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Manual High School
Senior SeminarSenior Class of 2014
Manual’s Deadlines:
Oct. 1, 2013Select Teacher and request
recommendation
Nov. 15, 2013Recommended date for submission of
college applications
SAVE THE DATE
WHAT: Financial Aid WorkshopWHEN: Monday, Dec. 2, 2013
@ 6:30 PMWHERE: Manual Auditorium
WHO: All Seniors and at least one parent/guardian
To access this power point and other important information, visit
www.dupontmanual.com• Counselors•Senior Seminar
School Info:
duPont Manual High School120 West Lee StreetLouisville, KY 40208Phone: (502) 485-8503Fax: (502) 485-6280Website: www.dupontmanual.comACT School Code: 181-525
Counselor Information:
Students A-G Marti Johnston [email protected]
Students H-O Michelle [email protected]
Students P-Z Amy [email protected]
Are You Ready to Apply?
Have you decided what your college major will be? Are you happy with the lifestyle and eventual pay scale you will be
earning upon graduation? Are you satisfied with your employability upon graduation? Will you be happy doing this for the rest of your life? Have you researched to find the schools that are strong in that area? Have you found a Kentucky College you would happy attending? Have you visited the college campuses, experienced the culture on
campus, satisfied with safety concerns, checked out the dormitory and food services, explored the town or city, met with admissions counselors, and talked with your prospective primary teacher?
Do you know the entry requirements, audition repertoire you will be expected to perform, and have a good grasp of that material so it will be prepared by audition day?
If you have answered yes to all of these questions – you are ready to begin the college application process!!!
College Admissions Criteria by Importance Academic Rigor, Talent,
and/or Mastery of Skills Cumulative GPA Grades in Advanced
Placement Courses Grades in College Prep
Courses Grades in All Subjects ACT & SAT Test Scores Class Rank (JCPS does
not rank)
Essay or Writing Samples
Honors, Awards, etc. Counselor
Recommendations Teacher
Recommendations Interviews (if required) Community Service Work and Extra
Curricular Activities
College Preparatory Curriculum JCPS Graduation Requirements 4 years of English (English 1,2,3,4) 4 years of Math (Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, or more advanced) 3 years of Science (life, physical, earth/space, include at least
one laboratory class) 3 years of Social Studies (World Civilizations, US History, plus
one of economics, government, geography, civics, or survey of social sciences)
.5 years of Health .5 years of Physical Education (or 1 year of Fundamentals of
Dance) Dance Majors do not have to take PE 1 year of Humanities (or 4 years of specialization in the arts) 2-3 years of the same Foreign Language 21st Century Technology Proficiency, IC3 Certification, or
Computer Applications 4-5 credits of Electives (your YPAS classes are electives)
Graduation Requirements for Out of State CollegesHere are just a few states that have
different requirements from KentuckyAlabama Colleges – 4 years of Social
StudiesGeorgia Colleges – 4 years of ScienceIndiana & North Carolina – Require pre-
calculusTexas – .5 credits of Speech and .5
credits of Economics
Additional JCPS Diploma RequirementsStudents must meet the minimum
requirements of the Kentucky Department of Education program of studies which is 22 -23 credits
The ILP (Individual Learning Plan) must be 100% complete EACH YEAR you are in high school
Graduation Requirements for the Advanced Program For those students that have tested into the Advanced Program
– 12 credits must be earned in Advanced Program classes in at least 3 of the following areas: English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language
Advanced Humanities is also required (or specialization) Students are also required to take 3 years of the same Foreign
Language A Cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required to stay in the Advanced
Program The Advanced Program is unique to Jefferson County Public
Schools – most out of state colleges are unaware of this program – Honors is the highest level at most high schools across the nation other than Advanced Placement Courses.
Commonwealth Diploma
Please see your counselor if you are working toward the Commonwealth Diploma
We must add your name to the list to order your Commonwealth Diploma in addition to your Manual Diploma
Required Coursework for the Commonwealth Diploma Includes:1 AP English credit1 AP Math or AP Science Credit1 AP Foreign Language Credit1 Elective AP Credit
Students must take the AP Exams for these courses and pass at least 3 with a score of 3 or higher
The Class of 2012 will be the last class to be able to earn a Commonwealth Diploma. The program will end at the conclusion of the 2011-2012 school year
NCAA Clearinghouse
16 Core Credits 4 Years of English 4 Years of Math – Algebra 1 or higher 2 Years of Physical/Natural Science 1 Year of Social Science 1 Additional Math, English, or Natural/Physical
Science 4 Years of any of the above or Foreign Language Mrs. Marti Johnston is our NCAA Clearinghouse
Expert located in the Manual Counseling Suite
NCAA Clearinghouse – cont.
