The Oregon Writing Project is offering its annual College Essay Writing workshop. Here are the details:
Session 1 Lincoln High School, June 17 – 21, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (noon)
Session 2 Lincoln High School, June 24 – 28, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (noon)

Session 3 Wilson High School, June 24 – 28, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (noon)
 
Welcome, incoming seniors! 
Applying for college or a scholarship in the fall? Interested in developing the skills you need to write a college essay that stands out from the crowd? Why not get a head start and sign up for Writing the College Essay, a week-long summer workshop, where you will 

• Read and analyze college and scholarship essays that rock.
• Perfect your personal style.
• Write sentences that sizzle. 
• Draft, revise, edit, and share a college essay that will get you noticed.

At the end of the week you will have revised drafts of two college essays. Each college essay section will be kept smaller (14-16) in order to provide more individual guidance and feedback.
Cost:  $175
Free or reduced lunch students with school verification:  $100

For registration or more information contact: phooten@lclark.edu or call 503-768-6132

It is very expensive to send ACT or SAT test scores to all the colleges to which you are applying. The good news is that many colleges are accepting self-reported test scores. This means that you can report your scores in a variety of ways that do not cost money. Some colleges will accept the scores you enter on your application. Others will accept scores sent by your school counselor. Others will accept screenshots. The school you decide to attend will require your official scores when you deposit on or before May 1. Be sure to self-report your scores carefully; if you report the wrong scores, schools can revoke your admission for dishonesty. If the school you are applying to is not on this list, contact the admissions officer who serves your area of the country and ask if they will accept self-reported scores.

Students who took the ACT or SAT with a fee waiver are able to send free score reports. There may still be a glitch for low-income students who only took the ACT once, on a school day administration when the school paid for the test. I have heard they are working on finding a solution for this anomaly.

Remember: if you are on free or reduced price lunch or meet other eligibility requirements, please use a fee waiver. It can simplify some other parts of the college application process.

Transitioning to College
 
Add all of the scholarships you won to your resume under the Awards section. Having awards makes you more likely to win other awards. Check for scholarships at college. Tell your advisors and professors that you are looking for scholarships to reduce your loan burden. Some clubs, majors, etc. offer scholarships.
 
Log in to your college portal at least once a week. Pay close attention to deadlines and required tasks.
 
Find out how to apply for work-study jobs. Update your resume.
 
Find the cheapest way to get books. Make sure you have the ISBN number and the correct edition.
Worldcat.com: check out book from library;have books shipped to college library.
Some libraries have books on reserve that you can use for 2 hours in the library.
Ihatetextbooks.com
Amazon
Renting textbooks: campusbookrentals.com
Cheapesttextbooks.com
Buy Used copies: eCampus.com
Use a digital or online copy: ebooks.com
Check with your professor to see if she/he has an extra copy you can borrow.
 
If you will take out a loan, you will need to do online loan counseling this summer. It is somewhat confusing. You will have to estimate what you will make when you graduate ($40,000 is a safe amount to use) and you will need to use the exact numbers on your financial aid award, even if you disagree with them.
 
Read this New York Times article with current college students’ advice for new college students. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/education/edlife/advice-for-new-students-from-those-who-know-old-students.html
 
You will probably need extra-long twin sheets for you dorm bed. Check with your college.
 
Open a credit union or bank account if you do not yet have one. Credit unions are usually cheaper (free) and have no fees. Debit cards are helpful, but be careful not to withdraw money you don’t have; there is a big fee for that. Credit cards can be dangerous unless you are a very disciplined person. They do help you build a credit history. If you can buy one small thing a month and pay the bill off before it is due. Late payments are very expensive. If you think you might use a credit card to buy items you can’t afford, please do not get one. Credit card debt is expensive and not fun. Here is a cool website: https://moneysmarts.iu.edu/get-money-smart/index.html

Get your vaccinations! Go to your doctor and get vaccinations required by your college.
 
Have fun exploring your college’s website. Find out about all the cool programs you might like, hidden away on a web page.
 
Check out professor reviews on Rate my Professor.

Even if you’re going to a college where you know someone, room with a stranger. You don’t want to lose a friend, just because you are neat and they are messy or you have different study habits.
 
Practice doing laundry, if you don’t do it regularly.
 
 
 

 WRITING THE COLLEGE ESSAY 
Welcome, Incoming Seniors! 
Applying for college or a scholarship in the fall? 
Interested in developing the skills you need to write a college essay that stands out from the crowd? 
Get a head start and sign up for Writing the College Essay, a week-long summer workshop. 
At the end of the week, you will have revised drafts of two college essays. 
Read and analyze college and scholarship essays that rock 
Perfect your personal style 
Write sentences that sizzle 
Draft, revise, edit, and share a college essay that will get you noticed 


