Prepare & Pay. for COLLEGE & CAREER SUCCESS INDNEXT.COM ENTER TO WIN: $1,500 college scholarship

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1 SEPT , 2012 INDNEXT.COM Plan, Prepare & Pay for COLLEGE & CAREER SUCCESS ENTER TO WIN: $1,500 college scholarship A partnership of the Indiana Department of Education, Indiana Commission for Higher Education, USA Funds and IBJ Media

2 Scholarships provide opportunities for Sycamores to stand tall. After visiting Indiana State and talking with students, I realized the university and its honors and scholarship programs offered as many, if not more opportunities than other schools. The community at Indiana State is so willing to help students reach their potential. This is a great place to be a student. Anna Buck Noblesville Indiana State University Class of 2013 For further information about scholarships at Indiana State, visit Each year, Indiana State University enrolls the best and the brightest by awarding more than $5 million in merit-based scholarships. SYCAMORE PREVIEW DAYS September 22, 2012 Saturday November 12, 2012 Monday February 18, 2013 Monday October 8, 2012 Monday January 29, 2013 Tuesday April 20, 2013 Saturday

3 You ll find us just about everywhere. At Cummins, we share your passion for excellence, for the environment and for exploration. Our people, our technology, our power, our impact look closer and you ll see Cummins everywhere. You ll also see why the world s best people choose to develop their career with Cummins. We re global and growing in all markets and always Working Right. Our Board of Directors even includes an astronaut who went to space seven times and started a rocket company. That s because we embrace all perspectives, treat people with respect and listen to new ideas even those that seem out of this world! Working Right. careers.cummins.com

4 Get REAL REAL Opportunities Whether on campus in state-of-the-art facilities or in internships and other real-world experiences, USI students have the opportunity to test theory in practice. Degree programs are offered in business, liberal arts, nursing and health professions, science, engineering, and education in 70 undergraduate majors and 10 graduate programs. Get the REAL USI Experience Learn more about campus visits online or call the Office of Admission at 812/ or 800/ Tours are available most Mondays through Saturdays. Special Southern Hospitality Days are scheduled on four Saturdays in the fall (starting September 29) and four in the spring. CHOOSE A SATURDAY 2012 September 29 October 13 October 27 November February 2 February 16 March 2 April 6

5 A partnership of the Indiana Department of Education, Indiana Commission for Higher Education, USA Funds and IBJ Media CONTENTS PLAN 9 9 the college decision. are you ready? 10 all about the fi t. try these college options 12 Research, visit explore college! 14 What's your major? 15 Kaylin Brewer 15 the hot jobs list 15 Learn more about internships 18 avoid college planning mistakes 19 Scam warning 20 my college plan worksheet PREPARE college success starts now 24 college survival guide 26 What's the best way to prep? 28 Indiana high school diploma requirements 29 collin campbell 32 crazy busy? Get your life in balance 33 the admissions process 36 What to do junior year 37 What to do senior year 38 college prep quiz PAY money for college 42 Financial aid at your fi ngertips 45 Scholarship search for savvy students 46 It works! 21 st century Scholars pays off chelby tarver 47 Be smart about loans 47 megan mcnulty 48 tips to keep your college budget in balance 51 Kate o'rourke DIRECTORY Public colleges & universities 56 Private colleges & universities 60 apprenticeship programs 62 apprenticeship programs (Union) 65 Proprietary schools 66 military/armed forces InDnExt.CoM Plan, Prepare & Pay for CollEgE & CArEEr SUCCESS ENTER TO WIN: $1,500 college scholarship SEPT , 2012 On the cover: Myrisha Colson Senior at Arsenal Technical High School, Indianapolis Want to Learn More? In print, in person, on the phone and online, Learn more Indiana helps Hoosiers plan, prepare and pay for college and career success. check out LearnMoreIndiana.org or call the free helpline with your college and career questions at You ll learn how to improve your academic life after high school, plan for college, explore careers, apply for fi nancial aid and more. Learn more Indiana is a partnership of the Indiana commission for Higher education, the Indiana department of education, Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/learnmorein the Indiana department of Workforce development and the State Student assistance commission of Indiana, with additional support from Indiana s colleges and universities, USa Funds, Lumina Foundation for education and the U.S. department of education all working together to support student success. Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/learnmorein indnext.com 5 Fill out the enclosed reply card for a chance to win a $1,500 Scholarship from or a