Make sure you have taken the ACT or SAT and reported your scores to the Clearinghouse
Register online at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net
The fee is $50.00Apply at the end of your junior year –
Mrs. Johnston will send your transcript
Senior Status Report rec’d at registration
Student’s name, counselor, grade level
Magnet ProgramRequired CreditsCredits EarnedCredits NeededGPAStandardized Test ScoresCollege Ready? ACT Benchmarks
ACT Benchmarks for KY
English 18Reading 20
Math 19
ACT College Readiness Benchmark Scores
A benchmark score is the minimum score needed on an ACT subject area test to indicate a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher, or, a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in the corresponding credit bearing college course
College English Composition 18 on ACT English Test
College Algebra 22 on ACT Math Test College Social Sciences 21 on ACT Reading Test College Biology 24 on ACT Science Test Overall College Readiness 21 on ACT Composite
Score
These are the minimum scores you need to indicate to the average college you are ready for postsecondary work – More competitive colleges will require higher benchmark scores
ACT & SAT Test Dates 2013-14
ACT National Dates September 21, 2013 October 26, 2013 December 14, 2013 February 8, 2014 April 12, 2014 June 14, 2014
SAT National Dates October 5, 2013 November 2, 2013 December 7, 2013 January 27, 2014 March 8, 2014* May 3, 2014 June 7, 2014*subject tests not
given
ACT/SAT Contact Information
To Register for the ACT or to send your score reports to a college go to:
www.actstudent.org
To register for the SAT or to send your score reports to a college go to:
www.sat.collegeboard.com
Manual’s School Code: 181525
What is a Transcript???
The transcript is the report sent to colleges that reflects every semester of high school that you have completed
Courses you have taken and credits you have earned each semester are on the transcript
The level of rigor of each class is included on the transcript (AP, advanced, honors, etc.)
Your total cumulative weighted and un-weighted GPA is on the transcript
Your attendance record is on the transcript Grades, including all pluses and minuses, A’s, B’s, C’s, D’s, and
U’s!!! Your name, address, phone, birth date, and student ID numbers
are also on the transcript, as well as the name and address of Manual High School
Transcript Review
Check to determine that all courses are reported accurately (name, grade, credit)
Make sure you have all required courses for graduation or you are taking those courses your senior year
Look for Summer School, eSchool, and Ind. Study grades
Write in any corrections and see your counselor immediately for edits
Notice the GPA – weighted and un-weighted Notice your attendance record Check for correct name, address, birth date, phone
number, etc.
Top Occupations in the U.S.A. Based on Growth Rate to 2014 Home Health Aides Network Systems & Data
Communications Analysts Medical Assistants Physician Assistants Computer Software
Engineers/Applications Physical Therapist Assistants Dental Hygienists Dental Assistants Personal and Home Care Aides Network and Computer Systems
Administrators Database Administrators Physical Therapists Forensic Science Technicians Veterinary Technologists and
Technicians
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Occupational Therapist Assistants Medical Scientists Occupational Therapists Preschool Teachers Cardiovascular Technologists and
Technicians Postsecondary Teachers Hydrologists Computer Systems Analysts Hazardous Materials Removal
Workers Biomedical Engineers Employment Recruitment and
Placement Specialists Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Top Ten Fastest Growing Careers
Biomedical Engineers 72% Computer Network Architects 53% Computer Network Support Specialists 53% Telecommunications Engineers 53% Home Health Aides 50% Personal Care Aides 46% Financial Examiners 41% Medical Scientists 40% Anesthesiologist’s Assistants 39% Physician’s Assistants 39%
2013-2014 College Application Deadlines
College Deadline October 1, 2013 October 15, 2013 November 1, 2013 November 15, 2013 December 1, 2013 January 1, 2014 January 15, 2014
Due Date to Counselor September 15, 2013 October 1, 2013 October 15, 2013 November 1, 2013 November 15, 2013 December 1, 2013 December 15, 2013
2013-2014 College Application Deadlines - continued February 1, 2014 February 15, 2014 March 1, 2014 March 15, 2014 April 1, 2014
January 15, 2014 January 15, 2014 February 1, 2014 February 15, 2014 March 15, 2014
Deadlines vary by institution:Examples:State School #1
application deadline 2/15 Scholarship deadline 1/15
State School #2 Rolling admissions – deadline August 1st
Harvard – Nov. 1 - Early Action Deadline Jan. 1 – Regular Decision Deadline
Facebook, MySpace, Email Address, and College ApplicationsYour personal sites can be viewed
by college admission counselors, college professors, employers, stalkers, as well as campus and local police
Make sure your email address is a professional or generic name and not something that causes one to pause and doubt your integrity or character
Time To Do Some Cleanup???
