SENIOR COLLEGE VISITS

Senior year College Visits and/or attendance at Preview Days will be crucial as you begin to narrow your choices for college.  Here is the list of visits Upward Bound is planning for you:  
Upward Bound will provide transportation to the following colleges:

· University of Alabama Huntsville    September 26

· Jacksonville State University          October 3

· Samford University                         October 31

· Alabama A&M University                November 7

· University of North Alabama           November 14

Follow the link below to the complete schedule of Fall College Visits and ALL Fall Preview Days: 

Fall College Preview Dates

For UAH and JSU, students will sign up at the September 22 session.

• For Charger Preview Day at UAHuntsville, students need to register for the 9:45am event: 
• http://www.uah.edu/admissions/undergraduate/upcoming-events
• For JSU Preview Day, students do not need to register online, but here is the information:
• http://jsu.edu/admissions/preview-day/index.html

Students will sign up for Samford at the October 20^th session.

• For Samford Preview Day students will need to register for the October 31 event:
• https://www.samford.edu/previewdays/
• Students will sign up for AAMU and UNA at the November 2^nd session. 
• For AAMU Senior Day students may need to register online, but details are not available at this time:
• http://www.aamu.edu/admissions/undergraduateadmissions/pages/default.aspx
• For UNA Preview Day students will need to register: 
• https://www.una.edu/previewday/

SMITH FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION NOW OPEN

Seniors, get started!  The BIG scholarships are starting to become available! One of the BIG scholarships, the Smith Foundation Scholarship, is now open.   There are some revisions this year (TWO DEADLINE DATES). The application is now available for you to start working on it.  Part I is due December 1st, but I suggest you get started on it NOW so I can go through and edit it with you in September--early November.  

This is a scholarship that wants a 3.0 GPA, an 18 or above ACT, LOTS of Community Service, and YOUR STORY. Students who are FIRST GENERATION and have FINANCIAL NEED are encouraged to apply. You will also need to document your applications to 3 OTHER scholarships...I've given you LOTS (see posts from June), so get busy!  Go to http://www.smithscholarships.com/ to start your application today.  You will need tax documentation (we scan it and put it in your digital file), ACT scores, and a transcript (I have transcripts and most of your ACT scores).  Contact me if you're planning to apply and I'll help you get it done.

College Search and "The Right Fit"

By this point in your senior year, you should be searching for colleges and examining which school will be "the right fit." As you read the article in the link below, consider some or all of these points to help you make your final selection.

College Search and "The Right Fit" 

Upward Bound Session Dates

Here are the Upward Bound Meeting dates for the 2015-2016 year (and I've also listed Senior Success Seminars so you know to bring your binder):  

University of Montevallo 
TRIO Upward Bound

Meeting Dates

*Tuesday, September 22  Back to Upward Bound Bash

**Monday, October 5

Tuesday, October 20        Senior Success Seminar

Monday, November 2

Tuesday, November 17    

Monday, November 30     Senior Success Seminar

Tuesday, December 8      Senior Success Seminar

Monday, January 11         Senior Success Seminar

Tuesday, January 19

Monday, February 8         Senior Success Seminar

Tuesday, February 23

Monday, March 7              Senior Success Seminar

Tuesday, March 22           

Monday, April 4                 Senior Success Seminar

Tuesday, April 19

Monday, May 2

*Returning Student Only Orientation (September 22)

**New Student Orientation/Parent Meeting (October 5)
**Returning Students in Academic Classes (October 5)

The Secret Behind the "A"

The Secret Behind the "A"
Have you ever noticed how some students work hard and make those "A's" in their classes?  While part of the secret may be an ability to comprehend quickly, most successful students will tell you that there's a method to making great grades.  Often, the higher grade comes with more efficient organization, focus, and a PLAN to get higher grades--that's right--very little to do with ability and everything to do with attitude. Read more about how to unlock the Secret Behind the "A" here.


The Secret Behind the "A"

Handy Dandy Hints for a FOCUSED year!

With the start of school less than three weeks away, it's time to consider your FOCUS for the year.  First of all, look at your transcript.  It is critically important that your GPA is a 3.0 or higher. How do you do that?  FOCUS! 

When looking at your GPA, colleges look at the WEIGHTED GPA. While an 18 or 20 might be the beginning score for admission, if your GPA is lower than a 3.0, you will be required to have a higher ACT and might possibly be wait-listed until January.

Many scholarships look at the ACT and your GPA (and unless you have a 3.5 or higher, even a high ACT is not enough). Sometimes, a 79 could be an 80 with just a bit of effort.  As you prepare for a new school year, make sure you put 100% into your classes, have a strong focus in your classwork, and think about your GPA throughout the semester.  As you enter your senior year, know that you have ONE SEMESTER to finish strong and qualify for scholarships!

Here are some Handy Dandy Hints to help you begin your school year with the right focus:

• Get a school year planner.  Right now, they are on sale and you have a good selection.
• Write down some short-term goals (what you want to accomplish within the next week or month) and then consider some long-term goals.
• Set up a Senior Strategy Session.  We can get a lot done if we get started early.  These sessions usually can be completed in less than two hours and we can organize your files, scan some documents, get more information for an AWESOME recommendation letter, and make sure you are ready for your senior year.
• Update your résumé and, once school begins, identify recommenders at your school (counselor, teacher, principal).  While I will be your primary recommender, many scholarships require two or three recommenders.
• Actively participate in student organizations at your school!  Getting involved shows your resolve to be a WINNER who is intent on earning scholarships AND a COLLEGE DEGREE!  

Don't Waste Away the Summer

Hopefully, you're starting to catch up on your rest from a busy Upward Bound Summer.  Since some of you don't have FB accounts, you may not have gotten the information of a very good blog I'm following (Hopefully, you're following THIS one) for UB Seniors.  As is mentioned in the "College Prep" post, you've got to start now.  I need to meet with all of you (plan 2 hours of time) sometime this summer.  During this Senior Strategy Session (just the two of us), we'll make sure your digital file has what will be needed for many scholarships.  I will also start your LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION--which you will most likely need for all scholarships.  

For now, take time and read these two blogposts listed below:

College Prep for Rising Seniors

JLV Blog Scholarships with August 2015 deadlines