Senior Student

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Senior Student Parent Night WCHS Class of 2010

• Winchester Community High School Vision Statement
• Winchester Community High School assures the
  community of quality learning opportunities to
  prepare all students for the future.

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Welcome ! Transition to College

• WCHS Guidance Department
• Nicki Owens, Guidance Director,
  nowens_at_rc.k12.in.us
• Anna Starkey, Counselor, astarkey_at_rc.k12.in.us

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By now you should have.

• Taken at least one ACT and one SAT college
  entrance exam. If you have not, go to www.act.org
  or www.collegeboard.com to sign up.
• Narrowed your list of colleges down to your top
  three.

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09-10 Upcoming Dates

• 09/18 ACT Registration for 10/24 exam
• 11/06 ACT Registration for 12/12 exam
• 01/05 ACT Registration for 02/06 exam
• 03/05 ACT Registration for 04/10 exam
• 05/07 Act Registration for 06/12 exam
• 10/01 SAT Registration for 11/07 exam
• 10/30 SAT Registration for 12/05 exam
• 12/15 SAT Registration for 01/23 exam
• 02/04 SAT Registration for 03/13 exam
• 03/25 SAT Registration for 05/01 exam
• 04/29 SAT Registration for 06/05 exam

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Selecting Colleges

• Gather Information
• Visit the college
• Be sure the college has what you are looking for
• Review the admission criteria
• ACTs, SATs, Transcripts, letters of
  recommendation
• Apply earlybefore Thanksgiving

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The College Visit!!

• Visit a maybe college first
• Schedule interviews with Admission Counselors
• Have questions ready
• Make appointments with financial aid, and
  potential major department (if known)
• Visit while students are there
• Ask about scholarships

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Student Responsibilities

• Gather Information
• Seek out letters of recommendation by
  Thanksgiving
• Fill out applications
• Apply on-line
• Request transcripts from docufide
• at www.docufide.com
• Request counselor recommendation SSR
• Listen to /or read announcements
• Remember DEADLINES

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(No Transcript)
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Parent Responsibilities

• Help in decision processfollow the senior time
  line
• Contact Mrs. Owens with questions
• Review applications
• Check application status
• Remind students of deadlines
• Take a visit with student

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Counselor Responsibilities

• Provide Information
• Assist student parent
• Process applications
• Scholarship info made available
• Answer Questions

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College Application

• Online applications preferable
• Request transcript thru docufide
• Request SAT or ACT through vendors
• Counselor /or teacher, etc recommendations
• Paper apps--Typed/printed neatly
• Make sure they are completed
• Turned in early
• Fee included
• Essays and recommendations included
• Signatures

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Application Process

• Early decision Locked in
• Your child agrees to attend the college if it
  accepts him/her--Can only apply early decision
  to one college. May apply to other colleges
  through the regular admissions process. If he/she
  is accepted by the first-choice college early,
  your child must withdraw all other applications.
  Usually, colleges insist on a nonrefundable
  deposit well before May 1.
• Early actionNot locked in
• If your child has been accepted, he can choose to
  commit to the college immediately, or wait until
  the spring. Under these plans, your child may
  also apply early action to other colleges.
  Usually, your child has until the late spring to
  let the college know his decision.
• Rolling admissionsNo specific deadline,
  applications are reviewed as they are received.
  Keep in mind that at some colleges and
  universities, financial aid and housing may be
  doled out on a first-come, first-served basis,
  which means that those who wait until the last
  minute may secure a place in the entering class
  but not the money to pay for it or a bed to sleep
  in
• Open admissions--A policy that permits enrollment
  of a student in a college or university without
  regard to academic qualifications (also called
  open enrollment). Many community colleges
• Notification early action or early decision
  action occurs by November, or end of December,
  at the latest. All others occur mid to late
  Spring.
• Decision time At the absolute latest, May

