HELP ME GET INTO COLLEGE!?!?!?!? HOW HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS OF 2016 TRANSFORM INTO THE COLLEGE FRESHMEN OF 2016

How Do I Apply to a College? –Complete application and any other paperwork required by college (Most colleges charge at least $25.00 to apply. All srs can qualify for up to 4 application fee waivers. Please consult Ms. Stabler or Ms. Pugh). –Request transcript from Guidance Office. Colleges want an official transcript mailed directly from JHS. You need to complete a transcript request form (available on the website or in guidance office). Jrs/srs can get up to 10 free official copies of transcript, however, there will be a $1 charge for each transcript sent thereafter. Your final transcript will be sent free of charge after graduation. You have to inform Mrs. Brown/Ms. Stabler in writing (form provided at end of year) where to send it. –Colleges will communicate with you(usually electronically) about the status of your application.

Where Can I Get a College Application? –Counselor’s Office(most colleges no longer send paper applications to our office but many applications can be downloaded off the college’s website) –Request one directly from college –Get one when reps are on JHS campus

What Should I Be Doing NOW to get into a College? –Develop your resume. Using Kuder is one of the easiest ways to build a professional looking resume. –Research colleges via college fair, recruitment visits to JHS, campus visits, literature, and virtual tours. –Should have a “safe” choice (school you know you can get into and afford) and then the dream college (where you REALLY want to go) –Check entrance requirements, be sure you have the right test scores and the right tests –Narrow down list. Every sr would have applied to at least one school by the end of College Application Week in early November.

What If I Need a Letter of Recommendation? –Ask the person you want to write it (i.e. teacher, pastor, coach, city council member, employer, counselor) –Provide person with resume; the name, address, and title of person to whom the letter should be written; a stamped envelope addressed to the recipient of letter, deadline of the letter. Also, check back to see if the person has mailed the letter. –Don’t get mad if a person tells you no. It takes a lot of time to write a good recommendation letter, plus you don’t want a recommendation that is not good. Be glad the person is letting you know that his/her recommendation won’t help you. –DO NOT WAIT UNTILTHE LAST MINUTE to ask or to check back. DEADLINES are for real in this process!!!!

What If I Need to Visit a College Campus to BE SURE? –Research College Preview Days. Some Colleges have Preview Days (listed below) on school holidays. –You may request up to 2 excused college visit days that count as a 4X per junior and senior year. In rare cases, other days have been excused as needed. –Form to fill out IN ADVANCED (see packet)

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION Annual scholarship list is posted on JHS Website on guidance pages Hard copies of this list was provided to srs. thru their 2 nd block classes on 9/11 Announcements are made during regular school announcements. LISTEN! Senior teachers post announcements in their classrooms; check JHS facebook page, and sign up for Remind. LOOK!

Kinds of Scholarships Grants- Don’t have to pay back. Awarded from organizations, foundations, federal gov’t. FAFSA is available on-line or on paper (available in January 2016). Ms. Stabler will set aside some time during early Feb. to assist any seniors in need of help with filing FAFSA online. Please sign up as time is quickly winding down and you want to make sure that you get your application complete before the deadline.

Kinds of Scholarships …continued Academic / Athletic Scholarships are based on achievement. –Academic depends upon ACT score and cumulative GPA –Academic requires registering with NCAA Clearinghouse and has academic standards that are fairly high!

Kinds of Scholarships …continued Service-based- are awarded for community service. Usually require participation in organizations that emphasize volunteer service. Some of these include leadership. Some have scholarships for activities you’ve been involved in at JHS: cheerleader, yearbook, music, band.

Scholarships in General Some are to any school—given by organizations/foundations Usually handled by the organization/foundation Some are school specific—usually given by school or by a benefactor of the school. Contact the school’s financial aid office or web site for school’s protocol for scholarship DEADLINES MUST BE MET! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS Posted on JHS web site New Applications are usually not available until after 1 st term BUT you may look at old ones to see what you need to prepare for application.

College Admission Community Colleges have an opened admission policy---no ACT score is required for admission but is for scholarships. Many 4 year college students are back home by first ball game! Make sure you’re ready before you fly!

TIPS FOR SUCCESS Do not wait until the last day. Be careful of December 1 deadlines— check Thanksgiving break as it can interfere with counselor/registrar’s ability to meet deadlines. Start resume and references ASAP

I’m here to help! Crystal Stabler, 321 Stanley Drive, Jackson, AL ext. 104 SCHOOL CODE JHS FAX