The College Application Process: A Hornets Guide on How to Get There - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The College Application Process: A Hornet’s Guide on How to Get There from Here Vicki Watts – College and Career Counselor Wanda Evans – College and Career Facilitator 9/26/16 1

ECHS C&C Upcoming Events Financial Aid Information Night ◦ Wednesday, Sep. 21 st from 6 – 8 pm in the Testing Center 9/26/16 2

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Nights — FAFSA Nights from 6 – 8 pm in the Testing Center ◦ Oct. 6th ◦ Nov. 16 th — Café College (www.cafecollege.org) ◦ Sep. 20 th – Fin Aid for UTSA ◦ FAFSA Saturdays – every Saturday at 10 am from Oct. – Dec. 9/26/16 3

College Fair Thursday, October 27th 6:30pm-8:00pm East Central High School Cafeteria 9/26/16 4

The College Process 1. Research 2. Apply for admission (Apply Texas) 3. Send transcripts 4. Send Test score (ACT/SAT/TSI) 5. Bacterial Meningitis vaccine 6. Apply for financial aid 7. Apply for scholarships 8. Know your deadlines 9/26/16 5

College and Career Website www.ecisd.net/Domain/1299 9/26/16 6

College and Career Website — The website is set up to guide you in the process of searching for the optimal college, university, technical school or military career that best suits you, as well as financial aid information and instruction. — http://www.ecisd.net/Domain/1299 9/26/16 7

The College Process 1. RESEARCH 2. Apply for admission (Apply Texas) 3. Send transcripts 4. Send Test score (ACT/SAT/TSI) 5. Bacterial Meningitis vaccine 6. Apply for financial aid 7. Apply for scholarships 8. Know your deadlines 9/26/16 8

College Application: Getting Started — Research several schools you are interested in for admission requirements and other pertinent information like: ◦ GPA, rank, ACT & SAT scores required by Quartile, cost, deadlines, etc. 9/26/16 9

College Application: Getting Started — Find out your GPA and Rank/ Quartile ◦ You can get your rank from your counselor or you can come by the Go Center before or after school and Mrs. Evans or I can give it to you. — Rank schools in order of probability of admission — Narrow your application list down to 3 – 5 colleges/universities 9/26/16 10

College Application: Getting Started — If still unsure of career/major, ◦ www.collegeboard.com also has a college and career exploration guide called Big Future 9/26/16 11

The College Process 1. Research 2. APPLY for ADMISSION (Apply Texas) 3. Sending transcripts 4. Send Test score (ACT/SAT/TSI) 5. Bacterial Meningitis vaccine 6. Apply for financial aid 7. Apply for scholarships 8. Know your deadlines 9/26/16 12

ApplyTexas.org 9/26/16 13

College Applications are Online — Texas public 4-year colleges: www.applytexas.org Most applications opened August 1 st q Use the Fall 2017 application for undergraduates q Follow instructions and PROOFREAD before you hit “submit” — Know your deadlines! 9/26/16 14

Commonapp.org 9/26/16 15

Other College Applications — Out-of-state? Visit the college’s website or look into Common App — Private? Visit the college’s website — 2-year? Visit the college’s website if not in ApplyTexas — Selective/Private: www.commonapp.org 9/26/16 16

The College Process 1. Research 2. Apply for admission (Apply Texas) 3. SEND TRANSCRIPTS 4. Send Test score (ACT/SAT/TSI) 5. Bacterial Meningitis vaccine 6. Apply for financial aid 7. Apply for scholarships 8. Know your deadlines 9/26/16 17

High School Transcripts Transcripts cost $2 each unless you qualify for a fee waiver • Fill out the Transcript Request Form from the bookkeeper, Ms. Ford, in Assistant Principal’s office area • We will send it directly via our electronic T-Rex system to the university, college, or institution • Can also be picked up by the student 9/26/16 18

The College Process 1. Research 2. Apply for admission (Apply Texas) 3. Send transcripts 4. SEND TEST SCORES (ACT/SAT/ TSI) 5. Bacterial Meningitis vaccine 6. Apply for financial aid 7. Apply for scholarships 8. Know your deadlines 9/26/16 19

College Testing – Redesigned SAT — OFFICIAL SAT SCORES MUST BE SENT FROM THEIR WEBSITE TO BE VALID — Students can sign up to take the Redesigned SAT @ www.collegeboard.org § Composed of several different areas that are components of Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section and a Math section. Those two sections are combined to give the Total Score. § The SAT Essay is scored independently, based on three dimensions: § Reading, § Analysis, and § Writing. § Universities look mostly at the Total Score and the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math section for admission . Scholarships are based on the SAT Essay sections. § To be considered “College Ready,” a student must make a 480 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and a 530 on the Math section. There is NO COMBINED SCORING . 9/26/16 20

