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Author Archives: Lauren
FASFA, Grants, The KEES Program
And Financial Aid
FASFA, Grants, the KEES program and financial aid are all terms I am familiarizing myself with this year as I continue my journey toward college. Since this is my senior year, the pressure is on to really execute plans and see results. My course load, along with work and other activities, are on my priority list, but my key is to get everything organized before I do something drastic. I have three basic categories that are now being subcategorized: Scholarships, College Applications and my personal college journal are the three major components to my organization strategy. Not only must I do my part in preparation for college but I also must remember those teachers that have really mentored me throughout the past three years, getting good letters of recommendation needs time and a trustworthy person to do them.
Scholarships are a giant support in helping with college funding. The first week of school all seniors were sent home with a bright yellow sheet of paper with all of the terms that a senior in high school must know if they are planning to attend college. My mom and I sat down that weekend and went over everything making sure I was on par with the college lingo. I knew most of the terms, however, a refresher is always a good way to get me focused for the task ahead. Knowing that I need a few points higher on the ACT, I’ve enrolled to take it again September 8th. This will help boost my resume for applications to colleges. Making sure I’m organized with essays and scholarship opportunities is my key for the next couple of months. I have recently signed up for the web mail list and the free text service provided by our guidance counselors. Every text will be received and every scholarship, if possible, will be acted upon.
Recommendations are a key for colleges to know that I’m truly a credible student, therefore by starting to ask teachers now as opposed to later, I can almost guarantee quality work. I am applying through the common application which is a website where I can fill out one application that will be distributed to multiple colleges that accept the common application. The University of Kentucky and Transylvania are two that accept The Common Application which benefits me greatly.
Essays, essays, and more essays. When will it ever end? There are essays for government, essays for Literature, essays for jobs, and essays for college. So looking at the amount of writing embedded into all aspects of my life, I am at the conclusion that writing is pretty important, right? Well as of last week that realization had finally sunk in. I was reading The College Application Essay written by College Board and discovered that writing an application account for one third of the weight of your acceptance. That is a LOT. Though I dread writing an essay just about everyday, I’m kind of thankful for it as well. The practice has helped me subside any fears I have about my writing. I can better take criticisms and move on to improve my writing style.
KEES money is one of the greatest programs Kentucky has for aspiring seniors. For every GPA there is a set amount the state offers to students. So let’s say I have a high ACT score and a 4.0 GPA I can get up to $2,700 in scholarship money per year alone just for having good grades and trying hard. There’s no competition, the money stays as long as I keep up the work in college.
Posted in Lauren, Student Bloggers
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Senior Year Lineup: AP classes & ROTC
Blog finalist Lauren is excited about the challenges in front of her as she’s quickly approaching her senior year!
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It’s that time of year, the scent of new notebooks, the first day greetings of my friends dressed in the latest fashions, and the weight of heavy books as they’re issued to the eager senior class of 2013. On the surface, it’s the start to a new school year, but underneath feelings of anxiety arise due to the many life changing decisions that are fast approaching. With the right support and a few key decisions, I know I can subside the anxiety and ensure success for a jam packed senior year.
This next year will be a challenge for me. I am enrolled for AP Calculus, AP Literature, AP Government and ROTC. I believe that a taxing course will not only give me an edge on applications, but that it will also keep my mind sharp and college ready. This year I plan to may my guidance counselor my best friend; I’ll be in the guidance office weekly asking for scholarship opportunities, recommendations, and degree based information.
Beyond the ‘home front college preparation process,’ there’s what I like to call “the college hunt.” This is the college visits part of the search. Before visiting colleges it is helpful to know the benefits your state offers. My home state, Kentucky, has a bunch of awesome programs like KEES which can add up to some serious cash, which along with the natural beauty and the closeness to home makes me lean towards staying in state. Within state schools I am looking for factors such as, degree programs that are offered, small student to faculty ratio, and an overall high-quality reputation. I also keep in mind that the best school for me caters to my needs. Advice from others is a good guide, but only I know what is best for myself.
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Name: Lauren Wood
Current School Attending: Shelby County High School
Anticipated College Major: Political Science and Pre-law
Hometown: Shelbyville
State: Kentucky
About Lauren: Hey, my name is Lauren, I’m a fun loving, hard working high school student. I enjoy making a learning experience with every opportunity I can get; whether it’s hands on in a work environment, at school with my peers, or through a practical situation in life. My passion is fitness, it’s my escape form the world, my ever developing discipline, and a thank you to my body’s endless capabilities. Though exercising is one of my favorite pass times, my future is heading me more in the direction of Political Science and Law. I have taken a predilection to American History and Law, which has ultimately paved the way to my career path.
Posted in Lauren, Student Bloggers
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