Welcome Students & Parents

College Information NightCollege is Possible!

Si, Se Puede!

Preparing for College as a Junior• Keep your grades up and know where you stand• Get/stay involved in school clubs, community activities, sports and keep a list of activities• Prepare for your ACT and SAT - PSAT• Explore summer school/summer programs• Continue to develop good study habits• Create an employment and/or educational resume• Meet with your counselor• Include parents/guardians with your college search• Sign up for the College Opportunity Fund (COF)

Preparing for College as a Junior• Research, research, research• Attend college fairs (School District #51 College Fair and Western Slope College Fair in Aspen) •Visit college campuses • Sign up for the Mesa Experience Visitation Program

• Saturday, November 13, 2010 • Saturday, February 26, 2011 • Friday, March 25, 2011 • Saturday, April 16, 2011

• Tour campus if you can’t make the Mesa Experience

Preparing for College as a Senior• Keep your grades up• Include your parents/guardians as part of the process• Select 3 colleges/universities/technical schools• Apply to college between November-January• Apply for Housing & Residence Life• You don’t have to pay for it all by yourself!

Start the financial aid process in January• Apply for scholarships (college & private)

Preparing for College as a Senior• Check transcripts for Graduation Requirements• Meet with your counselor for senior interview• Retake the ACT, if necessary• Sign up for the College Opportunity Fund (COF) if you haven’t• NCAA transcript evaluation (speak with your school’s athletic director)• Attend College Fairs • Sign up for the Mesa Experience: Saturday, February 26, 2011• Follow-up with the college process

Preparing for CollegeDuring Your College Visits: • Meet with an admissions counselor• Take your transcript with you• Verify the admission requirements• Meet with a financial aid counselor and talk about opportunities• Tour the campus• Attend a class … explore programs that may interest you and meet with professors!• Ask questions and take notes

Also know when counselors will be visiting your high school. Visit mesastate.edu/roadshow.

Preparing for College as a Senior• Prepare for transition from school to career

• Career exploration, what skills will you need?• Work Keys test for employment resume’

September: Begin scholarship search October-November:

• Complete scholarship search• Finalize educational and/or employment resume• Ask for Letters of Recommendation (allow at least 2 weeks as a courtesy)• Begin writing your personal essay and have 2 people proof read it• Make a final list of college choices• Make a professional email address to use for all your educational or employment emails

A Partnership for Your Success• High school students can enroll in courses at MSC and WCCC and earn college

credit while still in high school.• Concurrent & Fast Track Enrollment is available• WCCC offers open admission (cool, so, what’s that mean to me?)• Feeling unsure? Courses that prepare you for college study• WCCC offers a variety of certificate programs (9 months), associate degree

programs (2 years) and many skills courses• Ready for a 4-year degree… Mesa State College

Questions Along the Way? Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1765

Invest in Yourself and Your FutureAverage annual income• Without a high school diploma/GED: $19,915• With a high school diploma/GED: $29,448• With a certificate or some college: $31,421• With an associate’s degree: $37,990• With a bachelor’s degree: $54,689• With a master’s degree: $67,898• With a doctoral degree: $92,863 • With a professional degree: $119,009

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005 data, as reported on www.actstudent.org/college

Questions Along the Way? Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1765

What Does College Cost?• Tuition: The cost of attending a class• Fees: The cost for activities, athletics, clubs and other special events• Housing & Meals: Living in a residence hall and eating at the dining hall• Books & Supplies: Textbooks, workbooks, equipment, notepads, paper,

etc.• Personal Items: Clothing, cleaning, etc.• Transportation: Bus, car, etc.

Questions Along the Way? Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1765

What Does Mesa State Cost?

Estimated Expenses Billed by College for 1 Year 30 credit hours per year(15 credit hours per semester)

Tuition $7,340

Fees 768

Colorado College Opportunity Fund - $1,860

Subtotal $6,248

Average Room and Board $8,310 Total Billed $14,558

Estimated Expenses Not Billed by College for 1 year

Books & Supplies $1,750

Transportation 1,200

Personal Expenses 1,950

Total Unbilled $4,900

Total Estimated Cost of Attendance for 1 Year $19,458

In-State Student Tuition Rates and Average Other Expenses

What If I Don’t Qualify for In-State?Out-of-State Student Tuition Rates Apply and Average Other Expenses

