South Miami Sr. High School COLLEGE GUIDE For Juniors and Seniors in Honors and AP Mrs. Arguelles Ph#: x Sign up for text messages at the number For the class of 2016 send the text For the class of 2017 send the text The Importance of GRADES Do you have what it takes? Institutional Matrix SUS Admissions Tour as of September, 2015 How can you improve your chances of success? State Universities will recalculate your grades based on the following 18 Academic credits: 4 English, 4 Math (Algebra & above), 3 Social Sciences, 3 Natural Sciences, 2 Foreign languages; plus additional courses in the above subject areas Focus your study efforts on your core academic classes Challenge yourself with Honors and AP classes Seek grade forgiveness in those classes that you earn a D or F in. Check Bright Futures Scholarship EligibilityCheck Bright Futures Scholarship Eligibility FAMU FAU FGCU FIUFLPOLYFSUNCFUCFUFUNFUSFUWF Summer 2015 GPA N/A No Summer Avg Avg. Fall 2015 GPA Avg Avg. The Importance of Test Scores FAMU (Avg.) FAUFGCUFIU FLPOLY (Avg.) FSU SAT Summer Midrange M: 430 R: 450 W: M: R: W: M: R: W: M: R: W: N/A M: R: W: SAT Fall Midrange M: 470 R: 470 W: M: R: W: M: R: W: M: R: W: M: R: W: ACT Summer Midrange 19 E/W: E/W: E/W: E/W:20-24 N/A E/W:23-27 ACT Fall Midrange 21 E/W: E/W: E/W: E/W: E/W:24-29 The Importance of Test Scores NCF UCF (Avg.) UFUNF USF (Avg.) UWF (Avg.) SAT Summer Midrange N/A M:560 R:550 W: M: R: W: M: R: W: M: 548 R: 545 W: M: 508 R: 517 W: SAT Fall Midrange M: R: W: M:600 R:600 W: M: R: W: M: R: W: M: 617 R: 610 W: M:522 R:530 W: ACT Summer Midrange N/A E/W: E/W:23 22 E/W:22 ACT Fall Midrange E/W: E/W: E/W:25 23 E/W:23 This graph demonstrates the close relationship between the numbers of Academic Core classes to the acceptance rate at the University of Florida. How to beat the numbers game Complete your one unit in PE and one unit in fine arts and thats it, Focus on taking all core academic classes math, social studies, language arts, foreign language and science. Forget about classes like office aid, internship and research. All of our state universities have made it clear that these activities would be best done after school hours not during. Sorry to say, but stay away from non-academic classes. The margins are too narrow for students graduating with 24 credits. Taking 2-3 extra non-academic classes can drop you down to a 20.5% chance of acceptance. The concept of easy A classes to boost the GPA is long gone. Consider FLVS and dual-enrollment with the consent of his counselor. Take advantage of every practice testing opportunity for the SAT/ACT. SAT AND ACT PROGRAM TEST DATES NATIONAL TEST DATES TEST **REGULAR POSTMARK DEADLINE LATE POSTMARK DEADLINE 2015 September 12ACTAugust 7August 21 October 3SAT I & IISeptember 3September 18 October 24ACTSeptember 18October 2 November 7SAT I & IIOctober 9October 27 December 5SAT I & IINovember 5November 23 December 12ACTNovember 6November January 23SAT I & IIDecember 28January 12 February 6ACTJanuary 8January 15 March 5 (Redesigned Test) SAT IFebruary 5February 23 April 9ACTMarch 4March 18 May 7 (Redesigned Test)SAT I & IIApril 8April 22 June 4 (Redesigned Test)SAT I & IIMay 5May 25 June 11ACTMay 6May 20 SAT/ACT FEE WAIVERS SAT and ACT test Fee Waivers will be available to juniors Starting 12/1. If you are on free or reduced lunch, you qualify for the following. Remember that you must reapply each year to remain eligible. 2 ACT test waiver TOTAL 2 SAT test fee waivers TOTAL 4 College Board - College Application Fee Waivers 4 ACT - College Application Fee Waivers Waivers can be used only once. SAT waivers CAN Now be used after the regular deadline. ACT waivers CAN be used after the regular deadline, but you must pay the late fee. To receive a waiver, please come by my office, anytime before school, during lunch or after school. Colleges That Meet Full Demonstrated Need Amherst College (MA)Davidson College (NC)Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA) Tufts University (MA) Barnard College (NY)Denison University (OH)Middlebury College (VT)Tulane University (LA) Bates College (ME)Dickinson College (PA)Mount Holyoke College (MA)Union College (NY) Boston College (MA)Duke University (NC)Northwestern University (IL)University of Chicago (IL) Brown University (RI)Dartmouth College (NH)Oberlin College (OH)University of Notre Dame (IN) Bryn Mawr College (PA)Emory University (GA)Occidental College (CA)University of Pennsylvania (PA) Bowdoin College (ME)Franklin and Marshall CollegePitzer College (CA)University of Richmond (VA) Bucknell University (PA)Franklin W. Olin CollegePomona College (CA)University of Rochester (NY) California Institute of Tech.Georgetown University (DC)Princeton University (NJ)University of Southern Cal. Carleton College (MN)Gettysburg College (PA)Reed College (OR)Vanderbilt University (TN) Claremont McKenna CollegeGrinnell College (IA)Rice University (TX)Vassar College (NY) Clark University (MA)Hamilton College (NY)Saint Johns College (NM)Wabash College (IN) Colby College (ME)Harvey Mudd College (CA)Saint Olaf College (MN)Wake Forest University (NC) Colgate University (NY)Haverford College (PA)Scripps College (CA)Washington and Lee University College of the Holy Cross (MA)Harvard University (MA)Sewanee: The University of the South (TN) Washington University, St. Louis, (MO) College of Wooster (OH)Johns Hopkins University (MD)Smith College (MA)Wellesley College (MA) Colorado College (CO)Kenyon College (OH)Stanford University (CA)Wesleyan University (MA) Columbia University (NY)Lafayette College (PA)Swarthmore College (NY)Williams College (MA) Connecticut College (CT)Lehigh University (PA)Thomas Aquinas College (CA)Wheaton College (MA) Cornell University (NY)Macalester College (MN)Trinity College (CT)Yale University (CT) College Board: Big Future https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search College Summary SAT/ACT mid-ranges Financial Viability Amherst College Estimated Total$59,660 Williams CollegeEstimated Total $59,712 Boston University vs Boston College Boston University Boston College The Application Process Determine the number of schools to which you want to apply Be mindful of deadlines Treat this as a homework project care should be given to the appearance of your application Determine if you want to complete the on-line application form If essay required, give it proper attention Decide on no more than 3 5 institutions Time line for decisions- DEADLINES Application Strategies APPLY EARLY: At the beginning of the admission cycle (August, September, and October) GPA and test score mid-ranges are typically low due to the low volume of application usually received at institutions with ROLLING admissions. Later on in the process (November, December, January and February) the volume of applications increase. As a result, GPA and Test Score mid-ranges increase. CONTINUE IMPROVING YOUR GRADES AND CONTINUE TESTING: Depending on where you stand with institutional mid-ranges, it is recommended that you continue to improve your GPA and continue testing until you receive an acceptance letter from your college. Never Give UP !!! SUBMIT NEW TRANSCRIPTS AT THE END OF THE FIRST SEMESTER Transcripts are updated at the end of the first semester around mid-January. As soon as your transcripts are updated, it is important that you send them to all colleges that you are waiting for decisions. Types of College Admission Early Decision. Students make a commitment to a first-choice institution where, if admitted they definitely will enroll. The application deadline and decision deadlines occur early. Early Action. Students apply to an institution of preference and receive a decision well in advance of the institution's regular response date. Students who are admitted under Early Action are not obligated to accept the institution's offer of admission or to submit a deposit until the regular reply date (not prior to May 1). Regular Decision. Students submit an application to an institution by a specified date and receive a decision within a reasonable and clearly stated period of time, but not later than April 15. Types of College Admission (cont.) Rolling Admission. Institutions review applications as they are completed and render admission decisions to students throughout the admission cycle. Wait List. An admission decision option utilized by institutions to protect against shortfalls in enrollment. Wait lists are sometimes made necessary because of the uncertainty of the admission process, as students submit applications for admission to multiple institutions and may receive several offers of admission. By placing a student on the wait list, an institution does not initially offer or deny admission, but extends to a candidate the possibility of admission in the future, before the institution's admission cycle is concluded. Florida Bright Futures Important Dates and Issues Register Beginning December 1. End of First Semester: The state evaluates your meeting of the criteria upon your date of graduation GPA in specific courses GPA in specific courses Specific course work Specific course work Community service Community service ACT and/or SAT scores (CPT can also be used on Gold Seal) ACT and/or SAT scores (CPT can also be used on Gold Seal) First Evaluation February Notification by April Second/Final Evaluation June Notification by August Florida Bright Futures 2013 2014 and after BF PROGRAM Award Flat Rate Payout GPA Requirement SAT/ACT Requirements Community Service FLORIDA ACADEMIC SCHOLARS $103 per credit hr. 30 credit payout: $3, credits total 3.5 weighted BF GPA 15 core academic classes 1290 SAT \29 ACT 100 hours of community service FLORIDA MEDALLION SCHOLARS $77 per credit hr. 30 credit payout: $2, credits total 3.0 weighted BF GPA 15 core academic classes 1170 SAT 26 ACT. 75 hours of community service FLORIDA GOLD SEAL VOC. SCHOLARS 100% of program of study up to 72 credit hours in an AS, AAS, CCC or PSAVs: 60 credit hours in ATDs Does not apply to AA, BA or BS degree 3.0 weighted BF GPA 3.5 weighted GPA in 3 vocational credits SAME program SAT 880 M 440 / CR 440 ACT E 17 / R 18 M 19 CPT R 83 / S 83 Algebra hours of community service Number of years to Receive Initial FundingNumber of years of Funding Available Within 2 years of High School GraduationUp to 5 years from High School Graduation Types of Funding for College GRANTS Based on financial need - Private (CAP Grant) - Public: Federal (Pell Grant) - State (Fla. Student Assistance Grant) WORK-STUDY Based on financial need- Employment on campus usually jobs are not too demanding, with the idea you can study some at work, thus the name, Work-Study STUDENT LOANS Based on financial need - Perkins (administered by the college - 5% int.) - Stafford (subsidized or unsubsidized, capped at 8.25% currently) PARENT LOANS NOT based on financial need - Not need-based, can borrow up to cost of education, payment begins 60 days after date of loan. What Are The Primary Sources Of Financial Aid? Federal government State governments Colleges and universities Private agencies FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid Available after January 1 of senior year Family Income Tax information needed to complete form. Application available online at: