COLLEGE CAP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Ms. Myrna Bromfield CAP Advisor Room 136 Bromfield@dadeschools.net
What are my options after high school? Four-Year College/University, Two- Year College, Public, Private Vocational or Technical School Military Army, Air Force, Marines
Selecting A College/University There are over 3,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. Keep the following in mind.. Four- year, two-year, public, private or vocational. Location-Do you want to be close to home or far away? Size- Under 3,000 students or over 30,000 students Coed or single sex Private or public institutions Programs of study offered Sports and extracurricular activity available Cost - Do not exclude any choices because of high cost (Most private schools can afford to give you more aid).
COMMUNITY COLLEGES Programs of a few months to two years designed for the student to either transfer into a four-year university or go directly into the workforce. Open admissions anyone with a high school diploma or GED is admitted. SAT/ACT not required Associate in Arts (A.A.) transfer degree Associate in Science (A.S.) Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Certificate and Vocational Programs
Miami Dade Honors College ELIGIBLITY 3.7 GPA and college level placement on the PERT, or a combined SAT score of 1200 in reading and math, or ACT 26 Essay on an assigned topic Three letters of recommendation Official high school transcript Interview HONORS FELLOW AWARD Financial aid will cover the cost of in-state tuition fees and books You may receive additional scholarships or financial assistance if you qualify Personal scholarship counseling upon the transfer process Study abroad is available Limited amount of spots available APPLY EARLY BEFORE FEB. 1
Applying To College College application Application Fee Test Scores (SAT or ACT) Transcript
College Application Most colleges prefer that applicants use their online application Over 500 colleges are members of the Common Application, available at www.commonapp.org Students complete one application for multiple colleges/universities Some require a supplemental application
Application Deadlines EARLY DECISION: Binding Only one school Early October-November (Student must sign a binding contract) EARLY ACTION: Non-binding (may be different for some schools) RESTRICTED EARLY ACTION: May only apply to one school using this method REGULAR DECISION: Apply by deadline/all applicants are Notified at once ROLLING ADMISSION: Application is processed once received
TIMELINE Spring Junior year/fall Senior year: SAT/ACT test /SAT Subject Tests Aug-Dec Senior Year - Applications for admission Dec 1 st : Florida Financial Aid Application - FFAA (Bright Futures & all state programs) Jan 2016: Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) Nov-Apr : Housing applications
College Entrance Exams What are the SAT and ACT exams? These exams are used by colleges and universities nationwide to assess an applicant s ability to do college-level work. Even if you are not planning to apply to college, or to a college that does not require these exams; it would be a good idea to have them in your records for the future.
College Entrance Exams SAT Critical Reading Math Writing Scores: 200 800 each section. Total:2400 DON T GUESS! Registration available online at www.collegeboard.org ACT English Reading Math Science Reasoning Writing (Optional though you are strongly encouraged to take) Scores: 1-36 (Composite) NO PENALTY FOR GUESSING Registration available online at www.act.org
SAT TEST DATES 2014-15 TEST DATES REGULAR DEADLINE LATE REGISTRATION DEADLINE MAIL PHONE/ONLINE OCT 11 SEPT 12 SEP 26 SEP 30 NOV 8 OCT 9 OCT 24 OCT 28 DEC 6 NOV 6 NOV 21 NOV 24 JAN 24 DEC 29 JAN 9 JAN 13 MAR 14 FEB 13 FEB 27 MAR 3 MAY 2 APRIL 6 APRIL 17 APRIL 21 JUNE 6 MAY 8 MAY 22 MAY 27
ACT TEST DATES 2014-15 TEST REGULAR LATE DATES DEADLINE REGISTRATION SEPT 13 AUG 8 AUG 9 AUG 22 OCT 25 SEPT 19 SEPT 20- OCT 3 DEC 13 NOV 7 NOV 8-21 FEB 7 JAN 9 JAN 10-16 APRIL 18 MAR 13 MAR 14-27 JUNE 13 MAY 8 MAY 9-22
FEE WAIVERS Students who participate in the free or reduced lunch program are eligible to receive fee waivers for SAT and ACT, and for application fees! Fee Waivers may be used for 2 SAT exams and 2 ACT exams!!!! Fee waiver recipients may then receive up to 4 college application fee waivers from SAT and 4 college application fee waivers from ACT. YOU MUST ACTUALLY TAKE THE TEST WITH A FEE WAIVER TO BE ELIGIBLE! SAT - NEW!! No more late fees if using a waiver. ACT - Fee waivers may be used for late registrations but you must pay a late fee. If you receive a fee waiver and DO NOT USE IT OR IT EXPIRES, you will not receive your 2 nd fee waiver.
