SENIOR BULLETIN #4

Scholarship and College Information

December, 2011

FINISHING THE APPLICATION PROCESS

·         SAT/ACT scores must be sent directly to all schools to which you are applying through www.collegeboard.org or www.act.org respectively.  DBHS does NOT send any SAT or ACT scores.  If you take either test in December, the scores should still arrive in time to be included in your application, but you might want to pay the extra to “rush” scores just to set your mind at ease.

·         You do NOT need to send official transcripts to the UC or CSU.  You only need to send one to the school you’ll be attending, and that isn’t sent until after graduation.  The one exception with a UC or CSU would be if they contact you and request a 7^th semester transcript.  For example, Cal State Monterey Bay has requested that students send 7^th semester transcripts.  In this case, you would go to the “Transcripts” link under “Students” on www.dbhs.org and order an official transcript via Parchment. 

·         If you asked your GLC to fill out the School Report and a letter of recommendation for a school, you don’t need to request transcripts for that school – they have been sent with the GLC’s report and letter.

·         Your UC and CSU applications have been submitted, but you are not done!  You need to work hard in the classroom all year to maintain the same level of performance you had through junior year.  If you earn a D or an F in any of your classes, or if you drop a class that you told colleges you were going to take, you must notify all the schools to which you have applied (UC, CSU, and all privates).  They are deciding whether or not to grant you admission based in part on the classes you are taking and the assumption that you will earn similar grades to those you have earned in the past.  If your grades drop or the rigor of your schedule changes, you need to let them know now so they can factor that into their decision.  If they don’t find out until June when they receive your final transcript, they may rescind their offer at that time, and that’s a major bummer.

·         Campus visits are essential to making a good decision about where you’ll attend so you should make every effort to visit each school (UC, CSU, and privates) you’re considering.  Think of questions and concerns to bring up when you visit, and try to go beyond the tour to get a real feel for campus life.  Stop by a lecture hall to observe a class, swing by the food court to grab a bite, and drive through the surrounding area to see the neighborhood.  You’re going to live there for at least the next four years – you better make sure you’ll like it.

·         The Fullerton College Honors Program is open for applications at http://fullertoncollegehonors.com/apply-to-the-honors-program/.   If attending Fullerton College is even a possibility, you should consider provisionally applying.  Being in the Honors Program provides registration benefits and a much higher transfer rate to the four-year school of your choice than non-honors students, and applying does NOT mean you are committed to attend.

FINANCIAL AID

·         The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the key to receiving any kind of financial aid when you go to school.  Regardless of whether or not you think you will receive any financial aid, you and your parents should fill this form out.  The FAFSA is required to apply for federal and state student aid, as well as some college and private aid.  If you don’t fill it out, you are essentially guaranteeing that no one can help you pay for college.

·         You can submit the FAFSA beginning January 1, 2012 at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  Unlike college applications which have no advantage for early submission, the sooner you submit the FAFSA, the better your chances of receiving financial aid.  Every college’s financial aid office has a set amount of money they can offer to prospective students in the form of grants, scholarships, etc., and once they give it away, it’s gone.  You want them to have your FAFSA information when they’re beginning to make financial aid offers so they can give you the best possible package.  The deadline for filing the FAFSA is March 2, 2012.

·         You will need several things to fill out the FAFSA.  You must have a social security number and your parents’ financial information (federal income tax return, assets such as savings and stocks).  You also need a PIN (Personal Identification Number), and you can log onto www.fafsa.ed.gov now to get your PIN before January.  You can also get an estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid instantly, even before senior year, by using the forecast tool at www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov.

·         Cal Grant GPA Verification Forms are now available in the Guidance Office.  The Cal Grant is “free money” to help you pay tuition and school fees for schools in California.  Fill out the form and return it to Mrs. Taylor as soon as possible and she will return it to you for you to mail.  No forms will be accepted after February 29^th, 2012.  Deadline for postmark on the form you mail in is March 2^nd, 2012.

·         After you submit the FAFSA, you will receive the Student Aid Report (SAR).  This computerized summary of all the information on your application will arrive within three days of submission.  If any information is incorrect, you need to correct it before the wrong information is sent to colleges. 

