Navigating the Maze
Career, College and Financial Aid Options 2012
By: Mrs. Susan Wales
Athens High School Counselor
The Options
Post-Secondary Education
 4-year Colleges and Universities
 2-year Colleges (Community)
 Technical and Professional Schools
 Military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines,
Coast Guard, National Guard)
 Work Force
 Apprenticeships
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Work Force Options
www.gobuildalabama.com
 To learn about Alabama construction
trades for nonresidential building
construction and their pay scale
 19% growth rate is projected
 Apprenticeships and programs available at
community colleges
 Pipe fitters, welders, steel workers,
boilermakers, electricians, carpenters,
masons, sheet metal workers
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Career Research
Kuder Navigator is a site that students
can access to take assessments to
determine interests, skills and values.
They will need to set up an account at
www.kudernavigator.com. The batch code
is N3492493SFM.
 The Occupational Outlook Handbook
(www.bls.gov) offers insight into
thousands of different careers.

Thinking About Four Year Schools
Thinking About 2 Year Schools
Choosing a College or University
Things to Consider:
Cost
 Size
 Location – Rural/Urban, In State/Out of State
 Campus
 Social Activities
 Academics – Major? Class Size?
 Religion
 Sports
 Special Programs – Honors Programs, Internships,
Co-ops, Study Abroad
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Choosing a College
Be Realistic
 Narrow Your List
 VISIT the Schools You are Interested in
Attending
 Make Sure You Meet the Application
Deadlines!!! For universities, apply in the
fall of your senior year.

Suggestions for College Visits:
Research a college before you go – check
out their website thoroughly
 Talk to students on campus
 Eat in one of the dining halls
 Tour the dorms
 Ask about class sizes, activities, safety
 Talk to professors in the discipline you are
interested in majoring in
 Talk to people in financial aid
 Follow-up with a thank you note
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Some Examples of Technical and
Professional Schools :
Culinary Schools
 Nashville Auto-Diesel College
 The Art Institutes
 Virginia College
 Trade Schools – There are also certificate
programs available at community colleges
in various trades.

What Are Universities Looking For?
Academic Record – Grade Point Average
(GPA), Difficulty of Classes, Class Rank
 Testing Scores – ACT or SAT
 Extracurricular Activities, Awards/Honors,
Community Service, Employment
 Sometimes – Letters of Recommendation,
Essays, Interviews
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Academic Record
Rigor of Curriculum – Universities are
looking for “college prep” courses:
English, Math (bare minimum is Alg. I,
Alg. II, Geometry), Science (prefer lab
courses in advanced science classes),
Social Studies, Foreign Languages. They
like to see advanced courses because they
are better preparation for college.
 Grade Point Average (GPA)
 Quality Points (4.0 Scale)

Testing Scores
ACT and SAT are college entrance exams
designed to test readiness for college.
You must take “college prep” classes to
prepare for them! Classes such as: Alg. II
and beyond, Chemistry, English, Social
Studies.
 The advanced classes provide better
preparation.
 Please see me before you register.
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SOMETHING NEW!
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Some universities are now requiring that
ACT scores be sent directly from ACT. If
you need score reports sent, go to
www.actstudent.org for details.
REQUIREMENTS FOR
SOME LOCAL
COLLEGES:
Calhoun Community College
Admission: Rolling Admission, Must have
HS diploma
 Entrance Exam: ACT is not required.
 You may take a free placement test
(COMPASS) at Calhoun to determine
English and math placement in classes.
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University of North Alabama
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Admission: For Unconditional Admission,
students need ACT of 18, 2.0 GPA on
Core Classes (4 English, 2 Math, 2 Science,
3 Social Studies, 2 Additional)
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Admission: Sliding Scale Based on Core
GPA and ACT (3.0 GPA + 20 ACT, 2.0
GPA + 25 ACT). Average ACT is 25 and
Average GPA is 3.54.
 Must have 4 English, 3 Math (Alg. I, Alg. II,
Geometry), 3 Science, 4 Social Studies, 6
Electives.
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University of Alabama - Birmingham
Admissions: ACT 20
 Minimum 2.25 GPA in Academic Core
Classes Including: 4 English, 3 Science, 3
Social Studies, 3 Math (Alg. I and higher), 1
Foreign Language, 3 Additional Academic
Courses.

University of Alabama
Admission: Evaluated Based on ACT
(must include Writing), GPA, and High
School Course Load. ACT 21 and GPA
3.0 Mentioned in Literature.
 Require: 4 English, 4 Social Sciences, 3
Math (Alg. I, Alg. II and Geometry), 1
Foreign Language, 3 Science, 5 Additional
Units.
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University of Alabama
Preview Days –Oct. 8, Oct. 22, Nov. 12,
Feb. 4, Feb. 18.
 You may schedule a family campus tour at
www.gobama.ua.edu/visits. Tours may be
scheduled Monday – Saturday.

