Whether staying in the great state of Florida, or
moving on to points north, south, east, or west to pursue your education,
financial resources are a necessary part of your journey. One of the most
important financial aid applications you will need to complete is the FAFSA
in January of your graduation year. FAFSA considers students for all
federal grants, scholarships, and loans. Financial assistance received
through the federal government can be used in states outside of Florida.
However, unique to Florida are several scholarship opportunities available
through the FFAA site. You will need to complete your Florida application
for grants and scholarships in December of the same school year to be
considered for all of Florida’s grants and scholarships—including Bright
Futures.
In January 2011, all Seniors will go through a BEACON
Financial Aid Workshop during the school day that will provide detailed
information on Federal Grants, Loans, and Scholarships available only
through application on the FAFSA web site. In addition BEACON will cover
details about Scholarships available through the State of Florida,
including Bright Futures.
Students are encouraged to send their parents out to
the Regional Financial Aid Parent Nights coordinated each Spring term by
the Duval County Public School District Office. Mandarin High will host one
session of the Regional Financial Aid Night on January 28, 2011. Please see
the complete list of dates and locations by clicking here.
For a jump start, take the following quiz to see what
you know and what you may still need to learn at the upcoming BEACON and
Parent Night events. Answers are provided at the end of bottom of this site
page.
1.What does FAFSA stand for?
a.Funds Appropriated For Student Aid
b.Free Application for Student Aid
c.Free Application for Federal Student Aid
d.Financial Assistance for Federal Student Aid
2.For what kind of aid does the FAFSA help you apply?
a.Grants, loans, and work-study
b.Loans and scholarships
c.Grants and scholarships
d.Work-study only
3.You can apply for the FAFSA…
a.Through your guidance counselor only
b.Online only
c.Through your college only
d.By mail or online
4.When should you fill out the FAFSA?
a.After Jan. 1 of your senior year
b.After Jan. 1 of your junior year
c.After May 1 of your senior year
d.After May 1 of your junior year
5.What does “SAR” stand for?
a.Statement of Additional Resources
b.Student Aid Resources
c.Statement of Additional Requirements
d.Student Aid Report
6.How often should you fill out the FAFSA?
a.Every semester you’re in college
b.Every year you’re in college
c.Every month you’re in college
d.Never again
For more information regarding the FAFSA, please visit
www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Register
online for college entrance exams:
SAT
or
ACT
(if you haven’t already).
Request your scores be sent to Mandarin HS (CEEB Code # 100769) and the
colleges to which you are applying. Your scores MUST be sent to MHS to
become part of your transcript and be considered for Florida Bright Futures
Scholarships.
Apply
to the college or university of your choice online or submit a hard copy
application. Most colleges and universities prefer online applications.
Many, i.e. UCF, UNF, FSU and Florida,
require
online applications and no longer accept paper applications.
·
Check out links for prospective students and financial aid links.
·
Pay attention to deadline dates.
(They are not kidding.) Deadlines will be different for college
applications and financial aid applications.
·
Remember to record your login and password for each site you visit in a
place you can access for future reference.
Request
transcripts
by completing the Transcript Request form available in the guidance office
(48 hour turn around), or they may be requested online at the MHS website
guidance page. Transcripts to state university system institutions are
sent electronically. Electronic transcripts are processed periodically.
It is best to allow two weeks from the time of request to the deadline
date. It is the student’s responsibility to pick up and mail hard copies
or personal copies of transcripts.
Recommendations
should be requested at
least
two weeks in advance of when you plan to mail them to the admissions
office. It is customary to ask permission to use a person’s name as a
recommendation. If you are asking for a letter of recommendation, be sure
to provide that person with a brief resume of your activities in and
outside of school, achievements, and interests. This allows the writer to
present you in specific and positive ways. Finally, it is always a good
idea to write a brief thank-you to persons who have provided
recommendations for you.
Electronic counselor recommendations for UCF are no longer required!
***BEWARE
of any scholarship website that offers to find you a scholarship for a
fee. Most legitimate scholarship websites are free.
College Campus Visits
should be planned in advance for any schools to which you are planning
apply. Below are some guidelines to follow as we approach the holidays:
1.Plan
ahead to ensure the best possible visit. Walk-in visits are sometimes not
possible or lack the completeness of a scheduled visit.
2.Visit
colleges when students are in session. This gives you a true depiction of
the campus.
3.
Schedule a class visit or two to learn about the college environment.
4.Make
the visit interactive by asking questions that you can’t easily find the
answers to in a publication or website.
5.If you
are doing a college tour (multiple visits) take notes and pictures so that
you remember each campus.
6.Try the
food!!!!
7.Check
out the residence halls.
8.Take
the scheduled tour as well as an independent one in which you explore the
campus on your own and talk to students other than your admissions tour
guide.
9.Stay
connected after the visit. Write a thank you note. This can go a long way
if you’re planning to apply to the college you’ve visited.
10.Relax and
enjoy this time. The COLLEGE SEARCH PROCESS should be fun!
Useful web sites:
Sites providing a starting point and efficient ways to gain information for
college planning are:
www.FACTS.org -
compares your transcript with Bright Futures Academic requirements
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.
***Be aware that
www.fafsa.com is a commercial “look-alike” website that charges money
for exactly the same form a fafsa.ed.gov*
www.duvalschools.org
- Duval County Public Schools Guidance link scholarship information
booklet.
www.fscj.edu
– Florida State College of Jacksonville (FSCJ) Scholarship directory
SCHOLARSHIPS:
$500 Community Service Scholarship
·
Eligible students must be enrolled in a Duval County Public High School
·
Student must be accepted to an accredited community college or university
for the 2010-2011 school year.
·
Eligible student must have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to making
Jacksonville a better community for its citizens and they will have shown,
by example, the difference one person can make.
·
See the School Resource Officer for details and application information.
Jacksonville Housing Authority Hicks Prep Club Scholarship
·
Eligible recipients must reside in (1) Section 8 housing, (2) Public
Housing (JHA), or (3) Habijax home.
·
Scholarship includes full cost of tuition to University of North Florida,
including tuition, fees, books, room and board for four (4) years if
student remains academically eligible.
·
For more information, contact the Jacksonville Housing Authority, or come
to the guidance office for contact information.
$1,000 SunTrust Off to College Scholarship Sweepstakes – Application
OPENS
Sept. 14, 2009
·
One winner will be chosen every two weeks from October 30, 2009 through May
14, 2010.
·
Eligibility is not based on GPA or financial need.
