Senior Parent Night: College and Technical

School Information

CSCS High School Guidance Services

Mr. Gary Springer, PrincipalMs. Jodi Robins, Assistant Principal

of High School

Agenda

Guidance TeamTypes of Colleges/Technical SchoolsCollege Preparation and ApplicationsCollege Entrance ExaminationsSenior Year TimelineBright Futures/Scholarships

Coral Springs Charter Guidance Services

Michelle Chirichella: BRACE/College Advisor (Also, 10th grade counselor)Bob Frazier – Guidance Director and Counselor for Cambridge StudentsJill Pepe – 11th and 12th grade School Counselor (Will I graduate?)Nelson Martin – Registrar for Transcripts (electronic SUS/paper)

College/University

What are my options?– State Universities (SUS)– Private Colleges and Universities– State Colleges (BC, PBSC, Miami-Dade)– Technical InstitutionsHow do I choose a school?– Campus Visits (tours, virtual demos)– Online /Big Future at Collegeboard.com– College Recruiters – College Fairs

What do colleges look at?

UNW or STATE GPA = did student receive a B or better in all course work, regardless of difficulty level?ACADEMIC CORE = most important!Weighted GPA - SHOULD BE USED on applications (out of 6.0). They recalculate.Rigorous course load, GPA and test scores are the TOP considerations for college acceptance. Extracurricular Activities = sports, clubs, and community service

College Application Timeline

Chart the Course - - staggering applications can help. See handouts.Process: 1 – APPLY – preferably online2 – SEND TRANSCRIPT – form3 – SEND ACT/SAT scores electronically (Waiver students get 2 free tests of EACH in high school, and 4 extra free scores sent to colleges. Others, should send when they register. Everyone gets 4 free at registration.)

When Should I Apply?

Early!

Rolling, Deadline Driven, Early Action

Florida State University = October 15th!

Application, SSAR and at least 1 ACT/SAT

Test by October for Dec. 17th Decision

University of Florida = November 1, app.

UF= SSAR by December 1st, test by NOV.

February 13th Decision

2+2 Program

Broward College (North campus, CS)

Palm Beach State College – on the campus of FAU – Spanish River

Many students being their college education this way. Florida is nationally recognized for seamless transition. Completion of the AA (Associate of Arts), 60 credit degree, guarantees transfer to one state university.(36 Gen Ed. Credits)

Technical Schools

Atlantic Technical Center

Programs in: Air Cond., Automotive, Culinary, Dental Assisting, Electricity, Practical Nursing, Pharmacy Tech., Web Development.

Sheridan Technical Center

Programs in: Barbering, Cosmetology, Spa, “Green Ready” Institute, Gaming Machine Technician.

McFatter Technical Center

Programs in: Accounting Ops., Early Childhood Ed., Java/Game Simulation, EKG Tech., Fire Academy/EMT, Marine Service Technician.

Types of Applications

Most college applications can be found at the Undergraduate, Freshman Admissions, or Prospective Students tab of the college’s website.

Students must create log-ins and can work on applications at their own pace.

The Common Application is used mostly for private schools, like the University of Miami. Supplements may have to be done.

College Entrance Exams

Two tests: SAT & ACTDetailed score reports help analyze areas of strengths and weaknesses – see concordance table or Mrs. C.My advice is to zero in on test student does better on at this point. Latest test SHOULD BE the October tests; however students who are deferred and want BF keep testing (even June).

College Entrance Exams

SAT measures critical thinking skills; ACT is a curriculum based test. Register for Critical Reasoning SAT on Collegeboard.org. Register for ACT at ACTstudent.org. Online test preparation available. Consider tutors.Recommended time to take SAT/ACT is October and November. Waivers available.Some highly selective colleges will require at least two SAT Subject Tests. Take by DEC!If you want to attend an SUS (Public University), you MUST take ACT with writing!!

Beginning of Senior Year

Create resume with the assistance of the Guidance/Eng. Team (This will help you fill out your applications and help teachers/counselors write you letters of recommendation.) No letters needed for SUS schools.

Use internet to continue to explore careers of interest and colleges that offer degrees in your area of interest:

www.collegeboard.com Big Future and College Confidential

Narrow choices, carefully review admissions requirements. EX: Subject Tests by DEC!Certain programs have pre-requisites.

