0 For seniors and their parents MHHS COUNSELING STAFF: Tina Killian, counselor—seniors A-K Stephanie McGraw, counselor – seniors L-Z Leisa Simons, registrar – seniors A-K Rose Liggett, registrar – seniors L-Z Keri Mahan, secretary/receptionist Phone (870) 425-1224 Fax (870) 425-4026 WEBSITE: http://bombers.k12.ar.us/hs/hs_counselors/index.html
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2) Finish your regular decision and rolling admissions paperwork for your colleges of interest and send.
3) Use the holiday break to finish paperwork and continue checking for scholarships.
JANUARY:
1) Send mid-year reports and seven-semester transcripts to any school who has requested them.
2) If you have yet to choose a college, rank your colleges of interest (considering any offers that have
been made to you) in the order of preference.
3) Get all your financial aid documents in order and send, including the FAFSA (tax information from
parents is necessary to complete the FAFSA application in its entirety).
4) Register for the February ACT exam.
FEBRUARY/MARCH: 1) Keep up your grades this semester. Scholarships are given by colleges on good faith that you will
keep up your quality work – scholarships can be reduced or lost due to a decline in grades.
2) Watch for your SAR report to arrive (this is the report from your FAFSA) –be sure to review it
carefully and make any corrections.
3) Carefully review the financial aid package that your choice college has put together for you.
4) Take the February ACT exam if you are attending a school that still is accepting score updates.
APRIL:
1) Apply for housing at the college of your choice if you did not do so in the fall.
2) Watch for your college’s orientation date and plan to attend.
3) Contact all of your other schools of interest (the ones that you do not plan to attend) and decline any
scholarship offers they have made. It is important you do this by May 1, so the college can award the
scholarship money they have offered you to someone else if you do not plan to attend.
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4) If you are going to a two-year institution, you still may take the ACT exam in April.
MAY:
1) Send an eight-semester transcript to your college of choice—the cost of $1.00 is waived for this
mailing. Please do this as quickly as possible, so we can send the transcript /test scores/health records
as soon as the official transcripts are completed.
2) Consider setting up a bank account (checking and/or savings) in the town where your college is
located.
3) Notify your school of choice of any private scholarships that you have received.
4) Be aware of all the summer dates, pertaining to your college, such as any freshman orientations,
move in dates for the dorms, etc.
JUNE/JULY:
1) Start planning on what you will need to take to college with you – begin to make a packing plan.
2) As soon as you get a roommate name assignment (if it is someone you do not know), make plans to
visit with that person.
3) Be aware that most dorm beds are twin size, however, some are twin long. Check with housing to
see if you need regular sheets or long sheets to fit the bed in your dorm.
4) Typically dorm contracts are binding for one year. Know that most colleges will not let you out of
the contract to live off-campus (most colleges require that freshmen live in the dorms anyway).
WARNING: YOU ARE A TARGET FOR CREDIT CARD COMPANIES WHEN ATTENDING
COLLEGE. THEY ARE EASY TO GET AND EASY TO USE. CREDIT CARD COMPANIES
SET COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH EITHER NO LIMIT OR HIGH LIMITS ON SPENDING.
THEY CAN RUIN YOUR CREDIT FOR LIFE. THEY CAN ALSO COST YOU YOUR
COLLEGE EDUCATION AND/OR LEAVE YOU YEARS AND YEARS OF HEAVY DEBT. IT
IS BEST IF YOU THROW AWAY ALL OFFERS FOR CREDIT CARDS AND DEAL IN CASH
ONLY. BEWARE OF THE CREDIT CARD PITFALL!
NOTE: MOST COLLEGES HAVE GOOD TUTORING PROGRAMS. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL
YOU ARE TOO FAR BEHIND IN A CLASS TO SEEK HELP.
