college information night

Columbia City High SchoolWednesday, March 11, 2015

Complete a career interest inventory. These range from very brief inventories to more in depth options.

Students are encouraged to take these inventories to begin exploring different career options and planning for college or other post secondary training.

These inventories are helpful in course selection and allows the student’s counselor to provide them with opportunities that will assist them in meeting their college and career goals.

Create a list of questions and start having conversations

Complete a job shadowing experience

Complete a professional internship

Hoosier Hot 50 Jobs - The Hot 50 List

Occupational Outlook Handbook

Indiana Career Explorer

What’s all out there?

Four or two year? Public or Private? In State or Out of

State? Setting

Rural Suburban Urban

Cost

Size of the college Small (fewer than 2,000

students) Medium (2,000 –

15,000) Large (more than

15,000)

Academic Programs

Clubs & Organizations

Accreditation

SAT or ACT scores◦ Register for one of the tests

http://www.collegeboard.com/ (SAT) http://www.actstudent.org/ (ACT)

◦ Prepare before taking the test Practice testing from books Online prep work

College Prep coursework◦ Work with Guidance Counselor to make sure you are

on pace for diploma track you want to follow Your involvement

◦ Write down everything you’re involved with in and out of school

◦ Join a club, play a sport, or volunteer…anything you do outside of class could impress an Admissions office

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/

Hospitals Schools Daycare Centers Churches Nursing Homes Farms Animal Shelters Zoo Local Non Profit Organizations

Become a Freshman Mentor

Join Student Council

Participate in Organized Sports

Get Involved in Clubs/Activities at School and in the Community

TAKE ACTION!Talk to family and friendsVisit college websitesSchedule a time to meet with your Guidance

CounselorSet up college visits to your top college choices…

you do not have to wait until your senior year to visit

**Remember…your senior year will be busy. Starting your college search now will save you and your parents time and decrease stress!!!

Survey the college website Virtual tours

Many college websites offer a virtual tour www.collegeweeklive.com

On campus tour Schedule an appointment to meet with a

college admission representative Call admissions department Set up a time online through college website

We recommend that all students set foot on at least three college campuses

Take in the Spring of your Junior year, and

again in the Fall of your Senior Year.

SAT More of an aptitude test that

examines reasoning and verbal skills.

Three components: Critical Reading, Math and a required Writing Test.

Does take points off for wrong answers.

The College Board sends all SAT scores from all test dates.

ACT

Measures what a student has learned in school.

Four components (English, Math, Reading &Science)and an optional Writing Test.

No penalty for guessing.

ACT sends score reports from one test date and lets students select the test datethat they want sent.

SAT: May 2, 2015(Juniors- sign up before April 6) October 3, 2015 November 7, 2015 May 7, 2016

ACT: April 18, 2015 (sign up before March 13)

September 12, 2015 December 12, 2015 April 16, 2016

ACT www.actstudent.org SAT www.collgeboard.org

Online practice tests and sample questions are also available:

CCHS School Code- 150600

PSAT- Mary Thomas (Main Office) Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Admission Ticket with photo uploaded

Two No. 2 Pencils & Soft Eraser

Current and Valid Photo ID

Acceptable Calculator Graphing or scientific calculators preferred Cell phones or other electronic devices may

NOT be used as a calculator

Notepads or scratch paper

Compass, protractor or ruler

Dictionary

Cell phones, iPod or any other electronic equipment (will receive no scores if found in

your possession during the test)

Separate timer or watch with an audible alarm

Start applying in the Fall of your Senior Year Applications are due by November 1st

Priory deadline for scholarships issued by the college/ university

Retake SAT/ ACT in September/ October Check the scholarships requirements on the

College/ University Financial Aid website Start researching outside scholarships

http://www.wccsonline.com/cchs/guidance/scholarships.html

http://whitleycountycommunityfoundation.org/whitley.html

Hint: Create spreadsheet or resume of

activities

Scholar Success ProgramHigh School Cumulative GPAAnnual FAFSA FilingFinancial Means TestingCollege EnrollmentGuaranteed Full TuitionScholarship Expiration

2

25 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey

Scholarships Local and National

Grants Federal and State Institutional

Work and Internships Savings Experience

Savings It’s Never Too Late to Start

Federal Financial Aid State of Indiana Financial

Aid27

Money you DON’T have to repay!

