1. OLATHE SOUTH SENIOR INFORMATION How to make the most of your senior year

2. Finalize college/post-secondary plans Visit campus/attend senior day Talk to admission reps who come to OS Attend Kansas City Metro College Expo October 9 at Overland Park Convention Center. 6-8:30 pm – Includes financial aid seminars – Includes military and tech schools

3. Check college web sites for valuable information Information about campus visits & senior days Admission requirements On line applications and application deadlines Scholarship information

4. Take the ACT in October if you haven’t taken it or to try to improve your score. Register by 9/27. www.actstudent.org

5. ACT info New test security rules—must have admission ticket with an uploaded photo and a photo ID and to be admitted to ACT test Use your legal name to register More schools want scores sent directly from ACT, not on your transcript Several Kansas Universities have November 1 deadlines for scholarships. Many have ACT score requirements.

6. Recommendations If your application asks for teacher or counselor recommendations, allow 2 weeks for those to be completed Provide the person writing the recommendation a copy of your resume/vitae.

7. Requesting official transcripts All transcripts are now sent through “parchment” Register ASAP at www.parchment.com/join

8. Check your image What does your email address, Facebook, or twitter account say about you? What is your public image? Universities, fraternities, sororities, employers may be checking you out. See fraternity guy checking out a potential member on Facebook. He’s laughing.

9. WHERE TO LOOK FOR MONEY FOR COLLEGE Government funding for state universities has declined in Kansas: 2008-09 -4.1% 2009-10 -11.0% More and more of the financial burden for funding your college education is falling on students and their families.

10. TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID – Grants and scholarships--don’t have to be paid back – Loans—taken by students or parents – Work-study/student/family contribution

11. GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS Federal grants are based on financial need. – Need is determined by completing the FAFSA – FAFSA is Free Application for Federal Student Aid – Complete FAFSA online after this year’s income taxes are done—January or February – www.fafsa.gov www.fafsa.gov – Recommend EVERYONE complete FAFSA regardless of predicted need

12. GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS Scholarships can be based on merit or need – Grades and test scores – Athletics – Talent (music, debate, etc.) – Community service – Civic affiliation, family history – Parent/student employer – Person or organization offering the scholarship determines the criteria

13. Scholarship search sites http://scholarships.olatheschools.com www.fastweb.com www.scholarships.com www.salliemae.com/scholarship Check the web site of colleges of interest/talk to representatives/go to college night KU and KState have November 1 deadline for premiere scholarships

14. LOANS Loans may be made to students or their parents – Federal student loans may subsidize or unsubsidized depending on financial need based on FAFSA

15. WORKING AND SAVING Work study – A federally funded program providing on-campus jobs – Based on need which is based on FAFSA – Part of college financial aid package

16. WORKING AND SAVING Non work-study job – May be on or off campus – Most colleges have student employment offices to help students find jobs Personal and family savings are an important component of funding your college education

17. WHAT IS A FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE? The offer from a college or university which may include a combination of scholarships, loans and work study Received in the spring from colleges you applied to attend Takes into consideration cost of attending, college/university scholarships, and financial need Varies depending on the cost of attending Apply early. Funds may be limited

18. More helpful web sites www.collegecost.ed.gov College Affordability & Transparency Net Price Calculator www.bigfuture.org

19. HOW DO I GET A SHORTENED DAY? Must qualify and apply before winter break – On track to graduate with no need for credit recovery/night school – Pass all 1 st semester classes – Have a valid reason for shortening day—work to earn money for college or in a potential career, military, college class – Applications will be available in student services after thanksgiving – Meet deadline before winter break