2011 - 2012 School Year Gets Underway
by Teresa Brown
2011 - 2012 School Year News and Information
Welcome back to the 2011-2012 school year. The Counseling Office is excited to begin a new school year. We want students to feel welcome to come in to visit with either Mrs. Henke or Mrs. Brown about problems they are having at school or at home. We want to help them find a direction in life or answer a question they are having about the often confusing process of post-secondary education and training.
We will use this website to share important information and resources.
$$$$ MHS is hosting a Financial Aid Night on Monday, January 9, 2012, for seniors and their parents/guardians. Juniors and their parents are welcome to attend as well. Students may begin filling out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online after January 1. The application requires tax information from parents for the 2011 calendar year. Schools in Kansas recommend completing and submitting the FAFSA form no later than March 1.
Seniors, don't let time run out! Start applying now for admissions and scholarships at the schools in which you are interested. Your senior year will be over before you realize it. Don't miss important opportunities. Visit web sites of your favorite schools to discover scholarship deadlines. Some are as early as November 1.
ACT Testing Information:
Test Dates in the U.S., U.S. Territories, and Canada
| Test Date | Registration Deadline | (Late Fee Required) |
|---|---|---|
| December 10, 2011 | November 4, 2011 | November 5 - 18, 2011 |
| February 11, 2012* | January 13, 2012 | January 14 - 20, 2012 |
| April 14, 2012 | March 9, 2012 | March 10 - 23, 2012 |
| June 9, 2012 | May 4, 2012 | May 5 - 18, 2012 |
2011 - 2012 ACT Fees and Services
All fees are nonrefundable unless otherwise noted.
Students who qualify for the free/reduced lunch program and have been approved by the district through the proper forms may receive a fee waiver for the cost of the ACT test. Students may receive two waivers per year. The waiver does not cover the cost of late registration.
Students who receive testing accommodations through an IEP or 504 Plan may receive accommodations on the ACT. There are special forms that must be completed, and the school needs a minimum of 8 weeks before a test date to complete the required paperwork and gather the qualifying documentation.
If you are interested in a fee waiver or accommodations, please see Mrs. Brown at MHS.
Basic registration fee (per test option)
| ACT (No Writing) | $34.00 |
| Includes reports for you, your high school (if you authorize reporting), and up to four college choices (if valid codes are provided when you register). | |
| ACT Plus Writing | $49.50 |
| Includes reports for you, your high school (if you authorize reporting), and up to four college choices (if valid codes are provided when you register). The $15.50 Writing Test fee is refundable, on written request if you are absent on test day or switch to the ACT (No Writing) before testing begins. | |
Additional registration fees and services
Add to the basic fee for your test option (except for the Test Center Change)
| 5th and 6th college choices | add $10.00 each |
| Requested online before the test date; refundable on written request, if you do not test. Find out how much it costs to send your scores after you test. | |
| Telephone re-registration | add $13.00 |
| Late registration fee (U.S. or Canada only) | add $21.00 |
| For registration or test date change submitted during the late period for a national test date. | |
| Standby testing on test day | add $42.00 |
| International testing (required outside the U.S. or Canada) | add $27.00 |
| The ACT Plus Writing is not available at international test centers on the February test date. | |
| Test date change | add $21.00 |
| For different date only if absent or unable to test on original date. If you request a test date change after the regular deadline for the new date, you must also add the late fee. You will be charged the full basic fee for your new test date plus $21.00 ($42.00 if you register during the late period). Your basic fee for the original test date will be promptly refunded. | |
| Test center change | $21.00 |
| For the same test date. | |
| Viewing scores and score report online | FREE |
| Test Information Release (TIR) service | add $18.00 |
| On December, April, and June national test dates at a national test center; refundable if not available. | |
COLLEGE REP VISITS TO MHS
The MHS Counseling Center hosts visits on Tuesdays and Thursdays during Advisory. Juniors and seniors are invited to attend these visits as long as you check in with your teacher first. Plan to meet in the auditorium. Students who are in trouble with grades, need to stay in advisory and
work on homework.
Tues., November 22 Washburn University (Topeka, KS)
Scholarship Information: see the Senior Notes for specific scholarship opportunities.
