Konawaena High School Parent/Student College Prep Handbook

Transcription

1 Konawaena High School Parent/Student College Prep Handbook I. Introduction II. What you need to get started III. Additional Opportunities for college credits a. Early College Courses b. E-Dynamics c. E-School d. AP Classes IV. Resources available at Konawaena High School a. College Scholarship counselor b. Guidance Counselor c. Advisory Teacher d. College advisors V. NCAA requirements for student athletes VI. ACT and SAT tests VII. Selecting a College VIII. College Admission process IX. Scholarship Applications X. Financial Aid XI. Student Role a. Letters of Recommendation b. Personal Statement/Essay c. Transcript requests XII. Parent Role 1 as of 9/12/2016

2 I. Introduction Each year, High School Seniors plan their next step in life. For many, college will be that next step. Preparation for college really starts freshman year in high school. Keeping attendance up, maintaining a GPA of 2.5 or higher, community service, taking classes that prepare for college, and extracurricular activities all should be a priority. For 1 st generation college students and their parents, the process of applying to college can be overwhelming. Even parents that have completed the college application process before may face a different set of circumstances with their student applying to college. The purpose of this handbook is to assist parents and their students to navigate their way through the college application process, and to make families aware of resources available on Konawaena s campus. 2 as of 9/12/2016

3 Junior Year II. What you need to get started 1. Review your classes early to ensure that you have all of the classes necessary to graduate. 2. Review classes to ensure you have the classes necessary to gain admission college. 3. Choose a major that may be of interest to you. 4. Start to research colleges find your dream school. 5. Draft your personal statement. 6. Take the PSAT. 7. Start to draft a resume that includes your volunteer and professional experience, extracurricular activities, skills, future career goals and any awards and honors you have received. 8. Do some community service. 9. Attend a local college fair. 10. Meet with college recruiters who visit the Konawaean campus. 11. Set up a calendar app to keep track of deadlines. Set up reminders for two days prior to deadlines. Senior Year 1. Complete your Personal Transition Plan by the end of Semester Complete your personal statement by the end of Semester 1. a. Keep copies of all of your college documents in a folder on your computer and a jump drive. b. Keep your personal statement in Google Docs, Word, or similar app so you do not have to retype it each time you use it. c. You will be able to use your personal statement on many college applications with a few modifications. d. Keep your personal statement in PDF form as well. 3. Request letters of recommendation: a. 3-4 Teachers, advisors, coaches or counselors. b. Submit requests by the end of 2 nd quarter, to give ample time to prepare (Teachers and counselors are inundated with requests in January). 3 as of 9/12/2016

4 c. Include envelopes with your request. d. Request a digital copy, or scan an Original letter. 4. In November and December check to see if the colleges you chose accept early applications. 5. If your college requires an application fee, check with the counselor to see if you qualify for a fee waiver. 6. Attend the local College Fair. 7. Meet with college recruiters when they come to Konawaena High School. 8. Take the SAT and/or ACT. 9. Request a copy of your transcript for your own use. 4 as of 9/12/2016

5 III. Additional Credit Opportunities 1. Early College Courses a. Early College is dual credit program that students take here on campus. b. Students get both a credit for high school and college. c. Take college classes on Konawaena s campus. d. Taught by college professor. 2. E-School a. Online program where students can get some of their core classes or advanced level classes that may not always be offered on campus: 3. E-Dynamics a. Online program that offers elective credits (Forensic Science, Cosmetology, Anthropology, etc). b. Limited to 35 students enrolled at one time. 4. AP Classes a. Classes that count as High School credit and can count toward college after taking the final test. b. Taught by qualified high school teacher. c. Must apply to take the AP test. **See School Counselor or Registrar for application forms 5 as of 9/12/2016

6 IV. Resources available at Konawaena High School Grade Level Counselors College Scholarship Counselor Student Mentors AVID Teachers Advisory Teachers Parent Volunteers Registrar Educational Aides Career Counselors College recruiter visits Parent Coordinator Financial Aid Workshops offered by the school and district 6 as of 9/12/2016

