Grand Prairie High School Senior College Guide

Beyond High School

Career and Technical Education Counselor – Danita PetermanDallas 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

Texas A&M UniversityBachelor of Art (B.A.) in Sociology

Provides assistance with the following:

Financial aid application College application assistance Scholarship searches College/university searches Registering for the ACT/SAT Assistance with college essays (editing, etc.)

Advise TX AdvisorMr. Ernesto Cuellar

College and Career Center Hours

Monday – Friday7:30-3:30

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 CenterCreate and promote a college going cultureEncourage students to consider higher

education after graduationHelp parents and students prepare and plan

for collegeSpread the word about college and career

opportunitiesLiaison between students, academic

counselors, and institutions of higher education

Who We ServeEVERYONE!High school studentsParentsColleges and universitiesCommunity collegesTeachersCurrent college studentsCommunity 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 Year1. Be organized

2. Be responsible

3. Be punctual

How to Achieve SuccessGet things done earlyMeet all deadlinesKeep a calendarListen to announcementsKeep a fileMake and keep copies of

everythingMeet with college

representatives when they come to GPHS

Keep good grades

Understand and 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 collegeMeet with college reps when they come to the

schoolChoose and visit top 5 schools of choiceWork on their admission/scholarship essayTake the ACT/SAT Complete the Apply Texas Application or

Common ApplicationSubmit their college application by November

1, no later than November 15Complete the NCAA profile, if applicable

Steps to your child’s pathway to collegeStep 1: Research colleges and universitiesStep 2: Start working on college/scholarship essaysStep 3: Choose the top five schools of choiceStep 4: Prepare and plan to take the ACT/SATStep 5: Create an ACT/SAT profileStep 6: Register and take the ACT and SATStep 7: Create an Apply Texas profile at www.applytexas.orgStep 8: Complete and submit the Apply Texas college application online by

November 1 and no later than November 15Step 9: Research and apply for available scholarshipsStep 10: Research and apply for local scholarshipsStep 11: Wait on acceptance lettersStep 12: Complete and apply for financial aid between January-FebruaryStep 13: Wait on acceptance lettersStep 14: Submit letters of college acceptance and scholarship

awards to the College and Career Center

SAT 2014-15Test Dates

Cost $52.50

Regular RegistrationDeadline(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, 2014December 6, 2014 November 6, 2014 November 24, 2014January 24, 2015 December 29, 2014 January 13, 2015March 14, 2015 February 13, 2015 March 3, 2015May 2, 2015 April 6, 2015 April 21, 2015June 6, 2015 May 8, 2015 May 27, 2015

Register at: www.collegeboard.com

ACT 2014-15Test Dates

Cost $54.50

Regular RegistrationDeadline(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

Register at: www.actstudent.org

SAT ACT

Testing Day: Saturday Testing Day: Saturday Fee Waiver: 1 semester; 2 x year Fee Waiver: 1 semester; 2 x year Testing Time: 4 hours Testing Time: 4 hours Test Breakdown: Test Breakdown: Math 50% Math 25% No Science Science Reasoning: 25% English 50% English 25% No Reading Reading 25% Writing Section*: Yes Writing Section*: Yes Guessing Penalty: YES Guessing Penalty: NO Accepted by ALL Colleges Accepted by ALL Colleges Scores: 400 – 1600 Scores: 1 – 36 Average Score: 990 Average Score: 21 Writing score should NOT be added into the total score. It does not count toward college admission at this time; however, colleges require the writing test. It’s taken into consideration when students are border line for acceptance.

JUNIORS should take these tests during their spring semester.

CEEB CAMPUS CODE: Enter the following code for your high school campus when you register to take either test.

Grand Prairie HS 442930

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE

ACT and SAT COLLEGE TESTS?

Dual Credit for Qualified Juniors and SeniorsOffered at DCCCD – 7 campuses, i.e., Mountain View, North

LakeWhat is dual credit?

Opportunity to earn college credit while in high schoolCourses offered in English, economics, history, government,

PE, and some technical coursesCourses 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 coursesSave money on college tuitionOpportunity to complete college fasterEnjoy an easier transition to college level course work

Dual Credit for Qualified Juniors and SeniorsQualifications

11th or 12th gradeApproval from counselorFulfill the appropriate admissions criteria for the collegeHave an acceptable score on the SAT, ACT, TSI, Accuplacer or

THEA in at least one area as applicable to the course/sMinimum Test Scores

TSI – 351+ on reading, 363+ and 4+ on writingSAT – 500+ verbal, 500+ math; 1070 composite ACT – 19+ verbal, 19+ math; 23 compositeAccuplacer – 78 reading, 80+ verbal with 6+ pm essay, 69/64

math (current 12th 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 -- DCCCDProvides qualified high school seniors with

academic support services and up to $4,000 for tuition and books, if there is a financial need

QualificationsGraduate from a Dallas county public high

schoolMeet the financial need guidelines established

by DCCCDMeet 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

Scholarshipswww.fastweb.comwww.collegeforalltexans.comwww.scholarships.comwww.collegeboard.comwww.collegenet.comwww.scholarshipmonkey.comwww.zinch.comwww.scholarshippoints.comwww.cappex.comwww.nextstudent.comwww.studentscholarships.orgwww.scholarshipexperts.comwww.supercollege.com

Visit the College and Career Center for more information and to pick up local scholarships.

College research websites 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

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 websiteswww.collegeboard.comwww.actstudent.orgwww.gentx.orgwww.careersandcolleges.comwww.fafsa.ed.govwww.pin.ed.govhttp://studentaid.ed.govwww.collegeforalltexans.com

RemindersVisit the College and Career Center – oftenComplete your college application by November 1Take the ACT and/or SATApply for scholarshipsComplete your FAFSA or TAFSA by FebruaryResearch scholarshipsVisit with college representatives when they are on campus

Bring your college acceptance letters and scholarship award letters to the College

and Career Center.