Scholarship Sources…
Many scholarships are not available until a student’s senior year, but the e-scholarship monthly database is a great place for you to begin looking as a junior.
1. The college you plan to attend – scholarships made available to students must be used at that specific institution.Most schools offer admissions-based scholarships using a student’s cumulative GPA and ACT/SAT score as qualifying criteria. Schools also offer departmental scholarships for areas like theatre, music, or stipends for activities like cheerleading, marching band, or journalism.
2. Nationally sponsored scholarships – these are usually for large dollar amounts, but the competition is much greater. Some scholarships will have thousands of applicants. I’m not saying you shouldn’t apply, but be aware. One year a MHS graduate earned the Toyota Scholarship.
3. Locally sponsored scholarships – those offered by Mulvane area clubs or civic organizations like the Chamber of Commerce or the Lions Club. The competition is much less because you are competing against your own classmates only. However, few students usually apply because of the timing of these scholarships. They are made available in the spring of your senior year from about the beginning of March to the end of school.
4. Church scholarships – check with your pastor or youth leader to see if this is an option for you.
5. Parents’ employers – some companies sponsor scholarships for the children of their employees.
Have your parents ask.
6. Student employers – companies like Quik Trip have some programs that encourage education. Other companies that sponsor scholarships for their employees are Papa John’s Pizza and Wal-Mart. Check with your manager.
7. Internet Scholarship Searches – a word of caution: do not use a service that asks you to pay money for scholarships. You can do just as well if you invest your time. A good matching service to try is FastWEB at www.fastweb.com.
Junior Year Timeline…
Fall Semester
• Take the PSAT/NMSQT in October
• Start your college search – start with you: Make lists of your abilities; preferences (in-state vs. out-of-state; rural vs. city; consider cost if this is an issue; personal qualities. List things you may want to study and do in college. Read about majors and careers on collegeboard.com or bridges.com (the career/education program MHS uses).
• Learn about colleges: use a college search engine you prefer and talk with parents and teachers.
• Plan your spring testing schedule. Register for the ACT or SAT test date of your choice.
• Review your PSAT results in December.
Spring Semester
• Explore colleges – take a college visit to help you decide if this is the right or wrong school for you. Develop a list of no more than 10 schools that interest you.
• If you are considering a military academy or ROTC scholarships, begin this process with Mrs. Brown.
Fall of senior year
• You will continue to look at colleges and narrow your list down to 3-5 schools.
• Apply to these schools by completing an Application for Admissions, sending an official high school transcript (see Mrs. Dinkel in the main office), and sending the registration fee if one is required.
• Visit your top 3 schools if you have not already done so.
• Keep your grades up.
• Take the ACT in October for the 2nd time, or take it for the 1st time if you haven’t taken it yet.
Students cannot apply for financial aid until after Jan. 1 of their senior year. It is still a good idea to talk to a Financial Aid advisor during all college visits. Some colleges follow slightly different procedures, and you don’t want to miss any deadlines.
What You Can Do Now to Plan for the Future. . .
• Study hard and maintain or raise your overall GPA – many schools look at GPA, class rank, and ACT scores as a basis for admittance and/or scholarships. This includes community colleges and vocational schools.
• Go to colleges on weekends when they are hosting special events. Begin to think about where you want to attend. Don’t simply listen to what other people say; check it out for yourself.
• Read the information you receive from colleges. You’re shopping for the right school for you!
• If you hope to attend one of the armed forces academies, like Westpoint, or the Air Force Academy, start the procedure your junior year. This process takes time.
• Take the ACT test in December or after. Schools will not consider ACT scores in terms of scholarship eligibility before December of your junior year. We offer the June test at MHS. Area schools also offer the April test. It’s a good idea to take the test once during your junior year and again during your senior year to try to improve your score. There is no limit to how many times you take it, but you must pay for it each time.
• Talk with Mrs. Brown if you have questions or concerns.
• Take this home and share it with your parents. If they ask me about these issues, I tell them that you received the information. Planning for your future should be a joint decision.
• Discuss with your parents who is going to pay for your education. Don’t assume they will pay.
• Don’t wait until your senior year to start thinking about your future. You will be too busy filling out all of the paperwork to think about it then.
