 |
The Education Alliance |
 |
|
|
||
Preparing for CollegeDownload a printable version of this guide here.
Appendix A How to Select Your Courses: Create a Solid Academic Portfolio I. PurposeThe purpose of this document is to assist and inform parents of home schooled high school students about important high school and college preparatory information they need to know. Sometimes parents don’t even they realize they don’t know something important until it is too late. This document will hopefully remedy much of that. II. Recommended High School ClassesJust as employers want workers who have certain skills, most colleges want students who have taken certain courses (and done well in them). Here are some suggested classes. They are divided in three categories – General High School, General College Prep and Rigorous College Prep. General High School is for students planning to go directly into the workplace. General College Prep is for college-bound students – this plan provides a solid foundation upon which to build. Rigorous College Prep is for those students considering applying to a highly selective college. A. General High School (not college-bound)Subject Suggested Credits Possible Courses English 4 credits Composition, American Lit, British Lit, World Lit, Rhetoric, Creative Writing, Speech/Communication, Journalism (Courses should stress grammar, vocabulary and analyzing literature.) Math 4 credits Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, General Math, Consumer Math, Business Math, Accounting History 3 credits World History, American History, American Government Science 3 credits Physical Science, General Science, Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics Foreign Language 2-3 credits French, Spanish, Latin, German, Russian, etc. (2 years same language preferred) Physical Education 1-2 credits Many options available Fine Arts 1-2 credits Art, Music, Drama, Photography, etc. Electives 3-5 credits Practical Arts, Life Skills, Home Economics, Bible, Computer Skills, etc. Total Credits: 19-23 credits B. General College PrepSubject Suggested Credits Possible Courses English 4 credits Composition, American Lit, British Lit, World Lit, Rhetoric, Creative Writing, Speech/Communication, Journalism, Debate; also consider AP courses Math 4+ credits Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, AP Calculus History 3-4 credits ESSENTIALS: World History, American History, American Government. CONSIDER: Economics, Geography, Constitutional Law and AP courses Science 3-4 credits Physical Science, General Science, Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. CONSIDER: AP courses Foreign Language 2-4 credits French, Spanish, Latin, German, Russian, etc. (2 years same language preferred) Physical Education 1-2 credits Many options available Fine Arts 1-2 credits Art, Music, Drama, Photography, etc. Electives 5 credits Practical Arts, Life Skills, Home Economics, Bible, Computer Skills, etc. Total Credits: 23-27 credits C. Rigorous College PrepSubject Suggested Credits Possible Courses English 4+ credits Composition, American Lit, British Lit, World Lit, Rhetoric, Creative Writing, Speech/Communication, Journalism, Debate; AP courses strongly recommended Math 4+ credits Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, AP Calculus. CONSIDER: Statistics, Accounting, etc. History 4+ credits ESSENTIALS: World History, American History, American Government. CONSIDER: Economics, Geography, Sociology, Political Science, Constitutional Law, etc; AP courses strongly recommended Science 4+ credits Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy, Microbiology; AP courses strongly recommended Foreign Language 3-4 credits French, Spanish, Latin, German, Russian, etc. (2 years same language preferred) Physical Education 1-2 credits Many options available Fine Arts 1-2 credits Art, Music, Drama, Photography, etc. Electives 5 credits Practical Arts, Life Skills, Home Economics, Bible, Computer Skills, etc. Total Credits: 26-30 credits D. AP Course Designation RequirementsThrough AP courses you enter a universe of knowledge that might otherwise remain unexplored in high school; through AP Exams, you have the opportunity to earn credit or advanced standing at most of the nation’s colleges and universities. With 37 courses and exams across 22 subject areas, AP offers something for everyone. The cost is $86 per exam. For more information about the AP program, please visit www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html. The AP requirements have been modified to require all providers of AP courses (teachers, home school parents, independent learners) to submit a course audit form and syllabus to AP Central for approval in order to designate it on the high school transcript as an AP course. The Education Alliance cannot do this. You must contact AP Central yourself. To create an account for submission of these documents, go to the AP Central website at http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/Controller.jpf or call 877-274-3570 for additional information. E. Determination of GradesTraditional General Terms That Can Be Used To Grading Symbol Meaning Describe Achievement Excellent Exceptional, thorough, complete mastery, creative use of A Outstanding elements, independent, insightful, total accuracy, Superior Achievement discerning, able to instruct others Commendable Well-prepared, competent, efficient, meritable, qualified, B Good Achievement desirable, approved, suitable Acceptable Ordinary, commonplace, sufficient, normal, enough, C Adequate Achievement standard, regular, typical, expected