CCR Center Newsletter
2021, July
Announcements
Class of 2022
You are now seniors! Congrats! Be sure to check your email for a letter from Ms. Castro regarding the college application process.
Most Texas public college applications open on July 1! Are you ready?
ALL students applying to college for Fall 2022 must create a NEW Apply Texas account at https://goapplytexas.org/
If you applied for dual credit and "already have an Apply Texas account" you MUST still go to the new ApplyTexas site and create a NEW GoApplyTexas account.
Updates & Upcoming Events
Houston Area Recruiters Network (HARN)- College Admissions Counselors that Live in Houston!
All events will be from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Central
Thursday, July 1st – Title of Event: Perfecting Your Form (TOPIC: Polishing Your Application)
Registration Link:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jxOmpHCcTOiEVaOt2UpM2g
Wednesday, July 7th- Title of Event: Virtual College Fair
Registration Link:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEoceqpqz0tHNIni9Jfe2S8K75AJeguA06W
What Can I Answer for You Today?
TSIA2 Testing
College Application Residency
How Can I Help my Junior?
Free CLEP Exams!
Want to earn high school credit and college credit for FREE by taking a CLEP exam? Check out this FREE recourse!
Freshman Year for Free by Modern States
https://modernstates.org/freshman-year-free/
Take a FREE CLEP preparation for the CLEP exam you would like to take. The FREE prep courses are taught by East Coast college professors (i.e. John Hopkins, UPenn, etc). When the student finishes the FREE prep course, the college professor will provide the student with a voucher to register for the CLEP exam for FREE! CLEP exams are usually around $89.00!
What is a CLEP exam? A CLEP exam is a credit by exam test offered through the College Board. If a student scores high enough on the CLEP exam, then the student can earn college credit for the exam. In Texas, the student can also earn high school credit for CLEP exams if they score a 50 or higher on the exam. A 50 on the exam is not like a 50 in a high school class, a 50 on a CLEP exam is more like 80%.
Examples of CLEP exams: US History, College Composition, Humanities, American Government, Calculus, Precalculus, Natural Sciences, and more!
Some of the courses that are offered via CLEP we offer via dual credit or AP credit and some we do not. We do not offer college credit for precal, humanities, or business courses.
We want you to be aware of the opportunities that are out there for students!
College Visits- Register via Naviance
None at this time
Reminders for Seniors
There are still a lot of colleges that are accepted admissions applications. Remember, two year colleges never close their applications, applications are always free, and you do not need SAT or ACT test scores. Must be TSIA2 complete to take college level courses.
The last day of the application is not the last day to press submit, it is the last day that the college will accept documents on your behalf!
Transcript Requests:
- If you are submitting your application in Apply Texas there is a 5-7 business day processing period for transcripts requests. Business days do not include Saturday and Sunday.
- If you are submitting your application in Common App there is a three week processing period for transcript requests & you MUST contact your KHS counselor regarding the transcript request. The transcript is just ONE of the required documents the counselor has to send for the Common App application. If a LOR is required for the Common App and you do not contact your counselor at least three weeks in advance, you will likely receive a form LOR, not a personal recommendation.
Class of 2021 Brag Sheet in Naviance
Please complete the required, assigned task in Naviance, LOR Student Infor Sheet/ Brag Sheet. This information will help your teachers/counselor write a WONDERFUL letter of recommendation for you!
Make sure you have completed all of your required tasks in Naviance.
How College Application Fee Waivers Work
If you qualify for free or reduced lunch, then you can apply to college for FREE.
There are three types of college application fee waivers.
College Board
ACT
NACAC
For Apply Texas colleges, when you click the “Request a fee waiver” button on the application, you are NOT asking the college for a fee waiver, you are telling the college you already have a fee waiver. It is your responsibility to send the college your application fee waiver.
We prefer that students start off using the College Board application fee waiver. It is the easiest fee waiver for our students to access because you do not have ask anyone for the fee waiver, it is already uploaded and available in your College Board account.
Read the detail letter sent to students and parents regarding how to access College Board Application Fee Waivers.
College Application Fee Waiver Letter to Students
College Board instructions on How to Access College Board College Application Fee Waivers
Scholarship Opportunties
7 WAYS TO APPROACH (AND WIN) SCHOLARSHIPS WITH SCHOLARSHIP FINDER
Ms. Castro's Favorite Scholarship Website
E-Scholarships USA is a database of scholarships that Fort Bend ISD pays to have access to. The database requires a username and a password. This is NOT YOUR username and password. This is an FBISD username and password. The username and password can be found in Naviance (log in, click on Read More). Do not contact E-Scholarships USA for the username and password, just log into Naviance, it is posted there. If you cannot find the username and password in Naviance contact Mrs. Nilsen.
Scholarships are listed in due date order; if the scholarship is due today it is at the top of the list. It also tells you right then what the qualifications are to apply for the scholarships. If you meet the qualifications, click on the link to go to the scholarship, if you do not, keep on scrolling until you find one you do qualify for.
Additional scholarship opportunities are posted in Naviance, Twitter and Instagram.
How to Request an Official HS transcript for a Scholarship Application
Financial Aid
FAFSA Priority Deadline is Jan 15, 2022!
Class of 2022 (and current college students)
This is for financial aid for the Fall 2022 semester which is the semester that current seniors will be starting college. Students starting college will fill out the FAFSA for the 2022-2023 school year when it opens on October 1, 2021. Follow the steps below to start the FAFSA process.
Step 1: Create your FSA ID (student & one parent)
- FSA ID is a fancy way to say FAFSA username and password
- https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm
- Must be a citizen or permeant resident to create an FSA ID
Step 2: Wait to get your identify verification email from Social Security Administration
- Usually takes 3 days
Step 3: On October 1st STUDENT [not parent] starts the 2022-2023 FAFSA Application
- https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
***If student has older sibling, then the parent probably already has an FSA ID. NEVER create more than one FSA ID. ONLY one parent needs an FSA ID. Must be legal parent, not guardian. See How To resources in Naviance Document Resources/ KHS CCR Center Resources for how-to guides.
TASFA
From College for All Texans
The Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) is used to collect information to help determine eligibility for state financial aid programs that are administered by institutions of higher education in the state of Texas. Students that are classified as a Texas Resident who cannot apply for federal financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are encouraged to complete the TASFA. To review the FAFSA filing requirements, visit www.fafsa.ed.gov or visit the financial aid office at the institution you plan to attend.
The Texas state priority deadline for many institutions of higher education is January 15, 2022 for the 2022-2023 award year. It is recommended that applicants complete and submit this application and any other required documentation to the financial aid office prior to the state priority deadline date.
Review last year's TASFA application to get a better understanding on the type of information needed.
There is a VERY STRONG chance that the TASFA application for the 2022-2023 SY will be 100% online. We will know more as October 1 gets closer.
Source:
http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/index.cfm?objectid=A3119543-CBF8-C202-F1B0EEFD5F4B9805
Stay in Touch!
Follow the CCR Center on Twitter and Instagram! We posts short videos, tips, tricks, and college updates!
YouTube Channel: KempnerHS CCR Center
Twitter: @KHSCCRCenter
Instagram: @Kempner_CCR
Twitter: @2021Kempner
Update your email address in Naviance: How To Video
How to Use Naviance to Research Colleges & Universities
Requesting Letters of Recommendation (Class of 2022)
The ability to request a letter of recommendation in Naviance is currently turned OFF. We will turn on LORs in September. Please make sure you have completed steps 1-4 below before you enter the LOR request (step 5).
DO NOT request for "All Applications" in Naviance. You must select each college individually when your enter the request in Naviance.
Steps to Requesting Teacher Letters of Recommendation
Step 1: Research the letter of recommendation requirements for each college or university you are applying to.
Step 2: Speak with the teacher IN PERSON no less than three weeks before the deadline NEEDED regarding the letter of recommendation. Provide the teacher with a copy of your resume.
Step 3: Follow up with the teacher via email regarding the request. Be sure to thank the teacher!
Step 4: Submit your admissions application for the university. Add the college to the Colleges I am Apply To list in Naviance.
Step 5: All teacher letter of recommendation requests should be formally requested through Naviance. This is the last step in the LOR request process. DO NOT enter an LOR request in Naviance if you have not spoken with the teacher in person first. View the instructional video on teacher letters of recommendation to learn how to complete the request process in Naviance.
Click on the link below for a step by step guide on how to enter the LOR request.
How to Enter a Letter of Recommendation Request in Naviance
Click on the link below for a step by step guide on how to cancel a LOR request.
How to Cancel a Letter of Recommendation Request in Naviance
Texas College Auto Admissions Policies
Apply Texas Application Requirements & Scholarship Deadlines
Apply Texas Application Requirements & Scholarship Deadlines
2020-2021 ACT & SAT Exam Date Flyer
2020-2021 ACT & SAT Exam Date Flyer
*Nearly 2000 colleges have implemented a test optional admissions review policy for the Class of 2021. Some colleges still required test scores for scholarship review.
ACT & SAT Fee Waiver Request Form
FREE ACT & SAT Practice Test!!!!
Are you looking for more free practice test resources for the ACT and SAT?
ACT:
The ACT Academy is the free practice program produced by ACT. You cannot link your ACT account to your ACT Academy account but there are free diagnostic questions that will help you customize the practice program.
SAT:
The official SAT practice program is Khan Academy. Link you College Board and Khan Academy accounts together to get a 100% personalized practice program.
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/steps-linking-college-board-khan-academy-accounts.pdf
ACT & SAT:
Summit Educational Group offers all students one free ACT and one free SAT practice test. You can choose to do a virtually proctored practice test or a self-proctored practice test. I recommend the virtually proctored practice tests so that you are getting a better feel for the testing environment. Once you complete the practice test your will receive a free score report and a free consultation. Be aware- they will try to sell you their services, but you can say NO!! In NO WAY am I promoting their test prep paid services, I want you to take advantage of the FREE practice tests in a real world environment. Summit Educational Group will not ask for any debit or credit card information for the free practice tests. PLEASE do not feel that you need to buy something, just take the FREE tests!
https://mytutor.com/one-on-one/free-practice-tests-covid/#1584106363495-f0bd99d4-f18a
Amanda Castro, CCR Advisor
Email: amandaj.castro@fortbendisd.com
Website: https://student.naviance.com/kempnerhs
Location: 14777 Voss Road, Sugar Land, TX, USA
Phone: 281.634.3140
Twitter: @KHSCCRCenter