Trion High School
College and Career Information
Mary Myers, High School Guidance Counselor
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706-734-7316, ext. 4

Helpful College and Career Web Sites

Please note that the following links will take you outside of the Trion City
Schools web site. Trion City Schools does not endorse any of these web sites;
however, this list is provided to help you with your college planning and search.
Please visit our College and Career Center to look at viewbooks, catalogs, and
applications. It is located outside the Counselor's office. The bulletin board
contains pertinent information on testing dates and updated scholarship
information. Please stop in and talk with Mrs. Myers or make an appointment at
your convenience on the calendar outside her office.

SAT AND ACT TESTING DATES AT TRION HIGH SCHOOL

ACT TEST INFORMATION - www.actstudent.org

Test Date Registration Deadline Late Fee Required
September 11, 2010 August 6, 2010 August 7-20, 2010
October 23, 2010 Sept. 17, 2010 Sept. 18-Oct. 1, 2010
December 11, 2010 November 5, 2010 Nov. 6-19, 2010
February 12, 2011 January 7, 2011 Jan. 8-21, 2011
April 9, 2011 March 4, 2011 March 5-18, 2011
June 11, 2011 May 6, 2011 May 7-20, 2011

SAT TEST INFORMATON - www.collegeboard.com

Test Date Registration Deadline Late Fee Required

October 9, 2010 September 10, 2010 Sept. 24, 2010
November 6, 2010 October 8, 2010 October 22, 2010
December 4, 2010 November 5, 2010 November 19, 2010
January 22, 2011 December 23, 2010 January 7, 2011
March 12, 2011 February 11, 2011 February 25, 2011
May 7, 2011 April 8, 2011 April 22, 2011
June 4, 2011 May 6, 2011 May 20, 2011

General College Information

The following are some general college planning sites that offer college
searches, financial aid, test preparation, and other resources:

Collegeboard.com
ACT. org
CollegeAccessCenter.org
PrincetonReview.com
CollegeAnswer.com
Xap.com
www.ncaa.net - click on "Prospective student-athletes" to register, print the
signature page and bring it to Mrs. Myers so that the transcript can be sent.
Nacac.com/p&s.html
Information for students and families from the National Association for College
Admission Counseling.
Campustours.com
Virtual tours of various colleges
Students.berkeley.edu/apa/personalstatement

Tips for writing college admission and scholarship essays

Financial Aid and Scholarships
Fafsa.ed.gov
Free application for Federal Student Aid application and information. Submit as
soon as possible after January first. This will give you access to the HOPE
scholarship, federal grants such as Pell, and federal loans such as Stafford.
www.college-scholarships.com/free_scholarship_searches.htm
Webpage with links to dozens of scholarship searches
Fastweb.com
Free scholarship and college search
Finaid.org
Loans, scholarships, and military aid
Careers
Mycoolcareer.com
Great comprehensive career site that provides advice on choosing careers and
majors, interviews with people in various careers, links to excellent career and
planning resources, and more!
Mapping-your-future.org
Good college and career information
CareerKey.org
Free career interest/ability assessment.
www.studentdoctor.net/guide
Tips for students who are interested in medical careers.
Test Preparation
Collegeboard.com
Excellent site to compare colleges, test taking tips and the question of the day.
ACT.org/aap/testprep/
Free online ACT tutorials and practice tests.
Number2.com
Free ACT and SAT test prep and vocabulary building.

Important Reminders for Seniors and Parents

1. Seniors and their parents, if they wish, should conference with Mrs. Myers as
soon as possible to develop a career and educational plan for next year.
2. Be certain to pay careful attention to the deadlines for SAT and ACT testing,
college and scholarship applications.
3. Sign your transcript release form in the office in order for your transcripts to
be sent to colleges and scholarships. If you are under the age of 18, your
parent must sign.
4. Plan your college visits by calling ahead to sign up for the information
sessions and tours. Eat lunch in the college cafeteria to see who your future
classmates might be. Remember to write a thank you note to the Admission
Office afterwards.
5. Listen to daily announcements of scholarship opportunities and deadlines.
6. Look at the bulletin board outside Mrs. Myers's office for scholarship notices
and application information.
7. HOPE Grant: Parents and students must submit the HOPE scholarship and
Grant application. Complete an on-line application at www.fafsa.ed.gov, or
www.gsfc.org/ehope and visit their website www.edgov/offices/hope/students.
8. Athletic Scholarships and NCAA Eligibility requires students to receive
NCAA Eligibility through NCAA Clearinghouse. This pertains to those
students who wish to participate in a sport in college. To register,
prospective student-athletes should access the registration materials on the
Clearinghouse website at www.ncaa.net. From the home page, the student
should click on "Prospective Student-Athletes", which will link the student
to the necessary information. Use the on-line registration, print out the
signature page, sign your name and bring it to Mrs. Myers in order to have
your transcript sent to NCAA.
Please remember that Mrs. Myers is here to help you with your college
and career concerns, so please feel free to contact her. Mrs. Myers will come
early in the morning, stay later in the evening, or meet during lunch hour to
accommodate your parents' schedule.