amount, moderate Minimal Mediocre, fair, tolerable, passable, barely, smallest amount, D Poor Achievement least possible, inadequate, inefficient, underachievement Failure Inability to master, elements unlearned, dependent, lacking F Unacceptable understanding, ineffective, slow, passive Little or No Achievement Although there are no legal requirements to graduate from a home school high school, a complete list of courses taken in grades 9-12 along with semester grades (letter grades not percentages) will be required in order to graduate with many of the support groups state-wide including The Education Alliance and will certainly be required when applying for college. You may also want to begin recording all extra curricular activities such as clubs, sports, awards, community service, etc, to submit with your transcript to college. Many colleges not only want to see that your child succeeded in academics, but also want to see that your child is well-rounded. For a donation of any amount, the Education Alliance will prepare a transcript for your child. Please visit our website at www.arkansashomeschool.org for more details. You may also find transcript templates on the Web that you can complete at home. Please note that some colleges require the transcript to come from a third party with a school seal and in an unopened envelope. The Education Alliance can help with that. F. Determination of High School CreditsConventional schools assign credits on the basis of the Carnegie unit – a time measurement based on the formula: 36 weeks x 5 sessions of 45-50 minutes per week. School administrators tend to assume that the 135-150 hours of classroom instruction will generate another 65-150 hours in outside preparation (home work, required reading, research, study for tests, etc.) Thus, a Carnegie unit usually entails a minimum of 200 hours of work. The Carnegie unit formula definitely needs wise implementation and adjustment by the home-schooling parent since tutorial education is so different from the conventional classroom in its time requirements. For example, it may well be that your son/daughter is able to complete the assignments in a geometry textbook in a four-month period even though the book was designed for a year’s course in a conventional high school. In this case, you would not total your child’s time. You would rather declare the contents of the course the equivalent of the year and assign the Carnegie unit regardless of the time your child spent. One further note – it is extremely rare for a conventional classroom teacher to complete 100% of the text in a given year’s course. Therefore, it is safe to assume that 80% coverage of a textbook normally used for a year constitutes the equivalent of a Carnegie unit. One other rule of thumb should be applied here. Schools usually assign “academic” subjects such as English, math, science, history, etc. one unit of credit per year while they designate “non-academic” subjects like home economics, physical education, music, art, etc, a half unit for the same period of time. The reason for the difference is that the “non-academic” areas, much of the classroom time is devoted to practicing skills rather than receiving additional instruction. The Education Alliance adheres to this rule of thumb when issuing transcripts. III. Stay on Top of Dates and DeadlinesWithout regular announcements from a guidance office, it’s up to you to keep track of critical dates and deadlines relating to things like college admission, SAT registration deadlines, ACT registration deadlines, and/or AP exams. The Education Alliance has placed information below we believe to be helpful, but it is in no way a complete list of everything that needs to be done or known. A. 2009-2010 PSAT Test Dates and InformationIn 2009, high schools may administer the PSAT/NMSQT on Wednesday, October 14, 2009, or Saturday, October 17. PSAT/NMSQT stands for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. It’s a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT Reasoning Test. It also gives you a chance to enter National Merit Scholarship Corporation scholarship programs. The test is given during the 11th grade year. The cost to take the test is $13 and the home school code is 940499. NOTE: Schools sometimes charge an additional fee to cover administrative costs. If you would like to take the PSAT/NMSQT, contact a local public or independent high school counselor or principal to make arrangements find out about registering for the test, paying the test fees and learning the correct date, time and location that your school will give the test in October. Also, contact the guidance office for a copy of the Official Student Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT to help you prepare before test day. Your score report is sent directly to your home address. B. 2009-2010 SAT Test Dates and Registration DeadlinesTest Date U.S. Registration Deadline International Registration Deadline October 10, 2009 September 9, 2009 (regular) August 19, 2009 (regular) September 23, 2009 (late) September 9, 2009 (late) November 7, 2009 October 2, 2009 (regular) September 16, 2009 (regular) October 15, 2009 (late) October 1, 2009 (late) December 5, 2009 October 31, 2009 (regular) October 14, 2009 (regular) November 12, 2009 (late) October 30, 2009 (late) January 23, 2010 December 16, 2009 (regular) December 2, 2009 (regular) December 30, 2009 (late) December 15, 2009 (late) March 13, 2010 February 5, 2010 (regular) N/A February 18, 2010 (late) N/A May 1, 2010 March 26, 2010 (regular) March 10, 2010 (regular) April 8, 2010 (late) March 25, 2010 (late) June 