COLLEGE CORNER

Thanks to Paula Delario for assistance with the college planning class, and to Ralph Jordan and Paula for help with the PSAT. Also thanks to those parents who drove to the College Fair.

College 101 –
This will be a series of lunchtime (11:45-12:40) workshops given on Thursday through November and December. Parents are invited. Topics include getting into college, school selection, scholarships, financial aid, Extensive use of websites and handouts. Meet in the library. Paula is here to help. Let me know where you need help, and we can tailor a session to your needs. Evening sessions can also be arranged.

Student Portfolio – for college applications and scholarships.
The guidelines and input pages are all accessible on the Chugiak HS or Bartlett web page under the career resource center at www.asdk12.org/schools. A student can download the info and add their own information.

SAT and ACT Tests(info from Libby Seitz, former KCC Career Resource Advisor)

The difference between the tests can best be described as follows: the SAT is an aptitude test of Standard Written English, Verbal skills and Mathematics. It also collects demographic information about the student to share with colleges. The ACT consists of curriculum based achievement tests in English, Mathematics, Reading and Science reasoning. In addition to the collection of demographic information, students are provided career-planning direction as a result of the ACT interest inventory. Both tests are approximately three hours in length.

Juniors should register and take the SAT or ACT this spring.

2008-9 SAT Schedule–$43
(Test scheduled at West High School)
(Test Center Code-02-144)

Test Date           Regular Deadline           Late Deadline(+$18)
January 24          December 26                January 6
March 14            February 10                  February 24
May 2                 March 31                      April 9
June 6 May 5 May 15

2008-09 ACT Schedule
basic fee $30, Plus writing $44.50
(Test scheduled at Hanshew Middle School)
(Test Center Code-213990)

Test Date           Regular Deadline            Late Deadline
February 7          January 6                        January 16
April 4                February 27                    March 13
June 13              May 8                              May 22

*You may register online with a credit card.
SAT-www.collegeboard.com or
ACT- www.actstudent.org

$$$ Financial Aid – I recommend that you begin to compile your income tax information. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid forms (FAFSA) should be emailed or snail mailed by the end of January – the sooner the better. www.fafsa.ed.gov. You cannot mail your forms before January 1, 2009.
Submitting the FAFSA will also enable you to apply for the Pell Grant, Stafford Loans, work-study programs and the Alaska Advantage Program. Some colleges require the FAFSA if you are applying for scholarships

Another good site, Alaska Advantage Loans www.state.ak.us/acpe.
Click on the following buttons- Calculators, Financial Aid Estimation Calculator, Federal Methodology

If you plan to attend UAA or UAF, I would recommend that you mail in the admission application by the end of January. Some UAA & UAF scholarships require that the admission application be on file by February 15. www.alaska.edu/
Scholarships are usually found under financial aid.

–Karen Emmel