ERIC ED398000: Steppin' On Up: A Post-Secondary Guide for Migrant Students = Tomando Accion: Una Guia para los Estudiantes Migrantes Sobre Que Hacer Despues de la Escuela Secundaria.

67 Pages·1996·1.3 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 398 000
RC 020 608
Steppin' On Up: A Post-Secondary Guide for Migrant
TITLE
Students = Tomando Accion: Una Guia para los
Estudiantes Migrantes Sobre Que Hacer Despues de la
Escuela Secundaria.
INSTITUTION
Western Stream Migrant Education Program Coordination
Center, Portland, OR.
PUB DATE
96
NOTE
67p.
PUB TYPE
Reference
Guides
Non-Classroom Use (055)
Materials
Directories/Catalogs (132)
Multilingual/Bilingual Materials (171)
LANGUAGE
English; Spanish
EDRS PRICE
MFOI/PC03 Plus Postage.
DESCRIPTORS
*Career Planning; College Bound Students; *College
Preparation; Grants; *Migrant Education; Migrant
Programs; Paying for College; *Postsecondary
Education; *Scholarships; Secondary Education;
*Student Financial Aid; Student Loan Programs;
Vocational Education
IDENTIFIERS
*College Assistance Migrant Program
ABSTRACT
This bilingual guide (English and Spanish) provides
information for migrant students on postsecondary education. The
guide includes information on:
(1) career planning, involving
self-exploration, occupational exploration, and strategies for
reaching career objectives;
(2) planning for postsecondary education
during high school, including a year-by-year plan for grades 10-12;
(3) planning for technical or vocational school, including a
year-by-year plan for grades 9-12;
(4) financial aid through grants,
loans, work study, and scholarships, and tips for applying for
financial aid; and (5)
the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP),
a federal program that provides aid to higher education institutions
to fund academic and personal support services for eligible migrant
and seasonal farmworker students. The name and addresses of
universities that accept applications for CAMP are included. Terms
related to postsecondary education are explained, such as commuter
student, quarter, residency, American College Testing Program (ACT),
the College Level Examination Program (CLEF), and the Preliminary
Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT). The remainder of the guide provides
information on 51 scholarships, many of which target minority and
migrant students. Entries include name, foundation or corporation,
address, purpose, eligibility, award, application deadline, and
restrictions. (LP)
***********************************************************************
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
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INTRODUCTION
What an exciting time to be a student in America, especially with the signing into law of
GOALS 2000: Educate America Act and the School-to-Work Act of 1994 by President
Clinton. Together both pieces of legislation provide the vision and leadership for schools to
prepare students for the 21st Century workplace. What is in it for you, the student?
First of all, schools will be looking at alternative ways to educate students so more will be
successful in graduating and be prepared for the workforce. When you look around you at
your friends, brothers, sisters, uncles, cousins, how many have not completed school due to
migration, work commitments, family obligations, lack of interest, etc.? Schools will be
searching for and implementing new programs ( flexible hours, community service learning,
extra support) to better meet the needs of the migrant population.
With the technological society that we live in, it is no longer enough just to finish high
We no longer have an agricultural-based economy in which a sixth-grade education
will s &ice. Today, machines are doing the work previously performed by fieldworkers.
For example, at one time the cotton industry required a vast number of people to clear a
field. Now, it takes a few individuals operating machinery to get the job done. The same is
happening to the sugarbeet industry and to other crops. Farm jobs that your parents rely on
to support the family will be nonexistent in the future. Therefore, it is imperative you become
knowledgeable about the world of work that exists out there and start thinking about the
post-secondary education (technical school, the military, community college, university,
etc.) you need to acquire in order to succeed.
School-to-Work initiatives unleashed by GOALS 2000 can be the vehicle by which you can
acquire the higher level of knowledge and skills necessary to make the transition. School-
to-Work programs will offer a whole variety of new experiences including on the job train-
ing, career awareness, cooperative education programs and employability skills to help
expand your knowledge about the world of work. Find out how you can take part in these
exciting ventures by contacting your school guidance counselor or secondary advocate.
I hope this handbook will help guide you as you start an exciting journey. It provides you
with valuable information including career planning, college costs, financial aid, and
scholarships. Ultimately the challenge is up to you to take advantage of this wave of reform
and prepare yourself for the 21st Century. Start today by dreaming about tomorrow, and
charting a course to reach your aspirations. I would like to leave you with a few words by
James Allen, " You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow
where your thoughts take you." iSuerte!
