SENIOR PARENT NIGHT The College Admission Process

TIME MANAGEMENT

THIS NIGHT IS FOR YOU THIS NIGHT IS FOR YOU Ask questions as we go along!

CLASS OF 2016 GRADUATION AND TIME Date: June 4th Time: 10:00 a.m. Place: Sam Houston Coliseum

POST SECONDARY OPTIONS Junior /Community Colleges Open Admissions Open Admissions Will gain an Associate’s Degree Will gain an Associate’s Degree Can Transfer to a University to earn Bachelor’s degree Can Transfer to a University to earn Bachelor’s degree Cheaper/smaller class size/ not as rigorous Cheaper/smaller class size/ not as rigorous Technical/ Trade Schools Open Admissions Open Admissions Designed to enter workforce immediately Designed to enter workforce immediately Can gain an Associate’s degree Can gain an Associate’s degree Can transfer to a University Can transfer to a University Many offer high pay for Many offer high pay for for skilled trade Universities & 4 year Colleges Admissions based on rank, ACT/SAT score, and extra- curricular/community service. Admissions based on rank, ACT/SAT score, and extra- curricular/community service. Earn a Bachelor’s degree– a broader education. Earn a Bachelor’s degree– a broader education. More expensive, generally More expensive, generally more rigorous.

POST SECONDARY OPTIONS Junior/Community Colleges Lone Star Angelina College Blinn College Austin Community College Tyler Junior College Panola College Northeast Community College Trade/Technical Schools Lone Star Angelina College Kilgore College Tulsa School of Welding UTI/Art Institute Lee College Texas State Technical Universities & 4 year Colleges Sam Houston State Texas A&M University of Texas Texas State Stephen F. Austin North Texas State Tarleton University University of Texas at San Antonio

POST SECONDARY OPTIONS Military Army Navy Coast Guard Marines Air Force National Guard Enlistment is 8 years Will provide tuition assistance—Ask for details. May be called to active duty Train one weekend per month, plus one annual two week period. Basic Training- 10 weeks- 3 week intervals Serves both Federal and State governments.

STEPS TO COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS 1.Be on target to graduate! 2.Take the ACT/SAT 3.Apply for College--- APPLY TEXAS 4.Request transcript to be sent to all colleges 5.Record extra-curricular activities/community service 6.Look for scholarships– fill out one a week! 7.Get Teacher recommendation letters– ask early! 8.Get Taxes in Early!– JAN. 1 st - FAFSA 9.Make sure you meet the College Readiness Guidelines—TSI

STEP ONE: GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS 26 of required state credits total 26 of required state credits total 4 English 4 English 4 Math 4 Math 4 Social Studies 4 Social Studies 4 Science 4 Science 2 Foreign Language 2 Foreign Language 1 PE 1 PE 1 Fine Art 1 Fine Art.5 Speech.5 Speech 5.5 Electives 5.5 Electives PASS ALL SECTIONS OF STAAR EOC’s– English I, English II, Algebra I, Biology, US History PASS ALL SECTIONS OF STAAR EOC’s– English I, English II, Algebra I, Biology, US History

STEP TWO: COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TESTS ACT DATES Test DateRegistration DeadlineLate Deadline- Fee September 12, 2015August 7, 2015August , 2015 October 24, 2015September 18, 2015Sept. 19- Oct. 2, 2015 December 12, 2015November 6, 2015Nov. 7-20, 2015 February 6, 2016*January 8, 2016Jan. 9-15, 2016 April 9, 2016March 4, 2016March 5-18, 2016 June 11, 2016**May 6, 2016May 7-20, 2016

STEP TWO: COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TESTS SAT DATES Test DateRegistration DeadlineLate Deadline- Fee October 3, 2015Sept. 3, 2015Sept 22, 2015 November 7, 2015Oct. 9, 2015Oct. 27, 2015 December 5, 2015Nov. 5, 2015Nov. 23, 2015 January 23, 2016Dec. 28, 2015Jan. 12, 2015 March 5, 2016Feb. 5, 2015Feb. 23, 2015 May 7, 2016April 8, 2016April 26, 2016 June 4, 2016May 5, 2016May 25, 2016

ACT/SAT TEST PREP College and Career Website- Mrs. Kempton College and Career Website- Mrs. Kempton College Board.org College Board.org ACT.org ACT.org Barnes & Noble/Amazon Barnes & Noble/Amazon Free Study Guides on stage! Free Study Guides on stage!

