1. GET YOUR COLLEGE KNOWLEDGE HERE

2. What else do you need to consider?  Were your grades in high school lower than those required by a university?  Do you need developmental courses?  Do you need to work full-time and attend classes at night?  Do you need a certificate, an associate's degree, a bachelor's degree or higher to achieve your goals in life?  Is prestige important to you?  What do you want most out of college? What are you looking for in a college? A two-year community or technical college? A four-year college? A university? THINGS TO CONSIDER

3. One last question. Do you want:  Small classes?  Large classes?  Specific degree programs or courses?  Low tuition and fees?  Scholarships or merit aid?  The ability to transfer credit?

4. DECISION TOOLS Career Cruising- Go to: http://public.careercruising.com/en/ Student Username: VISD – Student ID (ex. VISD-123456) Student Password: 06301981 (student’s birthdate: June 30, 1981) My PLAN- Go to: victoriacollege.myplan.com Use License Code: C8SXLYC4 Save the Date: ASVAB Assessment Nov 13

5. PRIVATE COLLEGE SIZE TUITION/ FEES RESIDENT BUDGET PUBLIC COLLEGE SIZE TUITION/ FEES RESIDENT BUDGET HOUSTON BAPTIST S 28,800 41,302 SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY M 8,932 22,624 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY L 36,172 54,152 TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY L 9,500 21,260 RICE UNIVERSITY S 38,941 54,891 TEXAS TECH L 9,608 24,612 SMU M 43,800 54,100 TEXAS A&M L 9,242 22,470 UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD M 23,800 39,420 UT-SAN ANTONIO M 9,082 24,101 STANFORD M 42,690 60,421 TEXAS A & M CORPUS CHRISTI M 8,287 21,697 TCU TCU S 36,590 52,060 UT AUSTIN L 9,798 26,314 TRINITY S 34,678 46,226 UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON- VICTORIA S 6,748 12,126 UNIVERSITY OF DALLAS S 33,010 45,310 VICTORIA COLLEGE S 2,712 8,626 TEXAS LUTHERAN S 26,670 39,590 BLINN S 4,082 19,202 Private vs. Public YOUR COLLEGE SEARCH COMPARISON TABLE Note: Information is approximate for Fall 2014-Spring 2015, College Freshman. Resident Budget includes Tuition & Fees, Books & Supplies, Room & Board, Personal Expenses and Daily Transportation. Source: Collegefortexans.com

6. ADMISSION CRITERIA A student is automatically admitted into any Texas public university if he/she is ranked in the top 10% of his/her graduating class. The student must graduate under the Recommended, Distinguished or Foundation with Endorsement/Distinguished to be considered. The University of Texas has determined that it will automatically admit all eligible 2016 freshman applicants who rank within the top 8% of their high school graduating classes. If you do not meet this criteria, then you will be considered through the holistic review process. Automatic admissions to the university does not guarantee admission into the college major of your choice.

7. What is needed on the official transcript: - Class rank (if your high school ranks) - Grade Point Average (GPA) - Graduation Plan – MUST be indicated on the high school transcript Used by the Office of Financial Aid to determine a student’s eligibility for Texas Grant.  Submit official SAT or ACT scores, sent directly from the testing agency. These test scores are used to determine admissions, placement and for exemption of the Texas Success Initiative.  Submit official college transcript(s) from all institutions attended (if applicable), including dual enrollment coursework. For AP credit, the official test scores must be submitted.  Other documents which may be required (different requirements for all institutions): Letter(s) of recommendation, resume, essay(s), personal statement, and/or special circumstances. APPLICATION PROCESS

8. Students who do not meet the Automatic Admission Requirements will be considered under our Alternative Admission Procedure. The Undergraduate Admissions Committee will review student applications and will consider other factors in addition to class rank and standardized test scores. Factors considered include:  extracurricular activities  community service  talents and awards  extenuating circumstances  employment  internships  summer activities Applications reviewed under this procedure are considered on a case-by-case basis. HOLISTIC REVIEW-ALTERNATIVE ADMISSION

9. PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE  Encourage your child to apply EARLY for admission, scholarships, financial aid and housing. Do not MISS the deadlines!! FOLLOW UP!!  Encourage your child to meet with the college representatives that visit your high schools. We can help your students with the admission and other processes.  Encourage your child to take challenging courses, dual credit courses and complete the recommended or higher graduation plan.  Encourage your child to take the SAT and/or ACT more than once and to begin taking these tests their junior year in high school.  Encourage your child to “brag” about themselves and include all their leadership, extra-curricular activities, community service work, jobs, awards, honors and extenuating circumstances on the ApplyTexas application. Many institutions like to receive resumes. This information is important in the review processes at all institutions.

10. TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE-TSI You, on a single test administration, have an SAT composite score of 1070 with at least 500 on the Verbal (Critical Reading) and Math sections.* You, on a single test administration, have an ACT composite score of 23 with at least 19 on the Math and English sections.* You have an exit-level TAKS score of 2200 on the Math section, and a 2200 on the English Language Arts section with a 3 on the Writing subscore.* You have a minimum score of 2000 (Level 2) on the STAAR English III EOC for reading or writing and a minimum score of 4000 (Level 2) on the STAAR Algebra II EOC.*

11. TSI ASSESSMENT To be TSI complete:  Math 350  Reading 351  Writing either (350 multiple choice with Essay score of 5) or (363 multiple choice with Essay score of 4)  Students can sign up to take the TSI through Victoria College. The cost of the exams is $30.00.  Students need to have a valid state ID in order to take the exam.

13. REGISTER NOW! ACT Test Dates & Deadlines (2015-2016) ACT Test Date Registration Deadline Sept. 12, 2015Aug. 7, 2015 Oct. 24, 2015Sept. 18, 2015 Dec. 12, 2015Nov. 6, 2015 Feb. 6, 2016Jan. 8, 2016 April 9, 2016March 4, 2016 June 11, 2016May 6, 2016 Current SAT Test Dates & Deadlines SAT Test Date Registration Deadline Oct. 3, 2015Sept. 3, 2015 Nov. 7, 2015Oct. 9, 2015 Dec. 5, 2015Nov. 5, 2015 Jan. 23, 2016Dec. 28, 2015

14. WHY IS THE PSAT SO IMPORTANT?  PSAT/NMSQT  Testing opportunities begin in 8 th grade  AP Potential  Aligned to the redesigned SAT  National Merit Scholarship Competition – 11 th grade  Semifinalist & Finalist– many universities offer scholarship packages to students  National Merit Scholars receive National Merit, corporate and university scholarships

15. COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS  Advanced Placement  ACT/SAT Scores  Dual Credit offerings-45 courses  Articulated Courses- Welding I and Computer Maintenance  Over $3 million in scholarships awarded to VISD students in 2014-15  College Resource Handbook  College Access and Resource Success Center (CARS) - College advisors at East and West High School

16. WHAT MAKES UP FINANCIAL AID FAFSA Work study Grants Scholarships Loans

17. WHAT IS AN EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION? = EFC Individuals in the household Individuals in college Student Income Parent Income Age of the older parent

18. Federally funded grant that is awarded to students who have need, and meet financial requirements. Intended to help lower the out-of-pocket costs of college tuition for financially struggling families Max Grant $5775 Max EFC $5157 FEDERAL PELL GRANT

19. FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOAN RATES FOR 2015-2016 Subsidize loan Unsubsidized loan Variable-Fixed rate at 4.29% No interest No payment until after graduation. Variable-Fixed rate at 4.29% Interest begins after first disbursement No payment until after graduation. Variable-Fixed rate at 6.84% Interest begins after first disbursement No payment until after graduation. PLUS loan

20. TUITION EXEMPTIONS The state has programs for students who: Were in foster care Were adopted (after age 13) Were the highest ranking scholar for their school Are blind or deaf Are Texas Veterans (Hazelwood) Visit www.collegeforalltexans.com for fact sheets & links to other higher education resources for students

21. FAFSA.gov

22. MISCONCEPTIONS AND FAQs About Applying for Financial Aid

23. MY PARENTS INCOME IS TOO HIGH Financial aid is intended to make a college education available to families in a number of different financial situations; everyone qualifies for something. Income is only one of many factors considered. A growing number of institutional and private scholarships require that students fill out the FAFSA as part of their application process.

24. MY GRANDPARENTS OR GUARDIANS CAN PROVIDE THE INCOME INFORMATION ON MY FAFSA If your parent(s) are still alive, federal guidelines require that biological parent’s information be used to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) unless someone else is your legal guardian. Guardianship as determined by a; Judge or court of law in your state of residence. Student may file as an independent.

25. I LIVE ON MY OWN AND MY PARENTS DON’T CLAIM ME ON THEIR TAXES, WHAT SHOULD I DO?  A student is NOT considered independent between the ages of 18-24 unless they are married, a veteran, have children and provide 50% of support to the child, are in legal guardianship, or have been declared a homeless/unaccompanied youth (proof needed).  A student filing their own taxes does not make them independent.  A student living separate from their parents does Not automatically make them independent.

26. MY STEP-PARENT DOES NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE INCOME INFORMATION ON MY FAFSA Step-parent's information must be included on your financial aid application if you lived in the step-parent's household for 6 weeks (42 days) or more during the previous or current year or if a step-parent contributed more than $750 in "support" during the previous or current year. "Support" means money for such things as housing, food, clothing, transportation, medical care and school.