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Counselors' Corner Home :: Calendar :: Resources :: Testing Information :: Scholarships :: Forms
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER
WELCOME TO THE PFLUGERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER WEBSITE. ALL STUDENTS ARE WELCOME TO VISIT THE CENTER WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE LIBRARY. HERE YOU WILL FIND INFORMATION ON HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OF YOUR HIGH SCHOOL YEARS AS YOU PREPARE TO APPLY TO COLLEGE; HOW TO CHOSE A COLLEGE OR TRADE SCHOOL; AND HOW TO FUND YOUR COLLEGE/CAREER EDUCATION. I HOPE YOU FIND THE LINKS LISTED ON THIS PAGE USEFUL. CHECK BACK FREQUENTLY FOR INFORMATION ON REPRESENTATIVE VISITS, COLLEGE OPEN HOUSES, AND SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCEMENTS. IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION, FEEL FREE TO CALL OR EMAIL ME USING THE CONTACT INFORMATION BELOW:
JULIE PETRUS
TRANSITION COUNSELOR
512-594-0533
REPRESENTATIVE VISITS:
(look who is coming!)
7th period (3:22) in the lecture hall!
Texas State University rep. Javier Garcia: Wednesday, October 28
UT-Dallas rep. Ingrid London: Thursday, November 5
UT-Arlington rep. Andrew Doutaniuk: Tuesday, November 17
RESOURCES:
www.schoolguides.com
OPPORTUNITIES:
Student Leaders of Tomorrow
Leadership Conference for Juniors and Seniors @ Texas A & M University
Deadline January 15, 2010
visit http://slot.tamu.edu to register
COLLEGE ANNOUNCEMENTS:
ApplyTexas.org is open!!!
Texas State Technical College
College Preview and Open House
March 26 (9 am to 2 pm)
March 27 (9 am to 2 pm)
visit www.tstc.edu
or call 1-800-792-8784 for more information
Huston-Tillotson University
PASS program-- office of the first year experience
call 512-505-3045 for more information
University of Texas at Tyler
Patriot Preview Day
Saturday, March 20, 2010
8:30 am to 12:00 pm
register online at www.go2uttyler.com/previewday
Concordia University
Campus Visit Days
November 14
December 4
January 16
March 15
March 25-26
April 24
go to Discover.concordia.edu to register
University of Texas at San Antonio
UTSA Day
November 14
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Come to Class Day
February 12 and April
9 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Spring Fling
March 6th
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
go to www.utsa.edu/visitor for more information
Tarleton State University
Texas Tour (campus preview day)
November 7, 2009
register online at www.tarleton.edu/welcome
or call 1-800-687-4878
Huston-Tillotson University
Senior Day 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
go to www.htu.edu for more information
Portland State University
Freshmen Preview Day: Saturday, November 14, 2009
go to http://www.pdx.edu/admissions/viking-visitation
NASA
High School Aerospace Scholars
Deadline to apply: November 13
go to http://aerospacescholars.jsc.nasa.gov/
for application and more information
Wayland Baptist University
Gold Rush
November 7, 2009
Go to www.wbu.edu for more information
or call 1-800-588-1928
SMU
Homecoming Open House
Saturday, November 7
J. Lindsay Embrey Building
register online: lyle.smu.edu/card/Homecoming2009
or call 214-768-3041
Explore Johns Hopkins University
go to apply.jhu.edu/visit/explorehopkins.html for full details
RSVP online at apply.jhu.edu/explorehopkins.rsvp
Texas A&M University
Scheduled events
Aggie Game Da y Visit
Nov. 21 A&M vs. Baylor
Tickets, travel and food provided
(students must be top 50% of class, started applytexas, 1300/27 SAT/ACT
and submit official high school transcript)
visit Ms. Petrus in the college and career center for more information.
Concordia University Campus visits
Nov. 14
Dec. 4
Jan. 16
March 15
March 25-26
April 24
visit discover.concordia.edu to register
Saturdays at SMU
Nov. 7, 14, 21
Dec. 5
email ugadmission@smu.edu for more information
Interested in visiting UTSA?
