 Narrow your list of colleges to five to 10. Meet with a counselor about them and, if you’ve not yet done so, download college applications and financial aid forms. Plan to visit as many of these colleges as possible.

Create a master list or calendar that includes: o tests you’ll take and their fees, dates and registration deadlines o college application due dates o financial aid application forms required and their deadlines o other materials you’ll need (recommendations, transcripts, etc.) o your high school’s own application processing deadlines o If you can’t afford application or test fees, a counselor can help you request a fee waiver. o If you have not had your SAT & ACT scores sent to the college to which you are applying, be sure to contact the College Board and ACT to have them sent.

Try to finalize your college choices.

Prepare Early Decision, Early Action or rolling admissions applications as soon as possible.

Ask for counselor or teacher recommendations if you need them. Give each teacher or counselor an outline of your academic record and your extracurricular activities. For each recommendation, provide a stamped, addressed envelope and any college forms required.

If you’re submitting essays, write first drafts and ask teachers and others to read them. If you’re applying for Early Decision, finish the essays for that application now.

If you have not had your SAT scores sent to the college to which you are applying, be sure to contact the College Board to have them sent.

Nov. 1-15: For Early Decision admissions, colleges may require test scores and applications between these dates.

Complete at least one college application by Thanksgiving.

Counselors send transcripts to colleges. Give counselors the proper forms at least two weeks before colleges require them.

As you finish and send your applications and essays, be sure to keep copies.

If your college wants to see seventh-semester grades, be sure to give the form to your counselor.

If you apply to colleges online, be sure to have your high school send a transcript — it goes to colleges separately by mail.

No senioritis, please! Accepting colleges do look at second-semester senior grades.
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
Keep active in school. If you are wait-listed, the college will want to know what you have accomplished between the time you applied and the time you learned of its decision.

You should receive acceptance letters and financial aid offers by mid-April. If you’ve not done so yet, visit your final college before accepting. As soon as you decide, notify your counselor of your choice.

If you have questions about housing offers, talk to your admission counselor or call the college.

May 1: Colleges cannot require a deposit or commitment to attend before May 1. By that postmarked date, you must inform every college of your acceptance or rejection of the offer of admission and/or financial aid. (Questions? Talk to your counselor.)

Send your deposit to one college only.

Wait-listed by a college? If you will enroll if accepted, tell the admissions director your intent and ask how to strengthen your application. Need financial aid? Ask whether funds will be available if you’re accepted.

Work with a financial aid counselor to resolve any admissions or financial aid problems.

Ask your high school to send a final transcript to your college.
2

So you think that college isn't for you? Well, you're wrong! You don't have to be "lucky" or have lots of money to go to college. You don't have to have straight "A's" in high school or know already what you want to do with the rest of your life. You do have to really want to go to college - and be ready to work hard once you get there. Unfortunately, too many students make up excuses for why they can't go to college. If you're one of those students, here's a list of the 10 most common excuses - and why they're all wrong. Please share this with others.
EXCUSE #1: Nobody in my family has ever gone to college before. Why not be the first? It's true that being the first to do anything can be difficult and maybe even a little frightening, but being the first in your family to receive a college education should give you a sense of pride. Not going to college is the kind of family "tradition" you should break.
EXCUSE #2: My grades are not good enough for college. How do you know they're not unless you apply?
Even if you haven't obtained all good grades in school, you can still be admitted to a good college that will be right for you. Colleges look at more than just grades and test scores. They look at such things as letters from teachers and other adults; extracurricular activities; jobs you might have had; special talents in art, music, and sports; and interviews. When deciding who gets in, colleges examine the whole person, not just one small part.
EXCUSE #3: I can't afford it. There's a lot of financial aid available to help you pay for college. This year alone there are about $26 BILLION waiting for students who need money for college. If you apply for aid, and you demonstrate that you need it, your chances are as good as anybody else's that you will receive help. There's money available from the federal government, from your state, from the colleges you apply to, and from thousands of grant, scholarship, and work-study programs. But you won't see any of it if you don't check it out.
EXCUSE #4: I don't know how to apply to college, or where I want to go. You're not alone. You can start by looking at college catalogs in your high school or local library, and you can talk to your high school counselor, favorite teacher, or someone you know who's gone to college. There's a lot of good advice available, but you have to ask for it. With more than 3,000 colleges to choose from, there's bound to be one that's right for you.
EXCUSE #5: I think college may be too difficult for me. Not likely, if you're willing to work hard.
Thousands of students graduate from college every year, and chances are many of them were afraid college would be too difficult for them - but they made it in spite of their fears. College is a big change from high school. The competition will be greater and the homework assignments will be longer and tougher. And it isn't always easy to adjust to strange surrounding and make new friends. But once you get involved with your work, you'll find that many of your classmates feel as you do. Who doesn't worry sometimes that they might not make it? And even if you find that you're not doing well in certain
3

subjects, you can still do something about it. Tutoring is available from professors or fellow students, and counseling for personal problems is available on campus too.
EXCUSE #6: I'm not sure that I'll "fit in" in college. Just about any college you might attend will have students from all kinds of backgrounds, so you are sure to find other people whom you can relate to. If you're a minority student, for example, find about student clubs sponsored by African Americans,
Hispanics/Latinos, Native Americans, Asians, or other groups. Such clubs can help give you a sense of community away from home. Regardless of your ethnic background, you should remember that one of the good things about college is getting to know all kinds of people. It will be interesting to learn about different life-styles and cultures, and it will help prepare you for the world you will face after graduation.
EXCUSE #7: I don't even know what I want to major in or do with my life. The great majority of college freshmen don't have a clue about these things either. Giving you choices is what college is all about. You can take courses in different fields and see what you like and what you're good at. You may be surprised to find a subject or a career field that you never would have thought of before. The biggest mistake you can make is to think that any decision you make is cast in concrete and that you can never change your major - or your life.
EXCUSE #8: There's no way I can go to college full-time. So go part-time. Most colleges offer programs you can attend in the evening or on weekends. Some colleges even give classes where you work or in neighborhood churches and community centers. You can also study many subjects through correspondence courses in home-study programs, and a number of states have external degree programs that let you work for a degree without - believe it or not - any classroom attendance! Ask your counselor about these possibilities.
EXCUSE #9: I'm too old to go to college. Nonsense! You're never too old to learn. Even if you've been out of high school for a while, you can still go to college. Almost half of all full-time and part-time students in the country are adults older than 25 years of age. If they can do it, so can you!
EXCUSE #10: I just want to get a good job and make lots of money. College will help you with that and more. Studies have shown that a college graduate will earn several hundred thousand dollars more during the course of his or her working life than someone who has only a high school diploma. Of course, money isn't everything, but most challenging and interesting jobs with good futures require a college education. A college degree will also give you a greater variety of job choices. There's something else that college will give you: a sense of personal satisfaction, confidence, and self-respect. These are not easy to measure, but they are very important in helping you become the kind of person you want to be. There are probably many other reasons you can think of for not going to college. But why sit arouind making up excuses when you can use that time and energy to do something that will benefit you the rest of your life? Decide now that you want to go to college and then start working at it. This is the bottom line: If you are willing to give it a shot, college can be for you too.
4

Top 10 Percent Rule for Admissions *
Students who are in the top 10 percent of their graduating class are eligible for automatic admission to any public university in Texas.
To be eligible for automatic admission, a student must: o Graduate in the top 10 percent of his or her class at a public or private high school in
Texas, or o Graduate in the top 10 percent of his or her class from a high school operated by the U.S.
Department of Defense and be a Texas resident or eligible to pay resident tuition; o Enroll in college no more than two years after graduating from high school; and o Submit an application to a Texas public university for admission before the institution's application deadline (check with the university regarding specific deadlines). o Students admitted through this route may still be required to provide SAT or ACT scores, although these scores are not used for admissions purposes. Students must also take the
THEA test, unless exempted from the test requirement. Check with the admissions office regarding THEA, SAT, and ACT requirements.
After a student is admitted, the university may review the student's high school records to determine if the student is prepared for college-level work. A student who needs additional preparation may be required to take a developmental, enrichment, or orientation course during the semester prior to the first semester of college.
Admission to a university does not guarantee acceptance into a particular college of study or department, however.
* The University of Texas at Austin is an exception to this rule. UT is required to notify school counselors what the percentage will be by September 15 th for that year’s junior class of students. For the senior class of 2014, that number is 8%.
5

Applications
Go on college website & request info
Schedule a campus visit
Look at application deadline
Fill out and double check application
Check your appplication status
Make copies of all application materials
Confirm receipt of application
Send suplemental material, if needed
Send in application fee or waiver
Grades
Request HS transcript sent
Request CTC transcript sent
Request midyear report sent
Test Scores
Send ACT & SAT scores
Send AP scores
Send SAT subject test scores* if required
Send Accuplacer/THEA scores* if required
Letters of Recommendation
Request letters or recommendation
Send thank you notes to recommenders
Essays
Write essays
Proof and edit essays
Have two people read essays
Interviews
Schedule interviews* if required
Send thank you notes to interviewers
Financial Aid
Find out priority financial aid deadline
Fill out FAFSA
Submit CSS Profile* if needed
Housing
Fill out housing application
Send in deposit
Send in meningitis vaccine
You're Nearly There!
Receive Admissions Letter
Receive Financial Aid Award Letter
Notify college you will/not attend
Send final MHS transcript
Send final CTC transcript
College #1 College #2 College #3
6

PLAN (Practice ACT)
Mason High School gives the PLAN test to all sophomores. This test measures academic skills and abilities and also serves as an interest inventory to help students identify their career interests. The
PLAN test serves as a predictor of ACT scores. Study guides are given to the students ahead of time.
PLAN results should be compared with results from the CAPS, COPS, and COPES from the 8th grade year.
PSAT/NMSQT (Practice SAT)
The PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) measures critical reading, math, and writing skills. The PSAT is given to all juniors. The PSAT serves as a predictor of SAT scores and also allows juniors to compete for National Merit Scholarships. It is strongly suggested that students study the pre-exam materials before the test in order to increase their chances of becoming a National Merit Scholar.
The results from the PSAT and the PLAN should be compared to determine whether the SAT or ACT favors the student.
ASVAB- (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)
The ASVAB test provides information to the students about their interests and potential careers. This test is beneficial to all students even if they have no interest in the military as a career. This test is given to the juniors in the fall. Recruiters are not allowed to do any kind of recruiting during the exam. Results from the ASVAB should be compared to the CAPS, COPS, and COPES exam from the 8th grade year and the PLAN test from the sophomore year.
TSI Requirement(Texas Higher Education Assessment)
According to the Texas Success Initiative (TSI), students must pass a reading, writing, and math skills test prior to enrolling in any college-level coursework. If one or more sections of the test are not passed, the college has the flexibility of deciding the best placement for the student. The THEA is one of the more common exams that meets the TSI requirement. Some students may be exempt from the TSI requirement, depending on their TAKS scores, ACT scores, or SAT scores. Please see the counselor regarding exemptions from the TSI requirement
The TSI requirement must be met before dual credit classes can be taken at MHS. Therefore, sophomores who are planning to take dual credit classes as a junior, must take the test BEFORE the start of their junior year. The test is administered at MHS.
COLLEGE ADMISSION TESTS (ACT & SAT)
The ACT and SAT are national tests that colleges use to predict a student's success. These test scores are coupled with high school curriculum, class rank, grade point average, extracurricular activities, and leadership as part of entry requirements into a university. These tests are generally not required for
7

two-year colleges or vocational-trade schools. If you will be attending a four-year college, one or both of these tests must be taken. Most U.S. colleges accept both ACT and SAT scores. It is recommended that these tests be taken during the spring of the student's junior year.

ACT- (American College Testing program)
The ACT consists of curriculum based "achievement " tests in the areas of English, math, reading, science, and an optional writing sample. Some colleges require the writing sample so check the
ACT website to determine i f your college requires it. The ACT is given six times per year.

SAT- (Scholastic Aptitude Test)
The SAT consists of critical reading, math, and writing sections. An essay is required as part of the writing section. The SAT is given seven times per year. There are two different forms of the
SAT. There is an SAT Reasoning Test and an SAT Subject Test. You will need to sign up for the
SAT Reasoning Test. Very few colleges require the SAT Subject Test, and this is only after the
SAT Reasoning Test has been taken.
You may register online (with a credit card) for both the ACT and SAT or you may pick up registration bulletins outside of the counselor's office. Study manuals are also available outside of the counselor's office. Other study materials are available upon request.
8

ACT vs. SAT
What's the difference between the ACT and the SAT?
Both the ACT and the SAT are nationally administered standardized tests that help colleges evaluate candidates. Most colleges and universities accept either test. So as you begin to think about college and creating the best application package possible, your admissions plan should begin with the question, "Which test should I take?" When weighing your options, keep in mind that there are differences in test structure and the type of content assessed. Use the chart below to see which test makes the most of your strengths to help you determine which test might be best for you.
ACT SAT
Length
Sections
3 hours, 25 minutes
(including the 30minute optional Writing
Test)
3 hours, 45 minutes
4 test sections (5 with the optional Writing
Test):
English, Math,
Reading, Science,
Writing (Optional)
10 Sections: 3 Critical
Reading, 3 Math, 3 Writing
(incl. the Essay), 1
Experimental (unscored)
Areas Tested
Reading
(ACT) /
Critical
Reading
(SAT)
Science
English, Math,
Reading, Science,
Writing (optional)
Critical Reading, Math,
Writing (includes the
Essay), Experimental
(unscored)
4 Reading
Comprehension passages, 10 questions per passage
Reading comprehension passages and questions, and sentence completion questions
Science (analysis, interpretation, evaluation, basic content, and problem solving)
Science not included
Math Math accounts for 1/4 of overall score
Topics Covered:
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry
Math accounts for 1/3 of overall score
Topics Covered:
Arithmetic, geometry, algebra, and algebra II
9

Essay Last thing you do
(optional); 30 minutes
First thing you do; 25 minutes
Scoring
Wrong
Answer
Penalty
 Not included in composite score
 Topic of importance to
 Pick a side and stick to it
 Address counterarguments
 Factored into overall score
 More abstract topic (vs. the ACT)
Total composite score Total score out of 2400 of 1-36 (based on average of 4 tests)
 4 scores of 1-36 for each test
 Score of 0-12 for the optional Essay
 3 scores of 200-800 for each section
 Score of 0-12 for the
Essay
No wrong answer penalty
1/4 point subtracted per wrong answer (except for
Math Grid-in questions)
Test Contact
Information
ACT, Inc.
(319) 337-1000 www.actstudent.org
The College Board
1-866-756-7346 www.collegeboard.com
Sending
Score History
You decide which score is sent
Your entire score history will be sent automatically
How can I find out if a school accepts the ACT, SAT or both?
You should be able to find this information by visiting the school's website or by calling their admissions office.
How can I figure out which test I might score better on?
Learning about the differences between the two tests is one thing, knowing how you actually might score is another.
The only way to know for sure is to take a practice test. Kaplan offers practice ACT, SAT, or SAT/ACT Combo Tests to help you identify which test could best showcase your strengths during the admission process.
10

