WHAT TO DO AND WHEN TO DO IT

The final two years of high school are busy times in your life-homework, sports, proms and work. At the same time, you should be planning for college. The following is a checklist to use as a guide to help you obtain financing for your educational dream.

JUNIOR YEAR

Attend college nights and education fairs.

Take the PSAT, ACT and/or SAT exams.

Visit schools that interest you during the spring and summer. Call ahead to arrange campus tours.

Investigate scholarship opportunities. Find out about scholarships offered by your church, fraternal organizations to which your parents belong, and civic and business groups in career fields that interest you.

SENIOR YEAR

SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER

Attend college nights and education fairs.

Write to the admissions offices of colleges that most interest you.

Obtain admission, scholarship and financial aid information.

Review the information you receive and select the schools, which interest you.

Send in admission application forms. (See College Application Procedures.)

Work with your high school counselor to obtain applications for scholarships.

Ask teachers, employer or minister if they would provide you with a letter of reference if necessary.

College application procedures
Applications for colleges/universities are available on-line or in the Student Services office. Most colleges require an application fee and high school transcript. To have your official high school transcript sent to the college or university at which you are applying, you need to sign for the transcript with the registrar in the high school principal's office. There is no charge for a transcript. Most applications also request verification of classes you are or will be taking during your senior year. You will need to go to Student Services for verification and a counselor's signature. If applying on line, you will need to pay your application fee by credit card. If you are sending in a paper application, you will need to include a check. The administrative assistant in the Student Services office will help you with this process, and will send your completed application, payment and official transcript to the appropriate college.

Process of signing for an Official Transcript:

From now until the end of the school year, you will be making and remaking decisions about your future. Whether your plans include college or the world of work, you’ll need to produce a record of your academic endeavors at WHS. That record comes in the form of a “transcript.” A transcript not only includes grade marks from your freshman through senior years with GPA & Class Rank, but also shows your ACT, SAT, and AP testing results, as well as, immunization records and a listing of activities in which you participated at WHS.

Each time you fill out a college or scholarship application, you must also sign for an official transcript to go along with that application. Here’s how to complete this process:

Method #1: (The usual method)

Pick up a college or scholarship application at Student Services.
Sign for an official transcript with the Registrar, Mrs. Seward, in the Principal’s office indicating that it should be sent to Student Services.
Return your application & fee check (if applicable) to Shelly Trego, Administrative Assistant, Student Services.
Mrs. Trego will combine your application with the transcript, fee check, any necessary teacher/counselor recommendations and mail the packet to the college. (At no cost to you)

Method #2: (By computer)

Go online to the college website and enter the required data. If you do not make an online fee payment by credit card, personally mail any fee that may be required. (At your own cost)
Sign for an official transcript in the Principal’s office indicating that you applied online.
Be sure to mention if you need to include any additional data such as a class schedule or teacher/counselor recommendation, etc.
Mrs. Seward will mail your transcript to the college. (At no cost to you)

Method #3: (By mail)

Obtain an application or scholarship form directly from the college.
Personally mail the application and applicable fee to the college. (At your own cost)
Sign for an official transcript in the Principal’s office indicating that the transcript should be mailed separately to the college. (At no cost to you)

Some things to remember:

Applications for all SD state sponsored schools: [USD/SDSU/DSU/NSU/BHSU/SDSMT]are sent to the Enrollment Service Center in Vermillion. Your transcript will be mailed to the ESC, not directly to the college.

Transcripts located on the Campus portal are not official!!!

Sign for an official copy from the Registrar in the Principal’s office.

JANUARY

Apply early! Financial aid is awarded on first come-first served basis! To apply for financial aid, you must complete a need analysis form to determine your eligibility. Check with the school(s) of your choice to determine which needs analysis form is required. Obtain FAFSA forms from your high school counselor or the college financial aid office. File parent's and student's (if necessary) income tax return(s) as soon after January 1 as possible. Complete the FAFSA form using information from tax returns and other sources. Make copies of the completed forms for your files. Check scholarship-filing deadlines, work on applications, arrange for reference letters if required.

FEBRUARY-MARCH

You will begin to receive letters of acceptance from schools. You should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) about four to six weeks after you mail your FAFSA form. At the same time, the financial aid office at the schools you selected will receive a similar report. Sign and mail your SAR (make a photocopy for your files) to the school you plan to attend.

APRIL-AUGUST

After you are accepted and your financial aid file is completed, the school will send you an Award Letter. This letter lists the types of financial aid available to you and the amount you have awarded. Your school will tell you what you must do to receive any of the following aid awards: Pell Grant, College Work-Study Program, Perkins Loan, SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant), and Stafford Loan (formerly Guaranteed Student Loan). Notify the school you plan to attend of any scholarships received from outside sources. Accept or decline the offered financial aid by signing the award letter and returning it to the school.

