Preparing Seniors Career and College Readiness for Senior Year

1. Preparing Seniors Career and College Readiness for Senior Year

3. Preparing Seniors • Senior Year Timeline • FSA ID • Applications • Admissions • FAFSA • Scholarships • Apprenticeship/Military • Decision Day

4. Senior Year Timeline • August/September • Review Financial Aid Process • FSA ID • October • FAFSA Application • Admissions Application • November/December • College scholarships

5. Senior Year Timeline • January • Scholarships • Housing Application • First semester transcripts • February-April • FAFSA Applications • Financial Aid Review/Comparisons • May • Decision Day

6. Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID • FSA ID serves as legal signature • Student and parent each need to request an FSA ID at fsaid.ed.gov • Create anytime – don’t wait until Oct. 1 Write down the answers to challenge questions!

7. Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID • Can be done prior to FAFSA • Great first step • Consider having FSA ID workshops so all seniors are prepared • Communication with parents about setting one up

9. College Applications • Seniors should apply to two to five schools • Consider a practice application session • Utilize the paper application from Common App • Have seniors practice filing it out prior to Oct. • Provides an understanding of what’s looked at and how to answer questions • Participate in the Iowa College Application Campaign • Have an event so every senior submits at least one application

10. College Applications • Parts of application • College essay • Official high school transcript • ACT/SAT scores • Letters of recommendation • Activity resume • Fees (if any) • Interview • Any other steps required by schools

11. FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid • File after Oct. 1 • Visit www.fafsa.gov • Processed in 3-5 days • Form has skip logic and help aid for ease of filing

12. When to File the FAFSA • FAFSA is available beginning Oct. 1 • Each school has a priority date • Priority date is the recommended filing date • File by priority date for the best chance at financial aid • Applying to multiple schools? – Use the earliest date

13. Tips for FAFSA Season • Host a school event for FAFSA completion • FAFSA Ready Iowa or ICAN events • Recruit ICAN trained FAFSA assistance for event • Send reminders to parents • Emphasize importance of FAFSA and reasons to file • Utilize the FAFSA Completion Data from your AEA and target seniors who haven’t filed

14. Common FAFSA Questions • Student Independence/Parent Information Required • What happens if parents refuse? • Assets • Unique or special circumstances • LGBTQ questions

15. Biggest Misunderstandings • “Financial aid is meant to pay for all college costs” • Reality: Financial aid is meant to help cover the costs, of college, but generally doesn’t pay for everything. • “The only financial aid is gift aid” – “We didn’t get anything!” • Work-study and Student Loans are part of financial aid.

16. Free FAFSA Assistance • Events in October 1, 2019 – March 15, 2020 • Locations throughout Iowa: Ankeny Atlantic Calmar Cedar Falls Cedar Rapids Centerville Clarinda Clinton Coralville Sheldon Sioux City Spirit Lake Waterloo Waukon West Burlington Council Bluffs Creston Davenport Denison Des Moines Dubuque Emmetsburg Fort Dodge Grinnell Marshalltown Mason City Muscatine Orange City Ottumwa Peosta Perry For more information www.ICANsucceed.org/FAFSAreadyIA

17. Estimate Family Costs • Uses student’s individual circumstances to calculate estimated net price based on what similar students paid in a previous year. • Helps families understand their financial situation • Available to all students • Institutional Net Price Calculatorwww.ICANsucceed.org/npc • https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/estimate • www.CollegeRaptor.com • https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/tools-calculators

18. Special Circumstances • Report to college (not on the FAFSA) • Will need to supply documentation • Examples of special circumstances • Change in employment status • Medical expenses not covered by insurance • Change in parent marital status

20. Financial Aid Package Review • Missing Fourth Step • Apply Admissions • File the FAFSA • ***Compare Financial Aid Packages *** • Decision Day • Consider offering assistance/events

21. Financial Aid Package Review • Financial Aid Package • College response after submission of FAFSA and acceptance of admission • Families should: • Review items • Compare all packages • Take career interests into consideration

22. Understand Your Limits • How much will you borrow over the full four years? • Estimate your student loan payments • Borrow $80,000, Pay $800 per month • You shouldn’t borrow more than your starting salary for your planned career. This keeps your monthly payment around 10% of your monthly gross starting salary. • Starting salary $35,000, only borrow $35,000 for your entire degree. • Monthly payment $350 per month for 10 years

23. Realities of Financial Aid • Nearly two-thirds of non-college saving parents aren’t saving for college because they believe their student will earn enough financial aid/scholarships to cover the cost of paying for college. • Scholarships and grants don’t cover the full cost of college. • $6,527 average scholarships/grants • $20,882average cost for one year of college • 31% of undergraduate costs covered • Talk about paying for college early and often. Create a plan that will cover the costs after scholarships/grants Source: How American Saves for College 2015

24. Financial Aid Package Review

25. Financial Aid Package Review College A $43,900 (Direct Costs) – $27,200 (Scholarships & Grants) = $16,700 (Remaining Cost) College B $19,900 (Direct Costs) – $6,350 (Scholarships & Grants) = $13,550 (Remaining Cost)

26. Financial Aid Package Review College A $16,700 (Remaining Cost) – $3,000 (Personal Savings) = $13,700 (May need to borrow) College B $13,550 (Remaining Cost) – $3,000 (Personal Savings) = $10,550 (May need to borrow)