5, 2010 April 30, 2010 (regular) April 14, 2010 (regular) May 13, 2010 (late) April 29, 2010 (late) The cost to take the test is $45.00 and the home school code is 97000. For more information about the SAT, please visit www.collegeboard.com or call 609-771-7600. (There are also sample/practice tests available on this site.) C. 2009-2010 ACT Test Dates and Registration DeadlinesTest Date Registration Deadline (Late Fee Required) September 12, 2009* August 7, 2009 August 8 - 21, 2009 October 24, 2009 September 18, 2009 September 9 – October 2, 2009 December 12, 2009 November 6, 2009 November 7 – 20, 2009 February 6, 2010 January 5, 2010 January 6 – 15, 2010 April 10, 2010 March 5, 2010 March 6 – 19, 2010 June 12, 2010 May 7, 2010 May 8 – 21, 2010 * The September 2009 test date is offered only within the 50 United States and D.C. The cost to take the test is $32 and the home school code is 969-999. For more information, please visit www.act.org or call 319-337-1270. (There are also sample/practice tests available on this site.) IV. The CLEP ProgramThe College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) gives you the opportunity to receive college credit for what you already know by earning qualifying scores on any of 34 examinations. The cost of a CLEP exam is $72, a fraction of the tuition and fees for the corresponding course. It allows you to skip general introductory courses and move on to more advanced classes or explore new and challenging academic areas. For more information about the CLEP Program, visit www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html. V. ACTION PLAN: HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN (9th Grade)A. Plan for the Year Ahead
B. Learn about Colleges
C. Stay Focused
VI. ACTION PLAN: HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE (10th Grade)A. Plan for the Year Ahead • Meet with your parents to discuss your college plans. Review your schedule to make sure you’re enrolled in challenging classes that will help you prepare for college. Colleges prefer four years of English, history, math, science and a foreign language. • Keep your grades up. They qualify you for scholarships as well as admission into college. • Go to http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/index.jsp to find out the required courses and tests of colleges that you might be interested in attending. • Maintain a calendar with important dates and deadlines. • Get more involved with extracurricular activities. Keep a list of all of your activities and volunteer experiences. You’ll need this to compile a resume later. • Go to college fairs in your area. • Start researching potential careers. Talking to people who work in these fields is especially helpful. • Compile a list of schools that interest you. Consider things like area of study, strength of department, distance from your hometown and campus size. B. Consider Taking the PSAT/NMSQT • Sign up for the PSAT/NMSQT (see IIIA above), which is given in October. This is a practice year, but your test scores on the PSAT taken during your junior year can qualify you for a National Merit Scholarship. Get free online practice at http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/prep.html. • If you’re taking the PSAT/NMSQT, check ‘yes’ on the test for the Student Search Service. This is a free information service for students who take the PSAT/NMSQT, SAT Test or AP Program Exams to let colleges, universities and scholarship programs know you are interested in hearing from them and to get educational and financial aid information from colleges, universities and scholarship programs. For more information about this service, please visit http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/reg/sss.html. C. Prepare for Tests • Use the access code on your PSAT/NMSQT score report to sign in to “My College QuickStart” at http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/quickstart.html. With this personalized planning kit, you can prepare for the SAT using a study plan based on your PSAT/NMSQT results and explore lists of suggested colleges, majors and careers. D. Learn about Colleges • Learn about college costs and how financial aid works. See Appendixes B and C. • Use the College Savings Calculator at http://apps.collegeboard.com/fincalc/college_savings.jsp to see how much money you’ll need for college, whether you’re on the right track to save enough, and what you need to reach your goal. Talk to your parents about financing college. If you’ve not already done so, create a plan of action and start saving. • Find out about college firsthand from college friends who are home for the holidays. • Request or download a real application from a university so you can get a feel for admission requirements. E. Stay Focused • Find out about AP and dual enrollment courses in which you can earn college credit while still in high school. See II D above regarding AP courses. Contact your local community college regarding dual enrollment. • Study for May AP exams, if that is the route you choose. Get free AP preparation. VII. ACTION PLAN: HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR (11th Grade) A. Take the PSAT/NMSQT • Sign up early for the PSAT/NMSQT, which is given in October. Your test scores on this test can qualify you for a National Merit Scholarship. Get free online practice at http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/prep.html. B. Start Your College Search • Start with you: Make lists of your abilities, preferences and personal qualities. List things you may want to study and do in college. • Jumpstart your college