HAVING A
SUCCESSFUL
SENIOR YEAR!
September 8, 2014
DEADLINES
DON’T MISS THEM!
Welcome to Your Senior Year!
• Take an active role in your plans after high
school – it’s YOUR future!
• Your parents aren’t going to campus or work
with you – learn to advocate!
• Ask questions
• Respect experience
• Consider a variety of options
• Seek help
Senior Year Timeline
Trimester 1
• September – November : Apply to colleges
Trimester 2
• November – December : Apply for Scholarships
• January - February: Complete FAFSA and as many
scholarship applications as you can
Trimester 3
• Continue to apply for scholarships
• May: Respond to admission offers and MAKE A
DECISION!!!! 
MEMORIZE THIS:
150290
BHS School
Code
What You Should
Be Doing Now
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Senior meetings will begin after Labor Day
Finalize college selections – choose wisely!
Begin working on college applications
Update Academic Resume
Continue looking at possible majors
Go on college visits!
Register for the SAT / ACT
Meet with college reps when they visit
Dual Credit
• Earn college credits while in High School
• One of the requirements to earn an Academic
Honors Diploma or Technical Honors Diploma
• ACP (Advance College Project)
• Ivy Tech
• Courses transfer better if they are on CTL (Core
Transfer Library)
• Visit www.TransferIN.net for more detailed info.
ACP INFO
• Check your email regularly for billing info
• Billing will come directly from IUSB Bursar
– Semester 1 – ACP Speech, ACP Comp, ACP
Calculus, ACP Finite Math (Being billed SOON)
(WAIVERS)
– Semester 2 –, ACP Lit, ACP Business, ACP Personal
Finance (be prepared – billed in January!)
• $25 / Credit hour
• Transcripts must come from IUSB at the end of
the year- NOT FROM BREMEN!
ACP Tidbits
• ACP and Academic Honors
– There are several options for Acad. Honors
– ONE of them is 2 Dual Credit classes
– To meet this requirement, the DC classes must RESULT
in SIX TRANSFERABLE college credits
– This means you have to pay IUSB for the credits
• Students CAN take an ACP class without paying for the
credits, but not to qualify for Acad. Honors
• Check out colleges before you pay – some colleges
exempt students out of Comp. based on SAT score
AP Information
• Another way to earn college credit
• Rigorous coursework developed by College Board
• Each course concludes with a standardized exam
written and scored by college professors
• Students usually need to score at least a 3,4, or 5 on
test to receive college credit
• Students pay for exam, except for Calculus
• School may pay for exam if students are identified as
High Ability
• BHS has AP Spanish and AP Calculus / May Testing
What are my choices?
What is “College”?
Some people think of college as a fouryear bachelor’s degree, but college also
includes two-year associates degrees and
apprenticeship programs – in-demand
skills that lead to great jobs that pay well!
Post-Secondary Options
• College
• Community College
– 2 year
– 4 year
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• Military (take ASVAB!)
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Army
Navy
Marines
Coast Guard
Air Force
• Proprietary Schools
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Job training
Less Expensive
Smaller classes
Can transfer
Work
Apprenticeships
Vocational / Tech
Specialized Colleges
Find Your Way
• 1 or 2 year College
– Associate Degree or Workfore Certificate
– Can earn MORE than those w/4 yr degrees
– Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Radiation Technology, or
Construction Management
– Ivy Tech or Vincennes – can transfer to a 4 yr school
• Apprenticeships
– Construction, Electrical & Plumbing, Carpentry
– 1-5 years, get paid while you work
What’s in Indiana?
• More than 3000 colleges and universities across
the country
• In Indiana, more than 75 campuses across state
– 31 Independent colleges and universities
– 7 public university systems
• Go online, Go Visit, Go for it and APPLY!
• By 2018, 55% of all jobs in Indiana will require a
degree or certificate
Things to think about when selecting a
college or post-secondary school:
• Majors and programs
offered
• Type of school
• Size – large or small
• Cost
• Location
• Atmosphere – Academic
and Social
• Social activities
• Faculty reputation
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Facility
Security
Religious preference
Job Placement /
Graduate Study
The WRONG reasons to select a
college or post-secondary school
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My girlfriend / boyfriend goes there
My best friend goes there
It’s a party school
My parents went there (or brother, sister, etc)
It’s a pretty campus
It was the only school I visited
I liked the pictures I saw online or on the
brochure
Declaring a Major:
To do or Not to Do?
