MOVING ON COLLEGE AND CAREER TRANSITIONAL PLANNING GUIDE for High School Students 2014-2015 CCSD Guidance and Counseling Website GAC 2444 http://www.ccsd.net/cpd/guidance/guidance GAC 2444.1 CPD-GCS-I001, Rev. D 08/09 BOARD OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES Erin E. Cranor, President, District G Dr. Linda E. Young, Vice President, District C Patrice Tew, Clerk, District E Stavan Corbett, Member, District D Carolyn Edwards, Member, District F Chris Garvey, Member, District B Deanna L. Wright, Member, District A ADMINISTRATION Pat Skorkowsky, Superintendent of Schools Mike Barton, Deputy Superintendent of Instruction Staci Vesneske, Chief Human Capital Officer Kim Wooden, Deputy Superintendent Educational and Operational Excellence Jhone Ebert, Chief Innovation and Productivity Officer PERFORMANCE ZONES: Joe Murphy, Assistant Chief - Performance Zone 1 Anna Webb, Performance Zone 2 Kaweeda Adams, Performance Zone 3 Andrea Klafter-Rakita, Performance Zone 4 Lorna James-Cervantes, Performance Zone 5 Felicia Gonzales, Performance Zone 6 Rebecca Kaatz, Performance Zone 7 Brenda Larsen-Mitchell, Performance Zone 8 Eva White, Performance Zone 9 Jeff Horn, Performance Zone 10 Kristy Keller, Performance Zone 11 Karen West, Performance Zone 12 Susan Smith, Performance Zone 13 Jeff Geihs, Performance Zone 14 - TAZ April Key, Performance Zone 15 David Wilson, Performance Zone 16 EDUCATION SERVICES DIVISION Tammy Malich, Associate Superintendent INNOVATIVE TEACHING AND LEARNING UNIT Jesse Welsh, Associate Superintendent TABLE OF CONTENTS MOVING ON TO GRADUATION SAT-ACT Score Comparison ......................................... 45 21st Century Course of Study .......................................... 1 ACT at a Glance ............................................................ 45 Standard Diploma ........................................................... 1 SAT at a Glance ............................................................. 46 Advanced Diploma ......................................................... 2 College Comparison Worksheet .................................... 47 Advanced Honors Diploma ............................................. 2 Recommended Course of Study ..................................... 3 MOVING On – COLLEGES IN NEVADA Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Four-Year Colleges ........................................................ 49 Core Courses .................................................................. 5 Admission Requirements for UNLV and UNR ............... 49 Calendar for Freshmen Students .................................... 6 Nevada State College .................................................... 49 Calendar for Sophomore Students ................................. 6 Sierra Nevada College ................................................... 49 Calendar for Junior Students .......................................... 7 University of Nevada, Las Vegas ................................... 50 Calendar for Senior Students .......................................... 8 University of Nevada, Reno ........................................... 50 Tech Prep Program ........................................................ 11 Community / Two –Year Colleges .................................. 51 Dual Credit Program ...................................................... 14 2014-15 Advanced Placement Program Exam Schedule ..... 15 MOVING ON - FUNDING COLLEGE International Baccalaureate Program ............................ 15 Federal Student Aid at a Glance ................................... 52 College-Level Examnation Program .............................. 15 Federal Student Aid Websites ...................................... 54 Four-Year Online Academic Plan ................................... 16 What is a Federal Student Aid PIN Number .................. 55 CCSD Guidance and Counseling Website .................... 17 What’s So Great About Doing the FAFSA Online .......... 56 College Fair Plus ........................................................... 18 What Information is Needed for the FAFSA .................. 57 Myths About Financial Aid............................................. 58 MOVING ON AFTER HIGH SCHOOL Steps to Federal Student Aid ........................................ 59 Beyond the Entry Level ................................................. 19 Grants Program Fact Sheet ........................................... 60 Career Clusters .............................................................. 19 Teach Grant ................................................................... 61 How Classes Relate to Clusters .................................... 20 Scholarships for Military Families .................................. 62 Nevada Career Information System .............................. 21 Loan Programs Fact Sheet ............................................ 63 My College Quick Start ................................................. 22 Student Aid and Identity Theft....................................... 65 Labor Market ................................................................. 24 Don’t Get Scammed on Your Way to College ............... 66 Jobs Which May Require College Education ................ 24 Scholarship Scams Tip Sheet ....................................... 67 Career Pathways ........................................................... 25 Quick Guide to Financial Aid Terms .............................. 68 Directly to Work ............................................................. 25 Student Bulletin – Scholarship Guide ............................ 69 Apprenticeship Programs .............................................. 25 Scholarship Essay Guide .............................................. 70 Technical and Trade Schools ......................................... 26 College Readiness Workshops...................................... 71 Community / Two-Year Colleges ................................... 27 Scholarships from Local, State and National Donors ... 72 Universities and Four-Year Colleges ............................. 27 Scholarship Application Procedures ............................. 83 Military Opportunities .................................................... 27 Athletic Scholarships ..................................................... 84 Internship Opportunities ................................................ 28 Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) .................... 86 Service Academy Scholarships ..................................... 86 MOVING On – COLLEGE PREPARATION Finding a College That Fits ............................................ 29 MOVING On – FUNDING COLLEGE IN NEVADA Why Go To College ........................................................ 31 Millennium Scholarship ................................................ 92 Factors Influencing Admissions Decisions .................... 32 Explaining the Application Process ............................... 32 MOVING On – RESOURCES FOR COLLEGE Common Application ..................................................... 33 Tying It All Together ....................................................... 94 The Resumé and Sample .............................................. 38 Websites: Scholarships, Financial Aid, College ........... 95 Sample Activity Sheet ................................................... 39 Sources of Scholarship Information in Print .................. 97 Sample Brag Sheet ....................................................... 40 College and Financial Aid Glossary ............................... 98 Letters of Recommendation .......................................... 41 The Essay ...................................................................... 41 The Interview ................................................................. 41 The Campus Visit .......................................................... 42 ACT/SAT Test Date Schedule ........................................ 43 NSHE Testing Requirements ......................................... 44 HOW to USE THE HANDBOOK One of the goals of the Clark County School District is to prepare students for postsecondary education and/or entry into the world of work. The primary goal of the Clark County School District is to ensure students are graduating without remediation. In today’s technically advanced society, the same level of preparation to enter the workforce or a postsecondary educational institution is needed. Our intent is to provide pertinent information for students and parents to make a successful transition from high school on to career or postsecondary education. Included in this guide are requirements for earning a high school diploma, planning for postsecondary options, and identifying financial opportunities to fund postsecondary education and training. Within this handbook is a list of private and public sources of funds available to Clark County School District students. Included also are descriptions of programs which include a work component, allowing students to gain valuable experience while earning money. There is a glossary of terms which may be unfamiliar to students but which they must know to navigate through the transition from high school to the workforce or postsecondary education. There is also a “to-do list” calendar by grade level, to assist students and parents in keeping pace with deadlines and tasks needed to be completed for entrance into the world of work and postsecondary education. A listing of national college admission test dates, a step-by-step guide for the college application process, including a sample resume’ and