1. Planning for College

2. Congrats! On making it to your JUNIOR year On NOT having to take the FCAT today Only 37 more days of school left until summer!!!!

3. NOW what???? There are several things you can do NOW to prepare for your senior year and college. “Say whaat?”

4. “To Do” List for Juniors Review transcript / GPA Start taking ACT/SAT Take Career Assessments Research Colleges and degrees offered Visit College Campuses Apply for Admission Apply for Financial Aid

5. To Do List: Review Transcript/GPA Your transcript tells a story…

6. To Do List: Transcript/GPA

9. Your course load and grades on your JUNIOR transcript are what colleges review for admissions. Senior year transcript: –Evaluated mid-year for Bright Futures –Evaluated (final) by colleges

10. To Do List: Prep for ACT/SAT CollegeBoard.com 4tests.com FACTS.org

11. To Do List: Career Assessment Know your strengths and career interests. Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life. Guidance Office

12. To Do List: Research degrees and colleges Which schools offer a degree in the career choice that you’re interested in? How much is the cost of attendance? Campus visits: Actual Virtual – collegeweeklive.com

13. Average College Costs Public Two-Year Commuter $2,713 – Tuition and Fees $14,637 – Total Cost of Attendance (including T&F) Public Four-Year In-State On-Campus $7,605 – Tuition and Fees $20,339 - Total Cost of Attendance (including T&F) Public Four-Year Out-of-State On-Campus $19,595 – Tuition and Fees $32,329 - Total Cost of Attendance (including T&F) Private Nonprofit Four-Year On-Campus $27,293 – Tuition and Fees $40,476 - Total Cost of Attendance (including T&F) Source for Statistics: The College Board “Trends in College Pricing 2010”

14. To Do List: Apply for Admission You can’t just SHOW UP on campus in August 2013 and start classes. Admissions process Letter of Acceptance

15. To Do List: Apply for Financial Aid

16. Now – Scholarships FASTweb.com Finaid.org Senior Year: December – Bright Futures app January – Federal app (FAFSA) Institutional-once accepted; check for deadlines

17. State Grants and Scholarships

18. State Grants & Scholarships The Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) administers state-funded grant and scholarship programs. Please visit www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org for detailed information, applications, and deadlines.www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org

19. www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org

20. Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program for 2012-13 graduates

21. Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program Legislative Updates December grads must apply by August 31, 2012 to receive eligible funding for spring semester 2 years to activate scholarship 5 years of renewal FAFSA still required

22. Florida Bright Futures Academic Scholar Award

23. Florida Bright Futures Medallion Scholar Award

24. Florida Bright Futures Gold Seal Vocational Scholars

25. Other State Grants & Scholarships One application determines your eligibility for ALL other state grants and scholarships! –Access to Better Learning and Education Grant Program –First Generation Matching Grant –Florida Resident Access Grant Program –Florida Student Assistance Grant Program –Florida Work Experience Program –José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund –Mary McLeod Bethune Scholarship Program –Rosewood Family Scholarship Program –Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans and Servicemembers For more details about these state programs, please visit: www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/home /ProgramsOffered.htm.

26. www.facts.org Florida Academic Counseling and Tracking for Students (facts.org) is Florida's official online student advising system that can assist high school students, college students, parents, and even counselors to help plan and track educational progress in Florida. Go to www.facts.org:www.facts.org Click on “High School Students.” Click one of the links under “Plan and Track Progress.” Requires User ID/Password

27. www.facts.org

28. Use facts.org to Check Bright Futures Eligibility

29. Guide to Life After High School Mapping Your Future offers a free interactive guide designed to assist students prepare for life after high school Downloadable guides are available online at: http://mappingyourfuture.org/ CollegePrep/GuideToLife/index.cfm

30. Navigating Your Financial Future OSFA offers a variety of tools and resources to assist you in your pursuit of higher education. For more information, please visit: www.navigatingyourfuture.org. www.navigatingyourfuture.org

31. Questions? Please contact the Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance: –1-888-827-2004 (Grants/Scholarships) –1-800-366-3475 (Loans) –www.floridastudentfinancialaid.orgwww.floridastudentfinancialaid.org Gerri McCormick –1-407-207-4944 –Gerri.McCormick@fldoe.orgGerri.McCormick@fldoe.org