By end of 1st Q of Sr Year

Choose 3-6 colleges ~ 1 or 2 “reaches”, 2 or 3 “targets,” and at least 1 “safety”Visit college campuses – long weekendsAsk teachers for recommendation letters (not needed for FL SUS), only IF neededContinue to work on applications, essays and applying for scholarships.Scholarship BB - - sent 1st and 15th of the month to students, parents (if asked)

Remember: Senior Year

Apply to colleges as EARLY as possibleApplications are online on college’s website (follow directions!)Pay college’s app. fee online or waiverSend required recommendation forms & resume to your counselor/teachersComplete “Request for Transcript” Florida schools – most electronic/free

Senior Year (cont.) -

Request scores directly from SAT (Collegeboard.org)/ACT (Act.org) for each college to which you apply.If you are applying to FSU, send your first test scores directly to fulfill the deadline requirement - @Oct. 15th

SUS Colleges are only looking at your HIGHEST TEST SUB-

SCORES. With close to 30,000 applications, do you think they don’t use a data bank?

Financial Aid/Scholarships

Beginning January 1st of Senior year, fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) www.fafsa.ed.govBright Futures Scholarship –Visit www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org

BF opens Dec. 1 of the senior yearNCAA Clearinghouse for athletes www.ncaaclearinghouse.netMr. Frazier will take care of AICE credits - - end of senior year! (Patiently wait – 8/2015)Search internet sites for scholarships

www.fastweb.com has over 900,000 in their data base.(My next visit, I go over “F” words:FAFSA, BF, Fin. Aid, fastweb)

FAFSA

FAFSA.ed.gov - GRANTS & Work Study - $5500

Free Application! Do not use FAFSA.com

If you apply now, it is ONLY good for next summer, 2015. (No BF in the summer.)

For Fall 2015 and Spring 2016, you apply starting on January 1, 2015.

Steps: get PIN for you and your child before applying. That is your signature. Come on 12/6!

This PROVES your income - other scholarships!

Senior Year Grades

Resist urge to catch “Senioritis”Some colleges require mid-year grades, a few even 1st/3rd quartersColleges can withdraw an acceptance if grades drop significantly = Rescinding happens!Final transcripts will be sent to the college you plan to attend after you graduate, as will AICE credits.

Bright Futures/AICE

AICE Diploma Students get highest BF award“Students who have demonstrated academic merit through a recognition program may be eligible

for Bright Futures without having to meet one or more of the requirements.” - - no GPA requirement or test score

Take six prescribed courses and sit for six exams!

100 hours community service = FAS

75 hours community service = FMS

Bright Futures Requirements

FAS = Florida Academic Scholarship

SAT (BEST CR AND MATH ONLY) = 1290 with a 3.5 BF Academic Core GPA

ACT (Best composite of four subtests) = 29 (Four subtests = Eng,Math, Rd., Sci.)

FMS = Florida Medallion Scholarship

SAT = 1170; ACT = 26 with a 3.0 BF Academic Core GPA

BF Academic Core GPA

4 English Credits

4 Mathematics (at and above Algebra 1)

3 Natural Science (two with strong Labs)

3 Social Science (Good news = 3 best and the semesters can mix and match to add up to your 3 best credits, same for Sci.)

2 World Language (Sequential, same language) – again, best two! See me for your BF GPA, as needed.

For Business Students = GSV

The Gold Seal Vocational Award is an award given through BF to students who want two year A.S. degree/certificate or a technical program:

Complete a minimum of 3 Career/Tech Ed. courses in one program/30 CS hours

Earn minimum test scores on one –ACT (Eng,17;Read,19; Math, 19); SAT (M, 440 and R, 440); Pert (Rd.106; W, 103;M, 114)

Earn a cum weighted of at least 3.0 and unweighted of 3.5/4.0 in those 3 courses

Scholarship Opportunities

www.fastweb.comNational = Toyota, Bill Gates, Kohl’s Cares, KFC, McDonalds, Coca Cola (apply by October 31st)

Local Scholarships – 2x a month and on BRACE site – ex. MLK Jr. Scholarship

Essay contests

Ethnic scholarships – SOIA, HSF, Native

Special – Talent-based, etc.

More Scholarship Ideas

Work – Based: Walgreens, Amer. Xpress

Recruitment Scholarships = work with your coaches throughout the year. Seasonal

Make sure your athlete has registered with the NCAA (see Mr. Frazier in Guidance)

Fill out ALL necessary paperwork for $ assistance (ex. CSS profile for Top Tier) – leave NO stone unturned.

For further information, questions or concerns please

come to see me, either by yourself or with your parent!

StepsChoose collegeApply Online

Send ACT/SAT scoresCome to Guidance to send

transcript