DEADLINES

IMPORTANT DEADLINES/DATES

January 4            SAEOPP scholarship applications due

ONLINE. Read qualifications and what is required closely (review email for details) http://www.saeoppevents.org/scholarships/ 

(I will complete the application with a letter of recommendation, transcript, and ACT score verification) for the 2 students (1 from P-1 and  from P-2) with the highest scores (see grading scale online).

January 9            Linly Heflin applications due.

January 13          Deadline to register for February 11 test

January 14          Super Saturday

January 15          Dell scholarship applications due ONLINE.

January 16          AAEOPP applications (PreCollege or Survivor)

via EMAIL (use attachments of WORD or PDF versions) to buffmj@montevallo.edu

More scholarship deadlines for JANUARY can be found at https://jlvcollegecounseling.com/scholarships/january-scholarships/2/ 

Upcoming scholarships:

Regions Riding Forward (February)

College Counts (you can start this now). http://treasury.alabama.gov/collegecounts-scholarship/

Check Upward Bound out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/umub.fb/.  We have Motivational Mondays, Tutorial Tuesdays, Workshop Wednesdays, and Trending Topic Thursdays.

·       Go to umub.blogspot.com (the Upward Bound Academic Blog) to get weekly updates and handy dandy hints to help you do your best in school.

·       Updates and scholarship information are found on the UMUB SENIOR BLOG at umubsenior.blogspot.com.

NEVER QUIT

You're worn out, tired, and perhaps just a little sick this time of year. Stay with it!  There's just three weeks left of the semester and it is CRUCIAL that you stay strong through the end of the semester.  Your semester GPA will be what shows up on all the scholarships due next semester, so push through and make sure you do your best!  

SENIOR SUCCESS SEMINAR                    12/05/2016                

Guest Speaker:  Demetrius L Castleberry 

If you need a transcript of your grades sent to a school, EMAIL me the name of the school.  PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE APPLIED to the school before I send a transcript.

By DECEMBER, you should have narrowed your college choices to 2. 

Check your Google Drive and make sure you have the following documents:

1. Updated Academic Résumé
2. Transcript (PDF Spring 2016); I will update it with the Fall 2016 transcript when it comes available in January.
3. Highest ACT Score (PDF)
4. FAFSA SAR (PDF)  (Ask for assistance if you need to get this saved)
5. PDF Scans of Letters of Admission
6. PDF Scans of Scholarship offers
7. PDF Scan of Taxes (if you are applying for Dell, Linly Heflin, or College Counts)
8.  

AAEOPP PreCollege and Survivor Scholarships —(MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIP)—apply for 1—not both—these scholarships consider GPA, ACT, leadership, awards, academic rigor, and recommendations:  DUE TO ME JANUARY 16^th. 

(Read specifics of requirements—including the new essay prompt—on each application).  (Check your November 30^th email from me for the application)

·        3.0 GPA minimum

·        20 ACT (18 for Survivor)

o   Complete application (Please remove lines before typing it) and 1 page essay—300—450 words (I need to edit this by January 14^th)

o   Make sure to detail ALL your Awards and Honors, Leadership, and Community Service

o   2 letters of recommendation (I will do 1; buffmj@montevallo.edu)

o   Transcript

Attach WORD DOCUMENT of application with essay, Transcript, and a Scan of Letter of Recommendation in an email to ME buffmj@montevallo.edu; SUBJECT: YOUR NAME AAEOPP Scholarship before January 16^th. 

NO DATE ON SAEOPP yet.

DELL—(NEED-BASED Scholarship and ACADEMIC RIGOR) LENGTHY Application and 10 essays; EVERYTHING IS SUBMITTED ONLINE before January 15^th. https://www.dellscholars.org/scholarship/

Dell awards 300 scholarships annually and since 2004, have provided students with over $60 million in college scholarships and support services. The Dell Scholars Program places greater emphasis on a student’s determination to succeed than just academic record and test scores. The GPA requirement is GRIT, POTENTIAL, and AMBITION. Dell rewards low-income, highly motivated students who are better than their numbers indicate and demonstrate the drive to succeed despite personal obstacles.

