College admissions & scholarship book

1. 
   General Information from AMES
   
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     Timeline for Seniors______________________________________________________ 1
     

2. 
   College Admission Process
   

- College Comparison Checklist ______________________________________________ 4

- Filling out a College Application ____________________________________________ 6

- College Application Checklist ______________________________________________ 8

- Volunteer Opportunities __________________________________________________ 9

- ACT and SAT Test Prep ____________________________________________________ 10

- Test Tips _______________________________________________________________ 11

- Essays for Colleges and/or Scholarships ______________________________________ 15

- Letters of Recommendation ________________________________________________ 18

- Letters of Recommendation Form ___________________________________________ 19

- Interview Tips___________________________________________________________ 21

3. 
   Financial Aid
   

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  Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)______________________________ 24
  
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  Scam Alert_____________________________________________________________ 29
  

4. 
   Applying for Scholarships
   
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     Top Tips for Winning Scholarships__________________________________________ 30
     
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     What Scholarship Providers Look for in an Application _________________________ 31
     
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     NCAA Eligibility Center___________________________________________________ 32
     
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     Internet Searches (Colleges, Financial Aid and Scholarships) ____________________ 34
     
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     Organizations Offering Scholarships for Minorities____________________________ 35
     

5. 
   Private Scholarships
   
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     Scholarships Awarded from AMES_________________________________________ 44
     
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     Regent’s Scholarship ___________________________________________________ 45
     

6. 
   Local College & Universities General Information and Scholarships
   

- Brigham Young University – Provo_________________________________________ 56

- Brigham Young University – Idaho_________________________________________ 59

- Dixie State College _____________________________________________________ 60

- LDS Business College ___________________________________________________ 62

- Salt Lake Community College_____________________________________________ 63

- Snow College__________________________________________________________ 64

- Southern Utah University________________________________________________ 66

- Utah State University___________________________________________________ 67

- Utah State University College of Eastern Utah_______________________________ 68

- Utah Valley University__________________________________________________ 70

- Weber State University_________________________________________________ 72

- Westminster College___________________________________________________ 73

- Utah College of Applied Technology_______________________________________ 75

7. 
   College Visits and Open Houses, College Fairs, Conferences and Summer Programs
   

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  University of Utah (Partner of AMES)________________________________________ 78
  
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  Brigham Young University_________________________________________________ 79
  
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  Dixie State College_______________________________________________________ 79
  
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  LDS Business College_____________________________________________________ 80
  
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  Salt Lake Community College______________________________________________ 80
  
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  Snow College___________________________________________________________ 80
  
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  Southern Utah University_________________________________________________ 81
  
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  Utah State University____________________________________________________ 84
  
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  Utah State University College of Eastern Utah_________________________________ 85
  
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  Utah Valley University____________________________________________________ 85
  
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  Weber State University___________________________________________________ 86
  
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  Westminster College_____________________________________________________ 86
  

College Fairs_________________________________________________________________ 87

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  The 2011-2012 calendar for ACT is online at www.actstudent.org. You will find valuable information regarding test dates, signup deadlines, and practice ACT tests.
  
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  The 2011-2012 calendar for SAT test and registration information is on line at www.collegeboard.com. You will receive immediate confirmation of your registration.
  
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  Please visit www.number2.com and use the online ACT and SAT Test Prep tools they have available.
  
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  September 19^th is the last day to withdraw from a U of U CE class without penalty.
  
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  Begin reviewing the Scholarship section on the AMES High School website. Scholarships are listed in order of the month they are due.
  
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  SEOPs (Student Educational Occupational Plan) are scheduled in September and October for AMES seniors and their parents to check credits needed for graduation and college entrance. It is very important that students and their parents/guardians attend. If the scheduled appointment is inconvenient, please call the Registrar (Mrs. McHenry – 801 278-9460 ext. 108) to schedule another one.
  
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  Remember to use your Utah Futures account at http://utahfutures.org. You will have several activities that you will work on during College Forum. Research careers; search for scholarships, grants and loans; practice for the ACT/SAT online; apply for colleges online and much more.
  