Important Reminders for Juniors and Parents

1. Make the best grades possible in the strongest courses you can handle. Your
grades will determine your official class rank and GPA. Many college
admissions decisions will be based on the grades you make your junior year.
2. Continue to build a strong personal and extracurricular record through
involvement with your school activities. Colleges look for community service
commitments in your resume.
3. Take the SAT and/or the ACT this spring. Mrs. Myers has the registration
forms and will help you sign up. Be aware of those registration deadlines.
They are posted on the bulletin board outside Mrs. Myers's office.
4. Visit colleges during vacations and on week-ends. Be certain to call the
Admissions Offices to make appointments for the information session and
tour. Eat lunch in their cafeteria to see who your future classmates might be
and write a thank you note when you get home.
5. Continue your college/career search on the internet and write, call, or email
for further information.
6. Plan to return to school in July with a definite list of three to five colleges.
7. Make an appointment with Mrs. Myers this spring. Please bring your
parents if they are able to attend. Mrs. Myers will meet early in the morning,
stay later in the evening, or meet during lunch hour to facilitate your
parents' conferences.

Different Types of Schools

College: An institution that offers educational instruction in a two-year or four
year program.
Community College: A two-year institution that provides career and vocational
training and academic curricula.
Liberal Arts College: A four-year institution that emphasizes a program of broad
undergraduate education.
University: An academic institution which grants undergraduate and graduate
degrees. It is composed of a number of "schools" or "colleges" which
encompass a general field of study such as Education or Nursing.
Business School: Business and clerical courses that may be offered in conjunction
with liberal arts courses.
Trade School: An institution that offers programs designed to prepare students
for immediate employment. They specialize in such work fields as computer
technology, medical or dental technology, mechanics, or cosmetology.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a College

* Academics- Match your ability to the college's admission standards. Check
the course offerings to ensure they offer what you are interested in.
* Size - Consider the size of the student population as they can range from
several hundred students to many thousands.
* Cost - Check availability of scholarships, in-state tuitions, and HOPE.
* Location - Balance the travel expense with your desire for independence and
remember that HOPE is available only to Georgia colleges and universities.

Military Career Options

The Armed Services are one of the major employers in our nation. It is also a
major source of educational training and preparation for entry-level jobs.
Representatives from each branch of the Armed Services visit the school
regularly or see Mrs. Myers for additional information.

The College Visit

Make your visit "official" by calling ahead to schedule an appointment.
Find out when campus tours are scheduled and take advantage of a guided
tour as well as the information session, which is typically led by an admission
officer.
If you are very interested in a particular college, inquire about staying
overnight in a residence hall, meeting a coach or teacher and attending a
class.
Prepare questions to ask during your visit such as class size, cultural events,
support services for students, etc.
Make notes after your college visit about your likes and dislikes.
Be certain to get the name and title of your information guide to write a
letter of appreciation. This shows courtesy and maturity and will reinforce
the admission officer's memory of you as an individual.

The College Application Process
1. Complete the transcript release form, have it signed by a parent or
guardian if you are under 18, and return it to Mrs. Myers.
2. Apply! You may do so online at the college's website; always print a copy
for your records. You may download and print an application and then
send it snail mail. Consider deadlines.
3. Use your credit card, check, or money order to pay for the application
fees that may vary from $20 upwards.
4. Be certain that you have informed Mrs. Myers and any teachers that you
will need a Letter of Recommendation in advance. The more notice you
provide, the better we are able to complete your application process.
5. YOU are responsible for mailing your college application in a timely
manner.
6. If a college essay is required, spend the time to make it reflect YOU. This
essay is your "third dimension". It will make your application come alive
to the admissions officers. Write about something that you are passionate
about as it will ultimately reveal your intelligence, talent, sense of humor,
enthusiasm, maturity, and writing ability. Ask one of your English
teachers to proof read it for any errors. Remember to give your teachers
ample time to do this.

Financial Aid

1. Free Application for Federal Student Aid - www.fafsa.ed.gov - can be
completed online and submitted any time after January first.
Comprehensive instructions are provided for completion of the form. It
really is not difficult to complete. Be certain that you have your tax returns
and other pertinent information available as you complete it.
2. CSS PROFILE is required by some private colleges to determine student
financial need.
3. Grant Aid, which does not have to be paid back, includes the Federal Pell
Grant. The Pell Grant is based on need as determined by FAFSA.
4. Loans which must be paid back after a student leaves college include the
Federal Perkins Loan and the Federal Stafford Student Loan. FAFSA must
be completed in order to be considered.
5. HOPE's application must be completed by student and parent and can be
found at www.fafsa.ed.gov or www.gsfc.org/ehope. You can visit their
website at www.edgov/offices/hope/students.
6. Many scholarships are available by contacting the Financial Aid office of the
college or university the student selects.
7. Merit scholarships are those which are not based on family need. Students
and families can find these using the websites posted on the bulletin board
outside Mrs. Myers's office in addition to those announced daily.
8. Do NOT pay money to apply for a scholarship. It is probably a scam.