Senior Guidance Notes
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April 1, 2008
I hope everyone has filed their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form either on-line or snail mail. You should check to see what the deadlines are for filing this form in order to be considered for scholarships and need-based aid at the colleges you have applied to as well as for the separate scholarships you are applying for. I still have plenty of FAFSA forms, as well as the on-line worksheet, in case anyone needs either form.
It is extremely important for each of you to realize the importance of passing all of your courses for the entire year or in the case of a semester course, for the semester. Newark Catholic does not give partial credit for a year course which was passed for one semester. All of you need to pass some courses because they are required for everyone In order to graduate. Others of you need to pass courses because of the required number of credits required in specific subject areas. Still others need to pass courses In order to complete the required number of credits necessary to graduate from Newark Catholic which is 24. One other situation to keep in mind is that In order to pass a full year course in which a final exam is given, you must pass at least one of the following: the second semester exam or the second semester of the course. Whatever you do, do not disappoint me, your teachers, your family, and yourself by not being able to graduate when the rest of your class does. Whenever this has happened in the past, it has been a very sad and stressful situation for everyone involved.
Page 4 has some pertinent information about the Financial Aid Award Letters you will receive from each of the colleges you applied to or listed on the FAFSA. It explains each section of the letter and what the figures mean. There is also a section which tells you and your parents how to compare award letters from different schools. It is up to you as to which parts of the financial aid you want to accept. Perhaps you will want to take the scholarships and grants (which don't have to be paid back), and decline the loans (which must be repaid) and work study (perhaps you think you will be spending so much time with studies and extracurricular activities that you wouldn't have time for a job). It's up to you to check the items you want In the award letter, sign it, and send it back to the school. You should have until May 1 to do this, but you need to find out what the deadline dates are at the particular schools to which you have applied. Remember what I said about dormitory housing availability in the last edition of Senior Guidance Notes.
If you're still looking for scholarships, all the editions of my Senior Guidance Notes for this school year are on the NC website. There are also other sources of scholarships on that website, including FastWeb and www.schoolsoup.com
Try to get your best grades ever during your last quarter of high school. This is the last chance you will have to raise your final grade point average which will always be on your transcript for colleges, military, and sometimes future employers to see. By getting as much as you can out of this last quarter, you are preparing yourself for college and Increasing your chances to get off to a good start this Fall. Your number of absences and tardies are also contained on your transcript, and this information is usually looked at carefully by some scholarship sponsors, employers, and the military.
This is an exciting, stressful, and sometimes frightful time for all of us, but working together and staying in touch, we will be just fine. At this point keep your options open and stay in communication with your parents.
SCHOLARSHIPS
The Beta Gamma Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa is offering two $750 educational supplies scholarships to females planning to enter the education profession. Criteria for selection Include financial need, honors and awards, service, references, transcript, gpa of at least 3.0, and one to two page typed autobiography. Deadline: April 15, 2008
BigSun Scholarship - The BigSun Organization Is proud to be able to help young athletes succeed in their academic pursuits. They are offering an annual scholarship to a deserving student. All student athletes are eligible for this award, regardless of which sport you are participating in. Amount of award - $500. Applicant must be currently be involved in some sport. Visit the website at http://www.bigsunathletics.com to learn how to apply. Deadline: June 20, 2008
Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 55, Licking County will award two $500 scholarships to Licking County students. Applicants must be the child or grandchild of a Veteran. Pick up an Information letter in my office. Deadline: April 15, 2008
The Newark-Heath Rotary is sponsoring a scholarship program for an applicant with strengths in academics, leadership, and community service. The student must have a 3.0 G.P.A. or above. Deadline: April 30, 2008
The Alan Robert Miller Journalistic Cross Country Award Is available to Newark Catholic senior cross country runners. Applicants must write a 275 word essay on the subject "What I Think About When I Run" that will be judged by two members of the English Department and Miss Hill, Principal. The amount of the award is $250. Deadline: April 15, 2008
AAA Ohio Auto Club is offering scholarships to former safety patrol members. Information on the application includes academic record, safety patrol experience, in and out-of-school activities, and references. I have applications or you can get one online at www.aaaohio.com . A 500 word essay and your high school transcript are also required.
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM INFORMATION
I have information about apprenticeship training programs for the trade careers of plumbers and pipefitters, construction craft laborers, and carpenters and floor layers.
In addition to the Senior Guidance Notes on the Newark Catholic website, there is other scholarship Information there. The way to access it Is to click Departments on the cover page, then click Guidance, then College Financial Aid, then any of these sites: 101 Top College, University and Scholarship Pages, Mapping Your Future, and Scholarship Resource Network.
PLEASE MAKE CERTAIN ON ANY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS YOU FILL OUT THAT YOU DO SO AS NEATLY AS POSSIBLE. YOU SHOULD COMPLETE THEM IN INK AND WRITE IN COMPLETE SENTENCES. MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOUR SPELLING IS CORRECT. FILL THEM OUT IN AS MUCH DETAIL AS POSSIBLE. IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO SHOW THEM TO SOMEONE ELSE SUCH AS AN ENGLISH TEACHER OR A STUDENT WHO WRITES WELL TO SEE IT THEY WOULD HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT. PEOPLE WHO OFFER THESE SCHOLARSHIPS AND SERVE ON THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEES EXPECT THE FORMS TO BE COMPLETED AS ERROR-FREE AS POSSIBLE, AND MANY TIMES THEY DON'T EVEN GIVE ANY CONSIDERATION TO APPLICATIONS WHICH ARE DONE SLOPPILY. SO TAKE THE TIME AND DO THEM RIGHT!