February/March 2009

Counselor's Update

Scholarships for 2009-2010 Academic Year

Scholarships are made available through the University of Wisconsin-Fond du Lac Foundation, Inc. The Foundation encourages the enrollment of students who will add to the overall excellence of its academic and co-curricular programs. The scholarship program is intended to provide financial support for and recognition of students who have demonstrated qualities of excellence. Application deadline for the 2009-2010 academic year is March 20, 2009.

If you are in the top 50% of your high school graduating class, you are eligible to apply for a scholarship. Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria: Academic excellence, demonstrated achievement, leadership in extracurricular and community activities, and the required essay. You must be registered as a full-time student (12 or more credits) of UW-Fond du Lac to receive the scholarship once it is awarded. Additional scholarships are available for non-traditional, continuing and students meeting special criteria designated for a scholarship.

Scholarships are made available to UW-Fond du Lac through the generosity of alumni, faculty/staff, community members and other friends of UW-Fond du Lac. Click here to learn more about available scholarships.

High School Visits

I have recently been in contact with many of the high schools within our service area and have upcoming visits scheduled.

Click here to see the Spring 2009 High School Visit Schedule.

I always enjoy meeting with small groups of students, but I also welcome the opportunity to serve as a guest speaker in classes as well as addressing all school or class assemblies.

If you would like me to speak to a group of students (any age or parents) about planning for life after high school, please feel free to contact me. I love speaking with students about what options are available and what is the best choice for them.

Melissa Luedtke
Student Services Coordinator
UW-Fond du Lac

Phone: 920-929-1125

E-mail: melissa.luedtke@uwc.edu 

New Students Admitted for Fall 2009

Students that have been admitted for Fall 2009 will soon be getting information mailed to them about upcoming Placement Test dates, Orientation and Registration programs that will be held in June. You can help by encouraging students who have been admitted to take their placement tests early.

Click here for more information on Placement Tests and to see the dates.
 

Financial Aid and College Goal Sunday

Students for Fall 2009 may apply for Financial Aid beginning January 1, 2009. To complete the FAFSA online go to www.fafsa.ed.gov.

College Goal Sunday begins with a brief introduction to the FAFSA completion process, followed by step-by-step instruction and assistance in completing the form. There will also be drawings for prizes at the conclusion of the program.

The session will be held at Marian College in Fond du Lac. It begins at 2 p.m. on February 22, 2009 and is scheduled for two hours. For more information go to: www.wicollegegoalsunday.org/

Campus Preview at UW-Fond du Lac to be held Tuesday, March 31

Area high school students and their families are invited to attend a Campus Preview at UW-Fond du Lac on Tuesday evening, March 31, 2009 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.

Those attending will have the opportunity to meet faculty, staff, and students, have questions answered by a panel of current UW-Fond du Lac faculty and students, and tour campus. Information on admission to UW-Fond du Lac, scholarships and financial aid, programs of study, and the Guaranteed Transfer program will also be presented.

Students and their families who are interested in attending this program can register online through our web site or by calling the Student Services Office at (920) 929-1122.

Save the Date!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 for the Spring 2009 Counselor’s Update Breakfast

Please mark your calendar to be our guest at our annual UW-Fond du Lac Counselor Breakfast on Tuesday, April 28, beginning at 8:00 a.m. The annual breakfast is designed for networking among colleagues, information sharing, and most importantly, to meet the educational/development needs of the students and families we serve by continuing to strengthen our cooperative relationships.

The agenda features updates on topics of direct relevance to your students and their families in addition to news from UW-Fond du Lac.

ACT Strategies Course

The last of the ACT Exam Strategies Preparation courses offered at UW-Fond du Lac will begin on May 2, 2009. The course is open to all students who will be taking the ACT exam whether they will attend UW-Fond du Lac or a college elsewhere.

The sessions are taught by faculty from the UW Colleges. At the first class meeting of each session, students will take a diagnostic test to identify areas of both strength and need. The second and third class meetings will include a review of the pretest results, English, reading, writing, math and science. The last class meeting will include a second diagnostic test, wrap-up, and questions.

Continuing Education at UW-Fond du Lac offers scholarships to economically disadvantaged youth for ACT Prep. Scholarship participants will receive either a 100% scholarship (free) or 75% scholarship (reduced). A copy of the participant's free/reduced lunch program letter from their high school district is needed to be eligible.

More information or to register for the ACT Exam Preparation course go to www.fdl.uwc.edu/cont_ed 

“Aid Letter Triggers Warning," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Feb. 8.

Parents of Wisconsin college students have been receiving official-looking letters urging them to pay $49 to apply for financial aid, but the mailings are actually from a private business that charges money for information available online for free...

Full story: http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/39295682.html

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Completing The FAFSA

The best way to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is early, and online – Jan. 1 is the earliest you can apply. Remember that some financial aid awards are granted on a first-come basis, so you may miss out on some aid if you wait to apply.

Making mistakes on your FAFSA could delay your application and possibly cause you to miss out on some financial aid. The most common errors people make on the FAFSA are listed in this article

Students and parents should try to avoid these errors.