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Junior Parent Night. May 7, 2014. Agenda. Welcome Guest Speaker – Riverland Community College Family Connection – Lynn Keenan Scholarships & Unofficial Transcript – Jeni Lindberg FAFSA, College Visit Days, ACT Question & Answer Session. Guest Speakers. Carla Anderson- Diekmann
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Junior Parent Night May 7, 2014
Agenda Welcome Guest Speaker – Riverland Community College Family Connection – Lynn Keenan Scholarships & Unofficial Transcript – Jeni Lindberg FAFSA, College Visit Days, ACT Question & Answer Session
Guest Speakers Carla Anderson-Diekmann Riverland Community College Counselor & Student Affairs
Admissions Process College Expectations: Strength of Curriculum: Take challenging courses your senior year! Take additional Math and Science! Do NOT drop the rigor of your courses during your SENIOR year! Continue to get good grades and improve your GPA Class Rank
Admissions Process Extra-curricular Involvement: Volunteer, get involved, take on leadership opportunities in areas of interest (sports, clubs, etc.) ACT/SAT scores Teacher/Counselor Recommendations College Essays (make them memorable!) Academic Passion (for your future career) Personality (when an interview is required)
Applying to Colleges College applications are online. Some colleges might waive the application fee when done online. You can find the website of most colleges in Family Connection, or visit Mrs. Lindberg in the Career Center. Once you have applied to a college, remember to request your transcript to be sent through Family Connection. Transcripts are usually sent within 2 or 3 days of the request. Allow up to four weeks to hear from the college on your acceptance, possibly longer. DEADLINES – Be aware!!!!!!!!!!!!
Overview of Family Connection What is Family Connection? Web-based resource that supports course, career, and college planning Specific to our school where students, staff, parents and counselors can all have access. Used through our Workforce and College Readiness in conjunction with Ramp-Up-to-Readiness. • How do I access it? Family tab to Family Connection – Austin HS is linked through Austin High School web site under the “Family” tab. • Questions? Go to the AHS counseling website. Please see Family Connection details in the top right hand corner that is green and red.
Transcripts – School record of courses and grades • Unofficial Transcript – Infinite Campus under Reports on left hand side • Official Transcript – Student requests through their Family Connection account
Scholarships Scholarship opportunities are listed on Family Connection as well as on a monthly scholarship list, which is emailed to parents and connect teachers. Write one or two “essays” and adjust them as needed – double check spelling and grammar Do a resume or a chronological list of your activities (Family Connectionhas a Resume’ option!) Eligibility and criteria vary March and April tend to be the months with the most “local” scholarships.
Financial Aid What is the FAFSA? • FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. • How do I apply? After January 1st, 2015, you will be able to complete the application at www.fafsa.gov • Use the FAFSA4caster to give you an early estimate about your application. • The counseling office will be sponsoring a Financial Aid Nightnext January/February, and a staff person from the Riverland Financial Aid Office will be here to explain the process and answer questions. We will also be offering several FAFSA completion opportunities in the evening during February & Marchwith experts on hand to help with the process.
College Visits • Seniors are allowed two days for college visits. To schedule a college visit, contact the Admissions office of the college you would like to visit and schedule a date to go. It is best to go when classes are in session so you can talk with other students and staff. • It is also a good idea to visit the college financial aid office to find out about scholarships, deadlines, etc. • Take advantage of college representative visits to our high school. This is a great opportunity to learn about the college before you visit. Dates for visits will be posted on Family Connectionand in the school’s bulletin.
ACT Test If you have not taken the ACT or would like to retake the test, you can register online at www.actstudent.org Registration deadline for the June 14thtest is Friday, May 9th. Registration for the September 13thtest is Friday, August 8th. Fee waivers may be available for students who qualify – see Career Center for details.
Timeline for Summer • Visit campuses of your top-threecollege choices • Begin to fill out college applications • Volunteer • Explore different career/college options – get information from http://succeed.naviance.comor www.iseek.org • Start thinking about and do a rough draft of a college and scholarship essay. PROOFREAD • Start thinking about financial aid – how will you pay for school?
Questions??? A copy of this presentation is available on the Austin High School home page under the counseling link.
“Careers by Choice, not by Chance” “Love what you do. Keep looking. Don’t settle.” ~Steve Jobs Thank you!