Dual Enrollment & College Planning Night October 27, 2015
RPBHS Guidance Counselors : Natalie Pluta Last names A-Dh Cindy Rosado Last names Di-Je Nikki Lanier Last names Ji-Mc Gary Harmon Last names Me-R Lori Kushel Last names S-Z Kate Murphy ESE/IEP Javier Ortolaza ESOL
Dual Enrollment: What is Dual Enrollment? Dual enrollment is a program that enables qualified students in the 10 th, 11 th and 12 th grades to enroll in approved courses offered through Palm Beach State College. The credits that students earn count toward both a high school diploma and a college degree. Dual enrollment courses are free to students and includes books!
Dual Enrollment Eligibility Students in the 10 th, 11 th and 12 th grade who are interested in Dual Enrollment must meet all the requirements prior to registering for courses at Palm Beach State College. Students need to: Have a minimum unweighted high school GPA of 3.00 Provide official college ready scores on ACT, SAT or PERT in English, Math and Reading SAT: 440 Verbal, 440 Math ACT: 19 Reading, 17 English, 19 Math PERT: 106 Reading, 103 Writing, 114 Math Submit a college application online Enroll and attend a mandatory Palm Beach State Dual Enrollment Information/Advising session Obtain and submit to the Admissions Department a signed Dual Enrollment Permission and Registration form from their counselor indicating course selections Receive a grade of C or better on all college coursework
Early Admission Early admission is a form of dual enrollment which allows high school seniors to attend Palm Beach State College full time, earning credits toward a high school diploma and associate degree. Minimum requirements the student must have: Completed 11 th grade Have a cumulative unweighted 3.2 GPA Having passing test scores ( college ready ) In addition to the minimum requirements listed above, Early Admission students must meet the following requirements: Submit a letter of recommendation from the high school Principal Maintain 2.0 or higher college GPA (overall) to stay in the program Enroll full time (12 semester hours or more) and maintain a full time status for the Fall and/or Spring terms
College Planning: Freshman Find out how to make the most of high school Plan challenging high school courses Research the benefits of attending college based on your future goals Become familiar with college entrance requirements Join extracurricular activities Research college costs Meet with your school counselor to develop a plan Explore careers and majors
College Planning: Sophomore Continue to take and plan challenging high school courses Think about what kind of education/training different careers require Start collecting college information Visit colleges and talk with college students Continue/start saving for college Consider your reasons for going to college and how they relate to your career interests Join/continue extracurricular activities
College Planning: Junior Continue to take challenging courses Keep your grades up Join an academic club Register for the SAT and ACT Talk with your parents and school counselor about colleges that interest you Visit colleges and talk with college students Start or update an academic resume Consider putting together a portfolio that highlights your special skills and talents Check into applying for colleges Investigate scholarship opportunities Volunteer for activities and clubs related to your career interest
College Planning: Senior Year Sign up to take SAT and ACT Visit your school counselor to make sure you are on track for graduation Work hard all year! Ask for personal references from teachers, school counselors, or employers early in the year Attend college visits at school Attend a college fair Begin your college essays Apply for admission at the colleges you ve chosen Apply for scholarships Start the financial aid process
Transcripts How can a student get their transcript? For an official transcript, students can come to Guidance during their lunch and fill out a transcript request form Our Records Secretary will process their request and provide an official transcript electronically to the selected school or provide them a sealed envelope to mail If you need an unofficial transcript, our Records Secretary can provide that as well
Choosing the Right College When you first start the college search process, it s easy to be overwhelmed by all the different options. School size Do you want to step out of your comfort zone and meet new people? If you see college as an opportunity to start fresh and meet new people, then a larger school might be the better fit for you. On the other hand, a smaller school means you ll see a lot more familiar faces and have an easier time getting to know your professors. Just like students, colleges come in all shapes and sizes and the right choice largely comes down to personal preference. Location The city or town your prospective universities or colleges are located in is also important to consider. You will probably spend most of your time on campus, but you ll still want to venture out on the weekends and might even end up getting a job there after graduation. Think about if you would prefer a small quiet town or a bustling city. You should also think about if you want to stay close to home. There are pros and cons to being close to your family during college, and again, it will simply come down to your personal preference. Student Life Like we said, you ll be spending the majority of your time at your school for the next four years, so it s important to consider what a college offers outside the classroom. Do you see yourself spending your afternoons in the library or participating in school clubs? Do you plan to study or go home on the weekends, or cheer on the football team? Whatever your idea of a perfect afternoon or weekend is, make sure the on-campus amenities and campus culture will accommodate your needs.
