Free Application for Federal Student Aid

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1 SENIOR NEWS 2010 Have you been notified of a scholarship or acceptance into college? Please give Ms. Rangel your letter of acceptance or notification of scholarship. A copy will be posted in the College and Career Center for all to see. FAFSA It is now time to complete the FAFSA. FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. You may use the FAFSA to apply for the HOPE, HOPE Grant, and many other forms of financial aid, including grants, loans, and work-study programs. The FAFSA is available for the school year. You are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. There are four ways to access the FAFSA: 1) Apply online at 2) Apply online at 3) Download and complete a PDF version at 4) Request a paper FAFSA by calling FED-AID ( ) Be careful of websites that help you complete the form for a fee. The first word in FAFSA is FREE! You should not be charged any money to complete it. Before you get started on the FAFSA, you will need to visit the U.S. Department of Education website to obtain your PIN. Go to to apply; you will receive your PIN in a few days. If you have specific questions about your family situation or financial circumstances, Ms. Morrow at the Georgia Student Finance Commission can be reached at: or mendim@gsfc.org. See below for details on an additional opportunity to seek assistance with the FAFSA. College Goal Sunday College Goal Sunday is a one-day event to help students and families complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Students and parents can: Get free professional assistance completing the FAFSA. Talk to financial aid professionals. Obtain general information about financial aid services and products. There are several locations set up around the state. In Gwinnett County, Georgia Gwinnett College will host this year's event on Sunday, 28 at 2:00 p.m. For more information, go to: Tri-Tech: Gwinnett Tech Three Step Application Process Students interested in learning more about Gwinnett Tech are encouraged to sign up in the College and Career Center for a presentation on Wednesday, 10. Participating students will be invited to attend an admissions application session and an on-campus Compass Test session. See Ms. Rangel or Ms. Thompson for more information and to sign up for the presentation. Deadline for Out-of-County Online Classes If you are taking a non-gwinnett County Public Schools online class, your grade must be submitted to the Counseling Office by May 3. Seniors who submit grades after May 3 will not be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony on May 27. ASVAB The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) will be offered to juniors and seniors in the SGHS Theater on Thursday, April 15 at 7:30 a.m. If you are interested in the military or would like to take the test for the career component, please sign up in the College and Career Center. Common Application Be aware that counselors are no longer able to submit information online for the Common Application. If you are applying for admissions using the Common Application, you will need to print off forms to submit to your counselor. Also, counselors will no longer be able to send transcripts online, so you will need to request your transcripts from the Counseling Office or submit them via GAcollege411.org (to Georgia schools). Broad Prize Have you applied for the Broad Prize? Gwinnett County Public Schools Seniors with a 2.75 GPA and financial need are eligible to apply. Go to for more information and to apply. See the attached sheet to help calculate your GPA! The deadline is March 1. College and Career Night South Gwinnett High School is hosting College and Career Night on April 27 from 6:00 8:00 p.m. Bring your parents and a friend along to make last-minute college and career plans. College Fair at Shiloh High School South Gwinnett High School Students are invited to attend Shiloh High School s College Fair on 2 from 6:30 8:30 p.m.

2 Graduation Tests You must pass all parts of the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT) and the Gateway Assessment to receive a diploma from South Gwinnett High School. Students who have met all requirements except for passing all parts of the GHSGT and/or the Gateway Test, may walk in the graduation ceremony, but will receive a certificate of attendance rather than a diploma. If you need to make up one or more sections of the GHSGT, take note that they will be administered March 30 April 2. The GHSGT/Writing will be administered on 24. The next Gateway Retest is scheduled for 28. College Admissions Testing: If you are planning to attend a two-year or technical college upon graduation, you will take the Compass Test. After you submit your admissions application to your school of choice, contact the Admissions Office to schedule the Compass Test. GAcollege411.org offers a Compass preparation program. SAT and ACT registration information and preparation booklets are available in the College and Career Center. You may register and study online at (SAT) or (ACT). If you receive free or reduced lunch, you might qualify for a fee waiver. If you use the SAT waiver, you may be able to qualify for admissions fee waivers, too. See your counselor or Ms. Rangel for more information. When registering for the SAT and/or ACT, you will be asked for your high school s code number. South Gwinnett s number is: SAT Registration Late Deadline Test Date Deadline 3/13 2/4 2/18 5/1 3/25 4/8 6/5 4/29 5/13 Registration Fee: $45.00 ACT Registration Late Deadline Test Date Deadline 2/6 1/5 1/15 4/10 3/5 3/19 6/12 5/7 5/21 Registration Fee (with Writing): $47.00 Registration Fee (without Writing): $32.00 Fees for both tests increase significantly after the regular registration deadline. STAR STUDENT Congratulations to Peter Luu! Peter was named South Gwinnett High School 2010 Star Student. STAR student is awarded to the senior who: has the highest score in one sitting on the three-part SAT is in the top 10% of the class College Visits Students are allowed three college visitation days per year. With proper planning and documentation, the days will count as excused absences. Obtain a preapproved absence form in the Attendance Office at least a week before your visit. Call the school s Admissions Office well in advance to schedule a tour of campus. You can meet college representatives and gain valuable information when campus recruiters visit SGHS. Some representatives will visit our school during 4 th period. You are free to speak with them and acquire brochures and materials at your leisure. Other schools will come for a private visit for which you will have to register in the College and Career Center (CCC). Your teacher must grant permission for you to attend and you must agree to make up all assignments missed while attending the college information session. Check the calendar outside of the College and Career Center, as recruiters call frequently to schedule visits. Georgia Gwinnett College Did you know that Georgia Gwinnett College accepts both Technical and College Prep diplomas? If you are interested in hearing more about Georgia s newest four-year college, plan to attend an informational session on Tuesday, March 2 at 9:00 a.m. Sign up in the College and Career Center. Common Black College Application Using the Common Black College Application allows students to apply to all 34 participating colleges for a one time fee of $35. Check it out online: searches There are many places to search for scholarships. The schools to which you are applying offer various scholarships and other forms of financial aid. There are also scholarships that are awarded to students regardless of where they choose to go to school. s are granted for achievements in various areas, such as grades, test scores, community service, athletics, essay writing, and leadership potential. Check with your church, your parents and your own place of employment, community groups, your coaches, and your club sponsors. The internet is another great source of scholarship information. Visit these sites: Be careful of scholarship scams. When you are searching for financial aid, you should be putting forth time and energy, not money. Be wary of offers that

