*Senior Steps

OVERVIEW

1. Do you know your best college fits?
   1. Money, HOPE or ZELL, major, distance, small/big/church affiliated? Retention;
   2. Do I fit?  look at freshman index; ask current students/alumni to tell you more! 
   3. Take a Virtual Tour and then narrow down for in person tour (if offered).
   4. https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/right-school/choices/articles/college-personality-quiz

(click off the pop ups that happen for each section)

HOPE, ZELL and HOPE GRANT:
1.  Know your HOPE GPA (on GaFutures)  https://www.gafutures.org/ -
2. Know Zell and HOPE requirements- do you qualify?

1. The Zell Miller scholarship provides full tuition funding to undergraduate Georgia residents who graduate from high school with a 3.7 or greater GPA and a score of at least a 1,200 reading and math score on the SAT or an ACT composite score of 26.
2. To qualify for HOPE, students must be a legal resident of the state of Georgia or be considered a Georgia resident for purposes of in-state tuition at the time of enrollment for the school term for which the scholarship is sought. Students that graduated from high school with a high school core curriculum GPA of at least 3.0 on a true 4.0 scale may qualify as an incoming freshman for HOPE Scholarship.
3. Students who did not qualify for HOPE as incoming freshmen may still receive a HOPE Scholarship if they were a legal resident of Georgia at the time of enrollment for the school term for which the scholarship is sought, and have a 3.0 cumulative GPA after attempting 30, 60, or 90 semester hours of University course work. Students will only have one chance to earn/regain HOPE.
4.  HOPE GRANT:
   1. Eligibility for the HOPE Grant basicsMeet HOPE's U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements;
      Be a legal resident of Georgia; Meet enrollment requirements; Be in compliance with Selective Service registration requirements; Meet academic achievement standards; 
      Full-time enrollment in a certificate or diploma program is not required and students are not required to graduate from high school with a specific GPA, however, they must have a postsecondary cumulative 2.0 GPA, at certain checkpoints, in order to maintain eligibility.

REQUIREMENTS for each college – look at freshman index

1. SAT/ACT? Scores needed for Zell/HOPE or freshman index?
2. According to the 2019 State of College Admission report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling, 81% of first-time freshmen applied to at least three colleges
3. APPLY (tips for each part of the process):  https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/applying-101/quick-guide-the-anatomy-of-the-college-application
   1. Resume – leadership; service; special; online internships; use YouScience for help and with interviews   
      1.  “What is it that makes you unique, and how will you contribute to the life of our campus?” That’s what admission officers want to know, according to Earl Johnson, dean of admission at the University of Tulsa. To gauge what students can bring to their campus, they look for these types of qualities: Leadership, risks, Initiative, social responsibility, A commitment to service, Special talents or abilities
      2. Overall, colleges want a mix of students to create a rich campus community. They want the class valedictorians, says Marty O’Connell, executive director of Colleges That Change Lives. But they also are looking for “students who are going to be involved in a lot of activities and students who are musicians and students who are athletes and everything in between.”
   2. ESSAY:  Ask in ROOM 419 or any advisor for help!
   3. Letters of REC: Counselor does a lot; think of others (not family/related) who really know you and can separate you from the “herd” - Make sure you send them a Resume or brag sheet to help
      1. Reference can’t be related in any way
      2. Someone who knows you well and what you would offer at the university
      3. Someone who can write well OR they have someone who can edit.

FAFSA and GSFAPP: 

1. FAFSA or GSFAPP– Must do one for HOPE, ZELL and PELL consideration-   
   1. Info on ​FSA ID
      TO APPLY FOR FSA
   2. ​Here is a step-by-step video from Get2College:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFijtBHLIeY
   3. Here are videos from Federal Student Aid, no longer than 3 ½ minutes each: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz9j-g1FIHQ&list=PL23B9A23CD8DD82DD
   4. Info on HOPE/ZELL and PELL: (FREE) https://www.gafutures.org/hope-state-aid-programs/hope-zell-miller-scholarships/hope-scholarship/
2. FAFSA Pin (A parent FAFSA pin is helpful too but parent can sign without by printing out the signature page): https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm
3. FAFSA (need parent(s) info too).  NOTE:  If parents are not documented then you will complete GSFAPP not FAFSA.–  https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
   1. If student is a citizen, but parent is not documented and student qualifies to receive PELL grant (based on financial need), complete GSFAPP.
   2. Work study for college is a job from university on college campus
   3. HOPE, ZELL and PELL are GRANTS.  STUDENT DOES NOT PAY BACK.
   4. LOANS– STUDENT / PARENT MUST PAY BACK
4. GSFAPP - NOTE:  This is the form for students whose parents are not documented. 
   1. Go  HERE to fill out online.
   2. You will need to Log onto GAFUTURES
   3. Select the State Program on the top: GSFAPP
5. Scholarships – Don’t pay for this!
   1. Look at Links on your HS counselors' page
   2. Explore scholarship Links on GAFutures
   3. www.NGCF.org  scholarships open up in January for our HALL STUDENTS.
   4. https://gradyyoungfoundation.org/scholarship/  They give over 200 scholarships – usually covers books! A winner is guaranteed from each Hall HS! Application deadline is Jan 31.  Start app now!
   5. Check out more scholarships from IEC

Checklists:  These are examples!  

1. Monthly: https://www.nacacfairs.org/learn/apply/preparing-for-college-senior-checklist/  Make sure you scroll down on the above site
2.   https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/CollegePlanning/media/pdf/BigFuture-College-Application-Checklist.pdf   

Find some time to complete applications and work on scholarships!  Set aside 30 min or more a day/week!  A little bit of time NOW = possible BIG payout later.  Small scholarships can quickly ADD up to BIG money, but YOU MUST APPLY!

*Student is responsible for any and all items/information!  Neither IEC or Hall County Schools is liable for  information on this page.

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