C
Name:______________________
Class Of:______
Updated 11/2/2015
1
IMPORTANT DATES FOR SENIORS
FALL
Review and note your college applications deadlines and submit!!!
Check SAT scores with your counselor to find out if you need to retake the SAT or ACT for
college admission
Begin looking for scholarship and financial aid opportunities. Check out the scholarship
shelves in the counseling center and pick up a copy of the Bengal Green! Note deadlines.
Update your resume.
Begin thinking about whom you would ask for letters of recommendation (teachers,
counselor, boss, etc.) and request letters from two possible references.
Begin talking to college and military representatives.
Make a college visit
WINTER
Apply for your FAFSA Pin number and ask your parents to do the same. You will each need
your own Pin.
Compile necessary information for the FAFSA (Do not submit prior to January 1st!) The
FAFSA 4caster is available to help you determine eligibility. Submit FAFSA early in
January and by your college’s priority deadline at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Attend the Financial Aid Night at the high school to learn more about financial aid
opportunities.
See the Registrar to send your transcript to the colleges to which you are applying.
Verify with colleges your application file is complete.
SPRING
Attend a Preview or Advising Day at a college of your choice.
Update FAFSA after taxes have been finished.
Respond in writing to accept the financial aid offer from the college you will be attending.
Notify counseling center of scholarships you have been awarded.
See the Registrar to sign up to have your final transcript send to the college you have chosen
to attend.
Review College and Career Handbook and checklist with parents!
Graduate !!!
2
COLLEGE APPLICATION CHECKLIST
The following checklist is to help you in the application process:
Before you begin the application:
Obtain a copy of your transcript and resume.
Allow ample time (weeks) to prepare your application. Request letters of
recommendation and allow the people you ask ample time to complete them (two
weeks minimum).
As you are filling the application out:
Check your information for grammar and spelling.
After the application is sent:
Request that official high school transcripts, ACT and/or SAT results be sent to the
colleges of your choice from the registrar.
Make a follow-up call to the college to make sure that they received your application
and that your file is complete.
3
Credit Check
Credit
Reading
Speech
English 9
English 10
English11
English 12
Health
Technology
PE
Humanities
Professional-Tech
Social Science
Economics
US History
10th US History
10th W History
US Government
Math (Alg 1, Geom, Sr. Math)
Science
Electives
ISAT Proficiency
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
9th Grade:
Rank:
GPA:
# of Credits Earned:
# of Credits Remaining:
2
2
2
2
10th Grade:
Rank:
GPA:
# of Credits Earned:
# of Credits Remaining:
2 3
2
2
11th Grade:
Rank:
GPA:
# of Credits Earned:
# of Credits Remaining:
12th Grade:
Rank:
GPA:
# of Credits Earned:
# of Credits Remaining:
2
2
2 3 4
2 3 4
2 3 4
5 6
5 6
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
ACT/SAT/Compass/Accuplacer
Senior Project
State of Idaho Requirements for Early Completer
Credit
Speech (1)
English 9 (2)
English 10 (2)
English11 (2)
English 12 (2)
Health (1)
Humanities (2)
Economics (1)
US History (2)
US Government (2)
Math (Algebra 1, Geometry) (6)
Science (6)
Electives (17)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
6
6
6
7
4
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
APPLICATION ESSAY TIPS
DO
start early. Leave plenty of time to revise, reword and rewrite.
DO
read the directions carefully and answer the question as directly as possible. Follow
word limits exactly. Express yourself as briefly and as clearly as you can.
DO
tell the truth.
DO
focus on an aspect of yourself that will show your best side. You might have
overcome some adversity, worked through a difficult project, or profited from a
specific incident. A narrow focus is more interesting than broad-based
generalizations.
DO
feel comfortable in expressing anxieties. Everybody has them and it’s good to know
that an applicant can see their own and express them.
DO
tie yourself to the college. Be specific about what this particular school can do for
you.
DO
speak positively. Negatives tend to turn people off.
DO
write about your greatest assets and achievements. You should be proud of them!
But…
DO NOT
repeat information given elsewhere on your application. The committee has
already seen it and it looks as if you have nothing better to say.
DO NOT
write on general, impersonal topics, like the nuclear arms race or the
importance of good management in business. The college wants to know
about you.
DO NOT
use the personal statement to excuse your shortcomings. It will give them
additional attention.
DO NOT
use clichés.
DO NOT
go to extremes—too witty, too opinionated or too intellectual.
5
COMMON TOPICS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Experience or person that has influenced your life and why?
What sets you apart from others to deserve this award?
What’s your career choice and why?
What contributions do you expect to contribute to society?
Personal statement about yourself. If they are going to
give you money, they want to get to know who you.