27. Decision Time • Remaining costs after scholarships, grants and savings: • Select a less expensive school • Work to pay the balance • Payment plan • Student loans (Direct Student/Private Loan Options) • Combination of the above

28. Borrow Wisely • Understand the connection between your future career salary and the amount you could borrow. • Don’t over-borrow • Check out the Game Plan – a planning tool to help you estimate your career’s repayment capabilities • www.studentloan.org/gameplan

29. Financial Aid Package Review • Virtual Presentation Online • www.icansucceed.org.virtualpresentations • ICAN advisor compares two packages and outlines estimated vs real costs • Visit an ICAN center for individual assistance • Utilize the College Funding Forecaster Tool • www.iowastudentloan.org/forecaster

30. Finalizing Your Financial Aid • Select school and accept award package • Sign award letter and return to school • Use online college student portal • Payment Plan • Talk to financial aid office & complete paperwork • Student loans require: • Acceptance on Award Letter • Signed Mastery Promissory Note (MPN) • Completion of Entrance Counseling

32. Steps to Additional Aid • FAFSA - #1 Step • State of Iowa Application • Institutional Aid (all colleges applying to) • Local Scholarships • Online Scholarship Searches • Should begin scholarship searches immediately and continue throughout senior year

33. State of Iowa Aid • Iowa Tuition Grant Program • Iowa Vocational-Technical Tuition Grant Program • Kibbie Grant Program • Loan Forgiveness Programs • Future Ready Iowa Scholarship & Grant Program • State Scholarships – All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship • Separate application process

34. Iowa Financial Aid Application You may be eligible for Iowa scholarships and grants • Priority for awards • TRIO participants • Homeless Youth • Alternative Program/High School graduates • Are you a member of the National Guard • Foster Care/Subsidized Guardianship • Do you actively participate in the State Fair • www.iowacollegeaid.gov

35. Institutional Aid • Based on need or merit • Depends upon school funding • Scholarships deadlines may be earlier than institutional priority date • Contact admissions or financial aid offices for additional requirements

36. Scholarships • Should begin scholarship searches immediately and continue throughout senior year • Institutional (Oct-Jan) • Online (Nov-June) • Local (when available)

37. Scholarships • Make sure seniors know: • Transcript process • Letter of Recommendation Process • 2-3 weeks • Who to ask • Activity Resumes • Consider an early Fall senior session that helps them update/create their activity resume

38. Activities Resume • School information • Academic information • Activities • Number of activities • Years in activities • Leadership in activities • Honors/awards/talents • Community Service • Volunteer Work

39. Private Scholarships • Local scholarships • Employers (students’, parents’, etc.) • Professional & Religious organizations • Local businesses • Use the Internet – ICANsucceed.org/scholarships • raise.me • finaid.org • scholarships.com • fastweb.com • Goingmerry.com • iowacollegeaid.gov • scholarshippoints.com • studentscholarshipsearch.com • http://colleges.niche.com/scholarships • supercollege.com

40. Raise.Me Scholarships • Micro-scholarship program – 9th-12th Grade • Earn money for certain activities, courses, and events • Earn every year of high school • Account is free – www.Raise.Me • Iowa Colleges & Universities • Briar Cliff University • Buena Vista University • Cornell College • Drake University • Grinnell College • Luther College • University of Iowa • (All Iowa 99) • University of Northern Iowa

41. Scholarship Process & Tips • Stream Online • www.icansucceed.org/events • ICAN expert reviews process • The search • Cover letters • Letters of recommendation • The application • Writing a winning essay

42. Be Aware • “This scholarship is guaranteed or your money back.” • “You can’t get this information anywhere else.” • Watch out for: www.fafsa-application.com • Correct address:www.fafsa.gov

43. Apprenticeships & Career Training • Invite into schools during Fall semester • Coordinate student participation in National Guard STEM Events • Learn contacts and have available • www.icansucceed.org/careertraining

44. Earn as You Learn Iowa Building & Construction Trade Registered Apprenticeship Program • Combines job training with structured learning • No cost to students • Work side-by-side with professional tradesman • Job complemented by classroom experience • Students earn paycheck for both work and classes • Many programs guarantee employment upon completion

45. Decision Day • Celebrate all decisions • College bound • Career bound • Apprenticeships • Military • Have a senior wall that says what everyone is doing • Make announcements • Involve representatives from colleges, businesses, etc

46. Send Reminders • Housing/Roommates • Transcripts • After decision day • Orientation registration • How to say no to other choices • Financial aid acceptance/loan resources

47. Involve Parents • Communicate to parents talking points and guidelines • Layout family expectations early so there are no surprises • Academic- Grade expectations and consequences • Financial- Who’s paying the bills? • Where will spending money come from? • Are there spending limits? • Are credit cards part of the plan? • Social Life - Is a car going to campus? • Whose car and when can it be used?

48. ICAN Senior Alerts • ICAN Senior Alerts • Timely reminders about specific topics • For parents and students • www.icansucceed.org/signup • Counselor toolkit • https://www.icansucceed.org/school-counselors/senior-alerts-counselor-toolkit • Templates and videos to send to seniors • Email reminders and notifications of Senior Alerts

49. Tip of the Week Video • Senior Year Alerts • Career & College Corner Blog • Social Media

50. ICANsucceed.org