September 2012

Test Date Registration Deadline
(Free with waiver*)
September 8, 2012 August 17, 2012
($21 Late Fee
Required)
August 18 – 24, 2011.
Note test center change requests must be made online or via agent by
August 31
October 27, 2012 September 21, 2011 September 22 –
October 5, 2012
December 8, 2012 November 2, 2012 November 3 – 16,
2012
February 9, 2013 January 11 ,2013 January 12 – 18, 2013
April 13, 2013 March 8, 2013 March 9 – 22, 2013
June 8, 2013 May 3, 2013 May 4 – 17, 2013
Note: Seniors are encouraged to take the October ACT to improve their college admission options. Students who participate in free/reduced lunch may get a fee waiver. You may use a maximum of TWO fee waivers in your lifetime. Waivers are available in Room 110 beginning Monday. Only the best ACT score goes to the colleges. If you plan to go to UIUC
(Champaign) you must put their name on the ACT application. UIUC will not accept school copies of ACT scores.

This test is before the announced
CTU strike date and, if you are registered, it will proceed as scheduled.
Be at Kelly by 8:00 AM.
You must have a picture ID (school
ID or state ID is OK)
Bring your admission ticket and a calculator (and maybe a few pencils).

You must turn in at least
40 service learning hours by Winter Break in order to remain in a senior division! Students in 470 divisions must earn 40 hours to move up to senior in the following month.
Note: Many students Divisions 470, 471 and 472 earned enough service hours to be seniors but the hours were not posted until after June 2012 report cards. These seniors will be moved to regular senior divisions at the earliest opportunity
.

You’ll be receiving personalized graduation checklists next week
Checklists will indicate what courses you still need to graduate
Also check other graduation requirements such as PL 195 (Constitution Test), Consumer
Ed, Drivers Ed & ACT/PSAE scores
They will also indicate what Saturday/evening school classes you need to take. Saturday school registration begins on Monday.
Note: Schedule changes have been submitted for approximately 250 seniors but have not yet been processed.
Please wait until September 13 before you start to make requests for schedule changes

The fastest way to request a schedule change is by completing a request form to be found on the doors to the counseling office or to e-mail your counselor.
Over 250 seniors are requesting changes, so the process may take a while. Counselors should be available after division on Wednesday,
September 12 if you have questions

When you receive your graduation checklist next week, it will indicate what Saturday and evening school classes you must take.
You need to see your counselor to get a Saturday/evening registration form.
If allowed, turn the form to Room 114
EVEN if you cannot pay until the first day of school.

This year classes are also available to seniors on-line. You
MUST have a computer with Internet (not dial-up) at home and must do the coursework in the computer lab during your lunch period or after school. See your counselor for details. If you drop or fail an on-line class you will be charged $200! Last year students were put on a waiting list. This is NOT a guarantee that you will actually be able to start the class in time for graduation!
Recovery classes fill up fast and you want to get in so that you can graduate! Failure to sign up for a class because you did not have money or forgot is an indication that you are not making an effort to remain on track for graduation in June. This is YOUR responsibility!

All CPS Students are going to be issued an e-mail address. It is just like g-mail but even better!
When school is in session this is how teachers and students will communicate
Because your e-mail address uses your name in a professional manner, it is the perfect one to use when corresponding with colleges.
Keep your personal e-mail for personal stuff! Use your professional e-mail for school stuff!
AND READ IT OFTEN!
More info coming shortly

What will you be doing after graduation?
If you don’t know, attend Career
Night (Wednesday, October 24) and College Fairs (at Kelly
Tuesday, October 30)
You need to start working on
College Aps NOW
Some elite schools have Oct 1 deadlines! Even more four year schools have November 15 and
December 15 deadlines!

whatsnextillinois.org
A great place to search for careers and colleges
Check with your counselor for user name and password; we will be in the computer labs at the end of September.

Don’t forget!
Kelly’s Career night is
October 24 at 6 P.M.
Once again, speakers will be grouped by career clusters
What’s in your future?

Did you know that college graduates make, on average, $21,900 more per year than high school graduates? (NCES/DES)
Most jobs now require some type of college degree.
Most college graduates earn a lot more money than people that only have a high school diploma.