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  Research at least 3 or 4 colleges to find out college entrance requirements and to become familiar with the online process. Begin the application process to colleges whose requirements you will meet.
  
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  When requesting recommendations from teachers and/or staff members make sure that your portion of the forms are filled out completely. Give staff members a minimum of two weeks to write recommendations. Provide the recommendation writer with a transcript and fill out the Letter of Recommendation Worksheet contained in the College Admissions & Scholarship Guide.
  

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  Make a list of schools that interest you and keep a file of deadlines and required admission items for each school. Take advantage of the college application checklist in the Scholarship book
  
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  Take ACT and SAT tests and have official scores sent to your colleges or universities by the testing agencies.
  
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  Review and prepare for working philosophy statements to be included with your applications. Seek help from your College Forum Advisor.
  
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  Attend the Junior/Senior Night October 6^th at AMES High School.
  
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  Attend the Post High School College Fair at our campus on October 14^th. You will have an opportunity to meet the college admissions staff from all of our Utah Colleges and Universities.
  
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  College Apps Saturday (Application Assistance) will be Saturday, October 15^th. This is for students applying to elite colleges with early deadlines.
  
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  Attend College Fair at Juan Diego Catholic High School, 300 East 11800 South, Draper, on October 29^th.
  

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  Attend College Apps Saturday (Application Assistance) November 12^th. This is for students applying to Utah Colleges and Universities with Priority Deadlines.
  
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  Requirements for Senior Project and Senior Portfolio will be given out in College Advisory. Talk with your advisor about your ideas for the project, and begin planning and collecting research.
  

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  Continue to work on your Senior Project. Please make sure to keep a log/journal about the process of your project. Start selecting samples and evidence for your portfolio.
  

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  Attend College Apps Saturday (Application Assistance) January 21^st. This is for students applying to Open Enrollment schools.
  
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  Request your official transcripts to be sent to the colleges of your choice. Forms are available in the Registrar’s Office (Kristina Spencer).
  
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  Contact the admissions office(s) of the college(s) to which you have applied to make sure that your information has been received, and that they have everything they need from you.
  
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  Continue work on your Senior Project. Be sure to keep a log/journal about the process of your project. Start selecting samples and evidence for your portfolio.
  
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  Your parents should be receiving their W-2’s and other tax information near the middle of this month. Please remind them that they must do their taxes in order for you to fill out the FAFSA and other college scholarship and financial aid forms.
  

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  Attend the State and Federal Financial Aid Overview Night February 1^st at AMES High School.
  
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  Complete and submit your college financial aid application and the Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) during this month, and check for other financial aid options. In order to be considered for financial aid, you will need to submit these forms even if you have not yet been notified of your acceptance to the college(s) to which you applied. Go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ and begin the financial aid process. If you are asked to pay a fee, you are not on the official government website.
  
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  If you completed the FAFSA, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within four weeks. Make the necessary corrections and return it to the FAFSA processor as soon as possible in order to have your forms processed quickly.
  
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  Contact the financial aid office of your college(s) to make sure that your information has been received and that they have everything they need from you.
  
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  Continue work on your Senior Project. Be sure to keep a log/journal about the process of your project. Start selecting samples and evidence for your portfolio.
  

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  Attend FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) assistance workshop March 3^rd at AMES High School.
  
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  Most colleges and universities will notify you as to acceptance by April 15.
  
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  Compare your acceptance letters, financial aid, and scholarship offers.
  
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  Your Senior Project should be nearing completion. Write drafts of your portfolio reflections, and begin editing and revising.
  

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  Senior Portfolio and Project presentations begin this month and continue into May. Have your portfolio completed and ready to go.
  

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  Take AP exams the first two weeks in May.
  
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  Make a decision by May 1^st as to which college you will be attending. Many schools require that your notification letter be postmarked by this date.
  
