Senior Parent Night:
College and Technical
School Information
CSCS High School Guidance Services
Mr. Gary Springer, Principal
Ms. Jodi Robins, Assistant Principal of
High School
Agenda
Guidance Team
Types of Colleges/Technical Schools
College Preparation and Applications
College Entrance Examinations
Senior Year Timeline
Bright Futures/Scholarships
Coral Springs Charter
Guidance Services
Michelle Chirichella: BRACE/College
Advisor (Also, 10th grade counselor)
Bob Frazier – Guidance Director and
Counselor for Cambridge Students
Jill Pepe – 11th and 12th grade
School Counselor (Will I graduate?)
Nelson Martin – Registrar for
Transcripts (electronic SUS/paper)
College/University
What are my options?
–
–
–
–
State Universities (SUS)
Private Colleges and Universities
State Colleges (BC, PBSC, Miami-Dade)
Technical Institutions
How do I choose a school?
–
–
–
–
Campus Visits (tours, virtual demos)
Online /Big Future at Collegeboard.com
College Recruiters
College Fairs
What do colleges look at?
UNW or STATE GPA = did student receive a
B or better in all course work, regardless of
difficulty level?
ACADEMIC CORE = most important!
Weighted GPA - SHOULD BE USED on
applications (out of 6.0). They recalculate.
Rigorous course load, GPA and test scores
are the TOP considerations for college
acceptance.
Extracurricular Activities = sports, clubs,
and community service
College Application
Timeline
Chart the Course - - staggering
applications can help. See handouts.
Process:
1 – APPLY – preferably online
2 – SEND TRANSCRIPT – form
3 – SEND ACT/SAT scores
electronically (Waiver students get 2 free tests
of EACH in high school, and 4 extra free scores
sent to colleges. Others, should send when they
register. Everyone gets 4 free at registration.)
When Should I Apply?
Early!
Rolling, Deadline Driven, Early Action
Florida State University = October 15th!
Application, SSAR and at least 1 ACT/SAT
Test by October for Dec. 17th Decision
University of Florida = November 1, app.
UF= SSAR by December 1st, test by NOV.
February 13th Decision
2+2 Program
Broward College (North campus, CS)
Palm Beach State College – on the
campus of FAU – Spanish River
Many students being their college
education this way. Florida is nationally
recognized for seamless transition.
Completion of the AA (Associate of Arts),
60 credit degree, guarantees transfer to
one state university.(36 Gen Ed. Credits)
Technical Schools
Atlantic Technical Center
Programs in: Air Cond., Automotive, Culinary, Dental
Assisting, Electricity, Practical Nursing, Pharmacy Tech.,
Web Development.
Sheridan Technical Center
Programs in: Barbering, Cosmetology, Spa, “Green
Ready” Institute, Gaming Machine Technician.
McFatter Technical Center
Programs in: Accounting Ops., Early Childhood Ed.,
Java/Game Simulation, EKG Tech., Fire Academy/EMT,
Marine Service Technician.
Types of Applications
Most college applications can be found at
the Undergraduate, Freshman
Admissions, or Prospective Students tab
of the college’s website.
Students must create log-ins and can work
on applications at their own pace.
The Common Application is used mostly
for private schools, like the University of
Miami. Supplements may have to be done.
College Entrance Exams
Two tests: SAT & ACT
Detailed score reports help analyze
areas of strengths and weaknesses –
see concordance table or Mrs. C.
My advice is to zero in on test student
does better on at this point. Latest
test SHOULD BE the October tests;
however students who are deferred
and want BF keep testing (even June).
College Entrance Exams
SAT measures critical thinking skills; ACT
is a curriculum based test. Register for
Critical Reasoning SAT on Collegeboard.org.
Register for ACT at ACTstudent.org. Online
test preparation available. Consider tutors.
Recommended time to take SAT/ACT is
October and November. Waivers available.
Some highly selective colleges will require at
least two SAT Subject Tests. Take by DEC!
If you want to attend an SUS (Public
University), you MUST take ACT with
writing!!
Beginning of Senior Year
Create resume with the assistance of the
Guidance/Eng. Team (This will help you fill out your
applications and help teachers/counselors write you letters of
recommendation.) No letters needed for SUS schools.
Use internet to continue to explore careers
of interest and colleges that offer degrees in
your area of interest:
www.collegeboard.com
Big Future and College Confidential
Narrow choices, carefully review admissions
requirements. EX: Subject Tests by DEC!
Certain programs have pre-requisites.
By end of 1st Q of Sr Year
Choose 3-6 colleges ~ 1 or 2 “reaches”, 2
or 3 “targets,” and at least 1 “safety”
Visit college campuses – long weekends
Ask teachers for recommendation letters
(not needed for FL SUS), only IF needed
Continue to work on applications, essays
and applying for scholarships.
