Junior Class Meeting Class of 2014

Junior Class Meeting Class of 2014
RAMS - May 2013

Your Counseling Staff Manual Majors A-G Mrs. Marti Johnston
Manual Majors H-O Ms. Christy Teague Manual Majors P-Z Mrs. Amy Medley YPAS Majors A-Z Mr. Dennis Robinson

ACT College Readiness Benchmarks
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 to obtaining a C or higher in the corresponding credit bearing college course. English 18 Math 22 Reading 21 Science 24 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 scores.

ACT Scores ACT Composite Mid 50th Percentile
Boston College Brown University Columbia University 28-33 Duke University Eastern Kentucky University 21 George Washington Univ Harvard Indiana University MIT Morehead State University 21 Murray State University 24 Tulane University University of Chicago 28-33 University of Kentucky 21-27 University of Louisville 24 University of Michigan 27-31 University of North Carolina 26-31 Vanderbilt University 29-34 Western Kentucky University 21 Yale University

ACT & SAT Test Dates for 2013 ACT National Dates SAT National Dates
June 8 September 21 October 26 December 14 SAT National Dates May 4 June 1 October 6 November 3 December 1

College Preparatory Curriculum Graduation Requirements
4 years of English 4 years of Math 3 years of Science 3 years of Social Studies .5 years of Health .5 years of PE or 1 year of Fundamentals of Dance 1 year of History Arts 2-3 years of the same Foreign Language 21st Century Technology, or Computer Applications course 4-5 Electives

Graduation Requirements for Out of State Colleges
Here are just a few states that have different requirements from Kentucky Alabama Colleges – 4 years of Social Studies Georgia Colleges – 4 years of Science Indiana & North Carolina – Require pre- calculus Texas – .5 credits of Speech and .5 credits of Economics

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 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 unweighted GPA is on the transcript Grades include all pluses and minuses, A’s, B’s, C’s, D’s, and U’s!!!!

How To Be Successful Push yourself to take classes that reflect as strong and as rigorous an academic curriculum that you can handle successfully Unplug yourself from the Internet and TV. Learn to develop your “intellectual appetite” Find your passion and follow it! Develop yourself as a leader in that area if possible Select school activities that will demonstrate your passion or leadership in the subject areas you are passionate about Discover what is available in the community, your church, scouting, recreational sports, charitable organizations, etc. that will enhance your experience and resume Volunteer as much as you can

Monitor Academic Progress
Do not assume that someone will contact you if there is a problem with your academic progress. Keep in contact with your teachers and your counselors Develop strong study skills and time management techniques Work on building a strong vocabulary and refine your ability to speak in public READ, READ, and READ more! Practice and refine your talents Take advantage of as many educational enrichment activities as you can - summer workshops, camps, honor symposiums, leadership seminars, etc. Build your college resume by engaging in a well rounded balance of academically rigorous classes, athletic participation, participation in the arts, membership in worthwhile clubs, leadership positions, community service activities, and giving of your time for the betterment of mankind

Helpful Hints If you see your grades slipping, try some of these interventions: ESS (Extended School Services) work after school with a teacher Peer Tutoring (National Honor Society) work after school with outstanding students Staying after school to work with your own teacher Form study groups with other members of your class Weekly progress reports (available from your counselor) Assignment notebooks and planners Structured study time at home. School is not the only place to study and do homework Participate in class. Be visible and care about what you’re learning. Maintain a healthy lifestyle which includes proper diet, exercise, sleep, and stay away from the use of illegal drugs and alcohol and anyone you know who may use them

Finding the Balance … Plan Ahead!
With the everyday stresses of being a student, making good grades, meeting new friends, making choices and decisions, becoming involved in activities, etc… it is important to find the PROPER BALANCE. Plan Ahead - develop appropriate relationships with your counselor and those teachers you will be asking to write your letters of recommendation - they need to know who you are now so they can speak highly of you in comparison to other students they have known throughout their career. Identify special characteristics about yourself that set you apart from other students who have the same GPA and Test Scores. Clean up your face-book and my-space accounts now! 25% of all colleges and universities now look at your accounts when making college admission decisions.