Estimated Expenses Billed by College for 1 Year 30 credit hours per year(15 credit hours per semester)

Tuition $15,658

Fees 768

Colorado College Opportunity Fund 0

Subtotal $16,426

Average Room and Board $8,310 Total Billed $24,736

Estimated Expenses Not Billed by College for 1 year

Books & Supplies $1,750

Transportation 1,200

Personal Expenses 1,950

Total Unbilled $4,900

Total Estimated Cost of Attendance for 1 Year $29,636

Save Money By Staying at HomeMesa County Students can live with their families

Estimated Expenses Billed by College for 1 Year 30 credit hours per year(15 credit hours per semester)

Tuition $7,340

Fees 768

Colorado College Opportunity Fund - $1,860

Total Billed $6,248

Estimated Expenses Not Billed by College for 1 year

Books & Supplies $1,750

Transportation 1,200

Personal Expenses 1,950

Total Unbilled $4,900

Total Estimated Cost of Attendance for 1 Year $11,148

You Don’t Have to Pay It All!Financial Aid will help offset the cost of attending college

• Grants: Do not have to be repaid• Loans (Subsidized and Unsubsidized): Have to be repaid upon graduation• Work-Study: Allows you to earn a paycheck• College Opportunity Fund (COF): Colorado’s contribution to your education• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):

This application must be completed to receive financial aid

Learn more about all of these online at http://www.mesastate.edu/finaid/finaidtypes.htmlor call 970-248-1396 and we’ll help!

Financial Aid Can Reduce Your Cost

Questions Along the Way? Call Financial Aid at 970-248-1396

Estimated Cost of Attendance for 1 Year (Living at Home) $11,148

Types of Financial Aid:

Federal Pell Grant 600

State Grant 2,000

Work-Study* 2,400

College Grant 2,000

Federal Perkins Loan 0

Subsidized Stafford Loan 3,500

Estimated Total After Financial Aid $648

*Work-Study is not directly applied to your bill. You earn a paycheck.

If You Work Hard and Invest In Yourself, We’ll Invest in You.

• Merit Scholarships for high-achieving students: $1,200 up to full tuition and fees

• Mesa State First Generation Scholarship : $1,000 per yearRenewable scholarship (120 credit hour maximum) awarded to entering Western Colorado freshmen whose parents have not graduated from college. Recipient must document financial need. Award is based on a combination of any two of the three following criteria: 2.5 GPA; top 25% of their class; or a 21 ACT or 970 SAT.

Students considered for scholarships must meet the following individual test score minimums, even if test scores are not one of the two criteria used to determine award: ACT English 18; ACT Math 19; ACT Reading/Social Science 17 or SAT math 460; SAT verbal 440.

Learn more online at www.mesastate.edu/finaid/newandtransfer.html

Mark Your CalendarsWednesday, January 26, 2011• Free Financial Aid Workshop that you don’t want

to miss• Make sure your 2010 taxes are done first• Get in-depth explanations of the types of financial

aid and how you can navigate the process• Free help completing the Free Application for

Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

You can do it. We can help.

Questions Along the Way? Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1765

Mark Your CalendarsFinancial Aid Counselors Also Visit Your School• Talk to your high school counselor to get the dates

College Goal Sunday on February 13, 2011• Every year, minority, low income, and/or first-generation college students

lose money for college because they do not complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1. We can help! Plan to attend.

Questions Along the Way? Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1396

The Possibilities Are Endless9-month and Two-Year Career & Technical Programs at

Western Colorado Community CollegeTwo-year (Associate) Programs to transfer to another

college or universityFour-year (Bachelor’s) Programs at MSC

Applying to MSC

Questions Along the Way? Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1765

1. Complete the application process online at www.mesastate.edu/apply

2. Request official high school transcripts or GED scores be sent to MSC.

3. Write an optional personal essay4. $30 application fee (can be waived if

hardship)5. Apply for Housing

www.mesastate.edu/housing

Admission Standards for Colorado’s Four-Year Colleges (HEAR Requirements)

Questions Along the Way? Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1765

1. English 4 units2. Math 4 units (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II and higher

3. Natural/Physical Science 3 units (Two units must be lab-based)

4. Social Science 3 units5. World Language 1 units(some colleges require more)

6. Academic Electives 2 units17 units total

One unit equals one full year of credit (Carnegie Unit)

