WELCOME!

Senior Portraits Taken by Prestige Photography Prestige will automatically assign each student an appointment time beginning in June Prestige will mail a flyer to the address HHS has on file with an appointment reminder The onus is on the student to change the date/time See teacher, Ms. Ginsberg for more details or call Prestige at 615-628-8600 Option #4

Goals Factors for choosing colleges College application process Financial Aid This summer Tips

WHY GO TO COLLEGE?

What are some important college considerations? Location – close or far from home Size of campus – big, medium, small Setting – urban, suburban, rural Cost – financial aid or scholarships available Historically Black College or University (HBCU) Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Academic programs/majors offered Student life – athletics, Greek life, student organizations What else?

College List Safety Core Reach Your numbers matter but they do not define you.

Importance of Admissions Criteria for Selective Colleges Grades in college prep courses (AP, IB, Honors, Dual Enrollment) Rigor of Coursework, Strength of school curriculum Admissions Test Scores (ACT, SAT) Grades in All Courses Essays Demonstrated Interest Counselor Letter of Recommendation (ASK EARLY) Teacher Letter of Recommendation (ASK EARLY) Activities Special skills, talents, awards, community service & passions Interview

#1 pitfall for college applications?

Early Action vs. Early Decision Nonbinding – you do not have to attend if accepted Can apply to multiple schools EA (unless specified “single-choice”) Receive response by January Early Decision Binding – you must attend if accepted Can only apply to one college ED Cannot apply to any schools EA, but can apply Regular Decision Not recommended if you want to compare financial aid offers EA and ED Deadline: November 1 (for most colleges)

Financial Aid Scholarships Grants Loans (subsidized vs. unsubsidized) Work Study

Financial Aid Sources Financial aid vs. scholarships FAFSA CSS Profile (usually more selective colleges) Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC): State grants TN Promise Tuition savings programs “No Loan” Schools Outside & University scholarships

FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid Application for Grants, Loans, Work-Study, Scholarships Required for Hope Scholarship, TN Promise, and other $ Opens October 1, 2019 Submit by January 1, 2020 (ideally) www.fafsa.gov

TENNESSEE PROMISE FREE college tuition (yes, free) Deadline is usually November 1 No GPA or ACT requirement www.tennesseepromise.gov Only 2-year colleges, technical schools, and a few associate degree programs at 4-year schools.

TENNESSEE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP 3.0 unweighted GPA OR 21 ACT 4-year college: Up to $1,750 per full-time enrollment semester as a freshmen and sophomore Then up to $2,250 per full-time enrollment semester as a junior and senior 2-year college: Up to $1,500 per full-time enrollment semester as a freshman and sophomore

Tips to make the college process easy-ish START EARLY BE ORGANIZED Get a college folder or binder Write down passwords – you’ll have about 2,986,342 user ID/passwords to remember BE EARLY FOR DEADLINES (remember, they are real) CHECK YOUR (student’s) EMAIL DAILY START APPLYING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS EARLY

Parent hints Communication with your child College choice Money conversations early The student is going to college… Recognize the changes that are happening Leaving home, high school, comfort-zone Roller coaster ride

What should students do this summer? Research colleges and create a list of deadlines, including the college’s SCHOLARSHIP deadline Visit colleges or plan visit days for the Fall Prep for the ACT/SAT to take again in the fall Start college essays – posted on Common App Start Common Application (after August 1) Decide on recommenders

www.hhscounseling.com/college-events

www.hhscounseling.com