Senior Seminar 2015
*you must apply for 10 state or national scholarships*
begin looking TODAY and share with the class
September 7-11
7th--Labor Day
8th-- SAT/ACT preparation:load apps and find sites online
****EVERYDAY in class--complete at least one problem from a site or test booklet****
yourfreecareertest.com
iseek.org/careers/clusterSurvey
*complete both surveys and write down careers found in each--highlight careers found on both lists
9th--www.texasgenuine.org
1st-visit the Career Focus section (upper right hand corner)
2nd-visit the Find Programs section
Realize-although many schools have been left out, the information is fairly accurate.I do disagree with the level of
education required for a few of the career though.
*Free write-Do the results surprise you? What are your thoughts on career choices now?
10th--
NOW research university and tech schools that offer training in the careers in which you are interested-Complete the Information Sheet-Research project for 5 universities /colleges
11th-- continue researching schools
September 14-18
14th-- Complete “College One Pager” 15 minutes max
Hang them up and discuss findings
15th--Choosing a college Degree
*Review Degree and curriculum resources--discuss in class
*go to the university of your first choice and find the Core Curriculum and your selected Degree Plan--print out?
16th--Review differences between college and high school by looking at “High School vs. College” and “How
College is Different from High School”, introduce college terminology and GPA calculations by reading “College 101
Terminology and “How to Figure GPA”
*game????
*look on the SAT/ACT sites and find a question to discuss tomorrow during tutorials
17th--Day of Tutorials with SAT/ACt prep questions
18th--carry over from previous day
September 21-25
21st--applytexas.org
*visit site, print out the application to begin the application process
*****DO NOT SUBMIT*****
22nd--SAT essay question timed in class
23rd--Review essay results from other prompts
*self score your essay
*bring SAT/ACT question tomorrow
24th--SAT/ACT tutorial
25th--5 minute improve SAT essay
*Quick write: What have you learned in the last six weeks? Specifically name something that you would like to cover
that has not been discussed.
September 28-October 2
28th--Brainstorm for college essay prompt
*if it doesn’t embarrass you or feel overwhelming..you aren’t putting
enough of yourself into the essay
*bring completed essay to class Tuesday
29th--Review completed rough draft and begin to revise
*read the packet that begins with the article “How to Refine the College Essay”
*bring SAT/ACT question tomorrow
30th--SAT/ACT tutorial
1st--read your “revised essay”--have someone else read it (Deffebach, Taylor or Burnett)
2nd--Homecoming ½ day
October 5-9
5th--Review handout “What do I Need When Applying Online” and “Avoid These College Application Mistakes”
6th--Brainstorm for college essay prompt (10 minutes)
*Begin to create High School Resume (completed version due October 12)
1st-complete the “Personal Information Sheet”
2nd-complete “High School and Community Activities Record”
7th--Read and review the “The Art of the Resume”
*Continue working on “High School Record”/ Once complete--begin on creating YOUR High School resume
*bring SAT/ACT question tomorrow
8th--SAT/ACT tutorial
9th--football game in Eastland...school looks like zombies attacked
October 12-16
12th--turn in completed resume
*spend time looking at others resume
*work on college applications and essays
13th--continue on college applications and essays (you should realistically take at least TWO WEEKS to complete
your essays)
14th--continue on college applications and essays
15th--find a college syllabus from a college of your choice
*Read through the syllabus and compare it to the “Sample Syllabus”--notice how few assignments are taken for
grades...most grades in college are papers and tests.
Quick write--”How do you plan on organizing your study time (that is reading the assigned texts and taking notes,
writing essays and preparing for tests) while in college?”
*Discuss the information found in “Campus Resources” and “10 Must Do’s in Week 1”
16th--off
October 19-23
19th--By now you should have written all of your essays for applications and are prepared to have someone read
them and give you suggestions….completing the application process for ALL FIVE schools is due by October 26th
*Discuss your scholarship finds
*Read through the packet of “The Problem” and then read your Quick Write from last week--have your ideas
changed?
20th--Read “The Real Cost of Attending College” and complete the worksheet “My Cost of Attending College” using
a college of your choice...complete for tomorrow
21st--Discuss your cost of attending college--is it higher or lower than you expected?
*Read “Financial Aid Myths...and Realities” ..
*Read and discuss packet “FAQ For Financial Aid”
22nd--continue discussion about financial aid and begin looking at the FAFSA
*Read “Financial Aid Resources for Seniors”
23rd--off
October 26-30
26th-- apply for a PIN at www.fafsa.ed.gov
“Applying for a PIN” (it’s actually called someting else now)
*Read “Information Needed to Complete the FAFSA”----take this home and begin gathering information
27th--review a paper copy and begin filling out the application use “Gather These Documents”
28th--continue working on the FAFSA practice document
29th--Question time about FAFSA and anything else-----you should also have already applied to FIVE different
colleges
30th--off
November 2-6
2nd--Read “Credit Card Tips for College Students”
Discuss current spending habits, where you get your money and how you believe your habits will change while in
college.
3rd--Read “Technology Etiquette” and discuss interview skills
4th--Interview skills continued
5th--off
6th--off
November 9-13
9th--interview skills continued
10th--catch up day: applications, scholarships, FAFSA, interview introduction
11th--Brainstorm with class “what characteristics make a person a good choice for writing you a Letter of
Recommendation”
Come up with a list of 5 persons you would like to ask for a recommendation for scholarships
12th--off
13--off
November 16-20
16th--work to prepare interview introduction
*What questions do you think an employer will ask?
17th--Print out your resume and discuss recommendations with the persons you have chosen---sometime in the
next few days. DO NOT ASK THEM TO WRITE A LETTER UNTIL YOU HAVE A SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
18th--catch up day--what do you want to cover that needs more or has not been discussed yet
November 30-December 4
30th--interview preparation
1st--interviews
2nd--interviews
December 7-11
7th--Discuss the “Compare Financial Aid Award Letters” and “Questions to Ask the Financial Aid Advisor”
8th-9th-December 14-18
14th--Last week for questions, discussions and ideas
15th--Last week for questions, discussions and ideas
16th--Last week for questions, discussions and ideas
SAT/ACT study sites
ACT.org: retired tests
collegeboard.org:practice tests
freerice.com: vocabulary builder for SAT-when answered correctly, site’s
sponsors donate to UN World Food Program
Ineedapencil.com:comprehensive SAT prep
majortests.com/sat: self study SAT prep, 8 week guided study plan
number2.com:free tutorials and practice material for SAT and ACT, tracks student
progress
petersons.com: tips and strategies for SAT and AP exams, practice tests for SAT
and ACT
sparknotes.com/testprep:list of common SAT vocab words, free diagnostics,
practice tests and flashcards
studyguidezone.com:study guides for SAT and ACT
studyhall.com:practice test for SAT
sylvum.com:test prep for SAT and ACT, online practice tests
testprepreview.com: practice tests for SAT, ACT and ASVAB