Senior AssemblyOctober 15, 2013 1

Clark MagnetHigh School

Handouts

Transcripts Senior Timeline (online) CSU Mentor Annual GUSD College-Career Fair Personal Statement Guidelines for University of

California Financial Aid Timeline/Financial Aid Workshop

at Clark Parent Authorization for Cal Grant GPA

Verification

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College Application Process

University of Californiawww.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply

California State University www.csumentor.edu

October 1, 2013 Application OpensNovember 1-30, 2013 Application Submission Period for Fall 2014January 1, 2014 Filing period for FAFSA and Cal Grant VerificationMarch 1-30, 2014Notification of Fall 2014 Admission DecisionsMarch 2, 2014 Deadline for FAFSA and Cal Grant GPA VerificationMay 1, 2014 Deadline to submit the Statement of Intent to RegisterJuly 1, 2014 Final transcripts due for UC campusesJuly 15, 2014 AP scores due for UC campuses

Final transcripts due for Cal State campuses3

College Entrance Exams

SAT SAT II Subject Test (optional) ACT with Writing

Last chance to take exam is December of senior year

Don’t forget to ask the College Board to send your SAT scores to the colleges of your choice

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UC: The Personal Statement

2 Prompts, students must address both 1,000 words total or less View as personal interview on paper

Click on the “Tips” box

www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/personal-statement/index.html

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Statement #1:Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations. 

Statement #2:Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?

The Personal Statement

Additional Comments:Use this space to tell us anything else you want us to know about you and your academic record that you have not had the opportunity to describe elsewhere in the application. Limit your response to 550 words or less. This section can be bullet points, it does not need to be in sentence format. 6

What is ELC?

The Local Context (ELC) program is designed to recognize the academic accomplishment of students in light of their high school environment.

How is ELC Determined? ELC identifies qualified students from among the top

9% of each participating California high school using the student’s self-reported academic record.

Applicants who meet the minimum course requirements and have a GPA that meets or exceeds the benchmark GPA for their high school are ELC.

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How ELC Status is Conveyed

ELC Status is Displayed:• In the “Application Status” section after

submission of the admission application

Directions on how a student learns his or her status:• See questions in application tool prior to or

after submission• In confirmation email after submission

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College Application Process

Private CollegesObtain a Green Folder from Mrs. Bondy

Snack/Lunch/Enrichment/After School

Most Private Colleges Use Common Application

www.commonapp.org Check for Application Submission Deadlines (vary by

college) Thoroughly complete student part of the application Send an Invitation to your counselor to submit your school

report Send an invitation to two teachers to submit a letter of

recommendation FAFSA and Cal Grant deadline is March 2 (some colleges

may have their own deadline for FAFSA for scholarship purpose).

Meet all deadlines!!!

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Letter of Recommendation

Scholarship organizations and private colleges/universities ask for a letter of recommendation from your counselor/teachers. To better assist you with a letter you must: Complete Student Information Sheet aka Brag

Sheet. Available at ClarkMagnet.net (counselor corner)

Provide the completed Brag Sheet to your counselor/teacher with plenty of time to prepare your letter of recommendation

(that means more than 2-3 days). 10

Scholarships/Financial Aid

If you haven’t already started researching, you need to start now!!!! Get information. Fafsa.org Calgrant.org Studentaid.ed.gov Fastweb.com Webgrants4students.org

Never pay money to apply for a scholarship

NOTE: Frequently visit ClarkMagnet.net “Counselor Corner” for scholarship opportunities

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Look out for scams

Paying for College

Financial Aid

Free Application for Federal Student AidFAFSA

November 7, 2013 Financial Aid Workshop at ClarkJanuary 1, 2014 Filing period opens for FAFSAMarch 2, 2014 Deadline for FAFSA to be eligible for Cal Grantwww.FAFSA.gov

State - Cal GrantDecember, 2013 Students’ GPA will be electronically submitted

by Clark counselors

March 2, 2014 Deadline for Cal Grant applicationwww.WebGrants4Students.org

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Paying for College

Student Loans

Things to consider Interest rate, APR Fixed vs. variable Co-signer Fees Enrollment Requirements Payments, during school or after graduation

Shop around for loans, i.e. from schools vs. banks Approximately 70% of students get some form of

financial aid 13

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What Can Students Do?

Take a challenging course schedule and do well

Take advantage of other academic opportunities

Take initiative in pursuing their passions and interests

Get involved in activities at school and in their communities

Explore leadership opportunities at school, in activities, in the family, and in the community

Students should strive to do their best in all things14

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Q & A

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