Preparing a Comprehensive College and Scholarship Package

Getting your kiddo on board Applying for colleges, and scholarships can

be a pain Consider the difference between merit and

need based offers Discuss the high cost of college

Start preparing your child for real costs/real decisions

Who’s paying for what? What can you and child reasonably afford?

Review basics

Get copy of, and review transcript

Take the ACT and SAT

Be sure SAT and ACT scores are sent to schools

Register with NCAA or NAIA if playing sports

Review with office turn around time for

getting transcripts; consider having a couple

of extra on hand

Create Helpful Numbers Document

High School Info

Stevens High school ACT/SAT ID 421072 CEEB

1200 44th Street RC 57702 394-4051

• Include SAT/ACT scores including individual

subject/writing/scores

Social security numbers Anne 709-xx-xxxx

Common App and college or scholarship login info:

user name and password, i.e., danplan X7XiX8

References Consider references –

Who? Need teacher(s), counselor, community, church

Give lots of time to write letter Provide address/what it’s for/characteristics that

committee or college is looking for Provide SSAE or ask if they need it or review

online method Provide bio: activities, awards, work Send thank you note

Prepare a Student Bio – School activities Include leadership and awards

Cross Country Varsity Team: 9-12 Team Co-Captain, 11, 12, Most Valuable: 11, 12

Co-President of Senior Class: 12 Member of Stevens High School Orchestra 9-

12 Member of All State Orchestra: 9-12 Student Council 9, 11 Debate - 11 School Musical/Drama 9-12

Student bio continuedAcademic Achievements National Merit Scholar semifinalist: 12 Class Rank 15/441 Distinguished AP Scholar: 12 National French Exam

South Dakota – 1st – Level 4 2012 Member of National Honor Society : 11-

12 All State Academic (cross

country/basketball/volleyball): 12

Bio -- non-school activitiesOther Recognition and non-school activities: Boys / Girls State: 11 Junior Leadership Rapid City - 10 Member of Swim/Baseball/Fencing Team Member of Destination Imagination/4H/Rodeo Member Black Hills Suzuki School: 10 years;

completed Book recitals 1-7 Archery Fly fishing group

Community service Use activities that you do not get school

credit for Prepare for and play in Messiah concert

benefit for Children’s Miracle Network Food Bank Habitat for Humanity Reading at Boys Club Feeding the Hungry

Work - include on bio

Work can be unpaid – family obligations Babysitting, chauffeur, practice assistant

Retail/food service/fishing guide Need training/certification? How many hours per week? Work can be fruitful source for essays

Put together a simple table of scholarships and deadlines

Give you ideas about where you want to focus Do not overlook the significant scholarships

colleges offer and their November - January deadlines

Must apply to college first

Sample scholarship table

Scholar-ship

Deadline References Applica-tion

School info Essay? Interview? Notifi-cation

Elks Jan 9To Lodge

2 - counselor

Teacher

On line Transcript/

SAT/ACT

500 word Need based

Before 5/09

BBB 3/20 Nom. From teacher, princ

2 references

On line ACT

transcript

Essay on Integrity in face of adversity

Robert C. Byrd

3/20 online ACT

transcript

The critical and dreaded essay

If it sounds like anyone could have written it, try again

The admissions people have read thousands Avoid clichés and conclusory statements Make it personal – really personal Can use college essay with simple

modifications for scholarships Get someone to review it - edit, and edit

Have more than one essay

What do I want to do in/after college? Truth? How have I dealt with adversity? Describe who has influenced you and why Describe what you bring to the university

community that adds to diversity – think broadly; South Dakota is diverse to the East Coast

Be prepared to modify any of these from one page to one paragraph

Filling out the ApplicationWhat does kid do? Write essays Fill out activities Talk to teacher references Follow up with transcripts at school Follow up with counselor Procrastinate, blame, deflect, fret

What can parent do?

Type or cut and paste basic information Keep track of what you have, need and

dates Get financial information together Sign off on transcript request Get photos of student; digital and print Calculate days/weeks/months/hours issues COPY application and Mail Nag, fret, worry, wait

Top Five Things to Do Now Get applications and essays done

Get familiar with what types of

scholarships are out there and deadlines

Gather student info: awards, hours, honors

Get ACT/SAT scores sent in (or take)

Contact references

Good Luck

Make your own luck Ninety nine percent of life is showing up

Thank you Jane Pfeifle