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OTTO-ELDREDJR./SR. HIGH SCHOOLCollege Planner& Financial AidInformationIU9 PRINTING SERVICEwww.iu9.org
Martha WolfSchool Counselormwolf@ottoeldred.orgCEEB Code 391070
TABLE OF CONTENTSCollege Timeline For Sophomores/Juniors. 3College Planning Timeline For Seniors. 4Important Things To Know. 8Financial Aid. 9Local Scholarships/Awards. 10Scholarship Checklist. 13Applying To College. 14Applying To College (The Process). 15College Visits (What To Look For On Tour). 18College Visits (What To Ask Your Tour Guide). 19Paying For College (School Costs). 21Paying For College (Direct Costs). 21Paying For College (Indirect Costs). 22Internet Resources. 23Senior Resume (Sample). 24Website And Password Reference Pages. 25Notes And Information. 29Calendar 2016 - 2017. 361
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COLLEGE TIMELINE FORSOPHOMORES/JUNIORSSeptember-November Take challenging courses and a rigorous course load.Keep up your grades. Colleges look more closely at students with a 3.2 GPA orabove.Dedicate yourself to a few extracurricular activities. Work toward a leadershipposition.JUNIORS take the PSAT/NMSQT in October to practice for the SAT and to beeligible for the National Merit Scholarship Award.SOPHOMORES think about taking the PSAT/NMSQT in October. Ask yourGuidance Counselor for more information.Get a copy of some college applications to preview.Go online and search for colleges or careers that interest you (see page 23).December-February Continue to research colleges by talking to alumni, online searches, collegefairs, and various other resources found in your guidance office.Register and prepare for the SAT or the ACT. Ask your Guidance Counselor ifyou qualify for a FEE WAIVER. Borrow or purchase a preparation book or takea sample test online at www.collegeboard.com.March-May Take the SAT or the ACT.Visit your guidance counselor to discuss your preliminary plans for applying tocollege and sources of financial aid.Attend PENN-YORK College Night at St. Bonaventure University. This is agreat place to talk to college representatives in order to start narrowing downyour college choices.Write to your US Senator or State Representative if you are considering a USMilitary Academy or a ROTC Scholarship.Summer Find a summer job, do volunteer work, or attend a summer program (Governor’sSchool, IU9 Summer Academy).Visit the college campuses that appeal to you. Look at location, size andacademic majors.Write to colleges or go online for applications.Register and prepare for the SAT Subject Test (if your college requires), or theACT. Ask your Guidance Counselor if you qualify for a fee waiver.Research and begin applying for scholarships.**Parent Note**The earlier you and your child start thinking about the college admissions process, thebetter. Preparing in advance allows your child to select courses, get involved in activitiesand community service, and cultivate relationships with teachers that will help him/hertremendously when it comes time to apply to college. By being knowledgeable about theadmissions process yourself, you can encourage your child to make decisions that willhelp make him/her a stronger candidate for admission.3
The following are some guidelines for advising your child: Aim for a high GPA. Admissions officers see all of your child’s academicrecords from the 9th grade on. If your child wants to attend a selective college,advise him/her that grades certainly count.Don’t go for the “Easy A”. In other words, encourage your child to take rigorouscourses.Concentrate on value rather than volume. Encourage your child to lead notfollow. When it comes to extracurricular activities such as clubs, athletics,and volunteer work, encourage him/her to make valuable contributions tothe organizations. Admissions officers are more impressed by the quality ofa student’s participation in extracurricular activities (i.e. leadership positions,honors, awards, beginning new programs/activities) than by the quantity ofactivities. Your child should work to attain as many leadership positions aspossible and excel in whatever activities he or she chooses to join. Enteringcontests, publishing essays or poems, and starting organizations or clubs arealso great ways for students to distinguish themselves from the thousands ofother applicants to college.COLLEGE TIMELINE FOR SENIORSOtto-Eldred High School143 Sweitzer DriveDuke Center, PA 16729CEEB Code 391070Ph: 814-817-1380Fax: 814-966-3911Review this timeline before continuing on with the next step!! Write the date onthe line next to each step when you