Get Ready! Get organized! Get Going!

Senior College Information NightClass of 2014Cody Clark, PrincipalBonnie Silva, Junior/Senior AdvisorTerri Picaso, Academic Admin. Asst. Get Ready! Get organized! Get Going!

Graduation Information • Colors • Girls ~ white & Boys ~ Blue • Jostens • Caps & Gowns • Graduation Announcements • Class Rings (if you have not ordered yet, pick up a post-card from Terri Picaso on your way out

What Students Should be Doing • ACT/SAT • Retake to raise scores if needed Students registered to take the December 14th ACT test or December 14th SAT may request online access to the John Baylor Test Prep Program by signing up with Mrs. Silva in the Academic Advising Office.

ACT Test Dates 2013-2014 SAT Test Dates 2013-2014

What Students Should be Doing • Finalize your college list and APPLY NOW • Know the application Deadlines • Early Decision ~ binding • Early Action ~ non-binding • Request Recommendations • Complete a profile form to give your recommender • Allow at least two weeks before the deadline • Transcripts • The Academic Advising Office must have a signed release in order to process transcript requests • Essays • Required or recommended – Proof, revise, complete

What Students Should be Doing • Scholarship Search • Start with the Universities you have applied to • Search online: • www.fastweb.com, www.schoolsoup.com, www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org, www.collegeprowler.com, www.scholarships.com • FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) • Must be completed in order to receive any type of need based scholarship, grant or loan for college • Cannot start FAFSA until January of the senior yearand must be completed by March 10th. • Financial aid information meetings and workshop will be held on January 8th at 5:00 p.m. • Apply for a FAFSA Pin now so you are prepared in January • www.fafsa.ed.gov

What Students Should be Doing • Accept Offer of admission • Once you have decided where to attend college notify the college of your intent. • Housing Deposits • Unique to each University, earlier is ALWAYS better to ensure you get your first choice

What College Admissions Evaluates • Academic Evaluation • Minimum Course Requirements • Strength of Academic coursework • Grades in Academic courses • Grade Point Average • Percentile Rank • Grade Trends • Test Scores (ACT/SAT) • Non-Academmic Factors • Essay • Letters of Recommendation • Extra Curricular Activities

College Admissions Tests • Check individual college website to see average SAT/ACT scores of accepted applicants. • Colleges will look at a student’s highest scores, even if the scores are from separate tests. • Many schools will not take SAT scores on a transcript – students should have their scores sent automatically.

College Admissions Tests • College admissions tests are sometimes used as cut-offs for admission • Sometimes used to compare with academic record to clear up discrepancies • Sometimes used by students themselves to judge the quality of students that attend that school • Students approved for Free/Reduced Lunch can receive a test fee waiver

Scholarships • Searching for scholarships can be very time-consuming! • Students should register with a scholarship search engine like FASTWEB.com. • Never pay a service for scholarship searching! • Scholarships can be need-based or merit-based – plus many more factors.

Scholarships • Volunteer/community service is almost always an eligibility requirement • Dropping and or failing courses can adversely affect your chances of getting a scholarship • Leadership and experiential programs can greatly benefit • Scholarships are VERY competitive!

Financial Aid • FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the key! FAFSA gets you eligible for grants, work-study, loans. Get your taxes ready early - some grants are first-come, first-served. • FAFSA looks at the cost of the particular school, and then looks at the family income in order to determine the family’s expected contribution (EFC). The difference between the cost of the school and the family contribution equals the student need.

ASCENT 5th Year Program • Attend Front Range Community College for a year while The Academy pays your tuition • Eligibility • Meet all H.S. graduation requirements by May 30, 2014 • Earn a minimum of 12 college credits by May 30, 2014 • Agree to enroll as a 5th year senior at the Academy

Final Thoughts… • Best Advice for students: • Be Proactive! • Stay organized! • Don’t Procrastinate! • Seek help! Ask Questions! • Fully take on the responsibility of your own education!

Don’t be afraid to contact the Academic Advising Office for help. • Bonnie Silva 303 439-6149; bonnie.silva@theacademyk12.org • Terri Picaso 303-439-6151; terri.picaso@theacademyk12.org

Get Ready! Get organized! Get Going!