Senior Cues From the Counselor

Eighth Edition 2007-08

This issue of “Senior Cues” provides information on many important items: college representatives visiting Madison, college information meetings off-campus, test registration deadlines, and scholarship information. Please read the “Senior Cues” on the Madison website (Guidance & Counseling). Other sources of information include the senior announcements, the Senior Bulletin Board located just outside the Counseling Office, the display case in the main foyer, senior notebooks in English, Government and Economic classrooms and the Counseling Office.

Opportunities at Madison

Representatives from the following schools will be in the Career Center. Students must sign up in advance in the Counseling Office to obtain a pass.

Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to noon-Marcus Springer (San Antonio Education Partnership Representative)

April 4th from 8:45 to 11 a.m. - Julie Engel (Alamo Community College District Representative)

Thursday, April 24^th from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. - Alamo Community College District Advisement/Registration - (for students interested in SAC, St. Philip’s, Lake View, Palo Alto, or Northwest Vista)

*Please bring college or university acceptance letters to the Counseling Office.

*Please bring scholarship awards, whether accepting or not, to the Counseling Office. Awards will be announced at the Senior Honors Program and will be published in the Graduation Program.

Date	Off-Campus Opportunities	Registration Information
April 5 - April 26	SAT Prep Course at Our Lady of the Lake, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.$170,	(210)287-1898
April 4,5	Texas State Technical College, Waco -College Preview and Open House	(800)792-8784 or waco.tstc.edu
April 5	UTSA Spring Fling	210)458-5142 or www.utsa.edu/visitor
April 12	Youth Rules Rally and Job Fair sponsored by U.S. Dept. of Labor from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Alamodome	512-472-5040 ext. 239 Registration form available at Counseling Office front desk
April 18	State Farm Youth Advisory Board, opportunity to voice how grants are distributed across the nation	http://www.sfyab.com/apply.php
June 27 & July 25	Spend the Day with the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets program -opportunity to learn about the Corps of Cadets, admissions, etc.	www.AggieCorps.org
ongoing	Worcester Polytechnic Institute campus tours	admissions.wpi.edu
ongoing	University of Houston Cougar Fridays	www.uh.edu/cougarfridays
ongoing	University of Houston Campus Tours	www.uh.edu/admissions/campustour
ongoing	UTSA campus visits - for information on campus daily walk-in tours contact Visitor Center	(210) 458-5142
Date	Off-Campus Opportunities	Registration Information
ongoing	Shreiner University campus visits	(800) 343-4919 or www.schreiner.edu

2007-2008 SAT Test Dates

2007-08 Test Dates	Test	U.S. Registration Deadlines*
		Regular	Late (a fee applies)
May 3, 2008	SAT & Subject Tests	April 1, 2008	April 10, 2008
June 7, 2008	SAT & Subject Tests	May 6, 2008	May 15, 2008

Register at www.collegeboard.com

* Available test site at Madison High School

2007-2008 ACT Test Dates

Test Date	Registration Deadline	(Late Fee Required)
April 12, 2008	March 7, 2008	March 8–21, 2008
June 14, 2008	May 9, 2008	May 10–23, 2008

Register at www.act.org

2007-2008 THEA Test Dates

Test Date	Regular Registration Deadline	Late Registration Deadline (additional fee applies)
April 19, 2008	March 21, 2008	April 9, 2008
June 21, 2008	May 23, 2008	June 11, 2008
July 26, 2008	June 27, 2008	July 16, 2008

Register at www.thea.nesinc.com Madison High School Code: 446-154

Important Things to Remember All Year:

• Authorization for Release of Student Records must be turned in and kept on file with Mrs. Salinas in the Counseling Office in order for transcripts to be mailed or released to colleges, scholarship entities, military recruiters, and others.

• All official transcripts must be mailed directly by the Madison Counseling Office to the indicated destination. No one may hand-carry an official transcript. Make sure to allow at least 5 working days for processing.

• White Senior Information Form must be kept on file in the Counseling Office. This form serves as the key (next to your resumé) to help counselors and teachers become acquainted with you, especially for scholarship consideration.
• Athletes must file NCAA forms online at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net or see Mrs. Welsh, Registrar, in the Counseling Office if you have specific questions.

• Register to take the SAT and/or ACT early in the senior year; otherwise, risk losing candidacy for scholarships.

• Register to take the THEA your senior year or make sure you meet exemption criteria; you will need this to enter a Texas public college or university.

• Senior males must register with Selective Service within 30 days of their eighteenth birthday. Students may register online at www.sss.gov or at the local post office.

• Remember to turn in all college admission or scholarship applications at least one week before the deadline in order to facilitate processing and mailing.

• Please adhere to the Counseling Office deadlines on all scholarship applications to insure timely processing.

Military Dependents:

Students who are military dependents are eligible for free test prep software provided by NFL football players. For more information, visit www.militarychild.org

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - complete application to determine eligibility for financial aid, which includes grants, work-study, scholarships, and loans. Apply online at www.fafsa.edu.gov, application available Jan. 1^st.

Texas Success Initiative Exemptions (TSI):

• TAKS (exit-level) - 2200 in math and/or 2200 in English/Language Arts (ELA) with a writing subscore of at least 3

• SAT - a combined score of 1070 with a 500 on the math and/or verbal sections

• ACT - a composite score of 23 with a 19 on the math and/or English sections

For more information visit: http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/OS/SuccessInitiatives/DevEd/exemptions.cfm

Important local contacts:

Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation Student Aid Center - (210) 525-8494 - 1250 N.E. Loop 410, # 810

Texas A&M Prospective Student Center - (210) 212-7016 - 40 N.E. Loop 410
Texas Tech University SA Office -(210) 614-7576 -4319 Medical Dr  78229

University of Texas at Austin Prospective Student Center - (210) 562-4665 - 1123 N. Main Ave. Suite 200

Helpful Websites:

SchoolSoup.com - college search and scholarships

www.fastweb.com - scholarships

www.collegefortexans.com -college preparation, career planning

www.tamu.edu - Texas A & M admissions, financial aid information

www.bealonghorn.utexas.edu - University of Texas information for prospective students www.ncaaclearinghouse.net - senior athletes planning to participate in college sports www.collegeconfidential.com - chat live with reps from colleges about campuses,

majors, financial aid, etc.