Agenda for this evening

1
Agenda for this evening

• Timeline
• College Search Visit
• Common Terms Definitions
• Questions

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Presenters This Evening

• Evelyn Tolson, 11th Grade Counselor (A -
  Di) 994-2149
• Sara Vance, 11th grade Counselor (Do-Ji)
• 994-2131
• Colleen Creal, 11th Grade Counselor (Jo-Mc)
  997-1944
• Ron Fear, 11th Grade Counselor (Me - Se)
• 994-2146
• Ellen Sapper 11th grade counselor (Sh-Z)
• 994-8229
• Joyce Williams, Career Center Director 994-2116

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11th Grade - 1st Semester

• Start Junior Interviews with Counselors
• College Visits at Pioneer High School
• Research Colleges - Students Parents- Computer
  Program Career
• - Career Cruising
• Petersons Computer Guide
• Internet Catalogs
• Career Center

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11th Grade - 2nd Semester

• MORE Junior Interviews
• MORE College research
• Take SAT, ACT and MME exams
• On-Campus College Visits
• Attend College Night at Pioneer HS on April 16,
  2008.
• Review College Applications for Fall 2008 as
  soon as available online.

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Summer before 12th Grade

• Fill out applications for Colleges
• Work on college application essays
• Be aware of upcoming deadlines
• Read summer mailing from Pioneer HS
• Fill out Senior Profile, if you have not already,
  Parent Brag Sheet, Activity List (resume)
  Release of Test Scores
• Turn in completed forms to Counselors at
  Registration
• Review High School Transcript
• Visit Colleges
• Retake SAT ACT tests (optional)

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12th Grade - 1st semester

• Finish College applications and turn into the
  Main Office with application fee attached
• Retake SAT ACT tests (optional)
• Ask teachers and other adults for letters of
  recommendation at least 4 weeks before you need
  them. Spring of junior year gives them more
  time.
• Go to College Visits at Pioneer HS
• Admissions Officers will be presenting and
  available for questions - very helpful to meet
  these people!

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12th Grade - 2nd semester

• Fill out FAFSA after January 1st
• Check Career Center for scholarships
• Receive acceptance/rejection letters from
  colleges
• Continue to work hard academically 2nd semester
  classes grades often do count towards
  acceptance or denial!
• Contact Financial Aid offices at proposed
  colleges
• Develop a plan to finance college
• Make final decisions and respond with your
  deposit by the deadline

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How to do a College Search Visit
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WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR?

• Environment - location, size, etc.
• Admission Requirements
• Academics
• College Expenses Financial Aid
• Housing
• Facilities
• Activities

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HOW DO WE SEARCH?

• EDPs Career Cruising
• Career Center at Pioneer High School
• College Visits at Pioneer High School
• On-campus college visits
• Online internet research - See helpful websites
  on next page
• Research - Research - Research!

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HELPFUL COLLEGE SEARCH WEBSITES

• www.gocollege.com
• www.petersons.com
• www.smart.net/-pope/hbcu/hbculist.htm
• www.campustours.com
• www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/cosearch.htm
• www.collegeboard.com
• www.act.org

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Career Center

• Joyce Williams, Career Center Director
• Hours of Operation 730 - 300 M-F
• Location Next to the Counseling Center
• Students can spend lunchtime and 7th hour in the
  Career Center
• Parents are more than welcome to utilize these
  resources!

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What is in the Career Center?

• Online Searches
• College Catalogs DVDs
• PSAT, SAT ACT applications practice tests
• Resources on other Post-secondary planning
  Military, Vocational Schools, Apprenticeships,
  etc.
• Scholarship Opportunities
• Summer Internship Opportunities

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On-Campus College Visits

• Contact by telephone or e-mail the Admissions
  Office at prospective Colleges.
• Ask about procedures for a Campus Visit.
• Try to plan visits during vacation time.
• Inquire if college students will be available for
  questions.
• Try to attend a class or two ask about eating
  in the dining hall.
• Try to spend a night in the dorm.

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SCHOLARSHIP AND FINANCIAL AID WEBSITES

• www.MI-StudentAid.org
• www.salliemae.com
• www.fastweb.com
• www.fafsa.ed.gov

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COLLEGE ATHLETICS

• Playing sports in College is a major decision
  which requires careful planning throughout high
  school. In the Spring of junior year you must
  apply to the NCAA Initial Eligibility
  Clearinghouse if you plan to play sports in
  college. Check the website which is
  NCAAclearinghouse.net. Information changes
  yearly. Students being recruited and needing
  transcripts for that purpose must have a release
  form on file.

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Steps in Applying to College from Pioneer High
School
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Step 1

• After careful research, select at least 3-5
  colleges to apply to. Get applications from
  Career Center, online, or college admissions
  offices.
• Pioneer HS will begin accepting applications
  September 15, 2008.
• Rolling Admissions applications should be
  submitted as early as possible (before October
  31st).

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Step 2

• Turn in Senior Profile before summer vacation,
  Parent Brag Sheet, Release of Test Scores form
  and Activity List (Resume) that will be mailed
  home in the summer.
• Make copies of senior resumes for teachers who
  will be writing your letters of recommendation.
• The test score release form must be signed by you
  and your parents.