3 charge a fee and promise to find you large sums of money. The following are just some of the great scholarship offers available: Award Eligibility Information and Application Deadline Atlanta Toyota $1,500 Seniors Selection will be based on GPA, test scores, essay, and reference letter. Obtain more 15 Broad Prize Bessie Snell Briscoe Mable Jackson Snell Atlanta Alumnae Panhellenic Association Jackie Robinson Appalachian State University Gwinnett Federal Credit Union Ronald McDonald House Charities SAMMY (Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year) Brent Lanier Soccer $5,000 - $20,000 Seniors with at least at 2.75 GPA, a record of academic improvement since 9 th grade and financial need $5.000 South Gwinnett High School Senior with at least a 2.5 GPA $5,000 South Gwinnett High School Senior with at least a 3.0 GPA $1,000 Female seniors with a record of community service, academic ability, and leadership qualities. $7,500 Minority high school students with financial need $10,000 Seniors with at least a 3.0 GPA with an interest in attending Appalachian State $2,000 Seniors with an interest in education as a career. Varies Seniors who are role models in the community $7,5000 Seniors with a strong record of academics and athletics $1,000 Male and female SGHS senior soccer players with at least a 3.0 GPA APPEAL Varies Seniors committed to academic excellence and community service with a financial need RKL Education Foundation $700 - $1,500 African American male seniors with financial need, a minimum GPA of 2.5 and a record of extracurricular activities Jackson EMC $2,000 Juniors and seniors served by Jackson EMC who have a record of community service Walton EMC Operation Round Up $2,500 Seniors who primary residence is served by Walton EMC; must demonstrate spirit of community service, hard work, and information and an application in the CCC. Go to for more information and to apply. Also, visit the CCC for assistance with your application Go to click on: Information, College and Career, and Snell s Application. Do not include your name or identifying information in your essays. Go to click on: Information, College and Career, and Snell s Application. Do not include your name or identifying information in your essays. For more information and an application, see Ms. Rangel in the CCC. March 1 March 16 March 16 March 26 Visit to apply. March 15 SGHS may nominate one student. See Ms. Rangel in the CCC. 5 See Ms. Rangel for an application. March 12 Visit for details and to apply. Visit bodybymilk.com for guidelines and to apply. 16 March 5 See Ms. Rangel for an application April 15 For more information and an application, visit Visit for more information and to apply. Visit See Ms. Rangel for an application