·       Grit by overcoming personal challenges in their lives related to their families, schools or communities

·       Potential by participating in college readiness programs and seeking out academic rigor

·       Ambition by dreaming of obtaining a college degree

QUALIFICATIONS:

·         Participating in a Michael & Susan Dell Foundation approved college readiness program (Upward Bound) in grades 11 and 12

·         Graduating from an accredited high school this academic year

·         Earning a minimum of a 2.4 GPA

·         Demonstrated need for financial assistance

·         Eligible to receive a federal Pell grant in first year of college

·         Planning to enroll full-time in a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited higher education institution in the fall directly after your graduation from high school

Dell Scholars are students who demonstrate their desire and ability to overcome barriers and to achieve their goals. Your application will be evaluated on your:

·         Individual determination to succeed

·         Future goals and plans to achieve them

·         Ability to communicate the hardships you have overcome or currently face

·         Self-motivation in completing challenging coursework (especially Honors, AP, and dual enrollment courses)

·         Demonstrated need for financial assistance

Linly Heflin—(MERIT-BASED AND NEED-BASED Scholarship)

QUALIFICATIONS:

http://www.linlyheflin.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/CC_2016-2017-Scholarship-Application-1.pdf

·         3.0 GPA/25 ACT minimum

·         Essay and picture must be MAILED with application and postmarked before January 9, 2017.

Over 100 Scholarships listed here:  JLV Counseling—follow the blog

https://jlvcollegecounseling.com/2016/10/12/december-2016-scholarships/

https://jlvcollegecounseling.com/2016/11/14/january-2017-scholarships/

IT'S CRUNCH TIME!

The deadline for the Smith Scholarship and many university-based scholarships is DECEMBER 1st...that's this Thursday! You should already have your essays done, but I need to edit them before you copy/paste them to the Smith application (which is due complete with attachments by December 1st at 11:59 p.m.)  I will be available to edit, help you attach, etc. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, but it's not an application that can be completed quickly.  I will assist students in the order of requests and essays completed. The more thorough the application (which you have to do and I can check) the better the chances are that you will be eligible for this scholarship.  It's NEED BASED, COMMUNITY SERVICE and LEADERSHIP BASED, as well as 3 formidable essays.  

For all Seniors--even if you are not submitting Smith--You should also log in to FAFSA and download a PDF of your SAR report tonight.  SAVE AS First Name Last Name SAR. Once you have done so, save it in your Google Drive.  You will have to submit a PDF of your SAR report with your application.  

IT'S FAFSA TIME!

It's time to submit that all important FAFSA to determine 1) if you qualify for free federal aid; 2) if you qualify for student/parent loans; 3) how much money you will need for your FRESHMAN year of college. Because FAFSA eligibility is done yearly, you need to update your parent's tax information yearly, too.  For some of you, deciding which parent claims you may be tricky (but it's usually the parent you live with the most).  Click on this link to find a document that may help you.  WHO IS MY PARENT ON FAFSA.   

Remember, FAFSA is FREE.  Don't go to a .com website where you have to pay to file your FAFSA.  The correct site is https://fafsa.ed.gov/. 

We have a Senior FAFSA Day scheduled for Saturday, November 12 from 8:30 a.m.--12:30 p.m.  If you have not already scanned tax documents to your drive, you will need to bring them with you.

WRITE DOWN your FAFSA ID, as well as the PIN you create for yourself and a parent.  You will have to use them EVERY YEAR you file FAFSA.

OCTOBER 2016 Grapevine

Here's the latest edition of the TRIO Upward Bound Grapevine.  Lots of dates and great information, so you are up-to-date.  Follow this link for a PDF version:  
The Grapevine October 2016

You can also view it in a super cool magazine format at this link: October Grapevine (Magazine format)

Happy reading!

REPORT CARD TIME

By today, all TRIO UMUB students will have report cards/progress reports.  

Before you lose it., snap a photo and send it to Mrs. Buff at (205) 516-5007.  Good or bad, we need to know.  All students who submit their report cards by Tuesday at NOON will have their names in a drawing for some REALLY COOL tech accessories.

If you need tutoring--or just need to do homework--text Mrs. Buff (or see her in Comer 108 during Academic Session nights) and we will get you placed in Think Tank Tutoring.