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  If you were placed on a waiting list for a particular college, and have decided to wait for an opening, contact that college and let them know that you are still interested.
  
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  Once you have chosen your school of acceptance and scholarships have been received, please notify our Registrar (Ms. Spencer).
  

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  Request our Registrar, Ms. Spencer, to send final transcripts to your college.
  
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  Contact your college to determine when fees for tuition, room and board are due and how much they will be.
  

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  Take a campus tour.
  
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  Have an interview with an admissions officer.
  
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  Get business cards and names of people you meet for future contacts.
  
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  Pick up financial aid forms.
  
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  Participate in a group information session at the admissions office.
  
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  Sit in on a class of a subject that interests you.
  
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  Talk to a professor in your chosen major or in a subject that interests you.
  
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  Talk to coaches of sports in which you might participate.
  
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  Talk to a student or counselor in the career center.
  
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  Spend the night in a dorm.
  
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  Read the student newspaper.
  
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  Try to find other student publications—department newsletters, alternative newspapers, literary reviews.
  
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  Scan bulletin boards to see what day-to-day student life is like.
  
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  Eat in the cafeteria.
  
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  Ask students why they chose the college.
  
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  Wander around the campus by yourself.
  
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  Read for a little while in the library and see what it's like.
  
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  Search for your favorite book in the library.
  
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  Ask students what they hate about the college.
  
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  Ask students what they love about the college.
  
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  Browse in the college bookstore.
  
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  Walk or drive around the community surrounding the campus.
  
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  Ask students what they do on weekends.
  
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  Listen to the college's radio station.
  
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  Try to see a dorm that you didn't see on the tour.
  
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  Imagine yourself attending this college for four years.
  

QUICK QUESTIONS

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  What activities and services are available to help students get settled (academically and socially).
  
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  Are all freshmen assigned an academic counselor?
  
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  Can I take courses from more than one academic division?
  
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  How soon must I choose my major? Can I change majors?
  
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  What kinds of scholarships are available?
  
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  Will I be able to work with professors on research projects?
  
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  Are courses taught mostly by faculty members or graduate students?
  
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  Are there internship opportunities? Can I study abroad?
  
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  Is there a career center on campus? If so, what services are provided?
  
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  How will my roommate be chosen?
  
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  Where do most freshmen live? Can I take a tour?
  
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  What are the athletic facilities like? Pools? Training rooms? Fitness equipment?
  
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  What kind of student organizations are on campus?
  
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  Is it a friendly campus? Is the student body diverse? Are there international students?
  
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  What is the library like?
  
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  Can I keep a car on campus?
  
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  Is there a student health center?
  
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  After visiting a few schools, details can get blurry. Take pictures. List the points about the school that stand out. Trust your instincts. Pay attention to how you feel, especially your first impression. Record your visit.
  

COLLEGE COMPARISON CHECKLIST

COLLEGE NAME:

LOCATION – CITY, STATE

Distance from Home

Enrollment

ENVIRONMENT

School Setting (Urban, Rural)

Location and Size of Nearest City

Co-ed, Male, Female

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Admissions Contact: Name: E-mail:

Phone:

Deadline

Tests Required

Average Test Scores, GPA, Rank

Special Requirements

Notification

Fee

ACADEMICS

Is Your Major Offered?

Special Requirements

Accreditation

Student-Faculty Ratio

Typical Class Size

COLLEGE EXPENSES

Tuition / Fees

Room & Board

Application Fee, Deposits

Books / Supplies

Personal Expenses

FINANCIAL AID

Deadline

Required Forms

Percent of Students Who Received Aid

Scholarships

HOUSING

Residence Hall Requirement

Availability

Deadlines

Types and Sizes

Food Plan

Fee

On / Off Campus

FACILITIES

Academic

Recreational

Other

JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES

Availability

ACTIVITIES

Clubs, Organizations

Greek Life

Athletics, Intramurals

Other

CAMPUS VISITS

When

Special Opportunities

Cost

Requirements

Contact

CONTACT WITH PERSON WHO HAS ATTENDED THIS SCHOOL

What is their opinion?

