This guidebook is intended for Oregon High School students preparing for college admissions and financial aid applicatons

1. Senior College Plans and To-Do’s
Hyperdoc Guidebook
OSU Open Campus and Juntos Program
By: José R. García
2018-2019

2. 1
Table of Contents
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………2
Getting Started…………………………………………………………..…………………...…3
SAT & ACT Exams
College Admissions
Financial Aid and Scholarships
FAFSA/ORSAA
OSAC
Oregon Promise
Institutional Grants & Scholarships (from colleges)
Private Scholarships (from business, non-profits, foundations, etc.)
Student Loans
Additional Resources

3. 2
Introduction
Hello! Welcome to your “Senior College Plans and To-Do’s Hyperdoc
Guidebook.” The purpose of this guidebook is to help you navigate the college
admissions process, including admission exams, and financial aid. In addition to helping
you learn up on the various aspects of applying for college, this guidebook should help
you organize yourself.
Now, you might be wondering what a “Hyperdoc” is.. Well, it’s a digital document
that contains live links to other files. You may have a paper copy of this guidebook,
which is why you will also see TinyUrl addresses that you can type into a browser to get
to the intended files that will help you along this process.
If at any point of the college admissions process you have any questions or need
help, feel free to contact me at jose.garcia@oregonstate.edu.
Onward!

4. 3
Getting Started
In order to get started I would like for you to take the time to develop a sort of
student profile for yourself. It would be best that you be layout what your academic
goals in regards to college, what your GPA is currently and what you’d like to be by the
time you apply for college, and what clubs, sports, community service and other extra-
curricular activities you have been involved in throughout high school.
First let’s start by looking at some of the main types of college options which are
community college, public university, and private university and what they require:
FOR FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS
Requirement
Community
College in Oregon
4-Year Public University in
Oregon
4-Year Independent, Not-for-Profit
University in Oregon
High School Diploma or
GED
✓ ✓ ✓
Minimum High School GPA 2.75-3.00 varies
High School Courses C- or better in all core classes
A's and B's in rigorous courses for
selective colleges
English 4 credits 4 credits 4 credits
Math
3 credits (Algebra I
and above)
3 credits (Algebra I and above) 3+ credits (Algebra I and above)
Science 3 credits (2 labs) 3 credits (2 labs) 3+ credits
Social Science 3 credits 3 credits 3+ credits
Second Language 2 credits 3+ credits
SAT or ACT may be required may be required
Personal Essay may be required may be required
Letter(s) of
Recommendation
may be required

5. 4
S.M.A.R.T. Goals
Specific – Who? What? Where? When? Why? Which?
Measurable – How will you measure progress? From… To…
Achievable/Attainable – Are you challenged yet realistic? How so? Plan of action:
Relevant – Is this goal worthwhile to you? Why is it important? How much of a priority
are you willing to make it?
Time-bound – Deadlines, progress markers, timeframe, sense of urgency, etc.

6. 5
SAT & ACT Exams
The SAT and ACT exams are used to determine proficiency a few key subjects
that colleges want to see from students. Student scores from these two exams can be
used to determine whether a student meets the admission requirements to public and
private 4-year colleges. Many scholarship applications may also ask for a student’s SAT
or ACT score for consideration. In most cases it is not necessary to take both, unless a
student thinks they may do better on the other test. Some colleges as for a specific test
and may not accept either one. It is important to investigate what the colleges you plan
to apply to will ask for. The recommended time to take one of these tests is at the end of
Junior year in high school. This would allow students who are not satisfied with their
results to retake a test before they apply to colleges and scholarships during Fall of their
senior year.
SAT: Reading, Math, Writing (optional)
ACT: Reading, Math, Science, Writing (optional)
Prepare for the tests with the following resources:
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/testing/how-to-prepare-for-admission-tests
SAT: https://www.khanacademy.org/sat
ACT: http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act.html (scroll down)
Register for the exams:
SAT: https://www.collegeboard.org/?navId=gh-cb
ACT: http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act.html

7. 6
College Admissions
The college admissions process can be pretty intimidating. You need to first
narrow down what colleges you plan to apply to and understand what their requirements
are. It is VERY important that you take note of the admission application deadlines and
other important dates, including college visitations that may even include scholarship
opportunities. In order to help you with this process I recommend the following Google
Sheets file from GEAR UP that you can copy and save as your own to record your
username and passwords, deadlines, activities chart, cost comparisons, and more!
College Admissions Workbook: https://bit.ly/2UNm5D9
I recommend you apply to at least 5 colleges, with at least 1 community college,
1 public university, and 1 private university. It is wise to keep your options a bit open
and have a back-up plan in case your top colleges don’t work out. Don’t miss those
deadlines!