Remove photos showing you doing anything that could be interpreted as inappropriate
Remove rude gestures, inappropriate comments, questionable photos, etc.
Unsubscribe to questionable groups Remove contact information Choose attractive/professional looking photos to post Un-tag any unflattering photos your friends may have
posted Perhaps let your grandmother approve of what you
have posted!!!
What Will Be Your First Impression???The appearance of your college application is
very important: If you are completing your application on-line, make
sure all the blanks are filled in and your application is complete
If submitting a hard copy – type the application or print VERY NEATLY in black ink.
Make sure all the components of the application are in the correct order
If you are mailing the application – address the envelope in a very professional way – typed address labels are great
How Many Colleges Should I Apply To??? For most it will be a list of about six schools (more for theatre & musical
theatre majors because of the “type” factor) Aim for one or more “reach” colleges that are highly desired and highly
selective. These “dream” schools will have about a 10% acceptance rate. If you don’t, you’ll always wonder, “what if?”
It is wise to include one or two “fit” schools where the odds are 50/50 that you will be accepted based on your talent, GPA, and test scores
Include at least one or two “safety” colleges where admission is highly likely and a college where you can afford to attend if you receive very little financial aid
The easy part is finding your dream and reach schools The hard part is finding your safety schools that are also a really good
match – keep an open mind about the many fine colleges that are not intensely competitive in admission
Two safety schools are preferable to guarantee a choice between two offers
The potential for heartache in April can be drastically reduced by a few good decisions in October and November
The Magic Number:
5 - 6 college/universities1 reach (dream school)2 “fit” schools (odds 50/50)2 safety schools (admission
likely, financial aid / scholarships / can afford)
The Academic Common Market
If the program you are interested in studying is not offered at a college in Kentucky, you may be able to pay in-state tuition at an out-of-state school through the Academic Common Market
Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia participate at the undergraduate levels
To use your KEES money for an out-of-state school they must offer a major not offered in Kentucky, be a member of the Academic Common Market, and, be approved by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA)
Call Megan Cummins at 502-696-7397 to be sure
Most College Applications Are Completed Online Students access the application through the
college website, usually under “admissions” Generally, a username and password will be
provided that will allow you to save your work from multiple sessions
The final copy is transmitted through the Web – be prepared to pay the application fee with a credit card
Take Precautions!!!
Online applications can have a timed out feature – save your work often so as not to loose all your hard work
Resist the temptation to impulsively hit the “send” button until you have thoroughly proofread your application – have at least one other person also check for typos
It is advised that you compose essays and short answer questions offline and transfer them to your application after you have refined those responses
Review a printed copy of your work whenever possible before sending and keep it for your records
Take Precautions!!! - continued
Electronic filers should receive an acknowledgement via return mail
Don’t forget you may need to print and mail a signature page with a check for the application fee
Other parts of the application (recommendation page, counselor page, secondary school report, etc.) must be printed and given to your teacher or guidance counselor
If you print your application, make sure you sign it and enclose your check
The Old Fashioned Way
If you plan to stick with paper applications, make at least two photocopies of the original
Practice on them and get all the typos and coffee or pizza stains out of your system
A sloppy application is the quickest way to get a rejection letter
Proofread for spelling, spacing, word choice, and anything else you can think of
Type the final copy yourself – don’t worry about a “few” neatly corrected errors, but avoid a sloppy appearance
If you print instead of type (less professional looking), make sure your penmanship is neat and easily readable
Cultivating Colleges
Many colleges are reluctant to accept an applicant unless they have reason to believe that he/she is seriously interested.