Scholarship BB - - sent 1st and 15th of
the month to students, parents (if asked)
Remember: Senior Year
Apply to colleges as EARLY as possible
Applications are online on college’s
website (follow directions!)
Pay college’s app. fee online or waiver
Send required recommendation forms
& resume to your counselor/teachers
Complete “Request for Transcript”
Florida schools – most electronic/free
Senior Year (cont.) Request scores directly from SAT
(Collegeboard.org)/ACT (Act.org) for
each college to which you apply.
If you are applying to FSU, send your
first test scores directly to fulfill the
deadline requirement - @Oct. 15th
SUS Colleges are only looking at your HIGHEST TEST
SUB-SCORES.
With close to 30,000
applications, do you think they don’t
use a data bank?
Financial Aid/Scholarships
Beginning January 1st of Senior year, fill
out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal
Student Aid) www.fafsa.ed.gov
Bright
Futures
Scholarship
–Visit
www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org
BF opens Dec. 1 of the senior year
NCAA Clearinghouse for athletes
www.ncaaclearinghouse.net
Mr. Frazier will take care of AICE credits - end of senior year! (Patiently wait – 8/2015)
Search internet sites for scholarships
www.fastweb.com has over 900,000 in their data base.
(My next visit, I go over “F” words:FAFSA, BF, Fin. Aid, fastweb)
FAFSA
FAFSA.ed.gov - GRANTS & Work Study - $5500
Free Application! Do not use FAFSA.com
If you apply now, it is ONLY good for next
summer, 2015. (No BF in the summer.)
For Fall 2015 and Spring 2016, you apply
starting on January 1, 2015.
Steps: get PIN for you and your child before
applying. That is your signature. Come on 12/6!
This PROVES your income - other scholarships!
Senior Year Grades
Resist urge to catch “Senioritis”
Some
colleges
require
mid-year
grades, a few even 1st/3rd quarters
Colleges can withdraw an acceptance
if grades drop significantly =
Rescinding happens!
Final transcripts will be sent to the
college you plan to attend after you
graduate, as will AICE credits.
Bright Futures/AICE
AICE Diploma Students get highest BF
award
“Students who have demonstrated academic merit
through a recognition program may be eligible
for Bright Futures without having to meet one or more of
the requirements.” - - no GPA requirement or test score
Take six prescribed courses and sit for six exams!
100 hours community service = FAS
75 hours community service = FMS
Bright Futures Requirements
FAS = Florida Academic Scholarship
SAT (BEST CR AND MATH ONLY) =
1290 with a 3.5 BF Academic Core GPA
ACT (Best composite of four subtests) =
29 (Four subtests = Eng,Math, Rd., Sci.)
FMS = Florida Medallion Scholarship
SAT = 1170; ACT = 26 with a 3.0 BF
Academic Core GPA
BF Academic Core GPA
4 English Credits
4 Mathematics (at and above Algebra 1)
3 Natural Science (two with strong Labs)
3 Social Science (Good news = 3 best and
the semesters can mix and match to add
up to your 3 best credits, same for Sci.)
2 World Language (Sequential, same
language) – again, best two! See me for
your BF GPA, as needed.
For Business Students = GSV
The Gold Seal Vocational Award is an award given
through BF to students who want two year A.S.
degree/certificate or a technical program:
Complete a minimum of 3 Career/Tech
Ed. courses in one program/30 CS hours
Earn minimum test scores on one –ACT
(Eng,17;Read,19; Math, 19); SAT (M, 440 and R, 440);
Pert (Rd.106; W, 103;M, 114)
Earn a cum weighted of at least 3.0 and
unweighted of 3.5/4.0 in those 3 courses
Scholarship Opportunities
www.fastweb.com
National = Toyota, Bill Gates, Kohl’s Cares, KFC,
McDonalds, Coca Cola (apply by October 31st)
Local Scholarships – 2x a month and on
BRACE site – ex. MLK Jr. Scholarship
Essay contests
Ethnic scholarships – SOIA, HSF, Native
Special – Talent-based, etc.
More Scholarship Ideas
Work – Based: Walgreens, Amer. Xpress
Recruitment Scholarships = work with your
coaches throughout the year. Seasonal
Make sure your athlete has registered with
the NCAA (see Mr. Frazier in Guidance)
Fill out ALL necessary paperwork for $
assistance (ex. CSS profile for Top Tier) –
leave NO stone unturned.
For further information, questions
or concerns please come to see
me, either by yourself or with your
parent!
Steps
Choose college
Apply Online
Send ACT/SAT scores
Come to Guidance to send
transcript