Morton High School

COLLEGE AND CAREER

PLANNING GUIDE FOR SENIORS

2013-2014

J. Sterling Morton High School

District 201

American School Counselors Association National Standards for Students

Academic Development

Standard A: Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge and skills that contribute to effective learning in school and across the life span.

A:A2 Acquire Skills for Improving Learning

A:A2.3 Use communications skills to know when and how to ask for help when needed

A:A3 Achieve School Success

A:A3.3 Develop a broad range of interests and abilities

Career Development

Standard A: Students will acquire the skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and to make informedcareer decisions.

C:A1 Develop Career Awareness

C:A1.2 Learn about the variety of traditional and nontraditional occupations

C:A1.7 Understand the importance of planning

Standard B: Students will complete school with the academic preparation essential to choose from a wide range of substantialpost-secondary options, including college.

A:B1 Improve Learning

A:B1.2 Learn and apply critical-thinking skills

A:B1.6 Use knowledge of learning styles to positively influence school performance

Table of Contents

page
General College information
ACT/SAT Testing Dates / 1
Financial Aid: Paying for College / 2-3
Illinois College Map and Websites / 4-5
Avoiding Proprietary (For-Profit) Schools / 6-7
Option One: Bachelor’s Degree- 4-year college
College Planning Timeline / 8
College Selection Hints / 9
College Deadlines / 10-11
Option Two: Community College / 12
Option Three: Military / 13
Option Four: Work/Apprenticeship / 14-15

visit the Morton Counseling page at

General College Information

Testing Dates

ACT TEST DATES 2013-2014

Register at:

ACT fees: ACT – no writing, $36.50

ACT+ writing, $52.50

Ask your counselor if you are eligible for a fee waiver.

Test Date / RegistrationDeadline / (Late Fee Required)
October26,2013 / September27,2013 / September28 – Oct 11,2013
December14,2013 / November8,2013 / November9 – 22,2013
February8,2014 / January10,2014 / January 11 - 24,2014
April12,2014 / March7,2014 / March 8 – 21,2014
June14,2014 / May9,2014 / May10 – 23, 2014

Morton East Code141410Morton West Code140303

Morton East Test Center 173850Morton West Test Center 173540

SAT Test Dates 2013-14

Register at:

College Board charges a $51.00 fee to take the SAT. Your counselor can tell you if you are eligible for a fee waiver. Fees for Subject Test vary.

Test Dates / Test / U.S. Registration Deadlines
Regular / Late (fees apply)
October 5, 2013 / SAT &
Subject Tests / September 6, 2013 / September 20, 2013
November 2, 2013 / SAT & Subject Tests / October 3, 2013 / October 21, 2013
December 7, 2013 / SAT & Subject Tests / November 8, 2013 / November 22, 2013
January 25, 2014 / SAT & Subject Tests / December 27, 2014 / January 10, 2014
March 8, 2014 / SAT only / February 7, 2014 / February 21, 2014
May 3, 2014 / SAT & Subject Tests / April 4, 2014 / April 18, 2014
June 7, 2014 / SAT & Subject Tests / May 9, 2014 / May 23, 2014

* District 201 is not a test site for the SAT.

General College Information

Financial Aid: Paying for College

WEBSITES FOR FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

College Zone (Illinois Student Assistance Commission)

Federal Student Aid

FAFSA on the Web

U.S. Department of Education’s FREE scholarship search

If you are a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen, most of the financial aid you will receive will be a result of completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can fill out the FAFSA at after January 1, 2014. When your FAFSA is processed, the schools you have identified will receive your information. The school will then tell you how much financial aid is available, including grants, scholarships, work opportunities and federal student loans. Below is a brief description of financial aid terms. For more information, visit

LOANS

Federal student loans:

A federal student loan allows students and their parents to borrow money to help pay for college through loan programs supported by the federal government. They usually have low interest rates and offer attractive repayment terms, benefits and options. Generally, repayment of a federal loan does not begin until after the student leaves school. Federal student loans can be used to pay school expenses such as tuition and fees, room and board, books, supplies and transportation.

Stafford loans are for undergraduate and graduate students. There are two types of Stafford loans: Subsidized and Unsubsidized.

