OCR Text |
Show / / / / / -' ///////////////A //////////// // // / / // ////// / /// / // / / / / / / / / / // // / / / / / // / / / / ' / / / / / / / S PARK CITY PARENJT • back to school 2010 // for admissions officers who use indexes to calculate a rating for each student. "All schools are going to look at transcripts - that's the key to everything for state schools," Jensen said. "More competitive schools are going to give a personal rating." Many state schools are getting more selective, and students targeting those or out-of-state schools need to show that they can do more than retain academic information. Other considerations "To get into the colleges you want you need to differentiate yourself from the other students who are applying," said Doug Gardner, assistant professor in college success studies at Utah Valley University. "Colleges and universities are in the business of producing students who will graduate and make a contribution to the workplace and larger community." Prior to application, PCHS puts together a file for each student with letters of recommendation from teachers, parents and counselors that will give admissions officers a broad understanding of the student. Extracurricular activities are good, Gardner said, but demonstrated leadership experience is better (though the two are not mutually exclusive). while the funds are being used for qualified higher education expenses. No minimum investment is required to open a savings account. Visit www.uesp.org for more information. Begin planning early Many middle schools have begun to prepare students for college before they reach high school. At Treasure Mountain International School, students are invited to join the International Baccalaureate program and earn a Middle Years Program certification. IB participants take part in community service in each subject area at Treasure Mountain and undergo formal writing assignments to develop better communication skills. The Middle Years project is connected across disciplines and classes, and gives students the chance to apply their own initiative and creativity - building skills they will use down the line in the application process. Applying forfinancialaid and scholarships During the senior year, students will need to receive a financial aid pin number at www.pin.ed.gov. This number will serve as a password for grant, loan and work study applications. After a student Visiting schools has received his or her pin number, they can visit www.fafsa.ed.gov to finish their Campus visits can also add up, so it is federal aid application. FAFSA applicaimportant to choose your list of prospec- tions on the web are due by 11 p.m. MT tive colleges judiciously. If you're not on June 30, 2011. quite sure what your student wants to do "That is a really powerful resource to when he or she gets to college, don't fret. kind of see what things you're qualified A college advisor can help students pick for," Jensen said. Park City is the only their majors, register for classes and obpublic high school Jensen has known that tain identification cards, e-mail accounts employs a full-time scholarship advisor and parking permits. in Nancy Michalko. "That's what she does," Jensen said. Begin saving "She actually sits down with the kids to * help them do it." If your student is still a few years Simply applying to college can be away from attending college, it's never costly. Most colleges charge an applicatoo early to start preparing. tion fee of about $35 to apply. Waivers Utah's 529 college savings plan, of- are available for SAT test fees if the cost fered through the Utah Educational is a barrier for a student taking the test, Savings Plan, offers 11 different invest- and most colleges will also waive their ment options for parents trying to save application fees for a student who has for college. Contributions to the plan been given an SAT waive*. are exempt from federal income tax and earnings on investments are tax-deferred Helpful websites Financial Aid «www.fafsa.ed.gov Financial Aid Pin Request • www.pin.ed.gov Utah Higher Education Assis tance Authority • www.uheaa.org National Student Loan Data -» www.nslds.ed.gov Utah Mentor j www.utahmentor.org Utah Educational Savings Plan , www.uesp.org Utah Valley University »www.uvu.edu University of Utah , www.utah.edu Brigham Young University -> www.byu.edu Salt Lake Community College • www.slcc.edu Weber State University • www.weber.edu Utah State University • www.usu.edu Keirsey Temperament Sorter personality test • www.keirsey.com ColIegeNet • www.collegenet.com FastWeb • www.fastweb.com '/777, // / ft Y V |