6 Graduate in the Green. IvyTech.edu NOT IN THE RED IVY TECH $3,334 PER YEAR AVERAGE COLLEGE $12,000+ PER YEAR

7 WeLCoMe Dear Hoosier Student: Where will you be five years from now? What about in ten years? Don t let life just happen to you. Have a plan and make smart choices now, so you re ready to succeed in school, complete college and connect to a career. This issue of Next Indiana can help. Learn about planning for high school graduation and what comes next two- or four-year college, a one-year workforce certificate, an apprenticeship program or the military. Find out more about preparing for your future by completing requirements for the Core 40 diploma and taking college admissions tests like the SAT and ACT. Start paying for college today by calculating the true cost of college and figuring out your financial aid options. Next Indiana was designed with Indiana students in mind, so make your copy work for you. Talk to your parents or school counselor about the steps outlined on these pages. Visit the helpful websites, and complete checklists and activities. Do whatever it takes to make smart choices now and plan for a successful future! CoNTrIBUTING PArTNerS Indiana Commission for Higher Education Indiana Department of Education IBJ Media USA Funds PreSIDeNT Greg Morris DIreCTor of SALeS Lisa Bradley CHIeF FINANCIAL officer Jeff Basch CreATIve DIreCTor Deborah Strzeszkowski LeAD DeSIGNer Michael Button ADverTISING ArT MANAGer Ronnie Bullock ProDUCTIoN TeCHNICAL CoorDINATor Nancy Leslie WeBSITe DeveLoPMeNT Chris Schultz Michael Krisch PHoToGrAPHer Chris Minnick PUBLISHer Patricia Keiffner DIreCTor of MArKeTING Kim Howell NeW MeDIA & TeCHNoLoGy DIreCTor Steve Carder WrITer & editor Alicia Dean Carlson ProDUCTIoN CoorDINATor Jodi Belcher ACCoUNT executives Jennifer Bean Meghan Dagon Jennifer Harris INTerNS Jacob Lockhart Fred Learey Hannah Michelson Maria Schwab Copyright 2012 IBJ Media 41 E. Washington St., Suite 200 Indianapolis, IN Next Indiana: A Guide to Life After High School is published in partnership with the Indiana Department of Education, 151 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis, IN 46204, and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, 101 W. Ohio St., Suite 550, Indianapolis, IN Next Indiana is endorsed by the Indiana School Counselors Association, the Department of Workforce Development and the Indiana Economic Development Council. Mitch Daniels Governor state of Indiana Dr. Tony Bennett Superintendent of Public Instruction Indiana Department of education Teresa Lubbers Commissioner Indiana Commission for Higher education The contents of this publication were partially developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. However, this material does not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, nor endorsement by the federal government. All rights reserved. May be reproduced with proper citation for educational purposes. Patricia Keiffner Publisher, Next Indiana A Message From the Publisher: This is the 13th year for Next Indiana, and each year we work to improve it so we can better serve students like you in the future. Please take time to fill out the inserted reader reply card, or visit our website at IndNext.com to give us your feedback. Telling us what you think of Next Indiana will give you a chance to win a $1,500 scholarship from or a. indnext.com 7

8 WHO CALLS GOSHEN COLLEGE HOME? KAYLA AND DIVERSE PEACEMAKERS An American Sign Language interpreting major from Monroe, Ind., Kayla is a natural communicator. At Goshen College, she s gaining more and more experience every day, and using her hands to change the world. MAKE IT YOUR HOME, TOO Schedule your visit (we ll put the coffee on) and learn more about Kayla and your future classmates at