College Testing - ACT — OFFICIAL ACT SCORES MUST BE SENT FROM THEIR WEBSITE TO BE VALID — Students can sign up to take the ACT @ www.actstudent.org § Composed up of an English, Math, Reading , Science, & Writing sections and a Composite (Total) score from all sections § Universities look mostly at the Composite, English, and Math scores for admission § To be considered “College Ready,” a student must make a 23 Composite with a minimum of a 19 in the English and Math sections 9/26/16 21

College Testing - TSI — Students can mail their sealed, official scores given to them after testing at East Central to their university’s Admission & Records department — East Central charges $2 per envelope to send these scores otherwise — TSI - Texas Success Initiative exam § Math, Reading, & Writing sections § Given at ECHS during Spring of 2017 § Requires proof of TSI preparation ; TSI prep can be college specific § Alamo Community College District (ACCD)- Need to complete: § Apply Texas application to ACCD, § Learning modules in ACES, § Show proof of completed modules to Watts/Evans via email or printed § Pay $15 for TSI at ECHS § Take the TSI § Actual copy & sealed, official envelope given to students immediately after testing 9/26/16 22

College Testing – TSI (TX Success Initiative) 9/26/16 23

SAT/ACT/TSI Test Prep — Online free test prep ◦ www.collegeboard.com then click SAT then Practice ◦ Khan Academy has free SAT prep for the Redesigned SAT ◦ www.actstudent.org then click Test Prep ◦ Google TSI Test Prep – Mometrix.com – TSIPracticeTest.com – College Board free TSI Test Prep app – Austin Community College TSI Test Prep – Houston Community College TSI Test Prep — ECHS Library Database Test Prep -free online tutorials ◦ Log on to www.ecisd.net then click the High School, then click the Library link, then Databases, then Test Prep/ Career Center 9/26/16 24

The College Process 1. Research 2. Apply for admission (Apply Texas) 3. Send transcripts 4. Send Test score (ACT/SAT/TSI) 5. BACTERIAL MENINGITIS VACCINE 6. Apply for financial aid 7. Apply for scholarships 8. Know your deadlines 9/26/16 25

Bacterial Meningitis vaccine — Texas Law requires most incoming college students to be vaccinated against bacterial meningitis or provide an exception request declining the vaccine. — Senate Bill 1107 amends current Texas Law requiring proof of this vaccination at least 10 days prior to attending classes. 9/26/16 26

Bacterial Meningitis Vaccine — Cost ◦ $135 without insurance ◦ Varies depending on health coverage — Can be administered to you by: ◦ Your general doctor ◦ CVS or Walgreens ◦ Texas Med Clinic ◦ San Antonio Metro Health District 9/26/16 27

The College Process 1. Research 2. Apply for admission (Apply Texas) 3. Send transcripts 4. Send Test score (ACT/SAT/TSI) 5. Bacterial Meningitis vaccine 6. APPLY for FINANCIAL AID 7. Apply for scholarships 8. Know your deadlines 9/26/16 28

FAFSA.GOV 9/26/16 29

PRIOR-PRIOR FAFSA Year – Oct. 1, 2016 OPEN — First day to apply for FAFSA for students entering college (to include high school Dual Credit students) in the Fall of 2017 — 2017 FALL – 2 Years = Tax year — So this year’s FAFSA will use the parent/guardian 2015 income tax report. 9/26/16 30

FAFSA is 1 st Come:1 st Serve — FAFSA funds are LIMITED by Supply & Demand — The early bird gets the bigger worm — The limit on the yearly FAFSA grant (no pay back) is $5815 — SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1 ST IS THE FIRST DAY YOU CAN FILL OUT THE FAFSA FOR THE FALL OF 2017 9/26/16 31

Financial Aid Preview Night Sep. 21 st from 6 – 8 pm in the TESTING CENTER — Loans : you pay back/must qualify/LOW INTEREST RATE — Grants : you do not pay back/must qualify — Work Study —employment through the university/must qualify — www.fafsa.ed.gov PRIOR-PRIOR FAFSA - apply OCTOBER 1st— parents/students must have tax info ready for the 2015 Tax year (2017 FALL – 2 YEARS) — www.fsa.ed.gov - the PIN has been eliminated and is now a FSA ID (Federal Student Aid ID) required for you and a parent/legal guardian to sign application electronically — Scholarships : FREE money—you do not pay back/must qualify/ must meet deadlines ********* Texas Financial Aid Information Center (877) 782-7322 Toll Free 9/26/16 32