College and Career Preparation
 Planning for college can be a very confusing time.  How do you start, where do you start?
Use the this checklist as a reference and the links for resources.

Freshman:

X
	Spoken with your high school guidance counselor to look at college options
	Spoken with family about your college finances
	Think about how you learn (small or large setting…)
	Think about subjects/classes you excel

Sophomore:

X
	Take the pre-ACT "Plan" test
	Start thinking of programs you would like to study

Junior:

X
	Start taking the actual ACT/SAT.  Work with LM to register for exam **A good time to take these tests for the first time is in the spring
	Begin visiting college campuses.  Begin narrowing down all the colleges and universities that you are interest in and choose to visit a few during the spring
	Begin visiting college campuses.  Begin narrowing down all the colleges and universities that you are interest in and choose to visit a few during the spring
	Be aware of the application deadlines for the colleges in which you are interested.  It may be best to begin applying in the spring of your junior year for colleges that have early deadlines
	Good time to begin looking at scholarships or grants

 Senior:

X
	Start applying for colleges in the fall  **Check deadlines
	Visit colleges.  **Some require it for specific majors or scholarships
	Once you have decided on a college to attend ask about registration
	Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) www.fafsa.ed.gov ** Contact colleges that you are interested in to find out specific deadlines for financial aid

 
Career/College Information

         ●  College/Career Resource Room
                Located in the Community Resource area of Wolf Creek; students are welcome to search through college
                information, career exploration guides, and financial aid resources.

           ● Summer Opportunities

         ● College Information

Useful Links:

• College and career planning Minnesota Career Information System (MCIS) is a great website that allows you to create a profile and save information (such as your volunteer time, hobbies, etc.) which you can then print out for college applications. The site also allows you to search all kinds of colleges and careers. You will create your own username and password.  If you have any questions, please contact Stacy.      
  MCIS Account information:   http://mncis.intocareers.org   username: wcreek   password: success
   
• ACT Information    www.actstudent.org
  
  TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School Code is: 241-342
  
  Attention Juniors and Seniors!
  It is time to start talking about and planning for college. This includes signing up for the ACT.  The ACT is an entrance exam that is needed in order to be accepted into a college or university.  You will be tested on math, reading, English, and science reasoning with the option to also take a writing component.

  To sign up, go to www.ACT.org and follow the directions to sign up for the test.  Please review the chart below for testing and registration dates.

  Test Date	Registration Deadline	(Late Fee Required)
  September 11, 2010*	August 6, 2010	August 7 – 20, 2010
  October 23, 2010	September 17, 2010	September 18 – October 1, 2010
  December 11, 2010	November 5, 2010	November 6 – 19, 2010
  February 12, 2011**	January 7, 2011	January 8 – 21, 2011
  April 9, 2011	March 4, 2011	March 5 – 18, 2011
  June 11, 2011	May 6, 2011	May 7 – 20, 2011

   

• ACT Newsletters "News You Can Use," free monthly newsletters: http://www.act.org/news/use/index.html
   

• Scholarship Information List of local, state, and national scholarship
   

• First generation college entrants http://www.firstinthefamily.org/index.html
   

• Access to Free Financial Aid information online (FAFSA): http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/