9 PlAnnIng Talk to us! Win a scholarship! complete the Reply card in this issue of Next Indiana on page xx. Send the it in and you could win a $500 scholarship from USa Funds! Share your plans for the future with next Indiana at College We want to know where you re going, how you ll get there and what you hope to accomplish. tell us your Decision story and we might even publish it online! College Are Go! Week you Get a jumpstart on college planning during college ready? Go! Week. Juniors should expect to: Find convenient dates to commit to a college visit. Register campus visits online at www. CollegeGOWeekIndiana.org for a chance to receive prizes and connect directly with colleges. Create a college visits binder to store information Juniors received during Register for Indiana e-transcript (get the details Research on page colleges xx or see your school counselor). online and make Complete Indiana s annual Commit Career to a and a list of campuses college Information Survey. college visit. Make to visit. a list of college campuses [Learn about you hope Register to visit this year. Learn more visits about on college for Indiana visits on page xx. page 12.] e-transcript. [Details on Seniors should plan to: page 36, Submit an application for college during college Go! Week. It s already crunch or see your time for seniors, so apply now to at least counselor.] one of your top college choices. Encourage your friends at school to participate. everyone needs to start somewhere making plans for life after high school. don t procrastinate; apply early! Watch for special events at your school, too. Make College GO! Week a success by applying for college and get the year and your life off to a great start. Watch for special events at your school, too. make college Go! Week a success by applying for college, and get the year and your life off to a great start. Do you know exactly what you want to do after you graduate from high school? If the answer is yes, that s great. Not sure yet? That s OK too. You have time to figure it out. But planning for your future should be a top priority this year. Start with the information and advice in this issue of Next Indiana, and talk to your counselor, parents and teachers about your interests and goals. Visit colleges, explore careers and learn more about how to finance those dreams because soon enough, you ll leave high school behind. Get started! What Will You Do next? PLAN Kick off college planning, learn about college admissions, earn cash for college and more! [September 24-28, 2012 at your school] Need a scholarship? Send in the completed reply card on page 52 and you could win a $1,500 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx scholarship from USA Funds. Tell us what you think Where are you going to college? How are you paying for it? Share your plans for life after high school You re Visit almost LearnMoreIndiana.org at the high school finish at IndNext.com. Tell line. What s next? Take your first steps us your story and we toward a great future now. In this might issue even publish of it online! Next Take Indiana, the you ll find some ideas. Talk to your ACT or SAT. counselor, parents and teachers about your plans. [See page 27 seniors Because for more.] before Submit you an know it, you ll be walking out the doors of your application high for school for the last time. college during Some high school College GO! students know or think Use Indiana s they know exactly Week. [It s what already they free, want easy to do. That s crunch time, so Make sure your e-transcript great but it s also apply now OK to if at you don t have SAT a and/or plan ACT when yet. What s not least OK one is of scores are being to your assume applying. someone else will top choices.] sent to the correct take care of the details. It s time to take charge colleges. of indnext.com Indnext.com 9