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Step 3

• Ask teachers before you leave for summer break or
  at least 4 weeks ahead, for college
  recommendations. Be sure to include your social
  security number on all college correspondence.
  Students should give the teachers a stamped
  college- addressed envelopes along with the
  recommendation requests.

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Step 4

• Attach check or money order for application fee
  made out to the college. Application material
  must be complete when turned in. Pay with a
  credit card online.
• Nothing can be added to the application after it
  has been turned in to the General Office at
  Pioneer HS. Due to the volume of applications
  makes it impossible to add something later.

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Step 5

• Turn in application to the General Office. First
  application is free. 1.00 handling fee for each
  additional application. No need to provide an
  envelope.

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Step 6

• If you apply online download the counselor form
  from college website. You must also submit an
  Orange PHS form available in the general office.
  This enables Pioneer High School to send
  transcripts and test scores.

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Step 7A - ON-LINE APPLICATIONS Approximately
90 of applications submitted by Pioneer students
are done on-line. After you have completed the
on-line process, print the counselor or
secondary school page. Bring the page to the
General Office, just as you would a paper
application. We will process it exactly like a
paper application. You will be asked to complete
an on-line form for this you will need your
student number and the address of your college
admissions office. DO NOT BRING A COPY OF YOUR
ON-LINE APPLICATION TO US. (You should, however,
print a copy for your own files). If your college
does not ask for a counselor page, come to the
General Office and fill out an on-line form we
will send your academic records to the college.
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Step 7B for ON-SITE APPLICATIONS Some
universities have begun using an on-site
admissions process. (Western Michigan,Central
Michigan and Eastern Michigan are those with
which we have had experience others may also do
this). Student takes application materials to
the university (typically on a week day in early
October) and they will give student an admission
decision that day. If you are interested in
on-site admission call the universitys
admissions office for details and listen for
announcements. You will need to submit your
request to Pioneer at least 10 SCHOOL DAYS in
advance so that we have ample time to process
your records. As with all application
submissions, present your request to the General
Office and be sure to let them know it is an
on-site application. You will then pick up your
application materials in the Records Office when
they are ready. We also offer some onsite
admissions interviews at PHS.
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Mid year report forms You can turn in
the mid year report forms when you turn in your
applications. The records clerk will keep it in
a file and turn it in to the college or
universities after the seventh semester grades
are posted
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Step 8

• If your college requires scores directly from ACT
  / SAT, you must arrange for your test scores to
  be sent directly from SAT, ACT to your
  prospective colleges. Call the college to
  verify.

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Step 9

• Plan on 2-3 weeks to process application. Your
  application is routed to the records office, and
  counselor. Transcripts, test scores, letters of
  recommendation, school profile, and signatures
  are provided as needed. The records office will
  mail the completed application.

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Step 10

• Please do not call the records office. Contacting
  the records office slows down the process for
  everybody!

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Step 11

• Most applications will leave Pioneer within 15
  working days of receipt in the General Office.
• Because of the volume of applications (over 2000)
  received in your applications must be turned in
  by November 7, 2008 if you want them mailed
  before winter break. Plan ahead to meet
  application deadlines.

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Helpful Hints for Processing College Applications

• Turn around time is 10-15 working days
• Checking on the status will slow down all of the
  applications.
• Be sure to put your name social security number
  on every page of each application.

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FINANCIAL AID
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Financial Aid Terms

• Aid Package a combination of aid (possibly
  including a scholarship, grant, loan, and work)
  determined by a college financial aid office.
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  The application required for students to be
  considered for federal student financial aid.
  Obtain a FAFSA form or electronic filing
  information from the Pioneer Career Center
  (usually available in November). The FAFSA is
  processed free of charge. FAFSA is used by most
  state agencies and colleges.
• Plan to do your Income Taxes early during your
  childs senior year. FAFSA requires information
  from the previous years income.
• There will be a financial aid program for parents
  is December 11th at 730pm in the Little Theater.

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IMPORTANT JUNIOR YEAR TESTS

• A Quick Review
• PSAT, SAT, ACT, MME, AP

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Standardized College Admission Exams

• SAT I Reasoning Test This SAT is a
  three-hour, primarily multiple-choice test that
  measures verbal and mathematical reasoning
  abilities that develop over time. Many colleges
  require SAT scores for admission.
• SAT II Subject Tests Subject Tests are
  one-hour, primarily multiple-choice tests that
  measure your knowledge of particular subjects and
  your ability to apply that knowledge. Check the
  requirements of the colleges you are considering.
  More selective colleges may require or recommend
  one or more Subject Tests for admission or
  placement.
• ACT Assessment Test A group of tests
  administered by ACT and required or recommended
  by many colleges. The tests measure educational
  development in English, mathematics, reading, and
  science reasoning and are given at specified test
  centers throughout the year.

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MMEMichigan Merit Exam
March 11-13 only juniors required to
graduate Part I is ACT PART II is ACT Work Keys
PART III Michigan components
.
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Michigan Promise Scholarship
4, 000 if students earn qualifying scores Given
in installments outlined at www.Michigan.gov/pro
mise We will be offering an ACT online Test prep
along with Saturday Practice In January
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WHERE DO I TURN TO ASK QUESTIONS?

• COUNSELOR
• CAREER CENTER
• COLLEGE WEBSITES

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Thank you for coming!

• We hope this makes the college application
  process a little easier!