BRACE

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SENIORS - YOU SHOULD BE DOING

• APPLICATIONS
• ESSAY - FOR APPLICATIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
• RESUME - FOR SCHOOLS AND FOR ANYONE THAT IS WRITING AYOU A RECOMMENDATION
• FINANCIAL AID TIPS

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The College Essay

The college essay is often the most difficult part of an application for admission to a college. To help you get off to a good start, a group of essay reader for a university put together the following "tips" and "hints." These are comments from their admissions staff who actually read your essays and evaluate them in the admission process. They can't guarantee results, but this advice might help you get started.

TOP 15 ESSAY TIPS FROM THE READERS

• The essay is one of the few things that you've got complete control over in the application process, especially by the time you're in your senior year. You've already earned most of your grades; you've already made most of your impressions on teachers; and chances are, you've already found a set of activities you're interested in continuing. So when you write the essay, view it as something more than just a page to fill up with writing. View it as an opportunity to tell the admissions committee about who you are as a person.
  
  Be yourself. If you are funny, write a funny essay; if you are serious, write a serious essay. Don't start reinventing yourself with the essay.
  
  If you're recounting an amusing and light-hearted anecdote from your childhood, it doesn't have to read like a Congressional Act? Make it fun!
  
  Tell us something different from what we'll read on your list of extracurricular activities or transcript.
  
  Take the time to go beyond the obvious. Think about what most students might write in response to the question and then try something a little different.
  
  Don't try to take on too much. Focus on one "most influential person," one event, or one activity. Tackling too much tends to make your essay too watered down or disjointed.
  
  Concentrate on topics of true significance to you. Don't be afraid to reveal yourself in your writing. We want to know who you are and how you think.
  
  Write thoughtfully and from your heart. It'll be clear who believes in what they are saying versus those who are simply saying what they think we want to hear.
  
  Essays should have a thesis that is clear to you and to the reader. Your thesis should indicate where you're going and what you're trying to communicate from the outset.
  
  Don't do a history report. Some background knowledge is okay, but do not re-hash what other authors have already said or written.
  
  Answer each school's essay individually. Recycled "utility essays" come across as impersonal and sanitized. The one exception is an essay written for and submitted to Common Application member schools.
  
  Proofread, proofread, proofread. Nothing says "last-minute essay" like an "are" instead of "our" or a "their" instead of "they're."
  
  Keep it short and to the point.
  
  Limit the number of people from whom you request feedback on your essay. Too much input creates an essay that sounds as though it has been written by a committee or results in writing that is absent your own voice.
  
  
• Appearance cannot replace substance, but it can certainly enhance the value of an already well-written essay.
  

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Sample Resume

A high school resume is an account of what a student has done on and off campus in grades nine through twelve.  This is purely an information piece to assist a student to comprehensively complete a college/university/scholarship application.  It is also given to a person if a recommendation letter is requested.  There is no right or wrong format unless stipulated by a college/university/scholarship.  Think of it as your "high school journal". This is your time to distinguish yourself from everyone else. Elaborate, elaborate, elaborate on your experiences, don't just write a one-line description.

Name

Social Security Number

Address

City, State, Zip Code

Residence Telephone Number

Cellular Telephone Number (optional)

Email address**(be sure this is a professionally appropriate email address)

Please remember to explain yourself!

 

Please remember to define acronyms at least once for clarification!

 

Please remember to give at least three weeks notice

for recommendation letters!

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Financial Aid....

Types of Financial Aid

The term "financial aid" is a broad term generally used to indicate money provided by a third party, like a college, university or foundation to help students meet the costs of attending college.

Financial aid can be provided by various agencies including federal, state and local governments, universities, community organizations, and private corporations or individuals. The four types of financial aid are grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study. 

• GRANTS... financial aid that does not have to be repaid. Generally, grants are for undergraduate students and the grant amount is based on need, school cost, and/or enrollment status.  

• SCHOLARSHIPS... scholarships do not have to be repaid. Scholarships come from many different places including national, state, public and private sources. Scholarship money can be awarded based on a variety of different factors such as financial need, academic or athletic achievement, program of study, and background. Every scholarship has its own set of criteria.

• LOANS... borrowed money that must be repaid with interest. Both undergraduate and graduate students may borrow money. Parents may also borrow to pay education expenses for dependent undergraduate students. Maximum loan amounts increase with each year of completed study. Often times, repayment is deferred until after graduation, withdrawal, or termination of attendance.        WORK-STUDY... money for education expenses paid by the school for on-campus or community-based employment.  To read about colleges and universities that aim to lower or eliminate loans for its students, click here. 

HOW TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID:

Complete The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)!!

The FAFSA is an application completed by students and their families who wish to receive financial aid from colleges, universities, community colleges and vocational schools. It is also used by many scholarship committees to determine financial need when considering need-based scholarship applications. 

Students who complete the FAFSA receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) online or through the mail a few weeks after they apply. The SAR gives students and their parents an "Expected Family Contribution," or EFC. The EFC tells students and their parents how much they will be expected to pay based on the financial information they provided on their FAFSA application. When students complete the FAFSA, they request that this report also be sent to the schools of their choice. Those schools offer a financial aid package based on the information on they receive through FAFSA. 

