Senior AssemblyOctober 9, 2014 1

Clark MagnetHigh School

National Merit

National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist

Ericka Shin

National Achievement Scholarship Semi-Finalist

Sara Abdel-Azim

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National Merit

National Merit Program – Commended Students Sara Abdel-Azim Elizabeth Abramyan David Agajanian Mary Agajanian Stepan Mouradkhanian Maya Ramamurthy Joshua Valerio

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Agenda

Transcripts College Application Process College Entrance Exams Personal Statement Guidelines for University of California ELC Letters of Recommendation Financial Aid Q & A

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Handouts

Transcripts CSU Mentor Personal Statement Guidelines

for University of California Parent Authorization for Cal

Grant GPA Verification Federal Student Aid Programs College Application Timeline Eligibility for Federal Aid

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Important Information Online

Senior Timeline College Career Fair Links to College Applications Scholarship information Financial Aid Workshop information This powerpoint

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College Application Process

University of California (UC’s)www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply

California State University www.csumentor.edu

August 1, 2014 Application Opens (UC’s)October 1, 2014 Application Opens (Cal States)November 1-30, 2014 Application Submission Period for Fall 2015March 1-30, 2015Notification of Fall 2015 Admission DecisionsMay 1, 2015 Deadline to submit the Statement of Intent to RegisterJuly 1, 2015 Final transcripts due for UC campusesJuly 15, 2015 Final transcripts due for Cal State campuses

Meet all deadlines!!!7

College Entrance Exams

SAT SAT II Subject Test (optional) ACT with Writing CSU Code 3594 (One code for all 23 CSU Campuses)

Last chance to take exam is December of senior year(Yes, colleges will accept it even though you have already turned in your application!)

Don’t forget to ask the College Board to send your SAT scores to the colleges of your choice

(If you do it when you take the test it is free. If you request is later you have to pay.)

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College Application Process

California State University www.csumentor.edu

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California State University

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California State University

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California State University

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UC: The Personal Statement

2 Prompts, students must address both 1,000 words total or less View as personal interview on paper

Click on the “Tips” box

www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/personal-statement/index.html

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Statement #1:Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations. 

Statement #2:Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?

The Personal Statement

Additional Comments:Use this space to tell us anything else you want us to know about you and your academic record that you have not had the opportunity to describe elsewhere in the application. Limit your response to 550 words or less. This section can be bullet points, it does not need to be in sentence format. 14

What is ELC?

The Local Context (ELC) program is designed to recognize the academic accomplishment of students in light of their high school environment.

How is ELC Determined? ELC identifies qualified students from among the top

9% of each participating California high school using the student’s self-reported academic record.

Applicants who meet the minimum course requirements and have a GPA that meets or exceeds the benchmark GPA for their high school are ELC.

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How ELC Status is Conveyed

ELC Status is Displayed:• In the “Application Status” section after

submission of the admission application

Directions on how a student learns his or her status:• See questions in application tool prior to or

after submission• In confirmation email after submission

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College Application Process

Private CollegesObtain a Green Folder from Mrs. Bondy

Snack/Lunch/Enrichment/After School

Most Private Colleges Use Common Application

www.commonapp.org Check for Application Submission Deadlines (vary by

college) Thoroughly complete student part of the application Send an Invitation to your counselor to submit your school

report (sooner rather than later!!!) Send an invitation to two teachers to submit a letter of

recommendation

Meet all deadlines!!! 17

Other Important DEADLINES

November 7, 2014 Green folders due to counselorsNovember 1-30, 2014 Application Submission Period for Fall 2015December 1, 2014 Application due to USC to be considered for

financial aidJanuary 1, 2015 Filing period opens for FAFSA and Cal Grant

VerificationFebruary 1, 2015 FAFSA deadline for some private collegesFebruary 13, 2015 FAFSA deadline for public colleges

