Jeff  Wyatt
     Counselor 

Guidance

Act Dates
Senior Parents
Junior Parents
College/Military Links for Parents

ACT Dates

Test Date    Regular Deadline
October 23, 2010   September 17. 2010
December 11, 2010   November 5, 2010
February 12, 2011   January 7, 2011
April 9, 2011    March 4, 2011
June 11, 2011    May 6, 2011
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You should be narrowing down the list of colleges your graduate is considering attending in the fall and apply. Most colleges and universities have an application deadline of December 15 to be considered for merit and endowment scholarships.  Schools will accept the December 11th ACT scores if it is sent to the school from ACT.

Check into the scholarship search engine located at www.fastweb.com.  This website is an opportunity to explore what scholarships your child may be eligible for.  You will fill out a wide-ranging questionnaire; then after searching their extensive data base they email the list of scholarships your child qualifies.  You also will receive up to date deadlines as they approach along with informative articles making the college decision easier.  Also remember to look on the website www.hsfmo.org.  The ID is hsf, and the password is mo.

Community or Junior Colleges
If your graduate is planning on attending a Junior College for the next two years Junior Colleges will accept either an ACT score or the results from a computer based exam called the COMPAS.  This is a test measuring math and English skills that will be used for placement into these programs.  Students typically perform better on the COMPAS than the ACT for the reason that the COMPAS testis limited to Algebra and basic Geometry while the ACT includes advanced math.

Junior Colleges provide a good transition from the structure of high school to the freedom students enjoy at the post secondary level.  Smaller classes allow faculty to monitor student progress and provide availability professors at four year schools do not have the luxury for. Students continuing their education at a four year school find courses automatically accepted if they graduate with an Associate of Arts Degree as opposed to simply transferring with a number of hours.  With the A. A. Degree universities must accept the work completed allowing the student to begin working toward their major field.  Without the A. A. Degree universities may pick and choose what course they will accept; students often find themselves repeating courses they already have taken.
 
 

In January or the first of February we will be opening the Computer Lab one evening so you can have the opportunity to fill out the FAFSA.  The FAFSA is a website the government sponsors to assist in determining eligibility for federal grants and assistance.  Colleges you select are also sent this information which is used to award endowment scholarships to their student body.  All students looking for college scholarships from universities will need to fill out this important document.  Once this date is selected we will announce it here and through the Wildcat.
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Now is a good time to be thinking about colleges, universities or technical schools your child may be interested in or the direction they will want to take.  Technical School programs run anywhere from 18 months to two years.  These may be a little more expensive but require shorter training, putting graduates into the workforce quicker.  Their placement rate is usually around 98 percent placement, meaning 98 percent of their graduates find jobs in their field of study.  Junior college programs last two years or may bridge into a program at a university.  Junior Colleges are usually cheaper and have a smaller student body.  University programs take anywhere from four to eight years depending on the program.

This coming summer would be a good time to visit the schools you and your child are interested in and get a feel for the campus along with the community of the college.  Meet with admissions staff and ask for a guided tour.  It is also important to ask about entrance requirements; this will give decisions during the senior year a direction.
 
 

I will have available at my table a pamphlet put out by ACT geared to Junior parents.  I ordered a supply for Senior Parents because some of the information will be handy as you make the final college selection.  Trying to explain what this publication contains is difficult limited to a paragraph or two.  It will walk you through step by step the process of looking for, selecting, and developing ways to pay for a college education.  This flyer is for Midwest state so the information is specific to our area.  Any resource the ACT puts out is excellent and a great resource for parents sending their first child to college or a refresher for parents who have been through this process.  If you have any question please feel free to contact me.

During Parent/Teacher Conferences I will have available the courses your child should take if they are interested in attending a four year school, junior college or a technical school.  The courses may vary depending on the path they wish to take.  The course paths may not diverge until the junior year.  These are things you need to consider as well as the GPA your student has and the ACT score they receive.  Be sure to pick one up and discuss it with your child.  If you have any questions please feel free to discuss it with me.

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 Kuder Career Planning System--Free career planning assistance for students in Missouri.  Check it out!!!  See me for a four-digit access code.
www.mo.kuder.com

Search for Information about Colleges and Universities in the United States
www.anycollege.net

Links to Webpages for All Colleges and Universities in the State of Missouri
http://www.statehousegirls.net/mo/colleges/

Murray State University
www.murraystate.edu

University of Illinois-Champaign
www.uiuc.edu

Information for All Military Branches
http://www.armedforcescareers.com/

Reminders:

 Pay attention to deadlines for the applications for admission and scholarships for the schools of interest to you.

 Apply for admission prior to or at the same time as you apply for scholarships

 Apply to any and all colleges of interest to you and narrow your decision down to just one as your senior year draws to a close

**** Request that I send your transcripts  to the colleges that you have applied to; this will enable your admission process to be completed without delays.****

ACT Registration and Test Information
www.actstudent.org

Wired Scholar--Scholarship/College Information
www.wiredscholar.com

Fastweb--Scholarship/College Information
www.fastweb.com

FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aide
www.fafsa.ed.gov

SAT Registration and Test Information
www.collegeboard.com

Occupational Outlook Handbook
http://www.bls.gov/oco/

NCAA Clearinghouse Initial Eligibility
www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

Selective Service Registration
www.sss.gov