College Application Workshop Class of 2021

College Application Workshop Class of 2021

Identify at least 3 schools to which you will apply based on Florida Shines assessments and school research. Understand the application process Goals For This Workshop Coalition and Common Applications SSAR Deadline dates Transcripts Understand your qualifications Create an academic resume Create at least one anchor college essay Financial Matters-Begin your scholarship search!

It starts with YOU Have you completed the Florida Shines Inventories? Do you know what your top areas of career interests are? Do you know which college majors address those interests? Research! Do you know which schools offer those majors? Do you know what type of degree you need for those majors? Have you done a virtual tour of these schools? Do you know the first deadline date for applications? If your answer is no to any of the questions above, then start here. The more you know about yourself, the better choices you can make!

The Hard Facts! SUS Admissions

Private School Admissions

FAFSA Completed? College Application Guide Campus Information Name Address Main Phone Potential Majors 1 2 3 Notes: ProgramContact Registration Deadline: Campus Information Name Address Get Organized! Main Phone Potential Majors 1 2 3 Notes: ProgramContact Registration Deadline: Campus Information Name Address Main Phone Potential Majors 1 2 3 Notes: ProgramContact Registration Deadline: Questions to Ask Admissions Name Number Email Fee Type Amount Application Tuition Housing Parking Meals Date of Application: Date Transcript Requested: Date Process Complete: Admissions Name Number Email Fee Type Amount Application Tuition Housing Parking Meals Date of Application: Date Transcript Requested: Date Process Complete: Admissions Name Number Email Fee Type Amount Application Tuition Housing Parking Meals Date of Application: Date Transcript Requested: Date Process Complete: Communication Log Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/helpwithcollege Jenny Chambers – http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/jenny-chambers

“The Coalition App covers many top colleges and Coalition vs. Common Application universities, but not as many schools as the Common App covers. . The main difference between the Common Application and the Coalition Application is that, as its name suggests, the latter attempts to give lowerresourced and underrepresented students a little more help.” www.veritasprep.com

Student Self-reported Academic Record The SSAR You will need a copy of your transcript to complete accurately Available on Florida Shines or you can request an unofficial copy for yourself from Student Services or Mrs. Peterson

Is it required? NO but check each school (ex. FSU) Should you do it? YES The Academic Resume Benefits Records your academic accomplishments and high school activities in one place, in a logical, understandable format You do not have to “recreate the wheel” every time you fill out an application Use for scholarship applications as well

Sample Academic Resume

There are many sources available online to help you with creating your academic resume. More on Academic Resumes. . . Find one that suits your experiences. https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/c ollege-application

Some schools do NOT require, and won’t read Can be the difference between a YES or NO Should NOT rehash what is in your application and academic record Opportunity to shine and be unique College Essay Have at least one or two essays that can be tweaked EACH SCHOOL MAY HAVE THEIR OWN UNIQUE ESSAYS *The following slide is just for UF essays, but their list is so comprehensive, it may include other schools’ topics too.

University of Florida 2020-2021 Essay Topics Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution. Has there been a time when you've had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs? What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What's the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)? Submit an essay on a topic of your choice. Possible Essay Topics Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

You want to be in the first batch! Deadline Dates Rolling Admissions vs. hard deadline dates This is why you need the ORGANIZING TOOL! (see slide 5)

Apply to the schools you want to attend, and see what happens! Have “the talk” with your parents to understand the realities, and then YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN! FAFSA opens 10/1-be ready-source of grants, loans Financial Matters How am I going to pay for this? Bright Futures opens 10/1-be ready Merit Scholarship offers from schools Athletic Scholarships Scholarship Search Engines (Fastweb, Next magazine) Create NEW EMAIL ADDRESS ! Start NOW ! College Board Opportunity Scholarship and more Local scholarships, district website

Despite what’s going on now, universities will still be accepting students and students will still attend. There is more than one way to get to the Final Thoughts What We Know For Sure university of your choice. You may change your major, and that’s okay. You may transfer to a different school, if necessary, and that’s okay. Our River Ridge counselors, teachers and administration will do everything we can to help you achieve your goals!

[email protected] My Contact Information My office is located in the Media Center, behind the circulation desk. My Google voice number is (727) 859-7457

www.fldoe.org Florida Department of Education www.floridastudents.org Educational Resources www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org Bright Futures https://fafsa.ed.gov/ FAFSA www.collegeboard.org SAT Testing www.act.org ACT Testing Resources www.floridastudentsachieve.org All grade level info for parents www.floridashines.org Career and College Exploration www.findmycollegemajor.org Career and Major Exploration http://www.bls.gov Job outlooks, Florida statistics by occupation www.FloridaNEXT.com College Planning and Scholarships Magazine www.fastweb.com Scholarship search (only one option of many) https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/college-application