GJT 09/12
High School Graduation Requirement
Review
• 22 total credits
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English – 4
Math – 3
Science – 3
Social Studies – 1 ½
U.S. History – 1
Constitution Exam
Economics – ½
Micro-computers – 1
Health
Physical Ed – 4
Electives – 4
ACT
After High School Options
Review
• School to Work
• Vocational/Technical
Career School
• Apprenticeship Programs
• Military Service
• Community College
• 4-yr College/University
The 4yr College Option
College Graduates
Earn More Money
Average Lifetime Earnings
Professional Degree
$5,612,760
Doctorate (Ph.D.)
$4,449,440
Master's Degree
$3,337,800
Bachelor's Degree
$2,742,160
Associate's Degree
$1,920,680
Some College, No
Degree
$1,863,040
High School Graduate
High School Dropout
$1,531,400
$1,102,120
Choosing A School
Look at Yourself
• Examine your values
• Think about your level of motivation
• Explore your interests
Gather Information
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College view books and publications
College campus visits/fairs/open houses
Published guidebooks
Internet
Guidance office
Hillcrest, public, or college library
Types of Schools
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Universities
Liberal Arts Colleges
Career Schools
Historically Black Colleges and
Universities
• Community/Junior Colleges
• Women’s/Men’s Colleges
School Characteristics
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Public, Independent or For Profit
Religious Orientation
Brick and Mortar or Online
Size
Location
Degrees/Academic programs offered
Diversity
Campus Life
Cost
How to Apply
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Select 4-6 schools for which you meet requirements.
Get applications for each school or apply on-line.
Include essays or statements, if required
Complete a transcript release form to put in your 1st application
Complete the recommendation questionnaire, if needed
Request and include any required letters of recommendation.
Put everything in an envelope
Apply proper address
Give the completed packet to the registrar, Mrs. Bracey
Application Deadlines
Priority
Early Decision
Early Action
Early Admission
Regular Decision
Rolling Admissions
Wait List
Deferred Admission
How Acceptance Decisions Are Made
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G.P.A./Difficulty of Curriculum
ACT or SAT scores
Class Rank
Application Essays
Extracurricular Activities
Recommendations
Interviews
Intangibles
The Essay
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Be original
Start early
Relate to college program
Don’t recycle a used essay
Answer the question(s)
Talk about
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Activities
Travel
Favorite sayings
Accomplishments
Shortcomings
Personal traits
Paint a picture of yourself.
Recommendation Letters
Not all schools require recommendations. Only provide letters
that are requested by the school.
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Request letters only from people who have a positive opinion of
you.
Make a formal request.
Supply the writer with as much information as needed.
Send a thank-you note after the letter has been written.
Allow as least 10 days for your letter to be written.
Activities
Schools want to see activities that reflect:
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a variety of interests
sustained interest in an activity
increased responsibility
increasing leadership skills
The Interview
Most schools, especially larger ones, do not require
an interview. You may request one if you believe it
will help.
Every Student Must Apply
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ATHLETES
SCHOLARS
OPEN ENROLLMENT
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
RECRUITED
PRESIDENT’S NIECE
GIVE ME THAT
APPLICATION!
The NCAA
• The National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA)
• 1,200 colleges, universities, athletic conferences
and sports organizations
• Committed to the sound administration of
intercollegiate athletics
• Helps regulate college sports programs.
• Athletes must meet NCAA requirements prior to
admission to college.
• The NCAA does accept the April Illinois ACT test
results.
Low GPA…Test Scores….Rank?
• Retake the test.
• Study hard, improve your grades.
• Ask about special programs
Remember!
There is a place for you and your
counselor can help you find it.
Other Career Options
Apprenticeship
• An industry-based
“earning while learning”
system
• Combines on-the-job
experience with technical
training
• Leads to certified
journeyman status
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Bricklayer
Carpenter
Electrician
Glazier
Tile Layer
Iron Worker
Operating Engineer
Painter/Decorator
Community College
 Transfer Programs
 Associate (A.A.)
degrees
 Long-term certificates
 Short-term certificates
 South Suburban
 Prairie State
 Moraine Valley
 Joliet
 Lincoln
 Parkland
 Chicago City Colleges
The Military
• Contact the recruiter for your branch
• Take the ASVAB as soon as possible.
