Senior Parent Night 2015

Counseling Department Counselors: Craig Schraub (A-F) Marcos Esquivel (G-O) Tracy Reinen (P-Z) Dede Braun (Dual Credit) Priscilla Schier (Secretary)

Graduation is right around the corner… What should I be doing to get ready for life after high school??

Post High School Options Technical or Trade School Military Service, Military Academies, ROTC Programs Junior/Community College 4 Year Colleges and Universities

If you plan to attend a 2 year college…..  Application opens October 15, (  College Connections presenting to seniors Friday October 16 th.  Visit the college website for admission details.  Plan a college visit.

If you plan on attending a 4 year college or university… Admissions deadlines are usually December 1. If applying to a Texas Public School, complete the application on **All seniors have created an apply Texas account** **Juniors apply Texas opens for you August 1, 2016** If applying to a U.S. Private School, complete the application on Check college websites for specific admissions information, applications, and deadlines.

College Visitations You are allowed to be absent 2 days a year for college visitations. You must provide the required proof of your visitation to Mrs. Burns the day you return to school.

College Admission Automatic : Based on rank/test scores. You still need to apply by deadline. UT Austin – top 7%. All other Texas public schools-top 10%. Some Texas schools have automatic admission for top 25% - TAMUCC (check college websites for admission guidelines) If you are Under Review:  Submit letters of recommendation.  Submit optional essays.  Make a phone call!

Assured Admission Criteria Graduate with one of the following diploma types: (UAP) Recommended (UAP) Distinguished, and Meet the SAT/ACT requirements Curriculum should include: Four credits of English, including English I-IV; four credits of Math, including Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and an additional advanced math; four credits of science, including Biology, Chemistry, Physics and an additional advanced science, Four credits of social studies (most schools) along with other prescribed courses.

Simplify the College Planning Process 1. Understand admission factors 2. Learn about the SAT ® and SAT Subject Tests™ 3. Explore college options 4. Develop a financial plan College opportunities exist for everyone. These four steps can help simplify the planning process:

The first part of planning for college is understanding what factors colleges consider when looking at a student profile. What Colleges Consider Primary Factors Quality/Rigor of Academic Courses Academic Performance/ Grades Test Scores (SAT, SAT Subject Tests, AP ®, etc.) Additional Factors Extracurricular Activities Essay(s) Letters of Recommendation Demonstrated Interest

Get Organized and Apply Narrow and categorize your choices: “More than likely” schools (1 or 2) “Good match” schools (2 to 4) “Reach” schools (1 or 2) Review scholarship and financial aid requirements. Revise application essays and share drafts with a trusted teacher, adviser or family member. Ask for recommendations and set firm dates for their completion. Request transcripts and schedule interviews, if needed.

Resume Tips Make your resume easy to read. Use a chronological format (12th-9 th grade). List school- related activities and leadership positions: community service and activities; volunteer work /work experience /internships; summer activities & special programs. List the most significant leadership roles first. Include awards, honors, GPA, class rank, SAT/ACT scores.

AP Exams AP Exams are administered between the end of April and the beginning of May. The score range on an AP exam is 1-5 with 5 the highest. New Legislature passed that colleges must accept a 3 on AP exams for credit. Colleges may award credit based on your AP score. To check AP scores / College credit awarded: 1. Go to 2. Click “For Students” at top of site; 3. Click on AP in “College Tests”; 4. Click on “AP Credit Policy Info” (on the left); 5. Enter the college name; 6. Click there for the institution’s AP credit and placement policy. You will be able to see what score is required on an AP exam to receive credit. You will also be able to see the course for which the credit will substitute.

Requesting Official Transcripts Mrs. Schier in the Counseling Office processes all transcript requests. Transcripts are free. All official transcripts must be sent electronically or must be directly mailed by La Vernia High school. Allow at least 3 working days for the processing of your transcript request. Transcripts cannot be mailed via overnight services. SAT/ACT scores must be sent directly from collegeboard.org or act.org. PLAN AHEAD SO THAT YOUR TRANSCRIPTS ARRIVE BY THE PUBLISHED DEADLINE. (Thanksgiving break is the week before most applications are due!)

Requesting Recommendation Letters Students - Be sure you have filled out the “Senior Information Sheet” available in the Counseling Office. The information sheet provides the best information possible for your counselor and/or teacher to write your letter. When you request a recommendation letter from your counselor and/or teacher, be sure to indicate the purpose and destination of the letter. Allow at least 2 weeks for recommendation letters to be written.

