SCHOOL FOR ADVANCED STUDIES
College Bound Newsletter
February 2013
Volume 6, Number 5
In This Issue
 The Miami National College
Fair
 Connectedu is coming – it’s
time to get yourself
registered
 Mid Year College Grade
Reports
 Important Dates and
Deadlines
 Which FAFSA form do I file?
The Miami National College Fair
150+ colleges and universities from around the country!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Noon-4 p.m. • Miami Airport Convention Center at the Double Tree by Hilto
711 N.W. 72 Ave.
Just off S.R. 836 and Milam Dairy Road
FREE Admission and FREE Information Sessions
Self Parking fee: $4.00
*Rates and availability are subject to change without notice
 Unusual FAFSA Filing
Situations
To ease traffic congestion, it is recommended that 11th- and 12th-graders arrive at noon.
 FAFSA tutorial
For more information, call 703-299-6821
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. or visit www.nacacnet.org
If you have a disability that requires accommodation, you may call the number listed abov
call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 305-995-2400.
 Video Overview of how the
Financial Aid System Works
 The FAFSA - What Happens
Next?
 Deciphering Financial Aid
Award Letters Is Now Easier
 SAT / ACT Test Fee Waivers
 2012 - 2013 SAT/ACT Test
Dates
**PRE-REGISTRATION**
Requesting information from multiple colleges/universities at the College Fair just got ea
pre-registering, students can print a bar-coded confirmation to be used at the fair as an
electronic ID. No more filling out information cards!
Pre-register at:
www.gotomyncf.com .
 ACT vs. SAT
 Timeline for Juniors
 So You Want to be a
Doctor?
Online registration is available now!!!
Sponsored by
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
National Association for College Admission Counseling
College Searches
FACTS.org
College Board:
ACT:
Princeton Review:
EduPrep:
Search for colleges,
and scholarships:
Connectedu is HERE – it’s time to get registered!
Create Your Connect! Account Today:
1. Go to www.dadeschools.net
Virtual College Tours:
2. Sign into your STUDENT PORTAL
3. Click on “ Apps / Services / Sites “
4. Select “ CONNECTEDU “
5. Select “I’m a Student” and click
6. Enter Your:
- First Name
- Last Name
- State
- School
- Student ID (School ID number)
- Graduation Year
- Date of Birth
7. Click and complete the profile information and create a Username and Password.
- Your Username must be your email address
College Confidential
College View
With Connect! You Can:
College and scholarship
searches
Knowledge for College:
Art and Design Colleges:
College Accreditation:
Colleges that Change Lives:
Florida Health Careers:
Colleges in the UK:
Occupational Outlook
Handbook
The common Application:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Research over 4,300 colleges by location, type and study area
Develop a personalized college plan and monitor student process
Investigate career interests
Stay informed about college and career events such as college visits
Utilize interactive tools to learn about financial aid and scholarships
Use the Super APP feature to save time, complete college applications, and submit
documentation requirements electronically
7. Keep track of college application deadlines
8. Receive important messages and information from counselors
Mid-Year College Grade Reports
This is the time when a number of colleges request a mid-year report of your grades. Some colle
provide their own report form that is to be filled out by your guidance counselor. Others may mer
request an updated transcript. My suggestion to you is that you check with the admissions depa
the college you have applied to and inquire as to the need for this report.
TESTING
Here are some websites that
provide SAT and ACT
preparation
Number2.com
Max the Test
Princeton Review
In addition, it is wise for those students who have yet to be accepted and know that they are on
borderline academically to also send an updated grade report. Your case for acceptance may be
if you send them a copy of your first semester grades along with an additional letter of recomme
This action may truly help to push you over the edge.
Grades should be updated by the second week of February. Request grade reports by:
Requesting a transcript to be sent by the SAS Registrar. Transcript request forms are fo
the registrar’s office. Please write on the form that this is for a mid-year transcript.
Transcripts will be sent out by the registrar as soon as updating has been completed. A
that it is better to send a paper transcript because it will show all your mid-year gr
State University
Minimums:
SAT:
Math: 460 / Verbal: 460 /
writing: 440
ACT: 19 Reading
19 Math
Important Dates and Deadlines
As of December 1, 2012: (Seniors)
Registering for Florida Student Financial Aid is not only for Bright Futures but also for other scho
grants, loans and work study programs offered by the state of Florida. All seniors, even if you fe
may attend a university out of state, should register after December 1 of their senior year and be
end of the first semester of their senior year.
Click Here > Initial Student Florida Financial Aid Application
Beginning January 1, 2013: (Seniors)
FINANCIAL AID - FAFSAs for the 2013-2014 academic year can be filed beginning January 1, 2
going to www.fafsa.ed.gov . I highly recommend that your parents finish their 2012 Federal Inc
as soon as possible.
SAT / ACT Testing: (Juniors)
Register by December 28 for the SAT and Subject Tests on January 26 and by January 11 th for
February 9th . I would like all juniors to finish their SAT/ACT testing by the end of their jun
… just ask a senior why? Take time to plan out your testing dates and follow through.
Which FAFSA form do I file?
Attending College
Beginning Summer 2013
Then Fall 2013
Beginning Fall 2013
NCAA INFORMATION
NCAA online:
NCAA Clearinghouse initial
eligibility
*****************
*****************
Use FAFSA Form
2012– 2013 FAFSA
2013– 2014 FAFSA
2013– 2014 FAFSA
Use IRS Income Tax From
2011 Available right now
2012 Available Now
2012 Available Now
Each college sets its own deadline regarding financial aid, but it is in your best interest to file the
(and any other required forms) as early as possible. Colleges have a finite amount of money bud
for financial aid. Students who file later risk receiving less aid as colleges approach their b
limits.
The early bird gets the money--don't delay filing. The ideal way to complete the FAFSA is with n
taken from your completed federal income tax return. Unfortunately, few taxpayers complete the
tax by February (which is when some colleges have their priority financial aid deadlines). If you h
