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NNPS & TNCC

NNPS & TNCC. Welcomes You. Why You’re Here. Virtually everyone can – and will – tell you that college is important! You are much more likely to be successful and happy if you continue your education past high school. Look Into the Future. College will be increasingly important.

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NNPS & TNCC

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  1. NNPS & TNCC Welcomes You

  2. Why You’re Here • Virtually everyone can – and will – tell you that college is important! • You are much more likely to be successful and happy if you continue your education past high school.

  3. Look Into the Future • College will be increasingly important. • By 2012, there will be 3 million new jobs that require a college degree – but not enough graduates to fill them. • Future jobs will require some form of education after high school: • 90% of fastest growing jobs • 60% of all jobs • 40% of all manufacturing jobs

  4. College Is Important • In a changing world, college will provide you with more career options. • There is a direct correlation between attending college and being employed.

  5. College Is Important

  6. College Is Important • College has a direct effect on personal income • Recent data on total personal income in Virginia, age 25 and above: • No HS diploma = $17,134 • HS diploma = $26,979 • Some college = $32,863 • Bachelor’s degree = $49,274 • Advanced degree = $76,642

  7. College Is Important • People who have attended some college: • Are more likely to vote • Are more likely to volunteer • Report that their health is better • Are less likely to be incarcerated • It’s true – college is important!

  8. What We’ll Do Tonight • We’re going to cover three topics about going to college • First topic – Choosing the Right College for You • Provide a timeline for juniors and seniors to follow • Discuss college application process including deadlines, transcripts and essays • Provide a tool to use in evaluating which college is right for you

  9. What We’ll Do Tonight • Second topic – The Financial Aid Process • Discuss the details of college costs • Provide a timeline for juniors and seniors to follow • Provide tips to prepare and apply for financial aid • Show you a sample financial aid award letter,and provide a tool to help in evaluating awards from schools you are considering

  10. What We’ll Do Tonight • Third topic – Scholarship Searches and Scams • Creating a scholarship search plan • Characteristics of successful scholarship candidates • What to expect if awarded a scholarship • How to recognize and avoid scholarship scams

  11. What We’ll Do Tonight • At the end of the evening, we’ll collect your evaluations of tonight’s event. • Even better, we’ll hold a scholarship drawing in this room. • We’ll select winners of the $500 scholarships. • You must be present to win.

  12. What’s Next • Be sure to: • Fill out a scholarship entry form • Take a copy of Opportunities home with you • Check www.collegenightinva.org for a copy of tonight’s presentations

  13. Thanks for joining us tonight!

  14. Choosing the Right College for You

  15. Lots of Choices • There are over 6,000 colleges to choose from in the United States • School types • Public (both 2- and 4-year) • Private • Private career schools • One size does not fit all

  16. What Are Your Goals? • Choosing a college begins by defining your goals • Are you looking to: • Learn a trade or enter a specific profession? • Obtain a degree? • Associate’s • Bachelor’s • Advanced – Master’s, Doctoral or Professional • High school preparation is key

  17. High School Preparation • The track you are on in high school greatly influences the colleges you will be able to attend: • Advanced Placement (AP) Classes • Dual-enrollment Programs • IB Diploma Programme • Career-Technical Preparation Programs

  18. Choosing a College • Which colleges can help you meet your goals? • You can narrow down the list by considering factors important to you. • Factors to consider • Program or major you are considering • College size • Class size • Location or distance from home • Prestige, reputation

  19. Choosing a College • Additional factors to consider • Campus atmosphere • Extracurricular activities • Religious or cultural affiliations • Cost of attendance • A few words about cost… • Think about cost when making your final decision, not as much when starting your search • Consider your net out-of-pocket cost, not just the sticker price

  20. Opportunities – Page 5

  21. College Application Process • There are many things you can do to prepare for a successful college application process. • The Opportunities booklet contains a checklist on page 6. • The checklist shows steps you should take beginning the summer before your junior year through high school graduation. • Some of the highlights appear on the following slides.

  22. Timeline – Junior Year • August – September • Make sure you are on track to graduate • October • Take PSAT/NMSQT • Make a list of college entrance requirements • Meet with school counselor • Consider attending college admissions fairs

  23. Timeline – Junior Year • January – August • Request information from colleges • Visit colleges and begin to narrow your list • Take SAT/ACT and SAT Subject Tests (if needed) • Start preparations for “other” admissions requirements • Work on your “resume”

  24. Timeline – Senior Year • September – December • Review plans with your school counselor • Retake SAT/ACT (if necessary) • Make a final list of colleges • Plan for college admissions deadlines • Note any “early decision” (binding) and “early action” (non-binding) application deadlines

  25. Timeline – Senior Year • September – December • Visit colleges • Request informational multimedia • Start drafts of admissions essays • Request high school transcripts

  26. Timeline – Senior Year • September – December • Identify references • Finalize “other” admissions requirements • Schedule admissions interviews if appropriate for the colleges that interest you

  27. Timeline – Senior Year • December • Follow up with your references • Complete revisions of applications and essays • Mail/submit applications before holiday break • Commit to keeping your grades up • May • Take Advanced Placement and IB exams

  28. College Entrance Exams • High school preparation also includes taking college entrance exams: • PSAT or PLAN • SAT • ACT • These tests are required or recommended by many colleges.