Choosing the Right College Academics This might seem like a no-brainer, but you should make sure the schools you are considering have the program you want to study. You should also do a little research about what kinds of activities and resources are available for students in that major. Is the university and specific program accredited? Do faculty regularly participate in research or conferences to enhance their knowledge? The answers to these types of questions can give you a feel for how engaged the school and faculty is in the academic world. Cost This is the least fun but arguably the most important factor. The education and experiences you receive in college are invaluable, but you ll still be paying a bill each semester. If you have to take out loans to pay for school, you ll be paying the bill for years after college. There s nothing wrong with taking out a loan to pay for school, but make sure you can really afford a school before you sign your name on the dotted line. If you have your heart set on a more expensive private school or an out-of-state school, do some research and contact the financial aid office to see what kinds of scholarships are available.
College Applications: Helpful Hints 1. Know your deadline Start your applications early enough to complete them by the deadlines. Also note early deadlines if you are applying for early admission. 2. Read the instructions Most of the mistakes on college applications are the result of not following instructions. Don t let this happen! 3. Provide all of the requested information Leaving blank fields or providing incomplete responses make it look like you weren t paying attention. Take care to be thorough. 4. Proofread. Proofread. Proofread! After you re done proofreading, give it to someone else to proofread. Typos on your college application look sloppy. 5. Be honest Admission staff will verify the info you provide, so keep it on the up and up. Don t exaggerate your accomplishments. Honesty is always the best policy.
College Applications: Helpful Hints 6. Choose your recommendations wisely Use teachers, counselors, and others who know you well, both inside and outside the classroom. Give them enough time to write thoughtful and considerate recommendations, and be sure to thank them. 7. Make sure your essay represents who you are The essay is the only opportunity you have to explain why you are different from other applicants. Be original and make it personal. 8. Request copies of your high school transcripts Request your transcripts early so they don t arrive late. 9. Keep copies of everything Keep copies of your applications, your recommendation letters, your essays, and all other materials that are part of the application process. You never know if something will get lost in transit. 10. Confirm that your application materials arrived Contact each of your schools to make sure they have received your application materials. If there is anything missing, supply it immediately.
FAFSA: Federal Student Aid FAFSA after January 1 st first come, first served $$$ www.fafsa.ed.gov For early estimate, use FAFSA4caster: Go to www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov Enter financial information Get an estimate
Scholarships = $$$$$ A live scholarship bulletin is posted on our school s website under the Guidance department tab The bulletin is comprised of scholarships that guidance receives; it does not include every scholarship available Students can visit Fast Web to do a scholarship search for ALL scholarships There are millions of scholarships available; it is the students responsibility to apply! The more scholarships you apply to, the more $$$ you can receive Apply to every scholarship you meet the criteria for because sometimes you are the only person to apply and you automatically receive the scholarship! yes, this has happened to our students before
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship program is created to establish a lotteryfunded scholarship program to reward any Florida high school graduate who merits recognition of high academic achievement. The graduate must enroll in a degree program, certificate program, or applied technology program at an eligible Florida public or private postsecondary education institute. Students must APPLY for the scholarship by submitting the Florida Financial Aid Application beginning December 1 st of their senior year and no later than August 31 st after high school graduation If a student does not apply for the scholarship by the deadline, a student cannot receive the scholarship http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/ssfad/bf/
Florida Bright Futures: Award Information Florida Academic Scholars: 1290 SAT 29 ACT 100 community service hours Florida Medallion Scholars: 1170 SAT 26 ACT 75 community service hours Gold Seal Vocational Scholars: 30 community service hours
Resources www.fastweb.com --Scholarship search https://fafsa.ed.gov/ --Free Application for Federal Student Aid http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/ssfad/bf/ - FL Bright Futures https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/ -- College Planning www.collegeboard.org SAT registration www.act.org ACT registration https://www.floridashines.org/ -- College and Scholarship Planning