Applying to WCCC

Questions Along the Way? Call 970-255-2670

1. Complete the application (Go to www.mesastate.edu/wccc/apply.html to get application form or complete it online)Bring your completed application to WCCC or mail to:Western Colorado Community CollegeAttn: Student Services2508 Blichmann AvenueGrand Junction, CO 81505

2. Request official high school and college transcripts or GED scores be sent to WCCC.

3. Find additional Steps to Success online at www.mesastate.edu/wccc/apply.html

Important Dates• Financial Aid Nights December-March• FAFSA Deadline for Seniors February• 2-year Colleges Expo February• State ACT (all juniors) April 27• Graduation May

Questions Along the Way? Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1765

Serving Students is Our Business

Questions Along the Way? Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1765

Once You’re Here We'll Partner with You to Achieve Success

• Kennilyn: Diversity & Student Advocacy• Student Services Mentoring Program• Student Cultural Diversity Board & Organizations• MSC Cultural Advisory Board• Housing and Residence Life• Advising & Academic Services

• Academic Advising• Tutorial Learning Center (TLC)• Educational Access Services• Freshman Year Initiative (FYI) Program

What Do All These Terms Mean?• ACT / SAT Test: College entrance tests• Admission: Requirements to be accepted into college/university• Open admission: Admits almost all high school graduates/GED completers without

taking grades or test scores into account. WCCC is the open admission division of MSC.• Certificate programs (9 months)• Associate degrees (2 years)• Bachelor’s degrees (4-5 years, but can do it in 3)• Credit hours: A value given to a class. Usually ranges from 1-4• Full-time study: Enrolling in at least 12 credit hours per semester• Part-time study: Enrolling in less than 12 credit hours per semester

Questions Along the Way? Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1765

Who’s On Your Team at MSC• Mesa State College Admissions Office

1100 North Avenue Grand Junction, Colorado 81501-3122www.mesastate.edu or 970-248-1875

• Paige Cadman- Admission Counselor for District 51970-248-1940 or pcadman@mesastate.edu

• Kennilyn A. Marquez Wright- Manager of Student Diversity & Advocacy

Recruitment for First-Generation & Minority Students and Families for District 51970-248-1765 or kwright@mesastate.edu

Who’s On Your Team at WCCCWestern Colorado Community CollegeStudent Services2508 Blichmann Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81505

Heather Exby / Sandra Menke970.255.2600 970-255-2670wccc@mesastate.edu

Who’s On Your Team at Central HighCounseling Staff- 970-254-6101 Stacey Pottorff A-DeKerri Spore D-HLiza Hines I-MiShauna Hobbs Mj-ShMisty Sellden Si-ZDelaine Schlanger Post-GradSerenity Santistevan Post-GradDebbie Ross RegistrarWendy Martin Counseling SecretaryMary McCallister Counseling Secretary 

Student Services StaffLEAG Lupe NavarroESL/ELL Ms. Johnson, Mrs. Dunkin, Ms. Burton AVID Doug Beach-9th

Kristie Simonson-10th, Tanya Smith-11th,Jim Givens-11th& 12th

GEAR UP Phyllis HunsingerKim Harrison

MIGRANT Hilda GonzalezProgress Monitors Debbie Cain

Katrina FloresLiza HinesMegan Mertes

School-to-Career Michele Soderborg

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)For more information visit these websites• MSC/WCCC Financial Aid: www.mesastate.edu/finaid/finaidfaqs.html• MSC Admissions: www.mesastate.edu/admissions• WCCC Student Services www.mesastate.edu/wccc/studentservices.html• College in Colorado: www.collegeincolorado.com• COF (College Opportunity Fund): https://cofweb.cslp.org/cofapp/• Hands On Banking: www.handsonbanking.org• Scholarship Search: www.fastweb.com• Mapping Your Future: www.mapping-your-future.org• FAFSA: www.fafsa.ed.gov• U.S. Department of Education: www.studentaid.ed.gov

Questions Along the Way? Call 970-255-2670 or 970-248-1765

Thank You!Questions Along the Way?

Call WCCC Student Services at 970-255-2670 Call Kennilyn Wright at 970-248-1765Call MSC Admissions at 970-248-1875

Call Financial Aid at 970-248-1396

Go online to www.mesastate.edu/futureGo online to wccc.mesastate.edu/