complete it or write NA if the step was not applicable to you.SeptemberSchedule a “Senior Interview” with School Counselor to reviewyour credits, graduation requirements, and future plans.Register to take SAT (or ACT) for October, November, or December.Registration booklets for SAT and ACT are available in the Guidanceoffice. You can also register online at www.collegeboard.com. To registeronline, you must use a credit card to pay the fees.Discuss with your School Counselor whether or not you qualify fora fee waiver for the SAT or the ACT. You must include the fee waiverwith your registration for the SAT or ACT. If you use a fee waiver, youare entitled to apply to l-4 colleges for free.Begin preparing for the SAT or ACT. Borrow one of the manyavailable resources in the Guidance office or go on-line to find outmore information about the SAT and ACT.Register to take the SAT: Subject tests for October, November,December or January (check with your colleges to see if these testsare required or recommended).4
At a loss for what to choose as a college major? Here are someof the things you can do to help you with your decision: Borrow books/resources from the Guidance office.Take an interest inventory on www.Petersons.com andwww.careercruising.com on the computers in the Guidance office.Job shadow someone in a career you are interested in.Gather all the college applications you need. The Guidance Office hasmany applications available. If you decide to request the applicationsdirectly from the college, make certain you have the ones for the currentschool year. Many colleges are on-line only applications.Keep in mind that most colleges encourage electronically filedapplications. Applications done this way are much neater lookingand make a good first impression. They are also time savers. Evenif you don’t have access to a computer at home, arrangements canbe made for you to have access to these electronic applicationsthrough the Guidance Office. If you file electronically, request theGuidance Office to send an official transcript to the college.Begin completing applications. It is recommended that you apply to atleast 2, but no more than 6 colleges. (You can apply to more or less asyou and your parents decide). Obtain fee waivers if needed or print a feewaiver from collegeboard.org.Begin composing college application essays. You must complete theessays yourself. However, you can and should get assistance from anEnglish teacher to check your grammar and from your counselor to givesuggestions on what colleges are looking for in an essay. Not all collegesrequire an essay, however it is a great chance to put in writing yourthoughts, goals, personal ideas, or biographical information.Have your applications checked by your counselor. This is your responsibility. Your counselor will not be offended if you stop back and checkoften to determine the status of your application(s). Once the applicationis complete (transcripts, letters of recommendations, essays etc.), it willbe mailed out through the Guidance Office within 24 hours. Remember,you only have 1-6 applications to keep track of, while your counselor hasmany.If you compose an essay and or complete a personal/activity sheet,always include your name and social security number on each page.Request recommendations if you need them or would like them for yourcollege. Please give your teachers and counselor at least one week tocomplete a recommendation. Recommendation request forms are available in the Guidance Office.In order to be eligible to participate in college level sports (Division I or II)NCAA Clearinghouse at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net5
October/NovemberComplete college applications and essays. Pay close attention tothe deadlines. Many colleges recommend having applications in byTHANKSGIVING.Gather all information: applications, recommendations, transcripts,check, money order or fee waivers for applications (do not bring cash).,and essays. Bring all of this information to the Guidance Office. It isrecommended that all the information be sent together.