Postsecondary School Planning 101

August 17, 2015

Juniors Encouraged To:

• Consider Career & Postsecondary Education Options

• Take required College/Tech Admissions Tests• Begin reviewing Scholarship Possibilities• Meet with Juniors on Sept. 3

7 Important Steps for Seniors1. Gathering Information2. Planning and Choosing3. Making Visits4. Applying5. Interviewing/Essay Writing/Letters of

Recommendation – Does not apply to ALL applications!

6. Applying for Financial Aid – After January 1, 20167. Making Acceptance Decisions

• Meet with Seniors on August 26

PSAT/NMSQT(For Sophomores and Juniors)

Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude TestWednesday, October 14, 2015

• Enter National Scholarship Competitions – 50,000 High Scorers will be recognized

o 2,500 National Merit Scholarships

o 2,300 Corporate-Sponsored Scholarships• FedEx, Cargill, ConAgra, Goodyear, McDonald’s Corp., Motorola,

PepsiCo, State Farm, UPS, Walgreens

o 4,800 College-Sponsored Merit Scholarships

o 9,600 Merit Scholarships totaling over $44 million

PSAT/NMSQT(For Sophomores and Juniors)

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

o A student’s first official step on the road to college

o Helps assess skills for college level work• Students receive a detailed score report and their test booklets

o Help preparing for SAT

o Free online access to My College QuickStart—providing personalized lists of Colleges, Majors, and Careers

o Enter National Scholarship Competitions – 50,000 High Scorers will be recognized

o PSAT score of 150 meets qualifications for concurrent credit

PSAT Sign-Up Deadline & Cost

• Thursday, September 24oReceive Study Guide when student signs

upo Students sign up in the Counseling Office

• The cost is $15.00.

ACT• All College Bound Students Must Take• Consider Taking Twice Before Graduation• 6 Test Dates A Year

o Septembero Octobero Decembero Februaryo Aprilo June*Register 5 weeks before the desired test date

• Take ACT Only or ACT Plus Writing?

How to Register for ACT

• Pick up an information sheet from the Counseling Office to register online at www.actstudent.org. A free study guide is included.

• A photo must be uploaded

• Cost? o ACT--$39.50 ACT+Writing--$56.50

ACT Prep• www.powerprepinc.com

o Highly Recommendedo October 12 from 6 to 9:45 p.m.o January 18 from 6 to 9:45 p.m.

• www.actstudent.org

SAT• Another College Admissions Exam

• Preferred by some out-of-state schools and some scholarship programs

• Some selective schools also require SAT Subject Tests

• See your counselor to determine if needed

How to Register for SAT

• Register online at sat.collegeboard.org • Cost? $52.50• Test Prep: A free full-length SAT practice test is

available on the website above.

ASVAB(Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)

• Aptitude Test – Helps with career planning.

• Also provides info on Military Careers

• Free of charge

• Given December 3rd at Hays High

Finding a School that Fits

• Attend the HHS College Career Planning Conference, Tuesday, October 20 o For Juniors, Seniors and Parentso Approx. 55 Reps will be here

• Talk to Reps that visit Hays High

• Visit School Websites

• Visit Schools!!

• Pick up materials from Counseling Office

What to look for in a school?

• Academic Area• Size, Location, Cost• Graduation Rate/Grad School Placement• Job Placement Rate in Field of Study• Scholarships

o Compare scholarship amounts to tuition

College Admissions Process Class of

2016• Qualified Admissions Requirements

o Earn 2.0 or above in QA Curriculum, ando ACT Score of 21, or SAT Score of 980, oro Rank in top third of classo And, earn a 2.0 or above in any Concurrent Credit Courses, if applicable

• Qualified Admissions Requirements for KUo Earn 2.0 or above in QA Curriculum, ando 3.25+ overall GPA and 21+ ACT (980+SAT), or o 3.0+ overall GPA and 24+ ACT (1090+ SAT)o And, earn a 2.0 or above in any Concurrent Credit Courses, if applicable.

When to ApplyFor College Admissions

• Nov. 1 for WSU, KU, and KSU• Nov. 15 for FHSU• Spring/Summer prior to Senior Year if applying to

Military Academies

Tech School Admissions

• Check with School—some programs have more than one start date or deadline a year

• Some programs fill early and have waiting lists• Go to www.kansasregents.org and click on “Colleges

& Universities” and scroll down• Or, on the same Regents site above, click on

“Students” and “Career & Tech Ed”• Or, go to www.kansasworks.com/careerzoom

NCAA• If your student is interested in college athletics…

• Register with NCAAo Required by Division I and II Schools

• Register online—it is simpleo Preferably register by spring of junior year.o Registration fee is approximately $75o Go to www.eligibilitycenter.org

• See your counselor.

Military Academies• A Military Academy education is all expense

paid and is valued well over $300,000.• Military Academies include:

o U.S. Air Force Academyo U.S. Naval Academy o U.S. Military Academy (West Point)o U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point, NY).