  • Subsidized Stafford loans provide low interest rates and are available to students who demonstrate financial need based on income and other information provided on the FAFSA. A credit check is not required to receive these loans. The federal government pays the interest on these loans until six months after the student is no longer enrolled in school at least half-time.
  • Unsubsidized Stafford loans provide low interest rates and are available to all students regardless of financial need (although the FAFSA still must be filed). A credit check is not required to receive these loans. The student is responsible for the interest, which may be paid while the student is in school or accrued and then added to the principal balance when the student enters repayment, which occurs six months after the student is no longer enrolled in school at least half-time.

Plus loans are low interest loans that parents can obtain to help pay the cost of education for their children. In addition, graduate students may obtain PLUS loans to help pay for their own education. PLUS loans require a credit check and, in some instances, an eligible cosigner. Repayment of PLUS loans begins following the final disbursement for the year. Graduate students and parents of dependent students may be able to defer repayment of their PLUS loans until after the student is no longer enrolled in school at least half-time, although interest will continue to accrue.

Private student loans:

A private student loan is a nonfederal loan issued by a lender such as a bank or credit union. Private student loans often have variable interest rates, require a credit check and do not provide the benefits of federal student loans.

General College Information

Financial Aid: Paying for College

GRANTS

Grants are also gifts that do not need to be repaid, but they are usually based on financial need. You qualify for grants by filling out the FAFSA. Most often, grant aid comes from federal and state governments and individual colleges. Available federal grants include:

  • Pell Grant. These are federal grants awarded to undergraduate students.
  • ACG. The Academic Competitiveness Grant is for college freshmen and sophomores who are eligible for Pell Grants and who took "rigorous" classes in high school.
  • FSEOG. The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is awarded to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need.
  • National SMART Grant. The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant is awarded to college juniors and seniors who are eligible for Pell Grants and are majoring in mathematics, technology, engineering, a foreign language critical to national security or physical, life or computer sciences. Students must also have grade point averages of at least 3.0 in their majors to be eligible.
  • TEACH Grant. The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant is for students who plan to teach in schools that serve low-income students.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarships are gifts; they don't need to be repaid. There are thousands of them, offered by schools, employers, individuals, private companies, nonprofits, religious groups, and professional and social organizations. Some scholarships are merit based. You earn them by meeting or exceeding certain standards set by the scholarship-giver. They might be awarded based on academic achievement, or a combination of academics and a special talent, trait or interest. Other scholarships are based on financial need. To receive a monthly email list of available scholarships, please sign up in Room 217.

WORK-STUDY

The Federal Work-Study (FWS) program provides part-time jobs for students with financial need to help them pay for their education. The program is administered by participating schools. It's designed to put you to work in the community, or in a job related to your study, whenever possible. You indicate your interest in work-study when filling out the FAFSA.

General College Information

General College Information

General College Information

Avoiding Proprietary (For-Profit) Schools

Going to college is a goal for many Morton East students, but the process of choosing an institution is not always easy. Proprietary schools are for-profit businesses that provide education and training. They often advertise on television, make phone calls to your home, and send out frequent mailings. Tuitions at these schools are expensive, credits obtained are difficult to transfer to other colleges, programs are not always accredited, and students can earn the same certifications and degrees at community colleges and public universities.If you are interested in a program/degree at a proprietary school (see below), please see your counselor who can assist you in making the best choices concerning post-secondary education.

