Senior's Counselor's Notes
By Misty Bible
Senior Bulletin
January 2012
*All seniors will be given the Work Keys Assessment on Friday, January 27th at 8:30am in the auditorium. This is the test that is given at the employment office, and can be used to help you get full-time and part-time jobs in the future. It is a free service. If you do not have a full schedule, please be here from 8:15-lunch on this day. If you have a CDIB card, you can receive monetary awards if you score well on this test. If you chose not to take the test, you will follow your normal schedule, but it would be crazy not to take advantage of this.
*If you are going to college, now is the time to apply. The longer you wait, the more opportunities you may miss out on.
*Most of the deadlines for university scholarships are around February 1st. Make sure you have applied for scholarships. Some colleges (SOSU, CASC, etc.) require a SEPARATE application for scholarships. Make sure you complete ALL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS on the websites.
*The FAFSA is now available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. It must be completed online; there are no longer paper applications. The student and parent tax forms should be completed before beginning this process. You should try to fill this out before March 1 to be eligible for OTAG, the state grant. If you are signed up for Oklahoma’s Promise (OHLAP), you must fill out a FAFSA to receive those funds. Many scholarships also require that you fill out a FAFSA, whether you qualify for grants or not. Therefore, I SUGGEST THAT EVERY SENIOR FILL OUT THE FAFSA THIS YEAR.
*Before beginning the FAFSA application, go to www.pin.ed.gov and apply for a pin number. If you do it now, there isn’t much of a wait. If you wait, it will be several days before you can get the pin and begin filling out the application. THIS SHOULD BE DONE NOW!
*The Gates Scholarship application is due Wednesday, January 11. You must be a minority, eligible for Pell Grant, and have a 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale to qualify.
*If you complete the Gates Scholarship application, you must fill out your FAFSA BEFORE February 1, or you will not be eligible for the scholarship.
*The CASC College Visitation Day is Thursday, February 9th. If you plan to attend, you must sign up in the office by January 27th. We will NOT be providing transportation. This can, however, be used as one of your two college days.
*Please make sure you are in English on Thursday, February 16th. We will begin the financial aid information that day. At 6:00 that evening all seniors and their parents are invited to the library for a more in-depth financial aid workshop. This is the only date that we will have an actual financial aid officer on campus to help you.
*The Wal-Mart Associates/Dependents Scholarships are available online at http://walmartstores.com/communitygiving/8736.aspx (or Google “Wal-Mart Associates Scholarship”). You can apply for the Associates scholarship after February 1st. The deadline is March 1st. The deadline for the Dependents Scholarship is March 15th.
*Concurrent students: remember to see Mrs. Bible if you decide not to enroll in your college class or drop it during the semester. If your college class is built in your high school schedule and you don’t complete it, you will receive an “F”.
*Please see Mrs. Holmes for transcripts. If she knows where you are planning to attend, she will send a seven semester transcript as soon as they are available and your final transcript after you graduate. We will announce when transcripts are available if you need seven semester transcripts for personal use.
* If you receive a fee waiver for the ACT test, you may be able to have your college enrollment fee waived. See Mrs. Bible when you get ready to enroll to see if you are eligible.
*If you are enrolled in a night school class, you must pass it to graduate. Choosing not to go to class is choosing not to graduate with the rest of your class.
*If you are in FFA, the FFA scholarship application is now available at https://scholarshipapp.ffa.org/OnlineApps/Welcome.aspx You must apply online for this scholarship. The deadline is February 15. Please be aware that this application makes you eligible for many scholarships, one of which is the Ford Motor Company Scholarship. Do not wait until the last minute to take the Ford page to James Hodge. Last year, James Hodge was the only person who could sign it, and he is not at the Idabel dealership every day. That page has to be postmarked by February 22.
*For more information on the Epsilon Sigma Alpha Foundation Scholarships, go tohttp://www.epsilonsigmaalpha.org/scholarships-and-grants/scholarships/results/?state=Oklahoma to apply. All of these scholarships have different deadlines, so apply ASAP.
*If you are a scholar athlete, go to sammy.bodybymilk.com by March 9 to apply for a $7,500 scholarship. See Mrs. Bible for more information.
*Remember that in order to receive OHLAP funding, you must have a 2.5 overall GPA and a 2.5 GPA in you core classes. See Mrs. Bible to determine your exact core GPA.
*Remember: All 18-year-old males must register for selective service within 30 days of their 18th birthday. You are legally required to register. Also, not registering will keep you from receiving any financial aid. You can register of www.sss.gov.
*If you are interested in an apprenticeship in plumbing, pipefitting, or HVAC/Refrigeration, you can contact Tulsa Pipe Trades Training School. The email is mike@tulsapipestrades.com.
*If you are interested in majoring in engineering at OSU, OU, TU, Oklahoma Christian University, or ORU, go to www.ospe.org, click on the OSPE button then click the scholarships link under Activities for the Oklahoma Engineering Foundation Scholarship application. You must have a 3.0 GPA or higher. An ACT score of at least 24, and a 28 or above on the math part of the ACT. The deadline to apply is February10th.
*The SOSU Honors Program, PLC, and scholarship applications are now available online at www.se.edu/future-students/scholarships. The deadline is January 31st.
*You may be eligible for the American Legion scholarships. Go to www.legion.org/needalift for more information.
*If you have an account with Red Canoe Credit Union, the application for the W.C. Ohlfs scholarship is now available at http://www.redcanoecu.com/scholarship.aspx. The deadline is March 31.
