Class 9: Essay Fun Time

Ok, it's essay time. Pick one (or more) of these prompts, and write a rough draft during class time; the paper will be due at the end of class. We will also cover any random questions that you still have about the college process.

1. Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.

2. How has your education contributed to who you are today?

3. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

4. Describe how you have demonstrated leadership ability both in and out of school.

Class 8: Plans, budgets and other fun things

In this class, we'll discuss your plans and brainstorm together to see if there are any flaws to the plans... We'll also go over some sample college budgets for each of you.

Homework:
Visit fafsa4caster to see how much financial aid you'll be looking at when you are making your financial plans: http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/ (be ready with a vague report at the next class)

Write an essay explaining how community service experiences have shaped your life and how you will use your college education to build communities in a manner consistent with these values: compassion, tolerance, generosity and respect. (turn in this essay to me no later than class on 3.27.08)

Class 7: Review Applications, Make Some Mock Big Decisions

In this class, we will review the college applications that you filled out, and start charting a plan. We will also go over some random information that I learned over the midwinter break.

Random Stuff:
Schools that don’t require SAT/ACT: Fairtest.org
Common Application: Commonapp.org
Gab Year Travel: http://www.pacificdiscovery.org/sea/credit/SCCcredit.htm
Fafsa4caster: http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/

Big Decisions:
Pick your top 3 schools, and decide where you want to live (top 3 choices), what clubs you might be interested in exploring, where you might try to get a job, how you’ll get around town, etc.

School:
City:
Application Deadline:
Area(s) of Interest:
Financial Plan:
Living Plan:
Working Plan:
Transportation Plan:
Clubs/Organizations:
Other Info:

Class 6: Student Life & Filling Out Applications

We will explore student life and residence life at several colleges, as well as continue our discussion about essays. We will also practice filling out college applications. If we have time, we will explore the wonderful world of federal financial aid!

Links:
http://www.nyu.edu/community/student.life.html
http://academic.evergreen.edu/groups/
http://west.wwu.edu/wwu/subpage.aspx?index=8
http://www.coloradocollege.edu/campusactivities/
http://www.juilliard.edu/target/prospective.html

Fafsa4caster
http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/

Class 5: Narrow your list, let's get down to business

Let’s revisit our college long lists; now that you have had time to take in a bunch of different information, narrow your college list down to a “short list.” Start to outline what your deadlines are, what essays you will need to write, how you might go about planning financially for this endeavor.

Other questions we will consider:
Where will you live? (on or off campus, with a relative, etc.)
Are you planning to work? (on or off campus?)
What about an in state option? (Just in case?)

HOMEWORK:
Narrow your "long list" down to a "short list" of 3-5 schools and post that list on this blog, with application deadlines. Also request that information be sent to you in the mail from each of these schools. Write your personal statement rough draft, to be handed in at the beginning of class next week.

Class 4: Activities, Essays & Scholarships

This class will be yet another mix of topics. We will go over your activities list, continue our scholarship searches, and begin talking about essays.

Homework: find 3 scholarships that you are eligible for and be able to report on what you would need to do to apply for them. Revise your activities list, read a few sample college essays and come to class with ideas about what you might write about in yours.

Sample Essay Links:
http://www.quintcareers.com/collegegate4.html
http://www.quintcareers.com/collegegate9.html
http://www.quintcareers.com/collegegate10.html
http://www.quintcareers.com/collegegate11.html

Class 3: Random Assortment of Goodies

Class 3 is mostly focusing on making your activities list/resume, but we will also begin talking about paying for college.

Your activities list should include all of your "extra-curricular" activities: jobs, volunteer work, sports, travel, etc. It should also have approximate dates for when you participated in each activity.

HOMEWORK: Turn in to me (don't need post on the blog) your typed out activities list at the next class meeting.

Also, I encourage each of you to open a dialog with your families about options you may have for financing your education. Are you going to need to pay for college all by yourself? Do you have a college fund? Is your family planning to help out in some way, but maybe not fund the entire endeavor? How do you feel about going into debt in exchange for getting a college education? This is a topic for you and your family and does not need to be reported back to the class, but I strongly encourage you to begin thinking about it...

We will began a basic scholarship search today as well.

Reminder:
You can use this email addy for future scholarship/college related searches so that you don't get a bunch of spam in your personal inbox.

Email: pscsgotocollege@gmail.com
Password: pscspscs