JUNIOR SCHOLARSHIP NIGHT April 14, 2015 Sheldon Early College High School

AGENDA Understanding Financial Aid Scholarships Grants Loans Financial Aid Timeline What You Can Do Now College Admissions Getting into College SAT and ACT Scores

UNDERSTANDING FINANCIAL AID Scholarships Grants Loans

SCHOLARSHIPS Local (Sheldon ISD) Local (Houston Area) National School/University Affiliations Note: Examples

GRANTS FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)opens January 1, 2016 Pell Grant ($ ) and FSEOG if funds are available TASFA (State Aid) for students who are not citizens or eligible non-citizens Work Study Note: Get ready to file your taxes early! FAFSA deadline is usually around March 1-31 for many colleges.

LOANS Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized (FAFSA) Direct (FAFSA) Personal other Note: Loans can be ok! Just remember to gauge the cost of education over the number of years you will be in school and your final career goal. Remember the loans are due 6 months after you graduate from college. They are still due even if you don’t earn your degree!

FINANCIAL AID TIMELINE August/September – Apply for college (send test scores, transcipts from high school and college) August/September – ask for letters of recommendation. Give at least 2 weeks notice October to March – watch for scholarship deadlines (set up a calendar to track everything) October/November – retake SAT or ACT if necessary (you may get more scholarship money with a better score) January/February – complete FAFSA April/May – look for financial aid “package” from college

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW: FAFSA4caster Look at potential “big” scholarships (Bill and Melinda Gates, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo) for the application criteria Compare the costs of college (all schools must publish their “Cost of Attendance”) Check for college scholarships (some offer free tuition if family income is below a certain amount or if the student makes a certain test score) Look at ways to “cut” costs (live at home, rent books, etc.)

WHAT DO COLLEGES LOOK FOR? 1. Strength of your curriculum (AP, DC, etc.) 2. Your rank/GPA 3. SAT, ACT and SAT Subject test scores 4. Application essays 5. Extracurricular activities 6. Recommendations Note: every college is different! The larger the school, the less time the admissions officer has to spend on your application.

WHAT’S A GOOD SAT OR ACT SCORE? The national average for the SAT is about 1500 (3 sections) The national average for the ACT is 21 An 1800 on the SAT is a strong score; a 26 is a strong score on the ACT You will be in the running for merit based scholarships with a or a 30 (per Princeton Review)

COLLEGE MATCH College Match: Which college is the best one for you? majors size location cost ranking programs Note: look at some of the free search services with Naviance, College Board and Princeton Review

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA Differs from school to school Depends on SAT/ACT score and rank Most schools have individual review (this is where letters of rec, essays and extracurricular/leadership have an impact Apply anyway! Keep checking your account! Show them you really want in!

TIMELINE Take SAT and ACT exams Look at Summer Programs, work or volunteer Visit Colleges and Research Online Investigate Majors Build Your Resume Start Your Essays

“CHECK” IN Students should check their progress to high school graduation with Mrs. Soto Make a plan for any credit deficiencies Students check in with Mrs. Benitez to monitor progress to Associate’s degree at San Jac Note: Graduation from high school is the first priority. Students can still transfer college credits earned, even if the Associate’s degree is not complete

TRANSFER CREDITS AND DEGREE PLANS Look up the college and the major you’re interested in Compare the courses with your SanJac degree plan Check the “credit transfer table” to compare course number (on school website) As a rule, all credits are transferrable to Texas public colleges (many private colleges, too) Keep in mind that each major has different course requirements.

CHOOSING A MAJOR CHOOSING A CAREER

MORE… Letters of Recommendation Resumes