College Planning Presentation

Ideas to add? Missouri Department of Higher Education http://dhe.mo.gov/

Midwest Student Exchange Program

IMPORTANT SENIOR DATES FINANCIAL AID NIGHT, Monday, September 19 at BSSHS, 6 PM COLLEGE FAIR, Monday, October 10, BSHS Commons, 6:30 PM SENIOR ACADEMIC AWARDS NIGHT, Thursday, May 4, 7 – 9 PM, PAC There will be 100+ colleges and universities represented at College Night, each with a display, representative, and admissions information. A college financial aid representative will present a program explaining the FAFSA and other types of grants, loans, and scholarships. Explain new filing date for FAFSA. Senior Academic Awards Night is when we recognize the academic achievements and scholarship awards of our seniors.

Which college? How do I choose? 88% of high school students who are attending college, go to college in their home state. 83% of Blue Springs High School students attend college after graduation. 34% of Blue Springs High School students attend a 2 year community college. 47% of Blue Springs High School student go directly to a 4 year college or university. Ask how many students have made a final decision about the college they will attend. How many have applied?

Types of Colleges Two year Type Description Tuition Admission Requirements Two year Degrees offered: Associates Provides: A way to ease into college / take general college classes for credit. Typically have agreements with four year colleges to transfer credits. Typically around $4,000/year Open-door admission policy Students who achieve A+ certification can attend any community college in Missouri and tuition is covered. Some four year colleges have elected to offer scholarship incentives to students who have achieved the A+ certification. In the Kansas City area, the Metropolitan Community College system consists of 4 campuses: Blue River, Longview, Penn Valley, and Maple Woods. Classes can be taken on any campus. Different campuses host different programs. For instance, Maple Woods is where the Veterinary Tech program is located, while health care degree programs are based at Penn Valley.

Types of Colleges Four year Type Description Tuition Admission Requirements Four year Degrees offered: Bachelors and beyond Provides: A well-rounded college experience that includes an academic area of study. State: Typically around $15,000/year Private: Typically more than $20,000/year SAT or ACT GPA Class rank Essay Extracurricular activities Letters of recommendation Transcripts

College Comparisons University of Missouri: Apply by Dec. 1 24 or higher on ACT Tuition/RB/Supplies $25,514 per year* University of Central Missouri: 21 or higher on ACT Tuition/RB $14,229 per year* Rental plan for books Northwest Missouri State: 21 or higher on ACT Tuition/RB $16,943 per year* Books and Laptop included in fees Missouri Western: ACT subscores: 1 9 English 19 Read 20 Math Tuition/RB $13,240 per year* Books can be rented or purchased Washington Univ. Highly selective $60,355/year* *These dollar figures are approximations. Please consult the admissions offices at these colleges for the most accurate information.

About College Admission Tests ACT Widely accepted Consists of four tests: English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing Writing component is optional Top composite score is 36 average score is 21. SAT Predominantly used by east and west coast schools Consists of three tests: Verbal, Math, Writing Each test is scored on a scale of 200-800

2016-2017 ACT Test Dates Standard test fee : $42.50 To register, go to: ACT Plus Writing: $58.50 www.actstudent.org Test Date Registration Deadline (Late Fee Required) October 22, 2016 September 16, 2016 September 17-30 December 10, 2016 November 4, 2016 November 5 - 18 February 11, 2017 January 13, 2017 January 14-20 April 8, 2017 March 3, 2017 March 4 -17 June 10, 2017 May 5, 2017 May 5-19 The ACT is always on a Saturday and Blue Springs High School is a designated test site. If a student receives free and reduced lunch, fee waivers can be obtained in the Counseling Office for two ACT tests. See your counselor for the application form. A student who is on an IEP may be eligible for an arranged test date. Contact Mr. Fuimaono in the 300 Office for details. Many colleges will no longer accept the ACT score forwarded by us. They request an official report from ACT. Be sure to list the top colleges you are apt to attend and where you would like a score report sent when you fill out your registration form. They will send several score reports for you, but score reports sent at a later date will cost $12.00 each when using a paper request form. Phone orders, add $14.50, for a total of $26.50 PER REQUEST!

What information do college admission officers review? Grades / Overall GPA Strength of high school course selections Admission Test Score Essay (Some Colleges Require This) Teacher and counselor recommendations Class rank Student’s demonstrated interest Personal accomplishments Personality characteristics Courses in progress Senior year For most in-state colleges and universities, your GPA and ACT are the primary things considered for admission. Out-of-state and highly selective colleges and universities may consider many other things in determining your acceptance.

Making the Decision About Where to Apply Attend College Fairs Meet w/ Admissions Reps Surf the Internet (View Course Equivalencies/Transfer Credit, Take Virtual Tours, Request Information) Visit Various Campuses Apply to Several Colleges/Universities Apply by Deadline Dates Deadlines are not necessarily the same at all colleges and universities. Use the web sites or talk to the admissions offices at your schools of choice to determine appropriate deadlines. Deadlines for application may not be the same as the deadlines for automatic scholarships that are awarded through the college or university. Research thoroughly!