10 All About the Fit try on these College options Everyone needs an education beyond high school. Ninety-nine percent of the fastestgrowing careers of the future require post-secondary training or education. College graduates make more money, are less likely to be unemployed and are even more likely to live longer, healthier lives than men and women who only have a high school diploma. But going to college isn t a one-size-fits-all path to success, and not everyone needs the same kind of education. 10 next IndIana PLAN Going to college often means a four-year degree at a university, but not always. You might decide a better option is to start at a community college and earn an associate degree or begin an apprenticeship. You may need two years or less to get the job you want. Or you may want a master s, doctorate or professional degree which could take much longer. College planning is all about the fit. Try on some of these options: Four-year degree? Earning a college degree from a four-year college or university can offer students independence, academic challenge and a brandnew social life not to mention a college degree. Just make sure you ve carefully weighed the costs and benefits of each college you re considering because they can vary widely. Start with a solid plan to graduate in four years with at least a few ideas of career goals. College is too expensive and too important not to take it seriously from the start. Two-year colleges like Ivy Tech Community College and Vincennes University are surging in popularity. Tuition is affordable and you can finish your degree in less time (saving big bucks) and perhaps live at home for even more cost savings. You can transfer to a four-year degree program on a different college campus or start working in two years or less. Your local community college and school counselor can point you toward programs that will get you a degree and a career in less time for less money. Career and technical colleges may also help you get workready credentials. Looking at one of the many for-profit proprietary schools advertising on TV? Carefully check tuition price and job placement record. You may want to shop around. Learn and earn a paycheck Ready to work? One option is apprenticeships a great way to learn in-demand skills and earn a paycheck and work experience. Indiana trade unions and associations prepare electricians, tool and die makers, carpenters, plumbers, sheet metal workers and other hands-on workers on whom our economy depends. Most apprenticeship programs require an admissions test. Many have limited space and want high school graduates who have taken Core 40 courses in math, science and English. Most apprenticeships take you into the classroom as well as on the job site, and you may earn an associate degree, too. The military has been preparing our nation s leaders for generations through the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy. All offer recruits pay, money for college and healthcare. College can and should still be part of your plan. You can combine college and military service with ROTC and the Indiana National Guard. Still not sure? See your school counselor, who can point you in the right direction to explore your options. And let everyone teachers, counselors, family, friends, coaches and adults in your community know that you re serious about your next step. Tap into their experience and advice as you find the right fit for your future.

11 College Planning Resources Websites LearnMoreIndiana.org TripToCollege.org BigFuture.CollegeBoard.org Indnext.com Books Rule No.1: Degree Level Matters. On average, people with more education make more than those with less. Obtaining a postsecondary credential is almost always worth it, as evidenced by higher earnings over a lifetime. The higher the level of educational attainment, the higher the payoff. What s more, the gap is widening. In 2002, a Bachelor s degree-holder could expect to earn 75 percent more over a lifetime than someone with only a high school diploma. Today, that premium is 84 percent. On average: Graduate degrees confer even higher earnings: [Before you buy, check your guidance office or library]: The Best 376 Colleges, 2012 edition (College Admissions Guides) by Princeton Review Book of Majors 2012 (College Board Book of Majors) by The College Board Students Guide to Colleges: The Definitive Guide to America s Top 100 schools Written by the Real experts the students Who Attend Them by Jordan Goldman and Colleen Buyers People your school counselor your favorite teacher successful adults and family friends who have been to college Figure 1: Lifetime Earnings by Educational Attainment. $973,000 obtaining a post-secondary credential is almost always worth it, based on lifetime earnings. The higher the level of educational attainment, $2,671,000 the higher the payoff. $1,304,000 $1,547,000 $1,727,000 $2,268,000 education Pays $3,252,000 $3,648,000 Source: Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce 2011 Less Less than High than School High School High High School School Diploma Diploma Some Some College/ No College/ Degree No Degree Associate Associate s Degree degree Bachelor s Bachelor's degree Degree Master s Master's degree Degree Doctoral degree Degree Professional Professional Degree degree Indnext.com 11