planning by reading about majors and careers at http://www.collegeboard.com/student/csearch/majors_careers/. • Narrow down your school choices. Start an in-depth school research. Consider majors, housing options, financial aid and scholarship availability, tuition costs and admission requirements. • Use College Search at http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/index.jsp to find colleges with the right characteristics. • Begin campus visits. Talk to admissions representatives as well as real students. • Begin making a list of deadlines for things such as financial aid, admissions and scholarships. C. Start Thinking about Financial Aid • Begin searching for scholarships and grants. You can search online or call colleges you are interested in attending. See also Appendixes D, E and F. • Write your scholarship essays and get them critiqued and proofread by an adult. D. Plan Your Test Schedule • Use the information in section III to schedule taking the ACT and/or the SAT depending on what college(s) you are interested in attending and which test they require. You may take these tests multiple times. E. Explore Colleges • Start visiting local colleges: large, small, public and private. Get a feel for what works for you. Take campus tours and, at colleges you are serious about attending, schedule interviews with admissions counselors. See Appendix G for a Campus Visit Checklist. • Develop a list of colleges that interest you. Begin narrowing the list to those you are seriously considering. F. Summer Momentum • Continue visiting college campuses taking tours and scheduling interviews. See Appendix G for a Campus Visit Checklist. • Request applications from colleges to which you will apply. Check important dates; some universities have early dates or rolling admissions. Please visit www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/the-application/23626.html and www.collegeboard.com/student/pay/scholarships-and-aid/23642.html for a basic idea of the applications timeline. • Find a volunteer position, apprenticeship, internship, part-time job or job-shadowing opportunity in your field of interest. • Compile a resume. See Appendix H for more information on this. VIII. ACTION PLAN: HIGH SCHOOL SENOR (12th Grade) A. Pulling Your Applications Together • Narrow your list of colleges to between 5 and 10 and review it with your parents. Get an application and financial aid info from each. Visit as many as possible. • Make a master calendar and note: 1. Test dates, fees and deadlines 2. College application due dates 3. Required financial aid applications and their deadlines 4. Recommendations, transcripts, and other necessary materials • Get letters of recommendation the first few weeks of school. Choose teachers outside the home, employers, coaches, anyone who knows your character and your abilities well. No family members or family friends. Give each person your resume, examples of your work, a stamped/addressed white envelope, and any required forms. For more information please visit http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/the-application/119.html. • Write application essays and ask relatives and friends to read first drafts. Proofread everything – twice. For more information please visit http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/essay-skills/111.html. B. Applying Early Action or Early Decision? • November 1: For early admissions, colleges may require test scores and applications in early November. For more information please visit http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/the-application/104.html. • Ask if your college offers an early estimate of financial aid eligibility. C. Get Financial Aid Info • Talk to your parents and research the possibility of doing a CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE. For more information please visit http://www.collegeboard.com/student/pay/scholarships-and-aid/8374.html. • Most regular applications are due between January 1 and February 15. Keep copies of everything you send to colleges. • Send your transcript to colleges. Either your parents can make one for you or you can request one from the Education Alliance at www.arkansashomeschool.org. • Contact colleges to make sure they’ve received all application materials. D. Financial Aid: Apply Early. Apply Right. • You and your family should save this year’s pay stubs to estimate income on aid forms that you’ll file in the spring of your senior year. • Submit your FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible. Men 18 or older must register for the selective service to receive federal financial aid. • Many priority financial aid deadlines fall in February. To get the most attractive award package, apply by the priority date. Keep copies of everything you send. E. When the Letters Start Rolling In • You should get acceptance letters and financial aid offers by mid-April. • Go to http://apps.collegeboard.com/fincalc/compare_aid.jsp to compare awards from different colleges. Questions? Talk to financial aid officers. Not enough aid? Ask if other financing plans are available. • If you haven’t already, visit your final college before accepting. F. May 1: Making Your Final Choice • You must tell every college of your acceptance or rejection of offers of admission or financial aid by May 1. Send a deposit to the college you choose. • Wait-listed? For more information, please visit http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/letters-are-in/124.html. • Check on housing. Many schools begin housing assignments in May. G. Next Steps • Send a final transcript to your