September 7, 2010

PARENT/STUDENT COLLEGE NEWSLETTER

Prep to Host Catholic College Fair Schools that will be represented at the fair are: Representatives from twenty-four Avila University—Kansas City, KS Inside this issue: Catholic Colleges will visit Creighton Benedictine College—Atchison, KS Prep September 14 from 10:15 until Briar Cliff College—Sioux City, IA College Fairs 1 11:00 a.m. during community period as Carroll College—Helena, MT part of Omaha’s annual Catholic —Omaha, NE College Week. Students and parents Dominican University—Chicago, IL 2 ACT/SAT Tests can meet with the college reps in the Iona College—New Rochelle, NY Forum. This is an excellent opportunity Loyola of Chicago—Chicago, IL Test Prep. Opportunities 2-3 to ask questions about the colleges, to Marquette University—Milwaukee, WI get on their mailing list, and find out Mount Marty College—Yankton, SD what scholarships the schools offer. Newman University-Wichita, KS PSAT Prep. Registration 2 Juniors and seniors are encouraged Presentation College—Aberdeen,SD to attend the college fair. In case you Regis University—Denver, CO would like to visit with some of the Rockhurst University—Kansas City Parent Meetings 3 representatives and are unable to St. Gregory University—Oklahoma attend the fair at Prep, you are St. John’s University—Collegeville, MN Calendar 4 welcome to attend an evening St. Louis University—St. Louis MO program at Mt. Michael High School in St. Mary College—Leavenworth, KS Deadlines/Scholarships 5 Elkhorn September 13 from 7:00 - Seton Hall—South Orange, NJ 8:00 p.m. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology—Rapid City, SD Stonehill College—Easton, MA University of Dallas—Dallas,TX This newsletter is being sent to University of Mary—Bismark, ND junior and senior parents. It may University of St. Thomas—St. Paul, MN help some junior parents who have not gone through the College Fairs college admissions process. Eight Jesuit Colleges & Universities St. Louis University, Loyola University sity, Dordt College, Grace University This can be a good time to begin There will be eight Jesuit Col- of Chicago, and St. Joseph’s University and Colorado Christian University. attending college fairs and leges and Universities holding an will be present. GREATER OMAHA FAIR meeting with college reps. information evening Tuesday Septem- CHRISTIAN COLLEGE FAIR There will be close too 200 ber 14 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at There will be a Christian College Colleges and Universities represented **Make sure you share this Creighton Prep. Representatives from Fair in Lincoln on September 28 from at the Greater Omaha College Fair newsletter with your son.** Creighton University, Loyola University 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Lincoln Christian October 31 from 1-4 p.m. at the UNO of New Orleans, Marquette University, High School. Some schools that will be Field house. Regis University, Rockhurst University, represented include Concordia Univer- PARENT/STUDENT COLLEGE NEWSLETTER Page 2

ACT/SAT TESTS Seniors who have not taken Seniors desiring or the ACT test are encouraged to needing to take the SAT Critical do so as soon as possible. The Reasoning Test or the SAT next testing dates are October Subject Tests can test on 23 and December 11. October 9, November 6, and Registration deadlines are December 4. Registration September 17 and November 5. deadlines are September 10, Juniors should plan on October 8, and November 5 taking the ACT test on April 9, respectively. 2011.

Juniors To Take PSAT Oct. 13

The Preliminary Scholastic automatically registered for Students will have the “The first part of Aptitude Test (PSAT) will be this test. There is no additional opportunity to review their given to all juniors on fee. results with their counselor success is “Get-to- Wednesday, October 13 at Prep. Results of the test are also during their community period it-iveness”; the This test is similar in format to made available to colleges if on December 14. second part of the SAT test that colleges can students so indicate. *Please remind your son to success is “Stick- use for college admission. Students are reminded to bring a #2 pencil and calculator This test is also used as take this test seriously and get to his community period room to-it-iveness”.” the National Merit Scholarship plenty of sleep the night before for testing by 8 a.m. * Qualifying Test. All juniors are the test. Orison Swett Marden