discipline and the information to complete your tax return early (even if you don't actually send th
to the IRS until April 15), you can cut out a few steps in the process.
An acceptable way to submit your FAFSA early is to “Estimate” To estimate all you have to do
your income tax information from your previous years (2011) income tax returns. This will allow y
submit your FAFSA on time and by the financial aid deadline of your college.
Once your parents finish their 2012 income tax returns, all you have to do is update your FAFSA
transferring your updated information to your 2013-2014 FAFSA. The best way to do this is throu
new IRS Data Transfer process. This process is available 1-2 weeks after your parents submit th
income tax forms electronically, or 6-8 weeks if they submit their income tax returns by paper in
Either way the IRS Data Transfer process can save you up to 30 minutes and insure the accurac
your information.
Unusual FAFSA Filing Situations
January, 2013 American Education Services (AES).
Common Application Errors
“I’ll start the application next
week.” Don’t run out of time to
complete the application. Give
yourself at least two weeks to
find mistakes.
“I already ran a spell-check on
my computer.” Words can be
spelled correctly but used
incorrectly. Ask a counselor,
teacher or family member to
proof read the application to
catch any errors or poor
phrasing.
When completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), your students may find
themselves in a situation that requires some additional direction:
Divorced or Separated Parents
The parent with whom the student lived with the most during the past 12 months should complet
FAFSA. If the student did not live with one parent more than the other, the parent who provided
support in the past 12 months (or in the most recent year that parental support was received) sh
complete the FAFSA. Support includes food, shelter, clothing, insurance, etc., in addition to cash
payments.
If parents who are separated file a joint tax return, only the parent with whom the student lived (a
defined above) must report on the FAFSA their income, assets, taxes paid, and household size.
not matter if this parent is not the one who claimed the student on their tax return.
For financial aid purposes, a couple is considered separated only if there is physical separation.
means that a married couple who claims to be separated but is still living together is considered
“One copy is enough.” Print
out any online forms and keep
copies of all paperwork.
“I can send my application
as soon as I’m finished.”
Before you seal the envelope
or click “Send” on your
computer, double- and triplecheck that you have included
all necessary materials.
Follow-up in two weeks to
verify that all mailed
materials have been
received.
“I assume this is right.” If
you’re confused by a question or
any part of the application, ask
someone. A quick call to
the admissions office can save
you from making an
embarrassing error
and both parents must provide information on the FAFSA.
Stepparents
If a parent has remarried, both the parent and the stepparent must report information on the FAF
prenuptial agreement does NOT exempt a stepparent from providing his or her information.
If the biological parent dies and the stepparent survives, the student becomes independent unle
•The student is dependent on the surviving biological parent.
OR
•The stepparent legally adopted the student.
Adoptive Parents
For financial aid purposes, adoptive parents are the same as biological parents.
Foster Parents
For financial aid purposes, foster parents are NOT the same as biological parents. A student livi
foster parents is a ward of the court and is considered to be an independent student.
Video Overview of how the Financial Aid System Works
To apply for federal student aid, you need to complete the FAFSASM or Free Application for Fed
Student Aid. Completing and submitting the FAFSA is free and easier than ever, and it gives you
to the largest source of financial aid to pay for college or career school.
In addition, many states and colleges use your FAFSA data to determine your eligibility for state
school aid, and some private financial aid providers may use your FAFSA information to determi
whether you qualify for their aid.
(This is a MUST view to understand financial aid)
View accessible version (wmv)
FAFSA tutorial
You must go to the Registrar’s
Office to request copies of
your
Transcripts to be sent to those
Colleges you applied to.
This is a very good tutorial on how to do the FAFSA. It is my goal to have all seniors finish a 201
FAFSA before they leave school for winter break. This tutorial will give you the best walk-throug
out there.
Once you finish and submit your 2012-2013 FAFSA, please come to my office so that I can chec
work for errors. Completing your 2012-2013 FAFSA error free will allow you to easily and quickly
all of your information to the 2013-2014 FAFSA that becomes available on January 1, 2013. This
strategy really helped students submit their 2013-2014 FAFSA quickly and error free shortly afte
January 1.
The Tutorial is easy to use – please remember to click on the “next step” after you have compl
each step.
This is definitely a site that you should consider saving for future reference.
To begin the FAFSA tutorial, go to:
http://www.finaid.ucsb.edu/fafsasimplification/index.html
The FAFSA - What Happens Next?
After you fill out and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSASM).
Check to see whether your FAFSA has been processed and learn about your Student Aid Repo
update or correct your FAFSA, and how to accept and receive your aid.
You filled out your FAFSASM and submitted it. What happens next? No, you won’t get a check in
from the government. There’s more to it than that.
(ctrl + click to follow link)
http://tinyurl.com/24htzg8
Sponsored by:
Office of Student Financial
Assistance (OSFA)
Florida Department of
Education
Where does my FAFSA information go once I submit it?
How can I check to see whether my FAFSA has been processed?
Who will I hear from, and when?
What if I made a mistake on my FAFSA? How do I correct it?
Can I update information on my FAFSA if my situation has changed since I filed it?
How do I decide what aid to accept, and how do I accept it?
How do I get my money?
Deciphering Financial Aid
Award Letters Is Now
Easier
MDC Educators Lead the Way
January 2013, Issue No.26
Steps to College
Steps to College is NACAC's
online newsletter for and about
students in the school-tocollege transition.
Resources and Tips as You
Begin Your College Search