college. • Start preparing for the year ahead! Appendix A How to Select Your Courses Create a Solid Academic Portfolio A course schedule may seem like a random selection of classes to you, but college admissions officers see it as the blueprint of your high school education. They’re looking for a solid foundation of learning that you can build on in college. Take at least five solid academic classes every semester. The following subjects and classes are standard fare for success in high school and beyond, whether you plan to attend a 4-year, 2-year or technical school. English Take English every year. Traditional courses, such as American and English Literature, help you improve your writing skills, reading comprehension and vocabulary. Math You need algebra and geometry to succeed on college entrance exams, in college math classes, and in most careers. Take them early on and you’ll be able to enroll in advanced science and math in high school – and you show colleges you’re ready for higher-level work. Science Science teaches you to think analytically and apply theories to reality. Laboratory classes let you test what you’ve learned through hands-on work. Six semesters are recommended. History Understand local and world events that are happening now by studying the culture and history that has shaped them. Social sciences round out your core curriculum. Foreign Languages Solid foreign language study shows colleges you’re willing to stretch beyond the basics. Many colleges require at least two years of foreign language study and some prefer more. The Arts Research indicates that students who participate in the arts often do better in school and on standardized tests. The arts help you recognize patterns, discern differences and similarities, and exercise your mind in unique ways, oftentimes outside of a traditional classroom setting. Computer Science More and more college courses and jobs require at least a basic knowledge of computers. Computer skills also can help you do research and schoolwork better and faster. Appendix B 2008-2009 College Costs Keep Rising Prices in Perspective There’s no escaping the fact that college costs are rising. According to recently released reports from the College Board, most students and their families can expect to pay, on average, from $95 to $1,404 more than last year for this year’s tuition and fees, depending on the type of college. There’s good news, though. There is more than $130 billion in financial aid available. Despite all of these college cost increases, a college education remains an affordable choice for most families. Although some of the college price tags you hear about can be quite daunting - $30,000 or more for yearly tuition and fees – most colleges are more affordable than you may think. For example, did you know that about 56 percent of students attend four-year schools with annual tuition and fees below $9,000? After grants are taken into consideration, the net price the average undergraduate pays for a college education is significantly lower than the published tuition and fees. Remember too, other forms of financial aid will further reduce the amount your family will actually pay. FYI - • The average cost for a private four-year college is $23,712 (up 6.3 percent from last year) • The average cost for a public four-year college is $6,185 (up 6.6 percent from last year). • The average cost for a public two-year college is $2,361 (up 4.2 percent from last year). • The average surcharge for full-time out-of-state students at public four-year institutions is $10,455. • According to a 2007 study, Education Pays, people with a bachelor’s degree earn over 60 percent more than those with only a high school diploma. Appendix C How Financial Aid Works Financial aid is intended to make up the difference between what your family can afford to pay and what college costs. Over half of the students currently enrolled in college receive some sort of financial aid to help pay college costs. Who Decides How Much My Family Is Able to Contribute? The amount your family is able to contribute is frequently referred to as the Expected Family Contribution or EFC. The figure is determined by whoever is awarding the aid – usually the federal government or individual colleges and universities. The federal government and financial aid offices use need formulas that analyze your family’s financial circumstances (things like income, assets and family size) and compare them proportionally with other families’ financial circumstances. Grants and Scholarships Also called gift aid, grants don’t have to be repaid and you don’t need to work to earn them. Grant aid comes from federal and state governments and from individual colleges. Scholarships are usually awarded based on merit. Loans Most financial aid comes in the form of loans (aid that must be repaid). Most loans that are awarded based on financial need are low-interest loans sponsored by the federal government. These loans are subsidized by the government so no interest accrues until you begin repayment after you graduate. Work Student employment and work-study aid helps students pay for education costs such as books, supplies, and personal expenses. Work-study is a federal program which provides students with part-time employment to help meet their financial needs and gives them work experience while serving their campuses and surrounding communities. Appendix D Certain Degrees Can Make Your Loans Disappear If you get a certificate or diploma in certain high-demand technical fields, the state of Arkansas will help take the load off. The Arkansas Technical Careers