Facebook, MySpace, Email Address, and College Applications
Consider that the information posted on these sites is basically public domain. In as few as 10 minutes after you have posted something on these sites they are archived forever in over 20 locations throughout the world. Your personal sites can be viewed by college admission counselors, college professors, employers, stalkers, that creepy kid obsessing over you, as well as campus and local police Make sure your 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!!!

EXPLORING COLLEGES & CAREERS

Explore and Research Colleges/Careers – Your Future!
Identify what you like to do – How do you want to spend the rest of your life? Will you be happy with the financial resources available to you as a result of that career choice? Gather as much information as you can from informal visits to colleges and attending college fairs. Search college websites for minimum GPA and test score requirements – look at the school profile – do you match? Refine what you possible college major may be and explore colleges strong in that area. What careers are available to people with a degree in your chosen field? Identify at least 10 Colleges/Universities you are interested in and spend this summer researching everything you can about those colleges.

Top Occupations in the U.S. Based on Growth Rate
Network Systems & Date Communication Analysis Medical Assistants Physician Assistants Computer Software Engineers, Applications Physical Therapist Assistants Dental Hygienists Computer Software Engineers, Systems Administrators Dental Assistants Personal and Home Care Aides Database Administrators Physical Therapists Forensic Science Technicians Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Medical Scientists Occupational Therapists Preschool Teachers Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Postsecondary Teachers Hydrologists Computer Systems Analysts Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Biomedical Engineers Environmental Engineers Paralegals and Legal Assistants

In-State vs. Out-of-State What’s the Difference?
In-state institutions are subsidized by taxes collected by state government offering lower tuition rates to residents of that state Out-of-State institutions will require you to pay higher tuition rates because your parents did not pay the other state’s taxes - tuition rates are sometimes more than double what you pay for your own in-state institutions

Kentucky Colleges – Four Year Public Universities
Eastern Kentucky University - Richmond Kentucky State University - Frankfort Morehead State University - Morehead Murray State University - Murray Northern Kentucky University - Highland Heights University of Kentucky - Lexington University of Louisville - Louisville Western Kentucky University - Bowling Green

Kentucky Colleges – Four Year Private Nonprofit Colleges and Universities
Alice Lloyd College Asbury College Bellarmine University Berea College Brescia College Campbellsville Univ. Centre College Embry-Riddle Univ. Georgetown Univ. Indiana Wesleyan Univ. Kentucky Christian Univ. Kentucky Mountain Bible College Kentucky Wesleyan College Lincoln Memorial Univ. Lindsey Wilson College McKendree College Mid-Continent Univ. Midway College Northwood University Pikeville College St. Catherine College Spalding University Thomas More College Transylvania University Union College University of the Cumberlands

Most Common In-State Colleges By Enrollment from duPont Manual
University of Louisville (679) University of Kentucky (460) Western Kentucky University (158) Jefferson Community & Technical College (107) Centre College (74) Murray State University (58) Northern Kentucky University (53) Bellarmine University (48) Eastern Kentucky University (36) Transylvania University (23) Georgetown College (16) Morehead State University (16) Kentucky State University (13)

Most Common Out-of-State Colleges By Enrollment from duPont Manual
Indiana University Bloomington (32) University of Cincinnati/CCM (27) Washington University in St. Louis (22) Vanderbilt University (21) Indiana University Southeast (20) Duke University (15) The Ohio State University (14) Boston University (12) Maryland Institute, College of Art (12) Purdue University – West Lafayette (12) University of Chicago (12) Columbia College Chicago (11)

U.S. News & World Report Rankings of Best Colleges - National Universities
Harvard University Princeton University Yale University Massachusetts Institute of Technology Stanford University California Institute of Technology University of Pennsylvania Columbia University Duke University Northwestern University Washington University/St. Louis Cornell University Johns Hopkins University Brown University Rice University Emory University University of Notre Dame Vanderbilt University University of California - Berkeley Carnegie Mellon University Georgetown University University of Virginia University of California - Los Angeles University of Michigan University of Southern California Tufts University Wake Forest University University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

U.S. News & World Report Rankings of Best Colleges - Public National Universities
University of California-Berkeley University of California - Los Angeles University or Virginia University of Michigan University of North Carolina College of William & Mary Georgia Institute of Technology University of California University of Illinois University of Wisconsin Pennsylvania State University University of Florida University of Texas Ohio State University University of Maryland University of Pittsburgh University of Georgia Clemson University Purdue University Texas A & M University University of Minnesota Rutgers University University of Connecticut University of Delaware Indiana University Michigan State University University of Iowa Virginia Tech Miami University of Ohio

