L E A R N I N G

ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID

Upcoming SAT and ACT Deadlines

Funding Opportunities for DC Students brochure is available from the College Info Center. Thanks to printing provided by Sallie Mae, the CIC has copies of the new brochure to distribute to schools, libraries, financial aid offices, community organizations, businesses and other locations. The brochure provides a brief overview of the financial aid programs available to D.C. students and families. If you would like copies, please call the CIC at (202) 393-1100 or e-mail to cicinfo@collegeinfo.org.

Heads Up for the Class of 2002! Both the D. C. College Access Program (DC CAP) and the D. C. Tuition Assistance Program (DC TAP) will start their third year of operation this fall.

• DC CAP has advisors in each D.C. Public High School to assist students with the college and financial aid application process. Students who register with DC CAP may also be eligible for a last-dollar scholarship of up to $2,000. Please encourage students to take advantage of this resource.
• Forms are now available for DC TAP, which provides grants for students to attend public colleges and universities throughout the United States and private college and universities in the DC Area. Make sure at least one eligible institution is on each student’s list of prospective colleges!

College Info Center Tips for Completing the FAFSA 2002-2003

• Get your PIN! Each student and parent can obtain a PIN to easily access your FAFSA information. If you don’t have one, go to the FAFSA on the Web site and register. Your PIN will be mailed to you in 7-10 days. You can use your PIN to sign your electronic FAFSA without having to mail the paper signature page. Even if you decide to send a paper application, having the PIN will allow you to check your data and make any corrections easily.
• File Early! You can submit the FAFSA any time after January 1, 2002. The earlier it is processed, the greater the chances of receiving the aid you need.
• Complete your taxes early! The FAFSA uses information that comes directly from your IRS 1040 form. Remember you don’t need to mail the IRS form before April 15, just complete it before financial aid deadlines. If you cannot complete your IRS 1040 in time for financial aid deadlines, you can estimate your data using payment documents and your IRS 1040 from the previous year.
• Ask questions! If you have an unusual situation or are confused about the process, ask for help. There are many people available to assist you.
• Make copies of all documents for your own records! If questions arise, having a copy of the original document will save time and minimize confusion.
  
• For phone help:
  Department of Education at 1-800-4FEDAID
  Greater Washington College Info Center at 202-393-1100, x16
  

Free assistance for completing financial aid applications is available at the College Info Center (202) 393-1100, the Educational Opportunity Center (202) 822-5180 and the D.C. College Access Program advisors in each D.C. Public High School.

Carpe Diem Foundations Scholarship
www.carpediemfoundation.org
The Carpe Diem Foundation Scholarship is open to high school seniors and undergraduate students who have completed no more than their junior year. Students must be enrolled full time, and have demonstrated outstanding achievement, exceptional leadership ability and a serious commitment to community service to be considered for this award. Students must maintain a minimum "B" average and participate in service activity if they receive this award.

Contact Collegiate Choice Walking Tours at www.collegiatechoice.com for video tapes on various colleges and universities. The tapes are $15.00 each.

CAREER CENTER

O*NET, the Occupational Information Network, has replaced the Dictionary of Occupational Titles as a resource for career and job information. You can find it on the Internet at onetcenter.org. O*NET includes a skill search to help students identify careers that match occupations with skills.

WAVE provides teachers and youth development professionals in schools and community organizations with adaptable teaching strategies and tools that ensure both youth professionals and young people succeed. More info at www.waveinc.com.

Bridges is a comprehensive on-line tool that provides up-to-date information on careers, employment trends and emerging opportunities for students and adults in transition. Bridges can be used by everyone from middle school students to adult learners.

Bridges uses a daily news format to introduce users to a wide variety of job profiles, interviews with career experts, career assessment tools, career and educational planning tools (including resume planners) and more.

How to access Bridges
Thanks to a grant received by the D.C. Public Schools Career and Technical Education Office, Bridges is available in 50 locations throughout the city. Each middle school, junior high school, career high school, and STAY program has a site license for the school. If you attend or work in one of these schools, contact the guidance counselor to obtain the login and password for your school.

If you do not have access to Bridges through your school, you can access it via the College Info Center at the MLK library. Please follow the steps below:

1. Go to www.cx.bridges.com

2. Select the American version

3. Enter the following Login information

• User ID: 0090064
• Password: Housecleaner

4. To create an individual portfolio, you will need to enter a School ID and School Key. These are:

• School ID: martinDC8924
• School Key: PKHt64kM67

Note that all ID's and Passwords are 'case sensitive' so
make sure you enter them exactly as written above!

If you are a counselor, coordinator, librarian, teacher or other staff member and need access to the Administrative Tools, please e-mail us at cicinfo@collegeinfo.org for assistance.

COLLEGE INFO CENTER RESOURCES

The College Info Center has a wide variety of print and online materials to help wth college admissions, financial aid and career information as well as counselors to help you through the process.

Check out the More Resources section for an expanded list of links to other great Internet resources. You can now download copies of our most popular fact sheets using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Feel free to make print copies for students in your programs and classes. If you need quantities for a class or youth program, call us at (202) 393-1100 ext. 16 for assistance.

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