SENIORS--ARE YOU ON THE RIGHT TRACK?
Planning on Attending a 2 Year Community College?
◊ Have you taken or registered to take an ACT or SAT or PERT test? You will
need test scores to apply to college and also for Bright Futures (Medallion/
Academic Scholar/Gold Seal) eligibility. You can register online at
actstudent.org (ACT)
collegeboard.org (SAT)
If you are planning on taking the PERT test, which can only be used for community college
admission, you can sign up in the College and Career Lab in 03-109 but if you need to take it sooner
than the next scheduled date, you will need to contact CF's Testing Center at 352-854-2322, ext.
1564 or 1395 to arrange a time to take the test in their testing lab.
If you need help with registering for ACT or SAT tests, the College and Career Lab (03-109) can
help. If you receive free or reduced lunch at LWHS, you will be eligible for a waiver which will
cover the cost of the ACT or SAT test.
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Students are eligible for 2 SAT and 2 ACT waivers during their 4 years in high school. If
you register using a waiver and do not end up taking the test, the waiver is still considered
used. Waivers can be obtained in the College and Career Lab or from your guidance
counselor in the Guidance Office.
The cost for the ACT without a waiver is $36.50 (No Writing) and $52.50 (Plus Writing).
The cost for the SAT without a waiver is $51.
ACT Test Date
September 21,
2013
October 26, 2013
December 14,
2013
February 8, 2014
April 12, 2014
June 14, 2014
SAT Test Date
Registration
Deadline
August 23, 2013
October 5, 2013
September 127
2013
November 8, 2013
November 2, 2013
December 7, 2013
January 25, 2013
January 10, 2014
March 7, 2014
May 9, 2014
March 08, 2014
May 3, 2014
June 7, 2014
Registration
Deadline
September 20,
2013
October 3, 2013
November 8, 2013
December 27,
2013
February 7, 2014
April 4 , 2014
May 9, 2014
Looking for help in preparing for your ACT or SAT tests?
Check out these great websites for practice tests and tips:
http://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-practice-questions
http://sat.org/practice
http://www.ineedapencil.com/
http://www.testprepreview.com/
http://www.cf.edu/departments/sa/assessment/help.htm (PERT only)
◊ Have you applied to college? Most colleges have online applications. The website for CCF (College
at Central Florida) is cf.edu. The website for Santa College is sfcollege.edu. “Google” to find the
website for other community colleges. Look for a link for “new students” or “prospective students”
or “admissions” once you get to the college website. Community Colleges in Florida do not have
admissions deadlines but the earlier you apply, the earlier you can apply for private scholarship
monies that are available.
◊ Have you notified the Guidance Office that you need your transcript sent to the school you have
applied to? Only official transcripts sent from our school will be considered. Wait until you have
completed the online application or mailed off your application before you fill out a pink transcript
request form in the Guidance Office and return it to one of the Guidance Clerks. If you took the
SAT test with a fee waiver, you are eligible for college application fee waivers. See your guidance
counselor. Not all colleges accept application fee waivers.
◊Not sure where to apply? Not sure which colleges offer a degree in your field of interest?
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Check out the FLVC.org website and click on the link “Degrees and Careers” on the home page. Follow
the links to search for a college in Florida that offers the career area you are interested in.
Check out the collegeboard.org website. Click on the “college search” link. You can search for colleges
in any state as well as find schools that offer careers in your area of interest.
Some colleges offer a “My Major Match” via their website as an online interest survey to help you
determine the best major for you. Check out the website of the college you wish to attend.
◊ Have you completed the Bright Futures Application online? Applications can be completed online any time
after December 1 of your senior year but no later than your date of graduation.
 The website address is: http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/home/uamain.htm
 After you complete the application, you will create a user ID and PIN which will allow you to
continuously update your information. Do not lose your user ID and PIN.
 Students can use ACT/SAT and CPT or PERT scores through the June administration of their senior
year.
◊ Have you checked your Bright Futures Scholarship status? You can check on your BF status by going to the
FLVC.org website and clicking on the “My Records” tab and then “Bright Futures Scholarship Eligibility
Evaluation”.
◊ If you plan on playing Division I/II college sports, have you registered with the NCAA clearinghouse?