12 PLAN Research, Visit How do you find a college that s a perfect fit? Visit your high school guidance office, go online from the comfort of home and, more importantly, make at least one trip to campus. The first part is easy. Visit your counselor s office and ask to see college guidebooks or visit the library and look at its college section. Start online at websites like College Board s (BigFuture.CollegeBoard.org) or LearnMoreIndiana.org (click on the colleges tab to use CollegeNavigator which will take you right to Indiana colleges and universities). Visit as many college websites as you want it s fun and it s free. Questions for your college visit: What are class sizes like? Is there a freshman orientation or transition to college program? What is your graduation rate? What percentage of students graduate in four (or two) years? What do students do on the weekends? What kinds of student activities or organizations are available on your campus? What is the average financial aid package? Are there research opportunities for undergraduates? An honors program? Tutoring? A writing center? Who teaches most freshman classes professors or graduate assistants? Indiana University, Bloomington Butler University, Indianapolis Can I see myself here? You ll never really know until you visit. How to make campus visits count: Visit several colleges during your junior and senior years. Visit a couple of different types of schools (large, small, urban, rural) to get a feel for what you like and don t like. Check out the community off campus, too. On one college tour, a prospective student asked, Where s the nearest Target? The group of touring students and parents laughed, but everyone wanted to know the answer. Schedule an official visit. You ll get to know the admissions office and get a good overview. Explore on your own. Eat in the cafeteria or student center. Check out bulletin boards and the school newspaper. Ask for extras. Inquire about overnight stays with a student host in a dorm. (How else will you know if it s quiet at 1:30 a.m. or completely crazy?) Can you sit in on a class in your intended major or meet with a professor? Talk to students. Try to strike up conversations with other students even random students waiting in a food court line. Ask why they chose that college, if they are happy with their choice, and why. Take a second look. If you re torn between two schools, make a second visit. You ll probably feel much more confident in your final pick. Indiana has 31 independent colleges and universities & public university systems to choose from, with more than 75 college campuses across the state. 12 next Indiana

13 explore College! Myrisha is well on her way to achieving her career plans. Her hard work in high school taking lots of math and science classes, being involved in the national MyRIsHA CoLsToN Senior, Arsenal Technical High School, Indianpolis Honor society and earning a Core 40 diploma with Academic Honors has paid off. she s received the Presidential scholarship to attend her college of choice, Ball state University. What are your career plans? I plan to be an architect. I ve always enjoyed architecture, so I think it will be a good career path for me. What are you doing now to get ready for that? The past four years I ve taken engineering courses, and last year they gave me a chance to take architecture. I m in ACe which is our Architecture/Construction/ engineering program. What tips do you have for someone else who wants to succeed in high school? Be focused on your work and be determined. And don t let peer pressure make you not want to do it. stay active. Join after school clubs, sports, anything because it will make your high school go a lot faster. SMAll College large UnIVeRSItY CoMMUnItY College living At HoMe PRo & CoN Why you might like Close-knit community with a focus on teaching; smaller classes and a chance to really get to know your professors and for them to know (and help) you More choices and opportunities than you ll even have time to experience in four years with lots of new friends to share those memories Get started on your college degree and a career faster and for less money. All the comforts (food, family, laundry) plus little or no living expenses or not smaller can sometimes mean fewer choices. Large classes can be overwhelming. you may have to work for the attention you need. your choices for majors and classes may be limited, and it can be hard to find on-campus activities if most students commute or work full-time. you may miss out on campus life. living In A DoRM living In An APARtMent or RentAl HoUSe Many colleges require students to live in a dorm for good reason: There s no better way to experience college than living it you re finally independent! some students find 24-7 college life exhausting and distracting. you re finally independent! Paying your own bills, cooking, cleaning it's not as easy as it looks. Indnext.com 13