8. 7
Financial Aid and Scholarships
College can be very expensive nowadays, but there are many resources that you
can tap into to alleviate the financial burden and reduce or even eliminate your reliance
on student loans. In the following sections you will learn about various types of financial
aid you should definitely apply for if you can.
FAFSA/ORSAA
As you will learn more below, FAFSA and ORSA serve very similar functions, but
the main differences are that FAFSA is a Federal tool and ORSAA is an Oregon tool.
FAFSA can be applied to by US permanent residents or citizens, while ORSAA can be
applied to by DACA and undocumented students.
FAFSA:
FAFSA is a Free Application for Student Aid that soon-to-be and current college
students can apply to. The information generated on this application may open
opportunities for students to access government sponsored grants, loans, and work
study. Colleges and other organizations may also require FAFSA information for their
admissions process, scholarships, grants, and loans.
Who:
Students with a valid US citizen or permanent resident social security number
graduating high school, in college, or going to college soon. DACA students are not
eligible to apply for FAFSA, but in Oregon they may apply for the ORSAA (Oregon's
alternative to FAFSA).

9. 8
When:
The application opens every year on October 1st for financial aid scheduled to be
used during the following school year. There is no hard deadline but the sooner
students apply the better.
What:
The application will ask for very personal and sensitive information such as
names, social security numbers, and income tax information for you and your family.
This information is what FAFSA uses to determine financial need, qualifications, and
what they call an EFC (Expected Family Contribution) number that is reported to the
colleges you apply to.
Where:
The application can be completed entirely online at https://fafsa.ed.gov/index.htm
Tips:
Prepare for FAFSA by having your family's tax information handy and ready to
access when you work on your application.
If you have a valid social security number but your parents do not, you may still
complete the FAFSA their just a few minor differences you should be aware of. Contact
me for help! Jose.garcia@oregonstate.edu

10. 9
Keep a safe record of every username, e-mail address, password and code you
use or create for FAFSA because you will need them again in the future. I suggest
creating a note in your phone that you can access anytime in addition to a physical note
you keep in your purse or wallet. Losing any of this information and not remembering it
can really complicate things when trying to re-login to your account.
ORSAA:
The ORSAA is an alternative to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA) for Oregon residents who are undocumented, including students who have
DACA. ORSAA is modeled off the FAFSA. Although most questions in the ORSAA are
the same as in the FAFSA, a few questions are slightly different, including several
Oregon-specific questions that are used to determine eligibility for state grants and
scholarships.
Who:
Students who cannot apply for FAFSA due not having citizenship or permanent resident
status.
When:
The application opens every year on October 1st for financial aid scheduled to be used
during the following school year. There is no hard deadline but the sooner students
apply the better.

11. 10
What:
The ORSAA is the required applicataion for the following OSAC-administered financial
aid programs:
Oregon Opportunity Grant
Oregon Promise Grant
Some OSAC Scholarships
Where:
The application can be completed entirely online at https://oregonstudentaid.gov/fafsa-
orsaa.aspx
Tips:
Prepare for ORSAA by having your family's tax information handy and ready to
access when you work on your application.
Do NOT complete the ORSAA if you are a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen
with an Alien Registration number
The ORSAA is a State of Oregon application and is NOT a tool that is used to
identify or deport undocumented individuals, nor will the information on there be shared
with any Federal agency.
If you have doubts, questions, concerns or need help contact me! I'm happy to help.
Jose.garcia@oregonstate.edu

12. 11
OSAC
(The following information is quoted directly from the OSAC website.)
What is OSAC?
• OSAC provides funding and program to Oregon students and families.
• Each year, OSAC awards grants and scholarships of more than $118 million to
thousands of Oregon students. The Prominent grant program include
the Oregon Opportunity Grant, Oregon Promise Grant, Chafee Education
and Training Grant and Oregon Student Child Care Grant.
Deadlines:
• Early bird deadline: February 15th, 5PM (PST)
• Final dealline: March 1st 5PM (PST)
Scholarship Application Timeline and Deadlines:
1. Early fall: begin searching and selecting scholarship opportunities in the OSAC
scholarship catalog. Return often, new scholarships are always being added.
2. October: File your FAFSA or ORSAA as soon as possible after October 1.
Doing so will ensure you are considered for all scholarships that consider
financial need.
3. November-February: Begin your OSAC scholarship application and submit from
November through March 1. You can save and come back to your application
before you submit.