• Know yourself
– Strengths and weaknesses
– Values and Beliefs
– Interests
• Take a personality profile
• Match strengths with career options
• Do the research!
• Don’t fret if you don’t know yet 
• Average student will have 7-10 jobs in their career (4 of which
are not yet created!)
Some MYTHS
About College
• Big colleges are best if you
• Good grades are better
haven’t decided on a
than challenging courses
major field of study
• SAT/ACT scores are more
• Only the best students get
important than grades
financial aid
• I need to decide on a
• If I did bad in 9th and 10th
career before college
grade I won’t be admitted
• A lot of extracurriculars
anywhere
will compensate for poor
• Colleges need students so
grades
it’s easier to get admitted
College Visits
• Call Admissions Office in advance to set up appt.
• Research the school and think about questions
ahead of time
• Talk to the students on campus
• Visit some classes if you can
• Visit a dorm / cafeteria if you can
• Schedule an interview
• Tour the campus on your own
• Keep notes / observations while there
• Write thank-you notes to appropriate people
College Application
Process
Before Applying
• Update Academic Resume
– What happened over summer to add
– Can you add from senior year already?
• Collect Letters of Recommendation (2-4)
– Variety of people (i.e. teacher, coach, minister,
counselor, sponsor, principal, etc)
– Ask early and give enough time / specify directions
– Write a Thank You note! 
• Send both to Mrs. Manges: mmanges@bps.k12.in.us
College Application Process
Where do I apply?
• Most applications are online
• Some are free if done online
• Some WILL be free during
College Go! Week
• Apply to a variety of schools
• 1 in-state and 1 out of state
• 1 Public and 1 private, etc
• Apply to those you are
serious about attending
• 1 “safety” school
Then what?
• Use Parchment to let the
Guidance Office know to
send a transcript
• If you don’t use Parchment,
bring the Guidance Office a
counselor form
• Send Mrs. Manges an email
with your academic resume
and any recommendation
letters
College Application
Do’s and Don’ts (con’t)
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Start Early! WATCH DEADLINES!!!!!!!!!
Don’t let $$$ scare you
Don’t be afraid to talk to the Admissions Office at the school
Don’t be afraid to talk to the Financial Aid Office
On-line Applications
– Read all instructions
– Keep copies!
– Use spell and grammar check
• Use Parchment to send transcripts!
Admission Options
Non-Restrictive Application
Restrictive Application
• Regular Decision
• Early Decision
– Submit by regular deadline
– Decision given in reasonable time
– No comitment
• Rolling Admission
– Response in 2-6 weeks
– Admission review is continuous
– No commitment
• Early Action
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Can apply to multiple institutions
Apply early, hear back early
Can affect scholarship eligibility
No commitment
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Only ONE institution
Apply and hear back early
If admitted, withdraw other apps
Commitment to enroll at ED college
Other Common Admission Terms
• Waitlisted
– Acceptance based on # of committed students
– Can improve chances by providing additional info.
• Deferred
– Usually for Early Action / Early Decision
– Can improve chances by providing additional info.
• Not all colleges are participating
• Goal: Every senior complete a college
application and submit transcript
• Goals for other grade levels as well
• Goals for middle school students too!
September 22 – 26, 2014
Indiana College App Fees
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Ball State - $55
Goshen College - $25
Huntington - $25
Indiana State - $25
IUPUI - $55
IU Bloomington - $60
IU East - $35
IUPU Columbus - $50
IPFW - $50
IU Southeast - $35
IUSB - $35
Oakland City - $35
• (All Campuses) Purdue College of
Technology - $60
• Purdue University Calumet - $25
• Purdue West Lafayette - $60
• Notre Dame - $65
• University of Southern Indiana $40
• Vincennes - $20
• Wabash College - $40
• WGU Indiana - $65
* Schools in Black are FREE during
College Go Week *
Parchment
• Access 24 / 7!
• It’s safe and secure
• Transcript delivery to all colleges nationwide
is free!
• Create an account (should have already done)
• If you DON’T have an account, you can set one
up at www.parchment.com
• I can also send resume and rec letters this way!