New Test Preparation Opportunities for Creighton Prep Creighton Prep has recently ■ Complete full-length practice unlimited, 24-7 basis, from any signed a contract to allow all tests Web-enabled computer For a Creighton Prep students a free ■ Receive hundreds of practice student to use the Test Prep Workshop. Method questions FREE ACT Method Test Prep, Test Prep is available through ■ Read easy explanations to students need only to log in to the student’s Family every question their Family Connection web site Connection web site. ■ Track their strengths on each and click on Test Preparation. With ACT Method, students test can: ■ Receive valuable test-taking Students can also prepare for ■ Hear audio explanations of tips the PSAT or SAT by using SAT test questions ■ Take practice quizzes to boost Method on Family Connection. ■ Access strategy guides for their knowledge each test ■ Access their courses on an PARENT/STUDENT COLLEGE NEWSLETTER Page 3

Test Preparation Opportunities Cont. The Assistance League of Omaha ACT Writing Test—Wednesday, offers test preparation courses October 20 only for the ACT, ACT Writing test, and 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. PSAT tests. Registration forms are Cost $40 (3 classes) available in the Counseling Center. There are also ACT preparation For more information you can call classes sponsored by the Assistance 342-4288. League of Omaha scheduled for The schedule is: December, February, April, and PSAT/SAT—Monday, October 11 June. 6:30-9:30 p.m. www.omaha.assistanceleague.org Westside HS Cost $15 ACT—Tuesday, October 19 and Thursday, October 21 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Westside HS Cost $30 (2 classes)

“Whether you want Full-Tuition Scholarship Information to be a singer or In last year’s graduating class 34 seniors were awarded full-tuition scholarships. The an astronaut or schools where graduates obtained full-tuition scholarships included Fordham University, Santa whatever...don’t Clara University, Seton Hall, Texas Christian University, Rockhurst, , UNO, let anybody tell UNL, Loyola Marymont University and . Qualifications for these scholarships ranged from ACT scores of 29 and a GPA of 3.5 you that you can’t” to an ACT of 35 and a GPA of 4.0. Qualifications for full-tuition scholarships varied from school Katharine McPhee to school. In an effort to provide students and parents with more information about full-tuition scholarship possibilities and the schools from which Prep students typically receive them, Fr. Bob Tillman, S.J. will make a presentation on September 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Forum at Prep for junior and senior students and parents.

Parent Panel To Address College Questions “Tips For Parents” will be the theme of a panel presentation by parents of Prep graduates who are now in their first or second year of college. This presentation will be for junior and senior parents September 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Criss Auditorium. The parents will talk about what they learned in accompanying their children through the college admission process that will be helpful for current parents. Questions about admissions, choosing a college, financial aid, residence hall life, campus visits, and much other helpful information will be addressed. These parents learned an awful lot going through the college admissions process and they will be able to share much of what they learned and found helpful with you. They can offer some very helpful do’s and don’t’s. PARENT/STUDENT COLLEGE NEWSLETTER Page 4

