the A-G Requirements  SOPHOMORE YEAR-begin researching colleges and considering career options.  The CA Career Zone is a great tool to help you identify career options based on your interests.CA Career Zone  JUNIOR YEAR –continue college research. Check out College Board to explore more options.College Board  Take the PSAT in October and the SAT and/or ACT in the spring.PSATSATACT  Complete the NCAA Clearinghouse for student-athlete eligibility in college.NCAA Clearinghouse  SENIOR YEAR-apply for colleges and scholarships. Complete the FAFSA to determine financial aid qualifications. scholarshipsFAFSA

Volunteer – get involved in our community. In addition to doing your part to make our world a little better, individuals who volunteer make better applicants for college admission and scholarships. Keep a log of your volunteer efforts and hours. Resume- Develop an outline highlighting your involvement in clubs, athletics, awards, and community service. Recommendations-gather letters from teachers, coaches, and employers.

Preparing for your sport

 Technical training  Nutrition  Fitness  Playing at I.D. camps  Contact college coaches  Submit online information for prospective athletes for potential colleges. (HSU example for women’s soccer)HSU example  Playing time-enrolling at a smaller school may allow for more opportunity

 Pre Season and Off Season 2 hours of weight training/conditioning 4-5 days per week  During the Season Sport specific class 1 hour/2 days a week Practice 2 hours/5-6 days a week Weight training/conditioning 1-2 hours Time commitments will vary based on your level of play (community college, DI, II, or III) and the program you select.

Identifying your resources

Meet regularly throughout your high school career with your counselor. Visit the FHS Counseling offices to get application and scholarship deadlines. Utilize the FHS Counseling Department webpage.FHS Counseling

 Universities often offer high school students the opportunity to take courses and live on-campus during the summer. Check the for programs offered by schools you may be interested in attending. Examples  Carnegie Mellon University /pages/summer-programs-for- diversity /pages/summer-programs-for- diversity  Chicano/Latino Youth Leadership Program  UC Davis Young Scholars Program  Kettering University duate-admissions duate-admissions

College Search  Search for colleges and test preparation/registration  The Common Application accepted by numerous private universities  California State University system  University of California system  Private non-profit colleges in California Financial Aid  Scholarship search  Federal Student Aid  Financial aid eligibility  Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) for low income and educationally disadvantaged students  MALDEF Scholarships/Financial Aid for students without social security numbers ndex.html ndex.html Career Information Identify potential career options

 NCAA Guide for the College Bound Athlete  NCAA Eligibility Center  Division I, II, III Overview

Frequently Asked Questions about paying for college: 1. Do colleges offer financial aid or scholarships to undocumented students? Yes, some do. Private colleges often have special funds available. To apply for this financial aid, you may have to fill out the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE or the college’s own forms. Check with the admission or financial aid office at each college you are interested in to find out its requirements. 2. Am I eligible for scholarships? Yes, you just need to find ones that you qualify for. Start by talking to your high school counselor and checking out the scholarship resource page on the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) website. There are many scholarship opportunities, and some private scholarship organizations allow undocumented students to apply. There are even a few scholarships specifically meant for undocumented students. Be sure to look into local scholarships offered by community groups, such as the Kiwanis, that might be open to all students living in the local community. 3. Can I get federal financial aid? No. You can’t get federal financial aid unless you’re a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen. This means you should not fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

4. Can I get a Pell Grant? No. Pell Grants are a type of federal financial aid. 5. How else can I cut down on costs? You may be able to save money on tuition by earning college credit before starting college. Check with the colleges you’re considering to see if they award credit for qualifying scores on AP. INQUIRE WITH YOUR FHS COUNSELOR FOR A LIST OF COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES THAT OFFER FULL SCHOLARSHIPS