4 Jo-Ann Fabric Prom Dress Contest Marist National Science Foundation Atlanta Association of Legal Administrator s Gene Henson Navy ROTC $180,00 0 perseverance $50,000 Students who are years old Make your own prom dress (or outfit) using materials from Jo-Ann Fabrics. Visit for more information Full Seniors interested is science and To apply and for more information, go to tuition technology $5,000 Seniors with at least a 3.5 GPA and record of extracurricular and volunteer activities Juniors and Seniors with at least an SAT Math 520 and Critical Reading 530 Seniors Two students will be selected to represent SGHS. Obtain an application from Ms. Rangel. For more information, call or Anthony.Osborne@navy.mil Student-View $500 - $4,000 Go to and complete a survey about colleges. Snellville Lions Club $1,000 Seniors with at least a C average. For more information and an application, visit the CCC. Columbus H. $1,000 - Seniors who have a record of For more information and to download an Hartwell-Young $1,500 community and/or school service application, visit Visionary June Varies April 22 March 19 March 31 PNY Green Idea $5,000 Seniors who are eco-friendly For details, go to March 15 Georgia Military College ROTC s GMMDA Minority Full tuition, fees, monthly stipend Seniors with at least a 2.0 GPA, and minimum SAT 850 or ACT 17 $2,500 Minority seniors with a 3.0 or higher who have a record of community service Visit for more information Visit for more information and to apply. Experts Varies Students in grades 9 12 Visit Varies Hispanic Fund Howard Hughes Medical Institute Grant Liga de Campeones (League of Champions) Suessville Oh the Places You ll Go Varies High school students Visit Varies Varies African American, Latino/a American, and Native American Seniors $1,000 Hispanic seniors who are bilingual (Spanish/English) with at least a 3.0 GPA Up to $5,000 Seniors planning to attend a twoyear or four-year college For more information and to apply, go to Obtain an application from Ms. Rangel in the CCC. For more information and to submit an application, go to Abbott and Fenner $1,000 Juniors and Seniors For more information and to apply, go to m KFC Scholars Program Shell Oil Company $5,000 Seniors with at least a 2.75 GPA For eligibility requirements and to apply, visit $2,500 - Seniors planning to enroll in See Ms. Rangel for an application $5,000 geology, physics, or engineering TBA TBA TBA One winner per month until May June

5 Other Great Opportunities Reinhardt College invites students to see The Way College Should Be at admission events on March 13 and April 10. Sarah Lawrence College is hosting several summer programs for graduation seniors who are interested in the arts and writing. Visit for more information. Atlanta Alumnae Panhellenic Association invites female seniors and their parents to College Sorority 101 on Saturday, 20 at 2:00 p.m. in Pressly hall at Westminster in Atlanta. RSVP to The Medical College of Georgia is hosting a summer enrichment opportunity for precollege students interested in health careers. For more information and to apply, visit Deadline: March 1. University of Alabama invites students to University Day on 5 and 15. Register online at universitydays.ua.edu. Southern Polytechnic State University is hosting open houses on the Marietta campus: 20, April 17. Go to or call Georgia Southern University invites parents and students to visit campus for an Open House: 6 or March 27. Armstrong Atlantic State University will host an open house on March 27. To reserve your spot, go to se.htm Valdosta State University is hosting visitation days: 13 and March 27. For more information, go to Piedmont College is hosting Math & Science Experience 4-5. Eleventh and twelfth grade students are invited to spend the night and participate in the actionpacked weekend. See Ms. Rangel for more information. Medical College of Georgia invites juniors and seniors to apply for the 2010 Student Educational Enrichment Program from May 29-July 16. Visit or see Ms. Rangel for more information. Augusta State University is hosting an open house on March 20. The event will be conducted from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Register online at admissions.yale.edu/events. Auburn University will host The College of Engineering Open House on 26 from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. For more information, go to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College welcomes students to ABAC Stallion Days on 13. Register online at Athletes If you are interested in playing a sport in college, you must complete the NCAA Clearinghouse Application. The website, offers a plethora of information and instructions on how to register. You may send your transcript directly to NCAA via Transcripts Official transcripts may be sent directly to colleges using GAcollege411 at no cost to the student. You must first establish your MY 411 account to have access to this feature. When establishing your account, make sure you enter your social security number and name exactly as it appears in school documents. Students may also request transcripts in the Counseling Office. Transcripts are $2.00 each and require 48 hours to process. Students are responsible for picking up and mailing their transcripts; they will not be mailed by the Counseling Office. Plan ahead to meet your deadlines. Letters of Recommendation If you need a counselor recommendation for college admissions and/or scholarships, pick up your recommendation packet on the revolving display outside of the College and Career Center. Plan for the recommendation process to take at least three weeks. Do not wait until the week before your deadline to request a recommendation. Career Cruising Career Cruising is an excellent program for those searching for career options and planning for postsecondary education. Go to Username: SG Password: Comets Adults Only Once you turn 18, voting is your right. Make a difference and cast your ballot! For more information and to register, go to: Registration of all 18-year-old males with Selective Service is a federal law. Individuals who do not register lose rights to the HOPE, federal grants, and all federal jobs. To register online or for more information, visit:

6 GPA Calculation The following are directions to calculate your Grade Point Average (GPA) using your numerical grades. Letter Grade Numerical Grade Grade Points A B C D F Below Step 1: Change each numerical grade to the equivalent grade points. Step 2: Add all of the grade points together. Step 3: Divide the total by the number of grades. This is your GPA. Example A: Step 1: 89 = = = = = = 4.0 Step 2: = 19.0 Step 3: 19.0/6 = 3.16 Numerical Average = 90 GPA = 3.16 Example B: Step 1: 90 = = = = = = 3.0 Step 2: = 20.0 Step 3: 20.0/6 = 3.33 Numerical Average = GPA = 3.33 Notice that Example A displays a higher Numerical Average while Example B displays a higher GPA. If a non-weighted GPA is requested, you must subtract 10 points from each Advanced Placement (AP) course before converting the numerical grade to grade points.