CAREER PLANNING
education but are not sure what career you are
So, you want to continue post-secondary
school.
people are undecided when they fmish high
interested in pursuing? That's okay. Many
decide to
others it takes a lifetime. Some people
Some decide once they are in college, for
others decide to make it a
going to technical school or college,
go into the military before
However, by
decide what one wants to do for a livelihood.
career. It is overwhelming to
complicated
easier task. Career planning is a
preparing in advance you can make it an
well before your
time. It is important to begin this process
process which will take some
objectives you might want to consider the
senior year. To assist you in realizing your career
following steps:
of yourself
It is important to gain a clear understanding
Self-Exploration
1.
abilities, expectations,
including your interests, personality, values,
about yourself through completing
temperament, etc. You can find out
programs such
inventories, workshops, individual counseling or computer
Contact your guidance counselor or your school
as CHOICES and SAGE.
activities.
of choice to inquire about available self-exploration
Research the careers you are considering. Find
2. Occupational Exploration
educational requirements, fringe benefits,
out about future outlook, salary,
consulting career resource
work environment, etc., by going to the library and
Handbook and the Dictionary of
books such as the Occupational Outlook
shadowing experience
Occupational Titles. I would also highly recommend a
in the area of your interest.
where you spend the day with a person employed
would like answered on
Prior to your visit, prepare a list of questions you
Contact your guidance counselor to see if a
your job shadowing experience.
your own.
job shadowing experience can be arranged or arrange one on
Write up a
Determine your career goals and alternatives.
Plan of Action
3.
include the steps you need
plan for attaining your career goals. Make sure to
have to overcome. Establish a time line.
to take as well as the obstacles you
universities offer the program
4. De termine which technical schools, colleges or
interested. Find out about the repu-
of study for the career in which you are
school, college or university
tation of the program by visiting the technical
students in the particular program.
and talking to instructors, professors and
4
2
PLANNING FOR POST SECONDARY EDUCATION
DURING HIGH SCHOOL
Gosh, four more
You are just starting your high-school career and probably thinking, "
think about what I want to do wheil I finish
years before graduation. I have plenty of time to
high school." Before you know it, four years will have gone by. If you do not start prepar-
backtrack.
ing for your post high-school years, you might later discover that you have to
What you
Now is the best time to strategize about how you will get from Point A to Point B.
You
do for the next four years will impact whether you get accepted into college or not.
suggestions:
need to start building your "track record" as early as possible. Following are some
of
Make an appointment to meet with your guidance counselor and let him/her know
1.
your plans to attend college. Inquire
about the high-school course le-
quirements for a college track
student.
Establish a year-by-year plan
2.
of action for Grades 9-12.
Know which classes are required
for graduation from high school
as well as entrance into college.
Include this plan of action in your newly
created file.
Start gecting involved in extracurricular
3.
activities such as clubs, student govern-
ment, athletics, community organization,
church groups, etc. Participate in
activities you enjoy.
If you don't read for enjoyment, start
4.
reading. It will help build your vocabulary and reading comprehension. This will be
very important when it's time to take college entrance exams.
Don't forget career exploration.
5.
3
GRADE 10
1. Meet with your guidance counselor to review your plan of action and make sure you
are on track.
2. Talk to university/college representatives at your school's college fair.
3. Continue adding to your file copies of test scores, report cards, letters of appreciation,
recommendation, or achievement.
4. Continue your involvement in activities and career exploration.
5. Take the PSAT for practice.
GRADE 11
1. Meet with your guidance counselor to
review your progress.
2. Register for and take the SAT/ACT
exams for practice.
3. Gather information on the colleges/
universities you would consider.
4. Start visiting colleges/universities.
5. Start researching for grants, loans and
scholarships available federally, statewide,
and locally. Make a list of all those for which
you could apply. Include deadlines on your
list.
6. Retake the PSAT exam if you would like to be considered for the National Scholars
Merit Program. The National Scholars Merit Program gives scholarships to top-ranking
students in the nation.
4
GRADE 12
Meet with your guidance counselor to review your progress.
1.
Establish a time line indicating deadlines for ACT/SAT exams, college/university
2.
applicatkins, financial aid applications, and scholarships. Make sure you meet the
deadlines.
