A NEW YEAR IS UPON US

Greetings, Seniors!  

A new year...your graduation year... is upon us.  

Before you know it, you will have walked across the stage and into the next phase of your life.  IF you plan to continue on to college (as I know most of you do), you will need these special "gifts" to aid you.  

• Scholarship offers
• Admission offers
• Your Financial Aid package from the college you plan to attend
• Healthy relationships
• Poignant memories
• Crucial skills

The next 10 days may be a "Make It or Break It" time for key scholarships.  Review guidelines carefully so see if you meet GPA, ACT, and income requirements.  

• SAEOPP is due to me by January 8 (I can edit your essay as soon as you finish it).  I have to submit your application, so get it done soon.  
• SMITH Scholarship is due by January 10.  Completed, it's 40+ pages, so you need to get this done NOW.  

I will be available ALL DAY (8:00--5:00) on January 2 and 3 and January 9 (8:00--2:00) at my office.  This is the BEST WAY to get help.  I can't write your essays, but I CAN give you help.  

Today....GRRRR....I'm assisting females who qualify with Linly Heflin.  Tomorrow, I will be ready to help with other scholarships.

SMITH RECOMMENDATIONS

I just completed ONE Smith recommendation.  My part is 6 pages printed (YIKES!).  You need to make sure you let your recommenders know IMMEDIATELY so they can get their part done.  

Ms. Cottrell said that she needed to know IF you needed a recommendation from her no later than December 20.  

SMITH (up to $15,000 per year for 4 years)

IN PAST YEARS, WINNERS HAVE WORKED 3—6 weeks on the application.  YOU MUST HAVE ALL ESSAYS DONE BY January 6^th so I have time to edit them all.

·       ACT of 20 or higher

·       3.0 or higher GPA

·       Pages 1 and 2 of your parents’ 1040 (Scan and your Google Drive)

·       FAFSA SAR (Download and put in your Google Drive)

·       ESSAYS (START THE APPLICATION TO SEE WHAT IS REQUIRED).  Let me know your email and password.

·       FULL LIST of Community Service and volunteer work  (estimate the total number of hours)

·       FULL LIST of Honors and Awards

·       Leadership—If you have held office in an organization or have been a TRIO Upward Bound Ambassador, put this on your résumé.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

You MUST request these before December 14^th (My recommendation is to request the letter NOW and include your detailed résumé.) 

Please make an effort to get this done ASAP so that the professional you ask has time to do it.  
SELECT PEOPLE WHO KNOW YOU WELL. 

o   I will be your main recommender.  I write good letters, about your character, drive, academic abilities, and goals for college.  Make sure to let me know what your goals are and where you plan to attend college.  For seniors who have already asked me for letters of recommendation, yours are DONE. I need a DETAILED résumé. 

§  Mary Jo Buff

§  University of Montevallo TRIO Upward Bound Academic Coordinator

§  UB Station 6268 Montevallo, AL 35115

§  buffmj@montevallo.edu

§  (205) 665-6289

o   Either a teacher/principal at your school can be a 2^nd recommender.

§  You will need all of this information for the 2^nd recommender.

o   Ms. Cottrell, a pastor, youth leader, or another teacher can be a recommender if you need a 3^rd one—SMITH USUALLY REQUIRES 3.  (If you use Ms. Cottrell, please have your résumé to her with your request for a letter of recommendation.

§  Alexandria Cottrell

§  University of Montevallo TRIO Upward Bound Student Development Coordinator

§  Acottre1@montevallo.edu

§   (205) 660 1043 (text Ms. Cottrell’s Google Voice)

§  You will need all of this information for the 3^rd recommender.