www.fastweb.com www.collegenet.com

www.scholarships.com www.studentaid.ed.gov/scholarships

– Under "How do I find scholarships? - Click: "Free scholarship search tool”

Ask around Student’s Place of Employment, Parent’s Place of

Employment, Guidance Counselor, Church Groups, Local Businesses, and Organizations

Balance Spend a fair amount of time on small and large

scholarship applications

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Apply to all that you are eligible for

Create Scholarship Resume Think Baby Book for your High School Student

Target List (list of scholarships you will be eligible for when you are a

Senior) Start Writing Essay (Proofread)

Find Other Scholarships asking Same Question

Apply to 10, 20, 30 or more using one base essay.

Add experiences to your resume Build Houses

Feed the Poor

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More $ you DON’T have to repay! Federal or State Government

Pell and TEACH

Your College or University Institutional Aid

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Work Generate Savings References Networking Opportunities

Internships References Networking Opportunities Find the right career field

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It is less expensive to save for college than to borrow. When you save, the money earns interest When you borrow, you're paying the interest

Myth: Savings will prevent families from getting financial aid. Truth: The federal formula that calculates a families EFC does not look at

around $50,000 of parental assets for the average family.

Savings tips: Investigate Savings Plan Options

Including 529 College Savings Plans, Money Market Accounts, Regular Savings Accounts

Start a savings plan Parents and Students

Make savings deposits regular Automatic Deposits

Continue saving through college Parents and Students

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Federal Title IV ProgramsFederal Title IV Programs• Federal Pell Grant Federal Pell Grant • TEACH GrantTEACH Grant• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity

Grant (FSEOG) Grant (FSEOG) • Federal Work Study (FWS)Federal Work Study (FWS)• Federal Perkins LoanFederal Perkins Loan• Federal Stafford Direct Loan Federal Stafford Direct Loan • Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students

(PLUS)(PLUS)

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State of Indiana ProgramsState of Indiana ProgramsDivision of Student Financial AidDivision of Student Financial Aid

www.in.gov/ssaci www.in.gov/ssaci

• Frank O’Bannon Grant ProgramFrank O’Bannon Grant Program• Higher Education AwardHigher Education Award

• Freedom of Choice AwardFreedom of Choice Award

• 2121stst Century Scholars Program Century Scholars Program

• Indiana Nursing ScholarshipIndiana Nursing Scholarship

• The Mitch Daniels Early Graduation ScholarshipThe Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship

• Child of Certain Veterans and Public Safety Officer Child of Certain Veterans and Public Safety Officer Supplemental GrantSupplemental Grant• 34

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Fafsa4caster www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov

Using FAFSA4caster, you and your family will receive an early estimate of eligibility for federal student aid and helps you better understand the financial aid process.

ISM College Planning Team Outreach@ISMCollegePlanning.org

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Provide estimates of Financial Aid Packages to help families make informed decisions

Cost of Attendance

– Gift Aid (Grants & Scholarships)

= Net Price

Colleges are required to include a net price calculator on their website

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http://bit.ly/ISM_NetPrice

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Survey of 300 National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA) members

(Members award more than $1 billion annually)

About a quarter of scholarship providers use web searches and social media to search for online information about scholarship applicants

Most scholarship providers only screen finalists When reviewing a scholarship applicant’s online presence, the

scholarship providers look for the following information: To determine whether the applicant demonstrates good judgment

(58%)

Provocative or inappropriate photographs or remarks (58%)

Illegal activities, such as underage drinking and use of narcotics (50%)

To get to know the applicant better (42%) 42

A third of scholarship providers who screen the online presence of scholarship applicants have denied an applicant a scholarship because of information they found out about them Online

A quarter of scholarship providers who screen the online presence of scholarship applicants have selected an applicant because of information they found out about them online.

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Talk w/ Counselors

SAT or ACT

FAFSA4Caster

Scholarships

Applications (and Deadlines)

Campus Visits

College Fairs

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Unique online resource that helps students understand how over-borrowing to pay for college can affect their financial future

Provides personalized real-time results showing how borrowing decisions today might affect life after college

Suggestions are immediately given on ways to reduce expenses and education loan indebtedness

Tool available at www.ISMCollegePlanning.org