1. Hialeah High School
COLLEGE GUIDE
Class of 2015

2. College Entrance Exams
What are the SAT and ACT exams?
These exams are used by colleges and universities nationwide to assess an applicant’s aptitude for college-level work.
Even if you are not planning to apply to college, or applying to a college that does not require these exams; it would be a good idea to have them in your records for the future.

3. SAT Subject Tests
Subject Tests are designed to measure your knowledge and skills in a particular subject area, as well as your ability to apply that knowledge.
Required by CERTAIN colleges and universities.
Offered on the SAME DAY as the SAT
You may register to take up to (3) SAT Subject Tests on the same test date.
Registration available online at

4. SAT and ACT test Fee Waivers
 If you have free or reduced lunch, you qualify for the following:
2 ACT test waivers
2 SAT test fee waivers
2 SAT Subject Test fee waivers (each waiver is good for 3 subject tests)
4 College Board - College Application Fee Waivers (These will be available through your College Board account)
4 ACT – College Application Fee Waivers
Waivers used during your junior year count
It might be a good idea to take a picture of the fee waiver number in case you lose it. I can’t replace it!!

5. Testing Codes HHS Codes CEEB: 100-662 ACT Test Center Code: 231140
NCAA – 9999
Athletes applying to a Division I or II Schools MUST fill out an NCAA Clearance House Form.
See Mr. Legg in room 826 or visit National Collegiate Athletic Association-official website for the NCAA.

6. Find the Right Fit
There are over 3,000 colleges and universities in the US
Keep in mind:
Academic Reputation (quality education)
Availability of scholarship and financial aid
College Size
Location
Majors
Faculty to Student ratio
Sports and extracurricular activities available
Cost.- Do not exclude any choices because of high cost (sometimes expensive schools can afford to give you more aid).

7. What Colleges Look for When Making Decisions
Top 3 Most Important Factors
Strength of curriculum (Honors, Advanced Placement)
GPA and class rank
College Entrance Examination Scores (ACT or SAT)
If the college requires them:
Essay
Recommendation Letter
Interview
Resume (leadership, community service, extracurricular, talents, etc)

8. Applying For Admission
Application – All applications are now online
(commonapp.org)
Transcript - electronic or hard copy (See Ms. Johnson in room 826) $1.00 each
Application fee (fee waivers available)
Letters of recommendation - (if applicable)
Essay - (if applicable)
Copy of other required documentation –
(if applicable)
Important! Keep photocopies of everything you mail!

9. Benefits of the Common App
Over 500 member colleges/universities
Your teachers will be notified by when they are required to submit supporting documentation.
Once completed, the form can be sent to any number of participating member organizations instead of sending out multiple applications, meaning that you can save valuable time that could be spent writing essays, visiting campuses and completing your coursework in your senior year.

10. Order of Activities on the Common App
Your activities should be listed in order of importance to you, starting with the most important and moving down to the least important.
There are instructions for this on the side of the activities page but many students miss that instruction.
Yes, you may really enjoy singing, but unless you have won a number of awards for your singing, it probably should not be the first listed activity. On the other hand, if you are an internationally recognized violinist, putting music first is not a problem.
Just use your best judgment in arranging the activities remembering that volunteering, club involvement, research, athletics, etc. are some of the important things that colleges are looking for.

11. Common App Additional Information. What Is This For?
If there is something odd that needs to be explained. For example, if a student had an illness as a freshman that adversely affected their grades, a note here could be used to explained the unusual grades.
However, even in that situation it isn’t always necessary for the student to provide an explanation. If your counselor knows the situation and is willing to write about it in their letter of recommendation, that can be an even better way of communicating the problem since it won’t sound like an excuse.
Another situation to use the additional information section is if you can’t fit everything from your resume into the list of 10 activities on the common app. But remember, only serious accomplishments should go into the additional information section.
To explain the intent to apply ED to a school that has no supplement or a school that has no ED option on their supplement.
For most students, even the very strong students, there is no need to put anything in that section.

