Counselor Breakdown Last Names A-K Tasha Houck Last Names L-Z - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Counselor Breakdown Last Names A-K Tasha Houck Last Names L-Z Alli Pineda Post Grad Coordinator M.E Espinosa

Tonight’s Outline

Senior Packet and Materials Quick Recap of Junior Tasks (College Search/Selection) Senior Timeline Application Process Where Student Voice Fits In OHS Financial Aid and Scholarship Overview NCAA What Comes Next… Guest Speaker- Financial Aid Presentation

What Senior Year Looks Like

Senior Packet

• Complete Timeline
• Checklist/Tracker
• “Nitty Gritty” Questions
• DI and DII Sports
• Additional Resources
• How to Apply Map
• Student Narrative Work
• (essays, letters and scholarship
• mapping)
• Financial Aid Explanations and

“How To’s”

• College Vocabulary

Key Components

• f the

Senior Timeline

Fall Semester

Finish the college search Retake ACT/SAT if needed Attend your Senior Planning Events (Senior Meetings, Fall Seminar, Tonight, College Readiness Day) Do the FASFA “forecaster” Official credit check in early October Start Applications Start scholarship searches- Quest Bridge is up, Daniel Fund opens October 1st Submit College Applications by October 15, Fall Break or Thanksgiving Fill out the FASFA- October 1st Complete Transcript Request forms Go to College Fairs, rep visits and tours (real and virtual!) Attend the FASFA nights if you need extra help in October Complete the COF Submit Scholarship Applications

Spring Semester

Attend EVERY CLASS, EVERY DAY Request 7th semester transcripts if needed Continue Scholarship Applications Complete 2 Year and Voc- Ed program applications Attend Spring Senior Seminars Compare Award Letters Attend Parent/Grad Meetings and Graduate!! Finalize Post Secondary choices Fill out necessary requirements from college

• f choice

Graduate!

The MAJOR Junior Tasks

• College Searching
• Starting the Essay
• Naviance Document Library,

Class of 2020

• OHS Counseling Website

Finding the Right Fit

Cost

(Will we be able to afford this option?)

Major

(Will I be able to study what I am interested in?)

Size

(How many students will be in class with me?)

Location

(What is the surrounding area like?)

Admission Criteria

(Will I be accepted?)

School Personality

(Who attends this school?)

Resources Available

(What happens if I need help?)

Visit Upcoming College Fairs!

College Search Review

• College Research Websites
• College Admissions Counselors
• Visits by College Reps in Post

Grad

• College Fairs
• Campus Visits/Tours

Admissions Requirements

• GPA (some use the Eligibility

Index – next slide)

• Test Scores
• “ACE”ing High School
• Academics- Performance and

rigor of courses completed

• Community Service
• Extracurricular

Activities/Leadership Contributions

• College (Admissions) Essay
• Letters of Recommendation if

needed or requested

Colorado Index Score Range

ACT or SAT score

GPA

The Application Process

Step #1 Apply

• 1. Create an email account (appropriate) that you can close

after you are done applying for schools so you won’t have to filter through recruiting emails

• 2. Apply online at each schools website. Look for the

words “freshman”, “prospective student”, “undergraduate” or “new student” to select the correct

• application. Select the correct term: (FALL 2020)
• 3. Neatness counts- fill out each section with the correct

punctuation

• 4. If in doubt, ask your counselor
• 5. Fill out one financial aid section (usually on the back

page) with your parent/guardian(s) and copy it, so that you will have the information for the next applications

• 6. If you use the common application, make sure to check

that each school does not have any other separate addendums they require

• 7. Continue to work on your College Essays and keep your

resume updated- this will help when answering short prompts on applications

• 8. When done hit “SUBMIT” (no need to print the SENDedu

form… but will need to print others if prompted to- when id doubt, print and show us!)