 Navy
 Airforce
 Army
 Marines
 National Guard
 Reserves
 Coast Guard
 Military Academies
Career Schools
Professional, proprietary, or technical schools that provide
specific training for business, trade, technical, or industrial
occupations.
• Acme School of Locksmithing
• American Floral Art School
• Adams Institute of Travel
• Coldwell Banker Institute of
Real Estate
• Coyne American Institute
• Illinois School of Health
Sciences
• Capri Beauty School
School-To-Work
Job Search
•Internet Websites
•Yellow Book
•Want-Ads
•Word-of-Mouth
• Seek an industry that you
like.
• Choose a growing industry
• Look for company training
programs.
• Continually improve your
skills.
Costs
You can expect to pay for:
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Tuition
Fees
Room and Board
Books and Supplies
Transportation
Extras
Financial Aid
• The Federal Government
• The State of Illinois
• The college (institutional aid)
• Private scholarships and awards
• Loans
U.S. Department Of Education
GRANTS
Federal Pell Grant
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
WORK OPPORTUNITIES
Federal Work-Study (FWS)
National Service Trust Program/AmeriCorps
LOANS
Federal Perkins Loan
Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL)
Federal Stafford Loan
Federal PLUS loan
Federal Consolidation Loan
William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program
State of Illinois
NEED-BASED GRANTS
Monetary Award Program (MAP)
Illinois Incentive for Access Grant Program
MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS
Golden Apple Scholarship
Merit Recognition Scholarship (MRS)
Robert C. Byrd State Scholarship
TEACHER PROGRAMS
Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Programs
Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC)
Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver Program
Free Application For Financial Aid
(FAFSA)
• To apply for U.S. Department of Education and many state
or school programs, you must complete the FAFSA.
• In addition to the FAFSA, some schools or states may ask
for other forms.
• You must reapply for most financial aid each year.
• Never pay to file your FAFSA
Institutional Aid
• Money from colleges, universities, technical, trade, and
vocational schools
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May require a separate application form
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Strict application deadlines and qualifications
Private Scholarships and Awards
• Agencies, associations, corporations, civic,
religious, and philanthropic groups and
associations sponsor scholarships
• Every scholarship has requirements. You must
be qualified or you will not be considered.
• Thousands of scholarships are offered each year.
• You must search for and apply for scholarships
GOOD LUCK!
Your Scholarship Search
 State and Local
Representatives
Hillcrest Scholarship Newsletter
 Unions(Credit and Job)
Public and College Libraries
 Insurance companies
Hillcrest IMC
 Military
 Local Chambers of
Bookstores
Commerce
Magazines
 Colleges and Universities
Fraternities/Sororities
 Private, no cost to you,
Parent employers
agencies such as:
• Educational Talent Search
Your employer
 Internet websites
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 Relatives
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Ada S. McKinley
Target Hope
The “Free Ride”
• Some schools give money to attract the best
students or athletes.
• Other schools give money to top students to add
diversity or special talent to their student body.
• Most schools do not pay for all of a student’s
expenses.
• Competition for these awards is intense
How to Apply for Scholarships
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Complete a paper application or apply on-line.
Collect all required materials.
Include a signed transcript release form.
Add correct address.
Give the completed package to the Registrar.
Parent Tasks in College Planning
• Attend College Fairs and visit campuses.
• Make a realistic college list.
• Review your financial situation with your child
• Obtain a PIN number from www.fafsa.ed.gov today!
• Complete the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov as soon as
possible after January 1st.
• Read college correspondence with your child.
• Review college and scholarship applications.
• Most importantly! Be there and support them.
Get Ready!
• VISIT SCHOOLS
• RESEARCH COLLEGES AND
MAJORS
• GET APPLICATIONS
• WRITE ESSAYS
• REQUEST LETTERS OF
RECOMMENDATION
• TEST OR RE-TEST
• VOLUNTEER
• AVOID SENIORITIS
Your Plan……Your Future
Remember!
College is a Pathway to Opportunity
In a global economy where
the most valuable skill
you can sell is your
knowledge, a good
education is no longer
just a pathway to
opportunity – it is a
prerequisite.