STEP THREE: APPLY FOR COLLEGE Apply Texas.org Apply Texas.org Lone Star- on their website Lone Star- on their website Common Application- TCU, Southwestern, SMU, University of Dallas, Trinity University, Austin College, Texas Lutheran, Southwestern University Common Application- TCU, Southwestern, SMU, University of Dallas, Trinity University, Austin College, Texas Lutheran, Southwestern University Check Colleges for application process Check Colleges for application process

PREPARING THE APPLICATION Be Perfect. Be Perfect. Colleges may ask for essays, teacher recommendations, transcripts, application fee. Colleges may ask for essays, teacher recommendations, transcripts, application fee. ESSAYS– breathe life into the statistics and numbers ESSAYS– breathe life into the statistics and numbers Income question– IMPORTANT! Income question– IMPORTANT! Field of Study- College Major-- Important for top Majors at competitive Universities. Field of Study- College Major-- Important for top Majors at competitive Universities. Include every possible extra-curricular/community service. Many scholarship Include every possible extra-curricular/community service. Many scholarship applications pull straight from Apply Texas application.

STEP FOUR: SEND TRANSCRIPT Request transcript from Registrar's Office- Ms. Toney Request transcript from Registrar's Office- Ms. Toney Request Lone Star transcript at end of year Request Lone Star transcript at end of year Request final transcript after graduation Request final transcript after graduation

STEP FIVE: EXTRA CURRICULAR/COMMUNITY SERVICE Fill out form --- College and Career Website Fill out form --- College and Career Website Look for service opportunities now! Look for service opportunities now! Get Involved- Clubs- over 65! Get Involved- Clubs- over 65! Create a resume for scholarships Create a resume for scholarships Fill out a Parent brag sheet Fill out a Parent brag sheet

STEP SIX: SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH Types of Scholarships Marketing Scholarships– no GPA required Marketing Scholarships– no GPA required Work Scholarships Work Scholarships Merit Scholarships Merit Scholarships Need Based Scholarships Need Based Scholarships Local Scholarships/National Scholarships Local Scholarships/National Scholarships Minority Scholarships Minority Scholarships Athletic Scholarships Athletic Scholarships College Scholarships—Academic– Most Deadlines by February 1 st. College Scholarships—Academic– Most Deadlines by February 1 st. Special Talent/Situational/Quirky Scholarships Special Talent/Situational/Quirky Scholarships

SCHOLARSHIPS—WHERE TO FIND? HHS College and Career Website Scholarship Search Engines University/College Scholarships– Know your deadlines! Local Scholarship– One Application REMIND 101– TEXT Ms. Kempton Google It! Ask your Employer

STEP SEVEN: RECOMMENDATION LETTERS Students need to fill out ‘Senior Data Sheet’ for Recommendation letters. They will give completed data sheet to teacher and allow 2 weeks for letter. Students need to fill out ‘Senior Data Sheet’ for Recommendation letters. They will give completed data sheet to teacher and allow 2 weeks for letter. It would be great if student could also attach a resume to the data sheet. A resume is a living document and is extremely valuable for a student to have for scholarships, jobs, colleges, and interviews. It would be great if student could also attach a resume to the data sheet. A resume is a living document and is extremely valuable for a student to have for scholarships, jobs, colleges, and interviews.

STEP EIGHT: FILL OUT FAFSA The office of Federal Student Aid provides grants, loans, and work-study funds for college or career school. They offer more than $150 billion each year to help millions of students pay for higher education.

