Creating College Possibilities Project
Dare to Dream!
​​​Excellent Resource detailing
How to Plan, Prepare, and Pay
by the Hispanic Scholarship Fund
​
Como Prepara, Planear, y Pagar Para
por Hispanic Scholarship Fund

STEPS TO SUCCESS

Overview of Important Components of your College Applications to develop:

A. High School Transcript/Course Selection
  1. Develop a 4 year high school plan. Look at where you want to be senior year and work backwards to make sure you will have the prerequisites
  2. Rigor is Important - Challenge yourself to the extent that you can do well & still have a life
  3. Realize that high school graduation requirements do not equal college admissions requirements. Most students should take:​
  • 4 years of English
  • 4 years of Math
  • 3-4 years of Science
  • 3-4 years of Social Studies, including 2 years of U.S History and a year of World History'
  • 3-4 years of the same foreign language
  • 1-2 years of courses that help you build skills in computer and financial literacy
  • Electives that meet graduation requirements and help you explore your academic and career interests 

B. Tests
  1. Talk to your Guidance Counselor about fee waivers and other accommodations if applicable.
  2. Check out Test Optional Colleges: http://fairtest.org/university/optional
  3. Free Test Prep – http://www.creativecollegeconsulting.com/test-prep.html
  4. Plan to take the PSAT, SAT, ACT, SAT Subject, AP, IB exams as appropriate
  • PSAT – October – grades 10 & 11, register through your high school
  • ACT - http://www.act.org/
  • SAT- www.collegeboard.org​
  • AP – Given in May, register through your high school
  • IB – Given in May, register through your high school

C. Activities, Leadership, Service and Social/Personal Qualities
  1. Develop your talents and passions
  2. See Self-Assessment Resources below

D. Recommendations – Get to know your teachers and guidance counselor well

E. Essays – Focus on learning to express yourself well in your writing

F. Financial
   1. Estimate your expected family contribution (EFC): https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/paying-your-share/expected-family-contribution-calculator
   2. Work - Save money for college
   3. Talk to your family - What they are able to contribute to your college education?
   4. Become financially literate and research financial aid - https://www.annuity.org/financial-literacy/students/

College Preparation, Search, Application, and Selection

Self Assessment - Start Here and begin as early as possible
Identify your personality, strengths, and interests and explore possible majors and careers

A. Use your Naviance Account if your high school has one – ask your Guidance Counselor for your user name and password if you don’t know it.
Under About Me – complete:
   1. Do What You Are – personality inventory – with suggestions for majors and careers
   2. Career Interest Inventory – links your strengths and interests to careers
   3. Career Clusters – identify your top career clusters
   4. Strengths Explorer – find out what your top strengths are

B. My Majors Quiz – www.mymajors.com - Take this quiz to identify possible majors and careers

C. Career Exploration Resources
   1. California Career Zone - https://www.cacareerzone.org/
   2. Whodoyouwant2b - http://whodouwant2b.com/student/pathways
   3. ONet Interest Profiler - http://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip
   4. Career One Stop - http://www.careeronestop.org/
   5. ISeek - http://www.iseek.org/

Develop your Talents and Passions

  1. Participate in meaningful extracurricular activities
  2. Provide service to you community – school, church, family, neighborhood, etc.
  3. Develop leadership skills – in clubs, at home or at a job
  4. Keep track of your honors, awards, activities, leadership, and service activities​
  5. Apply to honor societies as applicable

Create your Resume

  1. Resume Generator - http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/resume-generator-30808.html
  2. How to Write a Resume - http://www.howtowritearesume.net/

College Search 

A. Identify Your Search Criteria: What are your academic, social, and financial strengths, needs, and goals?
  1. Academic Match: Rigor of courses, Grades, GPA, Class Rank, Test Scores, Majors of Interest, Accreditation, Internships, Co-ops, Support Services Needed ( tutoring, writing center, etc.)
  2. Social Factors: Size, Location, Diversity, Religion, Athletics, Activities, Greek Life, School Spirit, Special Services for First Generation Students, Counseling Services, Special Groups of Interest (Latino, African American, LGBTQ, etc.)
  3. Financial Need: Estimate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), and how much you are able to pay, then identify schools that are lower cost, meet a high percent of need, and/or where you would be eligible for merit aid
B. College Search Resources: 
  1. Naviance – use College Search or Super Match college search
  2. Big Future – https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search?navid=gh-cs – College Board site that allows you to filter by percent of need met, selectivity, diversity, and many other factors.
  3. College Express - http://www.collegexpress.com/ - Set up an account and use the College Search feature, but also the Lists and Rankings feature to find schools with your intended major and that meet your other needs. Also search for summer programs and scholarships
  4. Hint: Set up an account with a user name and password to save your search.

