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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1989)
Page 6 PLANNING AHEAD FOR HIGHER EDUCATION The Grand Ronde Tribal Education Department recently sponsored a higher education and career awareness day. The following information was pre sented by the participating college representatives. CHOOSING A COLLEGE TO MEET YOUR NEEDS Did you know there are more than 3,000 colleges and universities in this country from which to choose to continue your education? While it's great having so many options, it can also be overwhelming when you're trying to find the school best suited for you. A good fit between your needs and the offerings of a college is very important. By doing your homework on colleges and finding the one that comes closest to meeting your educational needs, you can increase your chances of success even before you start classes. First, set aside any preconceived notions you might have about college. Then list all the things you want from a college. Include on this list characteristics such as size, location, public or private, coed or not, majors course offerings, special academic programs (honors, study abroad, etc.), special services (minority, disabled, tutorial), extra-curricular activities, cost, admission standards, and so on. Talk to your high school counselor and your parents. Visit your school or public library to identify all the possible schools that offer what you want. Write directly to the admissions office of each college identified to obtain information about that school. Carefully review all the information you receive from the schools. Based on this review, narrow your list to a select group of schools. Visit the colleges you have selected so you can get first hand information. It's best to call ahead and ask for a campus tour and for appointments with an admissions counselor and a faculty member in your field of interest. Visits to more than one school will give you a good basis for comparison. Include public as well as private, and large schools as well as smaller ones. Once you have completed these five steps, you will have narrowed your options considerably. And when you make your final decision, it will be one in which you can be confident. -From the Wolfgram, published by the Western Oregon State College Admissions Office. HIGHER EDUCATION PLANNING A) COLLECT INFORMATION: Inquire about cost and application process by writing various institutions or seeing your high school counselor. You should begin r II' ' I i.; j I r I? ' J f XL Av ,0M tJ? j i i I i I I ) X y.xv-- if-: :::: 0 -t m9 'AS fv Some of the participants at the Career Awareness Day include: (L - R) Franciso Garcia, Chemeketa Community College; tribal member Tom McKnight; Chava Kroner, Western Oregon State College; tribal member Trevor Aaron; Betty Jean Valdez, Western Oregon State College; tribal member Angie Leno; Grand Ronde Education Specialist, Dean Azule and Joan Jackson, Eastern Oregon State College. you planning one year prior to the date you want to enter college. B) REQUEST FORMSAPPLICATIONS 1 - 6: The college admissions office, high school counselors and Indian education programs can assist you in obtaining the following when you make your college choice: 1) Financial Aid Form (FAF) - Complete and send to: Scholarship Service, Box 24630, Oakland, CA 94623. (Parental income may be estimated.) Complete as soon -as possible after January 1st. 2) TribalBIA Scholarship Application - (Complete and send to proper funding agency. Contact Tribal Educa tion Program for application deadlines. 3) TribalBIA Needs Analysis - Send to college Finan cial Aid Office (Form is included in scholarship packet). 4) Minority Tuition and Fee Award Application -Complete and send back to college Admission Office. Contact High School counselor for application dead lines. 5) College Application Form If applying before graduation, your high school counselor must complete HIGH SCHOOL CERTIFICATION portion on back of form. 6) Housing Application - To be completed and returned to the college if you plan to use campus housing. To be assured of housing, you should complete this application by March 1st, prior to the fall term you plan to attend. C) HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS: To be sent with college application for those applying before graduation and again after graduation, or when term is complete. D) LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE FROM COLLEGE: Send copy to TribalBIA funding agency as SOON AS RECEIVED. E) STUDENT AID REPORT (SAR.): Sent to you from the College Scholarship Service. This must be signed by you and sent to the Financial Aid Office of the college you plan to attend, AS SOON AS RECEIVED. F) FINANCIAL AID OFFER FROM COLLEGE: To be signed by you and returned to Financial Aid Office, AS SOON AS RECEIVED. -Prepared by the Native American Program, Eastern Oregon State College. FINANCIAL AID TIPS 1) Establish what the costs of attendance are at the school which you have selected. 2) Identify possible sources of financial assistance which may be available. A. federal government B. state scholarship agency C. school you plan to attend ( D. high school you are currently attending
