1. College Planning Presentation

2.  Tuesday, October 7, College Night, 6:30 p.m., BSHS Commons  Wednesday, January 28, Financial Aid Program, 7 p.m., BSSHS  Senior Academic Awards Night, May 7, 7 – 9 p.m., PAC IMPORTANT SENIOR DATES

3. Which college? How do I choose?  88% of high school students who are attending college, go to college in their home state.  83% of Blue Springs High School students attend college after graduation.  34% of Blue Springs High School students attend a 2 year community college.  47% of Blue Springs High School student go directly to a 4 year college or university.

4. Types of Colleges TypeDescriptionTuitionAdmission Requirements Four year Degrees offered: Bachelors and beyond Provides: A well-rounded college experience that includes an academic area of study. State: Typically around $15,000/year Private: Typically more than $20,000/year SAT or ACT GPA Class rank Essay Extracurricular activities Letters of recommendation Transcripts

5. College Comparisons University of Missouri:Apply by Dec. 124 or higher on ACT Tuition/RB/Supplies$24.704 per year* University of Central Missouri: 21 or higher on ACT Tuition/RB$14,229 per year* Rental plan for books Northwest Missouri State:21 or higher on ACT Tuition/RB$16,943 per year* Books and Laptop included in fees Missouri Western:ACT subscores: 19 English 19 Read 20 Math Tuition/RB$13,240 per year* Books can be rented or purchased Washington Univ.Highly selective$60,355/year* *These dollar figures are approximations. Please consult the admissions offices at these colleges for the most accurate information.

6. Types of Colleges TypeDescriptionTuitionAdmission Requirements Two year Degrees offered: Associates Provides: A way to ease into college / take general college classes for credit. Typically have agreements with four year colleges to transfer credits. Typically around $4,000/year Open-door admission policy

7. About College Admission Tests ACT – Widely accepted – Consists of four tests: English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing – Writing component is optional – Top composite score is 36 average score is 21. SAT – Predominantly used by east and west coast schools – Consists of three tests: Verbal, Math, Writing – Each test is scored on a scale of 200-800

8. 2014-15 ACT Test Dates Test Date Registration Deadline Late Fee Required Sept. 13 August 8Aug. 9- Aug. 22 Oct. 25 Sept. 19Sept. 20-Oct. 3 Dec. 13 Nov. 7 Nov. 8-21 Feb. 7 Jan. 9 Jan. 10-16 April 18March 13 March 14-27 June 13May 8 May 9-22 Standard test fee : $38.00 To register, go to: ACT Plus Writing: $54.50 www.actstudent.org

9. What information do college admission officers review? Grades / Overall GPA Strength of high school course selections Admission Test Score Essay (Some Colleges Require This) Teacher and counselor recommendations Class rank Student’s demonstrated interest Personal accomplishments Personality characteristics Courses in progress Senior year

10. Making the Decision About Where to Apply Attend College Fairs Meet w/ Admissions Reps Surf the Internet (View Course Equivalencies/Transfer Credit, Take Virtual Tours, Request Information) Visit Various Campuses Apply to Several Colleges/Universities Apply by Deadline Dates

11. College Information – Where to go The web is your best source when starting to explore colleges. Colleges have websites where you can get a campus overview, cost of attending, possible automatic scholarships, admission requirements. Contact information and applications can be found on the individual sites. Colleges now recommend online applications. A list of helpful websites can be found on OUR district website: www.bssd.netwww.bssd.net

12. How to Finance College

13. Scholarships, Grants, and Loans Scholarships: Money that is awarded based on established criteria and is not repaid Grants:Money that is awarded, often based on need, and is not repaid Loans: Money that must be repaid.

14. Merit Scholarship Merit scholarships are where the money is. There is more than $11 billion in merit scholarships available to students from colleges Not just for “A” students Many awards emphasize leadership or school involvement Nearly all colleges offer merit aid scholarships The amount of awarded money varies greatly from school to school Many awards can be renewed each year

15. FACT Blue Springs High School class of 2014 earned over $6.3 million dollars in scholarship money.

16. Make your scholarship applications competitive! Type your applications when possible. Print neatly. Sign your name legibly. If you write a paragraph or essay, ask someone to proofread. Include all documents and follow directions. Make sure you meet the qualifications for the scholarship. Do not use unusual paper, binders, colored paper, etc. in an effort to set yourself apart. You will set yourself apart and possibly be eliminated! Have a resume that you can attach to applications that highlights your accomplishments.

17. Federal Money FAFSA: Money Based on Need Loans/Grants/Workstudy Apply after Jan. 1 Senior Year Two Important Sites: – www.fafsa.ed.gov www.fafsa.ed.gov – www.pin.ed.gov www.pin.ed.gov Estimated Family Contribution Student Aid Report FAFSA Frenzy events held in the KC area

18. State Programs Department of Higher Education (DHE) – www.dhe.mo.gov www.dhe.mo.gov – 800-473-6757 – Bright Flight 31+ACT $3,000/year for up to 5 years (or completion of bachelor’s degree Contact for a free informational packet Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) – www.dese.mo.gov/divteachqual/scholarships www.dese.mo.gov/divteachqual/scholarships

19. Scholarship Resources Fastweb.com - Private scholarships Studentaid.ed.gov - The federal government’s website about paying for college MeritAid.com - $11 billion in merit scholarships Cappex.com - Scholarship matching finaid.org - Free student resource for learning about all types of financial aid Our Favorite Type of Money!

20. Next Steps

21. Next Steps for Students In School Stay focused on academics Do not lighten your academic load for senior year Meet with your school counselor Stay involved in school activities Standardized Testing Prepare for and register for ACT / SAT tests Register for AP tests as appropriate College Exploration Explore colleges on the Web Visit colleges if you can Meet with college representatives Attend college fairs

22. Feel free to contact any of the Blue Springs High School Counselors if you have additional questions. Mrs. Kathy Morgason Mrs. Linda Williams Mrs. Karin Finley Mrs. Kelly Frey Mrs. Megan Callanan *Resources taken from the following: -Cappex -MU College Planning 101 -ACT Organization