Student Voice in the Application Process

LETTERS

You will only need letters if you are on the cusp, or an institution specifically indicates

• so. Letters help explain any

abnormalities or circumstances and are another way to demonstrate the personality of the candidate. Letters will only be written if there is a 2 week

• notice. Remember to thank the

people writing on your behalf

RESUMES

Help organize your activities, contributions, interests, and

• achievements. Helps you not leave

anything out that can’t be demonstrated in another part of an application

ESSAYS

This is the most critical piece of an application. If an institution has asked you to for an essay, give them one because they will read it. This is your chance to shine and show them all the wonderful and interesting things about you. Colleges want people who give back to their campus culture. They are looking for many types. The same is said for your written responses on any

• application. They want to hear YOUR VOICE!

Adding Your Written Components

#3- Find the $ Finding scholarships and funding is an ongoing process. Most

scholarships want to hear more about you. Use your RESUME and ESSAY to help you respond to the specific answers a scholarship is asking from you

#2-Tell us! Once you have applied to a school, scholarship, or program, come into the Post Grad Center and fill

• ut a blue “Transcript Request Form”. We will send out your test scores, letters, and any other school based material that

we are responsible for. *Students MUST check if schools want test scores directly from the institution or will accept from

• us. If any test retakes happen, it is the students responsibility to bring us the score report so we can update*

If you need letters of recommendation, give a typed copy

• f your RESUME to your teacher/counselor. Make sure

you are allowing 2 weeks before any deadline Your teachers/counselor will upload your LETTER on Naviance and it will be submitted after you have done your blue “Transcript Request Form”

#1- Apply- (ONLINE in most cases) Applying is easy, it is filling out your name, address, and so on. It is the

written portions that are the heart of your essay

Use your RESUME to ensure you are including all facets on your applications Upload on Naviance and Submit your ESSAY (if required, and if it says it is “optional”, do it!!)

Step #2 Tell Us!

• 1. Fill out a TRANSCRIPT REQUEST FORM- After clicking

“SUBMIT” to a College or Scholarship application you MUST fill out a BLUE transcript request form. They are located across Mr. Sewell's desk on the wall in Post Grad or in Counseling between Ms. Houck & Ms. Pineda.

• These forms will send out your test scores, transcripts, class

rank, g.p.a.

• You MUST check to see if the Institution you are applying to

wants your test scores directly from ACT or the College Board, or if they will accept them from us.

• ALL ACT/SAT retakes must be brought to us to be scanned if

you want us to send those results

• You MUST allow for two weeks for processing
• You MUST double check to see if your school requests 7th

semester transcripts. If so you will have to resend after semester

• Any transcripts fees you are paying by a check or money
• rder will be sent if provided
• 2. Letters and Essays
• (Optional) Some colleges require teacher/counselor recommendations

& a personal essay. You will upload your personal essay directly to your application online as required. Teachers and Counselors will upload their letters directly to Naviance.

• (Optional) Some colleges require a secondary school report or counselor

recommendation form. Your Counselor will fill this out on Naviance. We will send this with your transcript, test scores, and any letters of recommendation requested.

• 3. Update your “College’s I’ve Applied To” List

Step #3 Find the $

Start by immersing yourself in finding external scholarships first!

• In Naviance: Click on the “Colleges” tab  scroll down

to the “Scholarship & Money” section  click on the sections “scholarship match, scholarship list and national scholarship search” to find scholarships

• In Post-Grad: Come visit and browse through our

green “Scholarship Binders” on Mr. Sewell’s desk

• Remember, finding free money is like a job-

your responsibility and time consuming!

• Make your own lists of what you are going to apply to,

what the deadlines are, what the requirements of the scholarship are (essays, forms, etc.), and combine what essays and short answers you can

• Complete the FASFA!
• Check pages 10 & 11 in the Senior Packet and get

familiar with how the money gets to you

• Your counselors will give you a financial aid checklists

and information during next semester to help keep you on track as well

Where is the Money?