(Note: if you are retaking the SAT or ACT, you should not wait forthe scores from these tests in order to mail your college applicationpacket. You should make a note on your application that you areretaking the SAT or taking the SAT or ACT.)Take the SAT in October or November if necessary. Remember to haveyour driver’s license with you. If you don’t have your driver’s license, theGuidance Office has letters of identification.After you have scheduled and met with your counselor for your seniorinterview, gather information and request applications for grants/scholarships using the information available in the Guidance Office.Enter (or update) your information into the FastWeb scholarshipsearch. The address is wrvw.fastweb.com. Check your “mailbox” forscholarships. Remember your password! Keep in mind that you don’tneed to have access to the Internet at home in order to benefit fromthis search.Check the Scholarship Folder in the Guidance Office-newscholarship applications arrive every day.Complete applications for those scholarships that are due. Rememberthat it is your responsibility to keep track of those various deadlines.Every year students have questions about how many times shouldhe/she take the SAT in order to improve his/her scores. In checking withthe college admissions officers, their recommendation is to take the SATonce during the spring of your junior year and once in the fall of yoursenior year, then take the ACT in December of your senior year. Collegeadmissions officers do not recommend taking the SAT more than3 times total.DecemberTake SAT in December if necessary. Remember to have your driver’slicense with you. If you don’t have your driver’s license, the Guidanceoffice has letters of identification.Continue working on scholarships.Finish all applications to college before Christmas break, if you havenot already done so. The longer you wait to apply, the harder it is toget accepted.* Remember to keep working in school and to continue getting good grades.6
JanuaryTake the SAT in January if necessary. Remember to have your driver’slicense with you. If you don’t have your driver’s license, the GuidanceOffice has letters of identification.ATTEND THE FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOP IN DECEMBER WITHYOUR PARENTS. The Guidance Department sponsors this annualworkshop for the students and their parents. We usually have a guestspeaker who knows the financial aid process and review the FAFSAform.Register for a PIN and complete the FAFSA online @ www.fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA is available after mid December.Complete the CSS Financial Aid Profile form if necessary (check withyour college and scholarships to see if this is required). Remember tomake a copy of this application.February/MayTake care of a variety of details: forms, fees, semester and final yearreports, and anything else that the college requires.Check your SAR (Student Aid Report). The SAR is a report that is sentto you once your FAFSA has been processed. The upper right handcomer of this report has the code EFC. This stands for “Expected FamilyContribution”. The number after the EFC is how much money is expectedto be contributed by you and your parents. This is not necessarily thefinal word. Work very closely with your colleges’ financial aid offices.Local Scholarships will be available in the Guidance office in lateFebruary or early March. Listen to the announcements and check thedaily attendance sheet.Notify all colleges you have applied to of your linal decision. Notify thosecolleges where you decline admissions, as well as the college you haveselected.Request a final transcript to be sent to the college you have decided toattend in the fall. Some colleges will provide a form for this request.It is your responsibility to request this final transcript!!!7
Important Things To KnowInform the Guidance Office when you have been accepted to college.Bring your acceptance letter to your counselor. The Guidance Officekeeps a list of who is accepted to college. We would like to makecertain your name is on the list.Keep a notebook with all of your information concerning college.Be organized with your entries. A typewritten list of honors,accomplishments, awards, and extracuricular activities can becopied and given to the person/s from whom you’ve requested aletter of recommendation.Pay careful attention to deadlines (a suggestion would be to geta pocket calendar).Keep the Guidance Office informed of all changes, additions anddecisions concerning college choices, majors, and scholarships.Always double check to make sure your applications,recommendations, transcripts, and anything else was sent. Youshould make a note of the date they are mailed on your calendar.Maintain your grades or work to improve them (colleges look atyour senior year grades and courses). Colleges look at grades inthis order: (1st) junior year, (2nd) current senior year, (3rd) sophomoreyear, and (4th) freshman year.Make certain that your senior course load is challenging. Colleges“frown” on students who weaken their course load in an attempt toimprove their G.P.A. G.P.A. is important but so are the types ofcourses you select to take.Write down questions you may have for your counselor as youthink of them so you won’t forget before your appointment.8