Many colleges track every contact the applicant initiates and are more likely to accept students who have made multiple contacts
A few ways to communicate interest include: Visit the college – if you do not have a personal interview stop by the
admissions office and let them know you came If the college sends a rep to Manual or YPAS, go to their session and
communicate your interest Attend a college fair in your local area and speak to the representative Get a business card from any college representative you meet and
write or email that person to thank them and emphasize your interest Note in your application that a particular college is your first choice
school or one of your top choices Make sure your email address stays the same throughout the college
search process – if it changes tell the colleges
Listing Activities
Always list activities from most important to least important The ones that are significant, as evidenced by leadership and
time commitment, will be obvious Marginal activities like membership in the Monogram Club
should be de-emphasized Don’t make a big production out of honors from companies that
put your picture in a book and then ask you to buy it Follow the college’s preferred format for listing activities If the space is too small, attach extra sheets where necessary
as supplemental material, especially when activities of in-depth involvement need further explanation – however, submit one of these in addition to filling out the college’s activities form
Explain Everything
If one of your activities was chairing the Founder’s Day Committee, it won’t mean anything to the admissions office unless you explain what you did and why the committee was important
If it was an honor bestowed on only one senior, say so If it involved presentations to alumni and coordination of twenty
volunteers for six months, spell that out You could also have the sponsor, counselor, or principal write a
letter outlining the significance The same goes for a weak spot in your record like a suspension
or failing grade – any reasonable explanation you can give without sounding bitter or whiny would be helpful
Even more impressive would be an account of how the experience helped you to mature as an individual
Emphasize Your Strengths!!!
Strong Academic Program Directed the Gospel Choir at
your Church Your Major is going to be
Greek!!! You’re a Legacy Application Your wrote the essay of the
year and your teacher passed it around the class for all to read
First in your family to attend college
You participated in a significant community project
You are an Eagle Scout or earned a Gold Key Award
You’re a Varsity Athlete All-County or All-State
Ensemble Member You come from a single
parent household and must work part time to help with expenses
Your last name is the same as the college library to which you are applying and that is no coincidence!
Get It In Early
Keep on top of deadlines - there will be different ones for each college and for each part of the application process
Some deadlines are as early as Oct. 1st
If the college offers rolling admissions they admit the first good applicants that come along leaving fewer slots for later applicants
If the college evaluates in one big pool, applying early shows you are interested and they know that stronger applicants tend to file early – waiting later risks getting less consideration because of the flood of applications pouring in all at once
Early Decision vs. Early Action
Both require students to apply by an early deadline - usually between October 15th and December 1st
Decisions are usually rendered between December 15 and February 1
Borderline students are usually deferred and considered with the regular applicant pool at a later date
Early Decision
Early decision involves a BINDING DECISION to enroll if accepted - you have to attend that school regardless of other offers and without knowing any financial aid package that may or may not be offered
You may only apply to one school through Early Decision and if accepted, you must withdraw your applications to all other schools
Early Decision offers a slight advantage of acceptance - colleges usually accept a higher percentage of applicants than those that apply for regular decision - colleges desire students that really want to attend their school
Early Decision is a good option for borderline students with LOW financial need who have a clear first choice school - others should be very CAUTIOUS!!!!
Early Action
Entails no commitment to enroll and therefore offers little advantage for admission
Early Action students, however, are often first in line for merit scholarships and housing
Competition in Early Action pools at highly selective schools is generally tougher than in the regular pool
Some Early Action colleges now ask that students apply early only to their institution, however, you may still apply regular decision to any other institution
Early Applications
It is difficult to give definitive advice regarding early decision and early action
Only students that have thoroughly investigated colleges and completed most standardized testing by the end of the eleventh grade with high test scores will be in a strong position to consider early application
Interviews
Try to relax Dress nicely Be on time Be prepared to discuss 2 or 3 topics at length
(your school, favorite subject, extracurriculars, current events, favorite book)
Do not misrepresent yourself - don’t tell them you like current events and then go blank when they ask you about the Supreme Court’s latest decision
Keep your cool and be yourself
Expect Probing Questions
What books have you read lately?Why do you want to enroll here?What are your most important activities
and why are they valuable?What would you add to the life at this
college?What other colleges are you
considering?
Good Questions to Ask an InterviewerWhat is distinctive about your school?What sets students here apart from
those at similar schools?What percentage of entering students
graduate within five years?What are the most common career
paths for your graduates?What is the average time a student
gains employment after graduation?