Think you don’t need a degree? Think again.
Here are just a few jobs that require education after high school:
Automotive mechanic
Hairdresser, hairstylist
X-ray technician
Police officer; Forensics (CSI Investigator)
Nurse; nursing assistant, dental hygienist
Teacher
Computer software engineer
Social worker
Child care provider
Doctor
Lawyer

Several very useful college fairs are coming up quickly.
Your counselor or the Post Secondary coach can provide you with information regarding registration as well as useful questions to ask at a college fair.
These are great places to gather information, get on mailing lists, and even to ease your parents’ worries!

Saturday, September 29, 2012,
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Soldier Field, Cadillac Room
For juniors and seniors interested in meeting with alumni and representatives from Historically Black
Colleges and Universities (HBCU’S), City Colleges of Chicago, and some local Chicago universities.
Students need not be African American to attend.
A football game follows.

Date: Saturday, September 29,
11 AM to 3 P.M.
Place: Navy Pier, Festival Hall A
Preregistration is REQUIRED. https://www.gotomyncf.com
More Info? Contact: Ms. Flores in Room 259
No Busses are available at this time
You can go on your own with parents/friends
Good for any student at any grade level seeking info about college. Hundreds of colleges from across the country participate in this fair
REMEMBER – EVERYONE CAN GO TO
COLLEGE!!!!

Date: Sunday, October 14,
1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Place: Chicago High School for the Fine
Arts, 521 E 35 th Street
Anyone interested in pursuing a degree in
Art, Music, Drama, Dance, should go to this fair!!!
Once again, hundreds of colleges from across the country participate in this fair.
Register at www.gotomyncf.com
Be sure to choose the correct date and location.
More Info? Contact: Ms. Flores in Room
259

Tuesday, October 30, 2012
4 PM to 6 PM in Lunchrooom
Over 40 area colleges will be here to answer questions and take applications
Prizes will be awarded throughout the evening

Keeping It 100 sponsored by UIC
African American Network
Saturday, September 8, 2012,
9:00 AM to 2:00 PM,
UIC Student Center East, 750 S Halsted
For Junior and senior African American males with GPA of 3.0 and PLAN or ACT of
20+.
Registration is required c/o jofields@uic.edu
or call 312/996-5565.

CPS Senior Strategic Planning Day
Thursday, September 27, 2012,
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, UIC Student Center East,
Illinois Room, 750 S Halsted
For seniors with 3.0 GPA and ACT 20+
CPS Seniors with 3.0 GPA and Class President or
CPS Senior with 3.5 GPA & LSC Representation.
Registration is REQUIRED through www.chooseyourfuture.org
by August 30. or email
CollegeScholarships@cps.edu

100 Black Men College & Scholarship Fair
Saturday, October 13, 9:00 AM to 3:00
PM, UIC Forum, 725 W Roosevelt
Juniors and seniors with GPA of 3.0. Onsite scholarships are offered.
Qualified students must register at www.100bmc.org/StudentParentPage.htm
.
Sophomores can also gain good experience jst attending the fair.

CPS/SIEMENS 9 th Annual HBCU Scholarship Fair &
Reception
Friday, November 9, 2012, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Sheraton
Hotel & Towers, 301 E North Water Street.
CPS Seniors with GPA of 3.0 and one of the following: ACT of 20+, or ACT of 18+ and #1 in class or class president.
Letters will be sent to qualified seniors during first week in school. Registration is on www.chooseyourfuture.org
.
Over $30 milliion in scholarships were awareded to 758 CPS seniors last year!

Universities of Illinois Salute to Academic
Achievement
Friday, September 21, 2012, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Hilton Chicago, 720 S Michigan Avenue.
Chicagoland area underrepresented seniors who have a GPA of 3.0 ACT of 20+
Letters will be sent to qualified seniors during first week in school with registration information.

National Hispanic College Fair
Wednesday, October 3, 2012, 9:30
AM to 12:30 PM, Richard J Daley
College, 7300 S Pulaski Road
See Ms. Flores in Room 259 for details.

You’ll hear much more as the year moves forward.
Understand that Financial Aid comes from the Federal Government, the State, and
Private Grants & Scholarships,
Right now here’s a brief overview on FAFSA,
Grants, work-study, scholarships & loans
There’s even money for undocumented students!

Most grants come from the U.S.
Government, the State of Illinois, and sometimes from the colleges or universities.
Students who complete the FAFSA may be qualified for free money
(financial aid) to pay for college.
Grants do not have to be paid back.