  29. College Entrance Exams • PSAT/NMSQT • Taken in Junior year as a “rehearsal” for the SAT • Measures reading, math and writing skills • More information: www.collegeboard.com/testing • PLAN Test • The rehearsal test for the ACT • English, math, reading and science • More information: www.actstudent.org/plan

  30. College Entrance Exams • SAT Reasoning • Math, critical reading, writing • Measures conceptual thinking rather than facts • Scoring scale is 200-800 for each section • Practice questions available at www.collegeboard.com

  31. College Entrance Exams • ACT • 215 questions, multiple choice • Directly related to what you learned in high school • Score ranges from 1-36 • Optional writing test available • Visit www.act.org for more information

  32. College Entrance Exams • SAT subject tests • Mostly multiple choice questions • Measures knowledge of particular subjects • More than 20 subject tests available • Many colleges may require one or more

  33. Opportunities – Page 8

  34. Your College Applications • Most colleges accept – and some require – online applications • Read the directions carefully • Ability to follow directions correctly is part of many colleges’ acceptance criteria • Deadline for applications and supporting documentation • Each college has its own – See its website • If applying by mail, is it postmark or arrival date?

  35. Your College Applications • Transcripts • Official transcript needed for each college where you applied • Many acceptances contingent on maintaining GPA • Most require a final high school transcript

  36. Your College Applications • References • Usually from teachers, other adults and peers • Allow plenty of time • Give as much information as possible • Include stamped, pre-addressed envelope • Write thank you notes to your references and let them know when you get accepted

  37. Your College Applications • Admissions essays • Stay on topic • Essays should be error free • Don’t exceed the word limit • Be yourself

  38. Your College Applications • Other evidence of talent • Portfolio • Audition tapes • Writing samples • Contact specific program for more information

  39. The Financial Aid Process

  40. What We’ll Cover • Opportunities booklet contains information on the financial aid process, beginning on page 11 • Your college costs • The FAFSA and you • Types of financial aid • The final decision • Understanding your award letter

  41. Your College Costs • Cost of attendance (COA) – a.k.a. “budget” • Consists of direct and indirect costs • Direct costs are paid to the college • Tuition and fees • Room and board if living on campus

  42. Your College Costs • COA can also include indirect costs: • Room and board if living off campus • Books and supplies • Personal expenses • Transportation • Allowance for dependent care • Loan fees • Cost of a personal computer • Costs related to disability • Reasonable costs for study abroad

  43. Your College Costs • COA can also be thought of as the “sticker price” – the total cost of going to college before any financial aid you may receive • Remember – it is important to look at the net price • Begin to find out your net price to attend college by filing the FAFSA

  44. About the FAFSA • FAFSA = Free Application for Federal Student Aid • Determines eligibility for: • Most federal financial aid programs • Many state financial aid programs • Much of the aid colleges award from their own funds • Colleges may require additional forms to collect more detailed data

  45. About the FAFSA • FAFSA asks you questions about • Income • Assets • Family size • Number of family members attending college • Three versions of the FAFSA • Online – www.fafsa.ed.gov • PDF FAFSA – Print from your computer • Paper FAFSA – Call 1-800-4-FED-AID

  46. About the FAFSA • Online version is best • Built-in edits make it easier to complete accurately • Sign it electronically with your PIN obtained from www.pin.ed.gov • If dependent, parent also needs to sign with PIN • Faster results • Over 98% of FAFSAs are submitted online

  47. Preparing for the FAFSA • Gather documents (both parents and students) • Income tax returns – estimate if you have not completed your return • W-2 forms and other income • Benefits records from state and federal agencies • Current bank statements

  48. Tips for FAFSA Success • Meet all financial aid deadlines • Can vary from college to college • Meeting “priority deadline” results in best financial aid package available • It’s okay to estimate your financial information – Will get an opportunity to correct • List all colleges that you are applying to • Retain a copy of your completed FAFSA

  49. FAFSA Help Is Available • You can receive in-person help in completing the FAFSA at “Super Saturday” • Sponsored by Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and Virginia College Access Network • Saturday, February 13, 2010 • Many locations across the state • Details at www.vasfaa.org

  50. Financial Aid Process • After completing the FAFSA, the student receives Student Aid Report (SAR) • Correct any errors and return • SAR contains Expected Family Contribution (EFC) • FAFSA information is also sent to the colleges you listed to receive the data

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