·         The most important figure on the SAR is your EFC (Expected Family Contribution.  Along with your parents’ income and assets, the FAFSA factors in the number of family members in your household and the number of children who will be in college during the coming school year.  All of this information gives you your EFC, the amount your family is expected to contribute toward your education.  All financial aid is based off of this figure.  Every school you apply to and list on your FAFSA will receive your EFC and use that to determine what kind of financial aid package to offer you. 

Basic Equation of Need:

Cost of Attendance (COA)

-          Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

= Student’s Financial Need

Here are a few rough examples for someone with an EFC of $10,000 who will be living away from home.  These are just estimates, but close enough to help you see how a financial aid office would determine your financial need.

As you can see, the EFC stays constant, regardless of where you apply.  Your financial need changes depending on how much it costs to attend that school.  Financial aid offices use this to determine what kind of a financial aid package they’ll offer, but it almost certainly will NOT cover your entire financial need.

·         Financial Aid Packages can include grants, loans, and work-study opportunities.  The different packages will vary from school to school so you and your parents need to review them carefully to determine what will work out best for you.

SCHOLARSHIPS

·         William S. Davila Scholarship – This scholarship is for students working in the food industry or whose parents are working in the food industry (defined as retail supermarkets or manufacturers of food products, NOT fast food or regular restaurants).  Awards range from $1000-$2500.  Applications are available at www.sms.scholarshipamerica.org/davila and applications must be postmarked by January 20^th, 2012.

·         Cabrillo Civic Clubs of California Scholarship – This one is for students of Portuguese descent.  Applicants must have a 3.5, participate in at least 3 extracurricular activities, and provide three letters of recommendation (at least one from a principal, dean, or counselor and another from a teacher).  $500 awards.  Download an application at www.cabrillocivicclubs.org.  The application deadline is March 15^th, 2012.

·         Walnut Valley Educational Foundation Scholarship – That’s Walnut Valley as in OUR district so you know this one isn’t going to some dude in Bakersfield – apply!  They award three $1000 scholarships (Visual and Performing Arts, Industrial Technology, and Teen Citizen) to DBHS students and a fourth is available for someone with “demonstrated active participation, tutoring, or mentorship in the educational field.”  You can pick up an application in Mr. Desmond’s office – applications must be received by MAIL by April 16^th, 2012.

·         University of Dayton Scholarship – Did you apply to the University of Dayton so you can be a Flyer and follow in Dan Patrick’s footsteps?  If so, see Mr. Desmond  by January 15^th, 2012 about being nominated for the Dayton Leadership in Service Scholarship, which awards $2500 per year for four years at Dayton.

·         Black College Expo Scholarship – Interested students must submit an essay of 500 words or less about “Why Is a College Education Important to Me.”  Essays must be double-spaced and emailed to [email protected] by January 9^th, 2012. 

·         CSU Fullerton President’s Scholars Program - As they say on their website, this is “much more than a scholarship.”  Participants in this program receive full tuition and fees, stipend for books and supplies, a laptop computer, priority registration for classes and housing, complimentary parking, and a variety of work, service, and leadership opportunities.  Applicants must have a minimum weighted GPA of at least 3.75, above average scores on all three sections of the SAT, and evidence of significant contributions to school and community service activities during high school.  Apply at www.fullerton.edu/scholars by January 26th, 2012 at 5:00 pm.

·         NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award – This scholarship is for any graduating high school senior entering freshman year at an accredited (not for profit) two- or four-year university, college or vocational/technical institute who is running his or her own business.  Apply at www.nfib.com/yea by December 15th, 2011!

·         Visionary Scholarship Program – This scholarship is available to freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors and says multiple winners will receive awards from $1000-$5000.  Apply at www.americancollegefoundation.org by January 5^th, 2012.

·         Italian Catholic Federation – $400 awards for winners.  Applicants must be Roman Catholic seniors of Italian descent with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2  See Mr. Desmond for an application.  Application deadline is March 15^th, 2012.