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

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
Surviving Your College
Search: The Adventure
Begins
An Internet Road Map for
the College-Bound
Student
Career Planning and
College Choice
College Rankings: Helpful
or Hurtful?
Faring Well at College
Fairs
College Visits: A Planning
Checklist
Preparing for College While
Receiving an acceptance and financial aid award
letter from a college can be exciting ... and confusing.
With various options and no standard format, award
letters often make it hard to compare financial aid
offers from different colleges. But that will change
with the Financial Aid Shopping Sheet, a new
standard adopted by Miami Dade College and more
than 500 institutions.
What Is the Financial Aid Shopping Sheet?
Starting this year, many colleges will use a
standardized financial aid award letter that is easier
to understand. The Financial Aid Shopping Sheet will
ensure that each college offers the same information.
Think of it as the labeling standard for financial aid.
How Will It Help Students?
This sheet will help students and their families easily
understand and compare different financial aid
packages. Until now, a student might have received
an award letter from one college with a single total
dollar amount and one from another that listed each
type of aid, but not the total cost of tuition. With the
Shopping Sheet, students will get the same
information from each institution to help them with
their final college choice.
What Is Included?
You're in High School



Choosing High School
Courses for College
Success
Choosing High School
Activities Wisely
MySpace in College
Admission
Choosing the Best-Fit
College





Is a Large or Small
College Right for You?
Career and Technical
Colleges: Careers in
Focus
Tips for Visual and
Performing Arts Students
Community College: A
Viable Option
Exercising Your Options:
Tips for Student-Athletes
The College Admission
Process