Other people who can help you

Jamaica Dunigan                 jamaicadunigan@gmail.com (251) 767-7193

            Editing essays; Ideas for topics in Smith essays/goals for the future

Nick Preston                        npreston@montevallo.edu (205) 299-7076

            Ideas for topics in Smith /goals for the future

Tiffany Thomas                   thomastiffany142@gmail.com (205) 769-5103

Ideas for topics in Smith and Linly Heflin essays/goals for the future

Gabby Pringle                     pringleg@bibbed.org        (205) 454-2296

Ideas for topics in Smith and Linly Heflin essays/goals for the future

Stephanie McGregor         mcgregors51498@gmail.com (256) 861-4305

Editing Essays; Ideas for topics/goals for the future

UM ENROLLMENT DEPOSIT WAIVER

GOOD NEWS!  

Seniors, if you meet this two criteria, you may not have to pay the $100 Enrollment Deposit Fee Waiver here at UM.  Here are the requirements:  

• IF you are planning to attend UM in the Fall of 2020 and
• IF you qualify for a Pell Grant

Follow this link to apply:  https://dynamicforms.ngwebsolutions.com/Submit/Form/Page?form=340a109f-daea-42f8-afb0-c4733fd8f16b&page=148397&token=GKlFs6XJuENK1gF2xAo6QO6uGWUlPdj2fvehixQFK%2Bc%3D

A special SHOUT OUT to Nick Preston for letting me know this even exists!

EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS!

Smith Scholarship 2020 UPDATE

OK. We now know what is expected on the Smith application. It is VERY intense...when done, it is 42 pages of information printed. EVERYTHING HAS TO BE SUBMITTED ONLINE, and you will need help, so start it NOW.

(These responses need to be about 250 words.  MAKE THEM THOUGHTFUL ANSWERS...SOMETHING THAT WILL STAND OUT).

• Describe a special person (friend, teacher, relative) who has helped you in good and bad times?
• What are your greatest STRENGTHS or TALENTS?
• What is the greatest weakness or the biggest mistake you have ever made? (Please describe in detail--Do not limit your answer to “stole a candy bar”)
• What have you done to combat this weakness or changes you have made to prevent yourself from repeating this mistake?  
• Explain your Financial Need.  Write about your family life, income, and other restraints that contribute to your Financial need.
• Why do you want to go to College?  

SMITH (up to $15,000 per year for 4 years)

IN PAST YEARS, WINNERS HAVE WORKED 3—6 weeks on the application.  YOU MUST HAVE ALL ESSAYS DONE BY January 6^th so I have time to edit them all.

• ·       ACT of 20 or higher
• ·       3.0 or higher GPA
• ·       Pages 1 and 2 of your parents’ 1040 (Scan and your Google Drive)
• ·       FAFSA SAR (Download and put in your Google Drive)
• ·       TRANSCRIPT
• ·       ESSAYS (START THE APPLICATION TO SEE WHAT IS REQUIRED).  Let me know your email and password.
• ·       FULL LIST of Community Service and volunteer work  (estimate the total number of hours)
• ·       FULL LIST of Honors and Awards
• ·       Leadership—If you have held office in an organization or have been a TRIO Upward Bound Ambassador, put this on your résumé.

Here are the new Smith questions (2020) 

Provide your own personal reasons instead of generic standard examples.

The Essay (Actually, there are 2).

·        Applicants own essay on future plans of accomplishment for yourself.  It is important that organization, spelling, grammar as well as content be reviewed or proofread.  (At least 500 words minimum, 1000 preferably)

·        Applicant’s own essay documenting community and civic oriented activities or assistance to family.  (At least 500 words minimum, 1000 words preferably)

I will be available on January 2, 3rd, and 6th. My suggestion is that you MAKE TIME to come to UM to work on this.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING NOW

So December is here.  I've set up an outline of what you should be doing for scholarships in December and January.  Remember, don't look at the due dates as much as WHEN you can begin.  Get busy NOW making use of EVERY opportunity you can for help. 

TWO MAJOR SCHOLARSHIPS COMING DUE SOON

• Linly Heflin (December 30)  Females with 23 or higher and qualify for a Pell Grant
• https://linlyheflin.formstack.com/forms/2020_scholarship_application
• Smith Scholarship (January 10)  Students who have overcome adversity, excelled in school and leadership  (It's a new application, so the prompts may have changed).
• https://smithscholarships.smapply.io/

Both of these scholarships are HUGE (both in the rewards of an astounding scholarship and in what will be expected of you).  BOTH NEED TO BE STARTED NOW.

