~Ranch Roundup~

College and Career Newsletter Fall 2024

Howdy Mustangs!

I am your Career Specialist, Mrs. Chamberlin! Do you need help figuring out your next step? Do you have questions about the college application process? Are you wondering where you stand for your GPA and test scores for admission? Are you interested in discussing trade/tech careers or military? Our goal is to make students career, college and life ready! I will be hosting in school events for students and evening events for parents to assist our students with making plans for after high school! The CRC is open during all lunches for students to make an apt. or just drop by and chat about how to make a plan!

What to expect in this issue

For SENIORS Class of 2024

1. Get Ready to complete College Applications! Common Application Help Sessions will begin in August! Attend the College Application Help Night on August 15th 6:30 p.m. in media center

2. October is Money Month, Get informed, Stay Informed

Florida Financial Aid Application and Bright Futures (Opens Oct. 1)
FAFSA- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (New Information coming soon opens December 2023)

3. Get Help with Your College Essay-The Essay Guy

For All Students

5. What do I want to be? Check out Naviance to explore your career options

For Juniors class of 2025, Sophomores Class of 2026 & Freshmen Class of 2027

6. PSAT

7. College/Future Planning

8. Follow Me

Seniors it's time for University Applications

Are you a senior looking to attend a four-year college or university after graduation? If so, our goal is to complete our university applications by November 1. This will allow you to be considered under the priority admission deadline for all schools. Please contact me when you are ready to start your applications! There are 3 ways to apply! Check your university admission page for the preferred application to use!

College Application Help Sessions for Seniors!

Need help with your college applications? Manic Mondays will be held on August 21st, August 28th and September 11th in the Media from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Seniors are encouraged to attend to work on their applications! Also the Seniors can come by the CRC during their lunch for assistance!

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Common app

https://www.commonapp.org/explore/

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Coalition for College app

https://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/

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University Application

Add Mrs. Chamberlin as your counselor on all your applications!

In order to assist your Senior guidance Counselor, I serve as the main college counselor in the application process! I am able to complete all the necessary school forms, upload transcripts to common and coalition and complete the counselor recommendations where required. mchamber@pasco.k12.fl.us

Request Recommendation Letters for College Applications

Click here to request a counselor letter of recommendation:

https://forms.office.com/r/dQey5j9ZdX

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Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

FOR SENIORS ONLY! The FAFSA is a government program, funds are awarded based on household income. Families should complete the application Beginning December 2023 of a student's senior year and every year after while in college. It is important to apply early as funds are dispersed on a first come, first serve bases. More information will be provided!

To explore and begin the financial aid process please click https://studentaid.gov/h/understand-aid/how-aid-works

Filling out the FAFSA tips https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out

Check out this paying for college video series for additional financial aid and scholarship information https://www.payingforcollegeresource.com/?dtd_cell=SMSCGESCSOSOOTOTOTHOTHRN010096

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Register for Bright Futures with the Florida Financial Aid Application

FOR SENIORS ONLY! This application is a one stop shop for Florida specific scholarship/grants. This application is REQUIRED for students who want to be evaluated for the Florida Bright Futures program. There is NOT a separate Bright Futures application. To review what programs are included under the FFAA and to apply on or after OCTOBER 1 of a students SENIOR year, click here https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/SAPHome/SAPHome?url=home

This application does not require financial statements, you must have a correct social security number available when applying on this government secured site.

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Bright Futures Tips from Mrs. C

Keep in mind that students do NOT need to meet the requirements at the time of registration (meaning they can still be working toward earning the GPA, test scores, community service)

However, students must meet the requirements by their graduation date.

Once students complete the registration, they will be evaluated and students will receive notifications on which scholarship they qualify for based on their transcript at the time of the evaluation.

Students do not need to request to send transcripts to Bright Futures! Our school district will automatically upload to the state site for evaluation purposes.

Students do need to submit their ACT or SAT scores to any university in the state system in order for BF to pull your scores for evaluation. Even if you are not attending a university send your scores to one!

Students should continue to submit community service documents and students can continue to take SAT or ACT up until JUNE of their graduation year to earn the test scores!

Scholarships for Students

Seniors the Pasco Education Foundation and JWMHS Local Scholarship Application opens December 1, 2022! Check out the Pasco County Schools Scholarship Data Base for opportunities that are updated regularly! https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/scholarship_database

Need help finding a college major or career path? Check out Naviance FREE on your mystudent

Get Ready for the PSAT coming in October

In October students in 9-11th grade have the opportunity to take the new DIGITAL PSAT test. This test is a practice test for the SAT and is not reported to colleges. The PSAT helps students identify their academic strengths and create SAT study plans.

Test Dates are October 18th-20th in the media center

Students in 10th grade will take the PSAT at NO cost to them, it is paid for by our district. 10th grade student do NOT need to sign up to test, all 10th grade students will be assigned testing locations and will need to report to that location at 8:25 a.m. or 11:13 a.m We will be holding 2 testing sessions per day.

There are limited seats available for 9th or 11th grade students that would like take the PSAT. This is a great starting point for 9th graders to test their college readiness.

For Juniors this is vital practice for the SAT they should begin taking in January for college admissions AND testing in Junior year can qualify students for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

The cost is $20 and students must pay on RYCOR click the PSAT icon.

Students in 9th or 11th grade will be assigned to test in the media on October 20th.

Deadline to register is September 24th

Click here for more on the Digital PSAT and NMSQT

https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt