1. College Planning Night for the Class of 2019
Ripley High School
February 6th at 6:00 pm
This event is for high school juniors and their parents where information about the college search, college application process and financial aid will be discussed.

2. Why Go to College? Earning Potential Career Path Self-Reliance
Connections
Personal Growth

3. What Is College?
A college is any school that a student enrolls in after receiving their high school diploma that offers a certificate or degree for completing courses.
In Tennessee, there are several different kinds of colleges you can attend depending on your interests.

4. College of Applied Tech (TCAT) Community College (2-yr)
Types of Colleges
College of Applied Tech (TCAT)
Community College (2-yr)
University (4-year)
public or private

5. Types of 2-Year Colleges
Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT): Tennessee’s provider of state-of-the-art technical training for workers to obtain the technical skills and professional training to enter the workforce. Students can earn certificates and diplomas here. Some programs are less than 1 year.
Community College: Offers associate degree and certificate programs that focus on preparing you for a certain career. Also, offers two-year associate degrees that prepare you to transfer to a four-year college to earn a bachelor's degree.*
*Adapted from Bigfuture.Collegeboard.org

6. Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology
TCAT Athens
TCAT McKenzie
TCAT Chattanooga
TCAT McMinnville
TCAT Covington
TCAT Memphis
TCAT Crossville
TCAT Morristown
TCAT Crump
TCAT Murfreesboro
TCAT Dickson
TCAT Nashville
TCAT Elizabethton
TCAT Newbern
TCAT Harriman
TCAT Oneida
TCAT Hartsville
TCAT Paris
TCAT Hohenwald
TCAT Pulaski
TCAT Jacksboro
TCAT Ripley
TCAT Jackson
TCAT Shelbyville
TCAT Knoxville
TCAT Whiteville
TCAT Livingston

7. Tennessee Community Colleges
Chattanooga State Community College Chattanooga, TN
Cleveland State Community College Cleveland, TN
Columbia State Community College Columbia, TN
Dyersburg State Community College Dyersburg, TN
Jackson State Community College Jackson, TN
Motlow State Community College Tullahoma, TN
Nashville State Community College Nashville, TN
Northeast State Community College Blountville, TN
Pellissippi State Community College Knoxville, TN
Roane State Community College Harriman, TN
Southwest Tennessee Community College Memphis, TN
Volunteer State Community College Gallatin, TN
Walters State Community College Morristown, TN

8. Private and Public 4-Year Colleges
4-year colleges and universities offer bachelor degree programs.
Public Colleges: funded by local and state governments and usually offer lower tuition rates than private colleges, especially for students who are residents of the state where a college is located.
Private Colleges : schools that rely mainly on tuition, fees and private sources of funding. Private donations can sometimes provide generous financial aid packages for students. Private colleges in Tennessee are often members of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA)*
*Adapted from Bigfuture/Collegboard.org

9. Types of Degrees
Diploma and Certificate: take less than a year to two years to complete and focus on a specific skill or career. These programs are offered at Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology
Associate’s Degree: two-year degrees offered at community colleges
Bachelor’s Degree: four-year degrees offered at public and private four-year colleges and universities

10. Choosing a College Degree Programs Learning Environment Campus Life
Distance from Home
Location
Type of College
Size
Student Body
Cost
First Impressions

11. Paying For College
Developing a plan to pay for college can feel overwhelming. Fortunately for students in Tennessee, there are many options available to help reduce the cost of attending college, including:
FAFSA
The Tennessee Promise
Scholarships and Awards

12. Preparing for Senior Year
Senior year of high school is a busy and exciting time! In addition to being the leaders of Ripley High School you will also be taking the next steps towards college and your career.
Here is a suggested guide for making the most of senior year and staying on track to start college in Summer/Fall of 2018:
Summer
12th Grade Fall
12th Grade Spring

13. Jumpstart Your College Search This Summer
Go on college visits.
Think about what teachers you will ask to write letters of recommendation for you.
If you haven’t already, make a list of activities you’ve participated in, volunteer experiences, honors and awards since 9th grade.
Work on your college application essays.
Review the application procedures for schools you plan to apply to. Write down and keep track of deadlines!

14. Preparing for Senior Year
Fall Semester
Take and retake the ACT/SAT
Apply to several colleges (admissions, institutional aid, etc) and utilize their net price calculators
Student AND parent will create FSA IDs (fsaid.ed.gov) to...
Complete FAFSA available October 1, 2018
Spring Semester
Complete local/private scholarship applications
Review college acceptances, compare financial aid packages, ask questions, and follow up as needed

15. Food for thought….
Remember decision making is a PROCESS, not an event. ”You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you are going, because you might not get there.” -Yogi Berra

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