COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCEDURE 1. Research careers and majors: Use these sites to research your interests, abilities, and values as they relate to careers and to identify training programs/schools: learnmoreindiana or IndianaCareerExplorer.org. (For ICE, use this code: N3443557RGW.) Compare programs and requirements. Check out the school websites. Make Campus Visits to the schools in which you’re interested. You may use 2 college visit days in your senior year. Go to the guidance counter and pick up a Campus Visit brochure to guide you in scheduling and making the most out of your campus visit. (If needed, your counselor can help arrange this visit for you.) Contact info for schools can be obtained at this site: college-scholarships/indiana.htm. Also pick up a TLHS College Visit form from the counter. Complete that and turn it in at least two days prior to your visit. 2. Entrance exams: Most 4-year colleges require you to take either the SAT or the ACT with Writing. (Most will accept either, but always verify with the college.) We strongly encourage you to prepare before taking the test. The following free websites would be very helpful: number2, collegeboard, and sparknotes. Test preparation books and software are also available. Consider testing more than once--especially if your scores are below average or if they are close to meeting scholarship requirements. We host the SAT in November and the ACT in December, but you may test at other locations throughout the year. See the handout “SAT and ACT: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about College Entrance Exams.” If you receive Free or Reduced Lunch services or if you are a 21st Century Scholar, you can get a waiver from paying the test fee. See your counselor. Two-year college and tech schools usually do not require the SAT or ACT. Ivy Tech and Vincennes require the Accuplacer. It is a free test that can be taken at Ivy Tech or, for Vincennes, at the public library. If you are interested in IU or Purdue, make sure to request that the College Board or ACT send your scores directly to those schools. That is the only way they will accept your scores. 3. College Application: APPLY EARLY! Preferably by November 1! Apply to as many colleges as youd like, but be aware that most charge an application fee. Some colleges waive the fee if you apply online. You may apply to the college before youve taken the SAT or ACT; however, the committee will not process your application until theyve received your scores. In general, apply online. If you do so, print a copy of the counselor section and give it to your counselor to complete and mail in with your transcript. You must tell us when you’ve applied online because your application will not be processed until we have sent your transcript to the college. If you’re applying using a paper application, complete your part of the application and then give it to your counselor, along with a check for the application fee. She will then complete the counselor section, enclose a transcript, and mail it in. Bear in mind that some schools and some specific majors within a school have early admission deadlines. Find out what those deadlines are. If you used a fee waiver for your SAT or ACT, you may be able to get the application fee waived. See your counselor. Once you’re accepted, be sure to turn in your Housing Application early to ensure the best housing situation. 4. FAFSA (and PROFILE): The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid--an extremely important form for anyone who needs financial assistance for education. This form allows you to apply for federal and state aid, including grants, loans, and work study programs. The FAFSA becomes available January 1. You must file your FAFSA online at fafsa.ed.gov. You are strongly encouraged to file that by March 1st. In order to fill out the form, both you and your parents (the parents or parent/step-parent in your home) must complete your tax returns. For further information and assistance, you and your parents are invited to attend our Financial Aid Night in January. (Date to be determined.) Your FAFSA must be received by March 10. After March 10, you may be too late for state aid. Some private schools also require that you submit the Profile. Go to this site for a list of schools which require the Profile and to register online: profileonline.collegeboard. 5. Institutional Financial Aid Registration: Some colleges have their own financial aid application. Some schools include that in the admissions packet. You may also contact the universitys financial aid office and request that they send one directly to you. For phone numbers and links to individual Indiana college websites, e-mail addresses, and on-line application pages, go to college-scholarships/indiana.htm. To find scholarships for that school, go to their website or follow the link from meritaid. Go to this link, indianacollegecosts.org, for thorough information about costs for a particular school. You can even do side-by-side comparisons of schools and their costs and scholarships. 7. Scholarships: Get the TLHS Scholarships and Financial Aid packet from the guidance office, if you havent already. It tells you everything you need to know about applying for scholarships and financial aid. You can also access that information from our TL website: tlschools. Click on the guidance tab. Regularly check the scholarship listing on the TLHS guidance website to see which applications have arrived. You can get applications and more information in the guidance office. However, be advised that at this time, very few programs send us information about their scholarships. They expect you to find them on college websites or by using scholarship search services (see packet). Local scholarship applications become available in late November and are due back on February 2nd. Listen to the announcements and check our website to keep on top of scholarship opportunities. 8. Miscellaneous College Procedures: Be sure to check with the college to which you have been accepted for any special requirements. These might include placement tests, deposits, orientation programs, and campus visitation days. Twin Lakes H.S. Guidance 9/14
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:55:01 +0000
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