Are you a College Bound Scholarship senior planning to attend one of the Seattle Community Colleges next fall? If so, here is a list of steps you should complete by the end of June. If you wait until the end of summer, you may not get the classes you want or the financial aid you need. Also, placement test results will be more accurate if you take them during or just after high school. So plan ahead. Then you can enjoy your summer knowing you are all set to begin college in the fall.
Steps to Go to College:
Use the online Web Admissions Center at https://www.public.ctc.edu/ApplicantWebClient/Applicant or go to the Admissions/Registration office at the Seattle Community College you wish to attend, to apply in person.
It is very important to complete the FAFSA in January or you risk not receiving a full financial aid award. You cannot complete the FAFSA before January 1 for fall admission. Go to www.fafsa.gov. You will need your parent/guardian’s most recent tax return to complete the FAFSA. Indicate that you want your FAFSA sent to a Seattle Community College (use these school codes:
You should have received a Student Aid Report (SAR) when you completed the FAFSA. Make any needed changes or corrections on the FAFSA website and use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to upload the previous year’s tax information into your FAFSA, if you are eligible to do so. All students must submit additional information to the college; contact the financial aid office if you are unsure of what additional information is needed.
If your financial aid process is not complete by the fall quarter completion deadline, you may either have to pay for fall quarter tuition out of pocket and receive reimbursement when your aid eligibility is determined and finalized, or you can wait until winter quarter to start. If the deadline below has passed, continue completing your file and periodically check with the financial aid office on your status.
Students must take the COMPASS placement test. All College Bound Scholarship students are STRONGLY advised to take the COMPASS prep workshop prior to taking the COMPASS test to ensure a more accurate placement.
Go to beforeyoutest.org for information about the workshop and the COMPASS test. Students who have taken the ACT test may not need to take the COMPASS at South Seattle. Contact the college testing center for more information. Seattle Vocational Institute students do not take the COMPASS, assessment testing is conducted during the educational planning course (see step five).
All new students are STRONGLY encouraged to participate in in-person new student orientation.
Go to the college website to find out how to meet with an advisor to plan your first quarter schedule. Students should bring their COMPASS test results and high school/AP transcript with them when meeting with an advisor. Some colleges give you a chance to meet with an advisor as part of their orientation process (step five).
Your advisor will help you develop an academic plan and register for fall classes.
You will receive a financial aid award letter from the college once you have completed steps one, two, and three. Contact the financial aid office if you have any questions. You probably won’t see “College Bound Scholarship” on your award letter until September.
Note: If you have met all College Bound Scholarship criteria, the award will cover the tuition and fees (based on public college rates) that are not covered by other state financial aid awards, plus a small book allowance.
See a college counselor to address any issues or barriers that may affect your college success. The counselor can also refer you to college and community resources to help support yourself while you are attending college.
Resource Links and Phone Numbers
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NORTH Seattle Community College
Seattle CENTRAL Community College
SOUTH Seattle Community College
Seattle Vocational Institute (SVI)
Green for the 21st Century in Seattle
Innovations in curriculum and operations have earned the 2009 Green Washington Award for the Seattle Community Colleges – Central, North and South. All three colleges are active members of the Seattle Climate Partnership and North was an early signer of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. A district-wide Chancellor’s Sustainability Initiative provides energy, focus and a forum for emerging training and initiatives.
Sustainability is infused into programs ranging from urban agriculture at Central to environmental science, real estate and building management across the district. Students have funded a sustainability coordinator. Campus activities include reducing the carbon footprint and promoting recycling and energy conservation, which earned a “Recycler of the Year” award for South. Last year, the college culinary operations diverted 31 tons of materials to a regional composting facility – which returned the compost to “green” the college landscape.
For more information visit www.seattlecolleges.edu/green
Helping displaced workers to ‘Start Next Quarter’
During the economic downturn, thousands of displaced workers turned to the Seattle Community Colleges at the same time regional employers reported a need for skilled workers to fill jobs in the new economy. To help both potential workers and employers, the Seattle Community Colleges developed Start Next Quarter (SNQ), a two-part initiative designed to improve the success of dislocated workers who enroll in technical education programs. SNQ invites prospective students to assess their eligibility for workforce funding online and connects them to a comprehensive two-day college success workshop held at each campus. The workshops are based on a model developed at one of the district campuses. Students who complete the workshop are more likely to complete their training programs and to obtain jobs using their new skills. The project was developed in part through a grant from the League for Innovation, funded by the Walmart Foundation Bright Futures project to serve displaced workers.
Visit www.startnextquarter.org
A Model for the Region
The Opportunity Center for Employment and Education at North Seattle Community College is a regional resource and the first integrated service center of its kind in Washington state. Since the OCE&E opened its doors in spring 2011, more than 40,000 people have come for one-stop help in finding a new job, career retraining or to sign up for public assistance benefits. Founding partners were the state Departments of Social and Health Services and Employment Security, the college, and the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County. The campus and the new LEED Gold Certified 45,000-square foot facility are in the heart of Seattle’s north end and close to a major transit hub. House Speaker Frank Chopp and Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney (sponsor of the legislation and a former Seattle District trustee) championed the OCE&E in the state legislature. The center aims to provide streamlined services in a positive environment, helping clients succeed in the next stage of their lives.