COLLEGE ADVISOR A Guidance Newsle er for BCS Students and Families Volume 14, Issue 6 February 2018 BCS Counseling Mission Statement is to promote spiritual growth, academic success, positive interpersonal relationships, and to prepare students to be servant leaders to further God s kingdom Director of Guidance Julie Cunard Student Editor Cat Calhoun WEBSITE OF THE MONTH BelieversCollegePrep.com This website was developed to help schools to walk you through the free resources and share how schools are using it to: Reverse the national 70% faith drop-out when students transition to college Help juniors, seniors, and their parents select schools during their college search with strong campus ministries and personally connect with them in advance. Generate vision and excitement to positively impact their secular or Christian colleges. This impacts sophomores, juniors, and seniors today. Avoid crippling student debt to empower students for success by reducing or negotiating lower costs in undergrad and graduate school. Florida A&M University Alumni Scholarship Inside This Issue Website of the Month 1 Anna Maria Island Historical Society Scholarship SAT/ACT Test Dates 3 Great Mates Scholarship 4 AAUW Scholarship 6 Florida Engineering Foundation Scholarship 2 9 Each year the Sarasota-Manatee chapter of the Florida A&M University National Alumni Association awards local students who are planning to attend Florida A&M University. The potential recipients must meet the following criteria: Be a graduating senior in Sarasota or Manatee counties Be accepted to Florida A&M University by 2/24/18 Demonstrate academic achievement, financial need, and extracurricular activities throughout high school Complete a FAFSA Be available for an interview the week of March 24, 2018 For more information, visit the website at www.saramanarattlers.com. Application must be postmarked no later than February 24, 2018
Anna Maria Island Historical Society Scholarship The Anna Maria Island Historical Society will select one high school senior to receive a 2,000 scholarship for the 2017/18 school year. Scholarship requirements: You must be a resident of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach or Holmes Beach. You must be a 2018 graduate of a Manatee County High School. You must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (weighted) for a four-year college or a 2.5 (weighted) for a community college. Your major can be in any field at an accredited two-year or four-year college, and you must be a full-time student taking 12 or more credit hours. Application must include: A copy of your high school transcript; A copy of your SAT or ACT scores; Two references (one from a teacher); A one-to-two-page typed essay on your extra curricular activities, volunteer service and future aspirations in your field. Please see Mrs. Cunard for an application. Applications must be postmarked by March 31, 2018 Tampa National College Fair Tampa Bay s National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) National College Fair will take place on Sunday, March 18 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Florida Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, FL. Approximately 150 colleges and universities will be in attendance. This event is free and open to the public. Before the Fair. Go to www.nacacfairs.org/tampa to register for the fair. Learn about different types of colleges/universities. After the Fair. Pick up the on-site locator for the latest school list and a booth location map. Meet one-on-one with college representatives who can answer questions. Visit the Counseling/Resource Center to talk to a counselor about choosing a major, financial aid, scholarship information, and more. Page 2 College Advisor
SAT TEST DATES AND DEADLINES FOR 2017/2018 SAT Tests Regular Deadline Late Deadline August 26, 2017 July 28, 2017 August 15, 2017 October 7, 2017 September 8, 2017 September 27, 2017 November 4, 2017 October 5, 2017 October 25, 2017 December 2, 2017 November 2, 2017 November 21, 2017 March 10, 2018 February 9, 2018 February 28, 2018 May 5, 2018 April 6, 2018 April 25, 2018 June 2, 2018 May 3, 2018 May 23, 2018 Register for the SAT at www.sat.org/register The testing fee is $46. Testing fee with Essay is $60. Official SAT Practice For more information and view sample questions, visit www.satpractice.org *Check with your hopeful college/university to see if they require the Essay portion Test Security Enhancements: Students are required to provide their gender and a photo when registering for both the SAT and ACT. This information will be included on admissions tickets, test center rosters and high school reports. Students will upload (via the ACT and College Board website, mobile device, or mail) a recognizable head-and-shoulders photo of themselves when registering for these tests. Students must provide their high school code (100-146) when registering. Students must also bring their admissions ticket and acceptable photo ID on test day. ACT TEST DATES AND DEADLINES FOR 2017/2018 ACT Tests Regular Deadline Late Deadline Photo Upload Deadline September 9, 2017 August 4,2017 August 18, 2017 September 1, 2017 October 28, 2017 September 22, 2017 October 6, 2017 October 20, 2017 December 9, 2017 November 3, 2017 November 17, 2017 December 1, 2017 February 10, 2018 January 12, 2018 January 19, 2018 February 2, 2018 April 14, 2018 March 9, 2018 March 23, 2018 April 6, 2018 June 9, 2018 May 4, 2018 May 18, 2018 June 1, 2018 July 14, 2018 June 15, 2018 June 22, 2018 July 6, 2018 Register for the ACT as www.actstudent.org. Testing fee is $46 Testing fee including writing is $62.50 *Check with your hopeful college/university to see if they require the Writing portion Volume 14, Issue 6 Page 3