Common Proprietary (For-Profit) Schools

AmericanAcademy of Art

ArgosyUniversity

Chamberlain College of Nursing

DeVryUniversity

EverestCollege

FlashpointAcademy

FoxCollege

HarringtonCollege of Design

The Illinois Institute of Art

InternationalAcademy of Design & Technology

ITT Technical Institute

Le CordonBleuCollege of Culinary Arts in Chicago

LincolnCollege of Technology

Northwestern College

RasmussenCollege

University of Phoenix

WestwoodCollege

visit the MortonCounseling page at 1

Instead of this school… / Last Published Tuition Costs
(does not include books or fees) / How about these programs?
HarringtonCollege of Design /
$18,600/year
/ TritonCollege: Visual Communications- approx. $7,500 year
InternationalAcademy of Design & Technology / $18,000/year / UIC, NIU, U of I Urbana, SIU
Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Chicago(formerly The Cooking and Hospitality Institute ofChicago) / Associates Degree in Culinary Arts= $35,500 / JolietJunior College: Culinary Arts degree- approx. $6,000
MoraineValley: Baking and Pastry certificate- approx. $2,600
WestwoodCollege /
Animation, Interior Design, Game Development / $79,800
Computer-Aided Design/Architectural Drafting / $42,500
Criminal Justice / $71,600
Medical Assisting / $23,300
/ MortonCollege:
Law Enforcement Education- approx. $4,000
CAD/Drafting Technology/ Architectural Drafting Design- approx. $1,500
Medical Records Assistant- approx. $2,000
Purdue-Calumet: B.S. Game Development & Simulation, DePaulUniversity. B.S. Computer game Development
National Latino Education Institute: Certified Bilingual Medical Assistant – approx. $7,500
TritonCollege: Medical Assistant- approx. $5,200
EverestCollege(formerly OlympiaCollege) / approx. $13,100/year / MortonCollege: CNA, LPN, or RN program. Prices range from approx. $500-6,000 depending on degree earned.
DeVryUniversity / 1 term- 4 months =$16,300
2 terms- 8 months = $32,728
3 terms- 12 months= $49,092
Programs range from 3-9 terms / MortonCollege: Automotive Technology, Automotive Service, Alternative Fuels. Prices range from $1000-$3,500 depending upon degree or certificate earned.
The Illinois Institute of Art /
approx. $25,100/yearly
/ UIC, NIU, U of I Urbana, SIU
ArgosyUniversity / $19,000/year / MortonCollege/ UIC/ NEIU
ITT Technical Institute / $16,356/year / MortonCollege: Automotive Technology, Automotive Service, Alternative Fuels. Prices range from $1000-$3,500 depending upon degree or certificate earned.
LincolnCollege of Technology(formally known as Lincoln Technical Institute) / Auto Tech Diploma- $23, 00
Auto Tech Associate’s Degree- $27,000 / MortonCollege: Automotive Technology, Automotive Service, Alternative Fuels. Prices range from $1000-$3,500 depending upon degree or certificate earned.
FoxCollege / $14,680/year / MortonCollege: Office Management Technology ($4,500), Office Data Entry (approx. $600)
Northwestern BusinessCollege / $10,400/year / MortonCollege: Office Management Technology ($4,500), Office Data Entry (approx. $600)

MortonCollege Tuition: $79 per credit hour or approximately $1,200/semester

Triton College (Out-of-District): $270 per credit hour

visit the MortonCounseling page at 1

Option One: Bachelor’s Degree- 4-year college

SENIOR YEAR COLLEGE PLANNING TIMELINE

Senior Year

Fall

Keep working on your grades. Make sure you have taken the courses necessary to graduate in the spring.

Continue to participate in extracurricular and volunteer activities. Demonstrate initiative, creativity, commitment, and leadership in each.

Check resource books, computer programs, and your guidance office (Room 217) for information on scholarships and grants.

Write a personal statement. Have several people proofread it and give you advice.

Give recommendation forms to the teachers you have chosen, along with stamped, self-addressed envelopes so your teachers can send your letter directly to the college(s).

Verify, with your counselor, the schools to which transcripts, test scores, and letters are to be sent. Give your counselor any necessary forms at least two weeks before they are due or whenever your counselor’s deadline is, whichever is earlier.

Register for and re-take the ACT Assessment, if necessary.

Mail or send electronically any college applications for early-decision admission by November 1.

If possible, visit colleges while classes are in session.

Winter

Attend whatever college-preparatory nights are held at your school or by local organizations.

Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). These forms can be at These forms may not be processed before January 1, so don’t send them before then.

Mail or send electronically any remaining applications and financial aid forms before winter break. Make sure you apply to at least one college that you know you can afford and where you know you will be accepted.

Spring

Watch your mail between March 1 and April 1 for acceptance notifications from colleges.

Watch your mail for notification of financial aid awards between April 1 and May 1.

Compare the financial aid packages from the colleges and universities that have accepted you.

Make your final choice, and notify all schools of your intent by May 1. If possible, do not decide without making at least one campus visit. Send your nonrefundable deposit to your chosen school by May 1 as well. Request that your guidance counselor send a final transcript to the college in June.

Be sure that you have received a FAFSA acknowledgment.

Complete follow-up paperwork for the college of your choice (scheduling, financial aid, orientation session, housing arrangements, and other necessary forms).

Summer

Receive the orientation schedule from your college.

Get residence hall assignment from your college.

Obtain course scheduling and cost information from your college.

