Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High R On

Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High R

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go…. . To College Presented by Ms. Rodriguez, CAP Advisor irodriguez 3@dadeschools. net 305 570 -0137

What Are My Options?

Selecting A College/University There are over 3, 000 colleges and universities in the U. S. Keep the following in mind…. . • Four- year, two-year, public, private or vocational. • Location. -Do you want to be close to home or far away? • Size. - Under 3, 000 students or over 30, 000 students. • Coed or single sex, HBCUs, Liberal Arts Colleges • Private or public institutions. • Majors, Study Abroad, Research, Internships • Sports and extracurricular activity available. • Cost. - Do not exclude any choices because of high cost. (NET PRICE CALCULATOR) (Sometimes expensive schools can afford to give you more aid).

TIMELINE • July-Oct. /Nov. (12 th) Applications for admission • January. -June SAT/ACT testing (11 th grade) Latest early fall (Aug. /Sept. /Oct. Nov. ) of senior year • Oct. 1 st: Florida Financial Aid Application FFAA (Bright Futures & all state programs) • ***Oct. 1 st: Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) • *** And any other form (ie. CSS Profile) • Feb. -Apr. : Housing applications • Mar. -May: Verification & Award letters • May 1 st: Most Deposits for Housing Due

Applying For Admission • Application - (online or paper – online is preferred by most schools) REQUIRED EVERYWHERE • Transcript - electronic or hard copy or SSAR • Application fee - (fee waiver(s) can be used) • SAT/ACT scores – REQUIRED MOST EVERYWHERE (sent directly by the student using the SAT/ACT websites) • Letters of recommendation – Counselor and or Teacher (if applicable) • Essay - (if applicable) • Interviews (if applicable) • Academic/Activities Resume, Audition, Portfolio (if applicable) Important! Keep photocopies of everything you mail!

FEE WAIVERS… Students who participate in Miami Dade County’s free or reduced lunch program are eligible to receive fee waivers for college entrance exams AS WELL AS for college application fees! There are other methods a student may use to qualify for fee waivers. If you are not on free/reduced lunch and think you may qualify for another reason, please see Ms Rodriguez • Fee Waivers may be used for 2 SAT, 2 SAT II (subject tests) exams and 2 ACT exams!!!! • Fee waiver recipients may then receive up to 4 college application fee waivers from SAT and 4 college application fee waivers from ACT. BUT THE STUDENT MUST HAVE TESTED WITH A FEE WAIVER TO BE ELIGIBLE! Students may also receive NACAC FEE Waivers • Fee waivers can ONLY be used for ON TIME REGISTRATIONS. Fee waivers cannot be used for late or standby registrations.

PERT Miami Dade Placement Test • At Miami Dade College – and other 2 -year schools - you are exempt from the PERT if you score: SAT I- 440 - Verbal (reflects old scale) 440 - Math ACT- 17 - Writing 19 - Reading 19 - Math PERT - 103 - Writing 106 - Reading 114 - Math (123) IMPORTANT: Please visit www. mdc. edu periodically for updates and changes. • If you don’t obtain the minimum scores on the SAT, ACT or PERT, then you will be placed in remedial classes at the college. • Honors College will use the Writing score on the SAT and or ACT for admission.

Academic Courses Recommended For Florida State Universities Completion of 20 academic units in a college preparatory curriculum • • • 4 years of English 4 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher) 3 years of natural sciences (including lab) 3 years of social studies 2 to 4 years of the same foreign language (American Sign Language may not be accepted by some out of state schools and private institutions) • 4 years of academic electives (especially in the areas of math, natural sciences and/or social studies) one fine art credit and one PE credit ***Minimum requirements, will not guarantee acceptance to top schools in Florida or out of state

COMMUNITY COLLEGES • • Programs of 6 months to two years designed for the student to either transfer into a four-year university or go directly into the workforce. Open admissions – anyone with a standardd high school diploma or GED is admitted. SAT/ACT not required – do need to be “placed” with either SAT/ACT or PERT Vast selection of programs including Graphic Design, Music Production & Management, Fire Science Technology, Nursing and much more. In order to avoid “remedial classes”, students must have 440 on the reading and 440 on the math SAT or 19 reading, 17 writing, 19 on the math ACT 104 reading, 99 writing, 113 math

Application Deadlines *EARLY DECISION: binding contract – committing yourself to attend if admitted Early October-November-December *Only 1 active ED allowed at at time *EARLY ACTION : non binding, highly recommended, not obligated to attend October-November-December *Single Choice or Restrictive Early Action *REGULAR DECISION: varies as per college/university *Early Priority: non binding, highly recommended Examples: FSU – Nov. 1 st UF Nov. 1 st FIU Nov. 1 st *Rolling Admission: a college will make its admission decision soon after a completed application is received (also recommend submitting as early as possible ALWAYS CONTACT INSTITUTION TO VERIFY ALL DEADLINES! All materials must be received by the deadline!!!