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Financial Aid Process

• Complete your 2009 taxes first
• Apply for a PIN number online now
• www.pin.ed.gov
• Then, filing begins after 1/1/2010. If possible,
  file on line at www.fafsa.ed.gov
• WCHS Financial Aid Night Thursday,
• January 14, 2010, 630 in the commons
• Aid packages Compare packages. Just because
  cost of attending is high, the package may offset
  the cost enough to make it as affordable as a
  less costly college
• Scholarshipscolleges have their own scholarships
  students can apply to
• Decision timeSpring

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College and Financial Aid Apps

• College applications should be in before
  Thanksgiving
• Less competition
• Time to negotiate
• Sends a message of eagerness and organization
• Gives you first crack at financial aid.
• Financial Aid applications vary.
• Institutional applications may be sent as soon as
  you are accepted.
• Profile may be required by some schools as well
  as the FAFSA
• FAFSA after Jan. 1 before March 10 for state
  aid.
• Before June 1 for federal aid.

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HOWEVER

• Many scholarships only have one or two
  applications.
• Lilly Goodrich Scholarships
• Local scholarships
• School, department, summer money (awarded to
  others)
• On-line searches

• Scholarship applications are coming in all the
  time.
• Available in the guidance office. Check Senior
  Bulletins
• Rotated depending upon expiration date.

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Summary-----

• Pick at least 3 schools Gimmee, appropriate,
  reach.
• Apply early.
• If necessary allow plenty of time for a letter of
  recommendation.
• Take a strong schedule, keep grades up, ACT, SAT
• Try to schedule an interview, visit, college
  days, talk to the rep on a WCHS visit, email,
  thank you notes and calls.
• When accepted to the school of your choice,
  notify other schools that you will not be
  attending.
• Start bugging the financial aid office for school
  and department scholarships, work-study and low
  interest loans.

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Resources

• www.learnmoreindiana.org (Indianas college and
  career connection)
• www.collegeboard.com (SAT)
• www.ACT.org (ACT)
• www.fafsa.ed.gov (financial aid)
• www.college.gov (new web siteinformational)
• Designed by students for students and parents
  and features first-person accounts of students
  who overcame challenges to going to college such
  as peer pressure, lack of family support, and
  financial barriers.
• It provides relevant, comprehensive information
  about Why to go?, How to go?, and How to pay
  for college or other postsecondary education
  programs?
• Young people who may not have considered higher
  education a viable option will be engaged,
  informed, and inspired to create their own
  "roadmap" to college.

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Vocational Schools, Apprenticeships

• Proprietary schools vs. Ivy Tech
• Check total cost and accreditation
• Certificate or Degree?
• Check with your dream employer as to the
  qualifications they prefer.

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APPRENTICESHIPS

• 18 years of age
• Valid Drivers License
• Vehicle
• Pass a Drug Screen and Physical
• High School Diploma
• 30.00 Service Fee
• US Citizens or papers to work in the U.S.
• Pass an aptitude test (Algebra I)
• electricians have their own test, WorkKeys test
  roofers no test.

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Apprenticeships

• Pre-apprenticeship program (work in the field to
  improve skills, take classes, then apply later).
• 3 5 Year apprenticeship
• Journeyman Card AND an Associate Degree from IVY
  Tech

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Wage Scale and Benefits(Sheet Metal Workers
Local 20)

• Year 1 28,433
• Year 2 34,112
• Year 3 36,940
• Year 4 39,790
• Year 5 44,054
• Year 6 56,846
• Benefit Package Includes Health, Vision, Dental,
  Pension, and Education (Associates Degree at IVY
  Tech).

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Go to www.military.com 
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Make a Plan

• Sit down with a calendar and set deadlines to
  complete your goals, whether it involves a 2 or
  4-year college, vocational school or the
  military.
• Keep a challenging course load.
• Maintain or get high grades
• Be aware of deadlines
• Actively pursue both an acceptance letter and
  financial aid.
• Dont sell yourself short.

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Your Future

• More control than you think
• Slow and steady wins the race
• Seek help
• This is your time
• School is a part of your history, it is a tool,
  not an end product
• Remember. . . .
• If it is to be, its up to me!