Senior Year 1st Semester Checklist!

Hey Seniors! I know you have A LOT going on...SAT prep and testing, homecoming, sports, clubs, enjoying the last year of high school, work, AP/Honors classes, concurrent enrollment, etc, etc.

Don't forget your Post-Secondary Planning! Check out the checklist below to help guide your planning, application and access process. As always, let me know if you have ANY questions!

FALL OF SENIOR YEAR! 

• Finalize your College/Post-Secondary Program Application List! Be sure to include some schools that may be harder to get in to as well as at least one school to which you will for sure be admitted. This list can include colleges, apprenticeships, military and/or technical schools. These are all GREAT post-secondary options. 

• Prepare for and complete the FAFSA. Use the search tool in the blog to find LOTS of information regarding what documents you need, creating a FSAID and other info about the process. 

• Stay focused on your grades and extracurricular activities. These remain important parts of your resume. Finish strong! 

• Keep track of deadlines! Consider using calendar reminders on your phone to alert you well ahead of deadlines (so you take time to work on applications) as well as the day applications are due. 

• Meet with your School Counselor. They will need to know what schools/programs you are applying to so they can send Transcripts, Score Reports, and other application items. Be sure to give them access to the required forms WELL in advance. Be sure to THANK them for their help. 

• Continue researching scholarships, add them to your College Research Spreadsheet, and complete these applications! 

• Ask for Letters of Recommendation NOW! Be sure you are giving your teachers, counselors, etc enough time to write you an AWESOME letter. If you wrote one for yourself last year, you an share it with them along with your resume to help them out! 

• Complete your College/Post-Secondary Program applications as soon as possible. Even if a school has a deadline in the spring, aim to complete your application by Thanksgiving Break. Put yourself at the TOP of the pile! 

• ASK for help! If you have questions, ASK them! It's ok to not know everything about the post-secondary process. It's a whole new world. If something doesn't make sense, ASK! This is a good habit to get into as you'll have LOTS of questions once you get to college. ASKING for help is part of being an adult, trust me! 

Back to School!

TODAY is the first day of school for a lot of you, High School AND College Students! I'm looking forward to hearing how things go. Send me  text and let me know! 

Here are some tips for making it through your 

FIRST WEEK OF COLLEGE! 

TAKE NOTES! You have so much going on right now...it'll be hard to remember everything. You are learning new names, new places, and new expectations for school. Write down the important stuff so you can review it later! 

GO TO ALL OF YOUR CLASSES! Seriously. No explanation needed. 

ASK QUESTIONS! If you have a question, it's likely some of your classmates have the same one. Ask! It's a new adventure and NO ONE expects you to know everything. 

USE YOUR CELLPHONE CALENDAR! Put important dates in your calendar NOW! Set reminders. 

TALK TO CLASSMATES! You don't have to be BFFs but connecting with a few people in your classes makes a difference. And who knows, maybe you'll become BFFs!

STAY CALM! Make time for whatever keeps you level headed. This is a STRESSFUL time, no question. Talk a walk, call a friend, paint, draw, listen to your favorite music, dance, etc. 

NEED HELP? There are A LOT of people who want to see you succeed including me! Text me! Email me! We can figure it out together. (720) 446 9688 emily@yessinstitute.org

Important Auraria Campus Dates Fall 2017

CCD-

New Student Orientation

Tue, Aug 1 8:00am - 2:00pm

Thu, Aug 3 8:00am - 2:00pm

Mon, Aug 7 11:00am - 5:00pm

Wed, Aug 9 8:00am - 2:00pm

Fri, Aug 11 8:00am - 2:00pm

Mon, Aug 14 11:00am- 5:00pm

Tue, Aug 15 8:00am - 2:00pm

Wed, Aug 16 12:30pm- 4:30pm

Fri, Aug 18 8:00am - 2:00pm Welcome BBQ August 30 and 31, 2017, 11am - 2pm Important Deadlines!

8/14/17	Tuition Payment Deadline
8/21/17	Classes Begin
8/26/17	Last Day to Register for 15-Week Courses.

CCD Academic Calendar


Metro-

New Student Convocation

August 17, 2017, 6:00 - 8:30pm, PE Events Center

Metro Academic Calendar 

UCD-

Convocation Friday, August 19, 2017, 3:30pm - 8:00pm, Tivoli Commons UCD Academic Calendar

*Be sure to check TUITION DEADLINES AND ADD/DROP DEADLINES!

Class of 2017! Scholarship Info!

YESS Class of 2017! 

SCHOLARSHIPS!

Congratulations on your high school success and ALL of your college scholarships! You are an IMPRESSIVE group of young adults! 

Please keep in mind that your scholarships may all have different requirements, documents needed, and deadlines for accepting  your awards. I'd suggest using your google calendar and alerts to keep track of your deadlines....Let me know if you want help with that or check out this tutorial! 

Remember to check the email address you provided on scholarship applications AS WELL AS your college email. Make time to do this SEVERAL times a week. 

Below are some important links for your DSF Scholarship! 

DSF link for Submitting Documents + Forms

DSF Scholarship Policies and Deadlines

Daniels Fund Scholars, be sure to check your Portal! 

If you are an All Ways Up Scholar, remember your UP Through Education Summit is on July 15th, 2017. Attendance is REQUIRED for you to be awarded your scholarship! 

