Test Review Info:  Assistance League of Omaha

ACT Review Course

Basic Review Course

Date:   Dec. 4,5, and 6.

Cost:  $30 call 342-4288 to register.

Time: 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

ACT/SAT Testing Information

The ACT is a college entrance test primarily used by colleges in the Midwest (although many colleges nationwide do accept it).

Test DateRegistration Deadline

Dec. 8Stand-by registration now

Feb. 9January 4

April 12March 7

June 14May 2

Registration packets are available in the Guidance Office OR students may register online at www.actstudent.org

Cost:  $30.

It is recommended that students take the ACT or SAT in the spring of their junior year and again as seniors.

GHS SCHOOL CODE  IS 280-985.

The SAT is a college entrance test used by colleges on the East and West Coast.

Test DateRegistration Deadline

Dec. 1Stand-by registration only    Jan. 26Dec. 26

March 1Jan. 29

May 3April 1

June 7May 6

Registration packets are available in the Guidance Office or students may register online at www.collegeboard.com

Cost: $43.00.

College Events

Visits to Gretna:

Dec. 3rd Marines

Dec. 4th Southeast CC/Lincoln

Dec. 6th Air Force

Dec. 12th Navy

Dec. 20th Army

On-Campus:

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Red Letter Days

Register online @ admissions.unl.edu

Various dates throughout the year for different majors.  Check web site for dates and more information.

UNO Open Houses: Feb. 18, April 7.  Register at www.BEaMAV.com or call 554-MAV1. Peter Kiewit Institute Open House February 23.

Morningside College Fall Visit Days

Register online @ www.morningside.edu

SoutheastCommunityCollege – Campus Discovery Days at Beatrice, Milford and Lincoln. November 30, January 18, February 22.

Doane College – Discover Doane Days More information at www.doane.edu/visit or call 800-333-6263.

Northeast Community College, Norfolk, NE: Explore NE CC Days  Dec. 4, Jan. 23, Feb. 5, March 6, March 26, April 8, April 23. For more information, call (402)844-7280.

Kansas State University: call 800-432-8270 or email sherlock@k-state.edu.

Iowa Western Community College: Health and Science Day: February 8th, 2008.  Call 712-325-3277 for more info.

University of Kansas: Call 785-864-3622 to set up a visit. College of Engineering has visit opportunities for girls in Feb., 2008.

Dordt College, Sioux Center, IA: Campus Visit Days. General Visit Days Dec. 7. Or Jan. 25 (Music Audition Day), Feb. 15. Call 800-343-6738.

Columbia College (MO) College Preview Days: Monday, Feb. 18 and March 15. Call Admissions at 800-231-2391.

South Dakota School of Mines Call 877-877-6044 or www.GoToMines.com.

University of Colorado-Boulder Be a CU Student For A Day. Call 303-492-6301.

Wayne State College Senior Fridays @WSC and Juniors on March 15.

Countdown to College Call-In Show airs December 11

Get expert advice on college planning, admissions and financial aid during the ninth annual Countdown to College Call-in program Tuesday, December 11 at 7:00 pm on NET Television.

During this one-hour program, college-planning experts will answer viewers’ questions on the air. You can submit questions now or the evening of the show by calling 800-666-3721 or e-mailing them to countdown@educationquest.org. You’ll receive an answer on the air or via e-mail. 

If you miss the show December 11, watch for a rebroadcast on NET Thursday, December 20 at 10 pm.

The show will also be rebroadcast on NET2:

Friday, December 14 at 9 pm

Saturday, December 15 at 7 am

Sunday, December 23 at 10 am

Attend a Financial Aid Program to learn how to pay for college

EducationQuest is conducting statewide financial aid programs that explain the types of financial aid, how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), how colleges award financial aid and the student loan process. The programs are free and open to the public. Make plans to attend Gretna’s financial planning night on January 10, 2008 at 7pm.

Seniors…have you submitted your college applications?

If you haven’t submitted your admission applications yet, it’s time to get serious! Contact your top college choices to determine application deadlines and procedures. Ask if the admission application is also the application for college-based scholarships. If not, ask about the scholarship application process.

How to estimate your FAFSA results

After January 1st you will complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Colleges will use your FAFSA results to determine how much they will award you in financial aid.

To estimate your financial aid package; use the College Funding Estimator at www.educationquest.org. The FAFSA will ask for 2007 income tax info. You may estimate your tax information to complete the estimator, but are required to use your com-pleted 2007 tax return for the actual FAFSA.  

