SENIOR BULLETIN #5
Scholarship and College Information
January, 2012
THE END OF FIRST SEMESTER
· If you have dropped a class for second semester, you must notify all of the schools to which you have applied so they know there is a change in the original information on your application. Remember: the university or college that you finally commit to will require a final transcript, and if the final transcript does not have a class they were expecting to see, they may rescind the offer of admission.
· Colleges also notice a drop-off in performance so you need to maintain the types of grades you have earned in the past. If you earned a D or an F in any class, you obviously need to notify the schools to which you have applied so they aren’t surprised by what they see on the final transcript. You never want to surprise a school with a D or F, and if you don’t tell them, they may rescind the offer of admission when they discover the poor grade. If you have always earned A’s and B’s, you want to keep it that way. This is a very competitive time to be applying to college, and drifting down to C’s is the type of thing that might make a school reconsider its offer of admission.
· Midyear Reports are due for several private colleges. Your GLC’s will visit you in your English class soon to explain the exact process and form you need for them to send a Midyear Report on your behalf. You’d best pay close attention.
· Different names on official documents will cause all sorts of problems for you. The name on your DBHS transcript, the name on your college applications, and the name for your SAT/ACT accounts all need to match. If you have legal names in one place and nicknames in another, colleges will be confused and that’s never good. See your GLC as soon as possible if you have any questions.
MT. SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE
· Application Workshops will be held:
o Wednesday, 1/25 from 9:00-11:00 (Last Names A-K)
o Thursday, 1/26 from 9:00-11:00 (Last Names L-Z)
· Placement Tests will be held (at MSAC via WVUSD bus transportation):
o Thursday, 3/22 from 8:00-1:00 (Last Names A-K)
o Wednesday, 3/28 from 8:00-1:00 (Last Names L-Z)
· Students must sign up for Workshops and Placement Test in Career Center or via email to [email protected]. Take advantage of this great opportunity to show your parents you’re ready to start making the transition from high school to community college.
· Students wishing to attend Mt. SAC in the Spring Semester need to apply to the college as special admits via www.mtsac.edu and get the course approval form signed by their GLC. For more information, see Mrs. Carson in the Career Center.
FINANCIAL AID
· FAFSA is open! Go online as soon as possible to fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid at www.fafsa.ed.gov. While it is true they want financial information from 2011, don’t wait until your parents’ tax return is ready. Use the information from their 2010 tax return and make educated guesses for 2011. It usually doesn’t vary by that much, and you can adjust the numbers later, but it’s best to get your FAFSA filled out as early as possible.
· The financial aid package each school offers you will vary, as discussed in the last bulletin, so you need to know the different types of aid available.
o Grants – This is basically a gift from the school, money you don’t have to pay back, which makes it the best available obviously.
o Work Study – This usually comes in the form of an on campus job. I still remember the good ol’ days of driving the campus shuttle.
o Loans – These are usually through private banks but at a relatively low rate. The government sometimes pays interest on the loan while the student is in school, and payments usually don’t begin until 6 months after the student graduates. WARNING: These loans will be in the student’s name and will be his or her responsibility, not their parents, when they graduate. Be careful about taking a loan, especially through a private company, and incurring more debt than you can handle upon graduation. TIME magazine recently referenced a student who graduated from NYU with $169,934 worth of debt that will equal $350,000 with the interest added in over the next 26 years – that’s no way to get started.
· 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 29th, 2012. Deadline for postmark on the form you mail in is March 2nd, 2012. If you are offered a Cal Grant, you’ll receive an email from California Student Aid Commission, which estimates your Cal Grant award.
SCHOLARSHIPS
· Best Buy Scholarship – Students in grades 9-12 with solid grades plus community service or work experience are eligible to apply for one of 1,200 $1000 scholarships. Apply online at www.bestbuy-communityrelations.com.
· Asian Pacific Fund – This is an organization that supports 14 different scholarship programs, all with varying requirements. They have a total of 30 scholarships ranging from $1000-$20,000 and awards are available for students of any ethnic background. Find more information and apply at www.asianpacificfund.org by March 15,2012.
· Milk Mustache Scholar Athlete Award - This is a scholarship contest available to scholar-athletes graduating from high school in 2012. 25 regional winners will be awarded a $7,500 scholarship, a spot in a milk-mustache ad in USA Today, and an all-expense paid trip to the awards ceremony in Orlando, Florida. Candidates applying for this scholarship must demonstrate excellence in academics, athletic performance, leadership, and community service. A panel of celebrity milk-mustache athletes will help to select the 25 national scholar athletes. Apply at www.sammyapplication.com by March 9th, 2012.
· A.W. Bodine-Sunkist Memorial Scholarship – This scholarship is in memory of a former Sunkist Director and agricultural leader and seeks to provide funds for students from agricultural backgrounds. The student or someone in the student’s immediate family must have derived the majority of his income from agriculture. The award varies but averages $2000 per academic year. Pick up an application in Mr. Desmond’s office or download at www.sunkist.com. Application must be received no later than April 30th, 2012.
· Playing with Purpose Award – This is a scholarship for sophomore, junior, or senior Christian athletes. $12,700 worth of scholarships is available. Apply at www.playingwithpurpose.org by March 1st, 2012.
· Cal State Fullerton Future Scholars Award – Each year a total of 50 freshmen and transfer students receive this $1,500 award upon attending CSUF. Applicants must have at least a 2.5 GPA, demonstrated financial need, and evidence of significant contribution to school and/or community. If you meet the qualifications and know you will be attending Cal State Fullerton in the fall, pick up an application in Mr. Desmond’s office. Applications must be postmarked on or before April 20th, 2012. Go Titans!
· McDonald’s Scholarship – There are actually four types of scholarships here, ranging from $2,000-$5,000. Pick up an application from Mr. Desmond or download one at www.rmhcsc.org. Application deadline is January 27, 2012.
· Miss any scholarships from the last Senior Bulletin? Go to the Guidance Office – all past scholarships will remain on display until their deadlines have passed.
· Don’t forget that you can research scholarships on your own!
o www.collegenet.com/mac