A Counselor’s Guide To Life Beyond High School

1. A Counselor’s Guide To Life Beyond High School

2. The Search • Focus on your student’s interests, both academically and socially.Such as: • Programs & Majors • Student Life & Housing • Support Services on Campus • Location • Career Opportunities • Athletics & Music Programs • Cost • Size of School • Alumni Support

3. Search resources • College review books • College websites • Princetonreview.com • Collegeboard.com • Collegequest.com • Nacacnet.org • Washingtoncouncil.org • Wois.org

4. The Search • Attend College Fairs • Meet with College Reps during High School Visits • National/Regional College Rep Visit • Visit College Campuses

5. Campus VisitsWhat do I do? • Meet with an admissions rep • Go on an organized tour • Visit a college classroom • Discuss scholarships/financial aid • Explore student life, dorm rooms, fraternities/sororities • Explore the city in general, it’s your student’s new home

8. 2 year Although four-year schools get all the media hype, many high school graduates head right to a two-year institution. • Why? • Cheaper, quicker, or highly vocational. • Two-year schools offer students the chance to start their careers sooner and with less (or no) debt. • You can also use a two-year school as a launching point to start earning your bachelor's degree. • Smaller, more personal classes. Who Goes There? • Students who simply want to save money on their general education courses before transferring to a more expensive four-year institution. • Students who are undecided on a career path. • Students looking to go directly into a trade or technical vocation. • Students looking to improve their academic transcript. Source: Collegeview.com

9. 4 year • Why 4 year? • They offer students on- and off-campus learning opportunities you simply can't find anywhere else. • Students who put the time and money into a four-year education will reap the benefits throughout their lives. • Who Goes There? • Those who want a well-rounded education and a flexible degree. • While four-year students are required to take a much broader range of courses than two-year vocational students, four-year students graduate with degrees that can be used for a wide spectrum of jobs in the real world. Source: Collegeview.com

10. 2 year VS 4 year • Technical and Community colleges are significantly cheaper and can prepare students for specific careers. • Students need to earn a transfer degree in order to transfer to a university and avoid taking general undergraduate required classes. • It’s ok for student to go to a 4-year university and be undecided. On average students change their majors 3 times.

11. Public University • Why • Typically offer a vast amount of majors and opportunities • Larger number of clubs, athletic programs and other activities • Significantly cheaper • Why Not? • Less personal attachment to staff and administration • Students are expected to be more driven and have less guidance in selecting majors and career opportunities

12. Private Universities • Why private schools? • Often they are small, which means smaller classrooms and closer connections to professors • Class are taught by actual professors and not graduate assistants (though small public schools offer the same opportunities) • Due to small communities, students have more opportunities for leadership roles in clubs and student governments • Can offer unique majors that are not available at public universities

13. Private • Why Not? • Significantly more expensive (but scholarships and grants can assist with this) • They offer fewer majors • The final con is of mixed opinion as they often have more rules which can lead some students to feel like they are missing out on being a full adult or being engaged in a full college experience. (though most parents will consider this a good thing)

14. Private VS Public • Again, visit the campuses of the school • Do not avoid privates schools due to cost, some private school have more funding (particularly with the current economy) and can offer more scholarships. • Connect with an admission counselor at the school of interest. A personal connection always helps. • If the school feels right, then perhaps it is the right school for your student.

15. NCAA • Must complete NCAA Initial Eligibility form @www.ncaaclearinghouse.net • The Steps: • Fulfill academic requirements. • Proactively approach colleges for recruitment. Parents and students need to self-advocate • Contact college coach directly • Use e-mail for correspondence, it’s easier for coaches • Prepare an ATHLETIC RESUME showcasing athletic achievements (years of participation, awards and honors, list other sports, etc) as well as academic achievements

16. ACT vs. SAT • ACT • Reading, Math (Algebra 2), Science, (Writing optional) • Test on knowledge learned in high school; more straightforward questions • No penalty for wrong answer • Writing section ask more practical questions • SAT • Reading, Writing, Math • (Optional Subject Test) • Test on test-taking abilities and innate abilities • Trickier questions particularly in math • Deducts for wrong answer • Writing section ask about abstract topics Which format feels right? Our students take the PLAN (ACT) in 10th and the PSAT (SAT) in 11th. How long can I sit? ACT = 2 hrs 55 mins SAT = 3 hrs 45 mins

17. AP/Running Start • AP • School will grant credit for College Board approved AP exams. Most schools will give credit for students who score a 4 or higher. Some school will give credit for a 3 but that depends on the school. • Running Start • Check with Whatcom Community college about which courses transfer for which Undergraduate Graduation Requirements.

