OLATHE SOUTH SENIOR INFORMATION

How to make the most of

your senior year

Finalize college/post-secondary plans

• Visit campus/attend senior day• Talk to admission reps who come to OS• Attend Kansas City Metro College Expo

October 9 at Overland Park Convention Center. 6-8:30 pm – Includes financial aid seminars– Includes military and tech schools

Check college web sites for valuable information

• Information about campus visits & senior days• Admission requirements• On line applications and application deadlines• Scholarship information

Take the ACT in October

if you haven’t taken it or to try to improve your score. Register by 9/27.

www.actstudent.org

ACT info• New test security rules—must have admission ticket with

an uploaded photo and a photo ID and to be admitted to ACT test

• Use your legal name to register

• More schools want scores sent directly from ACT, not on your transcript

• Several Kansas Universities have November 1 deadlines for scholarships. Many have ACT score requirements.

Recommendations

• If your application asks for teacher or counselor recommendations, allow 2 weeks for those to be completed

• Provide the person writing the recommendation a copy of your resume/vitae.

Requesting official transcripts

• All transcripts are now sent through “parchment”

• Register ASAP at www.parchment.com/join

Check your image• What does your email

address, Facebook, or twitter account say about you?

• What is your public image?• Universities, fraternities,

sororities, employers may be checking you out.

• See fraternity guy checking out a potential member on Facebook. He’s laughing.

WHERE TO LOOK FOR MONEY FOR COLLEGEGovernment funding for state universities has declined in Kansas:2008-09 -4.1%2009-10 -11.0%More and more of the financial burden for funding your college education is falling on students and their families.

TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID– Grants and scholarships--don’t

have to be paid back

– Loans—taken by students or parents

– Work-study/student/family contribution

GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

• Federal grants are based on financial need.– Need is determined by completing the FAFSA– FAFSA is Free Application for Federal Student Aid– Complete FAFSA online after this year’s income

taxes are done—January or February– www.fafsa.gov– Recommend EVERYONE complete FAFSA

regardless of predicted need

GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

• Scholarships can be based on merit or need– Grades and test scores– Athletics– Talent (music, debate, etc.)– Community service– Civic affiliation, family history– Parent/student employer– Person or organization offering the scholarship

determines the criteria

Scholarship search sites

• http://scholarships.olatheschools.com• www.fastweb.com• www.scholarships.com• www.salliemae.com/scholarship• Check the web site of colleges of interest/talk

to representatives/go to college night• KU and KState have November 1 deadline for

premiere scholarships

LOANS

• Loans may be made to students or their parents – Federal student loans may subsidize or

unsubsidized depending on financial need based on FAFSA

WORKING AND SAVING

• Work study– A federally funded program providing on-campus

jobs – Based on need which is based on FAFSA– Part of college financial aid package

WORKING AND SAVING

• Non work-study job– May be on or off campus– Most colleges have student employment offices to

help students find jobs

• Personal and family savings are an important component of funding your college education

WHAT IS A FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE?

• The offer from a college or university which may include a combination of scholarships, loans and work study

• Received in the spring from colleges you applied to attend

• Takes into consideration cost of attending, college/university scholarships, and financial need

• Varies depending on the cost of attending• Apply early. Funds may be limited

More helpful web sites

www.collegecost.ed.gov College Affordability & TransparencyNet Price Calculator

www.bigfuture.org

HOW DO I GET A SHORTENED DAY?

• Must qualify and apply before winter break– On track to graduate with no need for credit

recovery/night school– Pass all 1st semester classes– Have a valid reason for shortening day—work to

earn money for college or in a potential career, military, college class

– Applications will be available in student services after thanksgiving

– Meet deadline before winter break