7 V. NCAA requirements for Athletes The advantages of competing in college sports are both immediate and lifelong. Participating in college sports provides opportunities to learn, compete and succeed. Student-athletes receive top-notch academic support, quality medical care and regular access to outstanding coaching, facilities and equipment. Student-athletes as a group graduate at higher rates than their peers in the general student body and feel better prepared for life after college. College-bound student-athletes preparing to enroll in a Division I or Division II school need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center to ensure they have met amateurism standards and are academically prepared for college coursework. Are you ready to play college sports? Download this brochure to find out. (ncaa.org, 2015) 1. Divison I Schools Among the three NCAA divisions, Division I schools generally have the biggest student bodies, manage the largest athletics budgets and offer the most generous number of scholarships. Schools who are members of Division I commit to maintaining a high academic standard for student-athletes in addition to a wide range of opportunities for athletics participation. With nearly 350 colleges and universities in its membership, Division I schools field more than 6,000 athletic teams, providing opportunities for more than 170,000 student-athletes to compete in NCAA sports each year. Division I is subdivided based on football sponsorship. Schools that participate in bowl games belong to the Football Bowl Subdivision. Those that participate in the NCAA-run football championship belong to the Football Championship Subdivision. A third group doesn t sponsor football at all. The subdivisions apply only to football; all other sports are considered simply Division I. (ncaa.org, 2015) 7 as of 9/12/2016

8 2. Division II Schools Division II is a collection of 300 NCAA colleges and universities that provide thousands of student-athletes the opportunity to compete at a high level of scholarship athletics while excelling in the classroom and fully engaging in the broader campus experience. This balance, in which student-athletes are recognized for their academic success, athletics contributions and campus/community involvement, is at the heart of the Division II philosophy. All three NCAA divisions emphasize athletics and academic excellence for their student-athletes; after all, the NCAA s overall mission is to make athletics an integral part of the educational experience at all member schools. The differences among the divisions emerge primarily in how schools choose to fund their athletics programs and in the national attention they command. Most Division I institutions, for example, choose to devote more financial resources to support their athletics programs, and many are able to do so because of the large media contracts Division I conferences are able to attract, mostly to showcase the publicly popular sports of football and men s basketball. (ncaa.org, 2015) 3. Division III Schools More than 180,000 student-athletes at 450 institutions make up Division III, the largest NCAA division both in number of participants and number of schools. The Division III experience offers participation in a competitive athletic environment that pushes student-athletes to excel on the field and build upon their potential by tackling new challenges across campus. Academics are the primary focus for Division III student-athletes. The division minimizes the conflicts between athletics and academics and helps student-athletes progress toward graduation through shorter practice and playing seasons and regional competition that reduces time away from academic studies. Participants are integrated on campus and treated like all other members of the student body, keeping them focused on being a student first. (ncaa.org, 2015) 8 as of 9/12/2016

9 4. Determine what Division you would like to play in (each Division has different requirements) 5. Visit the NCAA eligibility website: 6. NCAA Guide to the student athlete: 7. Check your transcript to see if you meet the initial eligibility requirements. 8. Register at: eligibilitycenter.org in GRADE 10 9 as of 9/12/2016

10 VI. ACT and SAT Tests 1. Check colleges where you may apply to determine which test they accept, ACT or SAT. 2. Get with school counselors to determine test dates or visit the following websites: a. SAT Website: b. ACT Website: 3. Register on time to take the test. a. You may qualify for a test fee waiver, see your counselor. 4. Study for the test using materials provided by the school and website. a. ACT has materials that are free and some for purchase. b. SAT has free study materials. c. KHS offers a free test prep course, talk to your counselor for more details 5. Create Study groups with classmates who will also be taking the tests. a. SAT Question of the day: b. ACT Question of the day: g/qotd/ 6. Take the practice test: a. SAT: b. ACT: 7. Review the rules for test day, a violation could void your test results. 8. Get a good night s sleep before the test. 10 as of 9/12/2016

11 VII. Selecting a College 1. Determine to the best of your ability what your major will be and search for colleges based on that major. 2. Attend local College Fairs. 3. Meet with recruiters that come to Konawaena High School. 4. Search the internet for colleges that offer the major you are interested in. 5. Talk to teachers and other adults about where they attended college. 6. Determine the geographical area where you would like to attend college. 7. Search for your dream school a. Do not let the cost of tuition keep you from applying to your dream school. Many colleges have their own scholarships for deserving students. 8. Look for schools that are your 2 nd and 3 rd choices. 9. Visit as many college campuses as possible. 10. Complete Virtual tours of college campuses that you cannot visit. 11. Apply as early as possible. 11 as of 9/12/2016

