Senior Year & Beyond2013-2014

High School CounselorsHigh School Counselors

Crisis CounselingCrisis Counseling Group CounselingGroup Counseling Career CounselingCareer Counseling Academic CounselingAcademic Counseling Individual CounselingIndividual Counseling Planning your FuturePlanning your Future

Agenda Where do I start?

How do I decide what to do after high school?

How do I decide on a college?

What should I be doing now?

When and how do I apply to college?

How do I get into college?

How do I pay for college?

Recommended College Prep Courses

English Four years of English

Mathematics Four years of mathematics, including rigorous courses in Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II

Natural Sciences Three years of science, including rigorous courses in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics

Social Studies Three years of social studies

Additional Courses Some colleges and universities require other classes as prerequisites for admission, such as two or more years of the same foreign language or courses in the visual arts, music, theater, drama, dance, computer science, etc.*Specific high school course requirements vary from institution to institution. Be sure to check with the schools you're interested in to see what they recommend or require.

Dual EnrollmentDual Enrollment

MCC, U of M Flint, Kettering, & BakerMCC, U of M Flint, Kettering, & Baker

1.1.Meet with high school counselorMeet with high school counselor

2.2.Apply to the college as a dual enrolled Apply to the college as a dual enrolled studentstudent

3.3.Turn in Dual Enrollment form to Turn in Dual Enrollment form to counselorcounselor

4.4.Take (returned form) to collegeTake (returned form) to college

5.5.Register for class at the collegeRegister for class at the college

ACT RetakeACT Retake

You can take the ACT no more than 12 You can take the ACT no more than 12 times totaltimes total Many students take the test Many students take the test twice, once as a junior and again as a twice, once as a junior and again as a senior.senior.

How will I do on a retest?How will I do on a retest? Of the students who took the ACT more Of the students who took the ACT more

than once:than once: 57% increased their Composite score57% increased their Composite score 21% had no change in their Composite score21% had no change in their Composite score 22% decreased their Composite score22% decreased their Composite score

ACT Test Dates 2013-2014ACT Test Dates 2013-2014

Test Date Registration Deadline

June 8, 2013 (SCHS) May 3, 2013September 21, 2013 August 23, 2013October 26, 2013 (SCHS) September 27, 2013 December 14, 2013 (SCHS) November 8, 2013 February 8, 2014 January 10, 2014 April 12, 2014 March 7, 2014June 14, 2014 (SCHS) May 9, 2014

Act Registration

Student must register online Www.actstudent.org Student creates account Student registers for selected test

date and submits payment Student must upload a picture and

print admission ticket

Senior Year

Get organized – start a folder save EVERYTHING

College Visits Counselor meeting Letters of Recommendation College Applications Scholarships Financial Aid Utilize Career Cruising

Choosing a College

Right Course Right Course of Studyof Study

Right PriceRight Price

Right Right AtmosphereAtmosphere

Campus Visitation Campus Visitation ProcedureProcedure

Obtain College Visitation Form from Obtain College Visitation Form from the Guidance Officethe Guidance Office

Parent calls in EXP absenceParent calls in EXP absence Student obtains signature at college Student obtains signature at college

visitvisit Attendance office receives form and Attendance office receives form and

changes EXP absence to SRchanges EXP absence to SR

Campus Visits 101Campus Visits 101

Schedule an appointment with an Schedule an appointment with an admissions counselor and/or admissions counselor and/or financial aid administrator at college financial aid administrator at college you are consideringyou are considering

Take a campus tourTake a campus tour Research the college before you go, Research the college before you go,

so you know the questions to askso you know the questions to ask

Campus Visits 101 Campus Visits 101 continuedcontinued

Attend a class and eat in the dining hallAttend a class and eat in the dining hall Check out the range of services and Check out the range of services and

facilities in the bookstore and student facilities in the bookstore and student centercenter

Ask students what they like about Ask students what they like about campus and what they don’t like.campus and what they don’t like.

Check out whatever is important to Check out whatever is important to you: athletic facilities, fine arts you: athletic facilities, fine arts facilities, career counseling office, facilities, career counseling office, student newspaper office, etc.student newspaper office, etc.

College VisitsITT TechITT Tech AdrianMSUMSU AiAdvantageGrand Valley State UniversityGrand Valley State University Albion CollegeKettering UniversityKettering University Alma CollegeU of D MercyU of D Mercy Aquinas CollegeBaker CollegeBaker College CornerstoneNorthern Michigan UniversityNorthern Michigan University Eastern Michigan UniversityFerris State UniversityFerris State University Hope CollegeCentral Michigan UniversityCentral Michigan University Indiana TechWestern Michigan UniversityWestern Michigan University Lake Superior State UniversitySpring Arbor UniversitySpring Arbor University Mott Community

CollegeWayne State UniversityWayne State University Northwood UniversityHope CollegeHope College Oakland UniversitySaginaw Valley State University University of Michigan

FlintUniversity of Michigan Ann Arbor

What do I need to get accepted into a college?

College Admission Criteria

Academic Performance (Cumulative/Core) Class Rank Strength of Curriculum Recent trends in academic performance ACT Score Recommendations Leadership, talents, conduct, and diversity of

experience Personal Essays Interviews

Averages for AdmissionUNIVERSITY GPA ACT

Michigan State 3.4-3.9 23-28

Central Michigan 3.3 22

Saginaw Valley 3.3 22

U of M Flint 3.4 22

U of M Ann Arbor 3.8 28-32

Application Process

MAIL Complete application

Attach check/money order, letters of recommendation, essay, etc.

Turn in to high school counselor

Counselor completes his/her portion, attaches transcript and mails to college/university

ONLINE Complete application via

website (credit card)

Print counselor page and hand in to high school guidance counselor

Counselor completes his/her portion, attaches transcript and mails to college/university

Request a transcript (www.parchment.com)

Request a Transcriptwww.parchment.com

FINANCIAL AID

FAFSA

Free Application for Federal Student Aid online access www.fafsa.edu.gov

Financial Aid Night – January 2014

Financial AidFree Application for Federal Student Aid

(FAFSA)

Need-based money provided for post-secondary education

Grants (do not have to repay)

Student Loans (must repay) (MUST fill out the FAFSA to qualify for low interest student loans)

Reapply every year

Filling out the FAFSA

Online Application

Parents and student apply for pin number – electronic signature (website - www.pin.ed.gov)

FAFSA ON THE WEB WORKSHEET - optional Complete online application between January 1st –

March 30th

State of Michigan Scholarships and Grants

Children of Veterans Tuition Grant GEAR UP Michigan Scholarship Michigan Competitive Scholarship Michigan Merit Award Michigan Tuition Grant Tuition Incentive Program Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship

SCHOLARSHIPS

Apply early!

See high school website (www.swartzcreek.org/Scholarships.html)

Local (Guidance Office)

Academic (high GPA and ACT)

Athletic

Private, Groups, Organizations

Scholarship Website Searches

www.studentaid.ed.gov www.fastweb.com www.fastaid.com www.collegeanswer.com www.collegenet.com www.collegeboard.com www.schoolsoup.com

Swartz Creek High SchoolGuidance Counselors

Cheryl Reger A-G (810) 591-1870

Daniel Nolen H-N (810) 591-1869

Michelle Horning O-Z (810) 591-1868