Contact your school and lender for the process to follow if you have been awarded a Stafford Loan. If the financial aid awarded by your school will not be sufficient, you may contact your lender to inquire about: SLS (Supplemental Loan for Students), PLUS (Parent Loan for Students), Bank Collegiate Loan Program, and other alternative loan programs. Contact your lender to obtain applications

GENERAL COLLEGE & CAREER SEARCH INFORMATION

ACT

http://www.act.org/
This is ACT’s main site, providing many educational services.

http://www.act.org/path/student/
This portion of ACT’s web site provides information for students about college and careers.

http://www.act.or/aap/
Have questions about the ACT assessment Test? This site contains everything you need to know.

America’s Career Info Net

http://www.acinet.org
This site contains occupational information that will assist you in your employment search and give you information on current job markets.

Campus Tours

http://www.campustours.com
Want to see what a campus looks like without driving across the country? This site provides virtual tours of colleges throughout the nation.

College Board

http://www.collegeboard.com
This is a complete site for planning for college, taking tests, finding the right college, getting into college, and paying for college.

College View

http://www.collegeview.com
This is a complete web site covering all aspects of college including college search, scholarship search, virtual tours, financial aid, test prep center, career center, and much more.

Mapping Your Future

http://www.mapping-yourfuture.org
This award winning site provides information to help you plan your career, select a school, and pay for your education.

Occupational Outlook Handbook

http://www.bls.gov/ocohome.htm
The information found on this interactive site will guide you through your skills and interests to qualifications, educational requirements, and salary estimates.

Two Year Community and Technical Institutions

http://www.cset.sp.utoledo.edu/twoyrcol.html
This web site provides information to persons seeking a two-year community or technical opportunity.

U Links

http://www.ulinks.com
Search for specific kinds of schools including community colleges, culinary, religious, and male/female only schools, as well as links to student aid and other information.

HOW DO I PAY FOR COLLEGE?

Cash for College

http://www.nasfaa.org/SubHomes/CashForCollege/index2.html
This site contains information regarding available federal financial aid programs.

FAFSA Instructions

http://www.ed.gov/prog_info/SFA/FAFSA
This web site explains how to properly complete a FAFSA, the purpose of the questions, and how to report information in some unusual cases.

FAFSA on the Web

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
This site allows you to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit it for processing on-line.

Financial Aid Information Page

http://www.finaid.org
This site contains a financial aid estimation calculator, a college cost projector, an educational savings plan designer, scholarship information, and much more.

Paying for School

http://www.mapping-yourfuture.org/paying
This Mapping Your Future site provides advice on how to pay for your education.

PIN Registration

http://www.pin.ed.gov
The Pin serves as your identifier to let you access your personal information in various U.S. Department of Education systems. You can request a PIN and change your PIN on this site.

Student Financial Assistance

http://www.ed.gov/studentaid
This site provides help lines for students applying for federal student aid.

SCHOLARSHIP SEARCHES

Fast Web

http://www.fastweb.com
Search this site for scholarships for which you may be eligible to apply.

MACH 25

http://www.collegenet.com/mach25
This scholarship search site offers you a database of 600,000 potential scholarship matches.

MOLIS

http://www.sciencewise.com/molis
This search site provides information about scholarship opportunities for qualified minority applicants.

http://scholarships.com
Start your free college scholarship search here. Your results are delivered to you immediately on-line.

Scholarship Scams

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/scholarship/
Don’t get taken by phony scholarships search offers. Check out this site first.

RESPONSIBLE BORROWING & MANAGING STUDENT LOAN DEBT

Borrower Responsibilities from The Student Guide

http://www.ed.gov/prog_info/SFA/StudentGuide/2001-2/responsa.html
This Department of Education site lets you know what your responsibilities are when you take out a loan.

College board’s What To Do Before You Borrow

http://www.collegeboard.com/article/0,1120,6-33-46-442,00.html?oig+sub
This site provides tips for saving money on loans.

College Is Possible – Responsible Borrowing

http://www.collegeispossible.org/paying/borrowing.htm
Need help knowing how much you really need to borrow? This site also provides loan and credit card information.

Managing Your Student Loan Debt

http://www.slcsloanhelp.com/managing_your_student_loan_debt.htm
This site shows you how to make repaying your student loan as painless as possible

MILITARY SITES

FinAid-Military Aid

http://www.finaid.org/military
This FinAid site provides information about the financial aid resources available through the military.

My Future

http://www.myfuture.com
This site contains military opportunity and tuition assistance information.

Selective Service On-Line Registration

http://www.sss.gov
Use this link to register for Selective Service on-line.

CONTACT EAC FOR ASSISTANCE
EAC is here to help you.

Financial Aid Questions 1-800-874-9033

Loan Questions 1-800-592-1802, Press 1

FAFSA Questions 1-800-874-9033

EAC Website www.eac-easci.org

*These sites were provided by EAC, a private nonprofit corporation. EAC is a guarantor in the Federal Family Education Loan Program and provides financial aid information to students and their families. EAC does not endorse any products and/or services listed on these sites.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Winning Money for College: The high school student's guide to scholarship contests.