U.S. News & World Report Rankings of Best Colleges - Liberal Arts
Williams College Amherst College Swarthmore College Middlebury College Wellesley College Bowdoin College Pomona College Carleton College Davidson College Haverford College Claremont McKenna College Vassar College Wesleyan University Grinnell College Harvey Mudd College United States Military Academy Washington & Lee University Smith College Colgate University United States Naval Academy Hamilton College Colby College Oberlin College Colorado College Bates College

Some Top Schools for the Visual Arts - listed alphabetically
Art Academy of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, Ohio) Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago, Ill.) Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, Pa.) Cleveland Institute of Art (Cleveland, Ohio) Kansas City Art Institute (Kansas City, Mo.) Maryland Institute College of Art (Baltimore, Ma.) Memphis College of Art (Memphis, Tenn.) Minneapolis College of Art & Design (Minneapolis, Minn.) Montserrat College of Art (Beverly, Mass.) Pratt Institute (Brooklyn, N.Y.) Rhode Island School of Design (Providence, R.I.) Savannah College of Art & Design (Savannah, Ga.)

Some Top Schools for Mathematics, Science, & Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Harvard University Princeton University University of Chicago University of Michigan – Ann Arbor Columbia University New York University Yale University Cornell University Brown University Northwestern University Duke University Johns Hopkins University Washington University in St. Louis Carnegie Mellon University University of California – Berkeley University of Washington Georgia Institute of Technology University of Wisconsin – Madison Purdue University – Indiana Rice University University of Massachusetts – Amherst California Institute of Technology University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill Scripps Research Institute University of Illinois

Some Top Schools for Journalism & Communications
Arizona State University Indiana University Iowa State University Michigan State University Northwestern University Ohio University Syracuse University University of Florida University of Georgia Kansas University University of Iowa University of Maryland University of Minnesota University of Missouri University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill University of Oklahoma University of Oregon University of Southern California University of Texas at Austin

Some Top Schools for Music, Dance, Theatre, and Design & Production
Western Kentucky (D&P) Carnegie Mellon (musical theatre) Boston Conservatory (musical theatre) Roosevelt University (musical theatre) Florida State University (dance) Stephens College (dance) University of Florida (dance) University of Illinois (music) Manhattan School of Music Yale University (music) Duke University (theatre) Emerson University (theatre) Cleveland Institute of Music Indiana University (music) Juilliard School of Music Northwestern (music) Oberlin Conservatory (music) University of Cincinnati (music) University of Michigan (dance) Butler University (dance) Ball State University (musical theatre) Notre Dame (musical theatre) DePaul University (D&P) Northern Kentucky (D&P) University of Louisville (D&P)

U.S. News & World Report Rankings of Best Colleges – A+ Options for B Students
Pepperdine University Syracuse University Fordham University Purdue University University of Connecticut Southern Methodist University University of Delaware Indiana University Michigan State University University of Iowa Miami University of Ohio University of Colorado Baylor University SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Marquette University University of Denver Auburn University Clark University Drexel University Iowa State University North Carolina State University St. Louis University University of Vermont SUNY - Stony Brook University of Alabama

Hints For A Campus Visit
Make an appointment for your tour Visit In-session Stay overnight when possible Include your parents Meet with an admissions officer Verify admissions requirements Discuss your chances for success Obtain a school calendar and catalogue Determine college costs Ask about financial aid opportunities Ask about student/teacher ratio for freshmen Meet Faculty Ask about Honors Program Ask questions about academic requirements and offerings Attend a class Ask about placement record Identify career-planning services Tour the campus/classrooms/labs Tour the dorms/dining facilities Tour the recreational facilities Tour the city or town Talk to students Find out about student activities Inquire about campus life Investigate transportation options Keep note about your visit Write thank you notes

College Application Process
Class of 2014

Top Five Tips for Juniors in Preparation for College Applications
Standardized Tests - complete all standardized tests your junior year and retake those with low scores. Grades and Classes - junior year grades are the most important (you are now settled in your routine; more demanding courses predict college performance; classes you choose speak volumes about your motivation and intellectual curiosity). Teacher/Counselor Recommendations - if you share an intellectual interest with a teacher they are more likely to give you a good college recommendation. Get to know your counselor and connect with teachers you want to write for you. Activities - the way in which you spend your time outside the classroom serves as testimony to your moral fiber; assess whether your activities reflect a depiction of your interests and passions. Opportunities - admissions officers look for students who step out of their comfort zone and seek new experiences. Ignoring an opportunity does not appeal to college admissions officers.

