The Final Countdown

CLASS of 2017!

The end of your high school career is well within sight. STAY STRONG! I know the pull of Senioritis is present but USE THE FORCE! You've worked so hard to get to this point. Be sure to finish high school with your head up and your best foot forward! 

Use this tool to help you identify the best school for you based on financial aid. Have conversations with people who you trust and who know you well about your choice of school.

Pay attention to deadlines!!!! 

Put important dates on your calendar with reminders. I don't want you to miss your chance to attend your #1 school! 

Please use the checklist below to stay on track for your post-secondary plans!

____ Log into your college student portal regularly!  Look for red flags that will tell you if you are missing any information or need to sign off on any documents, for example, financial aid documents.

____ Check your college email daily.  You will get important notifications through that email account. Be sure to read them, respond as needed and delete or archive to keep your inbox clutter free.

____ Take any required placement tests (for example, the Accuplacer).

____ If you are living on campus, make sure that you have signed up for the residence halls and put down a deposit by the deadline.

____ Provide any information to health services, for example, immunization records. Many campuses will put a hold on your record if you have not submitted this information.

____ Sign up for campus health insurance or provide proof that you have health insurance.

____ Sign up for and attend Orientation! Keep track of any info and To Do Lists they may provide you. 

____ Stay in contact with the financial aid office to make sure that your aid has been applied to your account. You may also be able to check your college student portal for this information. If aid is not applied and you have not set up a payment plan, you may be dropped from your classes. 

As always, let me know if you have any questions! 

It's Essay Time!

Hey, Juniors! You've done an amazing job so far of working on your YESS College Research sheets. They are filling up with great info about post-secondary programs you are interested in and ALL of the scholarships you are eligible to receive. Well done! 

Now it's time to take the NEXT STEP! The majority of college and scholarship applications require an essay or two. We'll start on those NOW so that you go into your Senior Year with a solid groundwork! Sure, you'll have to edit and update these essays. But you'll have a step ahead when you walk in for your Senior Year in 5 short months! 

A great place to start is with the Common Application Essay Prompts. Review the questions below. We'll work on answers to each of these prompts. Trust me, these will ALL be valuable to you next year as you apply for various programs and scholarships!

Once you've read over the prompts below, please email me and let me know which one you will BEGIN working on this week! Check out this post for some tips!

2017-2018 Common Application Essay Prompts

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. 

6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. 

Attending the Auraria Campus Next Year?

First in the Family!

Will you be the first in your family to attend college? 

#1. Congratulations! 

#2. There are A LOT of resources available to help you navigate this new journey. 

You will be assigned an Advisor at your college- kind of like your School Counselor. This person will help you decide what classes to take, talk to you about your Major and other parts of college. 

But here's the thing....They WON'T send you a pass to call you to their office....Guess who has to take the initiative to meet with the Advisor?

YOU! 

Some of you may have Colorado Challenge counselors depending on what school you attend. Your CC counselor can be a great support regarding life on campus, financial planning, connecting you with other resources and providing opportunities to meet other students. Meet with them ASAP! 

Colleges also have Counseling Centers available if need be. You can usually do a search on the college website to find this information. 

Here's a list of possible places to seek assistance. If you are having trouble with a roommate, you'd reach out to Residential Services....If you are wondering about a tuition bill and your scholarships, touch base with the Office of Financial Aid! 

Remember, it's not ALL academic. You'll be adjusting to a new social life as well. Here are some tips. Take advantage of opportunities on campus to meet new people. Talk to your new classmates! Connect with other YESS students on your new college campus! 

Check out this great blog with posts written by First Generation college students on a variety of topics. 

Here is the I'm First Guide to College! 

And don't forget, I can help you out too! Just ask. :)

Your Junior Spring College Prep!

Hey Juniors, get college ready! Here are some things you should focus on between now and your Senior Year! 

1. Stay focused on your grades! Colleges will be looking at your Junior year grades when you submit your applications in the Fall. Finish the semester strong.
2. Start researching possible majors and colleges you'd like to attend. Don't forget to use your College Research spreadsheet to keep track on info. You can also keep track of job titles that sound interesting to you and discover related majors that way.  
3. Make a list of scholarships for which you'd be eligible. Make sure to add them to the Scholarships tab on your College Research spreadsheet! 
4. Get to know your counselor and Future Center Advisor at school. They'll be able to help you with mailing your transcripts, writing letters of recommendation, and possible fee waivers for your applications. 
5. Visit colleges if you can. Start with the Auraria campus! You can schedule tours online. Community College of Denver, Metro State University, UC Denver
6. Choose challenging classes for Senior Year. Remember, you have to show colleges that you are outstanding and up for challenges! 
7. Prepare for the SAT and/or ACT. Check out this great, FREE resource. While test scores are not the only thing colleges look at, they can separate you in a crowd. 
8. Keep your resume up to date. This is a great habit to get into for your future. You have to learn how to best express your strengths and accomplishments. Again, you are trying to STAND OUT in a crowd! 
9. Start working on a personal statement and other essay prompts. Trust me, the work you do on personal statements and other essay prompt now will help reduce your stress in the fall. You'll also have much better essays to submit since you worked to make them better and better over time. 
10. Plan your summer activities. Remember  your resume? Summer is a great time to add new, unique and challenging experiences to your personal history! Here are some pre-collegiate opportunities to consider.