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
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
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The Parts of an
Admission Folder
Admission Tech 101:
What Students Need to
Know
Early Decision/Early
Action: Does the Early
Bird Get the Worm?
Getting Great
Recommendations
Top Ten Tips for Writing
the College Essay
Help with the Writing
Process
The Truth About College
Interviews
The Waiting Game: What
if I'm Wait-Listed?
Making the Final Decision
Financial Aid





Focus on Financial Aid:
An Introduction
Focus on Financial Aid:
How to Apply
Focus on Financial Aid:
Terminology and Words
to Know
Focus on Financial Aid:
Resources
The Scoop on
Scholarships
The letter will include the top facts and figures,
including:


The financial aid options the institution is offering with clear descriptions of grants
scholarships vs. loans.
The net cost after grants and scholarships are included.

Vital statistics about the student body, including graduation rate and default rate
(percentage of students who don't pay back their loans).

An estimate of the monthly payments a student would owe after graduation if takin
federal student loan.
Visit the Department of Education's website for an example (PDF) of the Financia
Shopping Sheet.

SAT / ACT Test Fee Waivers
SAT and ACT test Fee Waivers are now available to JUNIORS.
If you are currently on free or reduced lunch you qualify for the following.
Please remember that you must reapply each year, at the start of the school year to remain eligi
2 ACT test waivers TOTAL
2 SAT test fee waivers TOTAL
When you become seniors you can receive:
4 College Board - College Application Fee Waivers
4 ACT – College Application Fee Waivers
lar deadline.
LOST WAIVERS WILL NOT BE REPLACED
To receive a waiver, please come by my office, room 2186A anytime, during lunch or after schoo
The deadline to register for the January 26th SAT is Friday, December 28th. You will have plent
to register! The deadline to register for the February 9th ACT is Friday, January 11th .
Please take a moment to plan out your testing schedule (see the following SAT/ACT SCHEDUL
Remember
s are the following: SAS Kendall 101179, SAS Homestead 102147,
SAS North 101143 and SAS Wolfson 101006
we will not get copies of your
and, the State of Florida will not get copies of your score.
creates problems with the Florida Bright Futures evaluation.
To ensure your success,
Begin your SAT/ACT Testing EARLY and remember to
2012 - 2013 SAT/ACT Test Dates
2013
Test
study!!!!!



Financial Aid Basics
Financial Aid Myths and
Misconceptions
Financial Aid Words to
Know
For Parents

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
Off to College? Enter
Here: The Changing
Parent/Child Relationship
For Parents: Preparing
Your Child for the Social
Aspects of College
Tips for Parents:
Countdown to College
Tips for Parents: Helping
Your Child Through
College Admission
Books for Parents of
College-Bound Students
A Parent's Guide to
Financial Aid
Everyone in My Child's
Space
Test Dates
March 09, 2013
April 13, 2013
May 4, 2013
June 1, 2013
June 8, 2013
April 19, 2013
May 2, 2013
May 17, 2013
May 3, 2013
May 17, 2013
ACT vs. SAT
By: Lynn O'Shaughnessy
The College Solution Newsletter
Blogger l Author l Speaker l Consultant
When deciding whether to take the ACT or SAT, you need to keep in mind that the tests require
types of skills.
Teens who do well on the ACT tend to:



Online Personality and
Career Interest Tests
 Personality tests
 Career Tests
 Just for Fun
ACT
April 05, 2013
Register online at:
SAT: www.collegeboard.com
ACT: www.act.org
*************************
These resources are of value
for those who want to learn
about themselves.
SAT only
ACT
SAT &
Subject Tests
SAT &
Subject Tests
Regular Registration
Late
Deadline
(a fee applies)
February 08, 2013
February 22, 2013
March 8, 2013
March 22, 2013
Read quickly.
Process information swiftly.
Have great memories.
Teens who do well on the SAT tend to have these characteristics:




Possess strong vocabulary.
Avid readers.
Enjoy test-taking strategies.
Like puzzles.
*************************
The ACT test is more straightforward than the SAT, but teenagers have less time to complete it.
instance, the ACT asks 40 reading questions and gives student just 35 minutes to answer. The S
54 reading questions, but allows students 70 minutes to answer.
Careers and Majors
Because the SAT test contains lots of smoke screens, students who enjoy puzzles can do better
 Cutting Edge Majors
Learn more about the standardized tests by reading:
These aren't your parents'
college majors. New trends and
technologies have made their
mark on the world. Colleges
have responded by creating
exciting new areas of study.
These majors are hot right now
because of business demands,
expanding technologies and
current events.
Differences Between the SAT and ACT
Studying for the SAT for Free
Sizing Up Your SAT and ACT Score
 College Majors for InDemand Careers
If you need a clear path to a job
.
Timeline For Juniors –
1. BEGIN YOUR COLLEGE SEARCH EARLY (like…right now!!!) Beyond the obvious, get to kn
GPA and SAT/ACT score will give you your best chance of being accepted. Make a table of app
requirements (essays, recommendation letters, community service, SAT II requirements and so
2. TEST EARLY: complete all your SAT/ACT testing by the end of your junior year. Plan ou
strategy as to which tests and what dates to register for. Allow for time to either take a test prepa
class or work with a tutor if you find yourself scoring below what you need to get into your dream
after graduation, one of these
majors might be right for you.
These majors are tied to some of
the hottest, most in-demand
careers in the country today.
3. APPLY EARLY: Students applying in September, October and November have a better chan
those applying in late December, January, February and March (slim chance). Achieving your ta
GPA and Test scores by the end of your junior year will also allow you to take advantage of Earl
Decision and Early Action deadlines in October and November.
 Four Reasons To Declare A
Major Now
4. BEING ACCEPTED EARLY: By applying early, you may be accepted early. Just think how n
would be to go you your family parties and dinners in December and tell everyone that you have
been accepted to college!!!
Can't decide on a major? Don't
put off the decision any longer.
Choosing a major now can help
clear up your college search and
may even give you an
application advantage. Plus, if
you don't like your major, you
can always change.
 Advice on Choosing Your
Career
You're not required to have your
career mapped out to start
college, but you should definitely
be thinking about your career
path in order to make the most of
your college years. Try these
steps to get started.
 Show Me The Money:
Majors And Careers With
Top Salaries
Money isn't the only
consideration when it comes to
choosing a college major and
your future career, but you
should consider these majors
and careers if you want to
maximize your earning potential.
 Five Majors With Great
Starting Salaries
Earning potential is one factor
when choosing a major. Here
are degrees that are some of the
most sought after and, as such,
have some of the top entry-level
salaries.
 Ten Top-Paying Technical
Careers
Want to bring home a good
salary without spending four or
more years earning your
bachelor's degree? Consider
one of these ten careers, which
are among the highest-paying
occupations that require either
5. APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID EARLY: By being accepted early, you can apply for financial a
(FAFSA) early – beginning January 1 of your senior year. “The early bird gets the worm” is so tru
it comes to financial aid. MONEY RUNS OUT!!!!!
6. EVALUATE YOUR AWARD LETTERS: If you apply for financial aid early, you will receive yo
financial aid award letter early. You will now be able to sit down with your parents and go over w
the financial “bottom line” of your final college selection.
7. YOUR FINAL CHOICE…AND THE WINNER IT!!!: This whole process boils down to the day
select “the winner”. Most colleges would like an answer from you by May 1 st. Remember not onl
you notify the college that you’ll be attending “that you’re cumin” but it is also courteous to notify
colleges that you are declining. A nice courteous and thoughtful letter on your part may very wel
a slot for another
well deserving student.
And so begins another wonderful and exciting journey in your life……….
So You Want to be a Doctor?
Many of us would like to be a doctor someday. But do we really know what it takes? And how ca
better prepare ourselves in high school to be successful in college and then on to medical schoo
In order to pursue a medical career, there are a number of required undergraduate courses that
student must take. Most of these courses can jeopardize the student, if not properly prepared fo
school. Admissions committees want students to prepare for the rigors of science-intensive med
coursework and maintain minimum requirements in their undergraduate studies.
Although, mandatory courses vary somewhat from school to school, the basic requirements for m
school are biology or zoology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and Engli
Additionally, various schools require coursework in calculus, behavioral science, the humanit
computers. Applicants to medical school should maintain an average college GPA of 3.5 or ab
order to be accepted to medical school.
When being evaluated, the student’s GPA is determined according to their science GPA and the
GPA. The student’s acceptance to medical school can be swayed by an exceptional performanc
MCAT. For more information on medical schools, please visit the Area Health Education Center
website at:
http://www.flahec.org/hlthcareers/
For more information about the American Medical Association go to:
http://www.ama-assn.org
an associate's degree or
vocational/technical school
training.