Student Loan Forgiveness Program can give graduates up to $2,500 a year for four years toward the repayment of their student loans. In order to apply for the program you must: • Be a citizen or permanent resident alien of the United States • Have attended and graduated from a qualified post-secondary institution in the state of Arkansas with a degree or certificate in manufacturing, computer/information technology or biomedical/biotechnology. • Have filed the FAFSA and received a student loan while in college • Have filled out an “Intent to Apply” form for the program once you declared your major. Do it as soon as possible because funds are limited. • Work in-state in your field of study after you graduate. You must work one year, full-time, for each year of loan forgiveness you receive. Students can apply for loan forgiveness within six months of graduating. For application forms, a list of qualified schools and other important information, visit Dwe.arkansas.gov/LoanForgiveness/atcslfp.htm. Appendix E Scholarships and Grants Can Ease Your Way into College With the right scholarships and grants, your education can be free, or at least a lot less expensive. With college prices going up, more and more students are applying for free money, which can really stiffen the competition. While the Arkansas Department of Higher Education still wants students to apply for its scholarships, it also suggests that you look for other sources of help, too. With just a little effort, you can be well on the road to a more affordable education. Academic Challenge Scholarship – This scholarship awards nearly $12,000 toward earning a bachelor’s degree for graduating high school seniors who complete the college preparatory core curriculum, have the required grade point average in those courses, achieve a 19 on the ACT and demonstrate financial need. For more information, please visit http://www.adhe.edu/challenge/. Arkansas Health Education Grant Program – This grant is open to students seeking professional training in chiropractic medicine, dentistry, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine and veterinary medicine to allow them to attend out-of-state institutions. For more information, please visit http://www.arkansashighered.com/arheg.html. Governor’s Scholarship Program – This scholarship provides up to $4,000 annually for graduating high school seniors based on academic achievement, test scores and leadership. The Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship is available for those who score 32 on the ACT or 1410 on the SAT and have a 3.50 academic grade point average, or for National Merit Finalists or National Achievement Scholars. It pays tuition, mandatory fees, room and board up to $10,000 per year. For more information, please visit http://gs.adhe.edu/. Law Enforcement Officers’ Dependents Scholarship Program – This scholarship pays tuition, fees, and room at any public college, university or technical institute in Arkansas for dependents of state law enforcement officers, some Highway and Transportation Department employees, and other public employees who were killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. For more information, please visit http://www.arkansashighered.com/lawenforcement.html. Military Dependents Scholarship – This scholarship program waives tuition, fees, room and board at any public college, university or technical institute in Arkansas for dependents and spouses of Arkansans who were killed or missing in action, prisoners of war, or meet certain criteria for disability. For more information, please visit http://www.arkansashighered.com/miakia.html. Minority Teachers Scholarship – Up to $5,000 annually is available for African-American, Asian-American, Native American and Hispanic college juniors and seniors working toward teacher certification. Recipients must teach three to five years in Arkansas to receive loan forgiveness. For more information, please visit http://www.arkansashighered.com/mteachers.html. Minority Masters Fellows Program – offers forgivable loans to African-American, Asian-American, Native American, and Hispanic college students entering a masters program in education in a field other than administration, or in the fifth year of a five year teacher licensure program. For more information, please visit http://www.arkansashighered.com/mmasters.html. Higher Education Opportunities Grant (GO! Opportunities Grant) - provides $1000 grants to full-time and $500 grants to part-time students based on financial need. Students must have graduated from an Arkansas high school or completed the General Educational Development (GED) Tests in Arkansas after December 31, 2006. Students also must apply within one year of high school graduation, or successful completion the GED Tests (GED recipients must be between the ages of 16 to 18 years old). Applicants complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/) and the GO! Opportunities Grant Application (http://heog.adhe.edu/). State Teacher Assistance Resource (STAR) Program - offers forgivable loans OR loan repayment grants to current or future educators teaching in a subject and/or geographic shortage area in an Arkansas public school. STAR Loans are for future teachers seeking an education degree leading to an initial licensure. STAR Repayment Grants are for current teachers who did not receive a STAR Loan. For more information, please visit http://www.adhe.edu/star.html. Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program - designed to allow undergraduate students to conduct in-depth research projects in their specific fields of study with the assistance of faculty mentors. For more information please visit http://www.arkansashighered.com/surf/surf.htm. Teacher Opportunity Program – offers forgivable loans OR reimbursement grants to current Arkansas teachers seeking to further their education. TOP Loans provide assistance with educational expenses and require school district nomination and matching funds. TOP Loan recipients must be seeking an additional license in a subject shortage area, as determined by the Arkansas Department of Education. TOP Reimbursement Grants are available for teachers whose school districts do not participate in the TOP Loan program. For more information please visit http://www.arkansashighered.com/TOP.html. Workforce Improvement Grant - awards up to $2000 annually to students at least 24 years old based on financial need. Students apply using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and awards are made by the institution the student attends. Students may be enrolled part time. For more information please visit http://www.arkansashighered.com/TOP.html. R. Preston Woodruff Jr. Scholarship – Awarded to 20 students annually, this scholarship is provided by the Arkansas Student Loan Authority. Though the awards are for one year, one lucky student will get a four-year renewable scholarship. For more information please visit http://www.asla.info/collegeplanning/woodruffscholarship.aspx. Appendix F Online Resources When you Google “scholarships”, more than 36 million results pop up! Read this first to make your search less hectic. • Look at the heavy-hitters. Many times, companies and franchises offer major scholarships. Check out Fortune 500 companies too – they want the best and brightest minds to join their teams, and many times that equals paying for their education. Hot companies: Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola and Target, to name a few. • Do some local legwork. Businesses around your area might have scholarships specifically for graduating high school seniors in your city. When you’re out shopping, stopping by your bank or running errand for Mom, take a few extra minutes and ask if the business provides any scholarship opportunities. Hot spots: banks and car dealerships. • Go up the family tree. Sometimes the companies that your parents work for offer special scholarships for the children of their employees. Get your mom and dad to ask around the office for you. • Be wary of websites. When you start looking at listings, make sure you’re checking out a reputable source, and remember – real scholarship applications don’t have fees attached! Below are some popular sites: www.fafsa.ed.gov Definitely show your parents this site. They can apply for federal financial aid online, calculate their Expected Family Contribution and check the status of their application. www.asla.info This is the official site of the Arkansas Student Loan Authority. Here you can read about loans, search for scholarships and find helpful links. www.arcf.org The Arkansas Community Foundation website has a listing of scholarships that are only available for students graduating from certain Arkansas high schools. www.fundmyfuture.info Financial resources to fund critical career needs in Arkansas. www.finaid.org The smart student guide to financial aid. www.fastweb.com Claims to be the largest and most complete source of scholarships available. www.theoldschool.org The Financial Aid Resource Center gives plenty of helpful hints on finding cash for school. There’s also a loan payment calculator and college cost calculator to see how the numbers add up. www.800headstart.com This site boasts the largest private-sector scholarship database in the world. Plus, it promises not to sell your private data to other companies. www.careersandcolleges.com Enter your info into this site, and get an instant list of scholarships that match your qualifications. www.estudentloan.com Compare loans, apply online and much more on this website. www.collegenet.com This site provides more than 1,500 customized online admissions applications built for college and university programs. When applying to more than one program, you save yourself extra typing because common data automatically travels from form to form. http://apps.collegeboard.com/cbsearch_ss/welcome.jsp Complete the brief questionnaire and Scholarship Search will find potential opportunities from our database of more than 2,300 sources of college funding, totaling nearly $3 BILLION in available aid! http://www.collegeanswer.com/index.jsp Appendix G Campus Visit Checklist Here are things you shouldn’t miss while visiting a college. Take a look at this list before planning campus trips to make sure you allow enough time on each campus to get a sense of what the school – and the life of its students – is really like. • Take a campus tour. • Have an interview with an admissions officer. • Get business cards and names of people you meet for future contacts. • Pick up financial aid forms. • Participate in a group information session at the admissions office. • Sit in on a class of a subject that interests you. • Talk to a professor in your chosen major or in a subject that interests you. • Talk to coaches of sports in which you might participate. • Talk to a student or counselor in the career center. • Spend the night in a dorm. • Read the student newspaper. • Try to find other student publications – department newsletters, alternative newspapers, literary reviews. • Scan bulletin boards to see what day-to-day student life is like. • Eat in the cafeteria. • Ask students why they chose the college. • Wander