U.S. Department of Education
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Anyone with a Social Security Number can Apply for Free
$$$$. New rules have added options for undocumented students.
If you have a Social Security Number you can do your application on-line
You can begin now by doing the FAFSA4caster and EFC
Calculators.
You cannot do the actual FAFSA until January 1, but need to complete it by March 30 to get the most FREE $$$$
Note an ITIN Number is not a Social Security Number. Check your card carefully

Students who complete the FAFSA may be qualified for a job on the college campus.
This money has tax benefits and does not have to be repaid to the government. It can be used for school or for personal expenses.
Students can also hold regular jobs, and
sometimes they can even get a job on campus if they do not qualify for workstudy. Of course, you can always have a summer job to help pay bills too.

This is money awarded to students that does not have to be paid back
You do not have to have a social security number or an alien registration number to “win” a scholarship
Scholarships are like prizes. You can earn them by having good grades, by completing essays or by competing in contests. ANYONE CAN
QUALIFY!!! There is at least one scholarship
for every person in this room.

Many dates are approaching quickly….start researching some of the BEST search sites: www.chooseyourfuture.org
www.isac.com
www.whatsnextillinois.org
www.collegezone.com

Students who have a social security number AND a
3.3 GPA or higher at the end of their Junior year might win FREE TUITION for LIFE – Apply for the
Gates Millennium Scholarship! (You’ll get an invite from us)
Questbridge and Possee scholarships provide outstanding opportunities for first generation low income students to attend and afford the best universities in the nation.

Students with a good record of leadership/service might consider the
Prudential Spirit Award.
Ms. Flores is ALWAYS e-mailing students with scholarship opportunities – are you on her mailing list?

BE CAREFUL – Scholarship Scams are all around – NEVER, EVER pay for a scholarship search or for college or financial aid (FAFSA) processing assistance…these services are FREE; the paid services make promises…nothing else!

College is expensive.
Few people can pay for college using only grants, scholarships and work-study.
A loan is any money borrowed by a student or a parent to pay for college. It MUST be paid back—but there are some great deals out there.
Don’t let your need for a loan keep you away from your dream of attending college! LET’S TALK!!!

We are here for you!!!

 Divisions 301-304
Ms. Koivula, Room 110 South
 Divisions 305-319
Mr. Vonesh, Room 214 North
 Divisions 320-330 and
 Divisions 470-472
Ms. O’Connor, Room 110 North

 Ms. Flores,

College & Career Coach, Room 259
 Ms. Miranda,

College Advisor, Illinois College Advising Corps, Room 259

We will be registering new students every day—all day through September 11
We will be registering new students during 1 st through 3 rd period September 12 through
September 14
We will NOT BE AVAILABLE for current students until after division September 12 through
September 14.
YOU CAN complete a note (with your e-mail address) and we will send you a note back!

 Junior and Senior Parent Night
 September 13, 2012
 6 – 8 PM
 Auditorium
 Workshops will be in
English and Spanish
More information to follow

#Complete at least six college or vocational school applications by Winter Break 2011.
(2 by Halloween, 2 more by Thanksgiving, last 2 by Winter Break).
You’ll find out about College Match in
Senior Seminar, AVID and English 4 classes inSeptember/October.

# Complete FAFSA4Caster and EFC
Calculators in October/November
#Complete FAFSA in
January/February/March
#Apply for six scholarships by Spring
Break 2013.
#Continue to Focus on Good Grades
#Don’t worry—we’re here to help!

Computer Lab 259 gives priority to seniors needing postsecondary assistance during lunch periods (Postsecondary means planning for life after high school—such as college)
Online College & Financial Aid Center and workshops are available in Room 259 on Tuesdays and Thursdays during 7 th , 8 th and 9 th period.
Ms. Flores can be reached at njflores@cps.edu
.
If she has your e-mail she will be sure to send you
LOTS of information about college and scholarships.

IF Chicago Teachers Union actually strikes on September 10, you still need to work toward senior and college goals.
Understand that the suburban and private schools – and other schools throughout the nation – will be working on these goals and that deadlines approach even if you are not in school.

You will not be able to be in contact with your teachers.
It is strongly suggested that you keep this document and that you try to register and participate in college fairs and other events.

It is also suggested that you research the college application process and, if you feel confident, complete an application or two
(essays should always be reviewed by an adult who is a good writer).
Finally, go to web sites like www.chooseyourfuture.org
or www.whatsnextillinois.org
for helpful suggestions on college prep.

HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL VERY SOON –
INDIVIDUALLY AND AS A SENIOR
CLASS! REMEMBER…..
COLLEGE CHANGES EVERYTHING!!!