Many institutions make admission decisions in a straight forward, objective manner by considering only academic criteria, like SAT/ACT, grade point average, class rank, and SAT subject tests. The more selective institutions make their decisions more subjectively. In these institutions a combination of your academic profile, and personal profile based on additional information found in your application – essays, creative exercises, interview report, activities and interests and recommendations from teachers, counselors, principal, etc. – are used to assess several general areas and make a decision on admission.

Admissions counselors want an accurate, confident portrayal spiced with a few sparks of originality. Their charge is to identify and enroll the best class possible. They are looking to create a good ethnic, social, economic, and geographic mix of students. The college needs geniuses in their class to ensure academic pace. They want an occasional eccentric to balance cynicism and remind them of individuality. They need artists and musicians to represent the richness of society. They need leaders who can provide vision and inspiration. They are looking for active members and doers who can make the vision come true. Questions that admission counselors ask themselves: What is the institution getting? What does the candidate value, and what makes her or him tick? Is there evidence of real intellectual curiosity? What have the applicants accomplished in the classroom? Have they challenged themselves academically? Have they taken advantage of the curriculum available? Have they taken an occasional academic risk or remained in a safe harbor by studying only those areas in which they are most able? How did they perform in comparison to other academically motivated students in their school? What has the candidate accomplished beyond the classroom? Is there some evidence that the applicant has pursued outside interests with persistence and a measurable degree of compassion? How has the candidate demonstrated a concern for the greater good?

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  Take a strong course schedule. Don’t take courses that simply pad your GPA.
  
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  Do volunteer work. Volunteer for activities that reflect your personality.
  
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  Do your very best on the entrance exams (i.e., ACT/SAT). Take sample tests beforehand. Read the directions and test questions carefully.
  
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  Find the school that’s right for you. Develop your ideal college profile. Pick one that best matches your desires, goals, objectives and abilities.
  
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  Fill out the application accurately. Approach each application as if it were the only one that you’re filling out. Read the directions carefully and follow them precisely.
  
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  Craft excellent application essays. Start by brainstorming for an original topic. When writing, be clear, concise and well organized. And don’t forget to check grammar and spelling.
  
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  Submit applications as early as possible.
  

All college applications may look the same, but read the directions carefully – they can be quite different. Read the entire directions BEFORE you begin to fill it out. Submit the correct number of essays. If it says “choose one,” select only one. If it says to “complete all,” write an essay for every topic requested. If it says 200 word essay, submit a 200 word essay. If an essay question has more than one section, provide an answer for every part. Make sure that your responses answer the questions – that it’s clear which response goes with which answer. Compute the grade point average according to the instructions. Different schools use different methods. Be careful not to confuse ‘country’ with ‘county.’ Expect flubs, so make copies prior to typing your application. Use a computer, word processor or typewriter. It will make your application easier to read and shows that you cared enough to spend a little more time. NEATNESS COUNTS!

SINS OF OMISSION

BLOOPERS AND BLUNDERS

Include name, contact information and project title on every work sample/portfolio sent. Include name, date of birth, social security number, contact information and essay title on each page of your application essay.

