Rising Junior Parent Night Information L&N STEM Academy Class of 2016

Where do I find information? Visit the School Counseling and College and Career pages of STEM’s website for announcements, upcoming events, college and career information, scholarships, forms, etc. L&N Guidance Department

CollegeBoard College For TN CollegeBoard's Big Future Fast Web (Scholarship Search Engine) Common Application College Net Helpful Websites

Junior Year Timeline: Summer Utilize your summers!!!! Governor's School Camps Volunteer

Junior Year Timeline: Winter Learn about Financial Aid and the process your child will go through senior year Register for the ACT and/or SAT (In School ACT-No need to register, Additional vouchers for students on Free & Reduced Lunch) Meet with School Counselor Begin online college search and college visits when possible

Junior Year Timeline: Winter Continue the college search process and begin to narrow list Research scholarships (updated list will be on website next year) Attend college fairs and financial aid events Review PSAT results; comes w free SAT study plan ACT/SAT online prep courses--FREE!!! Grades matter so much this year! (last grades colleges see)

Junior Year Timeline: Spring Continue college search (collegeboard.org, collegeforTN.org) Attend college fairs and financial aid events (L&N will host numerous college reps); visit college campuses (in person or virtually) Stay on top of grades (Last grades colleges see!) Summer jobs, internships, volunteer work, etc. Narrow down list of colleges you are interested in (safety, target, reach) Create an evolving list of scholarships applied for and contacts at schools

Senior Year-Fall Submit college applications/Common App! Apply for scholarships (Never pay for a scholarship search!) Retake ACT or SAT if needed, online prep courses-- FREE!!! Request Recommendations/Transcripts/Test Scores be sent to colleges Write and submit essays Attend Financial Aid Night

Senior Year-Spring Remain focused on grades Pay close attention to deadlines!!!! Submit FAFSA Continue applying for scholarships Wait on college decisions (denied, waitlisted, accepted) Make college decision Apply for housing Have your high school send final transcript to college you plan to attend

STR: Safety, Target, Reach Safety School: you have above average test scores for this school and are highly likely to get in Target School: your test scores fall within the average range and you will probably get in Reach School: your test scores are below average for school but you are close; also elite schools (Vanderbilt, Duke, Harvard, etc.) that are highly competitive

Factors Affecting College Admission Decision NACAC Admissions Trend Survey of 1,914 college admissions officers

3.0 unweighted GPA or 21 on ACT up to $6,000/year for 4 year colleges up to $3,000/year for 2 year colleges HOPE Lottery Scholarship

Tennessee Achieves Scholarship for any student in TN wanting to attend an approved 2 year college Apply beginning of senior year $3,000/year for two years NO GPA or ACT requirement

Where do I find other scholarships? Private or community scholarships (see website) Institution scholarships (from the school you plan to attend); Make sure to meet deadlines! Departmental scholarships (from the school you plan to attend); have to dig for these!

College Applications DEADLINES Matter!!! Application, test scores, transcript, essays, recommendations Common Application Early Decision vs. Early Action ations/early

Financial Aid FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)....NEVER PAY TO COMPLETE!!! Will do January of Senior Year Past year’s tax information Must do to qualify for HOPE, Federal loans/grants, most all scholarships Everyone needs to fill it out! FAFSA

College Visit Form Won’t count as absence against you if you follow protocol (form on website) Have principal sign off on it prior to visit Take form with you to college visit Have it signed by college official Turn in to Mrs. Patterson in main office

AP Courses A 2008 study found that AP students had better four-year graduation rates than those who did not take AP. For example, graduation rates for AP English Literature students were 62 percent higher than graduation rates for those who took other English courses in high school. 31 percent of colleges and universities look at AP experience when determining scholarships. promo-flyer-2009.pdf

Student Athletes Please see website for important information if you plan to be a college athlete Don’t fail classes: NCAA does NOT accept credit recovery!! NCAA/NAIA: different requirements for different categories of colleges Need to register as a junior with Clearinghouse Let you counselor know your intent to play college sports

AP Versus DE Transferability/Post Secondary Goals Rigor of Courses Taken Seek information from your list of prospective colleges to be 100% sure you are making the best choice for you!

Questions?? Counselor Contacts: Last Names A-J Last Names K-Z

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