Your College Essay Can Make the Difference!!! Admissions officers are looking for spark, vitality, wit,
sensitivity, originality, and signs of a lively mind They want to know how well you can express
yourself in writing Try to be as concise and specific as possible Don’t waste words that aren’t essential to your point Reread the essay several times for word choice and
typos If you have time - put your essay aside for a few
weeks and reread again to see if it still makes sense When talent, GPA, and test scores are equal - the
essay will often determine who is chosen for admittance
Five Fundamentals of a Successful Essay Show, don’t tell - a skillful writer lets evidence show that a
proposition is true; a clumsy one tells because his writing is not powerful enough to show
Use your own experiences - put yourself in the starring role and use your own real life thoughts and feelings. Give the reader a piece of your mind
Use the first person - the better the reader gets to know you as a person the more likely you will be admitted
Begin with a flourish - the most important sentence in your essay is the first one; hook the reader with a first sentence that surprises and piques interest to read further – polish that first sentence until it sparkles!!!!
Proofread - nothing is more damaging than an essay sull of typoes, speling misteaks, and grammar that ain’t no good
Best Essay Approaches
Openly discuss a personal problem or obstacle you have overcome
Share something real even though baring your soul to a complete stranger may seem uncomfortable
Write about a life changing experience dominated by the facts that happened and tell the story straight from your heart
Essay Turnoffs
Trite phrases - don’t write about wanting to help people - think of something unique about you
Slickness - an essay that reads like it has been turned out by a public relations firm never works - let the real you shine through
Cynicism - a positive approach to life will score points Life histories - don’t put the reader to sleep - make sure your
essay has a point Essay that goes on forever - more is not better - no sequels to
War and Peace please - do not exceed the amount of space or number of words allotted for each essay
The Thesaurus Syndrome - don’t over utilize ostentatiously pretentious language to delineate the thematic observations you are endeavoring to articulate.
Recommendations
Letters of recommendation matter because of substance, not because of who is writing them
They should tell the committee something about you as a person that comes out nowhere else in your application
Find people who are familiar with your goals and aspirations and can write about you in vivid detail
You will not be able to see the recommendation before it is sent, so choose carefully
Most selective colleges require one recommendation from a teacher - pick one who has taught you in your junior or senior year, who respects you as a person, and who can testify to some of your deeper and less obvious qualities
In general, do not send more recommendations than the application calls for
October 1st is the deadline to ask teachers to write a letter of recommendation
If you need…
your TEACHER to complete an ONLINE application, including Common Application (CA) and any other ONLINE application:
Complete your portion of the ONLINE application & other school/teacher identifying info, then invite your teacher to complete the teacher’s portion ONLINE.Print out your ONLINE application & review it carefully
before you hit the submit button. Your teacher will receive an email to complete your application ONLINE after you have submitted your application.
How To Use Your Red Folder
During Senior Seminar each student will receive a red folder with a cover sheet and additional information inside
You will use this folder all year to request recommendations, transcripts, and secondary school reports that are to be sent to the student selected colleges and/or scholarship organizations
This folder must be received by the counselor at least 10 school days in advance of the first application deadline
The earlier the folder is submitted the better – it allows counselors sufficient time to produce meaningful and high quality letters and reports
Send the actual application and fees separately (online or through the mail). Do not submit money or checks to the guidance office
The Red Folder - Front Cover
Complete all information requested on the front cover
When listing what is inside your folder, only list what is actually being turned in that day and not all of the colleges you are applying to for the whole year
The order colleges are listed on the front cover needs to be the order they are inside the folder from earliest due date to the latest
The Red Folder - Inside Contents
LEFT SIDE OF FOLDER Senior Questionnaire Parent portion (optional)
RIGHT SIDE OF FOLDER Secondary School Report,
Counselor Form, or Curriculum Verification Form, Scholarship Applications
Manila Envelope with Stamps for PostageLarge - 4-5 stamps
Paper-clip forms to envelope Do not place stamps on
envelope - just include them Place forms and envelopes
in the order they are listed on the front cover page
Red Folder – Senior Questionnaire
Complete the Senior Questionnaire including the following:
what is unique about you your strengths and weaknesses hardships you may have overcome Describe how the university would benefit from
your attendance - what special traits do you have that will benefit the school
Who has been your greatest influence in life and how have they have helped shape you as a person
Explain the reason for any poor grades or throughout your high school tenure
The Common Application
Available online at www.commonapp.org Approximately 527 schools, including the
most selective liberal arts colleges, accept the Common Application
You can either download the software or transmit through the web
Use the college’s own application form if they have one – however many have adopted the common application as their own
The Red Folder - Common Applications On the red folder cover sheet indicate which
schools are Common Application
The common application usually requests counselors to submit on line – when you finish filling out your portion of the Common Application, there will be a feature that allows you to send an invitation to your counselor to submit the Secondary School Report online.