Winning the scholarship game

Follow these tips to increase your chances of earning scholarships:

Don’t pay for scholarship searches. Free scholarship search sites are available on the Internet including ScholarshipQuest at www.educationquest.org, which has over 1,600 state and local awards.

Visit your guidance counselor weekly for information about local scholarships.

Get organized. Place scholarship applications in deadline order and prioritize each award. Local awards and college-specific applications deserve top priority because you're more likely to earn them.

Continually update your activities, honors, and volunteer or paid jobs using the Activities Resume at www.educationquest.org.

Earn the best possible ACT/SAT scores by taking the exam in the spring of your junior year and again in the fall of your senior year.

Use quality references such as a teacher, coach or counselor. Encourage them to write specific examples of your leadership skills. Give them advance notice and a specific deadline.

Get an early start on essays. Describe your interests, hopes for the future and leadership abilities.

Pay close attention to grammar, spelling and neatness. Ask at least two people to proofread your application.

December “To Do” List

Complete these tasks during December to stay on the right college planning track.

Seniors:

__ Watch the Countdown to College Call-In      Show December 11 on NET.

__ Submit college applications.

__ Estimate FAFSA results using the College Funding Estimator at www.educationquest.org.

__ Attend the Financial Aid Program at GHS  on Jan. 10th with your parents.

__ Continue to apply for scholarships.

__ Make a FAFSA appointment at EducationQuest if you need help with the form. Complete the FAFSA online and get your results two weeks faster.

__Apply online at www.pin.ed.gov for your Personal Identification Number (PIN). The PIN simplifies the FAFSA application process and allows you to get your results faster.

Juniors

__ Watch the Countdown to College Call-In Show December 11 on NET.

__ Attend the Financial Aid Program on Jan. 10th at GHS with your parents.

__ Research college choices.

__ Search for scholarships.

__ Register by Dec. 26 for the Jan. 26 SAT.

__ Register by Jan. 4 for the Feb. 9 ACT.

For free help with college planning, contact EducationQuest Foundation:

Omaha

402-391-4033

888-357-6300

www.educationquest.org

This information is provided by EducationQuest Foundation, a private, nonprofit organization with a mission to improve access to higher education in Nebraska.

Career Information

Need more information on different careers? Check out necis.intocareers.org with the username: 07grtnahs and the password is H0127 (password is case sensitive.).

Nebraska Career Connections www.nebraskacareerconnections.org School access code: 11536 Password: dragons School Zip code: 68028. See a counselor for your personalized user name and assessment batch codes.

Mid-Term Graduation

Any senior who wishes to graduate mid-term must adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Complete and turn in an “Intent to Graduate at Mid-Term Form” by September 15 of this year.  Forms are available in the guidance office.
2. Upon a credit check to see that mid-term graduation is possible, a letter and parent approval form will be sent to the student and his/her parents to confirm the intent of mid-term graduation.
3. Parents must sign and return the approval form to the guidance office by Dec. 1, 2007.
4. Mid-term graduates are allowed to go to prom, but may not participate in any other school activities after mid-term graduation.  They are allowed to participate in graduation exercises on May 18, 2008, as there is not a formal mid-term graduation ceremony.

Opportunities of interest

Senior Picture Submission Deadline:

Seniors must have their senior pictures submitted to Mrs. Hestermann by January 2, 2008.

Registered for  the Selective Service?  All men must register within 30 days of their 18th birthday. The selective service also accepts early registration submissions from men 17 years and 3 months old. Pick up a registration card at the post office or go to www.sss.gov

Hunter Safety Course offered Nov. 27-30 at Gretna Thomas Elementary. Register by calling the Aksarben Aquarium at 332-3901.

Join the Theatre Arts Guild of Omaha and let your talent shine. Visit www.myspace.com/tagomaha or www.theatreartsguild.com

The Nebraska National Guard is offering an exciting and unique way to become a Commissioned Officer. Check out www.unk.edu/GOLD for information about the Guard Officer Leadership Development Program.

Become involved in “Exploring the Night?”  For $30 you will travel by bus all over Omaha with the Mid-America Council exploring careers in the Metro area. Call Suzie at 431-9272. Applications avaiable in the Guidance office.

***UNL scholarship application deadline is Jan. 15, 2008***

Need to contact us?

Last names A-Ma:  Mrs. O’Neill aoneill@esu3.org

Last names Mc-Z:  Ms. Carraher ccarraher@esu3.org

Transcript requests: Mrs. Doolittle cdoolittle@esu3.org

***Turn in notification of scholarships to Mrs. O’Neill. This allows us to announce your awards at Honors Night and in the local newspapers!***