Class of 2016 YOUR FUTURE BEGINS NOW!!!

Everglades Guidance Department Ms. AlvarezGuidance Director Mrs. Denbow12 th Grade Ms. Lysaght-Marikos11 th grade Ms. DiBenedetto10 th grade Mrs. Cohen 9 th Grade Mrs. GittenBRACE Advisor

SIGN UP FOR REMIND TEXTS FROM MRS. GITTEN!  Class of 2016  To:81010   Class of 2017  To:81010 

Sign Up for s from Mrs. Gitten  Everglades HS Website  BRACE Class of 2016  BRACE Class of 201m  

Graduation Requirements  40 Service Learning Hours  Pass FCAT Reading OR Pass with concordant score on ACT or SAT  Pass Algebra 1 and Geometry  Pass Algebra 1 EOC  1 Online class  2.0 Unweighted GPA

How Do I Keep Track of Where I Am?  Virtual Counselor Graduation Check Bright Futures Status Service Hours GPA/Rank

2 Year vs. 4 Year BC, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach CC  No Foreign Language Requirement  No Algebra 2 requirement  Less Expensive FIU, FAU, FSU, UF, UCF, FGCU, FL POLY, UNF  Minimum 2 years of the same foreign language requirement  Algebra 2 required  More Expensive, Other costs can include living

Choosing Your College  If possible, visit the colleges that you want to apply to.  Sign up in the BRACE Office to meet with the college reps visiting our school.  Consider: Size, Location, Majors, Campus Life

YOU WILL WANT TO CHOOSE  Safe Schools  Realistic Schools  Reach Schools

What Are Colleges Looking For? IN THIS ORDER  Grades in Academic Classes : (English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language)  Strength of Classes (Honors, AP, Dual Enrollment  Test Scores (SAT & ACT)  Resume : Clubs & Activites, Leadership, Community Service

4 Parts to a COMPLETE College Application 1. Completed Online Application 2. Standardized scores sent (SAT/ACT) 3. Transcript Sent 4. Application fee Plus: Any Other Needed Components: (letters of recommendation, SAT Subject scores)

FLORIDA PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES ONLINE APPLICATIONS  Apply Online Through Each College’s Website  There is NO central Application for the Florida schools  FAMU paper application—you will need to download from their website  Application fees are $30. If on free/reduced lunch, downloadable SAT application waivers in College Board Account  See Mrs. Gitten for ACT application fee waiver  Broward College does NOT accept waivers

SAT/ACT How do I Prepare?  SAT: Go to  ACT: Go to  HS Code:  Pick up SAT and ACT study guides from BRACE Office  Broward County Libraries, Princeton Review, Khan Academy (College Board), ACT

Register for the SAT/ACT!!  SAT: Next test date is November 7 th  Register by October 9 th  ACT: Next test date is December 12 th  Register by November 6 th  If on free/reduced lunch, you must see Mrs. Gitten to obtain a fee waiver. 2 for each test.

SAT Subject Tests  1 hour long tests in specific subject areas (math, history, chemistry)  Required by many private or out-of-state colleges  Can’t be taken on same day as regular SAT test  Not given on every SAT test date  Best to be taken after the class in that subject  Can take 3 subject tests in the same day

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SEND YOUR SCORES!  When you register you can send up to 4 colleges for FREE  The window is from time of registration to 1 week after the test  After that, you must pay $12 per college  SAT will send a cumulative report  ACT will send only one test a time (Make sure you send correct test)  Check college websites for last accepted test date  Do not send AP scores. You will self report on the application

TRANSCRIPTS  UF, FSU and Florida Poly—Must complete the online self reported SSAR  Use the academic history tab in Virtual Counselor  Do Not send a transcript is using SSAR  ALL OTHER FLORIDA SCHOOLS  Student needs to fill out a Transcript request form and return to front of Guidance  It will go electronically AT NO COST TO YOU!

Self-Reported Student Academic Record (SSAR)  For UF, FSU and Florida Poly Only1  Do not send transcript  Go to Virtual Counselor to get complete grade history.  You started high school in 2012  Must put any middle school classes taken for college credit (GEM or foreign language)  Must enter all grades as Semester  If took class for forgiveness, must enter both OLD and NEW grade  Current high school classes should be listed as “In Progress”

TRANSCRIPTS FOR PRIVATE & OUT-OF-STATE SCHOOLS  Fill out form in front of Guidance  Indicate if transcript is to be mailed ($3) or will be picked up by student ($2).  You must provide address of where to mail transcript

COMMON APPLICATION  Used by 500 private and out-of-state colleges  Florida public universities do not use Common App  U Miami and Nova Southeastern DO  Must list guidance counselor and recommenders’ . Counselor is  No need for transcript requests  No need for application fee waivers  Check for each college’s supplement  Must send test scores to each college.