6
ACTIVITY:
Choosing the College that is Right for You
Place an “X” in the left column of three of the most important factors for you to consider when choosing a
college.
College
Name
X
Location
-distance from home
-enrollment
-physical size of campus
Environment
-type of school (2 or 4 yr)
-school setting (rural, urban)
-location and size of nearest city
-co-ed, male, female
-religious affiliation
Admission
-deadline
-tests required
-average test scores, GPA, rank
-notification
-application cost
Academics
-your major offered
-special requirements
-accreditation
-student-faculty ratio
-typical class size
College Expenses
-tuition, room and board
-estimated total budget
-application fee, deposits
Financial Aid
-deadline
-required forms
-% receiving aid
-scholarships
Housing
-residence hall requirements
-food plan
Facilities
-academic
-recreational
-other
Activities
-clubs, organizations
-Greek life
-athletics, intramurals
-other
Campus Visits
-when
-special opportunities
7
ACTIVITY:
College Costs Comparison Worksheet
1st Choice
College:
2nd Choice
College:
Direct Costs
Tuition and fees
Room and
board
Indirect Costs
Books and
supplies
Transportation
(Including car
expenses)
Miscellaneous
(Food, clothing,
school supplies,
etc.)
TOTALS:
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3rd Choice
College:
4th Choice
College:
FINANCIAL AID
These steps are for students entering college or postsecondary training during the first semester or
quarter of the fall term.
FAFSA
The Fall Before You Will Enter School
1. Email or call the financial aid office at each school in which you have an interest. Ask about
financial aid possibilities and obtain their financial aid application, if necessary.
2. Submit the FAFSA online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. You will have to obtain a PIN number
by following the directions on the website. Your PIN number can be used from year to year.
Your parents will also need their own PIN number.
Soon After January 1st
3. Submit the FAFSA as soon as possible AFTER the 1st of January.
4. When you receive the Student Aid Report (SAR) by mail or electronically READ IT
CAREFULLY.
In the Spring
5. Each school will tell you whether you are eligible for financial aid. If so, they also will
explain how much grant, loan or work study money they can offer you.
6. Tell each school in writing whether you accept their financial aid package or not.
Beginning with the Summer Term
7. Aid awarded for the academic year must be used during the fall and spring terms. Aid may
be available during the summer term. Ask your financial aid officer well in advance of
summer enrollment if summer aid is available at your school. Some schools may have a
separate summer application process so be sure to check with the financial aid office.
Scholarships
1. Check with your high school counselor and other sources about local, regional and national
scholarships. Some require formal applications including essays or speeches. Many of
these “outside” scholarships have deadlines in the fall or early spring.
2. Apply early for scholarships. Do not apply for a scholarship if you do not meet the
requirements. Proofread carefully for spelling and grammar mistakes. Keep a copy of the
letters you send and the application forms that you fill out. Refer to them the next time you
request information or apply for a scholarship.
3. Check out the counseling website for an updated Bengal Green every other week. This
document lists all of the scholarships that are currently offered through the high school.
4. Look at financial aid websites (see page 6 for ideas on websites).
5. Check out information on the Western Undergraduate Exchange program. Certain out-ofstate colleges offer reduced out-of-state tuition costs. Visit the website for more
information: http://wiche.edu/sep/wue.
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ACTIVITY:
College Admission and Financial Aid Logs
College #1: _________________________
College #2: __________________________
Address:____________________________
Phone:_____________________________
Address:____________________________
Phone:_____________________________
E-mail:____________________________
E-mail:____________________________
College Admission Log
College Admission Log
Application Completed □ Date_______
Application Completed □ Date_______
Submitted to college □ Date_____________
Submitted to college □ Date_____________
Admission Test Completed: □ Date______
Admission Test Completed: □ Date______
High school transcript submitted □ Date_______
High school transcript submitted □ Date_______
Phone Call to College to Confirm File is
Complete □
Date___________
Phone Call to College to Confirm File is
Complete □
Date___________
Name of Person you Spoke with:
Name of Person you Spoke with:
Special Notes:
Special Notes:
Financial Aid Log
Financial Aid Log
Financial Aid Application Submitted to College
□ Date_________________
Financial Aid Application Submitted to College
□ Date_________________
Pin Number Requested □ Date__________
Parent Pin Number Requested □ Date_______
Pin Number Requested □ Date__________
Parent Pin Number Requested □ Date_______
FAFSA completed □ Date______________
FAFSA completed □ Date______________
Financial Aide Offer Received from College □
Date_________________________
Financial Aide Offer Received from College □
Date_________________________
Offer Details:
Offer Details:
Special Notes:
Special Notes:
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