After seeing HOW LATE everyone waited to do the actual Dell application, I've set up several additional dates to help you.

• December 7  Super Saturday  8:15--12:15  If you are working on scholarships, you need to be here, (and this would be a GREAT time to get help from MJB and other tutors).

• December 14  SPECIAL Super Saturday  8:15--12:15 You must sign up/cancel by 12:00 noon on Friday, Dec. 13.  (Again, this would be a GREAT time to get help from MJB and other tutors).  The Smith Scholarship is HUGE and will take at least 3-4 weeks to complete.  START EARLY!
• December 19-21  There will be SOME help available for editing essays, but the main parts of Smith/Linly Heflin should be done 

UM closes on December 16th, but I will have SOME time (as will other tutors) to help you with your applications.  DO NOT wait until December 24-25 to work on these.  I WILL NOT be available.  Furthermore, I will have limited time on December 29-30 because of family.  

Please plan to be at the December 10th Senior Success Seminar.  We will ALL be together and I will be leading the charge to make sure you know what to do.  

A WORD OF WISDOM

Thousands of students WANT scholarships, but only those who put sufficient time, effort, and  thought into them actually EARN a scholarship.  Why do I say this NOW?

Apparently, the deadlines are what you are looking at.  That’s not good. Seldom have winning essays been written in a few days, which is what MOST of the seniors are doing.  It takes time...planning on your part, and NOT waiting until it is a holiday weekend to do them.  That’s what has happened with the DELL Scholarship, even though the scholarship opened in OCTOBER.  THIS IS NOT GOOD.
Again, WHY?
     1) No one may be available to help you.
     2) You run out of time. 
     3) You make careless mistakes (like not capitalizing the              word I) or don’t adequately answer the questions.  

When a scholarship OPENS, start on it then.  Take care in completing the application thoroughly, and make sure that your application STANDS OUT.

To simply say you NEED a scholarship is not enough.  You have to CONVINCE the scholarship committee of your worth.  Let them see your effort, your drive, your purpose.

SAEOPP Scholarship Due to MJB January 8

Seniors,
The information for the SAEOPP Scholarship has just been released.  Here is the part you need to be working on now:  

These are two different scholarships for TRIO Students in the Southeast (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, and South Carolina).  You will need to select ONE of the two scholarships and write your essay, demonstrating your outstanding academics and community service OR narrative about overcoming major challenges and obstacles to persevere academically.  

We will be able to nominate ONE PreCollege Scholarship application from EACH of the three proposals.  We will be able to nominate ONE Survivor application from EACH of the three proposals (This means we can nominate a total of 6 students for these scholarships--so you will be competing against each other for the BEST application in each category). 

I will give you the paper application and rubrics that will be used to grade your applications at the Senior Success Seminar on December 10.  

VII. Essay (400-500 words)

Essay Topic for Pre-College Scholarship  
Please describe in your own words (answer all 4 parts):

What character traits you possess that have helped you to overcome personal adversity?
Your degree of commitment to pursue a college education.
How do you anticipate making a contribution to society?

How has your involvement in TRiO assisted in preparation for college and life success?

Essay Topic for Survivor Scholarship
Please describe in your own words (answer both parts):
How are you a "survivor"?

How will NOT receiving this scholarship affect you?

Dell Scholarship and Linly Heflin Deadlines Approaching

The Dell Scholarship is due on Sunday, December 1.  

Go ahead and complete the registration using this link https://apply.dellscholars.org/Eligibility/Quiz to see if you qualify.  If you were on Free Lunch last year, you can click YES to the Free/Reduced Lunch part.  

GET THIS DONE NOW.

