Demystifying College Admissions

1. Demystifying College Admissions Clark County School District Las Vegas, NV

2. Calendar for Senior Students • CCSD Moving On – College and Career Transitional Planning Guide • See Handout

3. College Admissions Process • Finding a college that fits • Request college information • Complete application • College Entrance Exams • Campus visit • College Comparison Worksheet

4. Finding a College That Fits • Know Yourself Goals • Likes & Dislikes • Abilities • Resources • Other Considerations • Size • Type • Location • Affordability • Programs/Degrees

5. College Information • College websites • (Insert school name here) College and Career Center • Located (insert info here)

6. Web Resources • CCSD Guidance and Counseling Website ~http://ccsd.net/cpd/guidance/guidance.html • Nevada Career Information System ~http://nvcis.intocareers.org • User name: ncis • Password: nevada • College Searches • www.princetonreview.com • www.collegeboard.com (student page)

11. 2009 College Fair Plus • Cashmen Center • October 27-28, 2009 • 5:00 – 8:00 pm • Approximately 150 colleges participating • Breakout sessions • Education Funding Consultants, Scholarship Search, NCAA Student Athletes • http://ccsd.net/collegefair/

12. Nevada Colleges/Universities( See - CCSD College Planning & Scholarship Handbook) • University of Nevada, Las Vegas • University of Nevada, Reno • Nevada State College • Sierra Nevada College • Community Colleges • CSN • Great Basin College, Truckee Meadows CC, Western Nevada College

13. UNLV/UNR Admissions Requirements • 3.0 G.P.A – in core classes • 4 credits English • 3 credits math – Algebra or higher • 3 credits social science • 3 credits science – at least 2 lab science courses • Alternate admission requirements are available – speak to your UNLV/UNR rep.

14. Nevada State College Admission Requirements • 2.0 G.P.A • 4 credits English • 3 credits math – at least 2 Algebra or higher • 3 credits social science • 3 credits science – at least 1 lab science course

15. Preparation for College Admissions • Introductory Letters/Email • request catalog, application, financial aid • College Visits • Resume • Letters of Recommendation (at least 2 wk notice) • Essays KEEP COPIES!!

16. College Entrance Exams SAT I • Critical Thinking / Problem Solving • Verbal – average score: 508 • Math – average score: 520 • Writing • Guessing Penalty • Register online at www.collegeboard.com SAT II • Subject Tests • Required by some schools/programs ACT • Content Based • Math / English / Read / Science Reasoning • Optional Writing Test • Average composite score: 21 • Math includes Trig. • No guessing penalty • Register online at www.act.org

17. Student Athletes • Academic Plan • Core Courses • NCAA requirements • Refer to NCAA Quick Reference Guide • Clearinghouse • Register at end of junior year • College entrance exams • Take at end of junior year • Website • www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

18. Financial Aid • Grants • Do not have to pay back • Loans • Must pay back with interest • Work Study • Scholarships • Do not have to pay back

19. Financial Aid Nights • (Insert school information here) • TBA • Community

20. Free Application for Federal Student Aid *FAFSA • FAFSA • Required for any federal financial aid • File form beginning January 1 • Both student and parent needs a PIN • Checklist of information needed to complete FAFSA is in handbook • www.fafsa.ed.gov • FAFSA4caster • http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/

21. Financial Aid – Scholarships • Merit based • Academics • Special talents • Community service • Need based • FAFSA • Competitive • School • Local • National

22. How Can I Get More? • Internet scholarship searches • www.fastweb.com • More internet sites on CCSD Moving On – College & Career Transitional Planning Guide • Be as well rounded as possible • Scholarship committees look at: • GPA • Honors, AP, and IB courses • ACT, SAT I, and SAT II scores • Involvement in clubs, activities, athletics, and community • Work • Family responsibilities

23. Where Do I Start? • Largest scholarships come from the colleges themselves • Be sure to request the scholarship/financial aid applications when you apply • For example, UNLV’s application for all types of scholarships is found on the web • Each school has a specific way to apply – contact the financial aid office at individual schools for information • Be aware of deadlines as they may be different from admission application deadlines

24. Deadlines and Presentation Are Important! • Remember there are hundreds of applicants. • Often the only contact you have with the scholarship committee is your application. • Read those directions! • Don’t be late!

25. Scholarship Summary Sheetshttp://ccsd.net/cpd/guidance/guidance.html *Posted by due dates Due in November • Target All-Around Scholarship (National) Sponsor: Target Amount: To be determined Eligibility: Senior. Transcript. List and describe the volunteer service in which you have participated without pay in your community. Essay – Choose one volunteer experience listed on your application and briefly describe how the experience benefited others. Describe what happened in your life or in the life of your family as a result of your volunteer service experience. Must use Target application form. http://www.target.com. (once on their website, type in keyword: scholarships) Deadline: November 1, 2009 (Received) Current scholarship lists can be found in (insert school info here)

26. Millennium Scholarship • Graduate with a diploma from a Nevada high school. • Complete high school with at least a 3.25 GPA and pass all areas of the Nevada High School Proficiency Exam. • Resident of Nevada for at least two of your high school years. • Core curriculum required (4 English, 4 math [including Alg. II], 3 Social Studies, 3 Science) • Will NOT pay 100% of your college expenses • Website: https://nevadatreasurer.gov/index.html

27. Scholarship Scam Warning! • “This scholarship is guaranteed or your money back.” • “You can’t get this information anywhere else.” • “May I have your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship?” • We’ll do all the work.”

28. It’s All Up To You!!!