• Ask about 21st Century Scholar Programs
– Indiana Covenant
– Purdue Promise
– Other in state schools also honor it
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Ask about College Application Waivers
Ask about SAT / ACT Waivers
Ask about help if you have an IEP
Ask anything else you can think of! 
IUSB On-Site Admissions
• MONDAY, Sept. 22, 2014 from 10:30am-12:30pm
• Short meeting / transcript review at BHS with admissions
counselor from IUSB
• Students will know admission status on the spot: admitted,
pending, or deferred to Ivy Tech
• Application Fee of $35 waived !!!
• Admitted students with Core 40 or above, “B” average, SAT or
ACT scores above state average, and ranking in top ½ of class,
will get $500 Titan Scholarship!
Additional Tips
• Follow up with college if you get a rejection
letter – sometimes they reconsider
• If test scores or grades are low, send in
application with a letter of explanation
• Apply to at least one private and one public
school
Admission Tests
Needed
Registering for SAT / ACT
• We don’t have any paper/pencil registration forms in
the Guidance Office anymore – it’s all online!
• Register for SAT at www.sat.collegeboard.org/register
• Register for ACT online at www.actstudent.org
• WRITE DOWN YOUR USERNAMES AND
PASSWORDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Be sure to send scores to Bremen – school code is
150290
• SEND SCORES TO COLLEGES – you get
four for FREE (or you pay  )
FEE WAIVERS
• Ask if you qualify for a fee waiver – based on
family income and household size
• 2 SAT / 2 ACT waivers per year
• 4 College Application Waivers – need to get
from Mrs. Manges in Guidance Office
• Cannot register late with a fee waiver
SAT/ ACT Test Security
• Must provide acceptable photo during registration
• Clear, focused, and correctly exposed
• Full face view, directly facing the camera
• Must match how you look on test day and in photo ID
• Photo will appear on Admission Ticket
• Must present Admission Ticket WITH an acceptable
Photo ID
• No TICKET, No ID, NO ADMISSION!
• Standby test takers no longer admitted
FREE SAT Practice Tools
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The Offficial SAT Question of the Day
The Official SAT Practice Test
My SAT Online Score Report
SAT Practice Questions
SAT Skills Insight
MyCollegeQuickStart
SAT Study Plan
Answers Imagined
Affordable SAT Resources
• The Complete SAT
Study Guide
• SAT Online Course
– www.satonlinecourse.com
– $69.95 / year Individually
– Includes practice tests, auto essay scoring, guided
self study, and more!
MyCollegeQuickStart
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View all the PSAT answers and explanations
Get a personalized SAT study plan
Research colleges
Research careers and majors using MyRoad
Take a personality profile
Much More!!!!
Should I take an SAT Subject Test?
• SAT subject Tests are college admission tests that
allow you to differentiate yourself on your college
application and showcase your achievements in
specific subject areas like math, science, literature,
foreign languages or history.
• 1 hour long / approx $22
• Not required / check w/individual schools
• Can be useful for placement purposes
• More information available in Guidance Office
SAT Class w/ Mrs.Heiter
• Who: Juniors & Seniors who want to take SAT
• When: Wednesdays from 7 – 7:45 AM
Sept 3rd – Nov 5th
• Where: Room 314
• Cost: $60 to Mrs. Heiter ASAP
• Space is limited!
Starts Sept.
rd
3 !
SAT / ACT Average Scores
• SAT (3 components – 800 each - 2400 possible)
– CR (550)
- MATH (550))
- WR (500)
*Average score is 1100 (not including Writing)
• ACT (36 possible)
*Average score is 22 composite
CHECK WITH INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS FOR
SPECIFIC ADMISSION CRITERIA
SAT vs. ACT
SAT (2400)
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Math (800)
Critical Reading (800)
Writing (800)
Essay included in Writing
¼ pt taken off for wrong
answer
• All scores reported
• Some math questions and
essays are not MC
ACT (36)
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Math
Reading
English
Science
Writing (Optional)
No penalty for guessing
Student selects which
scores to report
• Only MC questions
Admission Info from Indiana
Colleges and Universities
Information from West Lafayette
• Must send SAT / ACT scores directly to Purdue from College
Board
• GPA for Financial Scholarships – only based on Science, Math,
English, Foreign Language, and Social Studies Grades
• They do look at ALL four years – grade trends, etc.
