WHS BRACE NEWS

Important College News

This page contains information that will help you get started with application-to-college process. Obviously, not all students will attend college following graduation, but ALL students should know where to get help in planning their futures. Mrs. Williams, our BRACE Advisor, is an individual with whom you should acquaint yourselves! Her office is located on the second floor, room 703A. Stop by to make an appointment. This can be a very scary but exciting time in your life!

Make the task easier with the assistance of Mrs. Williams. The application process to public 4-year universities should begin NOW! DO NOT WAIT FOR SAT OR ACT SCORES TO IMPROVE!!! Colleges will not deny you admission if your first scores were less than what you had hoped for! Your applications will be kept on file until you retest & resend new scores. All applications should be done on-line.

The University of Florida admits students differently than most of our public universities. EARLY DECISION is a binding commitment to UF. This deadline has been October 1ST in past years. Apply Early Decision ONLY if UF is your first choice. If you are accepted, you MUST go. 1st Round Regular Decision and 2nd Round Regular Decision are NOT binding agreements. These deadlines for applying vary each year, so check the UF website. Current information on admissions can be viewed on the UF website www.ufl.edu.

Most Florida colleges will be visiting our campus this fall. If you wish to attend any of these presentations, you must sign up in the BRACE Office and obtain a pass, which must be signed by a teacher. It is recommended that you attend only 3 sessions, limiting them to the 3 most likely college to which you will be applying. You will have ONE WEEK to sign up for these visits, so take it upon yourselves to check posted lists of visiting colleges and listen to PA announcements.

Scholarship bulletins will be published twice each month, once the “scholarship season” begins. Listen for the announcement for the availability of this year’s first publication. Many awards listed on the bulletin can be applied for on line. For students who prefer to submit paper applications, these will be available in the BRACE Office’s Senior Scholarship file cabinet. If you hope to receive scholarship money from your college of choice, you must first apply to that college, get accepted and THEN apply for financial assistance. Some colleges may offer you money, using your admission application for awarding scholarships. This is a very good reason to apply for admission early! Don’t let possible money “get away”, simply because you dragged your feet in getting your applications completed.

If you plan to attend a public 2-year college, the application process does not have to begin at this time. Only if you will be graduating early, (December/January) should you consider applying by October or November. For spring graduates, the application process should begin in February ’07. Remember, 2-year colleges offer scholarships also, to qualified students.

Keep your grades up and take courses that show you are challenging yourselves. Community service and school activities can be a very important part of a scholarship application. Get involved. Letters of recommendation from teachers, a community leader or club sponsor can be very impressive to organizations awarding scholarships.

The Bright Futures Scholarship application process does not begin until December 1st. This will be an on line application. The Financial Aid (FAFSA) process for seniors will begin after January 1, 2007. Paper applications will be available in the BRACE Office in December. The on line system will be up by January 1st. Seniors will be using the 2006 family income information and should encourage their parents to file EARLY, as Federal financial aid is given on a first come, first served basis. Don’t wait until April 15th and expect to get a good financial aid package! Many scholarships are based on financial need, so filing the FAFSA is imperative, if you feel you may qualify for need-based aid.

If you will be attending college during the summer following graduation, and if you need financial aid, you should complete the FAFSA form which is available in the BRACE Office, now. For your first Fall & Winter semesters you will complete the 2007-2008 form that will be available at a later time.

You may have many questions, which haven’t been addressed in this small bulletin, so please come to the BRACE Office as soon as possible. No one should be concerned about what needs to be done at the start of his/her school year! Mrs. Williams is looking forward to having a good year, with an energetic group of seniors!!!