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ARKANSAS COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY Visitation Days:
Arkansas Northeastern College, Blytheville – by appointment
Arkansas State University, Jonesboro – by appointment
Arkansas State University, Beebe – Preview Day – March 7
Arkansas State University, Mountain Home - Trailblazers Days - October 30-31
Arkansas State University, Newport – open
Arkansas Tech University, Russellville – campus tours Monday-Friday by appointment only; Time Out for Tech – February 13 ; Open House – October 12
Black River Technical College, Pocahontas – by appointment
Central Baptist College, Conway – by appointment
College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout, MO – by appointment
Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas, DeQueen – contact admissions
Crowley's Ridge College, Paragould – by appointment
East Arkansas Community College, Forrest City - open visitation
Harding University, Searcy – Bison Days Homecoming Wweekend – October 24-27; Bison Days 3 – February 6-9; Bison Days 4 – April 17-20
Henderson State University, Arkadelphia - Reddie for Henderson Day – November 12
Hendrix College, Conway - October 14, 28, November 11,
John Brown University, Siloam Springs - October 13-14, October 27-28, November 17-18, December 8-9, January 19-20, February 16-17, March 9-10, April 6-7 ; Scholarship Competitions: November 2, November 16, December 7; Junior Preview Day:
April 25
Lyon College, Batesville - Scholarship Competitions: November 2, November 16, December 7; Junior Preview Day: April 25
University of Central Arkansas, Conway – October 12, October 26, November 16, December 6, February 22, March 8
University of the Ozarks, Clarksville - by appointment; Fall Preview Day – November 16; Spring Preview Day – April 5
Williams Baptist College, Walnut Ridge - WOW! Days in the Fall – December 7 (receive $200 per semester for visiting); Honors Day - October 12, November 9
www.ChristianConnector.com free Christian college information and the opportunity to sign up for a scholarship
http://mapping-your-future.org/ Information to help plan a career and pay for the education. It is sponsored by a group of guaranty agencies who participate in the
Federal Family Education Loan Program
www.tasseltime.com comprehensive college search website which was researched by a high school counselor and is continually maintained by her (Robin Finley). Cost is 9.99 per month; 29.99 per 4 months; 49.99 annually.
http://www.finaidfacts.org/ Facts about financial aid.
http://www.real-life.arkansas.gov/ gives real life information about career choices and cost of living in Arkansas. Allows students to “see for themselves” how much it takes to live here in Arkansas.
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/tools/brief/awards_brief.php Use their work sheet to compare financial aid packages from four schools.
http://fafsa4caster.ed.gov a website designed by FAFSA to allow you to see what might be
offered to your student in the fall. This is just a prediction tool.
TIPS FOR COLLEGE AND SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
1. Applications
Applications should be typed, done on the computer, or written neatly in black ink.
It is always good to make a rough-draft before attempting the final copy.
2. Clubs and Organizations
Active involvement on campus as well as off campus is a plus on any scholarship application.
3. Essay
When required to write an essay for an admissions or scholarship application, be sure you follow directions carefully and answer all parts of the prompt. This is one of the ways colleges weed out applicants when making decisions about who to enroll or reward.
Make an attempt to share personal experiences and be open – strive to write something different from what everyone else may say.
4. Honors and Awards
On campus as well as off campus honors and awards are good to report. They show the things in which you excel or for which you have worked hard.
5. Volunteerism (Community Service)
Volunteerism/Community Service has become crucial for many scholarships/applications.
It helps selection committees separate the winners from the other applicants.
Keep a list of all the service you have done for others and your community from grades 9-12.
If you do not have enough volunteer work on your resume –START NOW!
Make sure that you use your spell check every time you send an e-mail
to a college. Double check punctuation and grammar as well.
Always include your full name, address, phone number, and high
school name as well as attaching any previous correspondence you
have had with that school every time you send an e-mail.
If you have lots of questions, visit the website and look for the answers
yourself or make a phone call to admissions rather than sending an e-
mail.
Watch what you put online in any format – e.g., Myspace, Facebook,
etc. Sometimes these things come back to haunt you.
Do not use general subject lines like “IMPORTANT” or
“INFORMATION NEEDED” because many of the schools use filters
that catch general subjects and send them to junk mail. Be specific
with your subject. For example, “Amy Snow, Admissions Question”
or “Sean Thompson, senior 2009, Anywhere High School”
Do not send out a general e-mail to all colleges. Each college should
receive personalized correspondence with specific questions that
pertain only to that individual college.