FINANCIAL AID--FAFSA Federal student aid includes: Grants—financial aid that doesn’t have to be repaid (unless, for example, you withdraw from school and owe a refund) Grants Loans— borrowed money for college or career school; you must repay your loans, with interest Loans Work-Study—a work program through which you earn money to help you pay for school Work-Study Use FAFSA4caster to get an estimate of how much aid you might receive from the U.S. Department of Education.FAFSA4caster Apply for federal student aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA ® ). And remember, the first F in “FAFSA” stands for “free”—you shouldn’t pay to fill out the FAFSA! Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA ® )you shouldn’t pay to fill out the FAFSA top

FAFSA DEADLINES Fill Out FAFSA4caster now to see award amount. Fill Out FAFSA4caster now to see award amount. Prepare Taxes ASAP- First come, First served! Prepare Taxes ASAP- First come, First served! The Sam Houston Go Center will come to Huntsville High School in the Spring to provide help filling out the FAFSA. The Sam Houston Go Center will come to Huntsville High School in the Spring to provide help filling out the FAFSA. January 1 st is the first day you can submit FAFSA January 1 st is the first day you can submit FAFSA for school year. for school year.

STEP NINE: COLLEGE READINESS-- TSI You must take a College Readiness test before beginning classes at a Texas public college or university to be sure you have the reading writing and math skills needed for college- level work. If you do not score high enough, then you will take a remedial Math, or English to prepare you for College Algebra and College English. You must take a College Readiness test before beginning classes at a Texas public college or university to be sure you have the reading writing and math skills needed for college- level work. If you do not score high enough, then you will take a remedial Math, or English to prepare you for College Algebra and College English.

COLLEGE READINESS: TSI These tests may not be required if you: Scored a 23 or higher on the ACT composite and a minimum of 19 on both the English and math tests. Scored a 23 or higher on the ACT composite and a minimum of 19 on both the English and math tests. Earned a combined (verbal + math) SAT score of 1070, with a minimum score of 500 on both sections of Math and Reading and Writing OR Earned a combined (verbal + math) SAT score of 1070, with a minimum score of 500 on both sections of Math and Reading and Writing OR Enroll in a certificate program of 42 or fewer semester credit hours in a public community college or technical college Enroll in a certificate program of 42 or fewer semester credit hours in a public community college or technical college

PARENTS’ ROLE Listener Listener Advocate Advocate Advisor of deadlines Advisor of deadlines College Trip Organizer College Trip Organizer Researcher Researcher Cheerleader Cheerleader Career Counselor Career Counselor

CHECK LIST FOR PARENTS College Visits are important– like test driving a car! College Visits are important– like test driving a car! Be an asker of questions instead of provider of answers. Be an asker of questions instead of provider of answers. This process begins the year of “Letting Go” for both you and your son or daughter This process begins the year of “Letting Go” for both you and your son or daughter Have your Child take OWNERSHIP of this process Have your Child take OWNERSHIP of this process Post reminders on Fridge! Apply for scholarships today! Post reminders on Fridge! Apply for scholarships today! Help your child stay organized– a file folder is best! Help your child stay organized– a file folder is best! Career Exploration– HELP! Career Exploration– HELP! There is a place for every student after high school. There is a place for every student after high school. Need to look for “Best Fit” not “Best School”– a place where your child can be successful both academically and socially. Need to look for “Best Fit” not “Best School”– a place where your child can be successful both academically and socially.

Admissions committees have your child’s interests at heart.

WHAT ARE COLLEGES LOOKING FOR? THE FIVE P’S: Program- How challenging is the coursework? Performance- How well has the student done? Potential- Indicated by standardized test scores. Participation-What commitments outside the classroom? Job? Activities? Community Service? Personality– Essay and teacher/ counselor recommendations. Interviews can explain a bad year.

WHERE SHOULD I APPLY? 1.Good Match Schools– apply to 2-3 of these Compatibility between student grades and academic quality of the school’s freshman profile. Compatibility between student grades and academic quality of the school’s freshman profile. 2.Reach Schools- apply to 1-2 of these If you are thinking “it won’t hurt to try” then it is more than likely a reach school. If you are thinking “it won’t hurt to try” then it is more than likely a reach school. 3.Safety Schools- apply to 1-2 of these More than likely will not turn you away. Your child must be happy and willing to attend this school. More than likely will not turn you away. Your child must be happy and willing to attend this school.