13. 12
4. February 15: Early bird deadline. Complete applications (including transcripts)
submitted by this date will be entered into a drawing for one of several $1,000
early bird scholarship awards.
5. March 1: Final deadline for all materials to be submitted to OSAC.
6. April-August: Track your application status and scholarship awards in the
OSAC student portal.
Steps to take after your submit your application:
• Track your application status: log into your OSAC account. If the status
is “corrections required” take action to correct your application by the deadline
indicated in the status message. Check back regularly until your application is
accepted as valid.
• File the FAFSA or ORSAA to compete for need-based scholarships. Correct
any errors as soon as possible, preferably by March 10.
• Track your award Status: scholarships recipients are notified by e-mail April
through August. Awards may be rescinded if not accepted by the awarding
deadline.
• Keep your information updated: Update your student profile if any of the
following changes:
o Personal contact info (address, phone, e-mail)
o College major
o College choice

14. 13
Steps to take if you are awarded a scholarship:
• Accept or decline your award by logging in to your OSAC account.
• Write a thank you letter to the donor of your scholarship at the address on your
award letter.
• Maintain eligibility for your award by meeting the following requirements:
o Enroll full time as defined by your college (usually 12 credits) unless you
are specified otherwise.
o Make satisfactory academic progress according to your school’s policies
for students receiving federal Title IV aid.
o Use your award at a U.S. institution eligible to participate in Title IV federal
student aid programs (U.S. military academies are not eligible).
o Use your award only for education-related expenses as determined by
your college (tuition/fees, room/board, books/supplies, transportation, child
care when specified).
o Attend for an entire academic. If you attend less, your award may be
prorated.

15. 14
Oregon Promise
(The following information is quoted directly from the OSAC website.)
Oregon Promise is a state grant that helps to cover most tuition costs at any
Oregon community college for recent high school graduates and GED® recipients.
Who:
You must meet all of the following criteria:
• Complete an Oregon Promise Grant Application by the appropriate deadline
• File a FAFSA or ORSAA application and list at least one Oregon community
college
• Be a recent Oregon high school graduate or GED recipient
• Document a 2.5 cumulative high school GPA or higher; or a GED score of 145 or
higher on each test
• Plan to attend at least half-time at an Oregon community college within 6 months
of high school graduation or GED completion
• Be an Oregon resident for at least 12 months prior to college attendance
• Must not have more than 90 college credits completed or attempted
• Students may be subject to eligibility requirements based on their Expected
Family Contribution (EFC). For 2018-19, there will not be an EFC limit for Oregon
Promise.* EFC eligibility requirements are subject to change based on available
funding.

16. 15
When:
Oregon Promise has rolling deadlines based on when the student graduates. If
you are graduating (or completing your GED) between March 1, 2018 and June 30,
2018 you can apply now.
Use this tool to determine your deadline: https://oregonstudentaid.gov/oregon-
promise-cohort-tool.aspx or https://bit.ly/2LMTAEt
Deadline:
The deadline is 5:00 pm (PST or PDT). If a deadline falls on a weekend or
holiday, it will automatically be extended to 5:00 pm (PST or PDT) on the following
business day.
*Graduating between Oct. 1 – Nov. 30: Apply for either Winter or Spring Term.
How to apply:
• Create an account in the OSAC Student Portal
• Complete Oregon Promise Application in OSAC Student Portal by the deadline
(see above). https://oregonstudentaid.gov/oregon-promise.aspx
• Verify your GPA or GED score. Follow instructions in OSAC Student Portal.
• Complete the FAFSA or ORSAA for the academic year when you will start
college. List at least one Oregon community college.
Watch the Oregon Promise Application Demo video for further instructions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=7c6qZdipbKc or
https://bit.ly/2U4feIg