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

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!!!

How Many Colleges Should I Apply To?
For most students it will be a list of about six schools Reach Schools (1 or 2): Aim for one or more “reach” colleges/universities 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?” “Fit” Schools (1 or 2): 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 “Safety” Schools (1 or 2): 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

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

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 either transmitted through the Web or printed and sent via snail mail – be prepared to pay the application fee with a credit card

The Common Application
Available online at Approximately 300 schools, including the most selective liberal arts colleges, accept the Common Application You can either download the application or transmit through the web Use the college’s own application form if they have one – but many have adopted the common application as their own

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 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 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 Marginal activities 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

Listing Activities 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

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

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 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

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 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

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

College Essays 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

Common Application Essay
Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you. Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you. Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence. Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence. A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you. Topic of your choice.

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 Most selective colleges require one recommendation from a teacher - pick one who has taught you in your junior or senior year, 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

How To Use Your Red Folder
During your senior class meeting, each student will receive a red folder with a cover sheet and additional information inside Please write on the cover sheet the date that you turn the folder into your counselor or teacher You must submit this folder to your counselor at least 10 school days in advance of your first application deadline in order to give us time to process your applications 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 Letter to your counselor stating information about you that we may not be aware of and is not on your resume Resume Any information that will help us write a rich and substantial letter of recommendation RIGHT SIDE OF FOLDER Secondary School Report, Counselor Form, or Curriculum Verification Form, Scholarship Applications Manila Envelope with Stamps for Postage Large stamps Paper-clip forms to envelope Place forms and envelopes in the order they are listed on the front cover page

Name Address Phone Number Email
Personal Information Magnet College major Career goals GPA (weighted/unweighted) Total # AP courses taken Test scores Awards Extracurricular Leadership Academic Attendance Clubs Sports Music/arts Offices held—describe leadership roles/activities involved in leading/creating/etc. Community Service Volunteering Work Experience References

Red Folder Letter to Your Counselor/Teacher
Include additional information that is not on your resume You should include more personal information Explain what is unique about you Describe your strengths and weaknesses Describe any hardships you have overcome Describe how the university would benefit from accepting you - 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 the kind of person you are What are you passionate about and why?

The Red Folder – Common Applications
Make sure you indicate which schools need the common application The common application usually requests counselors to submit on line – when you finish filling out your portion of the Common Application, there should 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 from you at this point which requests them to fill out the Secondary School Report Online.

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 profile highlights the school’s grading scale and important statistics about our academic curriculum, test scores, and student body

FINANCIAL AID & Scholarship Information

Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarships (KEES)
The state of Kentucky rewards students for good grades 2.5 is the minimum GPA you have to earn in a year to receive KEES money 15 is the minimum ACT score to receive additional funds Better grades and higher ACT scores earn you more dollars Students on free/reduced lunch may earn additional bonus funds for passing AP classes and exams The funds can be used at any college in Kentucky

Types of Financial Aid – Merit Based Aid
Awarded solely on the basis of academic record or outstanding ability in many areas 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

University of Louisville
General Admission ( 24 ACT; 2.5 GPA) Honors Program: (28 ACT or 1250 SAT; and 3.5 GPA) Competitive Scholarships Brown Fellows (31 ACT or 1360 SAT and 3.35 GPA) McConnell (Based on academic merit and leadership, 3.35 GPA) Grawemeyer (31 ACT or 1360 SAT and 3.75 GPA) Vogt Hallmark (30 ACT or 1330 SAT and 3.75 GPA) Trustee’s Scholarship (25 ACT or 1130 SAT and 3.35 GPA) Eagle/Gold Scout (25 ACT or 1130 SAT and 3.35 GPA) Woodford Porter (African American students selected on merit, leadership & service Guaranteed Entrance Programs (Requirements to Apply): Medical School (30 ACT and 3.75 GPA) Dentistry (30 ACT and 3.75 GPA) Law School (24 ACT and 3.35 GPA) Nursing (25 ACT and 3.35 GPA) Communication Art & Design (24 ACT and 3.2 GPA)

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 Contribution Need 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 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

The Academic Common Market
If the program you are interested in isn’t offered 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 and graduate levels. Florida, North Carolina, and Texas participate at the graduate level.