Congratulations! You are about to begin the greatest adventure of your life. Good luck.

Option One: Bachelor’s Degree- 4-year college

COLLEGE SELECTION HINTS

Career Cruising

College Board

Know How to Go

I’m Going

Get organized

Make sure to:

Plan ahead

Meet all deadlines EARLY. Early is better than late.

Complete and submit applications to three to five colleges.
After meeting with their counselor, students should group application in the following
categories (individual circumstances vary):

a. a "reach" college (wishful hope for admittance)

b. a "probable" college (pretty sure of admittance)

c. a "sure entry" college (clear admittance).

Submit applications at the earliest possible date.

Make a good impression by applying early in the filing period. Early applicants often receive
more attention than applicants just meeting the deadline. As a result, first applicants may have an edge when it comes to admission. Such is especially true of "rolling admission process" colleges. The Morton Guidance Department recommends that all out-of-state public universities'
applications be submitted as early in the fall of senior year as possible, and no later than December 1st.

Take time with your applications.

Make sure they are neat and correct. Always type or print neatly. It is impossible to be too neat
but easy to be careless and make a poor impression. Explain any circumstances affecting your high school performance, why you chose to apply, and clarify your special talents and extracurricular activities if appropriate.

Write a strong essay. Your English teacher will help you write this essay.

Many colleges require an essay as part of the college application. The following are some helpful
suggestions:

a. Begin the rough draft in September; don't wait until the last minute.

b. Seniors are welcome to see their counselors for assistance.

c. Write a rough draft and make corrections for sentence structure, grammar and
punctuation. Your English teacher or counselor might be able to give you some

pointers.

d. Type your final draft, then triple-check to eliminate typographical errors.

Recommendation letters may be required; plan ahead. Ask your teacher or counselor for the Letter Of recommendation Student Information Form.

Request them early! Clarify to whom recommendations should be sent and when they are due. Provide any helpful information such as your activities and anticipated college major. A rushed recommendation may not be in your best interest.

Make sure your college file is complete.

After the application filing period, call or check on-line with the college admission office and ask if any materials are needed to complete your file (scores, transcript, recommendations, etc.).

Take the time to leave a good impression.

If you have made an appointment for a college tour, keep it. If you have had a tour, write and
thank the college admission officer. They do "keep track" of interested students.

Option One: Bachelor’s Degree- 4-year college

2013-14 College/University Deadlines

and Tuition Rates

* Illinois Public College/Universities

COLLEGE / UNIVERSITY / Priority Filing
Deadline / Regular Deadline / Estimated
Tuition Rates
BenedictineUniversity
/ ------NA------/ Rolling Admission / Tuition $25,000
Room & Board $6,000
* ChicagoStateUniversity
/ May 1, 2014 / Rolling Admission / Tuition $11,000
Room & Board $ 8,200
ColumbiaCollege
/ ------NA------/ May 1, 2014 / Tuition $19,200
Room & Board $12,700
ConcordiaUniversity
/ Apply by December 15th and receive a letter by January 1, 2014 / May 1, 2014- applications after that date may be considered / Tuition $26,000
Room & Board $9,000
DePaulUniversity
/ November 15, 2013 / February 1, 2014 / Tuition $32,000-34,000
Room & Board $7000 -10,000
Dominican University
/ February 1st, 2014 for best scholarship opportunities. / Dominican suggests that students apply by March, however, will accept until June 1st / Tuition $28,000
Room & Board $9,000
ElmhurstCollege
/ ------NA------/ June 1, 2014 / Tuition $32,000
Room & Board $9,000
* Eastern IllinoisUniversity
/ November 15, 2013 / Rolling Admission / Tuition $11,000
Room & Board $9,000
Illinois Institute of Technology
/ December 1, 2013- Early Action- is NOT binding / August 1, 2014 / Tuition $37,000
Room & Board $13,000
* IllinoisStateUniversity
/ November 15, 2013 / April 1, 2014 / Tuition $13,000
Room & Board $9,500
LewisUniversity
/ December 1, 2013 / April 15, 2014 / Tuition $26,000
Room & Board $8,000
LoyolaUniversity
/ December 1, 2013 / Rolling Admission / Tuition $34,000
Room & Board $8,000
NorthCentralCollege
/ ------NA------/ Rolling Admission / Tuition $31,000
Room & Board $9,000

Option One: Bachelor’s Degree- 4-year college