Grand Prairie High School Senior College Guide Beyond

Grand Prairie High School Senior College Guide Beyond High School

Career and Technical Education Counselor – Danita Peterman Dallas Baptist University �Bachelor of Science (B. S. ) in Interdisciplinary Studies, Elementary Education �Master of Education (M. Ed. ) in School Counseling �Master of Education (M. Ed. ) in Educational Leadership danita. peterman@gpisd. org 972 -809 -5880

Advise TX Advisor Mr. Ernesto Cuellar �Texas A&M University �Bachelor of Art (B. A. ) in Sociology Provides assistance with the following: ü ü ü Financial aid application College application assistance Scholarship searches College/university searches Registering for the ACT/SAT Assistance with college essays (editing, etc. )

College and Career Center Hours Monday – Friday 7: 30 -3: 30 Students may come to the Center before school, after school or during lunch without a pass. Students must have a pass from their teacher to come at any other time during the day.

Purpose of the College and Career Center �Create and promote a college going culture �Encourage students to consider higher education after graduation �Help parents and students prepare and plan for college �Spread the word about college and career opportunities �Liaison between students, academic counselors, and institutions of higher education

Who We Serve �EVERYONE! �High school students �Parents �Colleges and universities �Community colleges �Teachers �Current college students �Community members

Services � TSI information (for community colleges) � SAT/ACT information – fee waivers for tests and applications � Testing strategies � College and career planning workshops for parents and students � Financial aid workshops � Scholarship information � FAFSA/TASFA information � College search/selection � Admission information � Application process � College visitation forms � Apply Texas and Common application assistance � Eligibility Center information AND MUCH MORE!!

Three Keys to a Successful Senior Year 1. Be organized 2. Be responsible 3. Be punctual

How to Achieve Success �Get things done early �Meet all deadlines �Keep a calendar �Listen to announcements �Keep a file �Make and keep copies of everything �Meet with college representatives when they come to GPHS �Keep good grades �Understand know your transcript �Keep your address and phone number updated �Practice writing your college essay �Visit the College and Career Center often �Ask questions – no question is a dumb question �Use your College Guide often

Your child’s pathway to college ü Meet with college reps when they come to the school ü Choose and visit top 5 schools of choice ü Work on their admission/scholarship essay ü Take the ACT/SAT ü Complete the Apply Texas Application or Common Application ü Submit their college application by November 1, no later than November 15 ü Complete the NCAA profile, if applicable

Steps to your child’s pathway to college Step 1: Research colleges and universities Step 2: Start working on college/scholarship essays Step 3: Choose the top five schools of choice Step 4: Prepare and plan to take the ACT/SAT Step 5: Create an ACT/SAT profile Step 6: Register and take the ACT and SAT Step 7: Create an Apply Texas profile at www. applytexas. org Step 8: Complete and submit the Apply Texas college application online by November 1 and no later than November 15 Step 9: Research and apply for available scholarships Step 10: Research and apply for local scholarships Step 11: Wait on acceptance letters Step 12: Complete and apply for financial aid between January-February Step 13: Wait on acceptance letters Step 14: Submit letters of college acceptance and scholarship awards to the College and Career Center

SAT 2014 -15 Test Dates Regular Registration Deadline (postmark/submit by) Late Registration ( Fee: $27. 50) October 11, 2014 September 12, 2014 September 30, 2014 November 8, 2014 October 9, 2014 October 28, 2014 December 6, 2014 November 24, 2014 January 24, 2015 December 29, 2014 January 13, 2015 March 14, 2015 February 13, 2015 March 3, 2015 May 2, 2015 April 6, 2015 April 21, 2015 June 6, 2015 May 8, 2015 May 27, 2015 Cost $52. 50 Register at: www. collegeboard. com

ACT 2014 -15 Test Dates Regular Registration Deadline (postmark/submit by) Late Registration ( Fee: $23. 00) September 13, 2014 August 8, 2014 August 9 -22, 2014 October 25, 2014 September 19, 2014 September 20 -October 3, 2014 December 13, 2014 November 7, 2014 November 8 -21, 2014 February 7, 2015 January 9, 2015 January 10 -16, 2015 April 18, 2015 March 13, 2015 March 14 -17, 2015 June 13, 2015 May 8, 2015 May 9 -22, 2015 Cost $54. 50 Register at: www. actstudent. org

Dual Credit for Qualified Juniors and Seniors �Offered at DCCCD – 7 campuses, i. e. , Mountain View, North Lake �What is dual credit? � Opportunity to earn college credit while in high school � Courses offered in English, economics, history, government, PE, and some technical courses � Courses are taught by college faculty � Dual credit academic courses are transferable to all Texas public colleges and universities and some private and out-of-state institutions (check with college) �Benefits of taking dual credit courses � Save money on college tuition � Opportunity to complete college faster � Enjoy an easier transition to college level course work

Dual Credit for Qualified Juniors and Seniors �Qualifications � 11 th or 12 th grade � Approval from counselor � Fulfill the appropriate admissions criteria for the college � Have an acceptable score on the SAT, ACT, TSI, Accuplacer or THEA in at least one area as applicable to the course/s �Minimum Test Scores � TSI – 351+ on reading, 363+ and 4+ on writing � SAT – 500+ verbal, 500+ math; 1070 composite � ACT – 19+ verbal, 19+ math; 23 composite � Accuplacer – 78 reading, 80+ verbal with 6+ pm essay, 69/64 math (current 12 th graders only); Juniors will have to score 351+ on reading and 350+ on math – the new TSI assessment � THEA – 230 reading, 220 writing, 270 math

The Rising Star Program -- DCCCD �Provides qualified high school seniors with academic support services and up to $4, 000 for tuition and books, if there is a financial need �Qualifications �Graduate from a Dallas county public high school �Meet the financial need guidelines established by DCCCD �Meet one of the following: graduate in the top 40% of your class or graduate with a B average or pass the required DCCCD assessment test for admission

Scholarships �www. fastweb. com �www. collegeforalltexans. com �www. scholarships. com �www. collegeboard. com �www. collegenet. com �www. scholarshipmonkey. com �www. zinch. com �www. scholarshippoints. com �www. cappex. com �www. nextstudent. com �www. studentscholarships. org �www. scholarshipexperts. com �www. supercollege. com Visit the College and Career Center for more information and to pick up local scholarships.

College research websites ü This website lists every college in the United States in alphabetical order. Click on the college of your choice; the college website with all the college information will be available. Check applications dates, required test score, cost, programs or degrees the college offers. www. utexas. edu/world/univ/alpha ü Compare College TX is an online, mobile-friendly, interactive website targeted to parents, students and high school advisors to help answer questions that matter most to prospective students like: how much will this college cost, what percentage of students does this college accept, and how likely will I graduate on time from this college? Compare College TX enhances an existing suite of online tools designed to help Texas students and their parents plan for college in three stages: inspiration, exploration, information, and application. http: //comparecollegetx. com/

College research and important websites ü www. collegeboard. com ü www. actstudent. org ü www. gentx. org ü www. careersandcolleges. com ü www. fafsa. ed. gov ü www. pin. ed. gov ü http: //studentaid. ed. gov ü www. collegeforalltexans. com

Reminders ü Visit the College and Career Center – often ü Complete your college application by November 1 ü Take the ACT and/or SAT ü Apply for scholarships ü Complete your FAFSA or TAFSA by February ü Research scholarships ü Visit with college representatives when they are on campus Bring your college acceptance letters and scholarship award letters to the College and Career Center.