SENIOR CONFERENCE PARENT OVERVIEW:
1. We ask seniors to look at their graduation check lists and their 6-semester transcripts. We ask them to correct anything that is outdated like addresses, phone numbers, etc. We ask them to make sure that their social security number is correct. We ask them to look for any class omissions or missing grades.
2. We go over plans with seniors regarding 1) college or university plans 2) vocational/technical plans 3) military plans or 4) work force plans.
3. We give the students a folder with information that they need to keep. The folder includes:
a. Information about the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship
b. Federal Student Aid information
c. A How To Pay College Guide
d. A label including their college gmail account, FAFSA Pin, and user names and passwords needed for varying college related accounts
7. Some of the other topics we cover are as follows:
a. College days
b. How to order a scholarship
c. How to obtain a transcript
d. How to handle the recommendation letter process
BE SURE TO CHECK OUR COUNSELORS’ WEBSITE
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS BELOW:
1. GO TO http//bombers.k12.ar.us
2. Click on SCHOOLS and select Mountain Home High School.
3. Find the column Teachers and click on the Counseling Services tab.
Financial Aid—Types There are several types of financial aid available for your student that will help in the pursuit of a
college/technical school/ trade school education. The following lists the different types: 1. Scholarships:
A. College Scholarships – these are gifts awarded by the college to students based on academics, interest areas, or athletics
B. National Scholarships—these are gifts awarded across the nation to a small number of
lucky applicants
C. State Scholarships – these are gifts awarded to only students who live within the state (many are limited to those students who will attend a state institution – but not all of them).
D. Local Scholarships – these are gifts awarded by local groups, institutions, trusts, estates, individuals, etc. in your local area.
E. Specialty Scholarships-- These gifts cover a
wide variety of awards. For example, this could be a scholarship given to your student by your workplace – a one-time award designed just for
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your student. It could be a scholarship designed for students with special gifts, disabilities, etc.
2. Grants: A. Federal Grants – usually awarded through
FAFSA (federal financial aid application). 1. Federal Pell Grant 2. Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant
B. State Grants
C. Private Grants
3. Loans: Loans are sources of financial aid that must be repaid.
Government-sponsored educational loans are a good deal if you need to borrow money for education. These traditionally offer low interest rates and extended repayment plans. There are requirements for loans – these requirements are based on need. This restriction was placed on loans by congress due to the fact that education is considered to be the primary responsibility of individual families. Some federally-sponsored loan programs include:
1. Federal Perkins Loan Program
2. Federal Family Education Loan Program
3. William D. Ford Federal Direct Student Loan Program Four types of direct loans:
a. Federal Direct Stafford Loans (subsidized)
b. Federal Direct Stafford Loans (unsubsidized)
c. Federal Direct PLUS Loans (for parents) d. Federal Direct Consolidation Loans (to
combine federal education loan debts) There are other institutions that loan money under similar terms as federal loan programs in Arkansas.
Some include: 1. Arkansas Rural Endowment
2. Banks (local or state)
Subsidized loans are awarded to students on the basis of financial need. The federal government pays the borrower’s accrued interest during some significant periods, such as when the student is in school, thereby “subsidizing” these loans.
Unsubsidized loans are not need based; the borrower is responsible for accrued interest throughout the life of the loan.
4. Work Study: The Federal Work-Study Program provides jobs for
undergraduates students that need financial aid. This
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program allows students to earn money to pay for educational expenses. These are tied to the FAFSA application. To get more information on work study call the financial aid officer at the school you plan to
attend or call 800-4-FED-AID.
5. For your younger students, you may want to know about State Prepaid
tuition Programs and College Savings Plans. A prepaid tuition plan is a college savings plan that will rise in value at the same rate as tuition. The prepaid tuition may be limited to the tuition and fees of a particular institution, and a college savings may allow a student to use the money at a variety of institutions. Below are some web sites where you can get
additional information.
More information: 1. www.savingforcollege.com
2. Learning Quest Education Savings Program (Kansas)
www.kentuckytrust.org
3. Louisiana START Savings Program (Louisiana)
www.osfa.state.la.us/START.htm
4. Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Program