“What lies behind us and what lies before us
are tiny matters compared to
what lies within us.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson
Timeline For Planning
Senior Year Guide
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ADMISSIONS
◦ Varies by college
 Upper ½ of class
 ACT (21+) or SAT
◦ 4 Eng
◦ 3 Math (Alg. 2);
◦ 3 Science
◦ 3 Social Studies
◦ World Language
◦ 1 Arts
COSTS
◦ State universities: $5,242
 R/B: $4,500
◦ U of M: $8,263
◦ Private: $21,467
 R/B: $7,000+
◦ +books
• Teacher
– $44,010.06
• Accountant
– $52,208
• Electrical Engineer
– $76,336
• Air Traffic Controller
– $123,136
• ADMISSIONS
– Diploma
– GED
• Dental Hygienist
• 2-year Associate Degree
AND/OR transfer
• Paralegal
• COSTS
– $3,769 (tuition & fees)
• +room and board, books,
supplies
– $63,856
– $44,928
• ADMISSIONS
– Diploma
– GED
• Bookkeeping/ Accounting
Clerks
– $31,616
• Auto Body Repair
• COSTS
– Technical
• $3,769 (tuition & fees)
– Trade
• $10,092 (tuition & fees)
+room and board, books,
supplies
– $40,144
• Tool & Die
– $45,760
• Legal Secretary
– $42,848
• Ship Captains & Mates
– $38,896
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For information on all branches of the military:
www.students.gov -click on “military services”
For employment planning and research go to
www.bls.gov/oco
www.doleta.gov/jobseekers
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Apprenticeship programs are available in more than 200
skilled trades in Minnesota.
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Information can be obtained from The Department of
Labor and Industry
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The average hourly wage for a McDonald’s
cashier is $7.02. If working 40 hours a week,
the annual salary would be $14,601.
Median hourly wages:
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Grocery stores $7.90
Department stores $7.89
Other general merchandise stores $7.85
Health and personal care stores $7.68
Gasoline stations $7.54
AN EDUCATED DECISION:
HELPING YOUR CHILD CHOOSE
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Life and career planning
◦ Explore his or her life interests and goals; values; skills
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 Interest inventories
 Job shadows
 Research
 Experiment
Find a good academic fit
◦ Finding a college where students share similar academic
abilities and objectives
Choosing a college
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On-campus college visits- #1 factor in student choice
of college
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College reps at FHS
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On line resources
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College Fairs
College Admissions: What are they
looking for?
 Transcript,
GPA, class load
 Do you have all graduation requirements
 College Entrance Exams (ACT / SAT)
 Essays
 Interviews
 Letters of recommendation
 Senior
Resume…..including
 Activities
 Community
Involvement
 Honors and Awards
 Special skills and talents
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Check for deadlines
Complete as much as possible
Bring to Dean with application fee
Check for transcript fee
Is early decision right for you?
Let Dean know your final decision
NCAA Guidelines
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Register online at
www.ncaaclearinghouse.org
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Follow directions for ACT
Bring transcript request to main office
Check with your Dean if you are considering college
participation
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Financial aid is the money used to help offset the cost
of higher education – from the federal government,
state programs, and the college
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FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid)
◦ Examines your child’s and your income, living expenses,
assets, and savings to calculate how much you and your
child can be expected to contribute = EFC (expected family
income)
www.fafsa.ed.gov
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www.getreadyforcollege.org (estimator)
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Reciprocity: is the agreement that Minnesota has
with Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota to
provide reduced tuition to your child if s/he attends a
public college in one of these states.
Grants: awards that do not have to be repaid. It is given to
students with the greatest financial need.
Scholarships: awarded based on criteria such as grades,
sports, culture, religion, or special talents. Do not have to
be repaid.
Work-study: is a part-time job, either on or off campus.
Loans: with low interest rates to help students pay for
higher education. MUST be repaid. There are ways to
have the loan reduced.
Military service: assistance benefits in exchange for service
Senior TO DO List:
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Take ACT / SAT or retake if needed
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Meet with your Dean
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Plan college visits
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Send College applications
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Keep up on scholarship opportunities
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Attend financial aid night
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Complete FAFSA after January 1
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Apply for local scholarships
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Make final decisions
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Request final transcripts
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Spread your wings and fly…..
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Letting go - separating your own aspirations from
those of your child
Applying to college is a journey to independence
Let your child make their own decisions
◦ Create opportunities for them to make decisions
◦ Advise them, support them, let them make mistakes, let
them go
Living skills
Credit cards
Safety
Staying in touch
Health - insurance
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Check out the materials in the SSS office on Colleges
MCIS mncis.intocareers.org (MN Career Information
System)
www.iseek.org
www.mncareers.org
www.finaid.org
www.fastweb.org
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Apply for early admission decision, if interested.
Research private scholarship sources
Request letters of recommendation
If you can’t afford the college application fee most
colleges charge, check with your dean about the
possibility of fee waiver.
Sign up for ACT test, if needed
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ACT $34.00
ACT plus writing$49.50
www.actstudent.org
http://sat.collegeboard.org
Test Date
Registration
Deadline
February 11,
2012
January 14, 2012
April 14, 2012
March 9, 2012
June 9, 2012
May 12, 2012
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Finalize college choices
Meet the priority deadline for college
applications
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Attend a Financial Aid Workshop
Register for a pin number on FAFSA website
Complete the FAFSA online
www.fafsa.ed.gov
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CREDIT CHECK! Has your student met all
graduation requirements?
If you have not applied for admission to a college.
DO IT NOW! IT MIGHT NOT BE TOO LATE!
Start looking for summer employment.
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GRADUATION!!!
Make sure your official transcript has been
send to the college that you plan to attend.
Attend orientation meetings offered by the
college.
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Be prepared and planned
Pay attention to details and deadlines
To be successful, the first thing to do is fall in love with your
work.
Destiny is not a matter of chance. It is a matter of choice:
it is not to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.
The secret of success is making your vocation your
vacation.
Good Luck!