Auburn University
Base Admissions on ACT (with Writing),
GPA and Classes Taken, Essays
 Must have: 4 English, 3 Social Studies, 3
Math (Alg. I, Alg. II, Geometry), 2 Science.
 Recommended: Additional Science, Social
Studies and Foreign Language.
 Average GPA is 3.81
 Average ACT is 27.

Birmingham-Southern College
Admission: Based on Course Selection,
Grades, Essay, ACT or SAT Scores and
School Recommendation, Interview
 Must Have 16 Units Including: 4 English, 2
Foreign Language, History, Math (Alg. I, Alg.
II and Above), Natural Science, Social
Science, 3.0 GPA
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Alabama A&M University
Admission: Must have 18 ACT, 2.0 GPA
 High School Sr. Day – Nov. 3. Go online
to make reservations or call Dwayne
Green at 256-372-5250.
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Troy University
Admission: 20 ACT, 2.0 GPA
 Scholarships – 27 ACT, 3.5 GPA – Full
Tuition; 31 ACT, 3.7 GPA – Tuition plus
Room and Board; Leadership scholarships
start with 22 ACT, 3.0 GPA

University of Montevallo
December 1 – Scholarship Deadlines
start. Some of their deadlines vary.
 Scholarships start with 24 ACT, 3.0 GPA
 See website for more complete details.
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Mississippi State University
Admission: 4 English, 3 Math (Alg. I, Alg. II,
Geometry), 3 Science, 3 Social Studies, 2
Advanced Electives (Foreign Language,
Science or Math), ½ Computer.
 16 ACT, 2.5 GPA on Core Classes
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Other Universities:
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University of Montevallo
ACT 20, 2.5 GPA
University of South Alabama
ACT 20 ACT, 2.0 GPA, 16 Core Units
University of West Alabama
ACT 19, 2.0 GPA
Samford University
No set score (Avg. ACT 26, GPA 3.7)
Jacksonville State
20 ACT
Student Athletes:
To play at a Division I or Division II
school, athletes must meet requirements
set forth by the NCAA.
 2.0 GPA in 16 core academic courses plus
the required ACT or SAT score
 Students must register with NCAA
Clearinghouse. Online form at
www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.

ACT Testing Dates:
December 8– Register by Nov. 2
 February 9 – Register by Jan. 11
 April 13– Register by March 8
 June 8 – Register by May 3
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HOW WILL YOU PAY
FOR COLLEGE?
Types of Financial Aid:
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Grants – These are typically need-based and
do not have to be repaid. Examples: Pell,
FSEOG, TEACH, Iraq/Afghanistan Service.
Scholarships – These are typically based on
merit and do not have to be repaid.
Examples: Academic, Athletic, Leadership.
Work-Study – Students work for the
university on a part-time basis.
Loans – These are lower interest loans by
the federal government – PLUS, Stafford,
Perkins.
MORE ON GRANTS
PELL and FSEOG Grants – Based on your
family’s income
 TEACH Grant – For students who plan
to teach in public schools who serve
students from low-income families
 Iraq or Afghanistan Grant – Based on
your family’s income and a parent killed in
service in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11

MORE ON LOANS
Federal Student Loans offer borrowers lower
interest rates and have more flexible repayment
terms and options.
 Federal Perkins Loan – college is lender, interest
5%, depends on need
 Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan – govt. is lender,
interest 6.8%, depends on need, no interest
while in college
 Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan – govt. is
lender, interest 6.8%, interest charged while in
college

MORE ON LOANS
Direct Plus Loans for Parents – borrower
is responsible for all interest, 7.9%
interest, no negative credit history, govt. is
the lender, repayment begins within 60
days after the 2nd loan disbursement.
 A fact sheet on loans is available in the
College and Career Room.

Financial Information
For more information, go online to:
www.studentaid.ed.gov
 This is an excellent website with lots of
information on financing your college
education.

FAFSA Forms:
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To receive any type of financial aid, students
must fill out the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA). This may be filled out
online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
For Seniors, it is based on family income for
2012.
A pin number must be obtained at
www.pin.ed.gov.
A Student Aid Report showing Expected
Family Contribution to College will be sent
to you. A report will also be sent to the
colleges you choose.
FASFA Information
Grant money is distributed according to
need and is given out on a “first come,
first serve” basis.
 It is important to fill out your FAFSA
forms before March 1st for many schools.
 You must fill out FAFSA before you can
receive scholarship money from schools.