Test Date Registration Deadline (Late Fee Required)
September 21, 2013 August 23, 2013 August 24–September 6, 2013
October 26, 2013 September 27, 2013
December 14, 2013 November 8, 2013
September 28–October 11, 2013
November 9–22, 2013
February 8, 2014* January 10, 2014
April 12, 2014 March 7, 2014
January 11–24, 2014
March 8–21, 2014
June 14, 2014 May 9, 2014 May 10–23, 2014
Test fee per test option ** It costs $11 to send your scores to colleges after you test, so it is a good idea to fill in the colleges where you want your scores to be sent when you register for the test or on test day!
ACT (No Writing) - $36.50
Includes reports for you, your high school, and up to four college choices (if valid codes are provided when you register).
ACT Plus Writing - $52.50
Includes reports for you, your high school, and up to four college choices (if valid codes are provided when you register). The $16.00 Writing Test fee is refundable, on written request, if you are absent on test day or switch to the ACT (No Writing) before testing begins.
Additional registration fees and services
Add to the test fee for your test option (except for the Test Center Change) 5th and 6th college choices add $12.00 each - Requested online before the test date; refundable on written request, if you do not test.
Telephone re-registration add $14.00
Late registration fee (U.S. or Canada only) add $23.00
For registration or test date change submitted during the late period for a national test date.
Standby testing add $45.00
Refunded if you are denied admission to the test center on test day, or if your registration was cancelled due to no photo provided.
Test date change add $22.00
For different date only if absent or unable to test on the original test date or if your registration is cancelled for failure to meet ACT's test security requirements. If you request a test date change after the regular deadline for the new date, you must also add the late fee. You will be charged the full test fee for your new test date plus
$22.00 ($45.00 if you register during the late period). Your test fee for the original test date will be promptly refunded.
Test center change $22.00 For the same test date.
Viewing scores and score report online FREE
11

SAT
Date
SAT Subject
Tests Available
( Find Dates )
Registration
Deadline
Late Registration
Deadline
Mail
Phone/
Online
Oct 
Subject Tests
5
Sep
6
Sep
20
Sep
20
Nov 
Subject Tests
2
Dec 
7
Subject Tests
Jan

25
Subject Tests
Oct
3
Nov
8
Dec
27
Oct
18
Nov
22
Jan
10
Oct
18
Nov
22
Jan
10
Deadline for
Changes
Sep
20
Oct
18
Nov
22
Jan
10
Mar
8
Feb
7
Feb
21
Feb
21
Feb
21
May
3

Subject Tests
Apr
4
Apr
18
Apr
18
Apr
18
Jun

Subject Tests
7
May
9
May
23
May
23
May
23
Additional fees apply if you register late or make changes to your test type, center or date after registering.
The Official SAT Study Guide
The Official SAT Study Guide provides students with official practice tests from the maker of the SAT and is packed with information your students need to get ready for test day. Students can review concepts and test-taking approaches, take 10 practice tests, and access detailed answer explanations online.
The Official SAT Study Guide with DVD
We’ve taken our best-selling study guide and made it even better by adding an exclusive, one-of- a-kind
DVD. The Official SAT Study Guide with DVD is packed with extra tools and resources to help students
12

be even more prepared on test day. The DVD includes a bonus practice test, SAT Test Timer to simulate the real test-taking experience, math concepts videos and more.
The Official SAT Subject Tests Study Guides
Our Official SAT Subject Tests Study Guides provide students with real test-taking experiences by including official practice tests; detailed answer explanations; the most up-to-date test-taking tips and approaches; and the latest instructions, background questions and answer sheets.

The Official Study Guide for all SAT Subject Tests: Second Edition
The only study guide with official practice tests for all 20 SAT Subject Tests, detailed answer explanations, and the latest information about selecting which tests to take, when to take the test, and how to best prepare. Also includes two audio CDs for all six Language with Listening Subject Tests.

The Official SAT Subject Tests in Mathematics Levels 1 & 2 Study Guide
Includes four full-length previously administered math tests, detailed answer explanations and more.

The Official SAT Subject Tests in U.S. and World History Study Guide
Includes four full-length previously administered history tests, detailed answer explanations and more.
FREE SAT Practice Tools

The Official SAT Question of the Day
Students can access a free daily practice SAT question online, or receive it by email or through a mobile app. Hints and detailed answer explanations are provided for each question.

Official SAT Practice Test
The only place where students can take a free, full-length official SAT test and get their scores right away.

SAT Practice Questions
Practice questions in mathematics, reading and writing, just like questions they’ll find on the real test.

SAT Subject Tests Practice Questions
Practice questions for all 20 SAT Subject Tests; includes answer explanations.

SAT Skills Insight
Provides real SAT questions and answers, suggestions for improvement, and guidance on how students can sharpen their skills. It also highlights the academic skills that are tested on the SAT and needed to succeed in the classroom and college
http://sat.collegeboard.com/practice/sat-question-of-the-day and sign up for the SAT Question of the
Day. You will receive a daily e-mail with test prep questions!
College Board
The college Board is the single best source of information on almost all aspects of college preparation. A free, interactive PSAT practice test is available at this site. www.collegeboard.com/psat/student/html/indx001.html
Kaplan
Kaplan is a national leader in the test preparation arena. At this site, you can sign up for services that range in cost from free to over $600. www.kaplan.com
Number 2.com
This Web site provides free test-prep programs. If you are seeking the best free program available via the internet, this is the one. www.number2.com
13

Princeton Review
Another national leader in test preparation programs, Princeton Review offers a variety of services with a wide array of costs. The site also includes college search capabilities. www.princetonreview.com
The ACT
The ACT is the college admissions exam most commonly used by colleges and universities in the west. This site provides a large number of helps for students who are planning on taking the assessment.
(It is also a very helpful site for parents.) www.act.org
COACH – Educate, Inspire, Empower
This site offers various test preparation services including what they call the "Coach Series", a computer software program with prices in the $160 range. You can pick your state and work from there on coaching software programs to assist your student. www.testprep.com
The Educational Testing Service Network (ETS)
ETSN oversees the actual testing of several national tests such as Advanced Placement. You can learn more about the tests as well as access practice tests and other test preparation tools at: www.ets.org
Texas Higher Education Assessment
Its purpose is to assess the reading, mathematics, and writing skills that entering freshman-level students should have if they are to perform effectively in undergraduate certificate or degree programs in Texas public colleges or universities. http://www.thea.nesinc.com/
1. Go to www.actstudent.org
2. Create your account.
3. Write down your password and login and put it in your folder in the file cabinet. (If you lose it, it is a real pain.)
4. Upload a photo of yourself.
5. Print your admission ticket and put it in the folder or in a safe place. You must present it on the test day.
6. You must present a photo ID on test day.
MHS School Code: 444-545
Mason Test Center Code: 218090 for the September & February Tests Only
* Brady, Harper, Fredericksburg & Junction are the closest towns offering the test for the other administrations.
1. Go to www.collegeboard.com
2. Create your account.
3. Write down your password and login and put it in your folder in the file cabinet. (If you lose it, it is a real pain.)
14

4. Upload a photo of yourself.
5. Print your admission ticket and put it in the folder or in a safe place. You must present it on the test day.
6. You must present a photo ID on test day.
MHS School Code: 444-545
* Brady, Harper, Fredericksburg and Junction are the closest towns that offer the test.
Students Should Avoid the Obvious …
Before you know it, it'll be 8:30 Saturday morning and you'll be sitting in the test center with an
SAT test book in front of you. As your SAT test day draws near, be sure to review these lastminute tips to help you do your best.

The Day Before
Gather up everything you're going to need for the next morning. You don't want to be stuck frantically searching for your admission ticket just before you rush out the door. You'll need the following items:
 Acceptable Photo ID
 Your SAT Admission Ticket
 Two sharpened No. 2 pencils and a soft eraser (pens and mechanical pencils are not allowed)


A calculator with fresh batteries
A hand-held CD player with fresh batteries, if you are taking a Language Test with Listening


Write down the directions to the test center. Make sure you know how to get to your test center and how long it'll take you to get there.
Check to see if your test center is open.
Especially if there is bad weather in your area, tune into your local media (like you do for school closing announcements) or visit www.collegeboard.com on the Friday before the test to make sure your test center is open.


Be well-rested and ready to go. Get a good night's sleep the night before the test.
Set two alarms —one in your room and one in someone else's room, in case you hit the snooze button one time too many.

The Morning of the Test
Eat breakfast. You'll be at the test center for four hours and you're likely to get hungry.
 Bring snacks. During one of the breaks, you can eat or drink any snacks you have brought with you. A healthy snack will go a long way toward keeping you alert during the entire test.
15




Leave your cell phone at home . Don't run the risk of having your phone ring or vibrate during testing. It could cost you your scores! If you are seen using a cell phone or any other prohibited electronic device while in the test center, or if the device makes noise or vibrates, you may be dismissed immediately, your scores may be canceled, and the device may be confiscated. This policy also applies to any other prohibited digital and/or electronic device such as a Blackberry, pager, PDA, camera or other photographic equipment, or a separate timer of any kind . We strongly advise you not to bring them.
Arrive at your test center no later than 7:45 a.m. Don't risk getting locked out because you're
30 seconds late. Give yourself plenty of time to get to get there. Consider traffic, weather conditions, flat tires, and anything else that could slow you down.

During the Test
Use breaks to eat or drink any snacks you have brought with you . You will have several breaks during the testing time. Use them to relax and eat a snack so you can stay focused.
 Work only on the section or test you are supposed to be working on. You're not allowed to go back to a section or test once it has ended. You also can't start the next section or test if you finish early.



Do easier questions first. You earn just as many points for easy questions as you do for hard ones.
Make sure you use a No. 2 pencil on the answer sheet. It is very important that you fill in the entire circle darkly and completely. If you change your response, erase it as completely as possible. It is very important that you follow these instructions when filling out your answer sheet.
Use all of your time. Students around you may close up their test books and rest their heads on their desks, but you know better. Go back to review problems you weren't quite sure about the first time. Or, if you skipped any hard problems use the time to try to work them out.
 Stay positive and focused. Keep your mind on your work, not your score.
Try not to worry about whether you "nailed it" or "blew it." It'll be a long couple of weeks if you do. Know you did your best
—and celebrate. You deserve it.
Good Luck!
16

th
You should write your resume as soon as possible. Remember that your resume is your way of advertising your best qualities. You will submit this resume to scholarship committees and future employers. Appearance and content are equally important in a resume. You must take care that everything is spelled and worded correctly. I will be more than happy to take a look at your resume and give you tips and suggestions, so please ask me! I prefer for you to print it and I will correct the hard copy.
Save your resume in a folder titled “Resume” and remember to update it regularly. You should save to your flash drive and your home folder on the network. Items which will need updating may include the following:

Your GPA

Membership and offices held in organizations

Awards you and/or your team wins at the end of the sports seasons

Band awards

New volunteering activities

Honors received at events such as Coronation, Homecoming, Sports and activities banquets
 Changes in employment
The following pages include sample resumes, tips on how to word the items in your resume, along with a worksheet to help you get started. There is blue binder in my office with former students’ resumes inside. Look through these to get an idea of what your resume should look like.
Please note:
 If you have tons of activities, volunteering, etc., you should create your resume using three text boxes, which will make it much easier to update.
 If you don’t ha ve a great deal of information to put on your resume, you should use a resume template in Microsoft Word. These are very professional looking, and all you have to do is click and type your own information.
17

9 th Grade:
Activity My Contribution
Example:
Mason Care Center Volunteer
Example:
Made and delivered care packages, visited patients
10 th Grade
Activity My Contribution
Location
Example:
Mason Care Center,
Mason, Texas
Dates
From-
Thru
Ex:
10/05-
3/06
Number of Hours
Served
Example:
50 hours
Location Dates
From-
Thru
Ex:
3/08
Number of Hours
Served
Example:
8 hours
Example:
St. Paul Lutheran Church Work
Day
Example:
Yearly yard clean-up, building maintenance.
Trimmed lawn, painted tool shed, cleaned flower beds.
Example:
St. Paul Lutheran
Church, Mason, TX
18

11 th Grade:
Activity
Example:
St. Joseph Catholic Church
Reader
12 th Grade
Activity
My Contribution
Example:
Read scripture during church services on Sunday mornings, practiced on
Saturday afternoons
Location
Example:
St. Joseph’s Catholic
Church, Mason, Tx
Dates
From-
Thru
Ex:
9/05/07
-
6/06/08
Number of Hours
Served
Example:
100 hours
Example:
Mason Cowgirls Walk-a-Thon
My Contribution
Example: Formed a team, collected pledges and walked from 5:00 pm – midnight to raise money for
Cancer research
Location
Example: Oscar Lee
Graham Track Facility,
Mason, Tx
Dates
From-
Thru
Ex:
3/08
Number of Hours
Served
Example:
10 hours
19

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY FORM
This form was designed to help you write your resume. Check the boxes of the organizations or groups of which you have been a member or a participant. If you served as an officer, editor, twirler, etc., write the name of office or award received in the box.
Yearbook Staff
National Honor Society
Student Council
FCS
FFA Member
FFA –(offices held, awards received, etc)
FFA Judging or Leadership
Teams
FFA Speaking Events
FCCLA
JETS
Teens in the Driver’s Seat
TEP
Spanish Club
TAFE
Band Member
Twirler, Drum Major, Section
Leader, Flag Corp, etc.
Band Solo or Ensemble
Contests
Special Awards in Band
Pep Squad
Cheerleading
UIL Contests (debate, lit. crit, spelling, science, speech events, math, etc.)
One-Act Play
Theater Club
Academic Excellence Award
Cross-Country
New Student Welcome
Committee
Basketball
Cross Country
Football
Golf
Tennis
Track
Baseball
Stock Show
Special Awards in Athletics –
(Team Awards & Individual
Awards)
Church/Youth Groups
Other Organizations (specify)
Coronation
Achievement Awards
Awards or honors not named above
Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior
20

PO Box 123 Mason, Texas 76856 325-347 -#### joestudent@hotmail.com
Objective To attend Texas State Technical College in Sweetwater
Work
Experience Mason Lawn & Garden Mason, Texas 2008-2010
 Sprinkler System Installation
 Lawn Maintenance
 Floral Sales
 Responsible for troubleshooting and customer relations
Hay Hauling Mason & McCullough Counties 2007-2010
 Loading & Transporting Hay Bales
 Cutting hay
 Operating heavy machinery
Best Cattle Company Mason, Texas 2007-2010
 Processing Cattle
 Feeding Cattle
 Operations & Repairs
Education
Mason High School May, 2010
Extra-
Curricular
Involvement
Varsity Football 2008-2010
Area Champs 2008-2009
First Team Defensive Lineman 2008
Second Team All-District Running Back 2008
First Team All-District Running Back 2009
Track & Field 2009
Varsity Baseball 2008-2009
FFA
Livestock Judging, Area Qualifier 2010
4-H
San Antonio Stock Show
2 nd Place Hampshire Pig, 2008
5 th Place Hampshire Lamb, 2008
3 rd Place Fine Wool, 2009
2 nd Place Meat Goat, 2010
Houston Stock Show
5 th Place Fine Wool Cross, 2008
1 st Place Hampshire Lamb, 2009
1 st Place Meat Goat, 2009
19 th Place Fine Wool Cross, 2010
2 nd Place Meat Goat, 2010
Star of Texas Fair & Rodeo
5 th Place Meat Goat, 2009
8 th Place Hampshire Lamb, 2010
Lauren Juleg Memorial Showmanship Winner
Livestock Judging, 2009
21

PO Box ###, Mason, Texas

325.111.2222
Objective
To gain admission to Angelo State University
Education
Mason High School
2010 National Blue Ribbon School
AP & Dual Credit Courses
Commended Performance on TAKS
UIL Academic Contest Science Team
GPA: 4.094
Athletics & Extra-curricular
Varsity Football
State Champions 2011
Member of the All-West Texas MVP “Fatboys” Offensive Line
First Team All-District Offensive Lineman 2010 & 2011
First Team All-West Texas Offensive Lineman, 2011
Regional Semi-Finalists, 2010
FFA
State Range Judging Team, 2012
Area Range Judging Team, 2009-2011
District Livestock Judging Team 2010-2012
Volunteer Service
Mason County Habitat for Humanity: 550 hours 2009-present
Assisted with pouring of slabs and installing underground plumbing
Dug trenches for sewage
Framing, installed sheetrock, flooring, windows and appliances
Installed landscaping
Mason High School Volunteer Program: 275 hours
Junior Class Concessions
Blue Ribbon Service Day
Mason County Stock Show
Tutoring
Teacher Experience Program
22

1. Decide who will be able to write a complimentary letter about you.

Think of teachers, coaches, principal, counselor, employers, pastor, youth leader, community leaders.

