Welcome to TCHS Senior Summit Class of 2019

Falcon Counselors Randy Colvin McK-Por Randal.colvin@kellerisd.net Marissa Diaz A-Carl Marissa.diaz@kellerisd.net Barbara Wilks Carn-Fo Barbara.wilks@kellerisd.net Andi Gowins Fr-I Andi.gowins@kellerisd.net Stephen Smith J-McI Stephen.smith@kellerisd.net Randy Colvin McK-Por Randal.colvin@kellerisd.net Valerie Wolfenkoehler Pos-Stal Valerie.wolfenkoehler@kellerisd.net Amy Perkins Stan-Z Amy.perkins@kellerisd.net

I’m a Senior….Now what? Check Credits Pass EOC’s 26 Credits for Foundation w/Endorsement Plan Home Access Center (HAC) you can see your transcript. Check current schedule Pass EOC’s ELA 1 and 2 Algebra 1 Biology U.S. History Complete Current Classes! Abby

HAC Credit Check Abby

HAC Credit Check Abby

HAC Credit Check Abby

Take care of anything that would prevent you from getting into college. Denied credits due to attendance Parents monitor your student’s social media! Social Media- Colleges and potential employers are using Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media to check on prospects. College admissions officers check them and can use positive or negative posts for acceptance or denials. Abby

Review your options Michelle

Places to get information Visit the College or University in person or go to their website. The TCHS “Flight Zone”- Catalogues and Posters Your counselor and teachers! We can point you in the direction of resources. Ask! Michelle

Big Future: collegeboard.org ASVAB WHAT IF I DON’T KNOW? Big Future: collegeboard.org ASVAB Sign up for this military interest inventory offered on campus free of charge October 25, 2018 Michelle

It’s Time!!! 1. Create / Update your personal file/resumé 2. Get organized! 3. Research Colleges- Where to get information 4. Apply to Colleges 5. Order Transcripts and get them sent to top 3-5 choices 6. Apply for FINANCIAL AID Cherie

College Exploration What to consider Size and diversity of student body Location Academic programs Campus life – athletics, activities, housing Graduation and retention rates Financial aid and scholarship opportunities Overall think about where you will be the most successful in your college life. Cherie

College Exploration VISIT CAMPUSES Take a campus tour Speak with an admissions counselor Ask about financial aid opportunities Sit in on a class of interest Read the student newspaper Talk to students and faculty Cherie

Websites about college options College Navigator by nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator BigFuture by collegeboard.com Texas OnCourse by texasoncourse.org College Websites—”Prospective Students” Cherie

Get Organized! Keep all of your college information together! A great idea is to get a crate, a folder, a bin, a desk drawer and dedicate it to college stuff! Keep it in the same place in your house so you can find it easily! Remember to keep all of your emails from the college – they may have important messages or phone numbers you may need. Be sure to CHECK your email/college portal – this is how they will communicate with you! Cherie

Update Personal File/Resumé Be sure to update your personal file/resumé with any activities, community service and awards you have received. If you have NOT started a resumé, there’s no time like the present! A resumé will make it easier to fill out applications and will help your teachers, coaches and your counselor write correct recommendation letters for you. You may list your awards by year or by activity. Many applications want items listed by type (sport, extra- curricular, etc.) and then by year. Cherie

Regular Decision, Early Action, and Early Decision Deadlines: Pay close attention to application deadlines! Rolling Admission or Regular Decision: The vast majority of students who apply to a given institution will do so through Regular Decision. While the application submission deadlines will vary between institutions, Regular Decision deadlines typically fall in early January, and offers of admission are sent out in late March or early April. These students will have until May 1 to either accept or decline their offers. Early Action: Students will submit their applications before the regular deadline and will be informed of their admissions decision soon after (typically in January or February). Although the students apply and may be accepted, they are not committed to their Early Action school, and have until May 1 to either accept or decline their offers of admission. Early Decision: Similar to Early Action, students will submit their applications before the Regular Decision deadline and receive their admissions decisions soon after. The most significant difference is that Early Decision is binding, which means that any student who applies and is admitted to a school through Early Decision is expected to enroll. Early Decision applicants typically require some type of signed form that indicates the intention to enroll upon admission. Jackie

Application Process Follow the directions carefully, be sure you are entering the information the application is asking for. Letters of Recommendation (# required) Resume Essay (always do if optional) Verify your schedule, your classes must be listed accurately. If you change your classes after your application is sent, you MUST contact the college to inform them. Jackie

Application Overview In order to apply, you will need the following items: Application Application Fee (Check with your counselor to check on fee waivers) Official Transcript (Online request) SAT/ACT Scores (Request from College Board) Essays Letter of Recommendation (Request from teachers & counselor) Counselors should be included on a student’s application for upload of School Profile and recommendation letters Jackie

Application Process College Applications 1) Common Application - Complete this application online at www.commonapp.org  2) Other Texas schools – If you are applying to a Texas school, then apply through Apply Texas at www.applytexas.org 3) All other schools - they will have their own application that will need to be completed.   Both the Common Application and Apply Texas are available beginning August 1. Keep a chart of all ID #’s & passwords assigned for quick access to Apply TX, Common App, College Board, ACT as well as ID #’s assigned by the college itself. Jackie