America’s Literacy Directory http://www.literacydirectory.org/

American Red Cross www.redcross.org

America’s Second Harvest http://feedingamerica.org/

Bureau of Land Management Volunteers www.blm.gov/volunteer/index.html

Corporation for National and Community Service http://www.nationalservice.gov/

Department of Veteran’s Affairs http://www.volunteer.va.gov/

Habitat for Humanity www.habitat.org

Hawk Watch International http://www.hawkwatch.org/

Idealist http://www.idealist.org/if/as/vol

Learn and Serve www.learnandserve.org

National Park Service www.nps.gov/volunteer

Nature Conservancy http://www.nature.org/volunteer/

Points of Light Institute http://www.pointsoflight.org/

Salvation Army www.salvationarmyusa.org

Special Olympics www.specialolympics.org

U.S. Fish and Wildlife http://www.fws.gov/volunteers/

Volunteer Match http://www.volunteermatch.org/

Volunteers of America http://www.voa.org/

Youthlinc http://www.youthlinc.org/

Boys & Girls Clubs Museums

Camp Kostopulos Newspaper Offices

Catholic Community Services Nursing Homes

Chamber of Commerce Parks & Recreation

Child-Care Centers Great Salt Lake Park

Children’s Museum Jordan River Trailway

City Parks This Is the Place Heritage Park

Community Centers Pioneer Valley Hospital

Crossroads Urban Center Playgrounds

Discovery Gateway Political Campaigns

Elementary Schools Primary Children’s Medical Center

Environmental Organizations Recycling Centers

Family Support Center Ronald McDonald House

Food Banks Salt Lake Peer Court

Foundation for Children/Youth/Diabetes School Computer Labs

Hogle Zoo Scout Troops

Homeless Shelters Senior Citizen Centers

Hospitals Shriners’ Hospital for Children

Huntsman Cancer Hospital Special Olympics

Kostopulos Dream Foundation State Parks

LDS Humanitarian Center Tracy Aviary

Legacy House Tree Utah

Libraries Utah Food Bank

Literacy Programs Wasatch Community Gardens

Local Sports Leagues Wheeler Historic Farm

Make A Wish Foundation of Utah 211 Info Bank Volunteer Center
ACT AND SAT TEST OVERVIEW
Registration deadlines are important and are well ahead of the test dates. You need to know your high school code (CEEB code). AMES school code is 450-360. The preferred and easy way to register for the ACT and SAT tests is on-line. www.actstudent.org (ACT test) and www.collegeboard.com (SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subject Tests.)
If you include the schools CEEB code, 450-360, when you register, your scores will be sent to AMES, and it will be included on your transcript. However, many colleges and the NCAA Clearinghouse require students to have official score reports sent directly for the testing agency, so you must request that your scores be sent to the colleges. You may send your scores to several colleges for no extra fee if you request this when you register for the tests. To request additional score reports, you must contact the testing agencies and pay a fee.
The ACT test is a 175 minute exam in 4 parts: English (75 questions, 45 minutes), Math (60 questions, 60 minutes), Reading Comprehension (40 questions, 35 minutes), and Science Reasoning (40 questions, 35 minutes).

An optional 30 minute writing exam is offered. The prompt will give an issue to write about. ACT.org has a list of colleges that require the ACT writing exam. Westminster College in Salt Lake City is the only college in Utah that “recommends” the writing portion as of September 2009. Beginning 2011, BYU will require the Writing Exam. It is suggested that if you want to attend college outside of the state of Utah that you take the writing exam. The writing option has an additional fee.

Your score on the ACT test will be based on the number of questions that you answer correctly: there is no penalty for guessing. However, there is a .5 penalty for all questions left unanswered. Scoring 0– 36.
The SAT Reasoning Test will include: 70 minute Critical Reading: reading comprehension, sentence completions and paragraph-length critical reading. The answers will be multiple choices. It will score CR 200 – 800. The 70 minute math test will include basic arithmetic, Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II. The answers will be multiple choice and student-produced responses. It will score: M 200 –800. A 60 minute Writing Test will include grammar, usage and word choice. The answers will be multiple choice and an essay. The essay question will ask you to take a position on an issue and support it persuasively with examples from your studies and experience. It will score: Composite: W 200 – 800.
Each SAT section has 3 levels of difficulty: easy, medium and hard. Spend most of the time on the medium questions. Taking the time to get these questions correct will contribute greatly to an increased score. Eliminate wrong answers if you must guess. Only a quarter-point is subtracted for every wrong answer.
The SAT Subject Test needs to be taken on a day other than the day of the SAT Reasoning Test. Check with your college to see if they require this exam. If they “recommend” the test, it is to your advantage to take it.

Free Online ACT/SAT Test Preparation

Number 2 www.number2.com