Welcome To Senior Parent Night

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Welcome To Senior Parent Night
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Tonights Agenda

• I. Taking College Entrance Exams
• II. Applying to Colleges or Universities
• III. Financial Aid

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College Entrance Tests

• SAT Reasoning Test (Scholastic Assessment Test)
• ACT (American College Test)
• SAT Subject Tests (Only required by some
  colleges)
• THEA (Texas Higher Education Assessment)-Students
  must pass all sections of the exit-level TAKS
  test before taking this test. San Jacinto College
  offers a computerized alternative to THEA
  (COMPASS) that they also use for placement
  purposes.
• THEA Exemption Criteria
• ACT- composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19
  on both English and Math parts
• SAT I- combined score of 1070 with a minimum of
  500 on both critical reading and math
• TAKS-2200 on the TAKS ELA and Math tests, and
  have at least a 3 on the Essay

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ACT/ SAT/THEA Preparation Classes

• Students receive a preparation booklet from the
  counseling office when they pick up registration
  materials or you can go to www.collegeboard.com
  to access free SAT practice tests.
• If you took the PSAT last year, go to
  www.collegeboard.com and set up an account to
  gain free access to your own personalized study
  plan for the SAT and more!
• If you took an SAT last year but want to take it
  again, you can go to www.collegeboard.com to
  review your results, get suggestions and even
  print your essay.

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Admissions Application Now Available for Applying
To Texas Public Universities www.applytexas.org
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College and University Admission

• 2 Year College Admission
• Submit an application and transcript
• Take the THEA test or an approved alternative

• 4 Year College Admission
• Submit an application for admission and housing (
  if living on campus).
• Submit score reports of the proper entrance test
  such as the SAT, ACT, and SAT Subject Tests (if
  required).
• Submit a transcript.
• Provide letters of recommendation (if required).
• Compose the student essays (if required).
• Provide family financial information when
  applying for financial aid.

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Top 10 Automatically Admitted To Texas Public
Universities

• Any student who graduates in the top 10 of
  his/her class on the State Recommended Plan has
  automatic admission to any Texas Public 4 year
  college or university. Currently, SHHS seniors
  who are ranked between number 1 and 45 meet this
  criteria. This rank is based on the freshman
  through junior years. Students will not be
  ranked again until the completed first semester
  courses are finalized.
• Even though students in this category are
  guaranteed admission to the university, they are
  still not guaranteed admission to the particular
  school (i.e. school of Business) They must still
  complete all of the admissions process and meet
  all corresponding deadlines.

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University of Houston

• Top 20 automatically admitted to U of H as long
  as all admissions applications and SAT/ACT scores
  are submitted by the admissions deadline.
• Top 50 admitted with a minimum SAT score of
  1000 or ACT score of 21.
• www.uh.edu/admissions for more information.
• Cougar Promise for students with family incomes
  at or below 30,000.

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Transcript Requests

• Transcripts are requested from the registrar,
  Mrs. DeLeon.
• The first 3 transcripts ordered are free. Each
  additional transcript is 1.
• Final transcripts are generated in June upon the
  successful completion of all graduation
  requirements.
• Order Early! Transcripts require a 48-hour
  turnaround requests must be made by 10am to be
  postmarked in two days.
• Scholarship deadlines have to be enforced!!!!

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Financial Aid For College

• Grants/Scholarships- funds that do not have to be
  repaid. You can search for these yourself for
  free, look for them in the Senior Bulletin, and
  apply for them from the government beginning in
  January.
• Work/Study programs- students work part time on
  campus or in a local community to earn money for
  college.
• Educational Loans- low interest loans with
  flexible payment options
• Military Services- The US Army, Navy, Air Force
  and Marines all have programs that allow you to
  earn money for college in exchange for enlisting
  in a branch of the military.