12 VIII. College Admission Process 1. Visit the college s website. 2. Complete the on-line application note all of the deadlines. a. Check with the counselor to see if you can get a application fee waiver. 3. Provide all of the documents that the college requests. a. Official transcript (see attached form). 1. Complete transcript request form and return to the registrar. 2. Parent signature if you are under Attach an envelope addressed to the college with a stamp. b. Personal statement/essay c. FAFSA (Student and Parent Sections) done online after October 1, 2016 using 2015 tax return information. d. Resume 4. Wait for acceptance letter from college. 5. During the final month of school, complete the form requesting copies of your final official transcript to be sent to the college you will attend (see attached form). a. If the student is under 18, a parent signature is required. b. Attach stamped, addressed envelope to the request form. 6. Get to know the staff in the financial aid office of the college where you have been accepted. 7. Check college financial aid site to see if any additional documentation is needed after acceptance. a. Note If student was not employed, they may be required to complete the IRS Form 4506 T stating that they did not file a tax return. 8. Reply to college financial aid letter to accept financial package offer. 9. Attend Freshman Orientation. 12 as of 9/12/2016

13 IX. Scholarship Applications 1. Make sure you have your personal essay completed and in digital form. You will be able to use it during the application process. 2. Request letters of recommendation by the end of the 2 nd Quarter to allow the author time to complete a quality letter. 3. Have copies of your letters of recommendation in both hard copy and PDF form. 4. Apply for every scholarship you qualify for. 5. Check the School Bulletin daily for new scholarships being offered. 6. Work with the College Counselor at the school. 7. After applying, check your regularly to see if there is any additional information needed regarding your scholarship application. 8. Put all deadlines in your calendar with reminders two days before. 9. If you are a finalist for a Scholarship and must attend an interview: a. Research the sponsor of the scholarship prior to the interview b. Arrive 15 minutes early c. Dress appropriately d. Thank the interviewer; sending a thank you note or shortly after an interview is a common courtesy 13 as of 9/12/2016

14 X. Financial Aid 1. On October 1st, start the Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) a. Create your PIN numbers. b. Complete both Student and Parent sections. c. Send FAFSA to all the colleges that are possible options, there is no cost to send it to additional schools. d. Use 2015 Tax Return Information e. Use IRS data retrieval tool in the FAFSA application f. The information goes to the Federal Government: they use a formula to determine what type and how much Federal Aid you are eligible for. This includes grants and Student Loans. 2. Discuss the financial requirements of college. Determine who will be responsible for any costs that are not covered by scholarships and grants. 3. Discuss how much debt you are willing to incur while in college. 4. Contact potential Colleges to see if there are any scholarships you may qualify for prior to being accepted. 5. Complete Hawaii Community Foundation application. 6. If applicable, complete Kamehameha Schools Scholarship application. 7. Work with the school scholarship counselor to see what scholarships you are eligible to apply to. 8. After college acceptance, review financial aid package offered from the college. 9. Work with the financial aid office at the college. Ask for assistance, that s what they re there for. Other resources: as of 9/12/2016

15 XI. Student s Role 1. Complete your PTP by the end of the 2 nd Quarter. 2. Request a copy of your transcript and complete a credit check with your counselor to make sure you have met or will meet the requirements for graduation. 3. Complete all academic requirements for graduation. 4. Complete your Personal Statement. 5. Complete your requests for letters of recommendation and distribute them by the end of 2 nd quarter to allow the authors time to write a quality letter. 6. Be mindful of deadlines for tests and applications. 7. Ask for assistance when needed, there are many resources available. 8. Be supportive of your Parent/Guardian: this process can be overwhelming for them too. 9. Take ownership of your education. 15 as of 9/12/2016

16 XII. Parent/Guardian Role 1. Complete Federal Student Financial Aid application (FAFSA) starting on October 1 (FAFSA.gov). a. FAFSA is required by most Schools when applying for financial aid, complete the FAFSA with estimated income if you have not completed your Federal Tax return. b. Send FAFSA to all schools that are possible options, there is no cost to send it to additional schools. c. You will use your 2015 Tax Return, you can use the IRS data retrieval tool imbedded in the FAFSA. d. There is a Parent and Student portion of the FAFSA, both need to be completed. 2. Work with your student to make sure deadlines are met. 3. Be available, and keep the line of communication open. 4. Monitor the accounts used for the FAFSA and college applications to ensure that all the requirements are met. 5. If possible, visit several college campuses with your student. 6. Do your own Virtual tour of the colleges that your student is interested in. 7. Keep an open dialogue with your student, this can be a very overwhelming process 16 as of 9/12/2016

17 References About the Division, NCAA Eligibility Center (2015), retrieved from: 17 as of 9/12/2016