College Beat

SENIORS

TIME LINE FOR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS:

FALL:
Complete and Mail Applications
College Visitation Period
Take SAT and/or ACT

WINTER:
Appropriate Time for Remaining Achievements
Complete and Mail Financial Aid Forms

SPRING:
Make Final Decisions

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has established a Web site, Highlights for High School, that provides “resources to improve science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) instruction at the high school level.” This site features more than 2,600 video and audio clips, animations, lecture notes and assignments taken from actual MIT courses, and categorizes them to match the AP physics, biology and calculus curricula. The website is http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/hs/home/home/index.htm.

DuPont Goodrich Federal Credit Union has formed a Student Advisory Council that offers qualified students a chance to learn about the financial service industry, business and public relations. The Council is a group of young adults ages 16-23 that will assist DuPont Goodrich FCU by attending monthly meetings and providing insight and ideas to improve youth services. The students will be reimbursed for mileage, as well as having a light dinner served. The students may also be guaranteed a scholarship of up to $1,000. If you are interested, I have a fact sheet and application form in my office. The application is due by November 21, 2008.

Burger King is offering scholarships of $1,000 each which may be used for educational expenses for college. Applications are available online at bdorado@whopper.com. The deadline is Feb. 2, 2009.

The Elks National Foundation is offering scholarships, as well as The Benevolent and Protective Order of the Texas Elks State Association. You may pick up an application at their lodge on Highway 90 after 4 pm on weekdays or visit TEXASELKS.ORG. The National organization applications may be downloaded at www.elks.org/enf/scholars.

SAT Dates:

Registration
Deadline: Test
Date:

9-9-08 10-4-08

9-26-08 11-1-08

11-5-08 12-6-08

12-26-08 1-24-09

2-10-09 3-14-09

3-31-09 5-2-09

5-5-09 6-6-09

ACT Dates:

Registration
Deadline: Test
Date:

9-19-08 10-25-08

11-6-08 12-13-08

1-6-09 2-7-09

2-27-09 4-4-09

5-8-09 6-13-09

You may register for these exams online. To register for the SAT, go to http://www.collegeboard.com/. To register for the ACT (this exam is recommended if you want to attend a private/Christian university), go to http://www.actstudent.org/. If you do not wish to register online, please see Mrs. Cregor for the booklets.

Every senior needs to take either the SAT or ACT before graduation. One of these two exams is required for entrance into most post high school institutions.

If you are interested in applying to a college in Texas, please visit http://www.applytexas.org/. This is the application you may fill out online one time, then send it to as many institutions as you would like. Please notice that some universities require an essay. Mrs. Earney already knows the essay questions and will be working with you in English on these. You may also fill out FAFSA (financial aid) on this site. APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!! The earlier you apply for any university, the better chance you will have with scholarships and free aid!

Along with any college application, you will be asked to give a personal profile. This is where you need to write a book about yourself! Try to remember every award, volunteer event, extracurricular activity you have been involved in during your high school years and write them all down! Colleges want a well rounded student to attend their campus, so show them a wide range of activities you have been involved in.