12. ESSAY
The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores?
Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words.
Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don't feel obligated to do so. (The application won't accept a response shorter than 250 words.)
Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you? •
Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.
D i s c u s s a n a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o r e v e n t , f o r m a l o r i n f o r m a l , t h a t m a r k e d y o u r t r a n s i t i o n f r o m
c h i l d h o o d t o a d u l t h o o d w i t h i n y o u r c u l t u r e , c o m m u n i t y , o r f a m i l y .

13. Different Versions of the Common App. When Is This Appropriate?
You can have different versions of the common app. Why would you want to?
Two different reasons for having different versions.  
If you made a mistake on the common application but have already sent it off to at least one college. Phone number? School code? Didn’t list your activities in order of importance? These can be corrected and once you have, the new version will be sent to each college that gets your common app. These type of corrections have no limit to them.
If you have an error in your personal statement you can correct the essay but the number of changes is limited to 3. Once you have reached the limit of 3 essays, the final essay will be frozen.
The second reason for another version of your common app is if you want to personalize it for a specific college. There is absolutely no reason to personalize the common app for different colleges.
If you believe that you need to have a different essay for one college, it is possible. But usually that’s what the college specific essay is for.
This comes under the category of just because you can do it, doesn’t mean you should do it.

14. How to Decide If Applying Early Is Right for You
Applying early can be a good idea if you’re sure about which college you want to attend. That means you’ve researched its programs and, if possible, visited its campus.
Think twice about applying early if:
You want to compare admission and financial aid offers from several colleges.
You’d benefit from having another year of high school work to show colleges.
If you decide to apply ED you must complete the ED Agreement. In order to complete and submit this form you must first select the Early Decision term option for one school. Once this decision is selected, the ED Agreement will be available in the Supplements section of your Common App account.
Student, counselor, and parent must read and sign the agreement

15. Applying EDII or ED to another school
The student can apply Early Decision II (EDII) or Restricted Early Action (REA) to a second school if not admitted to the first Early Decision (ED) school.
If there is no EDII option, select Regular Decision (RD) on the Common App, and ED II (or REA) on the college's supplement before submitting. That college will then consider the application as an ED II candidate.
Also check with the school to find out if they accept EDII as an option.
If the supplement has no option for ED or EDII (or there is no supplement for that school), student should explain the intent in the additional information section of the application and still select RD on the application itself.

16. Fee Waiver
In the Profile section of the application answer yes to the question about your financial circumstances
This will trigger your CommonApp Waiver request
Once eligibility is confirmed the application will bypass the payment section
The counselor will be notified of your intent to use a fee waiver and they will verify your eligibility
Colleges that offer their own non-financial need fee waiver present the option in the College Specific Section
The payment option for that specific college will be bypassed

17. Teacher Recommendations, School Report, & Transcripts
Go to "colleges" and click on a college then invite your teachers through Invite Recommender.  You will need to enter your teachers' names and addresses, and then they will receive an invitation.  All recommendations are completed online through the Common App.  
You must also invite your Counselor so that they can complete the necessary school forms and recommendation for you! Your counselor can OPT out of submitting the School Report online.
If the counselor is submitting the School Report online, they will be able to submit your transcript. However, if they OPT out, you will be responsible for obtaining a transcript for each school and mailing it together with the School Report completed by your counselor.

18. Mid-Year School Report
Mid Year Reports should be submitted as soon as first semester grades are available.
The Common App Online School Forms system does not send reminders
Counselors do not receive invitations to submit these It is the student's responsibility to keep track of this requirement and ensure that the counselor is aware of it.
Send a new transcript
Do not use the Optional Grade Report to submit midyear grades.
The link for the Mid Year Report will not be active until the School Report has been submitted.
The link for the Final Report will not activate until the Mid Year Report has been submitted.

