La Salle Institute GUIDANCE NEWSLETTER February 2015 Guidance Department Phone: 283-1528 Mr. Todd Crandall - Director of Guidance & College Placement Mr. Art Farrington - Counselor Grades 6-10 Ms. Christina Burns – Administrative Assistant February 2 February 16-20 Monday Monday IMPORTANT DATES THIS MONTH Race for Education Kick-off Assembly Winter Recess *ATTENTION JUNIOR PARENTS* Mr. Crandall will begin to have Junior Parent-Student meetings starting in January and continuing through the first week in June. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss the student’s college options and to understand the college application process. Please e-mail Ms. Burns at [email protected] or call her at 283-1528 to schedule an appointment. Mr. Crandall will be available before and during the school day with the last appointment scheduled for 2:30 pm until March 9th, 2015 and then the last appointment being 1:30 pm after March 9th, 2015. A parent questionnaire will be mailed out to parents after an appointment is scheduled. It is important to have the questionnaire filled out when you bring it to the meeting. Your son should be present at the meeting, please have your son inform his teacher prior to the scheduled time if he will be missing class. Congratulations Corner Congratulations are based upon student’s acceptance letters that were turned in to the Guidance Office. Phil Adikes has received an offer of admission from Xavier University. Cameron Bartow has received offers of admission from Northeastern University and a Dean’s Scholarship, Purdue University , Providence College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, SUNY Binghamton, Siena College. Matthew Bonanni has received offers of admission from Northeastern University and a Dean’s Scholarship and Villanova University. Nico Carello has received offers of admission from Siena College and a Presidential Scholarship, SUNY Albany and SUNY Polytechnic Institute. Michael Carr has received an offer of admission from Indiana University. Paul Dallemagne has received an offer of admission from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Nick DeLollo has received offers of admission from the University of Notre Dame and SUNY Binghamton University. Ethan Dimura has received an offer of admission from Siena College and a Presidential Scholarship. Brock Eveleth has received offers of admission from Canisius College and Babson College. Justin Germain has received offers of admission from Siena College and a Franciscan Scholarship, St. John’s University. Dan Goss has received an offer of admission from The Pennsylvania State University. Michael Hellmich has received offers of admission from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a Merit Scholarship, the University of Michigan. Jacob Laferriere has received offers of admission from Le Moyne College and a Magis Scholarship, New England College and a Presidential Scholarship, Western New England University and a Provost Scholar Award, St. John Fisher College and a Founder’s Scholarship. Sean Mc Laughlin has received an offer of admission from Eckerd College and Presidential Scholarship. Jacob Perry has received an offer of admission from Siena College and a Presidential Scholarship. Michael Splann has received offers of admission from Siena College, Fordham University as a student in the Gabelli School of Business, The Catholic University of America, Le Moyne College and a Presidential Scholarship. David Stackrow has received offers of admission from the University of Pittsburgh and a FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP, Siena College. Michael Whaley has received offers of admission from Hartwick College and a Judge William Cooper Scholarship, Siena College and a Mission Scholarship, Merrimack College. REMINDER for Students in the University in the High School Program at the University at Albany and Hudson Valley Community College - College in the High School Program Information Regarding College Transcripts – Whether you are taking a class here at La Salle through the University or College in the High School Program or on the campus of Hudson Valley or another institution, it is important for you to remember that the college owns the transcripts, not La Salle Institute. Any time a college requests an official copy of a transcript you must obtain that through the registrar’s office at that college and generally there is a fee attached. It sometimes gets confusing because your son is in class here but you are paying either HVCC or SUNY for those classes, not us. If you have any questions concerning this procedure, please contact the guidance office. Official transcripts contain a record of all courses and grades from the University at Albany. A transcript may be sent only at the request of the student for his or her own academic record. University at Albany students can obtain a transcript by logging onto the UHS website at: http://www.albany.edu/uhsp/Pages/Transcripts.html There are two ways to order a transcript from the University at Albany: 1) Via fax or mail by completing the "Transcript Request Form" found on the UHS website. The "Transcript Request Form” must be completed and faxed or mailed to the address on the bottom of the form with appropriate payment. See: http://www.albany.edu/uhsp/Pages/Transcripts.html 2) On-Line ordering: See: http://www.albany.edu/uhsp/Pages/Transcripts.html Hudson Valley Community College students should follow the following directions from the HVCC website: An official transcript, bearing the seal of the college and the signature of the Registrar, is a document required by colleges, universities and prospective employers. An official transcript is sent only with the written request of the student. A transcript issued to the student will bear the stamp “Unofficial Copy.” Students can save time by following the procedures listed below. A student may request academic transcripts be forwarded to other institutions or places of employment, etc. by notifying the Registrar's Office in writing. The student's request must include the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. Student name and Social Security number Approximate dates of attendance Address to which transcript is to be forwarded Student signature Transcript Request Forms are available directly at the Registrar's Office, or students may send their request via the U.S. Postal Service or fax their request to (518) 629-8094. Faxed requests must include type of credit card (VISA or MasterCard), credit card number, expiration date, and authorization to charge the card. Faxed requests will be processed with those received by mail. There is a $3 fee per transcript, which is payable to Hudson Valley Community College. There is a $10 fee to fax an unofficial transcript. Transcripts will not be released for those students who have financial obligations (in arrears). By federal law, email requests cannot be considered consent for release of transcript information. POLICY ON VISITING COLLEGES Each Senior is allowed up to three (3) excused absences in order to visit colleges, go on interviews, etc. Procedure: You must bring in a signed note from home at least one day before the absence. This note must be approved by Colonel Raczkowski and by Mr. Crandall. (PLEASE NOTE: Although these three days are excused, they will still be noted as absences.) SCHOLARSHIPS College Scholarships Come In Many Forms, from the website http://www.scholarshiphelp.org/ College-Specific Awards Colleges often have scholarship money available that is used to develop the financial package offered to an applicant who has been granted admission. These types of scholarships are available under a variety of terms that may include maintaining a certain GPA or pursuing a specific major. Athletic Scholarships Many athletes dream of going to college on an athletic scholarship. It's possible to achieve that dream, but these types of scholarships are highly competitive and the application process is a world unto itself. Awards are made through colleges, and applying for an athletic scholarship is akin to marketing yourself for a starring movie role. If you are interested in winning an athletic scholarship, go immediately to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Web site and begin reading as fast as you can. According to the NCAA, athletic scholarships for undergraduate student-athletes at Division I and Division II schools are partially funded through the NCAA membership revenue distribution. These scholarships are awarded directly by each academic institution and not the NCAA. About $1 billion in athletic scholarships are awarded each year. Over 126,000 student-athletes receive either a partial or full athletic scholarship. Division III schools offer only academic scholarships. They do not offer athletic scholarships. Second, contact the financial aid office of the school you hope to attend. They should have lots of information about available awards. Third, find and read detailed information about the process of winning athletic scholarships. You might start with the site, www.collegesportsscholarships.com, created by an athlete and his dad to help other athletes understand the scholarship process. It's all free and is a good starting point. Also, the Fund My Future site, www.fundmyfuture.info, provides a lot of good, free information. Academic Awards These merit-based scholarships are awarded by your college for academic achievement. Inquire about these awards at your school's financial aid office, though you may not even have to apply for an academic award; they are often wrapped into the financial aid package offered by the college, based on your college application. Departmental Awards Specific departments may have scholarships available to attract or retain students in the department's field of study. If you know what your major will be, contact that department to inquire about scholarships. Private Organizations There are thousands of private organizations that offer scholarship awards, ranging from $50 to $20,000 and more. Within the "private" category, there are many types of organizations to consider. Corporations Corporations offer scholarships to attract and retain employees, support the communities where the business is located, and encourage entrants into the business's field of work. These are often the scholarships that go unawarded for lack of applicants. Search for corporation scholarships by checking with your parents' employers for possible programs, researching businesses in your region, and searching your newspaper's archives for award announcements. You may have a much greater chance of receiving