"UTSA Day" is November 14th 9-noon
"Come to Class Day" is February 12th and/or April 9th from 9-2:00pm
Spring Fling is March 6th fro 9-3:00 pm
Go to www.utsa.edu/visitor for more information
APPLICATION DEADLINES:
UT application deadlines:
summer/fall 2009: January 15, 2009
summer/fall 2010: December 15, 2009
summer/fall 2011: December 1, 2010
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
NFIB YEF (Young Entrepreneur Foundation)
Deadline is December 31, 2009
visit www.NFIB.com/YEA or call 1-800-552-6342
or see Ms. Petrus in the College and Career Center for more information
National CO-OP Scholarship Program
application deadline: February 15, 2010
go to www.co-op.edu for online application
or see Ms. Petrus in College and Career Center
Goss-Michael Foundation Texas Art Scholarship
Deadline: March 31, 2010
See Ms. Petrus in the College and Career Center for more information
Barbara Jordan Historical Essay Competition
Deadline: Monday, February 1, 2010
See Ms. Petrus in the College and Career Center for more information
Texas Student Housing
application deadline: January 31, 2010
open to students accepted at colleges in Austin, College Station, or Denton, Texas
see Ms. Petrus for an application
Herff Jones Principal's Leadership Award
nomination forms available at www.principals.org
Zachary Vasquez Memorial Scholarship
Due date April 23
See Ms. Petrus for an application
St. Edward's University Premier Scholarship Opportunities
go to www.gotostedwards.com/meritawards.xml
for more information
NCWIT (National Center for Women in Technology)
go to www.ncwit.org/work.awards.aspiration.html
for details
BigSun Scholarship
for student athletes regardless of sport
deadline June 24, 2010
go to www.bigsunathletics.com for information on how to apply
DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) Good Citizens Program
Due November 20, 2009
See Ms. Petrus for application and guidelines
Soroptimist International of Austin, TX
(for women)
go to http://www.austinsoroptimist.org/category/about-us
for more information and application
UTSA Terry Foundation Scholarship Program
go to www.utsa.edu/terryscholars for application and more information
Fleet Reserve Association Americanism Essay Contest
What Memorial Day Means to Me
Deadline December 1, 2009
See Ms. petrus for information and guidelines
Mensa Foundation
go to www.mensafoundation.org/scholarships
for application and more information
must be postmarked by January 15, 2010
Angelo State University
Institutional Scholarship Application/Carr Academic Scholarship Program
www.angelo.edu
Abbott and Fenner Scholarship Program
go to www.abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.htm for
application and more information
deadline is June 19, 2010
2010 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
go to www.principals.org/prudential
for more information, or come see Ms. Petrus in the College and Career Center
Ohio State Alumni Club of Austin
Deadline February 1, 2010
go to www.osu.edu/futurestudents for application and more information
Baylor University's Carr P. Collins Scholars Program
must be postmarked by January 31, 2010
Download application at http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/74483.pdf
UT Arlington
offers merit-based scholarships ranging from $8,000 to $32,000 to students who are ranked in the top 50% of their graduating class and meet the SAT/ACT requirements! To see if you are eligible or to get more information, log onto www.uta.edu/scholarships
Oh, the Places You'll Go! College Scholarship Program
Essay Contest
Due February 15, 2010
go to www.ohtheplaces.org to download application or
visit Ms. Petrus in the College and Career Center
Financial aid and Scholarship sites:
www.students.gov
www.back2college.com
www.collegexpress.com
www.collegeaid.com
www.college.com
www.fastweb.com
www.fastaid.com
www.finaid.org
www.saafdn.org
www.collegeboard.com
www.military.com
www.free-4u.com/minorities
www.hsf.net
www.blackexcel.org
www.aihec.org
www.ncaa.org
ACC INFORMATION:
For information on ACC connections, visit:
http://www.austincc.edu/isd/pflugerville_isd/phs.php
IMPORTANT TIMELINE
Junior Year
Start to think about your college choices. Make an appointment with your guidance counselor to talk about your options. Conduct a free college search online at www.fastweb.com.
Take the ACT and/or SAT in the spring. High scores increase your chance of winning scholarships, so you may want to take the tests again next fall if you are not pleased with your score.
Talk to your parents about college costs. Visit: www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov and www.finaid.org/calculators.
Request applications and brochures from your top college choices and visit their websites.
Visit prospective colleges over the summer. Ask college friends about their college experience.
Fall - Senior Year
Organize applications by creating files for each of your target schools. List all requirements and deadlines.
Retake the ACT and/or SAT if you are looking to improve your score.
Request letters of recommendation as soon as possible from teachers and community leaders (at least one month before the application due date).
