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SENIOR BULLETIN #4
Scholarship and College Information
December, 2014
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 will arrive in time to be included in your application for UC’s and other schools that accept December tests, but you must arrange to have the scores sent now, in December, through the websites above.
· Score Choice is NOT recommended by the UC because it delays delivery of test scores. They “strongly encourage students to report all scores and only use the highest score at a single sitting for admission consideration.” There are all sorts of fears about that one lower test score, but let’s be logical about this - all universities know Score Choice exists, so why would they ever punish someone for sending in all of their scores and having one lower score when they know other applicants could have “hidden” a lower score with Score Choice?
· 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 7th semester transcript. For example, in the past Cal State Monterey Bay has requested that students send 7th 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 through Send.edu or the Common Application, 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 about a grade or change 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.
· Plan on taking the TOEFL if you attended school for more than two years in another country and your Language of Instruction was not English. Scores must be reported to the undergraduate admissions office at each campus to which you applied and received no later than January 2014. For more information visit http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/international/toefl-ielts-exams.
FINANCIAL AID
· The Financial Aid Workshop will take place on Tuesday, December 16th at 7:00 in the Theater. This informative evening will help you understand how the financial aid process works and how you’re going to pay for school so you and your parents should plan on attending. This one evening will answer most of your financial aid questions and it’s free.
· 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. WARNING: There are several look-alike websites out there that have “fafsa” in the name and they’ll try to get you to pay for help in filling out the FAFSA, but the first F stands for FREE. If you go to www.fafsa.ed.gov, you’ll find all the information and instructions and be able to apply for financial aid without paying anyone a dime.
· You can submit the FAFSA beginning January 1, 2015 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, 2015.
· 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 28th, 2015. Deadline for postmark on the form you mail in is March 2nd, 2015.
· 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.
| Institution | CSU | UC | Stanford |
| College Cost | $24,000 | $32,000 | $62,000 |
| EFC | $10,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Financial Need | $14,000 | $22,000 | $52,000 |
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. More on financial aid packages in future bulletins!
EXTRA ANNOUNCEMENTS
· Students in the Mt. SAC Connect 4 Program must attend the “Account Claim Workshop” in the Library during 1st – 4th periods on Monday, December 8th. This workshop is for the students that attended the Application workshops in November and applied to Mt. SAC. This workshop will cover the next step now that your application has been processed and you have a MT. SAC ID#. Please visit Mrs. Williams in the Career Center to sign the RSVP list ASAP. If you have questions, you can also email her at [email protected]
· The ASVAB Test will be offered in the LINC on Thursday, December 4th at 12 pm. The ASVAB “measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success in the military,” but taking the test does not in any way sign you up for the military. Many students take the test to get an idea of potential careers and majors they may pursue outside of the military. Interested students should sign up with Mrs. Williams in the Career Center or email her at [email protected] by December 2nd! The test will take approximately three hours.
· The first annual Latino College Expo will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Saturday, December 13th, 2014. Students can meet one-on-one with Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI’s) and learn about the numerous opportunities that are available to students of Hispanic descent. Admission is $8.00 at the door, $6.00 online. Students can also win cash for college in the essay writing contest! To learn more about this and the Expo, please visit www.thecollegeexpo.org.
NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDED STUDENTS
· The following students just missed the cut-off index selection score on the PSAT to qualify as National Merit Semifinalists. They scored approximately in the 96th percentile and have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program as Commended Students. Congratulations to:
Chen, Allen
Chen, Caroline
Chen, Grace
Chen, Russell
Cheng, Albert
Christian-Mille, Joshua
Chung, Christine
Du, Daphne
Gao, Kevin
Hou, Annabel
Hsu, Alvin
Huang, Angela
Huang, Kai Lun
Huang, Young
Jacobsson, Wesley
Kang, Hoony
Kao, Jefferson
Kao, Leanne
Khodr, Johnathan
Lai, Andre
Lasko, Rae
Lau, Alexander
Lau, Christopher
Lee, Alex P.
Lee, Jeff
Lee, Katlyn
Lee, Thomas
Li, Mengge
Liang, Sabrina
Lim, Bryanna
Lin, Serena
Lin, Tiffany
Liu, Andru
Pang, Kelvin
Park, Eugene
Park, Jinsung
Peng, Derek
Rashad, Tamer
Ru, Dustin
Sam, Colleen
Samoylenko, Samantha
Shen, Courtney
Sim, Deborah
Theegala, Sahith
Wang, Geoffrey
Wang, Kevin
Wong, Amy
Wu, Alan
Xing, Nancy
Yang, Jehan
Yang, Roger
Yang, Tiffany
Yang, Vivian
Yi, Chance
Yu, Hedy
Zhu, Annie
Zhu, Junxi
Zhu, Yixuan
SCHOLARSHIPS
· 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 receive acceptance to CSUF, 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 17th, 2015 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. If you run your own business, that’s really cool, and you should apply at www.nfib.com/yea by December 18th, 2014!
· 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 April 1st, 2015.
· 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. You can also visit their website at www.icf.org. Application deadline is March 15th, 2015.
· Sons of Italy Scholarship – This scholarship is available for anyone “wholly or partially of Italian descent” who will be enrolled at a trade school, community college or university in fall of 2015. See Mr. Desmond for an application or go to www.sonsofitalyca.org. Deadline for all applications is March 1, 2015.
· California Wine Grape Growers Foundation – If you are related to someone who is a wine grape grower, you can apply for this scholarship which awards at least two 4-year $8000 scholarships to a UC or CSU and at least four 2-year scholarships to California Community Colleges. Download an application at www.cwggf.org or pick-up an application in Mr. Desmond’s office (and feel free to have your relatives send him a sample of their handiwork). Completed applications must be postmarked by March 27th, 2015.
· Post Office Locator Scholarship – USPostmail.org is offering this $500 scholarship. Applicants must submit a “500-1000 word essay about the most interesting item you have ever received in the mail.” Go to http://www.uspostmail.org/scholarship/. Applications must be submitted by April 15th, 2015.
· Milken Scholars Program – This scholarship provides a $2000 award for all four years of college, ongoing career and academic counseling, assistance with internships, and a graduate fund to help students in graduate school. Applicants must be nominated by their GLC and meet the following criteria: have at least an unweighted 3.6 GPA, have at least an 1850 on the SAT or a 28 on the ACT, have a record of leadership and active participation in community service, and be able to demonstrate “financial or other obstacles.” For more information, go to http://www.milkenscholars.org/scholars.taf. To be nominated, see your GLC by 12/5/14.
· 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/scholarship.asp. Application deadline is March 15th, 2015.
· 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.collegeboard.org/pay