College Readiness Miami Southridge Senior High School Class of 2014

Itinerary Graduation Requirements G.P.A. Information SAT/ACT Tests College Visitations and Applications Financial Aid Information and Scholarships

Graduation Requirements Need to Graduate:Requirements Unweighted GPA2.0 Service Hours10 Credits24 credits* as outlined in Student Handbook

GPA Information Florida Bright Futures and Colleges calculate only... Academic G.P.A Academic G.P.A.s are averaged only for the core courses: 4 years of English 4 years of Math 3 years of Science 3 years of Social Science 2 years of Foreign Language

GPA Information Colleges calculate advanced courses as follows: AP/DE/IB = 1 point Honors = 0.5 point

ACT/SAT Tests SAT Test Dates: ◦ November 2 ◦ December 7 ◦ January 25 ◦ March 8 ◦ May 3 ◦ June 7 Register at: ACT Test Dates: ◦ October 26 ◦ December 14 ◦ February 8 ◦ April 12 ◦ June 14 Register at: SCHOOL CODE: TEST CODE:

ACT/SAT Tests Important to put Miami Southridge’s School Code (164280), in order for us to receive your scores Can choose up to 4 colleges where ACT/SAT scores can be sent for FREE Must choose colleges before test is taken to be free of charge Additional score reports will be charged a fee Colleges require official score reports from the testing sites

What Should I Look For In A College LOCATION Choose the best fit for YOU! ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS Know if you match their qualification. What is your chance of getting into this school? COSTS It’s NOT just tuition-even if you stay in Miami! Room & board, books, gas, activities, sporting events, spending money, etc. all need to be factored and budgeted. MAJORS Small colleges are often limiting in their major choices. Remember that 80% of college freshman do not have a major by the time they start college, and 50% change their mind- multiple times!

What Should I Have Already Done?? Finalizing Your College List Narrow your list to 3-6 schools DREAM SCHOOLS REALISTIC SCHOOLS SAFETY SCHOOLS

What Should I Have Already Done?? Visited Colleges (In Person, Virtual Tours, Websites) Research Applications and Fees Created a Professional  NO!  YES! Created a Resume Sent and/or Registered for SAT/ACT

Resume Name and Contact Information College and Career Choices (optional) Academic Record with info on Class Rank, GPA, SAT scores, AP classes, etc. School Activities Community Activities Work Experiences Honors and Awards Other Items of Interest (such as personal interests that are not covered in the above categories or a short personal statement indicating obstacles you have overcome, like a learning disability, personal or family setback, or unexpected change in circumstances)

Admissions Criteria- What Do Colleges Look At? Application Information Grade Point Average (GPA) Weighted vs. Unweighted High School Transcript Course Load and Strength of Subjects ACT/SAT scores Superscore SAT Subject Tests Class Rank or Percentile Recommendation Letters* Resume: Special Talents/Awards & Personal Qualities/Activities Essays Interviews

What Will I Need to Apply, and How Do I Get It? Colleges Will Want:How Do I Obtain These: 1. Completed ApplicationsUniversity’s Website 2. Official Transcripts *GPA *Academic Coursework *Academic Percentile Complete ‘Transcript Request Form’ in the Main Office 3. SAT & ACT ScoresRequest from the Official Testing Sites Student Essay*Your creation- Please, please, pretty please… HAVE IT PROOFREAD!! Different colleges might have different prompts! 5. Recommendation LettersComplete LRIS so teachers/counselors can find out more about you!

How Do I Apply? There’s no crying in the college application process!! NO PROCRASTINATION!! If the deadline is November 1 st, DO NOT wait until after you come back from the candy hotspots on Halloween night to start applying Some colleges have ONLY 1 deadline, and if you miss it, you’ve missed the boat for that college Most applications became available August 1 st APPLY ONLINE at the specific university’s website Find out if your specific college requires paper application with a waiver Apply early for consideration for university-specific scholarships

Florida College Applicants When applying to any Florida Public institution a Florida Resident Form must be completed Must submit Proof of Residency Copy of one parent’s Driver’s License, Voter’s Registration, or Vehicle Registration (2 out of 3) Information for Residency Classification Form

Early Decision Vs. Early Action Early Decision Binding Higher chance of acceptance Do this if you are POSITIVE of your choice Only for one school MUST withdraw all other applications if accepted If you realize you don’t have any money after financial aid is complete, you’re in a sticky situation Early Action Non-binding Higher chance of acceptance Multiple schools Can give you more time to review financial aid packages in different schools

Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) 4-year institution 2-year institution Requirements: 3.5 GPA 1280 SAT or 28 ACT 100 Service Hours Completed FAFSA Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) 4-year institution 2-year institution Requirements: 3.0 GPA 1020 SAT or 22 ACT 75 Service Hours Completed FAFSA

Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Student information, course load, and grades are entered into the Florida Bright Futures database by Counselors The Florida Bright Futures (FBF) Office accesses test scores electronically from the State University System When registering for the SAT/ACT, send scores to any Florida State School in order for scores to arrive at FBF Office The FBF office automatically selects your best scores In December 2012, students will set up their Florida Bright Future accounts during the school hours Students may take SAT/ACT as often as they want to earn the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) There are three main categories of federal student aid: ◦ Grants ◦ Work-study ◦ Loans Forms become available to download online as of January 1st, 2013 at Parents must file 2012 income tax before applying or they can estimate their taxes, but have to confirm after filing If you wish to apply for other scholarships, F.A.F.S.A. must be filled out Net Price Calculator: Provides estimate amount of attendance at each college

Financial Aid CSS Profile Required by many private colleges/universities to determine eligibility for non-government financial aid, such as the institution's own grants, loans, and scholarships. Begin applying early Fall For more information and to apply, visit Male students, who turn 18 years of age, must register with the selective services at Required for scholarships or federal student aid

Scholarships

What Will I Need to Apply, and How Do I Get It? Colleges Will Want:How Do I Obtain These: 1. Completed ApplicationsUniversity’s Website 2. Official Transcripts *GPA *Academic Coursework *Academic Percentile Complete ‘Transcript Request Form’ in the Main Office 3. SAT & ACT ScoresRequest from the Official Testing Sites Student Essay*Your creation- Please, please, pretty please… HAVE IT PROOFREAD!! Different colleges might have different prompts! 5. Recommendation LettersComplete LRIS so teachers/counselors can find out more about you!