14 PLAN What s Your Major? How one little question can start you on your college and career journey While you are thinking about where to go for college, make sure that you re giving some thought to why you re going. Your major is the main academic area you choose to study in college. Once you re in college, you may choose one major and change it later, but taking time now to think about your strengths and weaknesses, work preferences, lifestyle choices and career options can make a big difference in your college success. Think: What is your favorite subject? What are you good at? What major will help you create the life you want to live? The answers to those questions can help lead you to a college that s a good fit, a major you ll enjoy and a career you want to pursue. Some majors can lead to highpaying jobs. Other majors may lead to less money but high job satisfaction. You don't know for sure what the future holds, but you can make educated decisions based on your current interests and high school academic career. The college-career link Many students aren t sure about a major their freshman year or change majors at least once. Changing your major can end up costing you both time and money since completing your college degree could take longer. You at least should have some general idea about a major before starting college in order to choose a school that is a good fit. An independent liberal arts college one that provides a broad education in subjects such as literature, science and mathematics offers majors that will prepare you for a career or to continue your education in graduate school. Large research universities will have even more choices and probably some more specialized majors. Community colleges offer many of the same choices but may also offer very careerspecific areas of study. Be sure that the college you are considering offers your top two or three choices in majors and that they are high-quality programs that will help develop your interest. Check the requirements for graduation, too, to make sure you re ready for the challenge. Major Confusion? Feeling the pressure to pick a career field or college major? explore IndianaCareerexplorer.com to learn more about yourself and connect your values and interests with real careers. It s easy, free and fun. Just register online. you ll take three assessment tests that ask you to rank your favorite activities, your skills and what s most important to you. you ll get a personalized list of careers and recommended jobs that match your strengths and interests. Indiana Career explorer can even help you search for colleges offering programs that match your career interests. Goodbye pressure, hello future! 14 next IndIana

15 KAYLIN BREWER Senior, Northrop High School, Fort Wayne What are your career plans? I plan to major in political science with a pre-law focus and eventually minor in business. What makes you think that is a good career path for you? It s a good fit for me because I currently intern at a law firm, so my interest has flourished. I just want to help people as much as I can in the legal field. Do you know which college you want to go to? Why? It s still a toss-up between spellman College and ohio state University. spellman College is an all-black female university that is the top, best of the best. Then ohio state University is fully diverse and there s a spot for everyone. so, it s still a toss-up. What is your favorite subject in school? History because if you don t know your past, you won t know your future. What are you doing in high school to prepare for college? Last year I took classes at IPFW and I was on campus half my day, so I have dual credit there. Currently I m taking dual credit at school so I can intern in the afternoon. What advice do you have for high school students who want to go to college? Get on it early. It always helps to be prepared before it happens because now you re rushing. There is lots of stress. you have lots of things to get done. The earlier you get on it, the better. THe HoT LIsT What s the most in demand job of the future? Who earns more nurses or plumbers? What career field is both in big demand and pays an average salary of more than $105,000? Find answers on the next page where, courtesy of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, you ll find the Hoosier Hot 50 Jobs, a listing of the 50 fastest-growing, high-wage jobs of tomorrow. For more including video interviews with real people working hot jobs go to HoosierHot50.com. LeARN MoRe AbouT INTeRNsHIPs High school internships are growing in popularity as students want to get a jump-start on building their portfolio of experiences. Indiana INTERNnet, a program of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, connects Hoosier high school and college students with employers who want interns. Complete an online profile at IndianaINTERN.net, and see how internships can help you learn about career fields that might be a good fit. Indnext.com 15

16 Computer Software Engineer $72,268 Management Analyst $66,691 Physician and Surgeon $166,400 Network Systems and Data Communications Analyst $61,292 Registered Nurse $56,393 Construction Laborer $36,739 Construction Supervisor $57,377 Industrial Engineer $69,087 Counselor $41,249 Accountant $55,909 Construction Superintendent $78,237 Operating Engineer $47,523 Postsecondary Teacher $59,869 Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic $40,217 Human Resources and Training $43,537 Computer Systems Analyst $66,867 Customer Service Manager $43,083 Carpenter $38,124 Truck Driver $37,588 Cost Estimator $55,372 Sales Representative, Services $44,473 Plumber $50,139 Graphic Designer $31,810 Licensed Practical Nurse $37,417 Social Worker $35,368