The letter writer must be able to offer specific examples of your leadership, academic ability, character, sense of responsibility, etc.
2. Fill out the Request for Recommendation Letter & write a little note at the bottom saying your appreciate the recommender and his/her time. (see following page) o Attach your resume. o Attach the senior information form.
3. Go back to pick up the letter from the letter writer or include a stamped and addressed envelope with your request.
Request recommendations from people who know your strengths. Teachers and counselors are usually the best choices. An employer or community leader can be another option if he or she knows you well and can emphasize your good qualities and achievements.
Ask for recommendations early so there is enough time to get them in comfortably before the deadline.
It's considerate on your part. It's also smart - waiting until the last minute may not allow the recommender enough time to do you justice and will cause you both unnecessary stress.
Additional tips for requesting recommendations:

Give your recommender a deadline, allowing at least two weeks to complete the letter

Provide the recommender with a stamped envelope addressed to the school.

Provide a list of your activities and awards to facilitate the writing process. (Attach your resume.)

Send thank you notes to your recommenders. This takes a great deal of time and effort on the part of your recommenders. You should show your appreciation.

Let recommenders know your application results.
23

TO _____________________________ DATE_________________
FROM __________________________
COLLEGE________________________ MAJOR ________________
CAREER GOAL___________________________________________
I would appreciate a letter of recommendation from you, as I feel you know me well as a student/former student.
Please include specific examples from class illustrating the qualities below:
• Academic motivation
• Creative academic approach
• Academic self-confidence
• Academic growth potential
• Leadership
• Responsibility
• Emotional maturity
• Initiative
• Outstanding personal qualities (i.e. enthusiasm, sense of humor)
*** Note from counselor: To help you in the process, consider the fact that colleges prefer succinct and specific letters. Please include examples that support statements that you make about the student. Avoid repeating what is already on the cumulative record, listing a string of awards and generalities.
Please address your letter of recommendation to the following colleges/agencies listed below:
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
I have attached an addressed envelope with postage for your convenience.
I will stop by and pick up from you.
24

All seniors requesting letters of rec must turn in this form along with an updates resume to your recommender.
Name: __________________________________ Today’s Date:_____________________
Email: __________________________________ Cell #: ___________________________
# of children in college: ___________________ # of children at home: ________________
Father’s name: ______________________
Mother’s name: _____________________
Colleges that interest you:
1.
____________________________
Occupation: ____________________________
Occupation: ____________________________
3. ____________________________________
2.
____________________________
Careers or College Majors that interest you:
1.
___________________________
4. ____________________________________
3._____________________________________
2.
___________________________ 4. _____________________________________
Earliest deadline for letter: ______________________
Answer the following questions as thoroughly as possible on a separate sheet and staple to this page.
Feel free to type your answers.
Write in complete sentences and utilize the accepted conventions of grammar.
Academic:
1.
What two or three (academic & personal) accomplishments are you most proud of and why?
2.
What do you see as your greatest academic strengths? Weaknesses? Give specific examples.
3.
Of all the classes you have taken in high school, which have you enjoyed most and why?
4.
Which has been the most difficult for you and why did you take it?
5.
What do you see as your greatest personal strength? Weakness? Give specific examples.
6.
List three adjectives you would use to describe yourself and explain why.
7.
List two adjectives your friends would use to describe you and explain why.
8.
List two MHS teachers or staff members who know you well and can speak confidently about your academic ability. What adjectives would they use to describe you and why?
9.
Discuss anything else that you consider special or unique about yourself, something that I might not know about you.
10.
Admission to college and receiving financial aid and scholarships is often affected by family circumstances and financial need. Please describe any family circumstances, personal issues or financial concerns you wish to share. This information will be kept confidential.
25

Colleges often ask for two or three recommendation letters from people who know you well. These letters should be written by someone who can describe your skills, accomplishments and personality.
Colleges value recommendations because they:

Reveal things about you that grades and test scores can’t

Provide personal opinions of your character

Show who is willing to speak on your behalf
Letters of recommendation work for you when they present you in the best possible light, showcasing your skills and abilities.
Get recommendation letters from people who know you well
When to Ask for Recommendations
Make sure to give your references at least two weeks before your earliest deadline to complete and send your letters. The earlier you ask, the better. Remember that some teachers will be writing whole stacks of letters, which takes time. Your teachers will do a better job on your letter if they don’t have to rush.
Whom to Ask
It’s your job to find people to write letters of recommendation for you. Follow these steps to start the process:

Read each of your college applications carefully. Schools often ask for letters of recommendation from an academic teacher — sometimes in a specific subject — or a school counselor or both.

Ask a counselor, teachers and your family who they think would make good references.

Choose one of your teachers from junior year or a current teacher who has known you for a while. Colleges want a current perspective on you, so a teacher from several years ago isn't the best choice.

Consider asking a teacher who also knows you outside the classroom. For example, a teacher who directed you in a play or advised your debate club can make a great reference.

Consider other adults — such as an employer, a coach or an adviser from an activity outside of school — who have a good understanding of you and your strengths.

Perhaps most important, pick someone who will be enthusiastic about writing the letter for you.

If you’re unsure about asking someone in particular, politely ask if he or she feels comfortable recommending you. That’s a good way to avoid weak letters.

Your teachers will do a better job on your letter if they don’t have to rush.

How to Get the Best Recommendations

Some teachers write many recommendation letters each year. Even if they know you well, it’s a good idea to take some time to speak with them. Make it easy for them to give positive, detailed information about your achievements and your potential by refreshing their memory.
26


Here’s how:

Talk to them about your class participation.

Remind them of specific work or projects you’re proud of.

Tell them what you learned in class.

Mention any challenges you overcame.

Give them the information they need to provide specific examples of your work.

If you need a recommendation letter from a counselor or other school official, follow these guidelines:

Make an appointment ahead of time.

Talk about your accomplishments, hobbies and plans for college and the future.

If you need to discuss part of your transcript — low grades during your sophomore year, for example — do so. Explain why you had difficulty and discuss how you've changed and improved since then.

Whether approaching teachers, a counselor or another reference, you may want to provide them with a resume that briefly outlines your activities, both in and outside the classroom, and your goals.
Final Tips
The following advice is easy to follow and can really pay off:

Waive your right to view recommendation letters on your application forms. Admission officers will trust them more if you haven’t seen them.

Give your references addressed and stamped envelopes for each college that requested a recommendation.

Make sure your references know the deadlines for each college.

Follow up with your references a week or so before recommendations are due to make sure your letters have been sent.

Once you’ve decided which college to attend, write thank-you notes. Tell your references where you’re going and let them know how much you appreciate their support.

27


Questions for the Admissions Office
1.
Are the dorms spread throughout the campus or clustered in one area? Is there any kind of shuttle service between classroom areas, the library, the student union, and dorms? How late does it run?
2.
Is there any security system to bar outsiders from entering dorms?
3.
How large is the campus security police force? Does it patrol the campus regularly?
4.
What services are offered by the campus health center? How large is it?
5.
Does the student health center refer students to the local hospital? Is there a nearby hospital? How large is it?
Questions for Students
6.
How many of your courses are taught by a big-name professor and how many by a teaching assistant?
7.
Is the teaching innovative and project-oriented, or is it mostly lecture-oriented?
8.
Do most freshmen class lectures take place in an amphitheater?
9.
What are the strong majors? The weak majors?
10.
How hard do you have to work for your grades?
11.
What's the reputation of the _____________ department?
12.
How adequate for your needs is the campus computer network?
13.
Do fraternities and sororities dominate the social life of the college?
14.
What do students do on weekends? Do most go home?
15.
How is the advisement system? Do you feel that your professors really care?
16.
There are a lot of organizations on campus. Are they dominated by a few groups or is anyone welcome?
17.
How active is the _________ [fill in the activity in which you're interested]? Has _________ won any national awards?
Questions to Ask Yourself About the Campus Atmosphere
18.
While you were waiting for your interview in the admissions office, how did the staff members interact with students? Were they friendly, or did the staff approach students—both potential freshmen like you and enrolled students—as if they were interfering with the staff members' jobs?
19.
Was the Admissions Office a friendly and inviting place with a great deal of information about the school, or was it cold and sterile with little information to pick up?
28

20.
What did your parents find out about the career planning services offered to graduating seniors and to graduates? What do the services include?
About the Student Body
21.
Do most of the students seem to be like you, or are they completely different?
22.
Either way, how would you feel being in a classroom full of these students? Sharing a dorm with them?
23.
Do the students try to make you feel at home? Are they happy to answer your questions, or do they make you feel like you're intruding? How do they interact with one another?
About the Campus
24.
Does the campus seem too big? Or too small?
25.
Do freshmen live in their own dorms? How do I feel about living in a single-sex or coed dorm?
26.
Are the dorms quiet or noisy? Do they seem crowded?
27.
How large are the rooms? Is there adequate space and light to study?
28.
Does each room have access to the Internet and the campus LAN?
29.
What's advertised on dorm and classroom bulletin boards? What does this tell me about campus life?
30.
How good is the lighting around each dorm and around classroom and lab buildings?
31.
Do the buildings and grounds look well cared for? Or do they need painting and general repair work?
32.
Is the grass cut, and are the grounds landscaped?
33.
What's the condition of the playing fields and the sports equipment?
34.
How is the quality of the food in the cafeteria or dining hall? How are the sizes of the portions? Is it healthy or fast food? Are there meal plans?
About the Nearby Area
35.
Does it look like there is much to do outside of campus?
36.
How easy is to get to places off campus? Are there places within walking distance?
37.
Do you feel comfortable and safe?
38.
Are there places to get extra furniture, like bookcases, for your dorm room?
39.
Is there a supermarket nearby to stock up on snacks and soda?
40.
If you move out of a dorm after freshman year, what are the options in apartment complexes or buildings?

Verify admissions requirements o ACT Test o SAT Test
 Ask about minimum score requirements o THEA or alternative o Which essays, A, B or C?

Ask about dorms and dining halls.

Ask about campus clubs and organizations.

If you play sports, ask about getting involved in intramural teams. They may have football, basketball,
 tennis, etc.
Ask about average costs o Dorms o Meal Plans
29

o Tuition o Books

Ask about deadlines for admissions & housing applications.

Ask about financial aid and scholarships. Ask if they can give you any tips on getting more scholarship money out of the college.

Ask about getting a job on campus. Are they plentiful? How difficult is it to get a good job?

Inquire about campus life and social activities.

Discuss your chances for success. Be honest. Tell them your grades in high school and your ACT/SAT scores, if you have taken them. Ask about the average scores for the 2007 freshman class.

Ask about the study commitment. How many hours per week will I have to study in order to be successful?

Are tutors available? How hard is it to find a tutor? How much do they cost?
Traditional Colleges vs. Technical/Career Schools: The Pros and Cons
You’ve reached the chapter in your life when its time for you to think about your future. Some of your friends have been accepted at the local community college, or a nearby four year university . But, you just aren’t sure if that is the right option for you. Should you attend a traditional college like your friends, or enroll in a technical/career school?
Let’s face it. Everyone is not college material. That doesn’t mean you are not intelligent! It simply means that there are people who enjoy learning for its own sake, while there are others who are more focused on learning a specific skill or a trade. There’s nothing wrong with that. This is why both kinds of schools exist in order to give people a choice.
A traditional college degree or a technical/career school which will it be for you? It might be a good idea to make a list of the pros and cons of each in order to make the best decision for your circumstances. You should write down both the benefits and the disadvantages of each type of learning institution. Do you have a specific career goal?
Write it down. Are there some school subjects that you just can’t stand? Make a note of them. Can you fit the rigorous schedule of a four year college or university into your life? Would you prefer classes that meet at night, or perhaps distance learning where you use a computer to study at a time and place convenient for you? What is your dream job, and what sort of training do you need to make this job happen? How much will college or technical training cost? All of these questions are important in helping you to make a decision, and only you can answer them.
In researching traditional colleges and technical schools, some things are easy to see from the start. Traditional colleges can be expensive, and demand a huge chunk of your time and life. Many have high admissions standards, and you may end up with a degree that won’t help you to find a job when you graduate. This might mean that you will have to continue your education in order to get a job in a different field.
On the other hand, traditional colleges and universities allow you to expand your mind and study subjects you might never get a chance to pursue again. Traditional colleges can open your eyes to the world around you. You will meet people from all over the globe who are in pursuit of the same goal as you higher education. Aside from academics, college life is an experience you won ’t soon forget. Attendance at a traditional college can lend an air of prestige to a job application, something that may or may not be of interest to you.
30

Technical/career schools allow you to receive training or a diploma in a much shorter time than a traditional college.
The classes are more focused on the subject you want to learn about without many of the other required courses that you may have to take at a traditional college. The training is hands-on, so necessary in today’s world. The class schedules are more flexible than those of traditional colleges. There will always be a need for career training.
In fact, some of the fastest growing jobs do not require a four year college diploma. Medical and dental assistants, physical and respiratory therapists, medical record and environmental science technicians are just a few of these.
Even though, for some reason, our society seems to feel that college is a necessity for all young people, the jobs listed above, and many more, prove that a diploma from a four-year college is not absolutely needed in order to have a well-paying job.
Ultimately, the choice is up to you. The best way to choose between a traditional college or a technical/career school is to weigh the pros and cons of each, and know what you want out of life. No matter what you choose, you can rest assured that there will be a place for you in the world after you have taken the time to further your education.
We’ve profiled 75 Texas schools from A to Z. These snapshots are designed with parents in mind just as much as the students—it’s information that will help you make an informed decision on where your student will spend four (give or take) important years. You can compare schools and find out updated information on tuition, room and board, median SAT & ACT scores and much more.
Texas has about 145 colleges and universities throughout the state. For this guide we included schools that met the following criteria: award bachelor’s degrees, own its own facilities, are SACS accredited, and are Texas-based
See the free digital edition of this invaluable resource by clicking the link on my website or by googling “2013
Texas Monthly College Guide.”
LOOKING FOR HELP SAVING MONEY ON COLLEGE TUITION? YOU'VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE.
31

Here you can uncover millions of dollars in scholarships from colleges, universities, private companies, foundations
-- and more -- to help pay for school. Simply fill out a free profile to discover which ones match you best. You'll even be able to apply to special Cappex scholarships with one click.
This "cheat sheet" is designed to help you answer questions on applytexas that most kids have trouble with. Some of the questions are self-explanatory, but some require a little more explanation.
Please write down your password and username and put them into your phone. I can
’ t tell you how many hours have been wasted by people who don
’ t write down their applytexas username and password. If you lose either one, it is not a simple process to solve that problem.
Have on hand:

Your high school transcript

Your resume

Your senior schedule

The MHS school code: 444545
Big Tip #1:
Pay attention to the tips in blue font to the right of each blank you have to fill in. They will give you important information on how to fill in the blanks. For example, just fill in numbers when it asks for your social security number. No dashes.
Big Tip #2:
You can navigate through the pages of the application by clicking the pages listed on the left hand side at the top of each page.
Starting with Page 2 of the app "Biographical Information Continued," the tips on this sheet are numbered according the question # on applytexas. We'll skip that questions that are easy.
so start answering questions!
This is your PO Box, unless you get your mail delivered to your house. Then it's your street address.
32

(College kids move a lot, so this is your parents' address. It says "street address," but it really wants to know where you get your mail.)
If the address you filled in above is a PO Box, fill in your street address here. If the address above is where you get your mail and it's also your street address, leave this blank.
Primary phone should be the phone number least likely to change. Enter numbers only, no dashes.
Put in one of your parents or guardians and their mailing address.
Be careful. Write this down and put it in your phone. If you lose it, you'll be very sad.
You 'll get a user name after you complete your profile. Write this down too.