Juniors can get an estimate of their EFC by completing the FAFS4caster at www.fafsa.ed.gov. All information entered into the FAFSA4caster will transfer into the FAFSA students will complete during their senior year.

When to complete the FAFSA:

The sooner the better...school funds are limited and are available on a first come, first serve basis.

Seniors can complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online beginning on January 1st of their graduating year at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Applications must be submitted online.  

For more information on FAFSA click here: www.studentaid.ed.gov, http://www.fafsaonline.com/fafsa.php,

To learn more about federal student financial aid, click here: Funding your Education, a comprehensive look at all financial aid options.

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APPLYING TO COLLEGE

EARLY DECISION

Apply Early Decision ONLY if you are 100% certain you want to attend the school you are applying to. Early Decision is a financially & ethically binding application usually requiring a signature on a contract as part of the application package. You will find out in December/January of your senior year the status of your application. If you are accepted, you must contact all other institutions to which you have applied and withdraw your applications. You may only apply Early Decision to one school. If you are deferred, then you are released from the contract and should continue your applications to other schools so please be prepared.

EARLY ACTION

This is non-binding. You will learn in December/ January of your senior year the status of your application. You may apply to more than one school as an Early Action candidate unless otherwise stipulated (i.e. Single Choice Early Action) and are not bound to that school if accepted. Great opportunity to learn the status of your application early but still be able to pursue other institutions with the hopes of scholarship assistance.  Be sure there are no restrictions by institutions.

What to do…..

In your senior year….

·  Check your grades and evaluate your progress on Virtual Counselor or with the High School Academic Evaluations every term on www.FACTS.org   

·  Continue taking honors, AP or dual enrollment courses if you qualify.

·  After completing specific advanced coursework, take the SAT Subject tests, ACT tests or AP exams to earn college credit.

·  Take the SAT or ACT in fall, or retake them if necessary.

·  Prepare admissions application packages and begin applying in early summer or fall.

·  After December 1, but before the end of your senior year, complete the Florida Financial Aid Student Application (FFASA) to apply for state grant, scholarship (including Bright Futures), and loan programs. This application is available online at FACTS.org.

·  After January 1, but before the earliest college deadline, complete the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) application. This application is available online at FACTS.org. Be sure to send the application early to maximize your chances for receiving financial aid.

·  Wait for college admission decisions and financial aid award letters. You need to determine the college best meeting your personal academic goals and financial needs. Many schools have an early-May decision deadline to accept or decline applicants.

·  Upon notification of acceptance let the other colleges you applied to know of your decision. This frees up places and possible financial aid for other students.

·  Work with guidance counselors to find colleges and universities with openings if your top choices are not available.

·  Be aware, after acceptance there may still be things to do such as arranging for final transcripts to be sent, housing applications, and immunizations.

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To sign up for a college visit please come to the BRACE Office before or after school,during lunch or during class with a pass only! NO PASSES will be given out on the day of the visit.

COLLEGE VISITS

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$$$ Money $ Money $ Money $$$

Please let Mr. Cruz know when you have been awarded scholarship money. The following two websites can be very helpful when finding money for college or universities: www.fastweb.com $$$ www.scholarships.com$$$ www.cappex.com. You will also want to check with the schools you are applying to for additional money they may award.

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ALL SENIORS!!! Bright Futures application is available at www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org. The first day to apply is December 1st See Mr. Cruz with questions.

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The 2008-2009 FAFSA will be available January 1st by visiting www.fafsa.ed.gov.

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SCAM ALERT!! Remember, you should not pay to submit the FAFSA or for any other scholarship information.

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TO REGISTER FOR THE:

SAT GO TO WWW.COLLEGEBOARD.COM

ACT GO TO WWW.ACT.ORG

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Looking for helpful websites? Check these out!

COLLEGE SEARCH: www.makingitcount.com~ www.collegeboard.com ~ www.collegenet.com ~ www.petersons.com ~ www.nextSTEPmag.com/collegematch ~ www.campusdirt.com ~ www.collegeparents.org ~ www.offtocollege.com ~ SCHOLARSHIPS: www.scholarshipsforhispanics.org ~ www.wiredscholar.com ~ www.findcollegemoney.com ~ CAREER SEARCHES: www.facts.org ~ www.mapping-your-future.org/features/careership ~ www.florida.echoices.com ~ www.careervoyages.gov

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SCHOLARSHIP NEWS

The descriptions of the scholarships on this page are brief. You should always read the actual scholarship application in order to understand specific eligibility requirements.

See your BRACE advisor for application materials. Your BRACE advisor deadline may be earlier. This is not a complete listing of all scholarship opportunities.
Check other sources, such as the Internet, employers, and the college or technical school you plan to attend!

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The BRACE Office, located in room 211, has information on 4 year and 2 year colleges and universities, vocational-technical schools, military programs and apprenticeship programs. You will also be able to find resources for financial aid and scholarships as well as test prep materials.

Feel free to contact me by phone at 754-323-0699 or by email at eric.cruz@browardschools.com