Precollege Checklist Srs 05-06 - Steinbrenner High School

Hillsborough County Public Schools
Division of Curriculum and Instruction
Department of Guidance Services
A PRE-COLLEGE CHECKLIST FOR
SENIOR STUDENTS: 2010-2011
Revised Aug. 2010
August/September
Get to know your College and Career Counselor (CCC). Each high school
has a CCC as a member of the guidance team who is available to assist
students and parents with postsecondary planning, scholarships and
financial aid. They provide a wealth of resources including providing
assistance with the college selection and application process, providing
current information on available scholarship opportunities, offering
assistance with the financial aid application process and providing
information regarding college entrance exams (SAT and ACT).
Testing: Make arrangements to take the SAT Reasoning Test, ACT
or both at the earliest possible date. Some colleges will accept the
SAT, some the ACT and many will accept either. Because of rigorous
admissions requirements at state universities in Florida and at private
and out-of-state colleges, students are encouraged to take both tests.
Information booklets, sample tests and registration forms are available
in your school's guidance office. Colleges to which you are applying
will receive your scores from the testing agencies, providing that you
enter their code numbers on the test registration form, use your legal
name on all documents and enter your correct social security number.
If you took either or both tests as a junior, it may not be necessary for
you to test again. Talk with your counselor or CCC about the advisability
of another test. Students who have applied to a military academy
must test no later than October of the senior year.
SAT Subject Tests: Some colleges require or recommend one or
more of the SAT Subject Tests in addition to the SAT Reasoning Test
or ACT. Check with the colleges that you are interested in. If you
need subject tests, ask your counselor or CCC for the College Board
publication describing these tests. In planning your test dates, remember
that you cannot take a subject test on the same day that you
take the SAT Reasoning Test.
Test Preparation: Although a sound academic background is the best
preparation for all pre-college tests, there are a variety of ways that students
can prepare themselves for college admission tests. Commercial
bookstores and computer software stores have a selection of materials,
which explain the various tests, with sample test questions, and verbal and
mathematics content review.
Also check with your guidance counselor or CCC for the availability in your
school or other schools of test preparation courses or after-school or evening
programs that help prepare for these tests.
In addition, test taking tips and sample test questions can be found at the
web sites of the College Board (www.collegeboard.com) and ACT
(www.ACT.org).
College Application: Most institutions have web sites where students may
request information and apply online. For state universities within Florida,
you should request your school registrar to submit your transcript to the
universities of your choice. Your registrar can mail other transcripts as
needed.
Begin asking teachers, guidance counselors and employers for letters of
recommendation to include with your admissions and/or scholarship applications.
Florida's Bright Futures Scholarship Program: This program establishes
a lottery-funded scholarship to reward any Florida high school graduate
who merits recognition of high academic achievement and who enrolls
in an eligible Florida public or private postsecondary educational institution
within three years of high school graduation. The program is comprised of
three scholarship awards, (Florida Academic Scholars Award, Florida Medallion
Scholars Award, and Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award)
each with specific criteria that must be met. Students who wish to apply for
a Bright Futures Scholarship must complete the Florida Financial Aid Application
during the last year of high school after December 1. Application
may be made online at www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org . Interested
students should contact a guidance counselor or CCC for specific information.
Credit Requirements: Be sure that you are taking all courses required by any college in which you are interested.
Check college website for specific course requirements. See your guidance counselor for questions regarding the 18-
credit graduation options.
College-bound students are encouraged to take as strong an academic program as possible,
including the following requirements of the State University System of Florida:
English
4 credits
Mathematics
4 credits, at the Algebra I level and above.
Science
3 credits in specific courses
Social Studies 3 credits in specific courses
Foreign Language 2 credits in the same foreign language
Academic Electives 2 credits selected from specific courses
PLUS ALL COURSES REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION

August/September (Continued)
College Nights are one of the most effective ways students and parents
can learn about a wide variety of colleges.
Visit as many college nights as possible. There will be representatives
from over 140 colleges at the various programs, although not all colleges
attend all three college nights. These programs provide excellent
and unique opportunities for students and parents to get up-to-date
information about many colleges.
