You Are On Your Way….

1. You Are On Your Way…. Getting to College with a GEDChristy Rupert, M.S.

2. Who am I and why am I here? • Who? • I am an employee of the Calvert County Health Department Core Service Agency • Why? • I believe you can obtain a college education if you desire one • You need to know the process of college admissions if you want to get to college • To explore college as an option for you and how college can benefit you • One benefit of college is the opportunity to make more money…and we all like money!!!!

3. Education is Your Key • Your GED is your key • Since you passed the Official GED Practice Exam your chances of passing the GED are very, very high! Congratulations and keep studying! • What are some reasons you are here to obtain your GED? • To prove that you are smart • To get a better job • To set an example for your family • It’s the right thing to do • High school was not right for you • So you can make more money • You want to go to college

4. Education is Your Key • Any reason you are here is a good reason! • The more education you have the more likely you are to: • Be healthy • Stay out of jail • Make more money • Positively impact your young children’s learning (www.collegeboard.com Education Pays 2004)

5. Education is Your Key • High School is not the only way to get an education! • We know traditional high school does not work for everyone!!! 7,000 students a day choose to leave high school! (www.choices.org/documents/PrivateDonors.pdf) • GED credentials make up about one-sixth of the high school completion credentials! (www.questia.com Boesel, D., 1998) • Three-quarters of a million people who do not finish high school take the GED test a year! (www.questia.com Boesel, D., 1998)

6. So What Happens After the GED? • So you passed the tests! Congrats, now what? • Work?!?!? • Most jobs require special training and education! • “…the share of jobs requiring at least some college education has grown from 28 percent to more than 60 percent. Even on the factory floor, the share of jobs requiring at least some college has grown from 8 percent to 31 percent.” http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb4389/is_200405/ai_n15294817/ • Careers that require special training include: • Cosmetology • Construction • Business • Auto Mechanics • Information and Technology • What about college as an option for you? • You can major in these fields and so many more. • The benefits of the GED multiply the more you continue your education!

7. Why College? • Remember all the benefits of the GED? • They keep increasing! • Better employment rate • Less use of social services • Healthier • MORE money • MORE job opportunities (www.collegeboard.com) • 1 in 20 college students have their GED (www.wikapedia.com) • Surveys have found that more than 65% of GED students are taking the tests to continue their education beyond high school, not just to get a better job. (www.wikapedia.com) • Are you here to continue on to college?

8. GED is Your Key to College • The GED says you are academically competent! (www.diplomaguide.com) • More than 90% of colleges will accept a GED for admission (www.diplomaguide.com)

9. Other keys to college • Tests • Money • Letters of Recommendation • Completing the application • Meeting timelines (Let’s look at each of these individually)

10. Tests • Do you have to take the SAT or ACT to get into college? • NO • Do most colleges want SAT and ACT scores? • Yes • Can you get to a four year college without the SAT or ACT? • Yes • Do you want to take your SAT or ACT? • It is your decision and if you choose to take that exam, staff here can assist you with learning how • There are also practice tests and prep classes for these exams • Check out http://www.princetonreview.com/ or go to your local library for books on practice exams

11. Money to Pay for College • Who worries about money? • Most of us!!!! • Do you think it will cost you a lot to get to college? • Yes and No • Tuition can range anywhere from $9,000 to $35,000 a year (www.collegeboard.com) • You can receive financial aid for your educational costs • Financial aid can cover tuition, books, and other materials • Apply early while there is still money available • There are other options to help pay for college, like AmeriCorps

12. How to Access Money/ Financial Aid • Grants, Scholarships and Loans • Grants • Free federal dollars to help your pay for a college degree • To apply for finical aid you complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) • Let’s look at the FAFSA together • You can check your eligibility online at www.fafsa.ed.gov • Scholarships • Think you will qualify for a scholarship? • The criteria may not be what you think • Great places to look for scholarships are: • http://www.studentscholarshipsearch.com/ • http://www.nextstudent.com • http://www.collegeboard.com

13. How to Access Money/Financial Aid • Loans • Stafford Loads • Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) • Available through banks, credit unions, other lending institutions • Perkins Loans • Made through schools for undergraduate degrees or higher • Based on financial need • Direct Loans • From the federal government • Students or parents can access • Final thoughts on money • Be cautious in your funding choices, watch for scams, and borrow wisely www.studentaid.ed.gov

14. Letters of Recommendation • Many colleges want to know more about you than what you tell them • Letters of recommendation can come from the staff here at the ALC, other educators, and people who know your strengths • Pick someone who knows you well and who can say positive things about you • Who might write your letter of recommendation? • ALC Staff, Employer, Church Member

15. Applications • Your application is the most crucial piece to getting into college! • Let’s look at two applications online • College of Southern Maryland Application • https://express.csmd.edu/cgi-bin/apply/index.html • Bowie State University Application • https://www.applyweb.com/apply/bowie/ • There is an application fee but it can be waived by the college, call them to ask about waiving the fee

16. Applications • What do you think of these applications? • Each college has a different application and process • The college admissions office can provide the applications for you and explain the admissions process

17. Timelines • Do not let timelines be the reason you are not admitted to a college • Some important times to keep in mind • FAFSA is due June 30, 2010 for the 2009-2010 school year (www.fafsa.ed.gov) • Application deadlines are listed on the applications and on the college websites • Letters of recommendation should be included with your application, so give your writer enough time

18. Two-year college advantages More affordable Smaller class sizes Great professors who what to educate Geared towards working students More technology Four-year college advantages More degree options Campus housing Great professors who want to do research Offer advanced degrees Doctoral Masters A Little Information on Colleges

19. Do you think college is for you? • I do and so do the staff here! • You will have the education (your GED) soon and now you have the information to get you there! • You have even started a college applications today! • I am sure you still have concerns, what are they?

20. Questions?

21. Use your key to open more doors! • Thank you for your participation and attention! • My contact information for any assistance or questions: • 410-535-5400 ext 331 • CRupert@dhmh.state.md.us

22. References • www.colageboard.com • www.diplomaguide.com • www.fafsa.ed.gov • www.choices.org/documents/PrivateDonors.pdf • www.questia.com (Boesel, D., 1998) • www.wikapedia.com