Get Ready for College
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Transcript of Get Ready for College
GET READY FOR COLLEGE
A guide for parents and students
THE BIG PICTURE
Admissions requirements• ACT/SAT score• GPA and rank (pre-AP, AP, dual credit)• Résumé• Letters of recommendation• Essays (show your personality; paint a picture of who you
are)• Application (show that you are more than just a number)
• Extra-curricular activities (Don’t quit!)• Awards (grades 9-12)• Volunteer work (Start in 9th grade)
Financial Aid (Scholarships, grants, loans) FAFSA
FOLLOW THE MONEY!
HOW COLLEGE WORKS
Credit hours (usually 3 per class); full-time student takes 4 classes (at least 12
hours)
You will pay for each credit hour plus each semester’s fees, books, room and
board if living on campus, transportation, etc. **Note: Due to semester fees, it is
cheaper to be a full-time student than a part-time student in the long run.
Junior College (San Jacinto) = Two year school (Associate’s Degree)
approximately $6,000 per year
College or University = Four year school (Bachelor’s Degree) ranges from
$15,000-$40,000+ per year depending on the school; in state and public schools
are cheaper than out of state or private schools
Certification programs (Everest) = no degree or transferable credits; costs vary
FIRST STEPS TO TAKE
Buy a calendar planner to keep track of important dates and
deadlines; include ACT/SAT tests, AP exams, application deadlines, and
scholarship deadlines. SET PERSONAL DEADLINES.
See the College Connection website and the Counselors’ Corner
website for helpful tips and links.
Research your college and career options. Start making plans for how
to pay for it. Consider programs on each campus like Honors Colleges,
partnerships, internships, etc.
Visit colleges as a family. Contact the college for details.
Sign up to take ACT/SAT as a junior. STUDY FOR THEM!
ACT/SAT SCORING GUIDE
How to know what you need to score for
college admission
and for college readiness standards
National averages:
English 20.4
Math 21.0
Reading 21.2
Science 20.8
Composite 21.0
For the class of 2013,
average scores are:
Critical reading: 496
Mathematics: 514
Writing: 488
AVERAGE SCORES
ACT (Scale of 1-36) SAT (200-800/section)
ACT – Composite score
of 23 or higher, with
individual math, reading
and English scores of no
less than 19.
SAT – Composite score
of 1070 or higher, with
500 critical reading
(formally “verbal”) and
500 math.
COLLEGE READY (TSI)
ACT SAT
Rice: average for top 25% grads--SAT
700, 720, 700; ACT composite 32
Stanford: average for top 25% grads
—SAT 680, 700, 690; ACT composite
31
Baylor: average SAT 1130-1300
(math and critical reading) ACT 24-29;
75% of freshmen were top 25% of
graduating class
Texas Tech: no minimum for top
10% (but TSI still remains); for top
25% minimum 25 ACT or 1140 SAT
Texas A&M Corpus: no minimum
for top 10% (but TSI still remains);
19 ACT or 900 SAT top quartile
NOTE: for lower ranks, add 2-
5 points ACT or 100-300 points
SAT
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
Reach Schools (Private, selective schools) Realistic Schools (Texas State Schools)
COLLEGE CONNECTIONS TUTORIALS
Mondays and Fridays, 2:30-4:00 in the
GPHS library
FINANCIAL AID
What it is and how to get it
HELPFUL WEBSITES
FAFSA.ed.gov—Free Application for Federal Student Aid to be filled
out after tax return Senior year (no sooner than January 1)
Collegeforalltexans.com—links to facts sheets for tuition waivers
and other important information
Fastweb.com, AIE.org, and gmsp.org—links for scholarships
Corporate scholarships—KFC, Dr. Pepper, Coca-Cola, Olive Garden,
HEB, Target, Kohl’s, and many more
Check with your university’s financial aid department for more
hidden money!
UNMET NEED
Unmet need—when your tuition and fees are more than
your college fund, grants, and scholarships
Work Study programs
Loans—borrowed money that you will have to pay back• Subsidized—no interest, no payments until graduation;
variable-fixed rate loan• Unsubsidized—no payments until graduation but interest
starts with first payout• PLUS loan—higher interest rate which begins after first
payout; no payments until graduation
WANT MORE INFORMATION?
Contact your child’s counselor at 832-386-2806.
• A-Di—Ms. Brooks• Dj-He—Ms. Coleman• Hf-O—Ms. Jones• P-S—Mr. Shiflet• T-Z—Ms. Balderas
Contact Brandi Couch, Academic Advisor, at 832-
386-2837.