Click "Start a new 4 year application" - unless you are going to junior college. Then click "start a new 2 year."
Application type is "freshman"
Semester of entry: fall 2014
First Choice School refers to the area of study your major is in.
Second Choice School is the same. If you don't have a second choice, choose the same as your first choice.
Tip: If you aren't sure, you can just choose two schools and click to go to the next page. Then you can scroll through the available majors.
First choice major: choose your major
Second choice major: You must choose something different from the first choice.
Write down your application ID number.
These are for people who have changed their names after they got married.
33

Ask them if you don't know their highest level of schooling.
Tip: an associate's degree is 2 years, a bachelor's degree is 4 years.
Biographical Information Continued
If you don't know the answer to this, ask your parents for an estimate. Tell your parents to estimate the gross income.
Add up everyone who lives in the house where you live, including anyone in college.
If you have a job and you help pay bills at your house, answer yes . Then tell how many hours per week you work and tell what bills you have helped pay.
Educational Background
1. You are a first time freshman! freshman with college credit hours if you took dual credit. Use the chart below to add up how many hours you have.
If you didn't take dual credit, you are a freshman
High School Code: 444545
City: Mason
State: TX
Graduation: May 2013
Home School: No
International Baccalaureate Diploma: No
Public High School Recommended or Distinguished: Yes
3. Click "not applicable"
Name: Central Texas College
Biology 2401 & 2402 8
34

English 1301 & 1302 6
History 1301 & 1302 6
Govt 2301 & 2302 6
Math 1414
Math 1342
Psych 2401
Art 1311
1411 & 1412
2311 & 2312
4
3
4
3
8
6
College Code: 6130
Killeen, TX
Dates attended: August 2011-May 2013
Add up the hours you took from the list below and enter that number in the blank.
Skip the next questions about degree earned, major area of study, etc.
At the bottom of the page, it asks about academic suspension. Click "no."
Click this only if you are going into one of these areas. Choose the correct one from the drop down menu.
If so, click yes.
List all the classes you are taking this year, including electives, band, athletics.
Most of your classes are two semesters, so click in 1st and 2nd semester boxes. Government is 1st semester. Economics is 2nd semester. College Algebra is 1st; statistics is 2nd semester.
Be sure you click AP for calculus and Dual Credit Enrollment for DC classes.
35

Test Scores
Use the attached copy of your test card to fill in these dates.
If you have a test scheduled but haven't taken it yet, enter the date you will take it.
You do not take TOEFL or IELTS.
Of what state are you a resident? Click TX
Did you live or will you live... Click Yes
When you begin the semester... click yes
Extra-curricular and Volunteer Activities
Click the box for "Yes, I am mailing in a resume...
Big Tip #3
If you start filling in activity or service experience, you have to finish filling in all the blanks for that one experience in order to save your page.
Start with the most impressive activity or the one you spend the most time on and go from there.
Name the activity or the organization in the top blank.
Descriptions should be something like: Team Member, Team Captain, Club Member, etc
Click the years you were involved and your positions for each year. For example, Offensive
Lineman, Point Guard, Treasurer, etc.
If you were elected or you had to try out, click yes.
The following is an estimate of hours/week and weeks/year for these events:
Football: 23 hours/week & 24 weeks/year (All the way to state!)
Band: 7 hours/week & 22 weeks/year
Basketball:
Tennis:
New Student Welcome Committee: 2 hours/week & 10 weeks/Year
TDS: 1 hour/week & 32 weeks/year
Each volunteer experience must have a description.
For your talents, awards & honors, begin with the most important or most impressive and go from there.
Be sure to click this page to answer the short answer questions for your college.
When you copy your first application to another college, you will have to go into that application and answer the scholarship questions for that college as well.
The scholarship questions are different for every college.
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Write your essays in Word and use spell check. (Use Mrs. Canfield check too! Don't send your essays until I have read them and you have made corrections.)
Copy and paste your final draft of your essays into applytexas.
Remember, if it says the essays are optional, that is a lie. They want you to write them! The essays are the college's way of finding out who you are.
Click all the certification of information buttons.
Reverse transcript: if you took dual credit classes, click yes . If you didn't, "Not applicable."
Certification about electronic resume information and scholarships: Read this!
......and then click "I understand..."
Your application will not be considered until you pay your fee!
You can send a check to the address on this page. Make sure you write your name, Fall 2013 and your application ID # on the check.
You can pay with a credit or debit card from this page. Click the button and follow the directions.
If you have take the SAT with a fee waiver, you can come get a college application fee waiver form from me and then send it in to the address listed. Write you application ID number on the fee waiver. Note: not all colleges accept this.
Apparently, a lot of kids forget this critical step....
Good luck and call, come by or text if you have a question: 325-280-1479
Check your college’s website to be sure of deadlines. The following schools have a December 1 scholarship deadline: st
 University of Texas at Austin

Texas A& M University

Texas State University
 Baylor University
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This means that all parts of the application, including the scholarship section, test scores, the transcripts and the resume, must be received by midnight on December 1 st for your application to be complete. If your application is missing any part, you will not be considered for scholarships.
If you've already completed an application to at least one Texas college or university, you can use that existing application to apply to another. Follow these steps to copy and submit your new application:
1.
Log in to ApplyTexas using your username and password. Your "My Account" page will appear.
2.
Under the "My Applications" tab, click the "Submitted" tab for Admissions applications. A list of all the admissions applications that you've submitted through ApplyTexas should appear.
3.
If you've completed more than one application, review the list to locate the one you want to use to create your new application. (To review the contents of an individual application you've submitted, select the "View" link in the "Action" column on the right.)
4.
Click the "Copy" link to begin the process of copying the application you've selected. The "copy and submit an application to another university" page should appear.
5.
If you're applying to a new four-year institution, use the first drop-down list to select the new target university and the second to select the type of application you want to submit; click the "start a new 4 year university application" button. If you're applying to a new two-year college, select the two-year institution from the drop-down list; click the "start new 2 year college application" button.
6.
Follow the directions on the pages that appear to complete the process. Be aware that you will have to review and save each page again, though data will be pre-filled for you wherever possible. You will also have to submit the application when you are done.
How do I begin the scholarship section of an admissions application?
First, you will need to have saved at least through page 1 of your admissions application before you will be able to start the scholarship section. Much of your scholarship information is directly tied to your application information, so it is necessary that you begin an admissions application before you begin the scholarship section. You may begin entering scholarship information by logging in to your "My Account -
Application Listing" page. Admissions applications you have saved through page 1 for which scholarships are available through ApplyTexas will be indicated underneath the admissions application. Click on the
"Apply" link to start the scholarship section.
Who can apply for scholarships?
US freshmen, International freshmen, US transfer, International transfer, US graduates, and
International graduate applicants can apply for scholarships through the ApplyTexas website.
Can I still apply for scholarships if my application information has changed?
It depends on what information has changed. Changing your application information after you submit can sometimes adversely affect your ability to apply for scholarships online. For example, you may not
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be able to apply for scholarships if you change your major choice(s) after submitting your admissions application, because your major choices affect the scholarships you are able to apply for. Because the scholarship section is pre-populated with data from your admissions application, your scholarship information will still show your old (not updated) major choices, and your ability to apply for majorrelated scholarships may be limited. In this case, you need to contact the financial aid office of the university to which you have applied to discuss your options. The ApplyTexas Help Desk will not be able to make changes to either your scholarship information or admissions application in order to fix any resulting problems.
I want to apply for scholarships for a semester that is different than the semester of entry on my
admissions application. Can I do that?
No. You can only apply for scholarships for the semester of entry that you have chosen on your admissions application. For example, if you are applying to a university for the Spring 2008 semester but want to apply for scholarships at that university for the Fall 2008 semester, you will not be able to do so through the ApplyTexas website.
Can I apply for a scholarship AFTER the scholarship deadline has passed?
No. If you miss a scholarship deadline, you will not be able to create a scholarship section for that semester. Scholarship deadlines can be found by following theScholarship Info link on this site.
Can I copy my submitted scholarship section?
No. Because the scholarship section of the application is so closely connected to and shares much of the same information with your admissions application, you will need to enter scholarship information for each admissions application you submit.
Senior year is hectic, but don't let it affect the quality of their college applications. Make sure your students take their time, pay attention to detail and plan ahead to meet the deadlines.
Following are some of the top responses from counselors and admissions staff who shared the most common mistakes on college applications. Be sure to pass along this advice to your students so they can avoid making some common mistakes.
1. Misspellings and grammatical errors - This is a big pet peeve of admissions people. If you misspell on something as important as the application, it shows that either you don't care or you aren't good at spelling.
Some students even misspell their intended major. But don't stop with a spell check. Proofread for grammatical errors, too.
2. Applying online, but the application isn't submitted - If you apply online, you should receive confirmation that the college or university received it. Confirmation could be an email message, a Web page response or a credit card receipt. Follow through and make sure that your application has been received.
3. Forgotten signatures - Make sure you sign and date the application form. Often students overlook that part of the form if it's on the back. Check that all spaces are completed.
4. Not reading carefully - For example, if the form asks what County you live in, don't misread it as Country and write United States.
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5. Listing extracurricular activities that aren't - Those that make the list include sports, the arts, formal organizations and volunteer work. Talking on the phone and hanging out with friends don't make the cut.
Make sure your activity information is accurate. Colleges may check with your high school.
6. Not telling your school counselor where you've applied - Let your counselor know which colleges you're applying to, and ask him or her to review your high school transcript before sending it to colleges.
Sometimes transcripts have errors.
7. Writing illegibly - First impressions count, so take your time and use your best handwriting. It will make a better impression.
8. Using an email address that friends might laugh about, but colleges won't - Select a professional email address. Keep your fun address for friends, but select an address using your name for college admissions.
9. Not checking your email regularly - If you've given an email address, the college will use it. You don't want to miss out on anything because you didn't read your email.
10. Letting Mom or Dad help you fill out your application - Admissions people know if your parents help, whether you have two different styles of handwriting or your admissions essay sounds more like a 45-yearold than a 17-year-old. It's fine to get advice, but do the work yourself.
Essay A
Write an essay in which you tell us about someone who has made an impact on your life and explain how and why this person is important to you.
Essay B
Choose an issue of importance to you-the issue could be personal, school related, local, political or international in scope- and write an essay in which you explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your family, your community or your generation.
Essay C
There may be personal information that you want considered as part of your admissions application.
Write an essay describing that information. You might want to include exceptional hardships, challenges or opportunities that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, personal responsibilities, exceptional achievements or talents, educational goals, or ways in which you might contribute to an institution committed to creating a diverse learning environment.
I attended a counselor’s update in Austin last fall, and I heard the admissions officers from UT and A&M speak about the importance of these essays. Please come by my office, show me what you have written, and I will give you some advice. I am glad to help you and I’m available to proofread any time.
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
Essays are read by the admissions officers and the scholarship committees.

They are looking for a “mind at work.” Make sure your essays are: o Well written o Interesting or entertaining o One page at least, but length is not the issue.

On essay Topic A, make sure you get to the point of how the person impacted you . Remember that the purpose of the essay is to let the reader know more about you, not the person who impacted you!
 For essay topic B, do some soul searching to find out what matters to you. It doesn’t have to be of global importance, but it does have to matter to you!

One idea for essay C is to explain something you became involved in and tell why, what it means to you, what you learned from it, how it challenged you, etc. If you went to work after school, and it left you with no time for extra-curricular activities, you could explain more about that situation.
I have several books in my office for much more help and ideas for essay writing. And remember, I’m a former English teacher, so come to me for editing and proofing.
This is your opportunity to show how unique you are to colleges. Essay questions on applications help admissions officers understand your motivations, creativity, and personality. That's why it is important to start writing your essays as early as possible. Make your essays personal, but stay within the guidelines and carefully answer the questions.
Don't be intimidated by essay questions. Sometimes the best answers are those that you can write quickly because you feel strongly about the question. If you labor for too long, you may be answering the wrong question for you. Remember to strike a balance on time: don't take a month to write an essay, but don't throw something together without thinking about it.
Writing Tips To strengthen your essay:




First make an outline to organize your thoughts.
Give special attention to creating a strong introduction, supporting arguments, and an appropriate conclusion. Every story has a beginning, middle, and end.
Revise as necessary. Ask others for their feedback (but don't ask them to write it)
Proofread the final version before sending it.
For admissions officers, reviewing applications is like final-exam week for students—except it lasts for months.
Great applications tell us we've done our job well, by attracting top-caliber students. But it's challenging to maintain the frenetic pace without forgetting these are all real people with real aspirations—people whose life stories we are here to unravel, if they will let us.
The essay is a key piece of learning those life stories. I live near Los Angeles, where every day screenplays are read without regard for human context. The writer's life and dreams don't matter—all that matters is the writing, the ideas, the end product. On the other hand, in reading essays, context does matter: who wrote this? We are driven
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to put the jigsaw puzzle together because we think we are building a community, not just choosing neat stories.
When I pick up a file, I want to know whether the student has siblings or not, who his parents are, where he went to high school. Then I want the essay to help the rest of the application make sense, to humanize all the numbers that flow past. I am looking for insight.
A brilliantly written essay may compel me to look beyond superficial shortcomings in an application. But if no recommendation or grade or test score hints at such writing talent, I may succumb to cynicism and assume the writer had help—maybe too much. In the worst cases, I may find that I have read it before—with name and place changed—on the Internet, in an essay-editing service or a "best essays" book.
The most appealing essays take the opportunity to show a voice not rendered homogeneous and pasteurized. But sometimes the essays tell us too much. Pomona offers this instruction with one essay option: "We realize that not everything done in life is about getting into college. Tell us about something you did that was just plain fun." One student grimly reported that nothing was fun because in his family everything was about getting into college.
Every activity, course choice and spare moment. It did spark our sympathy, but it almost led to a call to Child
Protective Services as well.
Perfection isn't required. We have seen phenomenal errors in essays that haven't damaged a student at all. I recall a student who wrote of the July 1969 lunar landing of—I kid you not—Louis Armstrong. I read on, shaking my head. This student was great—a jazz trumpeter who longed to study astronomy. It was a classic slip and perhaps a hurried merging of two personal heroes. He was offered admission, graduated and went on for a Ph.D. in astrophysics. He may not have been as memorable if he had named "Neil" instead of "Louis" in his essay's opening line. Hey, we're human, too.
An essay that is rough around the edges may still be compelling. Good ideas make an impression, even when expressed with bad punctuation and spelling errors. Energy and excitement can be communicated. I'm not suggesting the "I came, I saw, I For office use only: Date sent:__________ Initials: ________ conquered" approach to essay writing, nor the "I saved the world" angle taken by some students who write about community-service projects. I'm talking about smaller moments that are well captured. Essays don't require the life tragedy that so many seem to think is necessary. Not all admission offers come out of sympathy!
Admissions officers, even at the most selective institutions, really aren't looking for perfection in 17- and 18-yearolds. We are looking for the human being behind the roster of activities and grades. We are looking for those who can let down their guard just a bit to allow others in. We are looking for people whose egos won't get in the way of learning, students whose investment in ideas and words tells us—in the context of their records—that they are aware of a world beyond their own homes, schools, grades and scores. A picture, they say, is worth a thousand words. To us, an essay that reveals a student's unaltered voice is worth much, much more.