17 -, Lawyer $82,540 General Maintenance and Repair Worker $36,291 Sales Manager $66,354 Electrician $51,852 Medical Services Manager $70,421 Mechanical Engineer $68,212 Accounting Clerk, Bookkeeper $31,030 Firefighter $43,906 Dental Assistant $33,646 K-12 Teacher $45,539 Building and Grounds Supervisor $35,625 Physical Therapist $70,386 Computer Support Specialist $38,239 Painter $34,010 Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing $52,403 Administrative Assistant $31,259 Police Officer $45,521 Service Manager $54,715 Dental Hygienist $65,844 School Administrator $74,033 Pharmacist $105,594 Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator $30,321 Purchasing Administrator $49,880 Boilermaker $59,944 Librarian $32,049 Indnext.com 17

18 PLAN AVoID College Planning Mistakes College admissions is probably new to you, so you probably have lots of questions. And while you ll get lots of advice on what to do, there are a few important things NOT to do, too. 18 next IndIana

19 Don t Ignore deadlines Pay close attention to application, financial aid and scholarship deadlines. They can vary widely from college to college. limit your options too early Have a dream school but think you can t afford it? Don t dismiss it. Keep working hard in classes, file the FAFsA and search for scholarships. Connect with the admissions and financial aid office, so the school knows it s your top choice. Fail to file the FAFSA you should file the FAFsA before March 10 of your senior year. you never know what kind of financial aid you may qualify for unless you file. Believe someone else will take care of it It s your responsibility to see that your application, test scores and financial aid information get to the right school at the right time. It won t hurt to call and double-check to be sure before the deadline that your application is complete. scam WARNING Colleges That Promise, but don t deliver Want to earn a college diploma quick and easy? College doesn t work that way. It takes time and effort usually a minimum of two years for an associate degree and four years for a bachelor s degree. In fact, some colleges try to convince students that they can get a diploma in less time so-called diploma mills that are more interested in your money than your education. Ask: Is it accredited? Real colleges are accredited by at least one outside organization that is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (chea.org). Proprietary (for-profit) schools in Indiana are accredited by the state. (See IN.gov/cpe) Can this degree be purchased? If you re asked for money in exchange for a diploma in the mail, it s probably bogus. Very little work required? Sounds good, but in reality you ll be paying for something that is most likely worthless in the eyes of employers and other colleges. Don t just assume that all colleges operate within the law or in your best interest. Be cautious and do your homework. Early Graduation Bye-bye, high school. If you could graduate a year early from high school, would you do it? Indiana students who qualify can do just that and earn the Mitch Daniels early Graduation Scholarship, a $4,000 educational benefit for students who graduate from a publicly supported high school at least one year early. Find out more at LearnMoreIndiana.org. Indnext.com 19 Fill out the enclosed reply card for a chance to win a $1,500 Scholarship from or a

20 PLAN My College Plan Worksheet Take the first step in the right direction: Put your thoughts about plans after high school in writing, knowing that you may change your mind as you visit colleges and research careers. Use this information as you think about your college search, and share your thoughts with your parents and counselor. Name: Date: High School Graduation Date: 1. I have prepared for and/or taken or will take the ACT or SAT (circle one) yes no 2. I d like to learn more about: Two-year colleges Four-year colleges Public Independent Co-ed Single-gender Church affiliated 3. When I imagine the perfect college campus, it is (check your top two choices): A small community (1,000-3,000 students) Medium-sized campus (3,000-9,000 students) A large campus (more than 10,000 students) A very large university (more than 20,000 students) 4. College costs are: A significant factor in my choice Not a factor in my college choice Not sure Important, but I plan to file the Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) and seek additional financial aid and scholarships] 5. When I imagine the perfect college campus, it is (check your top two answers): In a small town In a large city In a suburban community In another state Close to home Far away from home In Indiana 6. In high school I participated in (list extracurricular activities): In college, I hope to participate in (list interests you d like to pursue): 7. I want to go to college because: 8. My favorite classes or academic areas of interest: 9. I might major in: 10: The best college for me would have to offer (name one or two qualities you think are most important to you): 20 next Indiana