• Junior year is the time to consider them and begin preliminary application process in spring.

• Mid-September of senior year is often the deadline for Congressional Nomination Applications.

• September 4 - Senator Jerry Moran’s deadline to request a nomination

ROTC• It is different from a military academy because

students can attend any university that offers ROTC.

• Often can receive ROTC scholarship money

• Graduate as a second lieutenant

• Reps will be here at College Career Planning Conference

Tuition & Costs for 15-16 School

Year K-State KU FHSU

Tuition/Fees: $9,349 $10,034 $4,654Room/Board: $8,520 $ 8,500 $5,280*Books: $ 900 $ 1,040 $ 840Totals: $18,769 $19,574 $10,774

• Costs estimated from school websites for 15 cr. hr. per semester for two semesters

• These totals don’t include any extra expenses like gas, computer, phone, meals out, entertainment, etc.

* FHSU Room/Board rate for Ellis Co. Grads

Housing Options to Save Money

• Co-op Scholarship Dorms or Houses• Ellis County graduates in FHSU dorms get

$1000 per semester off the regular cost

NCK Tech Estimated Tuition and Costs for

2015-2016

These totals do not include Housing, Personal Expenses, nor cost of Gen Ed courses for a Nursing Associate Degree

A Few More Things…• Apply for Housing

o Some schools allow students to apply as early as October

• Register for an Enrollment Dayo Student will be contacted after he/she is admitted

• Attend Orientation

Financial Aid1. Federal Government – Grants, loans, and work study

2. State of KS – Requires special state application.

3. Colleges – Academic, athletic, extracurricular, and departmental.

4. Private Sources – Corporate, professional associations, religious groups, etc.

5. Students and Family – Need to supply the money if above sources DO NOT cover cost of school.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid• Required for need-based aid including scholarships,

grants, loans and work study.• fafsa.ed.gov

Financial Aid WorknightNovember 30th in the

HHS Lecture Hall7-8:30 p.m.

How to Find Out about

Scholarships/Financial Aid

• HHS Scholarship Calendar• Internet—www.studentaid.ed.gov,

www.fastweb.com and www.finaid.org• Postsecondary websites, or freshman admissions

bulletins• Admissions representatives• College/Career Planning Conference• Contact department you want to major in

When filling out scholarship

applications, pay attention to neatness and completeness!

• Application makes first impression!• Use ink, not pencil—preferably type• Online applications very common—be just as

careful with these• Review instructions before submitting• Make copies or save on computer

Dane Hansen College Scholarships

• 160 College Scholarships to be awardedo 10 Leader of Tomorrow Awards--$40,000 over 4 yearso 50 Hansen Scholar Awards--$13,000 over 2 yearso 100 Hansen Student Awards--$8,000 over 2 years

• To apply must have 3.5 Cum GPA and ACT Score of 21 or above

• Must take Scholarship Test September 10• Must sign up for Test by Sept 2nd – No Exceptions• http://danehansenfoundation.org/

Dane Hansen Career & Tech Ed Scholarships

• 100 Scholarships awarded--$4000 each

• Recipients may enroll in any career/tech ed course in the state of KS, as long as it is NOT leading to a 4-yr. degree

• Application Processo Fill out application and submit by October 30th o A 3.5 GPA is NOT requiredo There is no qualifying testo Must obtain three reference letters and submit them by October 30th

State of Kansas Scholarships for College Bound

Students• Worth $1000 and are Renewable• Based on

o Completing State Scholars Curriculumo GPAo ACT Scores—no later than December ACTo Financial Need

State of Kansas Grants for Tech Ed Students

• Career Technical Workforce Grants of $1000• Must be enrolling in High Cost, High Demand, or

Critical Industry Field• May 1st Priority Deadline• No Test Required• Formerly called Kansas Vocational Education

Scholarships • Watch for more info to come

Scholarship Search Services

• Be very wary of Scholarship Search Services unless they are FREEo Utilize the sources already mentioned

• Unscrupulous organizations will avoid the HHS Counseling Office

Advanced Coursework

• Advanced Placement (AP)o Advanced courses providing opportunity to earn college credit

by taking AP Test in Mayo Available at Hays High in AP U.S. History, AP Government, and

AP English IVo AP transferability varies

• Concurrent Credit o A partnership with FHSU, BCC, and NCK Techo Students may earn dual credit for certain courseso Students must pay tuition to earn credito Students must strive for C’s or above

FHSU Concurrent Credit Requirements• Must use ACT, PSAT, SAT, or STAR Reading

• Required scores are on HHS Website and in the Hays High Course Career Guide (Page 9)

Fall 2015 Concurrent Credit

Enrollment • Thursday, August 20th in HHS Library

o Noon to 5:30 p.m.

• Fall Concurrent Credit Courses Availableo College Algebra (Required to pay for credits)o Calculus Methods (Pre-Calculus

Mathematics)o Oral Communication (Required to pay for

credits)o Psychologyo Sociologyo AP American History o AP American Governmento Graphic Design