The counselor will receive an email from CA with a link for the recommendation.
Mid-Year Reports and Final Transcripts Some colleges (and all that use the common
application) require a mid-year report and all colleges require a final transcript
Mid-year reports are not sent automatically - you must remind your counselor during the 2nd week in January to send a mid-year report if your college requires it
Fill out the mid-year report of the common application and give it to your counselor
We will send final transcripts two weeks after school is out in June to the one school you tell us you will be attending for 2014-2015
Stamps, Official Transcripts, School Profile Make sure you bring in stamps for anything that has
to be mailed to a college you are applying to or to organizations/corporations that sponsor scholarships
All transcripts sent to colleges are OFFICIAL - inside a sealed envelope with the principal’s signature and official school seal
In addition to the above, we are required to send a school profile with your transcript
The school profile highlights the school’s grading scale and important statistics about our academic curriculum, test scores, and student body
Teacher Recommendations
Most applications only request one teacher recommendation
Ask teachers early - the deadline to ask teachers is October 1st
Make a folder for each teacher - exactly like your red counselor folder
Include completed Teacher Questionnaire Teachers should mail their recommendations
separately - do not give those to the counselor to mail Remember to give teachers at least 10 school days
notice when you need a letter of recommendation
If you need…
your TEACHER to complete an ONLINE application, including Common Application (CA) and any other ONLINE application:
Complete your portion of the ONLINE application & other school/teacher identifying info, then invite your teacher to complete the teacher’s portion ONLINE.Print out your ONLINE application & review it carefully
before you hit the submit button. Your teacher will receive an email to complete your application ONLINE after you have submitted your application.
Teacher Recommendation Folders
• Available in the Guidance Office or
• Print cover sheet and teacher questionnaire from the
www.dupontmanual.com website
Financial Aid - Sobering Facts The cost of attending a prestigious college can be as
much as $200,000 over four years Tuition at public universities has risen more than 50%
in inflation-adjusted dollars over the past ten years As college costs go through the roof, government aid
has failed to keep pace Grant programs have withered and student debt has
ballooned – consider your options for a profession that will allow you the financial resources to repay these loans
Unless your last name is Gates or Rockefeller, money will ultimately influence the college search at every step
What Will College Cost?
Tuition - payment for required courses, study abroad, exchange programs
Fees - registration, parking, activities, health, laboratory, many others – they can add up to a thousand dollars or more
Books and Materials - computer, required texts and supplies Room - cost of dorm or apartment plus utilities, cable and
internet access, renters insurance, and telephone Food - meal plans, eating out, groceries Transportation - two to three trips home or, if you keep an auto
on campus, your gas expenses, insurance, parking fees, etc. Personal - clothes, laundry, recreation, medical and dental,
insurance Miscellaneous - catchall for anything that doesn’t fit in another
category - think about adding 10% of the total amount of above
Types of Financial Aid
Merit Based Aid Awarded solely on the basis of academic record or outstanding
ability in many areas (such as the arts) Usually merit aid starts with GPA’s around 3.8 and ACT scores
around 28 or is based entirely on your college audition The amount of aid increases with higher scores Each college sets it’s own criteria for granting merit based aid -
search the scholarship section of their websites Usually there is a separate application for Merit Aid, but some
colleges are now automatically granting this aid based on examining your transcript and academic record you list on your general application for admission - make sure you know which method the college you are applying to uses for merit aid
Types of Financial Aid
Need Based Aid Need is the difference between what it costs to attend
a school and what you and your family are expected to pay
You might think of this as a formula:Cost of Education
- Expected Family ContributionNeed
The Expected Family Contribution is calculated through use of the FAFSA
In order to receive any financial aid you must fill out the FAFSA
The FAFSA
FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid
The form requests financial information for the 2013 calendar year
Colleges use the FAFSA to determine eligibility for financial aid, including scholarships, grants, loans, and work study programs
The State and Federal government will use the FAFSA to determine eligibility for grants and loans
Information Needed When Filling Out the FAFSA Form U.S. Income Tax Return for 2013 State (Local) Income Tax Return W-2 Forms for money earned the past year Current Bank Statements Records of untaxed income Current mortgage information Business and farm records if applicable Records of stock, bonds, and other
investments Student’s driver’s license and Social Security
Card
Other FAFSA Information
The FAFSA can be found online at www.fafsa.ed.gov Applications open January 1, 2014 Both the student and one parent will have to request a PIN
number Deadline to apply is set by the colleges themselves, but in
general Kentucky deadlines are February 15, 2014 – Check to make sure!