FINANCIAL AIDPHEAA:PELL:SEOG:CWSP:State GrantFederal GrantSupplemental Educational Opportunity GrantCollege Work-Study ProgramThe form to complete for these three grants and work study program is theFAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). If you took the SAT I or ACTduring your junior year, you will automatically receive this form through the mailsometime in December. These forms will also be available in the Guidance officeabout the second or third week of December. You can also complete and submitan on-line version of this form via the Intemet (http://fafsa.ed.gov). Some collegesand scholarships also require completion of the College Profile form. You shouldcheck directly with your colleges’ financial aid office to determine if they requirethe College Profile.Who should complete the FAFSA? EVERYONE. You will need to fill out a FAFSAfor every year that you are in college.REMEMBER: These forms cannot be sent until January 1st. Check with yourcolleges’ financial aid office for the deadlines! Each college may have differentdeadlines. If a college’s deadline is before January 1st, there is a special form youwill need to get.FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOP: Usually held in January. The Guidance Departmentsponsors this annual workshop for the students and their parents. We usually havea guest speaker who knows the financial aid process present this workshop. Pleasemake a point to attend this workshop with your parents. It is extremely important!SPECIAL CONDITIONS: If anything changes within your family that effectsincome negatively (such as unemployment or disability) you need to contactPFIEAA, FAFSA, and your college. This could increase the amount of aid youqualify for.9
LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS/AWARDSAMERICAN LEGIONTo the three mantle winners.TOM BARTHOLOMEWTo a senior who has overcome a learning challenge.BEVERLY K. BOSWORTH NURSINGTo a senior entering a nursing program.MARGARET T. BRAYTo the three mantle winners.CLOSE’S LUMBERTo a senior that completed a CTC (vocational-technical) program and isplanning to go on to post-secondary education.JOHN & JANE COSTELLOTo a student with “need” based on an essay.QUINN DAVIS MEMORIALTo a senior involved in school activities and/or sports.JAMES M. DUFF MEMORIALTo one or more seniors that plan on continuing their education andmajoring in business.PAUL DUKE MEMORIAL NORTHERN STAR LODGE #555 FREEAND ACCEPTED MASONSTo a senior with a B average. The student must have a relative who is/wasa Masonic member. If no senior meets the criteria, it will be open to allseniors.ELDRED HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNITo a student in “need” and lives in Eldred Borough.ELDRED KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUSTo a Catholic senior.ELDRED LIONS CLUBTo a deserving senior.BEVERLY FOSTER MEMORIAL - Eldred Nurses’ AssociationTo a student enrolling/enrolled in an LPN/RN program.10
HARRINGTON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTTo the academic mantle holder.HELPING HANDTo a deserving senior.JEANNETTE HENNIGAN-BRANDISTo a senior with good attendance.JOEL N. KING MEMORIAL/SENIOR SCIENCETo the winner of junior year Bausch and Lomb Award.PHILIP AND LILA LABELLA MEMORIALTo a senior entering college for an education, nursing, or business degree.TIM MURPHY MEMORIALLITTLE NIPPERSTo a senior going on to post-secondary (2-4 years) education that hasparticipated in a Little Nippers sponsored activity.GLENN & JEANETTE LOOP MEMORIALTo one or more seniors attending a 2 year/certificate program at avocational-technical school or community college.MR. & MRS. H. MILFORD LOOP MEMORIALTo one or more seniors majoring in education or engineering.MILLIRON MARSHALL MEMORIALTo a senior going on to post secondary education who also demonstrates acommitment to community service (essay).GUY MOSES MEMORIAL/ELDRED VFW POST 2092To a middle-average and deserving senior. The student must have a familymember that is serving or has served in the military.OTTO-ELDRED EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONS (OEEA)To a senior planning on majoring in education.OTTO-ELDRED MUSIC BOOSTERSTo a senior that participates in the music program at OEHS.OTTO-ELDRED SPORTS BOOSTERSTo a senior athlete.11