• Specifically look at your preparation for the
program you wish to enter
• Need 2 years (4 credits)Foreign Language
• “No” at Purdue initially does not mean “No” forever
Purdue Application Info
• NEW – PURDUE is now using THE COMMON APPLICATION
– Must include one letter of recommendation
– Includes an ESSAY!
• Application fee is $60 – waivers are available
• EARLY ACTION APPLICATION DEADLINE – NOVEMBER 1st!
– Will be notified by December 13, 2014
– Deadline for receiving Merit-Based scholarships and for admission to
Nursing and Veterinary Technology
• February 1st is priority application deadline. Decisions will be
made on a rolling basis.
• Decision letters WILL NOT BE MAILED.
– Check online application portal
• Send transcripts through Parchment – preferred method
Scholarships Available at Purdue
• Trustees Scholarship – 100 per year (Renewable)
– $10,000 Indiana Residents ($40,000 for four years)
– 2000 SAT (all 3 sections) or 30 ACT (Composite and Writing)
– And 3.8 GPA
• Presidential Scholarship (Renewable)
– $4,000 - $8,000 / yr for Indiana Residents
– 1850 – 1990 SAT (all 3 sections) or 27-29 (English/Writing)
• Marquis Scholarship – NEW (Renewable)
– $2,000 / yr if family income is b/w $40,000 - $100,00 + other criteria
• Important Notes
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Automatic Awards if student meets deadlines and criteria (Nov 1st!) EARLIER DATE
GPA calculates core GPA with final Junior year transcript
New test scores until Januray 1 (from testing agency)
Additional Need-Based awards available in spring
• Cost of Attendance at Purdue/yr = $21,820 Resident
• November 1st Deadline!!!!!
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
Admission Statistics
• Fall 2013
– 30,903 applicants
– Enrolled 6,291 residents
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Average SAT (All 3 sections): 1600-1890
Average ACT Composite: 24-30
Average GPA: 3.6 – 4.0
Average high school rank: Top 16% of class
Vast majority are Academic Honors Students
How Do I Pay?
Average Costs
• Average debt of a college graduate is $33,000
(*Wall Street Journal, Sept. 4, 2014)
• Tuition and Fees = 36%
• Room and Board = 43%
• Other = 21%
– Books
– Personal Expenses, etc.
– Transportation
Financial Aid Options
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Grants (Federal and State)
Scholarships (Local, colleges, etc)
Loans
Work Study
Others
BORROW SMART!
USE CREDIT WISELY!
Financial Aid Tidbits
• Start Early!
– Get PIN now at www.pin.ed.gov
– Both student and parent need a PIN
• DON’T MISS DEADLINES
– March 10 for Indiana to file FAFSA
– Must file FAFSA online www.FAFSA.ed.gov
• Be proactive – file FAFSA all four years
• Work with Colleges!
• Avoid Scams – don’t pay to have someone find you $$
Financial Aid Myths
• College is too expensive
for our family
• There’s less aid
available than there
used to be
• My family’s income is
too high to qualify
• I have money saved so I
won’t qualify
• If I apply for a loan, I
have to take it
• Working will hurt my
academic success
• Private schools are out
of reach for my family
• I don’t get straight A’s
so I won’t qualify
SCHOLARSHIPS
• Usually begin around November
• We list all that come through BHS in the
Counselor Corner (posted on Web and various
other places)
• Most applications are on-line now
• Fill them out completely! Keep track of
usernames and passwords 
• Check out websites!
• MEET DEADLINES / WATCH MAILING DATES!
Avoid Scholarship Scams!
• “This scholarship is guaranteed or your money
back” – No one can guarantee a scholarship!
• “You can’t get this information anywhere else”
– Do your research, don’t pay anyone!
• “I just need your credit card…” – NO!
• “We’ll do all the work” – Wrong again. You
have to fill out the paperwork!
• “You’ve been selected by a ‘national
foundation’ …” – Chances are they want $
st
21
Century Scholars
• Helps with transition from high school to postsecondary education
• Signed up in middle school
• You should be receiving something in mail
• Must attend a senior exit interview this year
• Must sign an Affirmation Form that you still
qualify based on the covenant (not $)
Financial Aid Nights at Bremen
• Karen Scott, Financial Aid Counselor at IUSB
will be at Bremen on these nights:
• Monday, November 10, 2014 @ 7:00 PM
– General overview of Financial Aid / Terms and
process
– Lion Den
• Monday, February 9, 2015 @7 – 7:45 & 8-8:45
– Two sessions – hands-on filling out FAFSA
– Computer Lab Room 327
COLLEGE IS EXPENSIVE,
BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE!