DEADLINES FIU FSU 10/15/14 1/14/15 UF APPLY BY 11/1/14 (FOR SCHOLARSHIPS) 5/1/15 (on a space available basis) 11/1/14 preferred deadline 11/2/14-3/1/15 space available only UCF Rolling 5/1/15 FAU Rolling-Priority 2/15/15 FGCU Rolling-Priority 2/15/15 USF Rolling Priority 3/1/15 UWF Rolling- Priority 1/1/15 FAMU Rolling 5/15/15 UNF Apply early 10/31/14 UM Early Decision 11/1/14 Early Action 11/1/14 Regular Decision 1/1/15 NOTIFIED BY Rolling Admissions App./Fee/Transcript/Test Scores 12/17/14 3/18/15 2/13/15 March - April Mid-December Early February April
Scholarships Do Not Fall From The Sky! SCHOLARSHIP WINNER You must SEARCH and APPLY for them. Look into local scholarships Look for institutional scholarships from the college/ university Check out ConnectEDU in your student portal
Watch Out! College Scams Want Your Money Here are some ways to spot them: Money back guarantee The Scholarships will cost some money Credit card or bank account number please! We will do all of the work You ve been selected by a national foundation to receive a scholarship or You re a finalist
Florida Bright Futures FLORIDA BRIGHT FUTURES SCHOLARSHIPS FLORIDA ACADEMIC FLORIDA MEDALLION FLORIDA GOLD SEAL Bright Futures Scholarships CAN be used at BOTH public and private institutions in Florida For more information visit www.myfloridaeducation.com/brfuture or call 1-888-827-2004
FLORIDA ACADEMIC 3.5 weighted BF GPA (16 core academic classes: 4 English, 4 math, 3 soc studies, 3 natural science & 2 foreign language) 1290 SAT (reading and math only) OR 29 ACT (Composite) 100 hours of community service Must meet all qualifications by graduation SCHOLARS
FLORIDA MEDALLION 3.0 weighted BF GPA (16 core classes) 1170 SAT (reading and math only) OR 26 ACT (Composite) 75 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE Must qualify by graduation SCHOLARS
FLORIDA GOLD SEAL VOCATIONAL SCHOLARS 3.0 weighted BF GPA (graduation requirements) and a 3.5 minimum GPA in in 3 vocational credits in the same program SAT/ACT or PERT scores Only funds an Associate of Science degree (AS) or College Credit Certificate Program (CCC) 30 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE
FLVC.org is your central web resource for planning and managing your education experience in Florida Choosing a college Picking a major College admissions Financial aid information Preliminary evaluation for Bright Futures Scholarships High School Academic Evaluations Academic Advising Degree Audits College Transcripts Career guidance
Florida Financial Aid (FFAA) Florida Student Assistant Grant (FSAG) is a need-based program for degree seeking Florida undergraduate students attending public institutions First Generation matching Grant Program is available to all eligible students Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG) is a need-based program for degree seeking Florida undergraduate students attending private institutions The electronic form must be submitted online www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org after Dec. 1 st of senior year Deadlines vary. Some colleges/programs set earlier deadlines One application used for all state funded programs (including Bright Futures)
FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid Available after January 1 of senior year Qualify based on financial need. Application available online at www.fafsa.gov Parent/student workshops in February and March
COLLEGE FAIR Miami NACAC National College Fair: Sunday, Feb. 22 th from 12-4 pm @ Doubletree Miami Mart/Airport Hotel & Exhibition Center Students can pre-register for the NACAC college fairs. This will save tons of time and allow students to visit many more college representatives. Visit http://www.gotomyncf.com/ to take care of this important step.
Useful Websites www.collegeweeklive.com Online College Fairs www.possefoundation.org College Match & Scholarships www.questbridge.org College Match & Scholarships www.fastweb.com Scholarships www.scholarships.com Scholarships www.hsf.net Hispanic Scholarship Fund www.miamifoundation.org Scholarships for Miami Dade students www.number2.com College & Testing www.collegeapps.about.com College Admissions www.cappex.com College & Scholarships www.chegg.com College & Scholarships www.campustours.com Virtual Campus Tours www.allaboutcollege.com College & Financial Aid
Keep your grades up Things to Remember Keep a calendar with deadlines Sign up to take SAT/ACT and other required tests Send college applications and required documentation on time Apply for as many scholarships as possible Apply for Financial Aid after December 1 st for Florida aid (FFAA) and January 1 st for federal aid (FAFSA) Keep photocopies / print online forms READ your email!!!!!