Scholarships Do Not Fall From The Sky! • You must SEARCH and APPLY for them. • Parchment, Big. Future, Cappex – your electronic college planners • Look into local scholarships • Look for institutional scholarships from the college/ university • Civic and community organizations • The internet, businesses big and small, parent’s employers/union, professional or trade associations, • Religious organizations, ethnic and cultural organizations, state and local government, private foundations and charities, • Get on Ms. Rodriguez’s email list and receive scholarship bulletins and more.

Websites – FOR SCHOLARSHIPS • Please refer to the school website and click CAP Advisor Monthly Scholarship Bulletin and emails with more scholarship opportunities and create accounts on scholarship websites • www. fastweb. com ***raise. me – micro • www. cappex. com scholarships • www. hsf. net *** Opportunity Scholarship www. uncf. org (Collegeboard planning tool) • www. collegenet. com • www. scholarships. com • www. thinkhbcu. org • www. collegeboard. org

Watch Out! College Scams Want Your Money • • • Here are some ways to spot them: Money back guarantee The Scholarships will cost some money Credit card or bank account number please! We will do all of the work You’ve been selected by a national foundation to receive a scholarship or… “You’re a finalist”

Financial Aid • Federal Financial Aid • State Financial Aid • Institutional Financial Aid • Local Organizations • Large Corporations

Florida Financial Aid (FFAA) • Florida Student Assistant Grant (FSAG) is a need-based program for degree seeking Florida undergraduate students attending public institutions • First Generation matching Grant Program is available to all eligible students • Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG) is a need-based program for degree seeking Florida undergraduate students attending private institutions • The electronic form can be submitted over the internet at www. Florida. Student. Financial. Aid. org after October 1 st of each year • Deadlines vary. Some colleges/programs set earlier deadlines • One application used for up to 13 different programs (including Bright Futures – more on that later)

FAFSA • Free Application for Federal Student Aid • Available after October 1 st of senior year • Family Income Tax information needed to complete form. • Application available online at www. fafsa. ed. gov • ***Complete the. Net Price Calculator for • the schools that the child applies to get an estimate

Florida Bright Futures Scholarships CAN be used at BOTH public and private institutions in Florida For more information visit www. My. Florida. Education. com/brfuture or call 1 -888 -827 -2004

FLORIDA ACADEMIC SCHOLARS • 3. 5 weighted BF GPA (15 core academic classes: 4 Eng 3 math, 3 soc studies, 3 natural science & 2 foreign lang) • 1330 SAT or ACT • 100 hours of community service • Annual Legislation determines awards

FLORIDA MEDALLION SCHOLARS • 3. 0 weighted BF GPA (15 core academics) • 1200 SAT or 26 ACT • 75 hours community service • Annual Legislation determines awards

FLORIDA GOLD SEAL VOCATIONAL SCHOLARS • Vocational Studies Only • Vocational Schools or Vocational Studies 3. 0 weighted BF GPA (core academics) and a 3. 5 weighted GPA in a minimum of 3 vocational credits in the same program • SAT/ACT or PERT scores • $48. 00 Biggest Change in Bright Futures Only for vocational programs and certificates.

Have your own personal strategy! • List of schools you apply to must include: Reach schools In-Range (good chance) schools Safety (pretty sure things) schools What makes you unique, special and different How are you going to stand out! Be yourself! Commit to the process and work hard to achieve your goals! Don’t make excuses! Have an “I can attitude”

Sample College List • • • Colleges Reaches: USC Colorado College Good Chances: Whitman College Occidental College Pretty Sure: Lewis & Clark College University of Portland SAT Acceptance % • 1270 – 1470 • 1260 – 1430 24% 33% • 1220 – 1440 • 1200 – 1380 47% 42% • Test Optional • 1080 – 1300 68% 45%

Sample College List • • • Super reaches: Princeton University Dartmouth College Reaches: Duke University Georgetown University Good Chances: Univ. of Michigan Pretty Sure: University of Wisconsin • SAT/Acceptance Rates • 1400 – 1580 9% • 1360 – 1570 12% 1350 – 1530 • 1300 – 1490 16% 20% • 1220 – 1380 24% • 1180 – 1340 55%

Find your best fit!