The Great Mates vision is to enrich the lives of our members and community through charitable giving, events for local charities and organization, and to promote the health and wellness of those enjoying and involved in the yachting community. The Great Mates will award scholarships to students residing in Manatee County pursuing a degree at an accredited two year, four year or vocational institution. Scholarships recipients are required to attend full time to utilize the award during the upcoming academic year. Criteria: Complete application Great Mates Scholarship Essay 500 words or less describing several experiences from your life where you significantly demonstrated important qualities such as curiosity, initiative, creativity, motivation, diligence and/or perseverance. Examples of valuable experiences include travel, extracurricular activities such as sports or volunteering Include a letter of recommendation from a teacher, pastor or employer. High School Transcript To download the application visit TheGreatMates.org Deadline is February 28, 2018 Entre Nous Scholarship Entre Nous is a women s service club dedicated to supporting Manatee County throughout scholarships, welfare, and local charities. They offer a scholarship for current seniors which includes the following information: Scholarships are based on financial need, but a minimum of a 3.0 GPA is required. Scholarships awarded are for one year only. Please have a referring teacher or school official review the completed application for accuracy and proof of income. They cannot accept incomplete applications. All applicants will receive notification of acceptance or rejection by mail. Scholarship interviews will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2018. Should you be selected, you MUST be available to interview on this date in order to be considered for a scholarship award. Completed applications are due Friday, February 9, 2018 back to Mrs. Cunard. Page 4 College Advisor
AP Class Sign-Ups Recently all students in the AP classes were given a Parent/Student Bulletin to explain the benefits of participating in the AP program. Sign-ups were also passed out in class. We are asking for you to discuss this as parent/students, and the sign up deadline is scheduled for Wednesday, February 21, 2018. BCS offers the following AP Courses: English AP English Language & Composition AP English Literature & Composition World Language AP Spanish Language & Culture Math AP Calculus AB AP Statistics Science AP Biology AP Physics 1 Social Studies AP World History AP U.S. History AP European History AP Government & Politics AP Psychology Christian College Fair at Sarasota Christian School Volume 14, Issue 6 Page 5
The Manatee County Branch AAUW Scholarship Foundation annually awards up to 15 or more scholarships ranging in value from $500 to $2,000 for an academic year. These scholarships are awarded to students who are seeking a baccalaureate degree, an associate degree or a technical degree/certification. Requirements Manatee County Branch - American Association of University Women (AAUW) Scholarship The applicant must be a female and have Manatee County as her primary residence for at least two years prior to the date of application. The applicant must possess outstanding character and citizenship, and demonstrate a need for financial assistance. An applicant who is currently completing high school and planning to seek a Baccalaureate or Associate degree must have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. An applicant who is currently enrolled in an institution of higher education must have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in her major field of study and a 2.5 overall GPA on a 4.0 scale for all work completed. The applicant must demonstrate adequate preparation and aptitude for her chosen field of study. An applicant who plans to or is enrolled in a Technical/Certification Program must show evidence of above average academic performance (at least a 3.0) in past academic endeavors. She must demonstrate adequate preparation and aptitude for her chosen field of study. A woman who is entering an academic endeavor due to a life s transition must have a high school diploma, having graduated from high school at least three years previously, and is striving to be economically independent through higher education. She must demonstrate adequate aptitude for her chosen field of study. Students must access this application form from the following link Manatee AAUW Scholarship Application http://aauw-fl.aauw.net/files/2013/11/manatee-aauw-scholarship-application.pdf Applications must be postmarked no later than March 17, 2018 Florida State University Young Scholars Program Florida State University Young Scholars Program is a prestigious six-week residential summer science and mathematics experience for outstanding students of Florida s public and private high schools. This opportunity is accessible to all highly qualified students who meet the eligibility as listed below: Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA (unweighted) Have received a score in the 90th percentile or better in math on a nationally standardized exam (i.e., SAT, PSAT, ACT, or PLAN) before the application deadline Be enrolled in or have completed Pre-Calculus Be able to commit for the entire six weeks of the program (no exceptions will be made for travel to other summer internship opportunities, sports camps, Mu Alpha Theta, etc.) Maintain a permanent residence in the state of Florida To find out more information or locate the application, please visit http://www.bio.fsu.edu/ysp/ Completed applications must be postmarked by Thursday, February 15, 2018. Volume 14, Issue 6 Page 6