WATCH THESE DEADLINES!  Early Decision deadline is November 1 st  Most Florida schools have rolling admissions  FSU 1 st deadline is October 15 th  UF deadline is November 1 st (firm!)  Schools with rolling admissions may have scholarship opportunities  Most private college’s regular decision deadline is December 31 st  Plan for test scores to meet deadline

EARLY DECISION VS. EARLY ACTION  EARLY DECISION—BINDING  Completed Application by November 1 st  May only apply to 1 school ED  MUST ATTEND IF ACCEPTED  EARLY ACTION—SINGLE CHOICE  Usually November 1 st deadline  May only apply to one school early  Not binding, you can decide if you want to attend  EARLY ACTION  Same deadline/can apply to multiple schools  Not binding

HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO PAY FOR COLLEGE?

2 TYPES OF AID  MERIT BASED  Bright Futures—FL Schools  University based scholarships  Outside scholarships  NEED BASED  FAFSA—Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is to be used for grants or loans  State based aid also looks at BF/FAFSA information  University based aid looks at FAFSA

GRANTS & LOANS  GRANTS = FREE MONEY $$$$$  GRANTS = are part of the FAFSA  YOU CAN APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID AFTER January 1, 2016  Step 1 W2 from work  Step 2 Income Tax Form  Step 3 Numbers from your income tax form are used to fill out FAFSA  PARENTS—GET YOUR TAXES DONE EARLY!!!

FLORIDA BRIGHT FUTURES PROGRAM

3 BRIGHT FUTURES AWARD LEVELS  Florida Academic Scholars Award  Florida Medallion Scholars Award  Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award

Florida Academic Scholars Award  $103 per credit hour  3.5 weighted GPA using:  4 English  4 Math (Algebra 1 & above  3 Natural Science (2 with Lab)  3 Social Science  2 Foreign Language (same language)  SAT 1290 (Reading and Math) or 29 ACT Composite  100 Hours of Community Service

Florida Medallion Scholars Award  $77 per credit hour  3.0 weighted GPA using the credits listed below:  4 English  4 Math (Algebra 1 & above)  3 Natural Science (2 with Lab)  2 Social Science  2 Foreign Language (same language)  SAT 1170 (Reading and Math) or 26 ACT Composite  75 hours of Community Service

Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar  $ Varies depending on program  3.0 weighted GPA using the 16 credits listed below:  4 English  4 Math  3 Natural Science  3 Social Science  1 Performing Arts  ½ Life Management Skills, ½ Personal Fitness, ½ PE  SAT 440 R/440 M  ACT 17 English, 19 Reading, 19 Math OR  PERT 106 Reading, 103 Writing, 114 Math

Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar (cont.) In Addition:  3.5 unweighted GPA in a minimum total of 3 vocational classes in one vocational program  Comm TechEngineering  Allied HealthDigital Media

Applying for Bright Futures  You can start to apply for Bright Futures starting December 1 st of Senior Year  One application used for BF and other state scholarships  Need to know Social Securiy Number  Please make sure school has Social Security Number on file here

Free Scholarship Search Sites    

Scholarship Scam Warning Signs  Never pay to apply for a scholarship  Money Back Guarantee  Credit Card/Bank information required  Never pay a registration fee  Phony Financial Aid Seminars that pressure you to pay for services that are free

NCAA Eligibility Center  Division I and Division II athletes need to complete the NCAA online clearinghouse forms.  See Coach Menendez or other coaches

TECHNICAL CENTERS  Learn a skill or trade  Broward County ha 3 tech centers  McFatter – Davie  Atlantic – Margate  Sheridan – Hollywood  Financial Aid (FAFSA and Bright Futures) can be used!

UPCOMING COLLEGE FAIRS  Thursday, October 15 th  Cardinal Gibbons High School  6p-8p  Free and Open to Public  Tuesday, October 20 th  BCPS College Nova University  5p-8p  Free and Open to Public

THANK YOU! QUESTIONS???