College Information – Where to go The web is your best source when starting to explore colleges. Colleges have websites where you can get a campus overview, cost of attending, possible automatic scholarships, admission requirements. Contact information and applications can be found on the individual sites. Colleges now recommend online applications. A list of helpful websites can be found on OUR district website: www.bssd.net

How to Finance College We encourage you to have a heart-to-heart conversation with your parents about realistic financial expectations. Out of state schools cost considerably more than instate colleges and universities. The average loan debt for 2015 colleges graduates was $35,000.

Scholarships, Grants, and Loans Scholarships: Money that is awarded based on established criteria and is not repaid Grants: Money that is awarded, often based on need, and is not repaid Loans: Money that must be repaid.

Merit Scholarship Merit scholarships are where the money is. There is more than $11 billion in merit scholarships available to students from colleges Not just for “A” students Many awards emphasize leadership or school involvement Nearly all colleges offer merit aid scholarships The amount of awarded money varies greatly from school to school Many awards can be renewed each year Colleges and universities offer various levels of merit monies based primarily on ACT and GPA. The higher the ACT and GPA, the more scholarship money will be awarded. Each school has different criteria for awarding money. Example: University of Missouri freshmen must have a minimum ACT score of 27 to qualify for automatic merit scholarships. Students at Northwest Missouri State University may qualify for some scholarships with an ACT of 21.

FACT Blue Springs High School class of 2016 earned over $8.3 million dollars in scholarship money. Scholarship money does not have to be repaid. Most of this money came from automatic scholarships that were awarded on academics and test scores. This does not include grants or loans.

Make your scholarship applications competitive! Type your applications when possible. Print neatly. Sign your name legibly. If you write a paragraph or essay, ask someone to proofread. Include all documents and follow directions. Make sure you meet the qualifications for the scholarship. Do not use unusual paper, binders, colored paper, etc. in an effort to set yourself apart. You will set yourself apart and possibly be eliminated! Have a resume that you can attach to applications that highlights your accomplishments.

Nuts and Bolts of Applications Many applications request a transcript. The Counseling Office will provide three transcripts for FREE. After three, the cost is $4 each. Your English teacher will give each of you an UNOFFICIAL copy of your transcript. Unofficial copies mean that they are not stamped and certified by the registrar. Many scholarships do not ask for an OFFICIAL copy. Make copies of the transcript you are given and use it if an official is not requested. Transcript release forms must be filled out for EACH copy requested. If you are 18, you may sign the form. If not, a parent must sign.

Letters of Recommendation Many of you will ask a teacher or counselor for a letter of recommendation. Please fill out a Student Data Sheet and give it to anyone you ask to write a letter for you. Allow two weeks for the letter to be written. Most teachers and counselors receive many requests and a great letter can take as long as an hour to compose! A copy of the student data sheet can be found on the BSHS website.

Transcript This is what your transcript looks like. Note the circle and arrow. This is where you find your class rank. It appears on every transcript.

Federal Money FAFSA: Money Based on Need Loans/Grants/Workstudy Important Website: www.fafsa.ed.gov Estimated Family Contribution Student Aid Report FAFSA Frenzy events held in the KC area FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid) Students who access A+ money are required to fill out the FAFSA. The Pell Grant is a grant available based on parental income guidelines. The maximum amount awarded for the 2014-15 school year is $5775. Students must reapply each year. Don’t forget our Financial Aid Workshop on September 19!!

State Programs Department of Higher Education (DHE) www.dhe.mo.gov 800-473-6757 Bright Flight 31+ACT $3,000/year for up to 5 years (or completion of bachelor’s degree Contact for a free informational packet Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) www.dese.mo.gov/divteachqual/scholarships Bright Flight is awarded to students who have a 31 or higher on the ACT and will attend college in the state of Missouri. Students may not major in Theology or Divinity in order to be eligible. The maximum award at this time is $3000 per year for up to 10 semesters of undergraduate study or until the Bachelor’s Degree is received, whichever comes first.

Scholarship Resources Fastweb.com - Private scholarships Studentaid.ed.gov - The federal government’s website about paying for college Cappex.com - Scholarship matching finaid.org - Free student resource for learning about all types of financial aid Our Favorite Type of Money! Scholarships really are a senior year activity. We receive many scholarship opportunities throughout the year and these will be posted on the Counseling link of the Blue Springs High School web page. Some scholarships will be local, while others will be regionally or nationally competitive. In many cases, there will be a web link to the scholarship. If there isn’t one, the paper application will be in the Counseling Office.

Next Steps

Next Steps for Students In School Stay focused on academics Do not lighten your academic load for senior year Meet with your school counselor Stay involved in school activities Standardized Testing Prepare for and register for ACT / SAT tests Register for AP tests as appropriate College Exploration Explore colleges on the Web Visit colleges if you can Meet with college representatives Attend college fairs APPLY early!!

Feel free to contact any of the Blue Springs High School Counselors if you have additional questions. Mrs. Christy Blaney Mrs. Linda Williams Mrs. Erica Millay Mrs. Kelly Frey Mrs. Megan Callanan *Resources taken from the following: -Cappex -MU College Planning 101 -ACT Organization