• Average Public University
$20,000+
• Average Private University
$39,000
• Elite Private College
$50,000 +
What if I have no
idea what to do
when I graduate?
Career Cruising Website
• Go to www.careercruising.com
– Enter username: bremen511
– Enter password: Indiana
• You can access the 4 main sections
– Career Matchmaker
– Explore Careers
– Explore Colleges and Universities
– Career Portfolio Tool
• See Mrs. Manges for more information
Indiana Career Information System
• Offers detailed information about 900+
occupations, wage, data, employment
outlook, training requirements, etc
• www.incis.intocareers.org
• Username: bremen
• Password: golions
• In 1st session, set up account (MY CIS), which
enables the portfolio system
Hoosier Hot Jobs
• A listing of jobs most “in demand” for the
State of Indiana
• All require ability to work with people, work
with things, work with systems, and work
with information
• The top four are all medical-related
• #5 is Computer Software Engineer
• Visit http://www.in.gov/dwd/
COLLEGE FAIRS
• Goshen High School
– Tuesday, September 30, 2013
– 6:30 – 8:00 pm
– 70+ colleges, business schools, military and more
• St. Joe County College Fair
– Wednesday, October 1, 2014
– Century Center in South Bend
– 6:00 – 7:30 pm
• Plymouth High School
– Thursday, October 19, 2014
– 6:00 – 7:30 pm
TripToCollege.org
• T = Timeline: Things I should be doing now
• R = Real Money: financial resources and
strategies to consider, based on your family’s
situation
• I = I Want to Go: research & compare
information about Indiana colleges to
help find a best fit for you
• P = People Just Like Me: There are people just like
you who have successfully pursued an education
after high school. Watch their videos!
Timeline - Fall
• Gather Financial Aid info from colleges and
know what forms to complete (PROFILE)
• If you are applying for Early Admission, ask is
they offer an early estimate of financial aid
• Attend Financial Aid Night at school (Nov. 5th)
• Use financial aid calculators to estimate costs
• http://netpricecalculator.collegeboard.org/
• www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov
Timeline - Winter
• WORK ON SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
• Attend Financial Aid Night at school (Feb 3rd)
• Attend FAFSA Friday or College Goal Sunday in
February for help completing FAFSA
• Save final pay stubs for the year
• Get taxes files early
• FAFSA filed by March 10th!
Timeline – Spring
• As you receive letters of acceptance, see if additional
documentation is needed
• Compare financial aid offers between schools
• https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-forcollege/tools-calculators
• Accept offers as instructed once you make a decision
• If you receive aid from other schools, notify them
that you won’t be attending
• You must reapply for financial aid every year
Dates to Remember
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September 22 – 26th – College Go! Week
October 6th - Jostens packets passed out
October 17th – Jostens orders taken at lunch
November 10th – Financial Aid Meeting
February 9th – Financial Aid Meeting
March 10th – FAFSA due!
March 30th – Tri Kappa Awards night
May 14th – Senior Awards Night
END OF YEAR
• Let the Guidance Office know where you plan
to attend school so we can send a final
transcript
• If you took an ACP Class, YOU MUST REQUEST
A TRANSCRIPT FROM IUSB! Just having an
“ACP” class listed on your high school
transcript is not enough for the colleges
Additional Resources
Weebly Site
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We have created a NEW Guidance Webpage
Scrolling announcements about updates
Specific tab for each grade level
Guidance Blog to ask questions
Check it out at:
http://bremenlionsguidance.weebly.com/
Just a Few Websites …
• www.LearnMoreIndiana.org/colleges
• www.CollegeGoWeekIndiana.org
• www.BigFutureCollegeBoard.org
• www.CollegeMajors101.com
Melissa Manges
Grades 11-12
mmanges@bps.k12.in.us
574-546-3511 ext. 3355
“GO CONFIDENTLY IN THE
DIRECTION OF YOUR DREAMS.
LIVE THE LIFE YOU HAVE
IMAGINED”
~ Henry David Thoreau
HAVE A GREAT SENIOR YEAR!