Alan Deutschman

The first complete guide to scholarship competitions that students can enter and win on their own. It is the only compilation of facts, figures, dates and advice pertaining to America's most prestigious and most financially rewarding privately offered scholarships. Includes over 50 national contests that cover public speaking, science, citizenship, and more.

The College Money Handbook The complete guide to expenses, scholarships, loans, Jobs, and special aid programs at four-year colleges.

Eighth Edition Editor: Andrea E Lehman

Data Editor: Eric A. Suber

The only book that describes the complete picture of costs and financial aid at accredited four-year colleges in the United States. The book is divided into three sections: an overview of the financial aid process and ways to make it work for you; and directories listing colleges by the types of financial aid programs they offer.

Guide to Four-Year Colleges

Twenty-second Edition Editor: Andrea E. Lehman

Data Editor: Eric A. Suber

The largest, most up-to-date guide to the over 1,900 accredited four-year colleges in the United States and Canada. Contains concise college profiles, a reader guidance section, and two-page "Messages from the Colleges" that are found in no other guide.

How the Military Will Help You Pay For College: The high school students guide to ROTC, The academics, and special programs.

Don M. Betterton, Director of Financial Aid, Princeton University

This book gives full information on this important source of financial aid for college. Written with the cooperation of ROTC officers, Academy admissions officers, and other military personnel, this book explains eligibility and service obligations in detail and helps you choose the program that would be best for you. This book is divided into three sections: a description of all the scholarship options open to graduating high school seniors going directly to college, describes all scholarship and tuition-payment programs open to men and women who go into the Armed Forces after graduation from high school, and contains overview of all ROTC host units, Army, Navy, Air Force units, officers' height/weight requirements, and military pay and benefits.

The Scholarship Book 11th Edition: The complete guide to private-sector scholarships, grants, and loans for undergraduates.

Daniel J. Cassidy, National Scholarship Research Service

Revised by Ellen Schneid Coleman Research Group

This comprehensive directory puts you in touch with more than 50,000 private sector scholarships, grants, loans, internships, and contest prizes covering every major field of study, from to zoology. In this updated third edition, you'll find the latest information taken from the computer database of the largest private-sector college financial aid research service in the world.

The College Board Book of Majors First Edition: What's the major for you? 180 professors help you choose. Where can you study it? 900 majors at 3.600 colleges, listed by state.

This book provides information on everything you need to choose a college major and how to find the colleges that offer it. Leading professors from colleges across the country answer all of your questions about 180 of the most popular undergraduate majors offered at two- and four-year colleges. You'll get the inside scoop on:

- What the study of each major is like.

- Majors that match your interests and skills.

- What you should take in high school to prepare for each major.

- Questions you should ask departments about their programs.

- Career options and job trends.

- Majors offered a more than 3,760-0 accredited colleges and universities.

- Schools in your state or region that offer the majors you're considering.

- degree levels offered at each school - from associate to Ph.D.

- Special academic programs, including: combined degree programs ( B.A./M.A.), student-designed majors,

accelerated programs.

Discover What You're Best At: A complete career system that lets you test yourself to discover your own true career abilities.

Linda Gale, former Executive Director of Career Aptitude Testing, Ltd.

This best-selling career guide will help you discover your true talents and make successful career choices.

Its unique National Career Aptitude System enables to you identify not only your interests but also your innate talents and potential skills, and then to match your career strengths to dozens of the more than 1,100 jobs described in detail. "Discover What You're Best At" enables you to set realistic and rewarding career goals based on your abilities. It gives you the edge you need to take on the job market and succeed in your chosen career.

Interview for Success: A Practical Guide to Increasing Job Interviews, Offers, and Salaries 8th Edition

Caryl and Ron Krannich, Ph.Ds

Designed to prepare job seekers for all types of job interview, this guide is packed with solid advice on getting interviews, handling interview questions, and negotiating salaries. The authors show interviewees how to best prepare for different types of interviews, network for information and advice, handle stress, observe etiquette, formulate key questions, rehearse the tough questions, dress appropriately, communicate class, listen effectively, research salary comparables, handle the critical post-interview period, and much more. This is an ideal resource for anyone organizing a job search and preparing for the critical job interview.

Peterson's Best College Admission Essays - 3rd Edition

Mark Alan Stewart & Cynthia C. Muchnick

This book will help you get your college application noticed with an unforgettable college admission essay. Find need-to-know tips on content, theme, style, and format. Get your creative juices flowing with a ton of brainstorming ideas. Find out what keeps admission officials reading - in their own words. Discover why the essay may be the most important part of your application.

The Secrets of Taking Any Test - 2nd Edition

Judith N. Meyers

Taking a test can be nerve-wracking, especially when your future is riding on the results. But test taking can be a positive experience, especially when you follow the test-preparation program in The Secrets of Taking Any Test. You can dramatically improve your test scores by following the Learning Express method. Ace any test by learning:

- The most effective ways to memorize.

- The 5 classic methods to overcome test anxiety

- The right (and wrong) way to cram

- The 10 most common test-day problems - and solutions

- How test makers try to distract you.

- How to become an educated guesser.

- How to predict the subjects for essay questions in advance.