Financial Aid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) You must complete and submit a FAFSA to apply for federal student financial aid. Apply on-line for a Federal Student Aid PIN Number – before January 1. You can apply for your PIN now. Apply online with FAFSA at starting Jan. 1, ***You cannot fill out FAFSA until January 1, 2016*** Every college/university bound student must complete the FAFSA to determine eligibility for federal college money. Complete the FAFSA even if you do not think you qualify.

The state has programs for students who: Were in foster care Were adopted (after age 13) Were the highest ranking scholar for their school Are blind or deaf Are Texas Veterans (Hazelwood) Visit for fact sheets & links to other higher education resources for students

Complete demographic information of the parent and student. Provide income information of the parent and student. Recommend to use IRS Data Retrieval to import tax information. Parents who do not have a social security number cannot electronically sign the FAFSA, a signature sheet needs to be printed, signed and mailed to the FAFSA site. NOTE: Please allow 4-8 weeks for Department of Ed. to process mailed documents. FAFSA Application Completion Requirements

Financial aid is intended to make a college education available to families in a number of different financial situations; everyone qualifies for something. Income is only one of many factors considered. A growing number of institutional and private scholarships require that students fill out the FAFSA as part of their application process.

If your parent(s) are still alive, federal guidelines require that biological parent’s information be used to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) unless someone else is your legal guardian. Guardianship as determined by a; Judge or court of law in your state of residence. Student may file as an independent.

A student is NOT considered independent between the ages of unless they are married, a veteran, have children and provide 50% of support to the child, are in legal guardianship, or have been declared a homeless/unaccompanied youth (proof needed). A student filing their own taxes does not make them independent. A student living separate from their parents does Not automatically make them independent.

Step-parent's information must be included on your financial aid application if you lived in the step-parent's household for 6 weeks (42 days) or more during the previous or current year or if a step-parent contributed more than $750 in "support" during the previous or current year. "Support" means money for such things as housing, food, clothing, transportation, medical care and school.

Will my dual credit or college credit course affect my financial aid? Yes, any dual credit or college campus program that at student has taken in high school, will affect their financial aid eligibility. Classes Camps for college credit. Please be aware if a student is below a 2.0 GPA and below a 67% completion rate, they will be on financial aid suspension.

Scholarships Be sure to check once a month with the Counseling Office as well as the Counseling website to locate valuable scholarship information. Information is also announced daily during 3 rd period. SEND MR. ESQUIVEL YOUR ADDRESS WITH STUDENT’S /NAME/ID# TO: Some websites you can check out:

12 th Grade Checklist Determine the types of college to which you want to apply. Choose at least 5 colleges. Always include at least one “safety” school on your list. A “safety” school is a college at which you know you will meet the requirements for admission. Take SAT and ACT exams during the fall semester. Retake if you want to improve your scores. Research and apply for scholarships. Earn strong grades. Take advantage of opportunities for leadership and responsibility to help round out your college applications. Submit the FAFSA in January. Obtain letters of recommendation. Write your essay(s). Submit college applications and scholarship applications on time. Send your transcripts.

Essay Questions Essay A: Describe a setting in which you have collaborated or interacted with people whose experiences and/or beliefs differ from yours. Address your initial feelings, and how those feelings were or were not changed by this experience. Essay B: Describe a circumstance, obstacle or conflict in your life, and the skills and resources you used to resolve it. Did it change you? If so, how? Essay C: Considering your lifetime goals, discuss how your current and future academic and extra- curricular activities might help you achieve your goals.

Upcoming Events September 21, 2015 – All seniors created Apply Texas Account. September 24, 2015 –TAMUCC representative will be in the library at 9:30 to meet with students interested in attending TAMUCC. September 30, 2015 – SAT boot camp October 3, 2015 – SAT here at La Vernia District Auditorium. October 14, 2015 – College Connections presentation to all seniors on ACC. October 14, 2015 – College Fair October 15, 2015 – Texas A&M International representative will be in the library at 9:30 to meet with students interested in attending TAMUI. October 16, 2015 – College Connections representatives from ACC will be here to help seniors planning to attend Alamo Community College with their application. October 25, 2014 – ACT here at La Vernia District Auditorium

QUESTIONS?