FAFSA Workshops Do you need money to help pay for college? Do you need help completing the financial aid forms? Are you not sure what information to include? Are you getting frustrated? There is help! You are invited to attend any of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Workshops hosted by the School District of Manatee County October 11, 2017 Palmetto High School November 8, 2017 Bayshore High School December 13, 2017 Manatee High School January 31, 2018 Braden River High School February 21, 2018 Southeast High School March 14, 2018 Lakewood Ranch High School **4:30 6:30 p.m. *Students do not have to be enrolled at the host school to participate in the FAFSA workshop *Though computers will be available, families are encouraged to bring a laptop if possible to avoid delays in completing the FAFSA Bring the following documents: Social Security Number Driver s License Number Most recent W-2 forms and other records of money earned during 2016 Most recent Federal Income Tax Return Current business and investment mortgage information Business and farm records Stocks, bonds, and other investment records Student Athletes - NCAA and NAIA Registration Students looking to par cipate in a Division I or II collegiate sport should register with the NCAA Eligibility Center during their sophomore year of high school. Students must request that their ACT scores be forwarded directly to the center by entering code "9999" as a repor ng selec on when registering for the test. Students looking to play for an NAIA school must register at www.playnaia.org For more informa on on the NCAA's core course requirements, GPA computa on, and contact informa on, and to complete the amateurism ques onnaire, visit www.eligibilitycenter.org. Page 7 College Advisor
Last year, over 900 scholarships were awarded. You could qualify for one in 3 easy steps: 1. Apply to attend State College of Florida at www.scf.edu 2. Apply for an SCF Foundation Scholarship at www.scf.edu/scholarships 3. Complete the FAFSA form State College of Florida Foundation Scholarships Scholarships are free to apply for and don t need to be repaid! Apply from January 1 - March 20, 2018 Students must be a senior Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program The Florida Financial Aid Application became available on October 1, 2017. ALL Seniors need to complete the Florida Financial Aid Application if they are planning to be a recipient of the Florida Bright Futures Program. Students must visit http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org and on the left hand side of the page click on State Grants, Scholarships & Applications. Then again on the left hand side of the page there will be a section titled "Want Bright Futures?" In this section, students are to click on the Florida Financial Aid Application and begin the process of completing this form. This form authorizes BCS to send transcripts to the Florida Department of Education for the purpose of receiving funds through the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. This form must be completed no later than May 25, 2018 or students will no longer be eligible to receive this funding. National Beta Club Students who have met the minimum cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher will be receiving a letter to inform you of your admission into the National Beta Club. The National Beta Club is a service organization which demonstrates the following characteristics: MISSION STATEMENT To promote the ideals of academic achievement, character, service and leadership among elementary and secondary school students. ACHIEVEMENT - Recognizing and honoring high academic achievement CHARACTER - Preparing young people for life and empowering them to be successful LEADERSHIP - Developing the leaders of tomorrow SERVICE - Demonstrating our motto: Let Us Lead by Serving Others This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to live out this qualities to benefit others. A big thank you to the new sponsors of this club, Leah Simpson and Wendy Jordan. Volume 14, Issue 6 Page 8
Future engineering students are invited to apply for scholarships awarded by the Florida Engineering Society (FES). Eligibility requirements are provided below. Every eligible applicant will be considered for both the Florida Engineering Society statewide scholarships, as described on the application form, and the Myakka Chapter (local Sarasota, Manatee & Desoto Counties) scholarships. This year, up to $12,000 is again available from the local Myakka Chapter. Six high school scholarships of $2,500 each are available at the state level. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Must be a high school senior. Must be planning to enroll in one semester and graduate from a FL school. Must be a citizen or permanent resident (green card holder) of the United States at the time of application. Must have at least a 3.5 unweighted grade point average based on a 4.0 scale. Must attain a minimum test score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), or the American College Testing Program (ACT). The scores, listed on page two, are used only as a minimum threshold level, and are otherwise not used in the selection process. Must enroll in an engineering program accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Must include a certified transcript with the application. Must include Official IB & AP test score sheet with the application (if applicable). Students interested in scholarships offered by the Florida Engineering Society should visit our web page at fleng.org/scholarships.cfm. There, the students should download the scholarship application and guidelines. The application is published as an Excel spreadsheet. The student should complete by entering the requested data into the spreadsheet (note the various worksheet tabs) and save the file to a FLASH/JUMP DRIVE. Applications should include the following items: A FLASH/Jump Drive with the completed Excel spreadsheet application. Drives will not be returned. Please be sure to include contact information on Application page 1 so that if questions arise or applications are incomplete, we may contact you by email and/or phone. An original hard copy of the completed and signed high school scholarship application certification page and counselor s or principal s certification form. Florida Engineering Foundation Scholarship A copy of sealed (unopened) official transcripts. A copy of any ACT/SAT/AP/IB/AICE test scores, as they are not always presented on transcripts. Submit these items to the following address no later than February 9, 2018: Chip Hoover, P.E. Florida Engineering Society, Myakka Chapter 78 Sarasota Center Blvd. Sarasota, FL 34240