Parents Specials ***Applications to the Counseling Center. Mike Johanns has a deadline of University of at September 30. Lincoln need to be completed ***Counselors this year are Mr. online. The website for this is Steve Wertzberger, Fr. Robert ***If your son plans on playing www.admissions.unl.edu The Tillman, S.J., Mr. Chris Nizzi, Mr. NCAA Division I or II sports in transcript verification form then Jim Swanson, and Mr. Mike Culver. college, he must register with the needs to be printed and brought to They are available to meet with NCAA Eligibility Center. This needs your son’s counselor. parents if you have questions to be done online. There is a link on concerning college. Please call in the Prep Counseling website for ***If your son has been diagnosed advance to schedule an this purpose. This is for seniors. with a learning disability and appointment. receives special test ***Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity is a considerations at Prep he may be ***Any senior seeking a Catholic Fraternity house at Iowa eligible for ACT, SAT, or PSAT nomination from Senator Nelson State. Members are selected Special Testing. Contact Mr. Andy for a U.S. Service Academy is based on moral character, Simon at Prep. Special reminded that all information must academics, service, and registration forms are in the be in his office by Oct. 31. Senator leadership. “We all take different paths in Parents Can Access Family Connection life, but no matter Family Connection is a web- information that is specific to office about scholarships and based service designed especially Creighton Prep. other college related matters. where we go, we for students and parents. It is a Juniors and seniors were Make sure your son has provided take a little of each comprehensive website that you introduced to Family Connection your correct information in the other everywhere.” and your son can use to help in during their Career Awareness Parent Data section of Family making decisions about colleges class as sophomores. Your son Connection. and careers. It is linked with should be able to answer questions If you want to access Family Tim McGraw Counselor Connection, a service you might have about it. Connection have your son register that we use in our counseling It is important that your email you as his parent in his account or office to track and analyze data address be listed with your name use your son’s account. about college and career plans of so that you receive emails that we students. It provides up-to-date send out from the counseling

Calendar September 23 Full-Tuition Scholarship Presentation November 10 Registration deadline at Prep 7:30 p.m. 5 Registration deadline for the for October 9 SAT October December 4 SAT 14 Jesuit College Fair 8 Registration deadline for at Prep 6:30-8:00 p.m. November 6 SAT 14 Catholic College Fair 9 SAT Critical Reasoning at Prep 10:15- 11:00 a.m. and Subject Tests 15 “Tips For Parents” Panel Presen- 13 PSAT for juniors at Prep tation at Prep 7:30-9:00 p.m. 23 ACT Test at Prep 17 Registration deadline for Octo- for seniors ber 23 ACT 31 Greater Omaha College PARENT/STUDENT COLLEGE NEWSLETTER Page 5

Application Procedures If a student applies online: If a student applies with a hard 1. Student needs to notify his copy application: counselor as soon as he has 1. The application, résumé, essays, completed his online application so and application fee with school a transcript can be sent. supplied envelope are to be 2. Student needs to print off the brought to his counselor two secondary school report form weeks in advance of the deadline. to give to his counselor. 3. Student needs to check to see if 2. If teacher recommendations are there are teacher required, forms need to be given recommendation forms that need to teachers three weeks before to be printed and given to deadline. teachers. 4. Any other materials to accompany the application need to be given to his counselor.

“You may never Early Deadlines know what results October 1 November 1 November 15 Wichita State Scholarship deadline Early action deadline at some UNL Honors Program application come of your Colleges—Boston College, deadline action, but if you November 1 Notre Dame, Georgetown Kansas State, Indiana University, November30 do nothing there Premier Scholarships deadline November 15 Application deadline for University Early action to other college— of California system will be no result.” November 1 Santa Clara, Scholarship deadline University of Kansas deadline for for University of San Francisco, December 1 Mahatma Gandhi priority scholarship considerations UMKC Trustees scholarship Application deadline—St. Louis, Marquette, Xavier, Loyola New Orleans

Scholarships Information about scholarships A listing of all current is sent to all students through scholarship notices that we their email accounts and to have received is periodically parents who have an email in updated on the Prep website. Family Connection. Check with Also, remember to use the your son to make sure your Creighton Prep website to email address is correct in check for a listing of full-tuition Family Connection if you want scholarships at various schools to receive information about and a list of scholarships at all scholarships and other college the Jesuit Colleges and related matters. Universities.

PARENT/STUDENT COLLEGE NEWSLETTER

OMAHA, NE 68114 68114 NE OMAHA,

7400 WESTERN AVE AVE WESTERN 7400 CREIGHTON PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOL SCHOOL HIGH PREPARATORY CREIGHTON Fair at UNO from 1:00 p.m.– 4:00 p.m.