Financial Aid & Scholarship Myths
Since most schools will offer you an aid package based on your need, there’s little reason to shop around Truth: Colleges have very different ways of dealing with your “need.” They can manipulate their offers based on how much they want you to attend their school, offering more in grants and less in loans, for example. If you receive a better offer of aid from one of your schools, you should by all means let the other schools know and see if you can use that information to receive a better offer. 2. Myth: College costs consist of room, board, and tuition Truth: When calculating college costs, you must add in tuition, room, board, fees, books, transportation, clothing, entertainment, and the 10% rule – take whatever you think a year will cost and add 10% to cover the numerous unexpected costs associated with college attendance, as well as inflation

Financial Aid & Scholarship Myths
Once you get a financial aid package from your chosen school, you can’t change it Truth: Actually, you will be renewing your financial aid package each year, and it’s not unheard of for more money to become available, especially for high-achieving students 4. Myth: All scholarships are more-or- less legitimate, so it’s a good idea to apply to as many as fit your profile Truth: There are many scholarship scams out there, so beware

How Much Will College Cost?
Tuition - payment for required courses, study abroad, exchange programs Fees - registration, parking, activities, health, laboratory, many others Books and Materials - computer, required texts and supplies Room - cost of dorm or apartment plus furniture, utilities, internet access, 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

University of Louisville
Tuition $9,466 ($4,733 per sem.) Room Rates (avg. cost) $4,650 Meal Plans (avg. cost) $2,920 Books (avg. cost) $1,000 TOTAL $18,036

The Net Price Calculator
Available since the school year on every college website Provides students and parents with the college’s annual cost of education Also provides an easy estimation of what your financial aid package may look like The Net Price Calculator will be fairly accurate, but does not substitute for actually going through the process of submitting your FAFSA Form

College Costs The cost of attending the most prestigious colleges for four years is nearing $200,000 - more than double the price of 20 years ago. Tuition at public universities has risen more than 50% in inflation adjusted dollars in the past ten years. As college costs have risen, government aid has failed to keep pace - as a result, student debt has ballooned. Persistence - continue to apply regardless of setbacks and rejections; if you apply for 95 scholarships you may only win a very few but they may be just the amount you need to make the difference Creativity - adapt methods to pay to your own situation You don’t necessarily have to be Einstein, Van Gogh, Pavarotti, or Peyton Manning, but you do have to be a detective Finding scholarships is like a game of “Where’s Waldo?” There are scholarships for almost everything: bagpipe players people under 4 feet tall majors in parapsychology women who want to be engineers

So How Do You Win Scholarships?
You must be able to organize and prioritize You must be able to write about a variety of topics that may or may not be exciting to you in a fluid and thoughtful way, demonstrating that you are a scholar or would like to be a scholar You must understand yourself well enough to create a compelling portrait of who you are. You must understand your audience well enough to be able to position your skills and strengths as deserving of their support. Scholarship committees award funding to candidates they can understand and relate to and who distinguish themselves from other candidates by their ability to communicate.

When to Start Looking The senior year is the time to APPLY for scholarship, not LOOK for them … You don’t have time! You need to be searching NOW! Explore the financial aid and scholarship pages on college websites you are interested in Explore free scholarship search websites Learn what is out there so you will be ready your senior year Read books, articles, start a college savings account as soon as possible Begin compiling a list of possibilities