*If you are a Choctaw student who is interested in a career that requires a certification (usually a two-year degree), please contact Gena Fowler at gfowler@choctawnation.com or 580-236-1019 for funding options. You can also receive monetary awards for taking the Work Keys assessments.
*OSU is having an Open House on Saturday, January 28. Go to admissions.okstate.edu/events.
* The OSU Honors Program applications are due February 1. You can get more information online at www.okstate.edu/honors. You must have a 27 or higher on the ACT and have at least a 3.75 GPA.
*If you are interested in attending Rogers State University, the Honors Program and PLS scholarship applications are due February 1st. The other academic scholarship application is due on March 1st.
*If you are a Christian Athlete, go to www.playingwithpurpose.org by March 1st to apply for their scholarships.
*The KFC scholars program information is available at www.kfcscholars.org. The deadline is February 8. You must have a 2.75 GPA or higher to apply. This is a $20,000 scholarship.
*The Burger King Scholarship Application is available at www.haveityourwayfoundation.org/bksp_application.html;. The Access Code is BKS, and the deadline is January 10th.. You must have a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale to be eligible.
*The application for the Abbott and Fenner Scholarship Program can be found at http://www.abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.htm. The deadline to apply is June 15, 2012.
*The iflurtz Scholarship is available at www.iflurtz.com/scholarships. The deadline to apply is July 30th.
*If you or a parent has Multiple Sclerosis, you should apply for the MS Scholarship. The website is www.nationalmssociety.org/scholarship, and the deadline is January 13.
*The UCO scholarship deadline is February 1. You can apply at www.uco.edu/apply.
*The EOSC scholarship deadline is February 21. You can find the application at www.eosc.edu.
*If you are going to ECU, the recruiter wants to remind you of the following scholarship applications with April 1deadlines:
Freshman Honors Program
Ada Elks Lodge
Eleanor Waner Dedmon (for students working twards a minor in Spanish Education)
Thorpe/White (for American Indian males interested in athletics)
These applications were in the packet she brought when she visited with you back in the fall.
*If you are planning to pursue a degree in finance or resource management, see Mrs. Bible for the American Society of Military Comptrollers Scholarship Application. They award two $500 scholarships in the state of Oklahoma.
*The OU scholarship deadline is February 1. You apply for scholarships when you do the general application for admission. Apply at go2.ou.edu.
*The CASC scholarship application deadline is February 15. You can get an application from http://www.carlalbert.edu/assets/documents/FADocs/Scholarship%20Application%202012.pdf.
*The CASC try-out dates for athletics are in April and May. See Mrs. Bible for the exact dates.
Reminders
*If you are registered for the ACT on February 11, check your registration ticket. We filled up very quickly, and some of our students will actually be testing at their second choice. On the test date, make sure you take photo ID, your registration ticket, pencils, and an approved calculator. The regular deadline for the February test is January 13. The late deadline is January 20.
*As you begin filling out college applications, please remember to mark that you are an “undergraduate” student. If it is a 4 year school, you will be applying for your “first Bachelor’s degree.” You will also enter that you are a “first-time freshman” even if you have taken concurrent classes. I am available to look over your applications before you actually submit them.
*The Sam Noble Scholarships for students majoring in agriculture or technology are now available. See Mrs. Bible or go online to http://www.noble.org/Philanthropy/scholarship.html to get the application. The deadline for this scholarship is February 15. You can’t wait until the last minute on this scholarship; if you are eligible, contact them for an application NOW!
*You can get details of the Fleming Scholarship Program online at www.omrf.org/fleming. The deadline is February 1.
*Don’t forget; seniors get two days to visit college campuses this year. When you return, just bring in documentation from the college. The recruitment office usually has a form letter that they will give you.
*You can access the Learning Express ACT practice online at www.oklibrary.net. This site has ASVAB practice as well. It is from this site that you can also receive free online tutoring each day from 2pm to 9pm. These services are completely free.
*Tutoring is on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday until 4:10 in Mrs. Compton’s room.
*Please notify Mrs. Bible of scholarships that you are receiving as you learn of them.
*OU also is offering Saturday ACT prep courses throughout the year. The cost is $90. To register, go to http://youth.ou.edu.
*The Ayn Rand The Fountainhead Essay Contest is available at www.aynrandeducation.com. The deadline is April 26, 2012.
*The Washington Crossing Foundation has scholarships from $1,000 to $7,500. Visit their website at gwcf.org for more information. The deadline is January 15, 2012.
*ACT allows students who receive free or reduced lunches to receive two fee waivers. This means you can take the ACT test two times for free. You can also register online using the fee waivers. Please see Mrs. Bible for your fee waiver. Do not wait until the deadline.
*If you receive a fee waiver for the ACT test, you may be able to have your college enrollment fee waived. See Mrs. Bible when you get ready to enroll to see if you are eligible.
*If you have a CDIB card, Johnson O’Malley will reimburse the cost of the ACT test. Please bring proof of payment to Mrs. Bible or Mrs. Billy.
*If you are interested in taking the SAT, go to www.collegeboard.com to register.
*If you are expecting to get assistance through an American Indian tribe, make sure you have a C.D.I.B. card and a tribal membership card.
*If you have a physical, mental, or visual disability that keeps you from working, please contact Mrs. Bible for the initial paperwork for Vocational Rehabilitation.
*Most of our local scholarship applications will be available soon after Spring Break. In the mean time:
Visit fastweb.com for a large listing of scholarships. Three other sites that have a wealth of information are www.nelnet.net, www.okcollegestart.org, and www.okcis.intocareers.org (See me for login information on this page).
