THE DOCKTER'S VISIT
September 30, 2011
Dear Parents and Seniors:
This letter is to let you know what information and issues I will be working on with the seniors during their final year of high school. All juniors and seniors attended a college fair in September. Many colleges from across the region were there. It was an opportunity to sign up to receive materials and ask recruiters questions.
THE NORTH DAKOTA STATE SCHOLARSHIP
No doubt many of you are aware of the $6000 scholarship the state of North Dakota is offering to seniors who get either a composite score of 24 on their ACT or a 5 or more on the ACT Work Keys. WorkKeys is a test that was originally developed for employers to measure work skills. This is different from the ACT in that it measures application more than theory. There are 3 parts to WorkKeys: applied math, reading for information and reading for information. Each part is scored independently. If a student does not get a 5 on a part, they can take the parts they don’t receive a 5 only. The ACT requires taking all parts. The scholarship does not depend on the choice of test nor does the test have anything to do with career choice.
In addition to the tests, students must also have a "B" average, not have a "D" on their transcript in a class necessary for the scholarship. They must have 22 credits and meet the state requirements for the scholarship. These can be found at www.nd.gov.cte under scholarship.
To get an idea about the type of questions which are asked on the WorkKeys test, go to www.act.org; Click on Work Place; Click on Work Keys. On the lower right side it will give sample questions at the different levels. An applied math practice test is available at www.bement.k12.il.us/math/workkeys.html
All colleges will offer the WorkKeys test. Check with the college on dates and times. I will be giving it on October 15. Students must take all three tests that day. We will start at 8:00 at the high school. I will need to know in advance who is taking the test so I have enough. If students retake any tests, the highest scores will be the ones considered. Either a score of 24 on the ACT OR 5s on the WorkKeys applied math, locating information, and reading for information and the required classes for the scholarship qualify students for the $6000. Students have until February 6 to qualify with the ACT or WorkKeys. The cost per test is about $6.00. Students are billed individually. Students awarded scholarship money will receive notification June 30 by letter. The student must accept, reject or defer the scholarship. The letter is then returned to the Department of Public Instruction. Students who take a year or two before attending college (defer) must complete their schooling within 6 years of high school graduation.
If you plan to attend college you must take the American College Test (ACT). The ACT is required for entrance to North Dakota postsecondary schools and provides valuable information to students, parents, schools and counselors. (Work Keys does not replace the ACT for admission to college.) The ACT is given on national test dates in October, December, February, April and June. Students can register on line at act.org. It is important to include this in the school code when registering because the high school needs the scores for transcripts, recommendations, etc.
The Bank of North Dakota has provided all North Dakota high schools with Test Gear, an ACT preparation package. Students have user names and passwords to access the material. Go to www.rureadynd.com to log in. There are many career helps as well as TestGear (part of rureadynd.com) a free ACT tutoring program. Community members who need to take the ACT or just want to review math, science, English or reading can use it also. You need to register for a portfolio. It will not let you go on without a number in the box. Once you have a portfolio, you can go back and use any of the things that interest you or your student at any time from any computer. (Just remember your user name and password!)
To aid in career planning students can do job shadows. They can spend time with someone at the job site doing the job for which they are interested in getting training. This is an excellent way for students to see if they are really suited for the job. Knowing the positives and negatives of a career (the perfect job is 80% perfect!) can save both time and money. Job shadows need to be arranged through the school beforehand and the day will be an excused absence. There are job shadow opportunities in just about all areas.
Universities, colleges, vocational and proprietary schools:
If your senior has an interest in a particular school, begin to correspond with the admissions office. Have your senior use www.rureadynd.com or the Internet to order a catalog, application blank, and information about a possible area they wish to study. Make appointments and visit the campus (or several campuses) with your student; try to sit in on a class and visit with the financial aid and admissions offices.
As 2012 approaches, begin to turn your thoughts toward gathering tax information for the financial aid application process. The financial aid meeting dates will be announced later. In order to receive top consideration for grants, loans, work-study, and some scholarships, the financial aid form should generally be completed by you and your student by February; individual school deadlines vary. Please look into financial aid even if you don't think your student will qualify. There is a lower interest unsubsidized Stafford Loan available even to students who cannot prove financial need.
Encourage your student to take advantage of the college visitation and job shadow opportunities soon. This will help them face the future, and make it less frightening.
If you should have any questions or concerns during the school year, please feel free to stop in or call me at school. It is best if you call ahead to make sure I am there and available since I serve three schools. I look forward to working with you and your senior this year.
The following is a list of activities and topics of discussion that will be available to your senior this year:
1) ACT and/or SAT registration and interpretation,
2) Individualized career exploration activities, as requested,
3) Further aptitude assessment, as needed or required by technical schools
4) Postsecondary application procedures,
5) Financial aid applications and information,
6) Scholarship applications and information,
7) Parent financial aid and college night,
8) Assist student in scheduling job shadow or career information interviews,
9) Individual conferences with each student,
10) Prepare students for and schedule college visits.
I know that some of you and your students might be receiving some very
official looking documents that make it appear that you need to fill them out to receive financial aid, not true. Filling out the free FAFSA after January 1 is the only way to access federal and state aid. Some of the offers are also for scholarship searches (for a fee). Read them very carefully – none of the other career counselors or myself have ever seen a student get a scholarship from one of these “for-fee” searches which they couldn’t have gotten “for Free” without paying the fee.
There is a scholarship list on the website or it is available in the Counseling Office at the high school. There are several free scholarship searches at the top of this list. You and your student should also just search for “free scholarship searches” and remember, you don’t need to pay for a search for a scholarship! Another reminder – in general, the closer the scholarship agency is to where you live – the better chance you have of getting some money. Essay scholarships have fewer applicants so the odds are better of receiving one. Also, the colleges themselves grant 90-95% of the financial aid given, so those applications definitely need to be on time.
Finally, if you would like to get an estimate of how much money colleges will expect you and your student to contribute toward a year in college (EFC or expected family contribution) – go to http://www.finaid.org/calculators/ and use the Expected Family Contribution (or EFC) calculator. These are estimates, but I found them to be pretty close (within $500-$1000) when Miles and I plugged in our information when our son and daughter went to school. You may want to be seated when you read how much your expected family contribution is!! (Hint – if any of them ask for identifying information – just make it up if you feel uncomfortable supplying your own.)
I will begin scheduling appointments with seniors soon, please encourage them to make an appointment so I can work with them on their plans. Again, I also invite you to come in or call if I can answer questions or be of any assistance.
Sincerely,
Leah Dockter
Counselor
Real success is finding your lifework in the work that you love.
- David McCullough
stop in or call me at school. It is best if you call ahead to make sure I am there and available since I serve three schools. I look forward to working with you and your senior this year.