Narrow your college/university choices to three or four and apply. Most colleges/
3.
universities have an application fee ranging from $15.00 to $25.00. However, the fee
can be waived if you qualify.
The file you established during your high school years should be beneficial when it
4.
comes to completing the paperwork for college.
Continue adding to your file copies of all the paperwork you complete or submit to
5.
colleges/universities.
Communication between you and the colleges/universities you
6.
are applying to is of utmost importance. Be persistent and call
them if you do not hear from them about your admissions
status or financial aid status.
Remember college admissions and financial aid are separate
7.
processes.
If you are accepted to more than one college/university, the biggest decision is to choose
8.
the one you will attend.
7
5
SCHOOL
PLANNING FOR TECHNICAL/VOCATIONAL
consider a technical/vocational
If you think college is not for you, then you might want to
mechanics, nursing, drafting,
school. There are many careers one can pursue, such as auto
available at technical/vocational schools vary from
court reporting, etc. Programs of study
of years. You can begin some programs while completing
a couple of months to a couple
school. This allows you to simultaneously earn a high-
your junior and senior year at high
school diploma and a certificate for a trade.
GRADE 9
Meet with your guidance counselor and
1.
inquire about your interest in pursuing a
vocational track. Find out if your school
offers the option of entering a technical/
vocational program of study during your
junior year.
Establish a year-by-year plan of action for Grades 9-12 of the
2.
classes required. Include the plan of action in your newly created
file.
Each club has a
Get involved in clubs such as FHA/HERO, HOSA, FBLA, VICA.
3.
special focus on careers.
Don't forget career exploration.
4.
GRADE 10
track.
Meet with your counselor to review your plan of action and make sure you are on
1.
Continue your involvement in activities and career exploration.
2.
make sure
If your school has the option to start a vocational/ technical program of study,
3.
the school year.
you register for it before the end of
6
GRADE 11
1. Meet with your guidance
counselor to review progress.
If available, start vocational/
2.
technical program of study.
GRADE 12
1. Meet with your guidance
counselor to review your
progress.
If your program of study is
2.
offered at various technical/
vocational schools, apply to
more than one because some-
times there are waiting lists.
Explore financial aid, including the Pell Grant, work study, scholarships and loans avail-
3.
able for your program of study. Meet all application deadlines.
Inquire about various agencies/programs such as JTPA, JTPA/Migrant, and Equity. Learn
4.
how they can help you while you are enrolled at a technical/vocational school and after
your completion.
5. Make arrangements to take carance exams required by the vocational/technical schools.
Visit vocational/technical schools. Talk to individuals enrolled in the program of study
6.
of your choice.
9
7
FINANCIAL AID
One of thz, main reasons migrant students do not pursue a post-
secondary education is their perception of their family's inability
to afford a college education. However, there are all kinds of
monies available provided you, the student, are willing to invest
some time and effort in investigating and applying for financial
aid and scholarships. There are various types of financial aid
available:
GRANTS A grant is a gift of money given to you by the federal
1.
or state government to help pay for your education.
This program provides grants to eligible post-secondary
Pell Grant Program
a.
students with demonstrated financial need to assist them in meeting educational
in eligible post-
expenses. To be eligible students must be undergraduates enrolled
secondary institutions (community college, university, trade or technical school)
be
on at least a halftime basis and be making satisfactory progress. A person must
Pell Grant it is nec-
a United States citizen or permanent resident. To apply for a
Scholarship Ser-
essary to complete a Finatrial Aid Form (FAF) from the college
vice or a Student Aid Application from your individual state. These applications
can be obtained from your high-school guidance counselor or the financial aid
office at a post-secondary institution.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity GrantThis program provides grants
b.
to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need to
assist them in meeting educational expenses. To be eligible, students must be
undergraduates enrolled in eligible post-secondary institutions (community college,
university, trade or technical school) on at least a halftime basis and be making
satisfactory progress. A person must be a United States citizen or permanent
resident. Applications can be obtained from your high-school guidance counselor
or the financial aid office at a post-secondary institution.
State Grant
Individual states also provide grants to students from low-income
c.
families who without adequate financial support would be unable to pursue a
post-secondary education. To inquire about available aid, check with your guidance
counselor or the financial aid officer at the appropriate state educational agency.
8