/////////////////////////////////////////////////////
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR 
Chris Hawking currently teaches at Grant High School. Recently he taught IB and language arts at Rex Putnam High School as well as a college creative non-fiction class. 
He also served as a North Clackamas School District instructional equity coach. Chris is an Oregon Writing Project literacy coach. 
These sections will be kept smaller (14-16) in order to provide more individual guidance. 
WORKSHOP INFORMATION 
2018 DATES Session 1: June 18-22, 9 a.m.–noon 
Session 2: June 25-29, 8:30-11:30 a.m. 
COST $175, $100 for free/reduced lunch (verified by school) 
LOCATION TBA eastside Portland High School 
///////////////////////////////////////////////// 
“I was extremely thankful to have a solid start to my essay going into the college application season. I applied to ten schools and was accepted into seven initially.” - 2 0 1 5 P a r t i c i p a n t 
“Thanks so much for teaching my son! I loved the essays he wrote and was really surprised by the fishing one. I will absolutely recommend the program.” - P a rent o f 2 0 1 6 P a r t i c i p a n t 
See reverse for registration form 
OREGON WRITING PROJECT 
at Lewis & Clark College 
SUMMER PROGRAMS IN PORTLAND

For registration form, contact:Email: phooten@lclark.edu Fax: 503-768-6045
Questions? Please call Pam Hooten, OWP Program Assistant, at 503-768-6132

Here is a blog post that illuminates course selection in college. This is the most important part of your college application. Concord Monitor

If you don't think college is for you, you might consider apprenticeships in the Trades. The Trades include fields like auto mechanics, HVAC(heating, ventilation and air-conditioning),plumbing, electrical, and construction. Many people go through the typically five year process to becoming a journeyman (sic) by working with the unions affiliated with that particular field. The journeyman title indicates competency and licensure in the field. Often, you are paid at half the journeyman rate of pay while you are studying. Your wage increases as you have more experience. These jobs generally pay a living wage and attract people who prefer to work with their hands and who are great problems-solvers. It's difficult to get into a journeyman position immediately out of high school. Programs are looking for students with a great work ethic and some work experience to prove it. They also like to see that you have done some work activities that demonstrate that you have some aptitude for and enjoyment of the work involved. Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. Start your own neighborhood landscaping business. Get a job anywhere and ask to help in tasks like re-arranging shelving, or assisting an electrician or carpenter. For some of these programs, the application procedure is just as challenging as the college application process. It is worth taking your time to make sure you have taken care of all the needed details, and have had someone review your work. You need to know how to communicate well in writing and speaking in virtually all fields.

In the Portland area, Portland, Mt. Hood and Clackamas Community Colleges have some classes that also help prepare students to enter these fields. Check out Career Pathways. Oregon Tradeswomen has been supporting women in entering these non-traditional fields for more than twenty years. Check out the Oregon Apprenticeship website.

Here is a great article by an experienced college counselor about who benefits most from the college application process. In my experience, many of my students become overwhelmed by all the essential details in the process, including the financial aid process, particularly in applying to private schools requesting additional documents. Students who do not have parents or counselors who can take the time to help with confusing details or help make sure all questions are answered when calling a college, are at a distinct disadvantage. Many give up. Be persistent. Make sure all your questions are answered. You deserve it! Here's the article: Privilege.

Now that seniors who have applied early have received college admission decisions, it's time for juniors to start considering whether that is a good idea.

Early decision (ED) is binding; you must attend any college that accepts your ED application.If you want to compare financial aid awards, ED is not the application pathway for you except under limited circumstances. Early Action (EA) is not binding. You can apply early and get notified earlier about whether you have been admitted. EA is great if you have completed everything early, talked to your teachers and counselor in September or early October about getting recommendations. It is not good to hastily write an essay, just to apply early. Submitting a sloppy application is not going to help you be admitted or enhance your financial aid award even if you are admitted. EA allows you to wait to decide what college to attend until you have all your financial aid awards, so you can compare your costs. There are six schools that I know who offer Restricted Early Action (REA): Georgetown, Harvard, Notre Dame, Princeton, Stanford and Yale. Please read their websites carefully. Generally, you can not apply to another school ED if you are applying to their school REA. They also sometimes restrict other EA applications.

For more information about EA and ED, listen to this 15 minute audio with two very experienced and knowlegeable counselors: ​www.scpr.org/programs/airtalk/2016/12/22/53975/congratulations-on-your-acceptance-we-debate-early/

Beginning this year, the financial aid calendar has changed. Students and families are able to file their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in October using 2015 tax forms. This is very helpful because families can use the actual income amounts reported to the IRS on their 2015 taxes. In the past, families would have had to estimate their 2016 taxes in January and then go back in and make corrections. It is especially helpful, if you can link your FAFSA and your tax forms using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. This option comes up on the FAFSA form. If you can use it, it allows you to verify the accuracy of your FAFSA so that you are less likely to have to produce copies of your tax forms or a tax transcript to prove that you are telling the truth. If seniors have not yet completed the FAFSA, please do it soon, certainly before the end of January. Also, check the Financial Aid pages of the colleges to which you applied. Many require extra documentation. Some (mostly private) colleges require the CSS Profile and perhaps even a third financial aid form. READ YOUR EMAIL. Colleges will send reminders if you are missing something. If you miss a deadline, you will not get the money you deserve.

See my post from last January about applying for financial aid. All financial aid documents should be completed by January 30 for best consideration. Also, check the financial aid web page for each college to which you will apply. Many schools require a school-specific form in addition to the FAFSA and the CSS Profile. Failure to complete all forms means thousands of dollars less in financial assistance.