Mater Lakes Academy COLLEGE GUIDE FOR Seniors Patricia Di Carlo School Counselor Grade 9 th -12 th

Senior Talk   Graduation Requirements   24 credits 4 English 4 Math Alg 1, Geo., + 2 math courses 4 Science Biology, Chemistry + 2 science 4 Social Studies 1 PE 1 Fine Art Electives (incl. Intensive classes, foreign Lang.)   2.0 minumum GPA   FCAT read/math   Community Service (75 hrs Dec. 15)

Senior Talk   College applications Apply in FALL Sr. Yr   Transcripts In the fall, the GPA will reflect 11 th grade grades Request online or from Mrs. Gonzalez, $ 3.00, 1 week in advanced   Letters of Recommendation teachers, counselors, principal, community leaders 2 weeks in advanced   ACT/SAT scores College admission exams   Financial Aid Information and paperwork (opens in January 1 st ) Feb. Meeting TBA

IMPORTANCE OF STANDARDIZED TESTS IMPORTANCE OF STANDARDIZED TESTS  SAT or ACT - For college admissions - For college admissions - For scholarship eligibility - For scholarship eligibility - Used for placement at community college - Used for placement at community college  State University Minimum Scores SAT: Math: 460 Critical Reading: 460 Writing 440 SAT: Math: 460 Critical Reading: 460 Writing 440 ACT: Reading: 19 Math: 19 Writing: 18 ACT: Reading: 19 Math: 19 Writing: 18  CPT - For college level placement - For college level placement

SAT  Writing (60 minutes) – one 35 minute section and one 25 minute section  Critical Reading – (70 minutes) Formerly Verbal  Math – (70 minutes) up to 9 th grade basic geometry and algebra II State University Minimum Scores Math: 460 Critical Reading: 460 Writing: 440

ACT  English (45 minutes) – 75 questions  Math (60 minutes) – 60 questions up to trigonometry  Reading (35 minutes) – 40 questions  Science (35 minutes) – 40 questions  Optional Writing (30 minutes)  Scores: 1-36  State University Minimum Scores Reading: 19 Math: 19 Writing: 18

CPT Miami-Dade College Placement Test  At Miami-Dade College – and other 2-year schools - you are exempt from the CPT if you score: SAT verbal 500 math ACT- 17- English 18- reading 19- math IMPORTANT: Please visit periodically for updates and changes.  If you don’t obtain the minimum scores on the SAT, ACT or CPT, then you will be placed in remedial classes.  Honors College will use the Writing score on the SAT and or ACT for admission.

Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (P.E.R.T.)  Readiness Scores Reading, 104 Reading, 104 Writing, 99 Writing, 99 Mathematics, 113 Mathematics, 113  Most colleges have implemented P.E.R.T.  This semester students have been placed in college courses based on P.E.R.T. scores

2011 – 2012 SAT AND ACT PROGRAM TEST DATES REGISTRATION DATES NATIONAL TEST DATES TESTREGULAR POSTMARK DEADLINE LATE POSTMARK DEADLINE 2011 September 10ACTAugust 6August 20 October 1SAT I & IISeptember 9September 21 October 22ACTSeptember 16September 30 November 5SAT I & IIOctober 7October 21 December 3SAT I & IINovember 8November 20 December 10ACTNovember 4November January 28SAT I & IIDecember 30January 13 February 11ACTJanuary 13January 20 March 10SAT IFebruary 10February 24 April 14ACTMarch 9March 23 May 5SAT I & IIApril 6April 20 June 2SAT I & IIMay 8May 22 June 9ACTMay 4May 18

SAT/ACT Fee Information  SAT Question and Answer Service available for an additional $18.00  Sunday test dates are available for students who cannot test on Saturday because of religious convictions.  You may register online: SAT: ACT: TEST FEES TEST REGULAR REGISTRATION LATE REGISTRATION ACT$ w/o writing$ $21.00 = $55.00 ACT$ with writing$ $21.00 = $70.50 SAT I$49.00$ $26.00 = $75.00 SATII$ Test Cost $9-$20 (lang.)Add $15.00 To Test Fee Other fees may be required for other services such as:  Standby testing – SAT: $43.00 ACT: $42.00  Change test, test date, or test center fee – SAT: $25.00 ACT: $21.00  Extra score reports – $10.00 for SAT & $8.50 for ACT To contact either the College Board or the ACT test agencies for lost or delayed admission tickets, date or center changes, etc. call the Customer Service Department: SAT: (609) ACT: (319)

Seniors, (Juniors after 12/1) SAT and ACT test Fee Waivers are now available. If you are on free or reduced lunch, you qualify for the following. Remember that you must reapply each year to remain eligible.  2 ACT test waiver  2 SAT test fee waivers  4 College Board - College Application Fee Waivers  Waivers used during your junior year count  You will loose the fee waiver if you do not use it

Scholarships   Ms. Di Carlo bulletin by to get Mrs. Di Carlo’s   Materlakes.org under Guidance   scholarship!   Scholarship!   Institutional Scholarships

Financial Aid Basics   Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online starting January 1 st.   Based on parent/guardian income.   Determines the Grants, study work, scholarships, loans   Regardless of income, the FAFSA must be filled out for all applying postsecondary schools  

Documents Needed   Social Security Number   Driver’s License or Florida Id   Federal income tax returns, parents and students, if applicable (IRS 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ) File your taxes ASAP   Alien Registration Card, if you are not a citizen Keep these records handy, as you may need them again FEB 2012 TBA Financial Aid 101 Meeting

Bright Futures Scholarships Register Beginning December 1.  The state evaluates your meeting of the criteria upon your date of graduation GPA in specific courses GPA in specific courses Specific course work Specific course work Community service Community service ACT and/or SAT scores (CPT can also be used on Gold Seal) ACT and/or SAT scores (CPT can also be used on Gold Seal)  First Evaluation February – Notification by April  Second/Final Evaluation June – Notification by August  The submission of a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) IS NOW an annual requirement for Bright Futures eligibility. 

Florida Bright Futures NEW Mandatory FAFSA completion BF PROGRAM Award Flat Rate Payout GPA Requirement SAT/ACT Requirements Community Service FLORIDA ACADEMIC SCHOLARS NEW $101 per credit hr. 30 credit payout: $3, weighted BF GPA 15 core academic classes 1270 SAT 28 ACT NEW 100 hours of community service FLORIDA MEDALLION SCHOLARS NEW $76 per credit hr. 30 credit payout: $2, weighted BF GPA 15 core academic classes NEW 980 SAT or 21 ACT. NEW 75 hours of community service FLORIDA GOLD SEAL VOC. SCHOLARS NEW $76 per credit hr. 30 credit payout: $2, weighted BF GPA 3.5 weighted GPA in 3 vocational credits SAME program SAT 880 M 440 / CR 440 ACT E 17 / R 18 M 19 CPT R 83 / S 83 Algebra 72 NEW 30 hours of community service

Things to Remember Keep your grades up Keep a calendar with deadlines Sign up to take SAT/ACT and other required tests Send college applications and required documentation on time Apply for as many scholarships as possible Apply for Financial Aid after January 1st Keep photocopies Provide reliable info. (phone, ) READ, READ, READ!!!!!

QUESTIONS?