YESS Scholars, your scholarships are reimbursement based. You'll need to complete the Intent to Enroll form, submit Proof of Enrollment and a Bill/Proof of Purchase to receive your scholarship dollars. Proof of Enrollment would include your finalized class schedule, for example. The Bill/Proof of Purchase requirement can be met by providing an image of a receipt from the school book store or screenshot from your bill on your StudentHub/Portal. 

Let me know if you have any questions! 

Second Semester Senior Year! What do I do?!

Hey Seniors! The countdown is ON! You are in the final months of your High School career. 

So, what's important now?! 

Check out the list below and consider setting reminders and deadlines in your phone's calendar. Trust me, it works! 

• Visit colleges that you are considering attending if you are able
• Make a final decision about which college to attend and notify the school of your decision 
• Give your school counselor/DSF Advisor a copy of your college acceptance notice 
• Keep track of all college deadlines for fees and paperwork 
• Notify the schools that you will not be attending 
• Continue to search and apply for scholarships opportunities 
• Remember your 2nd Semester grades DO MATTER! 
• Give your school counselor/DSF Advisor a copy of any scholarship award letters
• Continue to keep track of important financial aid and scholarship deadlines 
• Check you email for your SAR (Student Aid Report), if you haven't already
• Compare financial aid packages from different schools
• Create a Pros/Cons List for your possible colleges to help you decide where to attend
• Get in touch with the Financial Aid office at your school (or schools) of choice 
• Talk to your peers and trusted adults about the whole process
• Let your school counselor/ DSF Advisor know which college you will be attending so they can send out your final official transcript including 2nd semester

Letters of Recommendation!

It's that time of year, Seniors! I hope you all are making use of a checklist like this one or this one!

Get in the habit of setting reminders on your phone or other calendar so that you don't miss any deadlines! 

I'm sure you are all ready for your FAFSA completion. So, let's talk about another important step!

Letters of Recommendation!

 Yes, you HAVE to ask a teacher or two, maybe a counselor as well to say nice things about you. Below are some helpful hints on how to ask, what to prepare for your teachers/counselors, and how to stand out!

How to Get a Great Letter of Recommendation

from: big future by College Board

Colleges often ask for two or three recommendation letters from people who know you well. These letters should be written by someone who can describe your skills, accomplishments and personality.

Colleges value recommendations because they:

• Reveal things about you that grades and test scores can’t
• Provide personal opinions of your character
• Show who is willing to speak on your behalf

Letters of recommendation work for you when they present you in the best possible light, showcasing your skills and abilities.

When to Ask for Recommendations

Make sure to give your references at least one month before your earliest deadline to complete and send your letters. The earlier you ask, the better. Many teachers like to write recommendations during the summer. If you apply under early decision or early action plans, you'll definitely need to ask for recommendations by the start of your senior year or before.

Remember that some teachers will be writing whole stacks of letters, which takes time. Your teachers will do a better job on your letter if they don’t have to rush.

Whom to Ask

It’s your job to find people to write letters of recommendation for you. Follow these steps to start the process:

• Read each of your college applications carefully. Schools often ask for letters of recommendation from an academic teacher — sometimes in a specific subject — or a school counselor or both.
• Ask a counselor, teachers and your family who they think would make good references.
• Choose one of your teachers from junior year or a current teacher who has known you for a while. Colleges want a current perspective on you, so a teacher from several years ago isn't the best choice.
• Consider asking a teacher who also knows you outside the classroom. For example, a teacher who directed you in a play or advised your debate club can make a great reference.
• Consider other adults — such as an employer, a coach or an adviser from an activity outside of school — who have a good understanding of you and your strengths.
• Perhaps most important, pick someone who will be enthusiastic about writing the letter for you.
• If you’re unsure about asking someone in particular, politely ask if he or she feels comfortable recommending you. That’s a good way to avoid weak letters.

How to Get the Best Recommendations

Some teachers write many recommendation letters each year. Even if they know you well, it’s a good idea to take some time to speak with them. Make it easy for them to give positive, detailed information about your achievements and your potential by refreshing their memory.

Here’s how:

• Talk to them about your class participation.
• Remind them of specific work or projects you’re proud of.
• Tell them what you learned in class.
• Mention any challenges you overcame.
• Give them the information they need to provide specific examples of your work.
• If you need a recommendation letter from a counselor or other school official, follow these guidelines:
• Make an appointment ahead of time.
• Talk about your accomplishments, hobbies and plans for college and the future.
• If you need to discuss part of your transcript — low grades during your sophomore year, for example — do so. Explain why you had difficulty and discuss how you've changed and improved since then.

Whether approaching teachers, a counselor or another reference, you may want to provide them with a resume that briefly outlines your activities, both in and outside the classroom, and your goals.

Final Tips

The following advice is easy to follow and can really pay off:

• Waive your right to view recommendation letters on your application forms. Admission officers will trust them more if you haven’t seen them.
• Give your references addressed and stamped envelopes for each college that requested a recommendation.
• Make sure your references know the deadlines for each college.
• Follow up with your references a week or so before recommendations are due to make sure your letters have been sent.
• Once you’ve decided which college to attend, write thank-you notes. Tell your references where you’re going and let them know how much you appreciate their support.