This newsletter is
intended to provide you with basic information, important dates,
suggestions, and sources.
Seniors planning to
attend college in the fall need to request your final transcript from
registrar in the guidance office.Transcripts will be sent electronically to in-state institutions.
If you are going to college out of the state of Florida you will need to
provide an envelope addressed to the university with 3 stamps to cover
mailing costs.
If you wish to request an unofficial transcript for
your own use, indicate “self” on the transcript request.
After the letters are in: Collegeboard.com
offers resources to help you with choices you must make AFTER you receive
your college admission letter.
If accepted: “College Decision-Making Guide”
http://click.collegeboard.com:80/12198263.58301.0.19540 and “Next Steps”
http://click.collegeboard.com:80/12198263.58301.0.19541 Provides
information, ideas, and links to explore as you make your final choice and
prepare for college
Practice for your
college entrance exams on-line using
free resources provided
www.collegeboard.com and actstudent.org. Sample questions, test
directions and a full-length practice test with answers and explanations
are available. Below are registration deadlines and exam dates for next
fall. Remember to include MHS school code to insure your scores are
included on your transcript and accessible for Bright Futures
consideration!
Summer College
Visitsare a great idea. Visiting the campus is the best way to
gain a sense of whether or not an institution is where you want to apply.
Make an appointment ahead of time with the admissions office (check the
website for that school). Where do students live? What departments are
strongest? What do students do outside of class—clubs, interest groups,
etc.? What about food/eating?
Gas cost too much? Time limited? Try a DVD of a
college tour—available from Kramon’s Collegiate Choice Walking Tour
videos. “This is exactly what you get on the tour.” $15 each, with a
selection of over 350 colleges/universities.
Do you have a date
for college?
Begin checking the websites of colleges and
universities in which you are interested for application dates and
deadlines. They are moving forward as admissions quotas drop due to budget
cuts. Note those dates on your college planner calendar (You do have one
going, don’t you?) along with the logins and passwords for college and
scholarship websites.
Check FACTS.org
at the end of June to find out the Grade Point Average the state department
of education has calculated for your Bright Futures eligibility. As you
begin your senior year you still have time to take academic
classes/electives that may pull your GPA up to eligibility levels. Add the
FACTS.org password and login to your list—you will need to apply for Bright
Futures after December 1 of your Senior year.
Apply Smart—E-mailing
colleges
From Washington University (St. Louis) admissions
counselor Julie Shimabukuro: “E-mail is an easy way to communicate with
college admissions offices, but …keep communication professional and
clear. An example of what NOT to do:
From: urafreak@internetserver.com
To: admissions.su.edu
Subject: please
read!!!!
Altho today is the
deadline for EDI, I wanted to send my latest SATs, JIC u didn’t get them
thru my school, their kinda slow. my scoresimproved from 1500,(which BTW
is a super score if it had been the old SAT—LOL) to 1950. I really want u
to know that I think SU GR8 and is still my top choice. TIA!
·Give your full name and contact information on each e-mail
note
·Be as polite and respectful in an e-mail as you would be in a
face-to-face meeting or conversation—your notes are a reflection of you,
and they may be added to you admission file.
·Use proper punctuation and avoid using acronyms as much as
possible
·Use the “reply with history” function to help schools
remember the questions you asked in previous e-mails.
· Check the school’s Web site before you send you e-mail
questions. You may be able to find the answer quickly through the Web
site. Only e-mail or call the school if you have specific questions
Don’t:
·Use subject titles like, “IMPORTANT INFORMATION” or “Please
read!!” These titles are commonly used for junk e-mail or viruses and are
screened out of many systems.
·Use attachments. Colleges are wary of attachments since they
may carry computer viruses.
·Send blanket e-mails to a lot of institutions at one. Do
some research and then ask specific questions indicating genuine interest
in a specific college
MORE Admissions
Information
Transcripts
will be required with your application to colleges and NCAA Clearinghouse.
Request them by completing the form available on the guidance office
counter, or online at the MHS website/guidance. (THIS IS YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY)
Plan to ask for personal references from your
teachers, counselor, or employers 2-3 weeks ahead of the date you need
them. Providing a resume or information you think may be helpful is always
appreciated, as are thank you notes.
Essays If you are applying to a college that
requires an essay on the admission application get started on your rough
draft. Ask teachers, parents, or friends to read your rough drafts and
incorporate suggestions you like. Some colleges are considering opting to
use the new SAT writing essay.
Top 10 College Planning Tips From the College
Board:
1.Work hard the entire four years of high school so you will be more
appealing to colleges and have a better chance at earning scholarships.
2.Pursue college regardless of what your peers or even your parents
say. Don’t let anyone talk you out of achieving your goals.
3.3. Treat your college entrance exam like a regular test, without
all the pressure of thinking it will determine your college future.
Colleges often give equal or greater weight to GPA and other factors, i.e.
community involvement.
4.Check out early outreach and summer programs at nearby colleges to
expose yourself to college life and career areas of interest. This is
especially important if your parents didn’t go to college.
5.When you make a college visit, set up a meeting with a student or
graduate. You can ask questions you are hesitant to ask in a group.
6.Keep your options open and apply to more than one or two colleges,
but public and private schools.
7.When you choose your college major or career, begin by asking what
really interest you. Many teens overlook this.
8.Talk to people working in careers that reflect your interests and
find out from them what the “real world” is like. What do they like and
dislike about their jobs?
9.Make sure you like the people you’ll be going to school
with—including students, professors, administrators—because they are the
ones who are going to be influencing and shaping you for the next four
years.
10.Once in college, stay connected to the key elements of your
identity—family, friends, interest—yet open yourself to new ideas,
activities, and social situations.
Information available in Guidance
College catalogs and view books
are available in the Guidance Office /Career Room.
Scholarship information and applications are also available in Guidance
and on the website. Scholarship information is updated for each
newsletter. The information will be deleted once the scholarship deadline
has passed.
Most college and
scholarship information available in guidance is also available on-line.
Colleges and Universities are using the Internet extensively (and some
exclusively) to provide information and application forms to prospective
students. Your guidance counselor is available to assist you in
understanding the information and using it to making decisions about your
future plans.
Useful
websites
www.fastweb.com
Customized search of over 600,000 scholarships and over 4000 colleges.
www.fafsa.ed.gov
--website of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This form
determines the amount of financial need for most institutions. It will be
a critical part of your financial aid process. www.pellgrantsonline.ed.gov
www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org
The website to apply for your Bright Futures Scholarship after December 1,
2005 and before your graduation date.
www.FACTS.org compares
your transcript with Bright Futures Academic requirements