C. Make a list of your best match colleges

D. Research them further
    1. Visit Campus Reel for virtual tours: https://www.campusreel.org/colleges​ 


E. Contact your admissions officer with any questions - develop a relationship

F. Sign up to receive information

G. Visit if at all possible (See links on Covid-19 Resources tab for virtual visit information) and do attend college sessions at your high school as well as local and online college fairs

College Applications

 A. College Applications: Talk to your Guidance Counselor about fee waivers if needed
  1. Common Application - Can be started any time, then rolls over on August 1 each year - https://apply.commonapp.org/Login
  2. Coalition Application - http://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/
  3. College Specific Applications - Some colleges use their own applications which can be found on their websites
  4. ZeeMee - https://www.zeemee.com/ Think of it as a virtual interview. Add videos of yourself answering 2-3 of the suggested prompts and provide a link in your applications to show colleges who you are. Some college applications have a place to put your ZeeMee link. If not, you can put it in Additional Information. 
B. Components of an Application - Check each college's requirements and apply Early Action if at all possible!
  1. High school transcript – usually must be sent by your high school, but more colleges are allowing self-reporting
  2. Tests – SAT, ACT, Subject Exams – send directly from ACT or College Board sites or self-report as instructed
  3. Honors - list your academic honors and the criteria met to earn them
  4. Activities - space for 10 on the Common App (50 characters for Title/Position, 100 characters for organization name, 150 characters for description)
  5. Resume – some colleges allow you to upload your resume - focus on the impact of your activities
  6. Essays – Personal Statement, Activity, Intellectual Interest, Supplemental
  7. Additional Information – what else do you want to say or explain?
  8. Teacher Recommendations – sent directly from your school, often through Naviance – follow directions from your Guidance Counselor
  9. Interviews – Try using the Foyle App to prepare and practice - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/foyl-your-college-interview/id982286562?mt=8

Financial Aid Applications

  1. See the Financial Aid tab under Resources on this website
  2. ​Click on the links below for more information

Scholarship Resources

​​
  1. FinAid – Info about FA for undocumented students: http://www.finaid.org/otheraid/spanish.phtml
  2. FinAid – FA Resources in Spanish: http://www.finaid.org/otheraid/spanish.phtml
  3. Big Future Info for Undocumented Students: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/for-undocumented-students/questions-and-answers-about-paying-for-college
  4. US News – Paying for College without legal status: http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2014/08/15/how-immigrants-without-legal-status-can-pay-for-college
  5. Generation Progress - Scholarships for Undocumented Students: http://genprogress.org/about/scholarships-for-undocumented-students-2/
  6. Scholarships.org Scholarships for Undocumented Students: https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarships-by-type/scholarships-for-undocumented-students/
  7. United We Dream – Scholarships for Undocumented Students: http://unitedwedream.org/blog/6-scholarship-opportunities-undocumented-students/
  8. Best Colleges – Info for Undocumented Students – Dream Act, DACA, etc.: http://www.bestcolleges.com/resources/undocumented-students-guide/
  9. College Green Light Scholarship List for Undocumented Students: http://blog.collegegreenlight.com/blog/category/undocumented-students/#sthash.wFEUzggG.dpbs
  10. Mexican American Legal Defense Fund: http://www.maldef.org/ - Great list of scholarships
  11. Service Academies - our nation's service academies - Military, Air Force, Naval, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine - are free if you are admitted
  12. ROTC: click on ROTC for more info. on ROTC Scholarships
  13. http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Not-Dreamer-financial-aid-but-a-scholarship-7436716.phpThe details re: how students who live in "non-dreamers states" can apply for scholarships at either Eastern Ct State U or at Delaware State, can be found here: http://www.thedream.us/opportunityscholarship/. Looks like you don't need to fill out a separate app, either. This scholarship app itself will serve as the admissions app fro ECSU and DE State. ​

Additional Resources

  1. Please explore the Resources tab on my website
  2. Prepped and Polished Podcasts: ​https://soundcloud.com/preppedandpolished
  3. Free or Low Cost Computers: http://angiesangelhelpnetwork.com/help-for-low-income-families/free-to-low-cost-computers-for-kids/