– President Barack Obama
COLLEGE PLANNING TIMETABLE
September/October
 Finalize list of colleges applying to.
 Attend college visitations at Hillcrest High School.
 Attend campus tours available during Columbus Day and/or Veterans Day.
 Obtain college applications available through guidance office or College Admissions office.
 Complete college applications.
 Continue to search for scholarships.
o Keep a journal of scholarships you meet criteria for and their deadlines.
 Check for necessity of ACT/SAT retakes.
November/December
 Attend Financial Aid Seminars.
 Check to see if the college of your choice requires its own financial aid form.
 Keep working to finalize college choices.
 Check on housing application deadlines.
January
 Complete FAFSA - keep a copy.
 Apply for other sources of financial aid.
February/March
 Send 7th semester transcripts to colleges if required.
 Look for summer work - you'll be expected to help pay college expenses.
April/May
 Colleges should have notified you of their decision-- You should notify colleges of your decision by May 1.
 Make sure housing applications are finalized.
June
 Request that guidance send final transcripts to the college of your choice.
 Remember! Your acceptance is contingent upon a satisfactory final transcript showing 8 semesters. If you get
poor grades during your 7th and 8th semesters, your acceptance can be CANCELED.
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS 101
Every day students inquire about college scholarships. The list below includes some of the most
common sources for these monies. It is our hope that this will assist you in your quest. Remember, if
you win scholarship money, it will be the result of your diligent efforts. When you win, please let us
know so your achievement can be recognized.
GOOD LUCK!
1. Hillcrest scholarship newsletter
2. Public and college libraries
3. Hillcrest IMC
4. Bookstores (Borders, Crown, Barnes & Nobles)
5. Churches/Synagogues
6. Magazines
7. Fraternities/Sororities
8. Parent employers
9. Your employer
10. Relatives
11. State and local representatives
12. Unions (credit or job related)
13. Banks or lending institutions
14. Insurance companies
15. Private, no cost to you, search agencies such as:
 Educational Talent Search
 Ada S. McKinley
 Target Hope
16. Military
17. Local Chambers of Commerce
18. Colleges and Universities
19. Internet sites
COLLEGE AND SCHOLARSHIP CHECKLIST
Seniors before you submit your application packet; you must complete and check each item below. Submit your application
packet to the registrar only after you have checked every item on this list. Place this checklist on the top of every
application.
1. _____ Completed application with your signature
2. _____ Transcript request form
3. _____ Completed recommendation questionnaire if a letter is
required from your counselor
4. _____ Letter(s) of recommendation from anyone other than
your counselor
5. _____ Check/money order for the amount requested or fee
waiver request, if you qualify for one (please include your social security number)
6. _____ Appropriate size envelope properly addressed.
7. _____ Typed essay if required
8. _____ Application and essay have been checked for errors
When you have completed your application packet, please submit it to the registrar. She will insert a copy of your transcript
and forward the entire package to your counselor.
COLLEGE AND SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
ALL students must follow these instructions. This includes, Target Hope,
Education Talent Search, Ada S. McKinley, and others.
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Obtain college applications by:
Searching the files in guidance
Downloading from college sites on-line
Calling or writing each college and requesting an application
2. Complete each application.
3. If you complete your application on-line, download the counselor page if
there is one, complete it and follow the remainder of these instructions.
4. If you complete your application on-line and there is no counselor page, you
must write a short note to let the registrar know that you need an
official transcript sent to the college, then follow the remainder of these
instructions.
5. Put all necessary papers in an envelope (application, application fee, essay(s),
recommendation letters, transcript request note). Remember, if you need a
separate letter of recommendation from your counselor, you must ask for one.
You should not assume that this will be done for you without asking.
6. Address the envelope and put your return address on it.
7. Obtain a BLUE transcript request form from guidance. Complete it and have
your parent sign it. You only need to do this ONCE, it will be put on file for
future applications.
8. Give the completed application package along with the BLUE transcript form to
the registrar. The MRS. BRACEY will insert an official copy of your transcript and give
the entire package to your counselor to be checked, logged-in and mailed.
You must give the Guidance Department TEN (10) days to complete an application or form. There is no guarantee
that deadlines will be met if less time is given!
GOOD LUCK!
GT 9/13