Fridley High School Class of 2012
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to
what lies within us.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson
TIME FOR DECISIONS
Timeline For PlanningSenior Year Guide
Four Year Colleges: Examples ADMISSIONS
◦ Varies by college Upper ½ of class ACT (21+) or SAT
◦ 4 Eng◦ 3 Math (Alg. 2); ◦ 3 Science◦ 3 Social Studies◦ World Language◦ 1 Arts
COSTS◦ State universities: $5,242
R/B: $4,500◦ U of M: $8,263◦ Private: $21,467
R/B: $7,000+◦ +books
• Teacher– $44,010.06
• Accountant– $52,208
• Electrical Engineer– $76,336
• Air Traffic Controller– $123,136
Community CollegesCombined Community/Technical Colleges: examples
• ADMISSIONS– Diploma– GED
• 2-year Associate Degree AND/OR transfer
• COSTS– $3,769 (tuition & fees)
• +room and board, books, supplies
• Dental Hygienist– $63,856
• Paralegal– $44,928
Technical Colleges/Trade Schools: examples• ADMISSIONS
– Diploma– GED
• COSTS– Technical
• $3,769 (tuition & fees)
– Trade• $10,092 (tuition &
fees)
+room and board, books, supplies
• Bookkeeping/ Accounting Clerks– $31,616
• Auto Body Repair– $40,144
• Tool & Die– $45,760
• Legal Secretary– $42,848
• Ship Captains & Mates– $38,896
Military /Employment/Apprentice For information on all branches of the military: www.students.gov -click on “military services” For employment planning and research go to
www.bls.gov/oco www.doleta.gov/jobseekers
Apprenticeship programs are available in more than 200 skilled trades in Minnesota.
Information can be obtained from The Department of Labor and Industry
The average hourly wage for a McDonald’s cashier is $7.02. If working 40 hours a week, the annual salary would be $14,601.
Median hourly wages:◦ Grocery stores $7.90 ◦ Department stores $7.89 ◦ Other general merchandise stores $7.85 ◦ Health and personal care stores $7.68 ◦ Gasoline stations $7.54
Heading directly to work force
Life and career planning◦ Explore his or her life interests and goals; values;
skills Interest inventories Job shadows Research Experiment
Find a good academic fit◦ Finding a college where students share similar
academic abilities and objectives
AN EDUCATED DECISION:
HELPING YOUR CHILD CHOOSE
On-campus college visits- #1 factor in student choice of college
College reps at FHS
On line resources
College Fairs
Choosing a college
Transcript, GPA, class loadDo you have all graduation requirements
College Entrance Exams (ACT / SAT)Essays InterviewsLetters of recommendation
College Admissions: What are they looking for?
Senior Resume…..including
ActivitiesCommunity InvolvementHonors and AwardsSpecial skills and talents
Application Process
Check for deadlines Complete as much as possible Bring to Dean with application fee Check for transcript fee Is early decision right for you? Let Dean know your final decision
Register online at www.ncaaclearinghouse.org
Follow directions for ACT Bring transcript request to main office Check with your Dean if you are considering
college participation
NCAA Guidelines
UNDERSTANDING FINANCIAL AID Financial aid is the money used to help
offset the cost of higher education – from the federal government, state programs, and the college
FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid)◦ Examines your child’s and your income, living
expenses, assets, and savings to calculate how much you and your child can be expected to contribute = EFC (expected family income)
www.fafsa.ed.gov
APPLY EARLY AND COMPARE FINANCIAL AID PACKAGES!
www.getreadyforcollege.org (estimator)
Reciprocity: is the agreement that Minnesota has with Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota to provide reduced tuition to your child if s/he attends a public college in one of these states.
Types of Financial Aid
Grants: awards that do not have to be repaid. It is given to students with the greatest financial need.
Scholarships: awarded based on criteria such as grades, sports, culture, religion, or special talents. Do not have to be repaid.
Work-study: is a part-time job, either on or off campus.
Loans: with low interest rates to help students pay for higher education. MUST be repaid. There are ways to have the loan reduced.
Military service: assistance benefits in exchange for service
Take ACT / SAT or retake if needed
Meet with your Dean
Plan college visits
Send College applications
Senior TO DO List:
Keep up on scholarship opportunities Attend financial aid night Complete FAFSA after January 1 Apply for local scholarships Make final decisions Request final transcripts Spread your wings and fly…..
PREPARING YOUR CHILD (YOURSELF) FOR COLLEGEsimple words of advice Letting go - separating your own
aspirations from those of your child Applying to college is a journey to
independence Let your child make their own decisions
◦ Create opportunities for them to make decisions◦ Advise them, support them, let them make
mistakes, let them go Living skills Credit cards Safety Staying in touch Health - insurance
Resources
Check out the materials in the SSS office on Colleges
MCIS mncis.intocareers.org (MN Career Information System)
www.iseek.org www.mncareers.org www.finaid.org www.fastweb.org
Senior Timelines
Apply for early admission decision, if interested. Research private scholarship sources Request letters of recommendation If you can’t afford the college application fee most
colleges charge, check with your dean about the possibility of fee waiver.
Sign up for ACT test, if needed
October for 12th Graders
ACT $34.00 ACT plus writing$49.50
www.actstudent.org
http://sat.collegeboard.org
ACT TEST DATESTest Date Registration
DeadlineFebruary 11,
2012January 14, 2012
April 14, 2012 March 9, 2012
June 9, 2012 May 12, 2012
Finalize college choices Meet the priority deadline for college
applications
November for 12th Graders
Attend a Financial Aid Workshop Register for a pin number on FAFSA website Complete the FAFSA online
www.fafsa.ed.gov
January for 12th Graders
CREDIT CHECK! Has your student met all graduation requirements?
If you have not applied for admission to a college. DO IT NOW! IT MIGHT NOT BE TOO LATE!
Start looking for summer employment.
March for Seniors
GRADUATION!!! Make sure your official transcript has been
send to the college that you plan to attend. Attend orientation meetings offered by the
college.
May & June for Seniors
Graduation is near… Be prepared and planned Pay attention to details and deadlines
To be successful, the first thing to do is fall in love with your work.
Destiny is not a matter of chance. It is a matter of choice: it is not to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.
The secret of success is making your vocation your vacation.
Good Luck!