Free Help with FAFSA Forms:
Counselors with the North Alabama
Center for Educational Excellence are
available to help parents with FAFSA
forms.
 The office is located in the QuadPlex
(corner of Hobbs St. and Thomas St.)
 The number is (256) 233-1220.
 There is no cost for this service.

SOME EXAMPLES OF
SCHOLARSHIPS
AVAILABLE:
ROTC Scholarships for Military
Minded Students:
Army ROTC – 19 ACT, 2.5 GPA. Jan. 1
Deadline.
 NROTC Scholarships require an ACT
score of 22 in Math and English.
 Air Force ROTC Scholarships require a
24 Composite ACT, GPA 3.0, Class Rank
of Top 40%.
 Marines ROTC: 22 ACT
 Very competitive – These are
minimum scores.
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Academic Scholarships:
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Different schools have different requirements. It pays to do
your research online and check out the websites of the
schools you are interested in applying to.
Always fill out the scholarship application. You might meet
the requirements for endowed scholarships even if you don’t
meet the academic scholarship requirements.
You must meet the deadlines!
Don’t forget to consider some of the smaller schools. They
offer good scholarships as well.
Some schools have you fill out separate scholarship
applications.
Some departments give out scholarships and you must fill
out separate applications.
UAH Academic Scholarships:
UAH – Deadline is Dec. 1.
 Separate Scholarship Application.
 UAH will allow students to continue
taking the ACT in the spring to try
and increase their score.
 UAH scholarships start with 25 ACT and
3.0 GPA. As scores go up, the amount of
the scholarships go up.
 Fact Sheet is available in College/Career
Rm.
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UNA Academic Scholarships:
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Deadline is Dec. 3.
Scholarships start with 3.0 GPA on core
curriculum and 25 ACT.
25 ACT = $3,000/year
26 ACT = $4,000/year, 27 ACT - $4,500/year
28 ACT = $5,000/year
29 ACT = $6,000/year, 30 ACT - $7,000/year
32 ACT = $7,000/year + Room
33-36 ACT = $7,000/year+ Room + Books
University of Alabama Academic
Scholarships
Deadline is Dec. 1.
 Must fill out scholarship application
in MyBama (http://mybama.ua.edu).
 Scholarships start with 27 ACT and 3.5
GPA - $1,500/year
 28-29 ACT, 3.5 GPA - $3,500/year
 30-36 ACT, 3.5 GPA – Full Tuition
 First Generation Scholarships
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Auburn University Academic
Scholarships
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Spirit of Auburn Scholarships
Deadline is Dec. 1.
28-29 ACT and 3.5 or higher GPA = $2,500/year
30-31 ACT and 3.5 GPA = Full Tuition
32-36 ACT and 3.5 GPA = Full Tuition, $1,000
technology allowance, invitation to University
Honors College
Foundation, Legacy and Achievement – 26
ACT and 3.5 GPA
Provost Leadership – 3.25 GPA, Diversity
General Scholarships – 3.0 GPA
UAB Scholarships
December 1 – Deadline
 UAB Scholarships start with 24 ACT, 3.0
GPA - $1,000
 24 ACT, 3.5+ GPA - $2,500
 25-27 ACT, 3.5+ GPA - $4,000
 28-32 ACT, 3.3+ GPA - $7,000
 33+ACT, 3.0+ GPA – Full Tuition + (highly
competitive)

Mississippi State Scholarships
Scholarship Deadline – Dec. 1
 Scholarships start with 25 ACT, 3.0 GPA,
Excellent leadership and service activities
 Will consider December ACT scores.

University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)
Admission – Requirements are going up
in 2012. (Core 4 every year, Math through
Trig, 2 Foreign Language credits, 1 Fine
Art credit), 20 ACT, 2.5 GPA
 Separate scholarship application
 Deadlines vary
 Scholarships for out-of-state students
start with 26 ACT, 3.0 GPA - $2,000/year
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University of South Alabama
Scholarships start with 24 ACT, 3.0 GPA $3,500/year
 27-29 ACT, 3.5 GPA - $6,500/year
 30-31ACT, 3.5 GPA - $8,000/year
 32 ACT, 3.5 GPA - $9,000/year,
$10,000/year
 33+, 3.5 GPA - $11,000/year
 Dec. 1 - Deadline
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Jacksonville State University
Deadline is March 1.
 Apply for academic scholarships online
 Begin with 22 ACT
 26 ACT = Full tuition + books
 30 ACT = Full tuition + room/board
 Leadership scholarships (paper
application) – 20 ACT, 2.5 GPA