Be aware of any college representatives visiting your school by checking
the bulletin board near the guidance office and listening for announcements.
Attend as many of these sessions as appropriate for
you, since they provide valuable information and will help you to plan
more effectively.
If you plan to visit colleges during the school year, look for three or fourday
weekends, and plan your trips accordingly. Call the colleges to
make arrangements for interviews, campus tours or dormitory accommodations.
College Nights
6:00 p.m.
Monday, September 27, 2010 Sickles High School
Tuesday, September 28, 2010 Plant High School
Wednesday, September 29, 2010 Chamberlain High School
Thursday, September 30, 2010 Brandon High School
October/November
College applications should be nearly complete by this time. It is best
to have all of your applications in as early as possible. Read directions
carefully, and fill out each application completely and neatly. You
should keep a copy of everything you mail out. Remember to request
that colleges receive the appropriate test scores from the testing
companies and submit recommendations (if requested).
Recommendations are required for some colleges and scholarships.
Request these from your teachers or counselor as soon as you know
what is required, so that they will have time to provide a thoughtful and
complete recommendation. Remember that they may have many others
to write during the same time period.
Transcripts of your academic record are required by most colleges.
Contact the Registrar at your high school to arrange for transcripts to be
sent. There is a cost for transcripts.
College and Financial Aid Meetings
Presented in SPANISH ONLY
6:30 p.m.—School Auditorium or Cafeteria
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Alonso High School
Plant City High School
Gaither High School
Chamberlain High School
Lennard High School
Jefferson High School
Tampa Bay Tech High School
Leto High School
East Bay High School
Spring Dates
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Lennard High School
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Wharton High School
Thursday, March 01, 2011
Alonso High School
December
College applications should be completed before winter vacation. Remember
that the Registrar at your school will not be on duty during the
break. Request all transcripts early so that they may be sent before the
break.
Make sure that you have requested from the College Board or ACT that
your test scores be sent to the colleges to which you have applied.
Some state-supported colleges and universities in Florida may receive
your scores from a Florida databank. Follow the instructions provided
to you by the colleges for submitting test scores. If you did not list a
particular college on your original test registration form and find out
now that you must submit these scores, send an "Additional Score
Report" form to the testing agency. You may still have this form from
your score report, or you may obtain one in your school’s guidance
office.
Bright Futures Scholarship : Be sure to apply for a Bright Futures
Scholarship by completing the Florida Financial Aid Application on-line
at www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org. This application gives the
Department of Education (DOE) permission to evaluate your high
school transcript for eligibility for a Bright Futures Scholarship as well
as other State Scholarships. Community Service projects must be preapproved
and deadline dates met for them to be Bright Futures eligible.
January
Check your second semester schedule to be certain that all requirements
have been met. Potential Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
Program recipients should see their counselors to be sure that every
specific course has been taken or is scheduled for second semester.
Begin working on your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student
Aid). This application should be completed and submitted no
later than mid February. Attend one of the following Financial Aid
Meetings for answers to your questions.
District Financial Aid Meetings
7:00 p.m.—School Auditorium
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Freedom High School
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Plant City High School
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Alonso High School
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Riverview High School
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Gaither High School
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Jefferson High School
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Hillsborough High School
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Brandon High School
February/March
Be aware of deadlines that are required for admissions to different
colleges. Some colleges will begin to send admissions decision
letters. Remember that all acceptances are contingent upon your
successful completion of the final semester of high school.
Candidates for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program who
April
Most deadlines will soon have passed, and you will want to be sure
that you have registered for the tests which you still need or want to
take.
College Acceptances and Replies: Colleges issue letters which
indicate whether you have been accepted for admission, placed on a
waiting list, or denied admission. As you make your decision regarding
the college you plan to attend, be sure to notify all colleges at
which you were accepted of your final decision. It is, of course, particularly
important that you notify the college you plan to attend.
May
Be sure to send in any deposits that are due to the colleges, as well
as any other college forms (housing contracts, food service, etc.)
Failure to do so could result in cancellation.
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