OTTO TOWNSHIP CHAMBER OF COMMERCETo a senior participating in school and community activities.OTTO/OTTO-ELDRED ALUMNIUnder the direction of the Cattaraugus County Community Foundation.Apply at the Guidance Office or online at www.cattfoundation.orq.OTTO TOWNSHIP LIONS CLUBTo a deserving senior.ANGELINE PETRUZZI MEMORIALTo a senior majoring in education.RUSSELL-STULL-WALCHTo a hard-working, middle-average student who would not qualify forother awards.FRANK AND ELEANOR SHICK ATTENDANCETo the senior with best attendance record for grades 9-12.VINCENT SILVIS MEMORIALTo a deserving senior.RANDY STEBBINS MEMORIALTo a hardworking senior athlete that exhibits school spirit.DONNA R. STULL &CHARLOTTE A. WALCH MEMORIALTo a deserving student who has a proven potential for a career in business.KEVIN SULLIVAN MEMORIALTo a deserving senior nominated and chosen by a committee of teachers.ELIZABETH TENNIES MEMORIALTo a deserving senior going on to post-secondary education. An essay shouldreflect their aspiration to a career working with children.WOLCOTT/HARRINGTON AWARDThe OUTSTANDING male and female students. The plaque reads“for outstanding dedication and achievement at the Otto-Eldred High School”.12
SCHOLARSHIP CHECKLIST— Where to Look —employers and unionsclubs and organizationsreligioncollegesmajors or career fieldslocal based/communityarmed servicesacademic/achievement basedleadership/community involvement basedethnic background (race/nationality)skills, talents, and contests13
APPLYING TO COLLEGEWhat is Early Decision?If you are positive you want to attend a ceftain school, you can apply under theirEarly Decision Plan. This means that when you are accepted you will say yesand not apply to any other schools. You will need to complete your applicationfor admission (and financial aid) early in the fall of your senior year and no laterthan November 15. Check with that specific college for deadlines and additionaltesting or requirements.What is rolling admissions?Some schools indicate their willingness to accept applications until school startsor until the enrollment is full. These school process applications on a first-come,first-served basis and notify students within two-three weeks of receiving theapplication.What is meant by the admission selection category ofopen admissions?These schools accept almost every student who has a high school degreewithout regard to test scores, grade average or class rank. Some openadmissions schools have selective requirements for out-of-state applicantsor specific programs, such as nursing.What is meant by the admission selection category of selective?These schools offer admission to all or most applicants who meet their specificadmissions requirements, but more applicants meet those requirements thanthey are willing or able to admit. The specific requirements vary from school toschool and may be rigorous, but you can reasonably expect to be admitted if youmeet their requirements. Most four-year colleges in the United States classifythemselves as “selective.”What is meant by the admission selection category of competitive?These schools offer admission based on specific admissions requirements andlike selective schools, more students qualify than can be admitted. You cannotbe sure of admission to a competitive college, even though you satisfy theentrance requirements, because you will be competing with other equallyqualified applicants.The more competitive the college, the more likely it is to consider personalqualifications (motivation, special skills or abilities, leadership capabilities,community involvement, and good moral character) in admissions decisions.14
APPLYING TO COLLEGE— THE PROCESS —How can I make my Admissions Essay stand out positively?Choosing a compelling topic is the best way to make your essay stand out. Thetopic should be personal and reveal something about your personality.How do I go about asking my teachers to write a recommendation forme to be sent to colleges? What are the right things that I should sayto the teacher to make them willing to write a recommendation forme? And a very good recommendation as well?Colleges give very specific instructions about who they want to write yourrecommendations. Usually it is a teacher in an academic subject like English,Math, Science, History or Foreign Language. Some schools will even specify ithas to be a particular subject. So, first check to see the requirements of eachschool for w
Attend PENN-YORK College Night at St. Bonaventure University. This is a . Otto-Eldred High School CEEB Code 391070 143 Sweitzer Drive Ph: 814-817-1380 Duke Center, PA 16729 Fax: 814-966-3911 . speaker who knows the financial aid process and review the FAFSA form. _Register for a PIN and complete the FAFSA online @ www.fafsa.