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FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid)

• Available in Counselors Office in late December.
• Obtain a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov for students and
  parents. You can do this part now!
• Go to www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov and do a practice
  worksheet to get an early estimate of what you
  might expect from the government. When you are
  ready to apply for aid in January, you will be
  able to easily transition into the FAFSA from the
  4caster.
• Submit your application as soon after January 1,
  2008 as possible at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
• College cost -- minus EFC (Expected Family
  Contribution) will determine your students
  eligibility for aid.
• Award Letteramount and type of aid is called the
  SAR (Student Aid Report).

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Financial Aid Continued

• If you find that you do not qualify for aid
  through the federal government because of
  citizenship issues, you can still qualify for
  state aid through the TASFAA.
• You may visit www.tasfaa.org if this applies to
  you.
• The Pasadena Independent School District will
  have a financial aid night in February.

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Scholarship Sources

• College or University
• Counselors Officepublished in Senior Bulletin
  This publication is distributed to seniors in
  homeroom about once a month and contains
  important information. These are also published
  on the www.pasadenaisd.org webpage for SHHS.
• InternetMany scholarships are listed at no cost
  to students on published websites.
  www.collegeboard.com, www.fastweb.com,
  www.finaid.org, and www.collegefortexans.com are
  good examples.

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Scholarship Program for Early High School
Graduates

• If you are a student who has a plan on file with
  your counselor to graduate in three years instead
  of four years, you could be eligible for a 2,000
  exemption from the payment of tuition from the
  state of Texas.
• The state of Texas reserves the right to alter
  the requirements of this program each year.

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Surfing The Net
The internet can be a great source of information
concerning college and financial aid. However,
you should not be charged a fee for scholarship
searches since information is available online
for free.
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Financial Aid Information Night for
Parents February 3rd 700-900 SHHS
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Senior Parents Night Important Events
October 17 Report Cards October21-24 -TAKS
Testing for re-testers October 31-Senior Bike
Ride _at_ 545am November 18 -Academic Excellence
830 am January 27-28 Cap Gown
Orders February 3 Financial Aid Night 700 pm
Reinartz (tentative) March 3-6TAKS Testing for
re-testers March 10-11 Prom ticket sales
(tentative) 3 to 5 pm April 28-30, May 1-TAKS
Testing for re-testers May 2- Senior Prom Hobby
Airport Marriott May 26 -Baccalaureate
Program June 1-3 Final Exams (tentative) June
4-Senior Day (tentative) June 6 Graduation 900
am _at_ Hofheinz Pavilion at U of H
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Taking the Next Step

• Step 1 Take a college entrance exam (See your
  counselor for a fee waiver if you are
  currently participating in the free or
  reduced lunch program.
• Step 2 Calendar the deadlines for scholarships
  and admissions for your top college
  choices
• Step 3 Finalize your college choices and visit
  the college campuses
• Step 4 Make contact with the college admissions
  representative for SHHS students
• Step 5 Visit www.applytexas.org and complete at
  least one college application by
  Thanksgiving. Be sure to make a copy of
  all paperwork submitted to a
  college.

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Taking the Next Step Continued

• Step 6 Once you have applied to a college, plan
  a meeting with the financial
  aid office at that college.
• Step 7 Go to www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov to plan
  ahead for the January FAFSA
  application.
• Step 8 Continue to apply for scholarships
  throughout the year. Remember Senior
  Bulletin, the colleges themselves,
  the internet, and the federal
  government can all provide opportunities.
• Step 9 Complete your FAFSA early! Money is
  awarded beginning in March
• Step 10 You should begin receiving acceptance
  letters and financial aid offers by
  April. You MUST let the college and
  the government know that you accept
  their offer by their deadlines or you could
  lose the offer.
• Step 11 Take the THEA, unless you qualify for
  exemption.

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Contact Information

• Mary Beth Alsdorf, Counselor
• malsdorf_at_pasadenaisd.org
• Kimberly Steele, San Jacinto Shared Counselor
  ksteele_at_pasadenaisd.org
• Teresa Ferguson, Senior Activities Coordinator
  tferguson_at_pasadenaisd.org
• Neitzy Retta, GEAR UP coordinator
  nretta_at_pasadenaisd.org