17. 16
Institutional Grants & Scholarships (from colleges)
One thing to keep in mind regarding scholarships is that colleges also host their
own financial aid resources that they may offer to students when they send out an
“award letter” detailing what scholarships and financial aid a student is being offered. An
award letter typically is sent out by colleges after acceptance letters in the Spring.
Private colleges are able to award very large scholarships, but keep in mind that the
total cost of attendance at a private college tends to be much higher than at public
universities. Keep an eye out for institutional scholarships and make sure to apply for
them. In the video link below I demonstrate how you can search for these scholarship
opportunities. However, for incoming college students most of these scholarships may
be awarded through the admission application, it doesn’t hurt to make sure.
Link: https://youtu.be/DLjoaxxAQVc

18. 17
Private Scholarships (from business, non-profits,
foundations, etc.)
As you may already know, there are a lot of private companies, non-profits, and
foundations that offer scholarships for college-bound students. But these scholarships
often go unnoticed by many students. There may be local, statewide and even national
scholarships that you could be applying to. It is generally a good idea to contact the
“college and career” guidance counselor at your school to ask for information about
these scholarships because they are usually the ones that hold this knowledge and can
point you in the right direction. Sometimes students have to be nominated, which is just
another reason why you should make sure your college and career counselor knows
you well and will think of you when they are encouraged to nominate a student for
scholarships.

19. 18
Student Loans
"A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest. If you decide to
take out a loan, make sure you understand who is making the loan and the terms and
conditions of the loan. Student loans can come from the federal government or from
private sources such as a bank or financial institution. Loans made by the federal
government, called federal student loans, usually offer borrowers lower interest rates
and have more flexible repayment options than loans from banks or other private
sources. Learn more about the differences between federal and private student loans. If
you apply for financial aid, you may be offered loans as part of your school’s financial
aid offer." - StudentAid.ed.gov
Loans can serve very helpful if you need help financing college until you have a
stable job and can afford to make payments. Loans can seem pretty intimidating and
tricky to understand but they are worth looking into and considering if necessary. Again,
if you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding loans you are considering,
don’t hesitate to contact me. Jose.garcia@oregonstate.edu
Government Sponsored Loans:
(The following information is quoted directly from the StudentAid.ed.gov website.)
The U.S. Department of Education has two federal student loan programs:
The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program is the largest
federal student loan program. Under this program, the U.S. Department of Education is
your lender.

20. 19
There are four types of Direct Loans available:
• Direct Subsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate students who
demonstrate financial need to help cover the costs of higher education at a
college or career school.
• Direct Unsubsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate, graduate,
and professional students, but in this case, the student does not have to
demonstrate financial need to be eligible for the loan.
• Direct PLUS Loans are loans made to graduate or professional students and
parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for education
expenses not covered by other financial aid.
• Direct Consolidation Loans allow you to combine all of your eligible federal
student loans into a single loan with a single loan servicer.
The Federal Perkins Loan Program is a school-based loan program for
undergraduates and graduate students with exceptional financial need. Under this
program, the school is lender.
If you have questions about Perkins Loan eligibility, please contact your school's
financial aid office.
Subsidized and unsubsidized loans are federal student loans for eligible students
to help cover the cost of higher education at a four-year college or university,
community college, or trade, career, or technical school. The U.S. Department of
Education offers eligible students at participating schools Direct Subsidized Loans and

21. 20
Direct Unsubsidized Loans. (Some people refer to these loans as Stafford Loans or
Direct Stafford Loans.)
Private Loans:
Private student loans can typically be found through banks, credit unions, and
other financial institutions. Many of these loans may require an application with a credit
score check or a co-signer to hold accountable in case repayments are not made.
These loans are also known for having higher interest rates than government-issued
student loans, and begin accruing interest as soon as they are issued which means they
will cost more to pay back. Consider these types of loans as a last resort. Please see
the table below for a comparison between government-issued loans and private loans
found on the StudentAid.ed.gov website.

22. 21
Additional Resources
Juntos Financial Aid and Support Site:
https://bit.ly/2ThVGM9
OSU Juntos College Resources:
https://bit.ly/2TmTYZY
GEAR UP 12th Grade Checklist:
https://bit.ly/2CxassO