Visit www.fastweb.com to find scholarships. Check out www.finaid.org to learn more about financial aid.
Winter - Senior Year
Work on those college applications. Many applications are due in early January.
Register for a PIN so you can complete and sign the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at: www.pin.ed.gov
File the FAFSA: www.fafsa.ed.gov, ASAP after January 1st.
Check with your prospective schools about additional financial aid application forms and requirements.
Spring - Senior Year
Check email/mail regularly for admisisons decisions.
Compare your admissions offers. Ask your guidance counselor and parents to help you weigh your options.
Review your SAR for any mistakes and report them to your prospective school. Your SAR should arrive approx. 3-5 days after you submit the FAFSA online, or 10 days after your paper FAFSA is received.
Time for a decision! Most schools ask that you choose your school by May 1st.
Check deadlines for housing, financial aid, etc.
Financial Aid Question to Consider
What types of financial aid packages does the school offer?
Are any tuition increases planned in the next few years?
What kind of work opportunities are available on campus?
What are the deadlines for submitting financial aid forms?
How will outside scholarships affect my aid package?
What state financial aid programs do I qualify for?
Is there a payment installment plan?
Glossary: Key Terms You Will Encounter
Award Letter: A letter telling you what financial aid your college is offering to you (including types, amounts offered, specific program information, etc.). You may choose to accept some or all of what is offered.
Credit (or Credit Hour): A unit of measurement for fulfilling course requirements. Most colleges require that you complete a certain number in order to graduate.
Cost of Attendance: Includes all costs associated with attending college: tuition and fees, room/board, books and supplies, etc.
Enrollment Status: Indicates you attend school full-time or part-time. In general, you must attend at least part-time to qualify for financial aid.
Expected Family Contribution (EFC): Amount students and their family are expected to contribute financially toward cost of attendance.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Students must fill out the FAFSA each year to find out how much federal aid they are eligible to receive. www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Open Admissions: Students are admitted regardless of academic qualifications. Most community colleges have an open admissions policy.
Out-of-State Students: Generally applies to students attending a public university outside of their home state. Out-of-state students must pay a higher tuition rate unless they establish legal residency for the state where they attend school.
Rolling Admissions: There is no set admissions deadline date; qualified students are accepted until classes are filled.
Student Aid Report (SAR): This notifies you that your FAFSA has been processed. Your EFC also appears on the SAR.
What Are Colleges Looking For?
Application Dos and Don’ts
DOS
DO follow the rules- If an application asks you to choose one essay, do not answer them all. Read the application directions completely before answering any questions.
DO include everything- Verify all forms have been signed and that you have included all essays and recommendations. Double check that you have not left out anything important. Make copies for your records.
DO pay attention to deadlines- Submit your application with plenty of time to spare. You may want to send your application via certified mail or request an email recept if you applied online, for added assurance that it arrived on time.
DON’TS
DON’T procrastinate-Letting things wait until the last minute might mean leaving something out or making mistakes on the application. You want to take as much time as possible on your application.
DON’T leave anything out-Be careful to not treat an online application like an instant message (IM) or e-mail. An admissions office does not want to see smiley faces or IM slang. Treat an online application with the same seriousness as you would a paper one.
Highlight On Your Application:
Grades and test scores Obvious? Yes. But these marks are one of the first things colleges consider. Make sure you do what you can to get these as high as possible.
Extracurricular activities Have you taken a leadership role in your activities? What have you accomplished? Think: quality over quantity.
Rigorous course schedule Schools want to see challenging courses that will help you grow academically. Talk to your counselor about opportunities for advanced courses, such as Advanced Placement (AP) level.
Strengthen Your Application Essay
Show, do not tell Do not just list your attributes. Be specific! For example, saying that you are helpful is not as interesting as writing about your experiences volunteering.
Creativity counts Avoid standard essay topics. Try an original idea, something an admissions office has not read a million times before. The essay is your opportunity to show your prospective college what makes you you.
Check for spelling errors Make sure to proofread your writing, then ask a parent or teacher to look it over for spelling or grammar errors.
Prepare for Your Interview*
Know the logistics Find directions to where the interview will be held ahead of time so you do not arrive late. Call the college admissions office and ask what the appropriate dress code is for interviews.