around the campus by yourself. • Read for a little while in the library and see what it’s like. • Search for your favorite book in the library. • Ask students what they hate about the college. • Ask students what they love about the college. • Browse in the college bookstore. • Walk or drive around the community surrounding the campus. • Ask students what they do on weekends. • Listen to the college’s radio station. • Try to see a dorm that you didn’t see on the tour. • Imagine yourself attending this college for four years. Appendix H Creating an Extra-Ordinary Resume Whether you’re looking for a job or applying for college, you’re going to need a resume. Though online templates can create average resumes, truly exceptional ones – those that land jobs and get students into their dream schools – take work, effort and time. To help, we’ve compiled a low-stress set of guidelines to help you craft a winning resume. What is a resume, anyway? In a nutshell, it’s a one- to two-page document that outlines your specific skills and talents in an easy-to-read way that exhibits your qualifications. This little piece of paper is your key to opportunity. Your resume can get your application that all-important second look or land you the interview. Not all resumes are created equal. The first thing a career coach will tell you is that your resume should be tailored to fit each application and its requirements. What most people don’t mention is that there are different resumes for different things. For example, a resume you submit with college or scholarship applications is considerably different than one you would give to a potential employer. Below are some resume writing tips for both types. Brainstorm Every good project begins with a plan. Take some time and make a thorough list of your skills, qualification, experience and extracurricular activities. Start Sleuthing Find out all you can about your school or company. Get information about the institution as a whole, its history and the type of person it wants to add to its team. For Colleges: Check out admission requirements, the department you’re interested in and notable professors in your field For Companies: Get details about the open position to become a better candidate. Building the Framework Here’s where academic and professional resumes begin to really differ. It’s important to format your resume in a way that fits the position and exhibits your individual experiences and skills. For Colleges: Most schools are looking for dedicated, multifaceted students, so categories that demonstrate your leadership experience, community service and other extracurricular activities are going to be more important to include than your employment history. Academic resumes should be no longer than two pages. For Companies: Listing your previous employment experience is vital, along with computer and other job-specific skills. Limit professional resumes to one page. The Main Ingredients 1. Personal Information Include your contact information: your full name, postal and e-mail addresses, and telephone number. Distinguish your name from the rest of your document by bolding it or slightly increasing its size. 2. Objective Statement This is only necessary when you’re looking for a job. For Companies: This is just a sentence or two explaining your interest in the position you’re seeking. Be specific – say “clerical assistant for Acxiom” rather than “secretary for a company” for example. 3. Education This is very important on any application. List items in reverse chronological order from your highest degree back through high school. Include any special honors you received like scholarships. For Colleges: Look closely at what your school wants on your resume. Include your GPA if it’s above a 3.25, your college entrance exam scores, any awards or honors you’ve received, and advanced placement classes you’ve taken – including your scores. 4. Experience Including experience on an academic resume is optional, but it’s absolutely necessary when seeking employment. Begin with your most recent employment. If you have more than one job, put the one you acquired most recently first. List your title, the company name, the location and dates of your employment. Give a brief description of your duties for each job and emphasize specific, relevant skills and achievements. If you don’t have much experience yet, try using categories you would find on an academic resume such as “leadership” and “community service”. 5. Community Service and Involvement Many colleges and companies are interested in compassionate, involved people. Include all your volunteerism and participation in extracurricular activities here. For Colleges: In order to be competitive for admission, having this category is a must. 6. References Sources differ on this. Some suggest leaving them off entirely; others say to list the references or state that “references are available upon request”. Check with your parents for a format that works for you. The Importance of Order On average, it takes an admissions officer or potential employer 30 seconds to look over a resume. To make your qualifications stand out, list the most important information first so it definitely gets seen. Consistency is Key Exceptional resumes look professional and are formatted consistently. No matter how you list your information, follow the same format for every category. Choose one easy-to-read font for the entire document, and keep it either 10-point or 12-point. Avoid page borders and other distracting decorations. Last updated: 12/18/2009 |
| |
|
Site layout and design by David Cox
|
||