Here is information about the Linly Heflin Scholarship.

http://www.linlyheflin.org/stories-from-scholars/

This is a scholarship for females who have a 23 or higher on the ACT, a 3.4 or higher GPA, and have an EFC of 0000 on the FAFSA.  The award is $7,000 for 4 years (so this is BIG).  It is due DECEMBER 31.  The scholarship can be found here:

https://linlyheflin.formstack.com/forms/2020_scholarship_application

SENIOR SUCCESS SEMINAR November 12, 2019

Here are the notes for tonight's Senior Success Seminar.  Bring your binders and letters of acceptance!  Please note the change in scholarship deadlines.  

College Admission and Scholarship Updates

DO YOU WANT TO COLLEGE?  

The time is short, and you need to get busy!!!
  
Even with a Federal Grant ($6,091 is the most you can get), you will need to bridge the gap with SCHOLARSHIPS.  College (especially if you are not commuting) currently costs $20,000- $22,000 (or HIGHER) PER YEAR. You may want to sleep, work, do other things, BUT YOU NEED TO DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE.

There are some ACADEMIC scholarships (based on ACT and GPA) but you will need MORE.  Mark these IMPORTANT DEADLINES so that we can get busy! ALL of the BIG scholarships are coming due very soon.

Saturday, November 9th  (SUPER SATURDAY)  
Look at your calendars, this is the ONLY Super Saturday before Dell (due December 1).  With Thanksgiving the NEXT TWO WEEKS is basically it! We've got to get FAFSA SAR saved to your drive, transcripts ready to upload, and all of you essays done.  The Dell Scholarship is $5,000 for 4 years (and a new computer).  Check online to see if you qualify.  https://www.dellscholars.org/scholarship/

I may have an optional date on November 16, but you need to make the effort NOW.  If you are not trying, I am not going to waste my "free" time helping you unless you are TRYING.  DECIDE NOW.

Sunday, December 1st  DELL Scholarship DUE.
See above for details.

Monday, December 30th  Linly Heflin DUE.
Females with an ACT ABOVE 22 (and a LOW EFC on your SAR) need to get this done.  We Have a SUPER SATURDAY December 7th, but you need to get started on this NOW (and plan to attend the Super Saturday).  This year, it's $7,000 per year for 4 years.  Read more about it HERE.  http://www.linlyheflin.org/scholarship-information/

Friday, January 10th  Smith DUE.  The application is HUGE, but Smith offers up to $15,000 per year for 4 years. https://smithscholarships.smapply.io/   

Do you see why I am concerned???  
So far, Seniors 2020 are NOT stepping up.   PLEASE (for your future) get busy, show up, and let me help you!  These applications take TIME, ORGANIZATION, and FOCUS.  They don't happen over night.

So, I start over again:  

DO YOU WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE?

SENIOR McNAIR MIXER

The first block of Monday, October 28th session will be the SENIOR McNair Mixer.  

Pick up you schedules and be in Wills 100 (the Education building right across from Hanson) at 5:30.  FREE FOOD!

SENIOR SUCCESS SEMINAR October 15, 2019

FREE COLLEGE APPLICATION WEEK 2019

This year, COLLEGE APPLICATION WEEK is Monday, November 4--Friday, November 9, 2019.  Thanks to COLLEGE APPLICATION WEEK, high school seniors in Alabama can apply for college FREE!

COLLEGE APPLICATION WEEK is part of Alabama Possible and the Alabama State Department of Education's ALABAMA COLLEGE campaign, which encourages students across Alabama to pursue their education after high school.

COLLEGE APPLICATION WEEK Alabama high school can apply for free to colleges during .  The list of participating schools is not yet available, but will be shared soon at 

http://alabamapossible.org/2019/10/08/apply-to-alabama-colleges-for-free-2019/.

Spread the word about COLLEGE APPLICATION WEEK and tell your story about why applying to college is important to you using #WhyApply.

SENIOR SUCCESS SESSIONS 2019-2020

SENIOR SUCCESS SESSIONS

Below are the dates for Senior Success Seminars (and our first one is this next Tuesday).  Please bring your Senior Binders and any/all FAFSA information.  If you have not yet scanned tax papers, college acceptances, and scholarship offers, bring them, too, to be scanned.  

Tuesday, October 15 

Senior Success

Monday, October 28

          SENIOR McNAIR MIXER

Tuesday, November 12 

          Senior Success

Tuesday, December 10

          Senior Success

Tuesday, January 7

          Senior Success

Tuesday, February 11

          Senior Success  

Tuesday, March 10 

          Senior Success

Tuesday, April 2

          Senior Success (1 class)

Tuesday, April 21

College Signing Day (DETAILS TBA)

SAVE THE DATE SENIOR FAFSA DAY

Here is the SENIOR FAFSA DAY information. 

 Make plans NOW to attend.  

ACT PREP DATES 2019-2020

Just one or two more times, may be all you need (or you already may be there).  You know what you need for college admission and/or scholarships.  

Here are the National ACT Test dates.  

WELCOME TO YOUR (OFFICIAL) SENIOR YEAR

It's been a while since I have posted, but now that you are ALL back in school, it's time to get busy!  Below are two handouts for you to save/print as you need them.

I have completed a couple of Senior Strategy Sessions in July and August, but we need to get SERIOUS about getting this information in your drive.  

You have a sheet, SENIOR STRATEGY SESSION, that has been updated to help you to know what you need to be doing this year.  

Strive for excellence and balance this year as you start narrowing your options.  Start using this Handy Dandy document, CONSIDER THE NUMBERS as you make your college applications.

Senior Success Seminar June 19, 2019

WOW!  

That was one word to describe the material covered today in Senior Success Seminar.  Yes, there is LOTS of stuff to do during the Senior Year, but you have helpers and guides for aid you in your journey.

Sometimes, you will have to tell yourself over and over again that you can do it, but don't give up.  You CAN do it! 

Check your SENIOR 2020 folder for a copy of all the SCHOLARSHIP PROMPTS. 

Here are some of the topics we discussed in Senior Success:

1.  Your ACT--while it is ONE important part of your college admission/scholarship journey, it is not the ONLY piece of the puzzle.  Your GPA (as well as taking Honors, AP, and Dual Enrollment Classes), Community Service, Upward Bound involvement, and leadership are also important. 

2.  Following this Blog--we added emails at the side of this page so you would get email notifications of when we update material.  Check it (as well as following JLV Counseling blog).  There are BUNCHES of deadlines and opportunities.  STAY CONNECTED!

3.  We got our first look at the Dell Scholarship Application Dell Scholarship and the Smith Scholarship questions.  These are BIG.  Start early and lets do more after the summer program ends.

4.  For Senior females who have an ACT of 23 (or close to a 23), go to this website, Linly Heflin, to read about this scholarship.  It's BIG, but you will find that the GOALS and All About Me will have you ready.

COLLEGE CHOICES

For Gates, Smith, Dell, Linly Heflin, College Counts and other scholarships, they will ask you about your college choices. Additionally, you should check each school for ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS. Every little bit helps.

Even though you think you MAY know where you want to attend, keep your options open and compare ALL features before selecting your FINAL choice.  Use this guide to help you:

DREAM COLLEGE: If you have the finances, this is where you want to attend.  Will scholarships cover the cost? What makes this your "DREAM"?  Small campus? Large campus?  Choice of major? Distance from home?  Campus organizations?

REACH COLLEGE:  With your GPA and ACT score, this is a place you can get accepted.  You see potential in this place and know that, with a little effort and some extra funding by way of scholarships, you can be successful here.  Reasons to attend here: Student-to-teacher ratio? Opportunity to become involved? Graduation rates? Distance from home? Familiarity with campus?

SAFE COLLEGES:  OK.  So your GPA is not the best, or your ACT isn't as high as you would like it to be.  Select 1 or 2 "Safe" colleges where you know you will be accepted and should have/can find funding for your dreams.  Another reason to choose a "SAFE COLLEGE" is the financial aid package you will receive.  $$$$ matters, so having options is important. These may be 4 year colleges you have visited and would consider "a good fit" or junior colleges where you can take core classes before transferring to a school with your major.