Troy University
27 ACT, 3.5 GPA – Full Tuition
 31 ACT, 3.7 GPA (60 awarded) – Full
Tuition, Room and Board
 Leadership Scholarships start with 22
ACT, 3.0 GPA
 Separate scholarship application
 Deadlines vary with different scholarships.
 See website for more details.
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University of West Alabama
Admission – 19 ACT, 2.0 GPA
 April 15 – Deadline
 Scholarships start at 21 ACT, 3.0 GPA $1,500/year
 23-24 ACT, 3.0 GPA - $2,500/year
 25-26 ACT, 3.0 GPA - $3,500/year
 27-28 ACT, 3.0 GPA - $4,500/year
 29-30 ACT, 3.0 GPA - $5,500/year
 31+ ACT, 3.0 GPA - $10,000/year
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Leadership Scholarships:
Many of the smaller schools offer good leadership
scholarships with a little bit lower ACT score
required. For example:
 UNA – Minimum 18 ACT, Core Curriculum GPA
2.75, Resume required. From $1,200/year to
$8,000.
 Troy – 22 ACT, 3.0 GPA. Girls State
Representative Scholarship.
 University of West Alabama – Gives scholarships
to those who held leadership positions in high
school such as SCA President, Sr. Class President,
Yearbook Editor, etc. $1,500-$2,500/year.

Community College Scholarships
Many community colleges offer a variety of
scholarships.
 Deadline for Calhoun is March 1.
 Scholarship application at www.calhoun.edu.
 Calhoun offers Foundation Scholarships,
Athletic Scholarships, Fine Arts Scholarships,
Many Leadership Scholarships for Those
Active in Calhoun’s Student Government
Association, College Literary Magazine,
Warhawks, etc.

Calhoun Scholarships
There is a separate scholarship
application (available online).
 ACT 26 and up – One year scholarship of
full tuition and fees
 Must complete FAFSA by March 1.
 Also need: transcript, essay, letters of
reference (optional)

Wallace State Community College
You may take the COMPASS
placement test instead of the ACT
to attend Wallace State.
 Separate scholarship application – Feb.
15 Deadline
 Academic Scholarships are based on ACT
(21+) scores, GPA (3.0+), Essays and
Letters of Recommendation.
 Fact Sheet available in College and Career
Room.

Local Scholarships
Local scholarship information is typically
sent out in the spring.
 Watch the newsletter, school bulletin
boards, newspaper and website for details
of local scholarships being offered.
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More Information:
Come and visit the College and Career
Room located in the back of the
Guidance Department. Mrs. Austin and I
will be glad to help you look up materials.
We have handouts and fact sheets for
different colleges and scholarships, as well
as reference books.
 I will be glad to work with you on
learning to navigate college websites. The
best advice is to explore…

Newsletters Are Important!
Make sure you read the newsletters from
the Guidance Department each month.
Every bit of information that we receive
regarding scholarships, visitation days and
other college related information is
posted in those newsletters.
 The newsletters are also available on the
school website:
www.athenshighschool.org.

College and Career Guides
These are full of great information but
they won’t be of use to you unless you
read them! Available online at AHS
website.
 There are forms in the back for College
Visitation Days and Transcript Requests.
 There are also sample resumes. For
some applications, you need to include a
resume. To help in writing letters of
recommendation, teachers and
counselors need a copy of your resume.

STI HomePlus

This is a great way of keeping up with
your grades.
Great Websites!!!
For information on careers, go to
www.bls.gov. Scroll down to “Featured
Publications” and click on “Occupational
Outlook Handbook.” Detailed
information on a multitude of careers.
 www.alstudentaid.com – Check out these
publications – “Affording Higher
Education,” “Getting In” and “Planning
Your Future.

Good Websites:
www.getin2college.com – Their handbook
has a lot of useful tips.
 www.mapping-your-future.org – This has a
lot of helpful information.
 College Searches – www.petersons.com,
www.collegeboard.com,
www.princetonreview.com
 Financial Aid – www.fafsa.ed.gov
 www.mynextmove.org – offers career
information for the US Dept. of Labor.

Final Thoughts:
If you have applied and been accepted to more
than 1 college, let the ones that you will not be
attending know before May 1. That will open a
spot for another student.
 Let Ms. Malone know when you need transcripts
sent. Forms are available in the guidance office.
First 4 are free, after that, they are $1 each.
 Let Ms. Russell know when you need to take a
college visitation day. Juniors are allowed 1 day.
Seniors are allowed 2 but you must have 5 days
prior approval. Forms are available from Ms.
Hubbard. March 31st is the final day.

The Last Word:

I am enjoying working with you at Athens
High School. Please feel free to drop by
and see me. I have an open door policy.
The only time my door is closed is if I am
in a meeting with someone. You are my
priority. I will be glad to help you prepare
for your future in any way I can.
Mrs. Wales