19. The Application Process
Determine the number of schools to which you want to apply
Be mindful of deadlines
Treat it as a homework project – rushed and sloppy work will reflect on your application
If an essay is required, give it proper attention
A good number of institutions to apply to is 7 – 8

20. Application Strategies
APPLY EARLY (For schools with Rolling Admissions):
At the beginning of the admission cycle (September, and October) GPA and test score mid-ranges are typically low due to the low volume of application received at institutions.
Later on in the process (November, December, January and February) the volume of applications increase. As a result, GPA and Test Score mid-ranges increase.
CONTINUE IMPROVING YOUR GRADES AND CONTINUE TESTING:
Depending on where you stand with institutional mid-ranges, it is recommended that you continue to improve your GPA and continue testing until you receive an acceptance letter from your college. Never Give UP !!!
SUBMIT NEW TRANSCRIPTS AT THE END OF THE FIRST SEMESTER
Transcripts are updated at the end of the first semester around mid-January. As soon as your transcripts are updated, it is important that you send them to all colleges that you are waiting for decisions.

21. Application Deadlines
Early Decision.
Students make a commitment to a first-choice institution where, if admitted they definitely will enroll. The application deadline is usually October or November and decision are December or January.
Early Action.
Students apply to institutions of preference and receive a decision well in advance of the institution's regular response date. Students who are admitted under Early Action are not obligated to accept the institution's offer of admission or to submit a deposit until the regular reply date (May 1).
Regular Decision.
Students submit an application to an institution by a specified date and receive a decision within a reasonable and clearly stated period of time, but not later than April 15.

22. Types of College Admission (cont.)
Rolling Admission.
Institutions review applications as they are completed and render admission decisions to students throughout the admission cycle.
Wait List.
Wait lists are necessary because students submit applications for admission to multiple institutions and may receive several offers of admission. By placing a student on the wait list, an institution does not offer or deny admission, but extends the possibility of admission in the future, before the admission cycle is concluded.

23. Create account through your Student Portal
STAY INFORMED
@hhs_info
Create account through your Student Portal

24. Connect.edu Tools for Students
Interactive Planning Tools
Course Planner & Credit Checker
Test Prep Information & Test Dates
Financial Aid Information & Critical Dates
College Budget & Cost Calculators
Scholarships Search & Applications
Profile & Resume Building
Communication Tools
Counselors, Students, & Parents
Host & Track Student Events
Send Scholarship & Events Notifications
College Search Tools
Customized College Search
College List Collaboration
4,300+ Searchable College Profiles
Side-by-Side College Comparisons
Acceptance History Scattergrams
Centralized Student Tracking
SuperAPP Application Processing
Complete Application Tracking
Electronic Transcript Requests
Learning about the Connect! tools
Understand the tools students use to Research Colleges and Create the College List
Discover the tools in support of college applications: Tracking Applications & Submission with SuperAPP, Requesting Transcripts and Letters of Recommendation, Creating a Profile/Resume, & Storing Essays
Learn about the Explore Careers and Majors tool
Find out how the Career Planner can help you identify and track goals
Plan courses towards graduation
Understand the tools available for financial aid planning

25. Student Home Page
On the Student’s home page, Alerts and Reminders will display on the News Feed. These alerts can be for events/announcements created by the Counseling Office or reminder for upcoming College Application or Scholarship deadlines for items the student has saved.

26. Research Colleges & Create a College List
Connect! allows you to research and explore more than 4,300 accredited schools.
The first step in the College Research Process is to identify potential college matches by thinking through questions about preferences. Students can take an interactive interview or create their own search.

27. Scholarships Do Not Fall From The Sky!
You must apply for them
Scholarships are awards based on something you do well:
Academics
Athletics
Arts
Community service, activities, or writing an excellent essay.
Private Colleges offer a huge amount of money to enrolling students. Be sure to apply for any scholarships colleges you are applying to may offer, AND APPLY ON TIME! – Some private schools will ensure that all unmet need for admitted students is met.
Private –
Corporations and organizations award college scholarships.
Check the Scholarship Bulletin
You can research them on your own (i.e., ConnectEdu).
Apply, Apply, Apply!