This will be an ongoing process throughout your education-your schools will also have a financial aid

• ffice that will continue helping you

Gift Aid-This is the “FREE MONEY”

Also called Merit Aid this includes Scholarships & Grants

Self Help-This money gets earned or re-payed

This is how you can cover costs not already covered in Gift Aid and Savings and includes Work Study options & Loans

• Scholarships requirements typically include one of the

following categories: financial need, merit recognition, or special talent or diversity

• Most award packages are provided directly from the college or

university - especially private schools

• Scholarships website are a great way to search for private

based scholarships, but beware aware- you should never pay to apply for a scholarship

• Students exhibiting financial need will often receive additional

grant money from the United States government typically in the form of a Pell Grant.

• ****FASFA****- This is the first step in many cases, and most

scholarships will ask if you have done this. IN ORDER TO RECEIVE LOANS, GRANTS AND WORK STUDY, YOU MUST COMPLETE THE FAFSA

• ****COF****- If you are staying in state, register for the

Colorado Opportunity Fund and get a reduction in price straight

• ff your tuition

Financial Aid Preparation

BEFORE APPLYING:

• Check out each

Institution’s Net Cost Calculator’s

• Set up a FASFA PIN and

do the forecaster

• Do the FASFA in October
• Complete the COF in

August if already not done

• Set up a Scholarship

Calendar to see what is

• ut now to plan for future

reoccurrences

• Research the “Big

Scholarships”

• Daniels Fund
• Boettcher
• Gates
• Quest Bridge

WHILE and AFTER APPLYING:

• Ask College Reps about

rewards and internal gift aid opportunities

• Ask the schools to whom

you’ve applied for internal grants and work study

• ptions
• Once accepted you will

get an “Award Letter” detailing costs

• Compare various award

letters

• Make friends with your

institutions Financial Aid Office- this process is continuous throughout your time in school!

FASFA (Free Application for Student Federal Aid)

Check out other tools like Financial Aid Calculators and individual school websites that will provide you with their estimates

• Log onto the FASFA.ed.gov website and create a PIN

number that you will use in October

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa Complete the

FASFA forecaster to get an idea of what you may receive- this is called the EFC (estimated family contribution)

• Complete the COF

https://www.mycoloradojourney.com/journey

• Fill out and complete the FASFA between October 1,

2019 through March

• **Remember, $ is first come, first served**
• Attend the FASFA Completion Workshops in October

if you need help filling out the forms.

• This event is by registration through Post Grad only

NCAA

• To play DI or DII sports in College,

you MUST register with the NCAA Eligibility Center

• Transcripts must be sent from EACH

school you have attended and ACT/SAT must be sent directly from the testing institution. Code 9999 for ACT/SAT

• Download the Guide for Student

Athletes

• You can use the NCAA worksheet

you have been using with your counselor (this process should have started some time ago) to help report your core g.p.a and figure your place on their sliding scales

What Comes Next?

The End of High School!

• *Now your at #21 on

the Senior Task Checklist!*

• Attend the

Parent/Grad meetings

• n March 24th & 25th
• Complete your credits

by Senior Check-Out- May 11th

• Enjoy the Senior

events (look for information from the Activities office) and Graduate! The Beginning of………

• Compare your “Award

Letters” to determine financial obligations and/or expectations

• Decide and commit to

your chosen school or program by May 1st

• Fill out any necessary

paperwork for them- ex.: housing information & requests, deposits, scheduled visits,. Orientations, etc.

Don’t Forget About Us! We are here to support you! Please don’t hesitate to ask us for questions or help.

Why visit us and use Post Grad?

 Career Exploration  College Application Timeline  Admission Testing  Financial Aid Process  Scholarship Opportunities

Post Grad Events/Activities:

 College Fairs  Information Workshops  Application Workshops  Career Fairs  Resume Writing  College Essay Writing  FAFSA Nights