Recommendation Letter If your school requires a recommendation letter: Choose someone who knows you well enough to write the letter for you. This may be a teacher, coach, employer or friend of the family. If your school specifically asks for the school counselor to write the letter, you will need to fill out the recommendation packet which you pick up from the counseling office. Please allow 2 weeks from the date you turn in the profile for the letter to be completed. Counselors must have the “Letter of Recommendation Form” received at least three weeks prior to your first deadline and by November 21 for any applications with a January deadline. Recommendation letters are mailed directly to the school. If the letter is not required, it will not be considered for acceptance. Jackie

Apply: Essays Some schools will require that you write certain essays. For example, Apply Texas has Essay “A,” Essay “B,” and Essay “C.” Some schools will require 2 of the 3 or require A and B, and so on. If a school “suggests” doing an extra essay DO IT!! Don’t even THINK about NOT doing it. REVIEW your essays before you send them in. Admissions personnel want to see individuality and want something that stands out. If you have overcome adversity or have a special situation, tell them about it! If you are writing about someone who is your role model talk about how you are like them, not just about the person – they will want to admit that person and not you. Jackie

Apply: Application Fee Each university will require a one-time application fee ranging from $25 to $75 (many are about $40). You can pay your application fees online with Apply Texas and Common Application. You may also pay by check through the mail; using the mail system will mean that your application takes longer to process. Remember postmark dates!! Jackie

Order Transcripts Colleges and Universities will need OFFICIAL transcripts to accompany college applications. It is best to have already submitted your college application before requesting a transcript. Without a student account already in place, transcripts have been known to be set aside and lost. All transcripts both official and unofficial must be requested online at kellerisd.net, Quick Links, Transcripts/Records. Every student gets 2 free while enrolled at Timber Creek. After two, each transcript is $7.00. It’ always a good idea to review your transcript periodically and/or to have a copy for your records. You can look for free in HAC under ‘Grades’ tab and ‘Transcript’ tab or you can request a copy online. If you find you have credit denials for attendance issues DO NOT REQUEST A TRANSCIPT UNTIL YOU HAVE MADE UP THE SEAT TIME. Once you have made up seat time, it is your responsibility to be watching in HAC for the credit restore. Once you see that credits have been restored you can go online to request your transcript. Applying through Common App? You must still request online at kellerisd.net for a transcript. Make note on the request, that the transcript is for Common App.

Dana

Apply: SAT/ACT Scores Students must arrange for the scores be sent straight from the testing company. You can request scores be sent from: SAT: www.collegeboard.com ACT: www.actstudent.org If you have not taken either exam, please schedule one AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. You may take them again and some schools “superscore” your best scores together. Jamie

APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov for the application. YOU MUST FILL THIS OUT TO RECEIVE ANY FINANCIAL AID FROM ANY UNIVERSITY. The application will be available October 1, 2018. Be sure to have this document sent to the university of your choice. FINANCIAL AID IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVED, SO TURN IN YOUR APPLICATION AS SOON AS YOU CAN! collegescorecard.ed.gov Collegeforalltexans.org Randy

How to ask for financial aid… When: To be determined Where: Timber Creek High School FAC TCC Financial Aid Department will lead the presentation and question/answer period. A workshop evening will be announced soon…

Scholarships Go to www.collegeguidanceconsultants.com for up to date scholarships. username: keller password: keller There will be local scholarships available this spring exclusively for our KISD and/or TCHS students. (Smaller pool of people applying = more chances at $$$$) You can apply at any time – START NOW! Most of the big scholarships come from the university you attend. Remember, you can still get scholarships WHILE attending college, so you do NOT have to have all of your money up front. Most scholarship awards will be sent directly to the college – make sure they know where to send the money! Write THANK YOU NOTES! Randy

Other Research Where to look for Scholarships and College Information Zinch.com Cappex Fastweb Local Scholarships Binder in the Flight Zone-in the Counseling office CollegeBoard https://bigfuture.collegeboard.com Randy

After applications are submitted RELAX!!! Don’t catch senioritis – stay healthy and do well. Check the status of your application on the college website to make sure your application is complete. Be patient…it may take 2-4 weeks for your application status to be complete. *Freshman-Junior years get you in, Senior year keeps you in!* Jamie

Acceptances As soon as you have made a decision on which school you will attend, send a deposit right away. Inform the schools whose offers you are declining. This helps for admission of waitlisted students sooner. Turn your acceptance letters in to the counseling office for celebrations! Jamie

College Panel Texasdarn.com Sherrill Landorf Anthony Ringuette Purdue University University of Lousiville slandorf@purdue.edu anthony.ringuette@louisville.edu   Dana Morrison Zachary Lozano The University of Alabama The University of Texas at Austin Dana.morrison@ua.edu admissions.utexas.edu Texasdarn.com

Questions? All available

Thank you for joining us! Randy