Grab A Note Card and Do The Following:

1. Grab A Note Card and Do The Following: Name Date • What do you plan on doing after graduation? • What job would you like to have? • What kind of a degree would you need for your job? • If you are interested in a post-high institution (college, tech, etc), which one(s)? • What would you major in or study? • Have you applied to any post-high institution? If so, which? • Have you taken your ACT? If so, what was your score? • Are you interested in the military? If so, which branch? • How prepared do you feel about life after high school? • Any questions you have about post-high school life, write them on the back of this card, you will turn this in at the end of class.

2. Seniors To Do

3. Agenda • My goal is to cover as much as I can about post-high school planning. • Overload is possible! • Topics include: • Financial Aid • Colleges • ACT • Scholarships • Letters of Recommendation • And More! • If you have any questions as I am talking, write them down on the back of your note card. As I answer your questions, cross them off.

4. FYI • You can take notes as I go, but this is available on my wiki-space. • To get to it, find my webpage on the school district’s website. Then go to High School Information.

5. ACT • www.actstudent.org • Not just for ACT test • Study material, college planning, financial aid, etc • Next test date is Oct. 22: Deadline to register for that date is Sept. 16. • Kadoka will be a test site. • Kadoka vs. Rapid • Cost is $34.00 no writing; $49.50 with writing. • Check with colleges to find out if you need writing; most no • We have fee waivers for those who are Free/Reduce Lunch • Late fee is $21.00 more

6. ACT • Part of admission to many colleges • Check with your college • Also used for class placements. Example • Part of scholarships requirements • SD Opportunity Scholarship requires a 24. • You need your score to fill out applications. • Future Test Dates:

7. What Do You Think Is The Average ACT Score In SD? 21.93

8. Prepare • We have study books available. • Websites • Actstudent.org • SDMyLife • I have done a mini-ACT Prep. You interested? • What else can we do to help you?

9. Financial Aid • A Demonstration

10. Basic Financial Aid Lingo • “Financial Aid”-money to help you pay for college • “Scholarship”-money given to you • “Grant”-money given you do not pay back • “Work Study”-work on campus for money • “Loan”-money you borrow and have to pay back • Make sure you know what kind of loan it is • Make sure you know when they start “charging” you • Make sure you know when you start paying back

11. Scholarships! • Where Do I Find Them? • All OVER! • Books • Internet • Scholarships.com • Fastweb.com • Finaid.org • And more • Binders • Companies/Businesses • Do not pay for these! • If you wonder if they are legit, double check with me or look online.

12. Scholarships! • There are scholarships for all types of things • Hair Color • Ethnic Background • Left-Handed • Hearing Loss • Major • Athletics • Poetry • Music • And much much more

13. Scholarships and KAHS • We make copies of the scholarships that we receive and put them in the junior/senior lounge. • Do not take the last copy! Let me or Mrs. Robinson know so we can make more copies. • Which ones should you apply for? • $500 vs. $1,000 Scholarship • It is YOUR responsibility to look at them and fill them out. We will help you, but not do them. • Keep track of the deadlines!

14. Scholarships Applications • Students have told me once they fill out two of them, they noticed the same questions. • Examples: Name, ACT score, post-high plans, why you want to go into that field, why you need the money, etc • On my wiki are some tips for applications and letters of recommendations. • Read this! • Also on the wiki is an AHAVE (Activities/Honor/Awards/Volunteer/Etc)sheet (Mr. R’s creation).

15. Letters of Recommendations (Briefly) • Do Not use family or friends. • Use teachers, coaches, clergy, principal, counselor, employers, etc. • Give them at least 2 weeks notice. • Give them a copy of what the requirements for the Letter of Recommendation are so they can write it to better fit. • If they don’t know you well, give them a copy of your AHAVE sheet.