28. Here are some ways to spot them:
Watch Out! College Scams Want Your Money
Here are some ways to spot them:
Money back guarantee
The Scholarships will cost some money
Credit card or bank account number please!
We will do all of the work
You’ve been selected by a national foundation to receive a scholarship or…
“You’re a finalist”

29. Colleges That Meet Full Demonstrated Need

30. Types of Funding for College
GRANTS – Based on financial need
- Private (CAP Grant)
- Public: Federal (Pell Grant)
- State (Fla. Student Assistance Grant)
WORK-STUDY – Based on financial need- Employment on campus – usually jobs are not too demanding, with the idea you can study some at work, thus the name, Work-Study
STUDENT LOANS – Based on financial need
- Perkins (subsidized, fixed interest)
- Stafford (subsidized or unsubsidized, adjustable interest)
PARENT LOANS– NOT based on financial need
- Not need-based, can borrow up to cost of education, payment begins 60 days after date of loan.

31. What Are The Primary Sources Of Financial Aid?
Federal government
State governments
Colleges and universities (CSS Profile available in October)
Private agencies
FAFSA
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Available after January 1 of senior year
Family Income Tax information needed to complete form.
Application available online at:

32. HHS COLLEGE FAIR Meet with dozens of college admissions reps.
Tuesday, October 14th
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Gym
 Meet with dozens of college admissions reps.
Planning for the future starts now!!

33. Florida Bright Futures NEW Mandatory FAFSA completion
BF PROGRAM
Award
Flat Rate
Payout
GPA
Requirement
SAT/ACT
Requirements
Community
Service
FLORIDA ACADEMIC SCHOLARS
NEW
$100 per credit hr.
30 credit payout: $3,000.00
120 credits total
3.5 weighted BF GPA
15 core academic
classes
1290 SAT
29 ACT
100 hours of community service
FLORIDA MEDALLION SCHOLARS
$76 per credit hr.
30 credit payout: $2,280.00
3.0 weighted BF GPA
15 core academic classes
SAT or
26 ACT.
75 hours of community service
FLORIDA GOLD SEAL VOC. SCHOLARS
72 credits total
3.5 weighted GPA in 3 vocational credits SAME
program
SAT
Math 440/Crit. Read 440
ACT
English 17 / Read 19
Math 19
PERT
Read 106/Writing 103
Math
30 hours of community service

34. Bright Futures Scholarships
Register Beginning December 1
The state evaluates your meeting of the criteria upon your date of graduation
GPA in specific courses
Specific course work
Community service
ACT and/or SAT scores (PERT can also be used on Gold Seal)
First Evaluation February – Notification by April
Second/Final Evaluation June – Notification by August
Candidates for this program must (1) be a Florida resident, (2) earn a high school diploma or its equivalent, (3) be accepted by and enrolled in an eligible Florida public or independent postsecondary institution, (4) be enrolled for a minimum of six semester credit hours or the equivalent, (5) not have been found guilty or pled nolo contendre to a felony charge and (6) apply for a scholarship by April 1st prior to high school graduation.
Specific additional requirements for the three scholarships included in this umbrella program are listed below.
Florida Academic Scholars Award
3.5 Weighted GPA in 15 academic courses
4 English, 3 Math (Algebra 1 and above), 3 Science (2 with labs), 3 Social Science, 2 Foreign Language
1270 SAT score or 28 ACT score
75 hours of community service
Award is 100% tuition and fees at public institution + $600/year
Florida Merit Scholars Award
3.0 Weighted GPA in 15 academic courses
970 SAT score or 20 ACT score
award is 75% tuition at public institution
Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award
(courses required for graduation)
3.5 Unweighted GPA in a series of 3 vocational program courses (all three courses must be a series of courses in one of the programs below (you can not combine courses in different programs) – for example: Business Systems Technology I, Business Systems Technology II, and Accounting I
880 SAT score (verbal 440 & math 440), 18ACT score (18 in Reading, 17 in English & 19 in Math) or CPT scores of Reading 83, Sentence 83, Algebra 72 34