Be natural Admissions officers want to know you as a person, so highlight your accomplishments in a meanignful way. Sounding like you are reading off of a cue card will not leave them with a strong memory of you. Remember that the interview should be a conversation. Be confident and optimistic about your future college career.
Ask questions Come prepared with questions or impressions you have about the college to demonstrate your interest in the school. Place less emphasis on your plans after graduation and more on what you want to learn and accomplish as a college student. Make sure to follow up your interview with a thank-you note.
*Not all colleges require an interview for admission. For those that do, a successful interview can help you (and your application) stand out from the applicant pool.
FastTip: Remember that college selection is all about matching. There are no “good” or “bad” schools, only schools that are “good for you” or “bad for you.” So be yourself!
FastTip: College admissions costs can include test fees for the ACT and/or SAT, non-refundable application fees (between $10 for community colleges to $75+ for some private colleges), and processing fees for additional copies of your high school transcripts
Seniors and Juniors: Be sure to visit our resources, and scholarship pages.
The following is a grade level checklist: (The following list does not take the place of one- on- one grade level counselor visits)
Senior Checklist
- Verify you have all courses required for graduation. Remember, it is YOUR responsibility to ensure that all graduation requirements have been met.
- Register for the SAT or ACT. (Fee Waivers available in Counselor’s office) www.act.org (ACT), www.collegeboard.com (SAT)
- Attend FAFSA workshops ( Income tax info. Needed)
- Apply for FAFSA pin # for financial aid www.fafsa.ed.gov
- APPLY! APPLY! APPLY! For scholarships local and national
- Attend College and Career Nights
- Research College websites and resources (See Ms. Petrus for help with this)
- Use web resources (Here on our website or in Counselor’s office)
- Visit college campuses
- Complete APPLY TEXAS application – applytexas.org (open August 1 this year)
- Recommendation letters need to requested with a 2 week turnaround (complete forms in Counselor’s office
- Request transcripts to send with applications
- Obtain a flash drive to download college essays, resume and financial aid and applications (See Ms. Petrus for guidance in this area)
- Retake SAT and/or ACT as needed
- In March and April – Make final plans for college
- MAY- You still have time….. see Ms. Petrus
- Please let Ms. Petrus know what colleges you have been accepted to and any scholarships you have received
- June – Congratulations
Junior Checklist
- Challenge yourself academically
- Try your hardest on the TAKS test. You have to pass it to graduate from high school
- Colleges look at your 6th semester grades very carefully.
- Take the PSAT/NMSQT – Visit collegeboard.com – Individualize SAT study guide
- Continue involvement in community and school extracurricular (Athletics & Clubs)
- Job Shadowing- discuss with adults in a variety of professions to determine what they like and dislike about their jobs, and what education is needed for each job
- Continue to develop a resume for future scholarships and college applications
- Attend College and Career Nights
- Work through bridges.com
- Visit with on campus College Representatives
- Reevaluate your classes, grade point average and class rank (Colleges look at your 6th semester grade very carefully)
- In the spring, take the SAT and ACT. (Fee waiver available through Counselor’s office)
- Visit colleges and technical schools you are interested during Spring Break and through the summer
- Participate in Summer Volunteer Opportunities ( see Ms. Laverne Scott or Ms. Petrus)
- Choose 12th grade courses which will enhance your career choice
Sophomore Checklist
- Challenge yourself academically
- Develop strong study skills and effective time management skills
- Become knowledgeable of grade point averages and class ranking
- Reevaluate your classes, grade point average and class rank
- Continue involvement in community and school extracurricular (Athletics & Clubs)
- Job Shadowing- discuss with adults in a variety of professions to determine what they like and dislike about their jobs, and what education is needed for each job
- Continue to develop a resume for future scholarships and college applications
- Take the PSAT, visit collegeboard.com (Use PSAT online study guide)
- Visit colleges online for possible summer camp opportunities
- Attend College and Career Nights
- Work through bridges.com
Freshman Checklist
- Challenge yourself academically
- Develop strong study skills and effective time management skills
- Become knowledgeable of grade point averages and class ranking (learn how to read your transcript)
- Get involved in community and school extracurricular (Athletics & Clubs)
- Review 4-year plan and decide on a graduation plan (Recommended or Distinguished)
- Begin a resume, keep awards, honors, school and community service records
- Attend College and Career Nights
- Work through bridges.com
- Start planning with your parents how your higher education will be financed
We wish you the very best!
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
Mark Twain
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