March 2, 2015 Deadline for FAFSA and Cal Grant GPA Verification

Meet all deadlines!!! 18

Letter of Recommendation

Scholarship organizations and private colleges/universities ask for a letter of recommendation from your counselor/teachers. To better assist you with a letter you must: Complete Student Information Sheet aka Brag

Sheet. Available at ClarkMagnet.net (counselor corner)

Provide the completed Brag Sheet to your counselor/teacher with plenty of time to prepare your letter of recommendation

(that means more than 2-3 days). 19

Paying for College

There are two types of Financial Aid

Gift AidScholarships

Students should check with the institution if they need to complete a separate application

Grants – Federal (FAFSA)Federal Pell GrantsFederal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

Grants – State (FAFSA or Dream)Cal Grants A & BChafee GrantMiddle Class Scholarship (MCS)CSU – State University Grant (SUG)CSU – Educational Opportunity Grant (EOG)Community Colleges – Board of Governor’s Grant (BOGG) UC – University Grant

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Paying for College

There are two types of Financial Aid

Self-Help AidFederal Work-Study (FWS)Federal Perkins LoanFederal Direct LoansPLUS (parent) Loan

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New: Middle Class Scholarship State scholarship for students with family income up to

$150,000 on a sliding scale

UC and Cal State specific

FAFSA and Dream applicants will be considered for eligibility

Students must file a FAFSA/DREAM Application by March 2

The MCS award will be reduced by any Federal, State, or institutionally administered grants or fee waivers received by the student

Student must maintain satisfactory academic progress

Paying for College

Student Loans

Things to consider Interest rate, APR Fixed vs. variable Co-signer Fees Enrollment Requirements Payments, during school or after graduation

Shop around for loans, i.e. from schools vs. banks Approximately 70% of students get some form of

financial aid 23

Scholarships/Financial Aid

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California State University

2014-15 At HomeOn

CampusOff

Campus

Fees $6,698 $6,698 $6,698

Books &Supplies 1,719 1,719 1,719

Room &Board 4,532 12,080 12,089

Transp. 1,345 1,169 1,391

Personal 1,364 1,364 1,364

TOTAL $15,658 $23,030 $23,261

University of California

2014-15 At HomeOn

CampusOff

Campus

Fees $13,300 $13,300 $13,300

Books &Supplies 1,500 1,500 1,500

Room &Board 4,600 14,000 9,300

Personal & Transp. 3,700 2,400 3,100

Health Ins. 1,600 1,900 2,000

TOTAL $24,700 $33,100 $29,200

Most families do not pay the

“sticker price”

Scholarships/Financial Aid

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Scholarships/Financial Aid

If you haven’t already started researching, you need to start now!!!! Get information. Fafsa.org Calgrant.org Studentaid.ed.gov Fastweb.com Webgrants4students.org

Never pay money to apply for a scholarship

NOTE: Frequently visit ClarkMagnet.net “Counselor Corner” for scholarship opportunities

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Look out for scams

Scholarships/Financial Aid

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CSU Financial Aid Information:http://www.calstate.edu/SAS/sfa_index.shtml

UC Financial Aid Information:http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/paying.html

FAFSA and federal PIN Information - www.fafsa.ed.gov

Cal Grant and MCS Information - www.csac.ca.gov or 1-888-224-7268

California DREAM application - https://dream.csac.ca.gov/

What will my monthly repayment be for student loans?

http://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/understand/plans/standard/comparison-calculator

RESOURCES

GCC/Community Colleges

GCC Glendale.edu GCC rep at Clark during lunch every other

Wednesday Scholars Program – 3.25 GPA

Deadline to apply – May 1st 4 steps to complete registration

1. January: Apply2. February: Complete online orientation3. March/April: Take placement tests4. April/May: Meet your GCC counselor

June/July: Register for classes If you have participated in the Jump Start program you

MUST reapply as a high school GRADUATE. You will keep your same GCC ID#.

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Q & A

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