File your income tax return as early as possible so you can submit the FAFSA and be eligible for as much aid as possible
Remember that aid is given out to those who request it - waiting means there is less to distribute
There will be a FAFSA and Financial Aid Workshop at Manual on December 2, 2013 in the Manual Auditorium at 6:30 PM - plan to attend
Attend College Goal Sunday in January or February if you are having trouble with the FAFSA - there will be counselors available that will actually sit down with you and help you fill out the form
The CSS Profile
CSS stands for College Scholarship Service The CSS Profile is an application distributed by the
College Board It is primarily designed to give private member
institutions of the College Board a closer look into the finances of a student and family
It is much more detailed than the FAFSA Generally, colleges with early acceptance programs
use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA because the FAFSA is not available until after January 1st
For the 2012-2013 form the application fee was $25.00 and an additional $16.00 per college submitted
Composition of a Financial Aid Package An offer of financial aid from a college
may include all or some of the following:State Grants (if attending in Kentucky)Federal GrantsWork-Study ProgramsLoans – subsidized & unsubsidized
(must be repaid)Scholarships and/or tuition remission
vouchers
SCHOLARSHIPS
Email on file in Guidance Office
Join PTSA – receive online newsletter
Scholarships
95% of all scholarship money is available through the colleges themselves - search their financial aid site
Alumni Groups, National Corporations, Associations, your local high school, local businesses, community service organizations, fraternities and sororities, banks, and churches all offer scholarships
When scholarships become available that we know about you will receive an email announcing the specifics on eligibility requirements
www.dupontmanual.com - click on counselors, then click on scholarships
Check out Manual’s College Career Room for Scholarship Applications
Scholarship Scams
Warning signs of scholarship scams:Application feesOther feesGuaranteed WinningsUnsolicited OpportunitiesMail Drop Box Number or Residence for
a return address
Internet Searches for Financial Aid and Scholarships Financial Aid: http://www.finaid.org
Includes a top-quality homepage of links to many financial aid and related sites. The expected family contribution estimator is a highlight of this site
FastWeb: http://www.monster.com
Free scholarship search database that saves your profile and emails new sources of private merit aid to your mailbox online
Loan Repayment Estimator: http://www.student-loans.com/Repay.htmlEstimates monthly payments for various college loan programs
Sallie Mae: http://www.salliemae.org Nellie Mae: http://www.nelliemae.org
Information on Sallie Mae and Nellie Mae college loans
Net Price Calculator
As of October 2011, all colleges are required to include a net price calculator in their websites
It provides students with an estimated total cost to attend their college
The “net price” is the amount students would be expected to pay after grants and scholarships are deducted from the cost of attendance
Net price calculators represent a significant step toward helping students and their families make informed decisions about college costs
The College Board also has a net price calculator on their website located at www.netpricecalculator.collegeboard.org that gives students a personalized estimate, based on his/her situation and the institution’s financial aid funds and awarding policies and practices
For Specific Information Regarding: National Merit Finalists; Governor’s Scholars
Program, Graduation Program - contact Amy Medley [email protected]
ILP; NCAA Clearinghouse - contact Marti Johnston [email protected]
Advanced Placement – contact Michelle Leslie at [email protected]
Scholarships; Governor’s School for the Arts; Junior and Senior Awards Programs, YPAS Senior Night - contact Dennis Robinson at [email protected]
Acknowledgement of Sources
Fiske Guide to Getting Into the Right CollegeEdward B. Fiske and Bruce G. Hammond
Published by Sourcebooks, Inc. The Truth About Getting In: If You’re Getting
Ready for the College Admissions Process, Get the FactsKatherine Cohen, Ph.D.Published by Hyperion Books
I Got In!Mary Anna DennardPublished by Mary Anna Austin Dennard, Inc.
Thank you for attending tonight!