16. Two SD State Scholarships • http://www.state.sd.us/dakotacorps/default.html • Almost a free ride! • Grades, classes, and ACT requirements • Must work in a high need career in SD • Deadline is Feb. 1 • http://www.sdbor.edu/OpportunityScholarship/sdos.htm • The Scholar does not have $ • Need Scholar courses, grades, and ACT Score of 24 • Deadline is Sept. 1, 2012 • More can be found online at www.sdbor.edu

17. FAFSA • Free Application for Federal Student Aid • An application to apply for financial aid-Do not pay for this! • http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ • You and parents/guardians need a PIN before you start filling out FAFSA. • http://www.pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/pinindex.jsp • You and parents/guardians need to file taxes before filling this out. • Can start filling out the FAFSA Jan. 1. • Best to get this done ASAP • More information as the year goes on.

18. Colleges Representatives • Throughout the year, they will come to visit with students. • This is a great way to make contact with the colleges and learn more information about them. • Will be listed in the announcements. • Let your teachers know at least one day in advance that you will be missing class. • If you cannot see them (ex: a test) but want to, let us know and we will try to set something up.

19. Example: WyoTech • They will be here tomorrow from 2:30-3:00. • If you want to visit with them, let your teacher know. • The rep knows seniors don’t get out until 2:45ish, so she will be waiting. You don’t need to miss 6th period for this tomorrow. • What if you don’t know anything about the college? • Look online or ask a counselor.

20. College Visits • I highly recommend you visit colleges you are interested in. • Going to the campus and meeting people can make a difference. Some let you sit in a class. • Arrange with the Admissions Office. • Some have specific days for students to come. • You can visit only once that does not count against you. • After arranging with college and parents, let counselor and Susan know you are doing a visit.

21. Out of State Schools • If you are interested in these, talk to their financial aid office and/or admissions office about tuition reduction. • Some states charge their in-state tuition to SD residents-save money 

22. When Do I Apply? • The sooner, the better! • Note most of them have a fee, there might be a “special” • Technical schools have smaller class sizes, so once they reach their number, no more applicants. • I would say by Thanksgiving, but can later. • Think about your ACT scores- want to have these before you apply and before scholarships. • If new ACT score is higher, then can let college know. • SD Public Universities share a common application on www.sdbor.edu

23. Transcript • Has a list of your classes and test scores. • You will need a transcript for your applications. • Ask Susan or a counselor for one. • It might take us a day or two to get to it, so ask way before you need it. • Official transcripts will be signed and stamped • Unofficial transcripts will be printed for you

24. Athletes • Make sure you contact your future coach and college financial aid office about eligibility (clearinghouse). • If you are interested in an athletic scholarship, contact your future coach or athletic department.

25. Military • Military Recruiters will visit as well. • The same information applies for them as the college representatives. • Make sure your ASVAB score is high enough to get in and get a job you want. • If you are interested in the military, visit with a counselor for more additional information.

26. Post High Planning Day • Thursday October 20 at Rapid City • A chance to meet with representatives from • Colleges • Technical Schools • Military Branches • List of possible participating schools can be found at my wiki. Before we go in Oct, you will have to fill out a form on: http://www.sdcollegefairs.com/-more info in Oct.

27. Career Surveys • SD MyLife program has one www.sdmylife.com • Ways for you to find colleges with certain careers. • Two surveys can be found under “Who Am I” at http://apps.sd.gov/applications/LD01DOL/Template/Main.aspx?TemplateID=17&OrphanPage=http://apps.sd.gov/applications/LD55CareerInsite/CustomContent/welcome.aspx

28. “Skeleton” Calendar • An outline of the bare information for your senior year. • Also available on my wiki.

29. Book • TONS of Information • Lets go through it! • KEEP IT!

30. As Always…. • Let us know how we can help you.

31. In the End • On a new note card • Write your name • Write 3 Things You Learned • Write 2 Things You Are Going To Do Now After Listening • Write 1 Question You Still Have Left • Turn in both note cards. I will look through and answer questions individually.