Be yourself. Be sincere. Admissions committees are looking for insight into the students’ character and background, their experiences and point of view, and their intellectual ideas and curiosity.

Find your passion. What are you passionate about? Let the admissions committee understand your drive, determination, and heart. Present yourself and your goals clearly and honestly.

Be creative. Think of the essay as a letter to someone. Be very descriptive and specific in your writing.

Don’t try to include too much in your essay. Choose one specific topic and spend the entire essay describing the topic in detail. Focus on one event or idea rather than trying to cover an entire subject.

Read superior essays of other writers. Notice how they tell a story. Notice how they draw in a reader.
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
Edit it. Rewrite. Chances are you will not write the perfect essay in one sitting. Take time to think deeply and allow yourself time to make revisions.

Don’t tell us what you think we want to hear. The university’s essay readers don’t have a perfect essay in mind—as a matter of fact essays that sound like all the rest of them—the essay that is expected—is more likely to be overlooked.

Be yourself. Show us what makes you unique, how you’ve dealt with issues and problems, what you think about the topic at hand. Good writing teachers tell their students to write about what they know. That’s good advice for college essays, too.

Use a natural voice and style. Although it’s always important to use proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, diction, etc., don’t write to try to impress anyone. Use words and a style that are appropriate for the topic you’re writing about, for someone your age, and for someone who’s trying to communicate clearly and logically.

Don’t be overly informal either.
Your essay will be read by an adult professional. In almost all cases, you should avoid using words or phrases that you might use when texting someone or on a social networking site.

Develop your ideas. Although the length of your essay alone technically doesn’t matter, developing your ideas completely does matter. If you can do that in a single page of text, that’s good; but if it takes you three pages or so, that’s all right, too (as long as you’re not just adding words to make your essay longer). It’s not realistic to assume that you can clearly communicate your unique perspective about anything in a short paragraph or two.

Organize your thoughts. All good writing has a beginning, a middle, and an end. That doesn’t mean you should be formulaic in your writing (this isn’t a high school exit exam), but you should introduce your idea, provide interesting examples and details in support of your idea, and come to some sort of conclusion at the end.

Don’t respond to the prompt as though you’re answering a question.
Again, we don’t have a perfect essay in mind. The prompt is supposed to get your mind churning, to make you want to tell us what you think about something that’s important to you. Your essay is your opportunity to do that.

Take your time. Spend plenty of time writing and fine-tuning your essays, and ask for feedback from people you trust before submitting your essays. Remember that your goal is to share important things about yourself while skillfully expressing yourself in writing.
By Margaret Metzger
Brookline High School, Massachusetts
Many colleges require a short essay as part of the application process. The directions for the essay vary from college to college. Most colleges offer some variation of the topic. "Tell us more about yourself.”
Like most students, you might hate this subject and dread writing the essay. You know that it is a crucial piece of writing and that it must be done, but secretly you hope somehow to avoid the task. Like most
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tasks, the tension created by procrastinating is worse than the work itself-in this case, just sitting down and writing the essay.
You can use the college essay to strengthen your application. In fact, your essay can be the strongest part, presenting you as a thoughtful, sincere, interesting applicant. You can use the college essay to explain mistakes of the past-failed courses, low SAT® scores, or few extracurricular activities. Best of all, you can demonstrate that you know how to write well, an ability all colleges value.
FIND A TOPIC
Colleges genuinely want to know who you are. Although it is difficult to believe, they do not have an
"ideal student" in mind. They want a variety of students. They understand that they can't know everything about you by your grade point average and your SAT scores. They want to know what kind of person you are, what aspirations you have, what struggles you have gone through, what is important to you. They ask you to write an essay about yourself because they want more personal information.
Before you write, think about how you may be different from other applicants. What unusual experience would you bring to the college? What interests, activities, travel, struggles, or situations have had a particular impact on you? You are probably thinking, "Nothing is special about me; I'm just an average kid:' That's what most students think. Sometimes it helps to ask other people what they think is unique about you. If you know exactly what you want to write about, you are lucky. Use that topic. Be sure to consider the traditional, but appropriate and effective, topics, such as academic achievements, extracurricular activities, travel and work experiences, and life-changing events.
Also think of more subtle accomplishments. What kind of student are you? In which class did you learn to think, to study? What do you do with your free time? What have you done for the past two summers?
What words would you use to describe your personality? Do you belong to any organizations outside high school? What jobs have you held? What have you learned about organizing your time? Who is your most unusual friend? What magazines, newspapers, columnists, or authors do you like to read? What are some of the failures or disappointments in your life? What kind of plans do you have for the future?
Who has been influential in your life?
What responsibilities do you have at home? What do you do for other people? What does music
(particularly playing or composing) mean to you? How have you changed (besides physically) in the last four years?
BE SPECIFIC
Remember that the admissions board is reading hundreds of applications, and you must make yours memorable. Some students resort to gimmicks: 8-inch-by-10-inch glossy pictures of themselves hang gliding, or a videotape or a cartoon book about themselves. You may have heard stories about an ordinary student getting into an exclusive college by taking a creative or startling approach. But gimmicks are high risk. Maybe the admissions board does not have the time or the equipment to play tl1e videotape of your band. Maybe you will seem egocentric or cute or, more likely, as though you are dodging the difficult task that everyone else has done: writing an essay.
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You can make yourself stand out from the crowd and stress your individuality by a less risky method.
Your English teachers have been telling you for years to use specifics when you write.
Specifics make a piece of writing memorable. This basic principle of good writing applies, as well, to writing the college essay. Be specific. Tell the truth about yourself as specifically as possible. If you claim that you like school, say exactly what you like: "I like biology and got particularly interested in a threemonth project I did about algae on the teeth:' Always be as specific as possible.
NARROW YOUR TOPIC
You have only one-and-a-half to two pages for this essay. You can’t write about everything that has ever happened to you. You need one to three topics for this paper. You must pick a few of the most important aspects of your identity. If you cover too much, you will be forced to be superficial. Don't say,
"I like school. I am a leader. I play basketball. I've traveled to Sri Lanka, Alaska, Iowa, and South Africa. I play the violin. I work every weekend. I believe in responsibility. I want to be famous:' Pick one, two, or at the most, three important things about yourself and concentrate on them.
SHOW, DON'T TELL
You need to know and apply the writing principle of "show, don't tell"; Give the readers such convincing evidence that they draw the conclusion you want them to draw. If you provide all the evidence of your fine qualities, you don't have to list them. Besides, the college will be much more likely to consider you sincere if you give examples rather than a list of glorious adjectives about yourself. For instance, you might be embarrassed to say, "I am extremely responsible.” Instead you could say, "Last summer, I was put in charge of 12 ten-year-old girls for a three-day hike.” When the college admissions board members read your example, they will come to the conclusion, "Ah, some adult must have felt this applicant could be responsible for a dozen children's health and safety for several days. This sounds like a responsible person.” Give your readers the evidence and examples, and they will reach the right conclusions.
DESCRIBE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE
You don't need a long list of flashy experiences. What you have experienced is not as important as what you have done with the experience. Real maturity depends on how you understand what has happened to you and whether you let your experiences change your perceptions.
Colleges want to know how you have reacted to your experiences. For example, many students have failed some test or course. Colleges would like to know what you did with that failure. Did you mope?
Blame the teacher? Quit doing homework because you were angry at the failure? Did you see the failure as a warning, an impetus, a challenge? Even if you write about something exotic, you must say what you did and what you learned. One student went to Israel for two weeks; her only observation was that the
Israeli women wore longer skirts than the Americans. Her trivial description revealed her immaturity and poor powers of observation. 'When you are explaining what you learned, do not say, "I learned a lot.” Be specific. Tell exactly what you learned. You want to show colleges that you will change and grow through a college education.
FOCUS ON YOURSELF
If you feel self-conscious writing the essay, you may be tempted to dodge the task of writing about yourself and write, instead, about something related to you, such as a group or an organization you belong to. Avoid this approach.
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WORK ON THE FIRST SENTENCE
There are two opposing approaches to making a strong opening sentence. The first suggestion is that you spend hours on the first sentence because it sets the tone and direction of the essay. The reasoning is that you need to know where you are going before you begin. The problem witl1 this approach is that students become paralyzed trying to find the perfect beginning.
The second suggestion is that you begin anywhere and write the first sentence last. The reasoning is that you need to get started, and you don't know what you will end up saying until you have finished the essay. You may discover that your essay really begins in the middle of the second or third paragraph, and you can cut out all the preliminaries. Then you can start with a sturdy statement. The problem with this approach is that you might begin an essay without a sense of direction and wander too much.
You may go back and forth between trying to write a perfect beginning and just trying to get started. No matter what you do, when you finish the essay, go back to the beginning and work on the first sentences. Cut out all wordiness. Make it specific. Check the grammar.
FINAL BIT OF ADVICE
Millions of students before you have written college essays. They hated the task, too. But it must get done. Of course, it is better to write it long before the deadline. The real problem for most students is how to get started, what topic to use, and how to avoid procrastination.
The solution is simply to begin.
College Counseling Sourcebook, 3rd Edition. © 2006 The College Board. All rights reserved.
Permission granted to copy this for educational purposes.
You must request a transcript to be sent to each college you apply to. This will be done in the fall and again in the spring right before you graduate. If you fail to do this, your college application will remain incomplete. You will need to continue checking your application status on your college’s website to make sure your CTC transcript has been received. CTC is notoriously slow about processing transcript requests. You should request your CTC transcript by the first of October at the latest. If you have problems, you can check in “webadvisor” on the CTC website to see when your transcript was sent; however, you must create an account when requesting your transcript. Go to the website below for instructions on how to do this.

When requesting your transcript during the first semester , do not check the box “hold for final grade.”

When requesting your transcript at the end of the senior year , DO check the box marked “hold for final grades.”
The next pages have more information on how to request a transcript, including the form for requesting. You will want to have your transcript sent directly to the college by mail. If you have it sent to you first, it is no longer official. Faxed transcripts are also not official. (I have a list of admissions office addresses in the red plastic page protector next to my computer.)
The website for requesting transcripts: http://www.ctcd.edu/transcripts/index.htm
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Note: If you took college or dual credit classes anywhere else, you must request a transcript to be sent from that college, as well.
MHS Official Transcript Request Form Name: ____________________________________
Please mail the transcript. I will pick up the transcript.
Name of Organization: ____________________________________
Address (if known): _______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______ Please include copy of test scores with transcript
Signature: ______________________________________ Date: ____________________
For office use only: Date sent: _________________________ Initials: __________________

MHS Official Transcript Request Form Name: ____________________________________
Please mail the transcript. I will pick up the transcript.
Name of Organization: ____________________________________
Address (if known): _______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______ Please include copy of test scores with transcript
Signature: ______________________________________ Date: ____________________
For office use only: Date sent: _________________________ Initials: __________________
Texas Tech University
First-time freshmen must submit these items:
 Complete and submit undergraduate freshman application
 Pay application fee or provide fee waiver
 ACT or SAT test scores
 Official high school transcript
Transfer students must submit these items*:
 Complete and submit undergraduate transfer application
 Pay application fee or provide fee waiver
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 Official college transcripts from ALL institutions attended
Once we receive all of these items, we will place your file into review. Therefore we strongly suggest that you submit any optional items such as letters of recommendation and essays within two days of your application submission to ensure that they are processed and considered during review.
Please allow several days for your items to arrive at Texas Tech:
Test scores and transcript files that are sent electronically to Texas Tech can take several days to download. All of our mail is sorted in a central mail facility, so items sent through U.S. Mail can also take several days to arrive in our office.
How we process your documents:
1) Once we receive items in our office, we will open them, stamp the date and place your student ID number on every one
2) We then scan every item and save it in your electronic file
3) Once the items are placed in your file, the data is entered into our student database. This data includes test scores, class rank, etc. All documents are worked in the order they are received
Note: Our peak season begins in October and continues through February. During this time we receive more than
6,000 items per week that we process into student files. Therefore, it can take us between one and three weeks to process documents and for you to see them as received on Raiderlink.
Once all items are processed, your file is then complete. If you qualify as an assured admit, you will be admitted. If you do not, your file will go into review.
How the review process works:
Students are expected to be academically prepared to succeed; therefore, we consider academic performance, standardized test scores and educational preparation. Additional information used to evaluate a student’s potential for success includes:
 High school coursework
 Honors or advanced placement
 Dual credit (on an official college transcript)
 Extracurricular activities
 Leadership experiences
 Civic or other service activities
 Socioeconomic background
 Family educational background
 Bilingual proficiency
 Affiliation with Texas Tech
 Special talents or awards
 Diversity of experience
If you do not meet the assured admission requirements, we strongly encourage you to respond to essay topics A, B and/or C on the ApplyTexas application and submit up to three letters of recommendation.
Raiderlink will show your final high school transcript as a required item, but this is not required for your admission. Your high school will submit the final transcript after you graduate. Please feel free to bring a copy of your final transcript to orientation.
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-
You've worked hard in your major, now how will your major pay you back? According to salary data site
PayScale , engineers of many different stripes are poised to earn the most money over the course of their careers. At mid-career, the average petroleum engineer earns a whopping $155,000 per year (perhaps more if he or she went to Princeton ). Below, check out which other majors pay off over time.
Petroleum Engineering
Starting Median Pay: $97,900
Mid-Career Median Pay: $155,000
Chemical Engineering
Staring Median Pay: $64,500
Mid-Career Median Pay: $109,000
Electrical Engineering
Starting Median Pay: $61,300
Mid-Career Median Pay: $103,000
Materials Science & Engineering
Starting Median Pay: $60,400
Mid-Career Median Pay: $103,000
Aerospace Engineering
Starting Median Pay: $60,700
Mid-Career Median Pay: $102,000
Computer Engineering
Starting Median Pay: $61,800
Mid-Career Median Pay: $101,000
Physics
Starting Median Pay: $49,800
Mid-Career Median Pay: $101,000
Applied Mathematics
Starting Median Pay: $52,600
Mid-Career Median Pay: $98,600
Computer Science
Biomedical Engineering
Starting Median Pay: $53,800
Mid-Career Median Pay: $97,800
Economics
Starting Median Pay: $47,300
Mid-Career Median Pay: $94,700
Mechanical Engineering
Starting Median Pay: $58,400
Mid-Career Median Pay: $94,500
Nuclear Engineering
Starting Median Pay: $65,100
Mid-Career Median Pay: $97,800
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Starting Median Pay: $56,600
Mid-Career Median Pay: $97,900
Occupations with the Most Job Openings: Graduate Degree
Occupation Total Job
Openings
2008 – 2018
Postsecondary teachers 553,000
Doctors and surgeons
Lawyers
Clergy
Pharmacists
Educational, vocational, and school counselors
Physical therapists
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
Mental health and substance abuse social workers
261,000
240,000
218,000
106,000
94,000
79,000
66,000
61,000
Instructional coordinators
61,000
Occupations with the Most Job Openings: Bachelor's Degree
Occupation Total Job
Openings 2008 –
2018
597,000 Elementary school teachers, except special education
Accountants and auditors
498,000
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Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education
Middle school teachers, except special and vocational education
Computer systems analysts
Computer software engineers, applications
Network systems and data communications analysts
Computer software engineers, systems software
Construction managers
412,000
251,000
223,000
218,000
208,000
153,000
138,000
Market research analysts
137,000
Occupations with the Most Jobs Openings: Associate's Degree or Postsecondary
Vocational Award
Occupation Total Job
Openings
2008 – 2018
1,039,000
422,000
Registered nurses
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
Computer support
391,000
235,000
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specialists
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
Automotive service technicians and mechanics
Preschool teachers, except special education
Insurance sales agents
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration technicians
220,000
182,000
178,000
153,000
136,000
Real estate sales agents 128,000
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Some have a passion for a subject. Some have an area in which they excelled in high school. Some have a career goal that will dictate the major they must take; for example, nursing, teaching, studio art, or engineering. But many students just don’t know. While they may have an idea of what they want to do after college, they might not have a clear idea what area of study will best help them reach that career goal. Nor is there usually only one major that leads to a specific career. In fact, many schools caution that choosing a career and choosing a major are two distinctly different processes.
Most educators agree that in choosing a major, students should consider what they like to do, what their abilities are, and how they like to learn. Some of the best resources for helping choose a major come from colleges and universities themselves. A large number of institutions post on their Web sites a wealth of information and tools to help prospective and current students select majors. While some
Web sites focus entirely on the programs and services offered at that institution, many others post helpful information that can be applied to any college setting.
The most frequently cited advice includes:
Learn more about yourself. What are your academic strengths and weaknesses? What do you enjoy?
What are your interests? What are your values? What are your immediate goals after graduating— getting a job or going to graduate school?
Take a personality or an interest inventory or assessment. I have several of these in books in my office.
Please come check one out!
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The book the students seem to get the most helpful info from is the
. I have several copies in my office, so come pick one up.
These links below can assist in the awareness and exploration of occupations and professions in healthcare. The websites will provide important information about careers to assist in making personal choices.
Occupational Outlook Handbook: http://www.bls.gov/oco/
Health Opportunities in Texas: H.O.T. Jobs: http://www.texashotjobs.org/
Health Care Career Resource Center: http://library.thinkquest.org/15569/
Coastal Work Force Solutions: http://www.workforcesolutionscb.org/
College Board Major and Career Profiles: http://www.collegeboard.com/csearch/majors_careers/profiles/index.html
“Career One Stop” is a website that provides short video clips viewable online and covers In-
Demand Occupations. Contains a wealth of information for students, parents, and career advisors. This website is: http://www.careeronestop.org/studentsandcareeradvisors/studentsandcareeradvisors.aspx.
This site is produced by the writers of the popular career planning book “What Color is Your
Parachute?” It is rich in career assessments and planning and exploration tools. http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/
This Web site is primarily a source for information to career exploration. It includes excellent information and tools to help students make important career decisions and plan ways to reach career goals: http://mappingyourfuture.org/planyourcareer/careership/
Sponsored by the College of Education at North Carolina State University, this site provides a free career assessment, which will aid you in choosing a career pathway: www.careerkey.org
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Don’t be scared…
Things to know right now:

You can fill out the FAFSA4caster right now at: https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?execution=e1s1 o This tool will give you a good idea of what your
Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is so you can compare it to the Cost of Attendance (COA) at the schools you are looking at.

You can apply for your PIN # now (or you can wait until our
Financial Aid Night Meeting in November). Fafsa.pin.ed.gov

Never pay anyone to fill out the FAFSA for you. It’s not that hard, and we will have a FAFSA Night in February to help you if you need it.

Parent and child need their own PIN #s. Make sure to keep these straight. If you get them mixed up, you are in for a world of frustration.

Your PIN # will remain the same for any subsequent children.
If you have already filled out the FAFSA for an older child, you will use the same PIN #.

Alert your tax preparer that you will be filling out the FAFSA for your senior child and that you need your completed tax returns as soon after January 1 st as possible.

The FAFSA must be filled out every year you are in college.

Even if you will not qualify for aid, you must fill out the FAFSA to be eligible for institutional scholarships.
The most important part of the financial aid process is completing the FAFSA (Free Application for
Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA is the form that will qualify the student for grants, work -study, loans, etc. You may pick up a form from the counselor's office in early December or you may complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Unless you absolutely cannot get to a computer at the school or the county library, I suggest that you complete the FAFSA online since the processing time is MUCH faster. You will need to first apply for a PIN number, which is a unique identification number, so that you can easily make corrections to the online FAFSA after you send it in. Also, the PIN number will stand as your signature on the online FAFSA. Both the student and the parent need to apply for a PIN. Apply for a PIN early since it takes several days for the PIN number to be sent to you.
You cannot submit the FAFSA until after January 1 of your senior year since it requires tax information up through December 31. You need to submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after
January 1 so you will need to get your taxes done early. You might try asking your employer for a
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hand copy of your W-2 form to speed up the process. If you know that it will be more than a month or so before your parents get their taxes done, then you should use estimates on the
FAFSA. If the estimates are incorrect, you will need to make changes once you get the correct amounts. Be sure and check college deadlines so that you submit the FAFSA on time.
Once the FAFSA is submitted, if you have a major family change, such as a divorce, loss of job, major family illness, or any other special circumstance (maybe the student is completely independent and receives NO support at all from parents), then you need to let the people in the college financial aid office know. They will work with y ou if there are special circumstances.
If you are visiting colleges, applying to a college, or already admitted, YOU NEED TO BECOME
A PERSON TO THE PEOPLE IN THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE. Meet the people that can help you most, and ask about all of the possible programs they have that you might apply for. Ask about university scholarships, departmental scholarships, work -study programs, loans, deadlines, etc.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Applying for scholarships is a year-long process. The earlier you begin, the more money you are likely to receive. Start searching for scholarships before your senior year. By the time school starts, many national scholarship deadlines have already passed.
1. Fill out every scholarship form that you qualify for.
2. Many scholarships are available online. Research the web. Go to any search engine, and type "scholarships". You will be amazed at the number of scholarships that come up. One of the students’ favorite scholarship sites is www.fastweb.com.
3. Local scholarship applications usually start arriving in early January. The counselor will keep you notified of these.
4. DO NOT PAY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP SERVICE.
There are plenty of scholarship search sites available that are FREE.
5. If the scholarship requires an essay, write it. Many students will not take the time to write an essay, so your odds are better!
6. Do not miss deadlines!
Many scholarships are available for your family's particular situation. Many scholarships are job, insurance company, sorority, military experience...related. Be sure and check on these because many times schools never hear about these scholarships.
FOR A DETAILED SCHOLARSHIP LISTING THAT IS UPDATED MONTHLY, GO TO http://collegeguidanceconsultants.com/texas. You will need to obtain a username and password from the counselor before you access this site.
SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH HELP: scholarships.com gocollege.com fastweb.com collegenet.com academicassist.com
OR use any search engine, and type in "scholarships".
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 Research financial aid programs early. There are many different types



 of scholarships, grantsand loans available, totaling billions of dollars. Start researching during your sophomore and junior years of high school, or one to two years before you plan to start college. You can find information here; at your high school’s counseling office at your college's financial aid office; at public libraries; or at various lending institutions.
Early in your high school senior year, or one year before you start college, contact the financial aid offices at the colleges of your choice for deadlines and additional documents that may be required.
Soon after January 1 of your high school senior year (or the year in which you’ll be entering college), complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is available to complete online (preferred method) or in paper format. You must submit this form in order to be considered for all federal financial aid programs, most institutional programs, and most state programs, including the State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant. When completing your FAFSA, be sure to list all of the schools you’re interested in attending (a maximum of ten colleges can be listed via FAFSA on the Web and a maximum of four colleges can be listed on the paper FAFSA), even though you may not yet have been notified that you’ve been accepted for enrollment. Also, if you’re a dependent student, be sure to ask your parents to fill out their tax forms in early spring in order to have the information needed for your FAFSA and other financial aid forms. If they do not have their tax returns completed in time to apply for financial aid, you can use an estimate of income and taxes to file your FAFSA. You also need to fill out your tax forms in early spring in order to have the information needed for the FAFSA.
For specific instructions on how to complete the FAFSA, visit the Filling Out the FAFSA page of Federal StudentAid's StudentAid.gov.
If you filed your FAFSA online you’ll receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) within one to two weeks after submission. If you filed a paper FAFSA, you will receive a SAR within four to six weeks.
Review your SAR carefully and follow the instructions provided. If you need a duplicate SAR, or need to check the status of your application, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at
800.4FEDAID or 319.337.5665. You can also check the status of your FAFSA online.

Using the information provided on the FAFSA, the federal government will calculate your family's expected family contribution (EFC), or the amount of money you are expected to be able to contribute toward your college expenses.

The EFC is determined by the family's income, assets and size, and takes into consideration the family's living expenses and the number of family members enrolled in college.

The EFC is not a lump sum amount due at the beginning of a school year but, rather, a measure of the family's ability over time to absorb some of the educational costs.

For more information regarding the EFC, see The EFC Formula (currently available for the
2013-14 processing cycle).
The college determines a Cost of Attendance (COA), which is an estimate of what expenses are usually incurred by students attending that college. Typically, a COA will include tuition, fees, living expense
(room and board), books and supplies, and transportation. Each college has a different COA.
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 The college will then use the EFC and COA as two of the main components when determining
 the amount and types of financial aid for which you may be eligible. The difference between the
COA and EFC is your financial need, or the maximum you can receive in need-based assistance.
The financial aid office looks to see which type(s) of aid they can offer you to meet your demonstrated financial need. They will "package" together all of these options and provide them to you for consideration. Check with the financial aid office at your college to see if any additional applications are required for scholarships or other institutional awards.
About six months before starting college, double check your school's deadlines for financial aid.

Between March and July of your high school senior year, you’ll receive financial award letters from the colleges you listed on your FAFSA. These award letters will outline the financial aid packages each college can offer you. Once you’ve received the documents, review them carefully with your parents. To help you compare packages and decide which is best for you, use the “Financial Aid Package Comparison Worksheet" (available in English, Spanish and Polish). Although cost shouldn't be the only factor when deciding which college to attend, you'll still need to take it into consideration when making your final selection.

Select the college you want to attend.

Accept all or part of the financial aid package offered for that college. Follow the instructions provided in the award letter.

If you receive private scholarships, report them [including the source(s) and amount(s)] to
your future college’s financial aid office.

Keep copies of all your completed forms for your records.

Don't hesitate to apply for any financial aid for which you feel you may be eligible.

You must reapply for financial aid each year. Follow the same steps above for each following year.

Ask your college’s financial aid office about payment options and tuition payment procedures. The financial aid office is a great resource for finding information related to all types of financial aid, including information about your aid eligibility.

If you accept a loan, remember you’ll need to be prepared to pay it back when the time arrives.
Know your options for paying tuition and fees.
Most colleges and universities expect you to pay tuition and fees in full prior to the first day of class. But many offer a variety of payment options to help if you’re unable to pay by cash or check. These options include:
Installment plans
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During the fall and spring semesters, Texas public colleges and universities offer installment plans that allow students to more slowly pay their tuition and fees in full before the end of the semester.
Many private Texas colleges and universities also offer installment plans, but are not required to do so.
Students receiving financial aid must first use financial aid resources to pay off an installment plan before the balance of the financial aid may be used for other purposes.
Emergency loans
These short-term loans are offered by some Texas colleges and universities (or an alternative lender) to cover the immediate costs of tuition, fees and books. If emergency loans are offered by your college, you may be asked to sign a promissory note (an agreement to repay the loan) and generally the loan must be repaid prior to the end of the semester. Interest and penalty payments may apply.
Credit card payments
Many institutions allow you to pay your tuition and fees with Visa, MasterCard, American Express,
Discover or another major credit card. Some will limit these payments to specific credit card types (such as Visa or MasterCard) and most will charge an additional fee to cover the cost of the credit card transaction.
Financial aid
If you’re eligible for financial aid, most Texas colleges will allow you delay paying your tuition and fees until your financial aid funds are available.
By
KATHY KRISTOF /
MONEYWATCH /
June 28, 2011, 12:03 PM
What's the most expensive purchase you'll ever make? If you're about to say "a house," stop and think for another second. Did your house cost $250,000 plus four years' wages? That's the cost of a private college education these days. The cost of public schools, while cheaper, is still likely to exceed $100,000 once you add in room, board, books and lost wages.
That's why college-cost myths can prove so costly, says Carol Stack, co-author of "The Financial Aid Handbook:
Getting the Education You Want for the Price You Can Afford." These myths often lead to mistakes that can cost students and their parents tens of thousands of dollars.
What are the most costly myths and mistakes? How can you learn the truth about paying for college? Here's a guide.
Myth #1: You get what you pay for.
Many parents assume that the pricier the college, the more valuable the education. But, in reality, not only do some costly colleges not deliver the quality education they promise, few students pay the same rate at the same schools. You can liken the seats in a classroom to the seats on an airplane. Every person in the room is likely to have paid a different amount.
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If you want to get the best deal on a college -- just like an airline seat -- you'll need to do plenty of research, Stack says. Investigate schools based on your child's interests, the schools' graduation rates and their generosity with aid -- in addition to the sticker price. For detailed information about how to figure the net cost of attending a college, check out this related post: College Decision time: How to Find the True Cost.
Myth #2: If you get into a "reach school," you should go there.
This could be the most costly mistake a student could make, says Stack. The reason? Colleges give the most aid to kids who are in the top of their entering class. Kids who barely qualified to get into a school are not likely to be offered much other than loans, which could cause them to graduate mired in debt. To get merit-based scholarships and grants, your student should be positioned in the top 25% of those accepted by that particular college. The data on what grades and SAT scores each college requires is readily available on the web. If price is an issue, forget the reach school and go to a school that's reaching for your student.
Myth #3: State schools are the most affordable.
Yes, your tax dollars may have been supporting your state's public colleges and universities for years. Yes the sticker price of a state school may make it appear more affordable. But these schools still might be more expensive than a private school that's willing to meet 100% of your "need." Many incredibly expensive private colleges, such as Harvard and USC, provide so much aid to qualified students that their all-in cost can be considerably cheaper than the least expensive state school. Top students should never eliminate a college based on the sticker price. The net price -- the price after scholarships and grants -- is what makes a college costly or affordable.
Myth #4: You don't need to talk money until your student is accepted.
If you want to avoid disappointment and debt, you'd be wise to have frank discussions about what you can afford early in the college application process -- possibly even before your student fills out applications. Good students should still apply to costly schools (as long as they're good about meeting aid), but parents should explain any provisos involved in attending those institutions. To say: "We can only afford XYZ school if you get scholarships and grants of at least $5,000, and if you get a job to pay all your incidental expenses" for instance, gives your child something to work with.
If the child is set on a school that doesn't provide enough aid, you can also suggest that he or she search for private scholarships at FastWeb.com to make up the difference. What you shouldn't do is dash hopes at the last minute, says Stack. "There are books on how to talk to your kids about sex, drugs and alcohol, but there's very little to tell you how to talk about money," she adds. But with a decision this costly, you've got to find a way.
Sit down together and go through a budget. In addition to making college more affordable, it's a great life lesson for kids who are about to launch independent financial lives of their own.
If money is really tight, don't forget about the College Two-Step -- two years at a community college plus two at a four-year university. This little dance can cut college costs almost in half and allow your child to qualify for universities that would otherwise be a reach. (Many top-notch four-year universities have articulation agreements with community colleges that guarantee admission to any student who successfully completes two years with a minimum GPA.)
Myth # 5: If my parents won't pay, I'll get more aid.
If your parents can't afford to pay for college, you may qualify for more aid. But financial aid formulas are designed to ensure that families that have the economic wherewithal to pay for college, don't throw the burden to schools or taxpayers. The only way you get more aid when your parents are flush, is if you qualify as an
"independent" student. That's not easy to do. The most common ways to be "independent" are to be older -- born before 1989 (for the 2012 school year); married; a grad student or a foster child.
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Myth # 6: If you're not poor, there's no reason to fill out financial aid forms.
There is no specific income or asset level that knocks you out of the running for financial aid. The ability to claim aid will depend on family circumstances and the cost of the chosen college. Even those who didn't qualify for aid in one year could qualify the next because, for instance, another child might enter college and make your family more "needy" based on the aid formula -- or because you earned a little less or child is attending a more expensive school. Furthermore, if you want to be able to borrow at low fixed rates through the federal student loan program, you need to fill out the FAFSA form. Unless you're stupendously wealthy and couldn't care less about financial aid, go to fafsa.ed.gov and get cracking.
Myth # 7: I can pay someone to find scholarships for me.
Nope. If you want a scholarship, you're going to have to apply for it yourself. And legitimate scholarships never require an up-front fee. The companies that promise to get you scholarships for a fee are simple scams, according to the Federal Trade Commission. If you want help finding scholarships that you can qualify for, check out FastWeb , which is a free (though advertising supported) online scholarship search service. For the cost of clicking past a few advertisements, FastWeb will match you up with relevant scholarships and show you where to get information on how to apply.
If you pay a scholarship search service, you're wasting both time and money.
Beginning with the fall 2009 semester, ASU is implementing the Blue and Gold Guarantee Program. The program covers eight semesters (summer terms not included) of tuition and mandatory fees for students demonstrating financial need.
The Blue and Gold Guarantee covers the remaining balance of any tuition and mandatory fees that are not covered by other grants, scholarships (all sources), exemptions and/or waiver programs the applicant receives.
The program does not cover room, board, books, supplies or miscellaneous charges, including parking fees, installment plan fees, post office box rental fees, late installment fees, reinstatement fees, late registration fees, etc.
To maintain the financial support for eight consecutive semesters, students accepted into the program must meet and maintain published financial aid criteria and show satisfactory academic progress as an undergraduate student.
To qualify, a student must:
1. Be a bona fide Texas resident.
o Determined by the ASU Admissions Office according to state guidelines.
2. Be entering college as a first-time freshman.
o Applicants will not be prevented from consideration as first-time freshmen if they have advanced placement or dual credit that counts toward an ASU degree or have taken community college courses in the summer between high school graduation and ASU enrollment. o Students accepted as incoming transfer students are not eligible for the program.
3. Have a combined family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $40,000 or less.
o Family AGI is determined annually by the dependency status of the applicant based on information entered on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). o Dependent applicant: Parent and student combined AGI. o Independent applicant: Student and spouse (if applicable) combined AGI.
4. Be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant Program.
o Determined by the information on the FAFSA form according to federal guidelines. Read more about the Pell Grant Program for details.
5. Complete all financial aid application requirements by the published priority application deadline
(April 1) preceding the application period.
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o Admission to the university as a regular degree-seeking student. o Financial Aid Office receipt of a valid (not in reject status) Student Aid Report (SAR) – Electronic output information from the federally processed FAFSA. o Financial Aid Office receipt of ALL required verification documents, which include, but are not limited to: o Completed and signed Verification Worksheet (VW). o Signed copy of the student and spouse (if applicable) income tax return. o Signed copy of the parent(s) income tax return. o Documents to explain any individual circumstance as requested or required. o Dependency Change Request Form, including any supporting documentation required by the
ASU Financial Aid Office. o Special Circumstance Form, including any supporting documentation as required by the ASU
Financial Aid Office. o Completed and signed Statement of Income and Expense Form (if requested).
6. Enroll in and maintain a minimum of 15 semester credit hours through the official census date
(12th class day) of each semester.
7. Meet and maintain the minimum standards of ASU’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy.
Note: There is no age limit for participation, provided the applicant is considered a first-time freshman when entering the program. Eligible recipients must reapply each year and meet all the requirements listed above to maintain eligibility.
All Texas children deserve access to higher education.
In an effort to increase access to higher education, Texas Tech has implemented a plan to guarantee free tuition and mandatory fees up to 15 credit hours per semester to new entering freshmen who are Texas residents, enrolled full-time with family adjusted gross incomes that do not exceed $40,000.
Eligible students must apply, be accepted for admission and have a complete financial aid file before May 1,
2008 to receive the guaranteed funds. Any applications received after May 1, 2008 will be awarded based on available funding. Students may qualify for the program for up to eight (8) semesters of full-time enrollment.
Under this program tuition and mandatory fees will be paid by a combination of federal, state, and institutional funds. Examples of funds include, but are not limited to, PELL Grant, SEOG, Texas Grant, Texas Public
Education Grant, Texas Tech Grant, scholarships, etc...
Red Raider Guarantee Requirements:
To be eligible you:

Must be an entering freshman (transfer students are not eligible).

Must be a Texas resident
 have an adjusted gross income of $40,000 or less

Must be enrolled full-time (12 hours) each semester
 must apply, be accepted for admission and have a complete financial aid file by May 1, 2008
Disclaimer - In accordance with NCAA Bylaws, current and prospective student-athletes will be awarded on an individual basis. In some cases, certain forms of financial assistance may not be accepted nor awarded.
FAQs

Is there a separate application for the RRG? No. Once the student files the FAFSA, the Financial Aid Office will identify all eligible students.

If I am eligible for the RRG, will I continue to receive the RRG for the remaining semesters? The Financial
Aid Office will identify all eligible recipients. Eligible recipients need only complete the FAFSA for each academic year and meet program guidelines.

Do courses taken in high school or CLEP courses affect my eligibility for RRG?
No. Credits taken as a non-regular college student will not count against the First Time student designation.

If I transfer in to Texas Tech, am I eligible to receive the RRG?
Due to funding levels, transfers are not eligible receive RRG.

Does RRG cover part-time enrollment?
No. Students must be enrolled full time.
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
Are there academic requirements to remain eligible for the RRG?
Yes. Students must meet the institution´s satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements. The SAP requirements are the same as for most other financial aid programs (excluding TEXAS Grant and B-on-Time Loan).

Is the RRG available to dependent and independent students?
Yes. The RRG applies to any first time entering freshman, whether dependent or independent

Am I guaranteed funding for tuition and fees for all eight semesters?
Yes, as long as the family adjusted gross income is $40,000 or less for the tax year required on the FAFSA.

How much am I eligible to receive from the RRG?
The RRG may be used towards the average cost of 15 credit hours per semester. For example, $7050 was the maximum RRG for the 2007-2008 academic year.

Can the RRG be used towards summer enrollment periods?
No. RRG only applies to enrollment during fall and spring semesters.

What if my file is completed after May 1?
Student files completed after May 1 will be awarded based on the availability of funds.

Is a student eligible if they enter the University as a new freshman in the spring?
Yes. Students entering the University in the spring will be awarded based on RRG guidelines.

If I am an entering freshman in summer 2008, am I still eligible for the RRG for fall 2008?
Yes. Freshmen who enter in the summer will be considered the same as first time freshmen entering in the fall. Still, the FAFSA and all required documentation must be completed by May 1.

Will students who enter in fall or spring but complete their FAFSA after the May 1 deadline automatically be eligible for the next academic year?
Applicants will not automatically be eligible for the RRG in subsequent years. Each student will be evaluated individually based on their specific situation AND the availability of funds.
 What happens to the RRG if the AGI exceeds $40,000 on a subsequent year´s FAFSA?
If a student qualifies for RRG in their initial year but the AGI goes above $40,000 in a subsequent year, the student will not qualify for the RRG. Students are encouraged to apply for financial aid each year. If their situation changes and the AGI is less than $40,000, the student would be eligible to receive RRG again.

Does the RRG have any bearing on the financial aid eligibility of students with an AGI above $40,000?
No. Financial aid eligibility is calculated yearly and is based on a student´s financial status in that respective academic year. RRG will not reduce available aid for these students.

If I am not a Texas resident but am eligible to pay resident tuition rates, will I qualify for the RRG? No.
Qualifying students must be Texas residents.
Contact the Texas Tech Office of Financial Aid at 742-3681 or finaid.advisor@ttu.edu. Visit their Web site for more information.
It is very important for you to go to the website for your college and find the scholarship page. We always have kids who receive scholarship money just by surfing the website of their college and clicking on different scholarships. There is a great deal of information on different types of financial aid and scholarships. Each college has it set up differently, but they are easy to find.

Google the name of your college or university + “scholarships.”

Google the name of your college or university + “financial aid.”
You need to visit the scholarship page for each college or university you are applying to. Pay attention to deadlines. They are different everywhere.

Apply for anything and everything.
Apply for anything you think you might be eligible to receive.
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
Complete the application in full.
Note if something is not applicable on the application. Do not leave items blank.

Follow directions.
Do not supply items not requested (e.g., transcripts, resumes, etc.).

Neatness counts.
Make photocopies for working drafts.

Make sure your essay leaves an impression.
Be personal and specific in your essays. Include concrete details. (Remember that the special circumstances essay is optional but highly recommended.)

Watch all deadlines.
Have a self-imposed deadline two weeks prior to the actual due date. Use this as proofreading time.
 Give it a final “once over” before you submit your application.
You and another person should proofread the entire application carefully.

Ask for help if you need it.
If you need to, do not hesitate to call the funding organization.

Take steps to make sure your application gets where it needs to go.
Make a copy of the entire packet and keep it for your files. Make certain that your name appears on all pages.

Remember, your scholarship application represents you!
There are so many scholarships available, it boggles the mind! There are state, national, and local scholarships in addition to the scholarships specific to your college. You will begin applying for the local scholarships in the spring.
Not being able to afford college should never be used as an excuse for not attending. I am constantly looking for scholarships opportunities, and I will let you know about them in the following ways:

Monday morning assemblies
 During morning announcements

MHS Counselor’s Page on the Mason ISD website
 Articles in the Mason County News
 Canfield’s e-mail groups
 @mrs_canfield on Twitter – Follow me!
 Fastweb & Cappex online
You can also log on to the Mason ISD website and print them out.
I am always available to help you if you have questions when completing the scholarship applications. I will be happy to help you by proofreading your essays and helping you word information on the application.
It is imperative that you check college websites for their own scholarship application. Google “name of college financial aid scholarships.” (Some are found on applytexas.org.) Many colleges also offer departmental scholarships. The following pages will offer tips and lists of scholarship websites.
Most of these will become available in January or February. They must be typed. I can tell you that a handwritten app will not receive the same consideration as a typed one will. You should open the app from my website, save it to your home folder or your flash drive and then you can enter your
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information. Please proofread! I can’t emphasize the importance of this enough. Everything should be spelled correctly and punctuation should be correct. Make sure you save the finished product before you print it and turn it in.
The students who turn in the most scholarship apps will receive the most money.
With a Carr Scholarship, you can earn up to $3,000 per academic year just by continuing what you have been doing in high school, keeping up your grades and steering toward the future.
Freshmen Scholarship Awards
As an incoming freshman, you may be eligible for a Carr Academic Scholarship ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 per school year, if you remain a full-time undergraduate. Freshmen Carr awards may include a base $1,000 to $3,000 academic scholarship award plus an additional $500 to $1,500, based on your calculated need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA.
Maintain satisfactory academic progress and you can count on a Carr Scholarship for up to four years.
Criteria for Freshmen
It takes a special person, like you, to earn a Carr because the scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis, with priority given to individuals of high academic ability. To compete favorably for a Carr Academic Scholarship, you as a high school senior must:

Rank in the top 45 percent of your class, and

Score a minimum 1020 SAT (combined math and critical reading) or a minimum composite 22 ACT.
If you have yet to take the ACT or SAT, you should do so as soon as possible so your test scores can be factored into the selection process.
If you also want to be considered for the additional need-based Carr award, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid or FAFSA once it becomes available January 1.
Carr Scholarship Eligibility
Once you know your class rank and your test scores, you can determine the minimum base amount for your Carr Scholarship.
Test Score Class Rank Award Amount
SAT = 1210 +
ACT = 27 +
SAT = 1090 +
ACT = 24 +
SAT = 1020 +
ACT = 22 +
Top 15%
Top 30%
Top 45%
$3,000/annually
$2,000/annually
$1,000/annually
Additional Carr award based on calculated need up to $1,500
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Scholarships are renewable for a maximum of four years (eight semesters), depending on availability of funds. If you are an out-of-state or international student, a Carr Academic Scholarship under most circumstances will qualify you to pay tuition and fees at Texas in-state rates.
Need-Based Eligibility
You must complete and submit the FAFSA to be considered for an additional need-based Carr Award. Need based awards are based upon your “expected family contribution,” or EFC, as determined by the FAFSA.
EFC Minimum EFC Maximum
$0
$5,001
$10,001
$5,000
$10,000
$15,000
Award Amount
$1,500/annually
$1,000/annually
$500/annually
Admission to Angelo State University
When you apply for Admission you are automatically applying for a Carr Scholarship. Your application materials should include:




A completed Freshman Application for Admission (The Apply Texas Application)
An official high school transcript with class rank

ACT and/or SAT scores
Texas Success Initiative (TSI) scores, unless exempt by ACT/SAT/TAKS
$25 application fee
Selection and Notification
As an applicant, you will be notified in writing of the decision on your Admissions application. Decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
Angelo State may change the criteria, procedures and deadlines for scholarship awards without notice. ASU awards scholarships without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin or disability.
Admission and Carr Application Information
You may apply for admission to Angelo State by completing the online application at: https://www.applytexas.org
No application is required to apply for the Carr Scholarship however you are encourged to complete the FAFSA to see if you qualify for additional need- based Carr monies.
Staff members from both our Admissions and Financial Aid offices are available to assist you or answer your questions.
ASU Admissions Office
Phone: (325) 942-2041
Toll free: 1-800-946-8627
Fax: (325) 942-2078
E-mail: admissions@angelo.edu
Carr Academic Scholarship Program
ASU Financial Aid Office
Phone: (325) 942-2246 or
Toll free: 1-800-933-6299
Fax: (325) 942-2082
E-mail: Carr@angelo.edu
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INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS
Students are considered for scholarships based on a combination of the following criteria: academic preparation and performance, standardized testing, co-curricular involvement, enrollment status, and anticipated major. Except where noted, no additional application is required; admissions and financial aid applications are also used for scholarship evaluation. Requirements and/or evaluation criteria are subject to change. Awards funded by HSU are capped at tuition.
INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FRESHMEN
Scholarships Amount Eligibility*
Trustee Scholar $11,000/year Top 10% of high school class and
30 ACT or 1970 SAT
Presidential Scholar $9,000/year Top 25% of high school class and
27-29 ACT or 1790 SAT
Deans Scholar $7,000/year Top 50% of high school class and
25-26 ACT or 1690-1780 SAT
University Scholar $2,500/year Top 50% of high school class and
21-24 ACT or 1460-1680 SAT
*Scores represent averages and are based on the new ACT & SAT which involves writing. Awards are tuition-specific for a maximum of eight (8) long semesters and VA benefits recipients may not be eligible. Renewal requires a 2.5
GPA and full-time enrollment..
The scholarships below are available to first-time, full-time freshmen for the 2013-2014 academic year. These scholarships are awarded when students are accepted to Schreiner University. A separate scholarship application is not required.
Merit scholarships are agreements between the student and Schreiner University, are renewable for 4 years consecutively, and are tuition specific .
NOTE: Either SAT or ACT scores are accepted. The admission staff recalculate all high school GPA’s from official transcripts in order to standardize all GPA’s to a 4.0 scale. Go on-line for our Freshman Merit Scholarship Calculator (See how you rank!)
$12,000 PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP
The Presidential Scholarship is Schreiner’s highest and most prestigious merit award. To qualify, a student must meet one of the two requirements below:
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Schreiner Renewal Criteria: Minimum Schreiner GPA requirement of 3.0
$10,000 TRUSTEES SCHOLARSHIP
To qualify, a student must meet the following requirements:
Schreiner Renewal Criteria: Minimum Schreiner GPA requirement of 2.0 after the sophomore year.
$8,000 DEANS SCHOLARSHIP
To qualify, a student must meet one of the two requirements below:
Schreiner Renewal Criteria: Minimum Schreiner GPA requirement of 2.0 after the sophomore year.
$5,500 MOUNTAINEER SCHOLARSHIP
To qualify, a student must meet the following requirements:
Schreiner Renewal Criteria: Minimum Schreiner GPA requirement of 2.0 after the sophomore year.
Scholarships are a great way to pay for your college education. Scholarships are awarded on a variety of factors and do not have to be repaid. Last year, Texas A&M University disbursed $433 million in financial aid.
Approximately $102 million of this total was in the form of scholarships.
Scholarships are awarded on the basis of Academic achievement, extra curricular activities, volunteer services, employment and on some cases Financial need. Scholarships are designed to reward, encourage and assist you in pursuing academic excellence and leadership roles.
Scholarship opportunities vary according to your classification at Texas A&M, so please ensure you view the information that applies to you.
INCOMING FRESHMAN
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The following freshman scholarships may be applied for using the ApplyTexas Application for Freshman Admissions . You must complete the scholarship portion of the application in order to be considered for scholarships. The application deadline is December 1, 2009.
Opportunity Award
State Engineering Scholarship Program
Top 10% Scholarship Program
Regents’ Scholarship
Terry Foundation Scholarship
Honors Programs & Academic Scholarships
Dependent Children of Texas A&M Scholarship
Corps of Cadets Scholarships
Honored Service Scholarship
Faye Leeth Memorial Endowed Scholarship
University Colleges/Departments Scholarships
MILITARY SCHOLARSHIPS
Texas A&M University is proud of its military heritage, and we are committed to providing outstanding support both for students preparing to enter the military and for veterans. For more information regarding specific scholarships and services, please access the links below.
Corps of Cadets Scholarships
ROTC Scholarships
Easterwood Scholarship Program
Honored Service Scholarship
Faye Leeth Memorial Endowed Scholarship
MG James Ursano Scholarship Fund
Veteran Services Office
Additional Veteran scholarships can be applied for by using the
ApplyTexas application
(Incoming Freshman or Transfer
Students) or the
Continuing Student Scholarship Application
. A list of those scholarships has been provided below.

TxAgs.Com Scholarship

Brazos County AMC Legacy Memorial

Heroes of the War on Terrorism

Jorge Bermudez

Association of Former Students12th Man Kickoff Team Scholarship
Scholarship
Deans
TCC Cornerstone
Faculty
Phi Theta Kappa (TCU Sponsored)
TCU Scholarship
Yearly Value
$13,000 for 2 - 3 years
$13,250 for 2 years
$10,000 for 2 - 3 years
$7,250 for 2 - 3 years
$7,000 for 2 - 3 years
All TCU scholarships are competitive; candidates must attend TCU on a full time basis and present the following minimums for scholarship consideration (meeting minimums does not ensure selection). Fall scholarship review ends
June 1 and awards are sent in mid-June. There is no separate scholarship application; the application for admission is used as the scholarship application.
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Requirements for Consideration o Cumulative College GPA of 3.25 o A Minimum of 27 Transferable College Hours received by June 1st. o Excellence on the Essay o Outstanding Activities or Work Experience o Outstanding Personal Qualities o Optional Teacher Evaluation
Deadlines
Fall Consideration - Completed Application postmarked by April 15
Spring Consideration - Completed Application postmarked by October 1st
Related Information o Scholarships are limited to the first BA/BS degree. o Renewal is based on a 3.25 cumulative TCU GPA and 27 hours taken during the long semesters. o Merit Scholarships are only for new students and will not be awarded to current or former TCU students. o Only one scholarship is awarded per student
The priority deadline to submit the ApplyTexas Application is December 1.
Applications submitted after December 1 (through December 15) of the same academic year will be considered non-priority, but will be evaluated for remaining scholarship funding.
Exception: To be considered for scholarships offered by The Texas Exes, the School of Nursing, or The
Terry Foundation students must submit their application by the December 1 priority deadline.
How To Apply
1.
Begin an ApplyTexas Application and select UT Austin as your target university. You must begin the Admission Section of the application before you are given access to the Scholarship Section.
2.
Complete and save the Admission Section. Doing this directly leads you into the Scholarship
Section. Much of your scholarship information is directly tied to the Admission Section, so it is very important that you save your admission information before you begin the Scholarship
Section.
3.
Saved applications may be edited prior to submission by accessing them directly from the My
Account page under the corresponding App ID.
Please Note: If you are applying for scholarships as a freshman student seeking admission to the Spring semester, you must still meet the December 1 scholarship application deadline.
« Don't forget to read the Browser Recommendations before beginning! »
Scholarship Consideration
By applying for scholarships using the ApplyTexas Application, you are automatically considered for the majority of scholarships administered by:
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 The Office of Student Financial Services at The University of Texas at Austin. Some of the many scholarships that this office administers are listed under OSFS Scholarships.
 The Texas Exes. To be considered for Texas Exes Scholarships, you must select them from the list of Available Scholarships on Page 5 of the Scholarship Section. You must also submit the
ApplyTexas Application by the December 1 priority deadline.
 A limited number of colleges, departments, and other entities at, or associated with, The
University of Texas at Austin. Contact your prospective academic department to learn about its particular scholarship application procedures.
« Don't forget to complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)! »
UTSA
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Scholarship Opportunities
Rising Roadrunner Scholarship
Award Amount: $1500/year ($750 per semester); awarded scholarships vary and renewable for one additional year.
Must be incoming first-time freshman
Must enroll in at least 12 hours(fall and spring) at UTSA
Must attend a mandatory Scholarship Welcome
Ceremony during fall semester
Must complete at least 24 hours with 2.25
Must have FAFSA on file by March 31, 2010
Must be a Texas Resident
Must participate in UTSA admissions programming
Selection will be based on extracurricular involvement/leadership, community service, awards, academics and the application essay
Application Requirements: Undergraduate Admissions
Scholarship application available on the admissions website at www.admissions.utsa.edu (Click on
“Scholarships”)
CAP students are not eligible
Deadline: February 15, 2010
WTAMU is proud to offer the following scholarships to freshmen students who apply by the December 1 st deadline.
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President's Scholar
Provost's Scholar
Honor Scholar
Academic Scholar
Distinguished Scholar
$6,000
$4,000
$3,000
$2,000
$1,500
32/1420
28/1270
26/1200
24/1120
22/1050
AND Top 5%
AND Top 7%
AND Top 12%
AND Top 15%
AND Top 20%
Discovery Scholar $1,000 24/1120 OR Top 25%
* ACT composite score or SAT critical reading and math sections
Here is what it takes to qualify:

Submit to the university your high school transcript showing class rank and ACT/SAT scores

Be a recent high school graduate

Enroll as a new, full-time student at WTAMU in the summer or fall

Complete the University scholarship application by the early action date of Dec. 1 or priority date of Feb. 1
Here is what it takes to continue the guarantee/commitment:

Complete the University scholarship application by the priority date of Feb. 1

Maintain a full time enrollment (15 or more hours) at WTAMU each semester or complete 30 hours at WTAMU for the academic year

Maintain a cumulative 3.3 grade point average
Each year, $3.5 million in scholarship aid is awarded to WTAMU students. Don’t wait—apply now.
Students who do not qualify for a guaranteed award are still eligible for consideration. And costs of attendance at WTAMU are
31% less than the average for all public four-year universities in Texas-we’re already a great value.
Some students fail in college. Others drop out. However, all students can do well in college and graduate if they learn the secret to succeeding in college.
Although there are exceptions, most students begin college with every intention of graduating; however, according to a report issued by The Education Trust, a Washington-based nonprofit group, the reality is that only 63 percent of students who enter a four-year university will earn a degree, and it will take them an average of six years to do so. The other 37 percent will either drop out of school before finishing or else flunk out of their programs of study, according to USA Today.com. So, the question is, how can students succeed in college?
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So what about the 37 percent of students who actually make it through college and graduate? What do they possess that other students lack? For one, they possess the following traits and skills:
 Determination
 Time management skills
 Ability to follow directions
 Ability to meet deadlines
 Communication skills
 Reading and study skills
 Critical thinking skills
 Technology skills
 Research skills
 Ability to follow APA or MLA guidelines
 Money management skills
Commitment is the primary characteristic of students who graduate from college, for if students are truly determined to succeed, they will not only acquire the necessary skills but also overcome all obstacles that arise, human or otherwise, that could possibly prevent their success.
There are only so many hours in each day, and many students work full time and/or have families, so they must set priorities and allocate sufficient time to devote to schoolwork, which means they might not have much free time while in college but this lack will greatly increase their likelihood of success.
Students must follow directions for assignments and do exactly what they are being asked to do, not something else, which means they must speak up and ask for clarification if directions are unclear.
Students must submit assignments by their due dates because although some instructors accept late assignments, others don’t, and even those who do invariably apply a penalty if an assignment is overdue.
Students must be able to express themselves, in writing and orally, because they have to write countless papers and essays, as well as conduct occasional oral presentations. As a result, students should purchase a good grammar text and use it, as well as avail themselves of college programs, for example, tutorials and writing labs.
Students must be able to comprehend what they read because if they cannot comprehend the information, chances or slim to none they will succeed in their studies. Moreover, students need to know how to study for quizzes and exams. As a result, if they have difficulty comprehending what they read or studying effectively, students must work to improve reading comprehension and study skills.
Everyone thinks, but not everyone is a critical thinker. However, in order to succeed in college, students must learn to think critically, which involves taking time to examine issues and arguments, ask questions, validate evidence, and think outside the proverbial box.
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Students should know how to use programs like PowerPoint and Word, as well as how to navigate the
World Wide Web, because they will be writing papers, preparing presentations, and conducting research. And if students lack these skills, they can acquire them by availing themselves of tutorials that are available via free interactive sites on the World Wide Web. Moreover, many universities offer workshops.
Most people are poor listeners. Anyone, however, can become a better listener by making an effort; and students must make the effort because if they don’t, they might not hear and retain information from lectures and, as a result, will fare poorly on quizzes and tests. Moreover, they might also miss important directions for class assignments.
Students must conduct research for papers and presentations, so they should learn to distinguish between credible sources and those they are questionable or dubious. Moreover, they must learn how to avoid committing plagiarism, however unintentionally, and to cite sources correctly.
Students should learn to format papers correctly, and since there are so many helpful tools available, for example, websites that provide step-by-step instructions, there is really no excuse for anyone’s not learning this skill.
Money management is an important skill to acquire because if students are worried about finances, that worry will interfere with their ability to concentrate upon schoolwork, and if students cannot concentrate upon schoolwork, then they are far more likely to fail or dropout before graduation.
In summary, although all of the skills discussed above are important, the most important is
“determination,” because if students are committed enough to their own success, they will make the necessary effort to acquire the other skills, and, ultimately, they will succeed in college.
Read more at Suite101: How to Succeed in College: Strategies for Students who Want to Graduate From
College http://colleges.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_succeed_in_college#ixzz0wxrOa6xP
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The Golden Rule : Whatever you do, DO NOT procrastinate.
College academics, especially in the first and second terms, is not meant to present itself as arbitrarily difficult. Unlike high school, college asks you to formulate your own understanding, rather than having a teacher feed you facts for later regurgitation. Keeping caught up with your professor's lesson plan, as well as the course material, will save later stress, anxiety, and feelings of intellectual inadequacy.
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2
Get passionate.
It is crucial to establish your personal, positive frame of mind in regards to your education. Take a moment to reflect on what you enjoy doing and studying, and what you're genuinely interested in. What are your goals?
What are your plans? Knowing yourself, and your reason for being in college, will eliminate any tinge of self-doubt or emptiness that might arise due to an intense, seemingly cold and emotionless academic atmosphere.
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3
Appreciate your opportunities.
In addition to creating and maintaining a consistent mindset, you must also not develop an adversarial perception of learning and knowledge. Remember, you're not the only one who is beneficially affected from your college education. Besides making you a more informed, rational, and moral human being, receiving a higher education will also enrich the lives of your parents as they begin to feel accomplished by raising you into the knowledgeable and skilled person who you have become. A negative, apathetic, or adversarial attitude towards your education will only prove self-defeating in the long run. If you perceive learning as a chore, it will become a chore. So even if you are not interested in a subject or course, try to apply your strengths and academic preferences to it. For example, if you are an Economics major and hold a grudge against your college for requiring a physics GE, try to find ways you can apply that physics course to your own field of study.
4
4
This fourth step pertains to your social life . Regardless of your perception of social situations, groups, or whether you like them or not, it is only to your benefit to establish as many friendships as possible.
Only through surveying a wide range of associates will you find a few good friends to hold on to. Much to your surprise, a healthy relationship with new and old friends will provide a necessary support network as well as minimize those moments of isolation or loneliness that may bring you down.
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5
Lastly, the fifth step deals with your personal finances . Depending on your financial situation, you can easily save yourself from making wasteful, excess purchases and potential money problems if you make a conscious decision to distinguish which resources, material goods, and services are NEEDs and which are merely WANTS. If the item you wish to buy is necessitated by a NEED, then by all means purchase it. But, if you find yourself easily swayed by a penchant for the extravagant pleasures and comforts of life, make sure you limit your spending on items of hedonistic WANT. If you happen to be in sound financial shape (i.e. through parental support, scholarships, grants, financial aid) then this should not be a major concern for you. Otherwise, a key piece of fiscal advice is to SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!
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
Awesome job at the Scholarship Awards Ceremony! I’ve heard so many people say what a nice group of kids you are. You’ve heard it before, but you kids really are the best, and I’m going to miss you next year!

Keep the scholarship forms I gave you, so you will know how to obtain the funds you are to receive. (All of the scholarships paid out by MHS require you to present proof of enrollment or a tuition fee receipt to
Mrs. Felts after you have paid your tuition bill. Her contact info: 347-1144 or PO Box 410 Mason, TX 76856 or cathy.felts@masonisd.net

The deadline for collecting your scholarship funds is December 15 after graduation. After that, the funds will be returned to the scholarship donor.

If you have taken dual credit classes, you need to fill out a transcript request form and have your
transcript sent to the college you will attend in the fall. This is very important, and you must do it yourself. You need to do this ASAP, so your college will have a record of your dual credit classes before you go to freshmen orientation.The transcript request forms are on my website.

Pay attention to deadlines! There are deadlines for everything in college, and they will not extend the deadline for any reason. Excuses are not accepted.

Complete all the financial aid forms and mail them in ASAP. Write neatly when you do this because sloppy handwriting causes delays in receiving the money.
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
Remember to reapply for the FAFSA every year that you are in college.
Do this as soon after January 1 st as you possibly can.

Pay attention to the mail you receive from your college and financial aid institutions. You need to read everything very carefully so you don’t miss a deadline or forget to turn in a form.

Read the “How to Succeed in College” handout. It’s in the back of your college handbook.

Learn how to study in college.

Go to class all the time, even when you are sick. College professors don’t take excuses. Attending class is the number one way to prevent dropping out or being kicked out!

I have enjoyed working with you this year. I wish you the best of luck and Godspeed. Keep in touch, and let me know if I can help you with anything!
Melany Canfield
Mason High School
1105 West College Ave.
Mason, TX 76856
325-347-1122 ext. 224 melany.canfield@masonisd.net
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