Complete the online registration form at http://eligibilitycenter.org. After you have completed the
application, print off the release form and bring it to one of the Guidance Clerks in the Guidance Office so
your transcript can be sent for evaluation. You will also need ACT or SAT scores. ACT and SAT scores must
be sent directly from the ACT or SAT testing companies. Sign on to your ACT or SAT account to have the
scores sent. If you used a waiver for ACT or SAT, you are eligible for a fee waiver for the Clearinghouse
application fee. When you bring your release form to Guidance, let you Guidance Counselor know you need a
waiver for the application fee.
Bright Futures Scholarship Requirements for 2014 Graduates
The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program’s purpose is to reward students for their academic
achievements during high school by providing funding to attend postsecondary education in Florida.
All community service hours must be earned after your 8th grade graduation date and before your
high school graduation date.
Florida Academic Scholar (FAS) and Florida Medallion Scholar (FMS) Awards
16 credits of college preparatory academic courses:
- 4 English (3 with substantial writing)
- 4 mathematics (Algebra 1 level and above)
- 3 natural science (2 with substantial lab)
- 3 social science
- 2 foreign language (sequential, in the same language)
FAS-3.5 weighted GPA in the above courses, 100 community service hours, and a best composite
score of 1270 on the SAT (based on combined Critical Reading and Math sections only) or 28 on
the ACT (excluding the writing section) to be a Florida Academic Scholar
FMS-3.0 weighted GPA in the above courses, 75 community service hours, and a minimum score of
980 on the SAT (based on combined Critical Reading and Math sections only) or 21 on the ACT
(excluding the writing section) to be a Florida Medallion Scholar
Up to 2 additional credits from courses in the academic areas listed above or in fine arts courses
from the student’s high school transcript may be used to raise their Bright Futures GPA.
Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV) Award
Requirements include the following:
16 core credits required for high school graduation:
- 4 English
- 4 mathematics (including Algebra 1)
- 3 natural science
- 3 social science (U.S. History, World History, U.S. Government, and Economics)
- 1 Fine OR identified Practical Art; OR .5 credit in each
- 1 physical education (to include integration of health). HOPE qualifies.
- 3.0 weighted GPA in the core credits required for graduation*
-30 community service hours
A minimum of 3 career and technical education credits in 1 vocational program taken over at least 2
academic years with an unweighted 3.5 GPA in those courses
Test Scores – Students must earn the minimum score listed below on each section of the College
Placement Test (CPT), SAT, or ACT (test sections cannot be combined)
- CPT: Reading 83/Sentence Skills 83/Algebra 72
- SAT: Reading 440/Math 440
- ACT: English 17/Reading 18/Math 19
◊ Have you completed your FAFSA financial aid form? If you plan on receiving any financial aid, you must
complete this federal form online. Go to the website www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov to complete your FAFSA
any time after January 1st. You can also have your parents complete the FAFSA4Caster (bottom right corner
of the page) to estimate your federal aid through this website. It’s not exact, but will give you an idea of
what you might qualify for.
Before you complete the actual FAFSA application online, you must first request a PIN. Directions for
requesting a PIN are found on the website. Parents’ and student’s previous year’s income will be used to
calculate financial need so you will definitely need your parents help with the FAFSA. Within 4 weeks of
filing your FAFSA you should receive your SAR (Student Aid Report). Your SAR determines how much grant
money (money you never have to pay back) and how much loan money (money you start paying back 6 months
after college graduation) you are eligible for. Remember Bright Futures now requires the completion of the
FAFSA in order to receive the BF scholarships.
◊ Have you checked out your other scholarship opportunities?
 The “Scholarship Opportunities” Center in the Guidance Office has current local scholarship
applications. You have to complete the applications to get the money! Stop by before or
after school or during your lunch period.
 Check out the “Marion County Area Scholarship Directory”. Several copies are available in
Guidance and in the Career Lab. You can also view it online at
http://www.marion.k12.fl.us/dept/gtr/extra/file/scholarships.pdf
 Each individual school has its own private scholarship money to distribute. Don’t be shy to
ask a school if they have private scholarship monies to offer you. Many schools have their
own online scholarship applications which cannot be filled out until after you have been
accepted and have also filled out your FAFSA.
 Fastweb.com is an excellent website to search for scholarships that may be unique to you.
Create a profile and a list of possible scholarships will become available to you.
KEEP IN MIND THAT YOU SHOULD NEVER BE ASKED TO PAY A FEE FOR A SCHOLARSHIP!
Scholarships should be free! Learn more about scholarship scams at Fastweb.com.
You and your parents should plan to attend the
**SCHOLARSHIP/FINANCIAL AID NIGHT at LWHS,
Wednesday, January 29, 6:30 – 8:00pm in Cafeteria**