Start With A Personal Inventory
Year in school, citizenship, state of residence, religion, ethnic background, disability, military status, employer, membership organizations Do you want to be in a competition? What are you talents and interests? What subject do you plan to major in? What career do you plan to pursue? Do you want to apply for all types of aid or only scholarships? Research local scholarships first – check your /school website/PTSA electronic newsletter Check the college aid section of your public library – scholarship handbooks Check out the national scholarships such as National Merit, Gates Millennium, Intel Science Search, Coca-Cola Scholars, Ron Brown, etc. Check out your membership organizations, employers, religious, community service, fraternal, military, union, and professional groups Check out fast food companies, department stores, supermarkets, awards related to employment Use the internet for free scholarship searches Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority – KHEAA Research Institutional Scholarships – automatic, merit, talent, financial need, intended major, departmental, ethnicity, or a variety of other factors

The Scholarship Application
Read the eligibility criteria carefully (GPA, test scores, other) Collect all supporting documents early (transcripts, recommendations, resume, etc.). Ask the person writing your recommendation to address your personal qualities that match the scholarship criteria with specific examples; If the recommender would not know about these examples, then you have to tell them in a letter If you are asked to document your financial need, list all family obligations and then explain your situation honestly and completely Be neat, thorough, and creative! There may be thousands of students competing for the same scholarship - take it seriously and write essays with your most distinguished effort. Don’t miss the application deadline!

10 Tips for Writing Effective Scholarship Essays
Read the instructions and make sure you understand them before you start writing Think about what you are going to write and organize your thoughts before you start writing Begin the process by writing an outline Make sure your outline touches on every aspect required per the instructions Write your essay by elaborating on each of the points in your outline Use clear, concise and simple language throughout the essay State your accomplishments without coming across as if you are bragging Make sure your grammar and spelling are impeccable Read the question again and then read your essay to be certain that the essay addresses every point Have someone with strong writing and editing skills proofread the essay before you submit it

School Websites www.dupontmanual.com Click on Counselors
Click on Senior Scholarships Start Browsing Click on Counselor Connection Click on Scholarship Information

The Power of the Internet
adventuresineducation.org brokescholar.com cappex.com careersandcolleges.com clubscholarship.com collegeanswer.com collegenet.com collegescholaships.com fastaid.com fastweb.com finaid.org free-4u.com gocollege.com hispanicscholaship.com iefa.org internationalscholarships.com scholarhips.do salliemae.com scholarships.com scholarships101.com scholarships4you.com scholarships.kachinatech.com studentsawards.com supercollege.com wiredscholar.com zinch.com

Scholarship Sources Big Businesses Professional Organizations
Extracurricular Activities Workers Unions Religious Organizations Service Clubs Parents Employer Parent’s or Grandparents Military Service Student’s Employer Businesses Big and Small - check with the Chamber of Commerce The College Financial Aid Office Career Service Offices Visit Your College Department’s Administrative Assistant Contact Your Local Politician Search the Courier Journal Website for Scholarship Announcements Scholarship Books Dollars for Scholars - double your scholarship dollars at Scholarships based on Personal Challenges and Hardships Turn Your Hobbies and Talents into Scholarships Scholarship organizations love Leaders - check into Leadership Awards Turn Your Community Service into Scholarship Dollars Ace your College Application to Get More Scholarship Dollars Negotiate with your college if they try to take away your scholarship money

Scholarship To Do List:
Contact the financial aid counselors at your selected colleges to determine what scholarships they offer. Watch the deadlines – some are as early as the fall semester and some are in October. Keep applying. Check to determine if any essay you’ve written can be used for more than one award. Be careful not to get carried away with this – you might waste time and lose money. Follow the directions of the application to the letter. Omitting information can disqualify you. Ask for letters of recommendation early. Notify the college you’ve decided to attend of scholarships you will be receiving (after they have offered your financial aid package and you have accepted what you want from the package).

Insider Tips Remember the 10% Rule – total costs of a college, then add 10% to account for unexpected expenses. Start Early – start working with the financial aid office even before being admitted. Non-citizens be prepared. It is even more difficult to receive financial aid if you are not a U.S. Citizen because most colleges have little to no funds available for such students Ask and Ask Again – If your financial aid package will not cover your costs, contact the financial aid office and ask them to review your application. Beware of Scams – any scholarship fund that requests an application fee, operates out of a residence, guarantees you a return, or has a name suspiciously close to an organization you know to be legitimate, is probably a scam. Research funds thoroughly before sending money

Questions? Please see your counselor if you have any questions.
This PowerPoint and other information will be posted on Manual’s website under the Counselor tab, and click on College & Career Center.

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