a private corporation award because geographic, employment, and other restrictions narrow the number of candidates. Religious Organizations Religious organizations often award scholarships to help their members afford the cost of college. If you and your family are affiliated with a specific religious group, check with your local group about the availability of scholarships, as these types of scholarships are sometimes easier to qualify for than other kinds. Unions Unions are a major source of scholarship funds. The AFL-CIO Web site is good place to start searching for union-sponsored scholarships. High School or School District Your high school may offer scholarships to graduating students. Your high school guidance counselor can provide information about availability. Chamber of Commerce Chambers often have scholarship programs, and they can be great sources of information about which businesses in your community offer scholarships. Other Private Organizations The ubiquitous category "other" is really the mother lode of scholarship opportunities. There are thousands of scholarships available, given by organizations that wish to further their mission by supporting the education of students. This category of scholarships is the reason for using a Web search engine to identify suitable opportunities in this vast universe of money offers. The Military The military is a well-known source of college scholarships. The Air Force ROTC program can pay up to full college tuition, plus a stipend for books. Military scholarships are awarded in return for a tour of duty with the branch of the military supporting your education. Be sure you're prepared to fulfill the terms of your scholarship agreement. If the prospect of military service fits with your goals, a military scholarship may be an excellent way for you to underwrite your college education. Use the military link at www.students.gov to locate the sites that you should search for military scholarships, including special scholarships for veterans. State and Federal Sources of Financial Aid Funds The federal government provides $41.3 billion in grant aid to post-secondary education students annually. The aid comes in several forms: Need-based federal aid: Federal Pell Grants Federal Subsidized Stafford Loans Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants Federal Work Study Perkins Loans Financing options: Federal PLUS Loans (also known as Direct Plus Loans) Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loans (also known as Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans) Other parent loans Alternative student loans To receive a grant from the federal program, your college must qualify to administer these grants. Check with your school's financial aid department to be sure your school is a qualified participant. The Internet site where you can fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), www.fafsa.ed.gov, provides great information about federal grant programs. Another excellent site is www.students.gov. Click on their scholarships link, and you will find a glittering array of scholarship possibilities from many different federal agencies. Check with your state's higher education authority to see what kind of assistance is available. Many states provide excellent scholarships and grants and often have special categories of award for women going back to school, minorities, and people with disabilities. Be sure to follow all application procedures and deadlines. Many colleges will not make up for state grants lost to students though late applications. Additionally, many states and private colleges administer need-based institutional funds that help round out financial aid awards. Information Overload The categories described on this page represent thousands of scholarships and billions of dollars in financial aid. Your job is to make your way through the maze of information and options, and in doing so, create a scholarship application plan that gives you the highest probability of success with the best scholarship matches available. Some of the websites to visit include: http://www.scholarships.com/ https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/scholarships-grants http://www.guaranteed-scholarships.com/ Money for College: FAFSA Dos and Don'ts How many of your students are missing an opportunity to get money for college? If they don’t complete the FAFSA, they won’t qualify for student financial aid. Please print and share Money for College: FAFSA Dos and Don'ts with your students and families…and remind your students and families that… We're here to help with FAFSA questions: Call us toll free at 1-800-808-1790, Mondays through Fridays, Noon - 5:00 pm Or, Email us anytime at [email protected]. STUDY BUDDIES SAT PREP Study Buddies promises to: Offer the most current test taking strategies on the market The Course includes: Three diagnostic exams Focus on the student’s specific needs Numerous Test Taking Strategies Use at least 3 practice diagnostic tests Tons of Practice Keep parents involved in the process Average score improvements of 150200 points Offer instructors with teacher certifications For more info call: (518) 248-8988 Or email:[email protected] Remaining SAT Test dates March 14, 2015; May 2, 2015 and June 6, 2015
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