Steps on planning for College or a Career!

1. Review high school requirements and diploma types with Mrs. Holden
2. Work towards the honors diplomas
3. Take rigorous courses such as dual credit
4. Complete a college or career pathway
5. Utilize resources such as College Board’s AP Potential to determine course placement
6. Get involved in Extracurricular Activities!
7. Explore Colleges & Careers by attending college visits and career fairs!
8. Research information regarding all postsecondary options:
   • Indiana Colleges (2 & 4 year)
     • College Admissions Requirements- particular to each college
     • College Visits
     • Online College Search
   • Apprenticeship Programs
   • Military

College and career search:

• Career Interest Assessments

FAFSA

The 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now live beginning Monday, October 1. In order to secure state aid eligibility for the 2019-2020 academic year, students must submit the FAFSA by the state deadline of April 15, 2019. The form can be accessed by visiting fafsa.ed.gov. Seniors are encouraged to create a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) prior to beginning the FAFSA. The FSA ID serves as a legal digital signature, and both the student and at least one parent must have one. The FSA ID can be created on the Federal Student Aid website.

College Goal Sunday: College Goal Sunday is a statewide initiative that supports Hoosiers in completing the FAFSA and is free to attend. The first College Goal Sunday event of the FAFSA season will take place October 28. To view additional information, including support sites and their respective dates and times, please visit collegegoalsunday.org.

Career Exploration- use Indiana Career Explorer to narrow down your options!

• Big Future
• Career One Stop
• Hoosier Hot 50 Jobs
• IN Reality
• Indiana Career Explorer
• Indiana College and Career Pathways
• Learn More Indiana
• My College QuickStart (personality assessment within the online account)
• My Future
• O-NET Online
• Occupational Outlook Handbook

College Costs

Financial Aid & Scholarship sites

Big Future

Learn More Indiana - Cash

College Choice 529 Plan

College Cost Estimator

College Goal Sunday

FAFSA information and on-line completion-FREE

Know How 2 Go

Division of Student Financial Aid (SFA)

Indiana Student Financial Aid Association (ISFAA)

Trip to College Text Alerts

College Board – Pay for college

Financial Aid

Financial Aid and Scholarship Search (Fastweb)

InvestEd National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

American Indian College Fund

US Department of Education Net Price Calculator

College Search Tools

• College Visits – Different ways to visit colleges (college website browsing, onsite campus visits, college fairs, and virtual tours (College Week Live (virtual tours and college fairs), & Campus Tours).

College & Career Assessments

• College Entrance Exams
  • ACT & SAT
• College Entrance Preparation Exams
  • ASPIRE
  • PSAT 8/9 or PSAT/NMSQT & PSAT 10
• College Placement Tests
  • ACCUPLACER
  • The purpose of ACCUPLACER tests is to provide students (and counselors) with useful information about the student’s academic skills in math, English, and reading. The results of the assessment, in conjunction with the student’s academic 15 background, goals, and interests, can be used by academic advisors and counselors to determine a student’s course selection.
  • Students cannot pass or fail the placement tests but it is important that they do their best to get an accurate measure of their academic skills.
  • *Note that, the ACCUPLACER is also administered to meet the college and career readiness exam requirements outlined PL 268-2013. Guidance is available here. 6

College Affordability Planning

• Save; Grants; Scholarships; Work-study; Institutional Aid; Student Loans
• College Cost Estimator
• Financial assistance applications and deadlines
  • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • College Scholarship Service (CSS) PROFILE form (required by many private colleges and universities to determine eligibility for non-government financial aid)
  • Indiana’s Division of Student Financial Aid
  • 21st Century Scholars Program
  • ScholarTrack (Allows students to keep track of their Scholar Success Program requirements)

Resources:

• College Choice 529 Plan
• Indiana's Cash for College
• INvestEd Indiana: College Funding Experts for Hoosiers

College & Career Admission Processes

• Admission Requirements
• Application guidance and deadlines
  • Senior Profile for Letters of Recommendation, (Appendix D)
  • Sample Letters of Recommendation (Appendix E, F)

Transition from High School Graduation to College Enrollment

Students entering college are STRONGLY encouraged to participate in a student access, transition, and success program. Examples of programs in Indiana include Purdue University’s, Boiler Gold Rush, University of Indianapolis’s Bridge Scholars Program (program criteria and counselor recommendation), and Indiana University’s First Year Experience. Most Indiana institutions have an orientation program to get students acquainted to campus, services, and the community and offer students an opportunity to meet other students and staff.