18. Grades • Top/competitive/selective schools value students GPA, rigorous course load and extra curricular activities. They want to know that the student took challenging classes, were successful in them and are a well rounded student • Essentially for local and regional universities, a C in an AP class is not the end of the world.

19. The Application Processthe tricky part • Fee Waivers • Both the SAT and ACT give out fee waivers for up to four universities. Must have used fee waivers for the SAT/ACT. • If a family is on free and reduced lunch, students can also request a fee waiver from the school. • Many schools will waive the application fee if a student applies online.

20. Letters of Recommendationsthe process: • Create an Academic resume. Include: • Clubs • Sports both school and community sponsored • Volunteer opportunities (including CP) • Awards and Honors • Leadership roles (class/club officer, Capt. of team. • Anything that you would want a prospective college to know about you. Again, brag/self-advocate. • Make sure to set aside some time to speak with your writer about an additional information that you would want someone to advocate for (such as low grades due to divorce, death in family, etc.) • Give your letter writer 3 weeks to write the letter, we need time.

21. Common Applicationwww.commonapp.org • Students create their own log-in and can search for colleges that are using the common application • The common app is most used by independent and private universities. • It keeps track of deadlines for all of the schools and contacts the student’s counselor about where the student is with regards to completing their application. • Some schools still require a supplemental application that the student needs to complete in order to finish their application process

22. Transcripts • During the application process, many schools will request an official transcript. Students make their request in the main office. • Transcripts are only official if they are signed by a school official. • Some schools will request a sealed transcript, if the envelope is opened, this will break a transcript’s official status. (The same policy is applied to some letters of recommendation)

23. Financial Aid ~ Overview • Whatare the TOTAL COSTS of an education? • What are the TYPES of financial aid? • HOW do you apply for financial aid? • WHEN do you apply? • What’s the TIMELINE or FLOWCHART of the process?

24. Financial Aid Basics • What are the TOTAL Costs of an Education? (example is for WWU -2008-2009) • Tuition & Fees - $5,535 • Books/Supplies $925 • Room/Board $8,012 • Transportation $1,362 • Miscellaneous $1,722 Total= $17,556

25. 5 ways of Paying for Education • Family pays (parents & student – savings, checking, etc.) • Grants – Federal & State Grants, Institutional - mostly need- based • Scholarships – Institutional or Private – merit or need- based, interest, talent (arts/sports), specific affiliations, etc. • Loans • Work

26. 2 Major Categories of Financial Aid • . Gift Aid • Grants • Federal Grants - (demonstrated financial need based on FAFSA) • Pell Grant • Supplemental Grants • State Grants • Institutional • Scholarships – private or institutional

27. 2 Major Categories of Financial Aid (cont.) • . Self-Help • Work Study -- 19.5 max. hrs/week, flexible schedule, relates to studies • Loans • Perkins Loan (low interest - need-based) • Subsidized Stafford Loans (need-based) • Un-subsidized Stafford (not need-based) * • Parent Loan (non need-based, parent borrows)* • * not really financial AID

28. HOW to apply for Financial Aid • Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) eachyear • 25% of private colleges also want the CSS Profile available online at www.collegeboard.org • FAFSA is single form used to award all federal aid and most institutional aid -- required! • WHEN to complete the FAFSA: • as soon as possible AFTER Jan. 1 for each year

29. Get your PIN # NOW You need a PIN # & your Parent Guardian needs a Pin # At www.pin.ed.gov

30. Tips for Completing the FAFSA • Relax, Take it Step-by-Step -- • Estimate your income & taxes for the calendar year of 2010 (based on your tax info for 2009) • Student = pink, Parents = purple (2007) • Complete it with parents/guardian if possible • Fill in every section - blanks get returned • Q # 75 & 40 - asks about Income TAX paid • Assistance: see booklets or online for HELP

31. Timeline/Flow Chart • Late Dec, early Jan -- complete FAFSA • make copies if using the hard-copy !! • Send the FAFSA early Jan – to the Federal Processor by mail OR electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov • 3-4 weeks after FAFSA is mailed, you’ll receive the “Student Aid Report” (SAR) • review for errors/changes, make corrections if needed, make copies and send to colleges • Send a copy of the “Special Circumstances Letter” with the SAR to the college Financial Aid Office

32. Timeline/Flowchart(continued) • SAR will include the EFC(Estimated Family Contribution) – this is an important number!! • Before May 1 you will receive initial offer of financial aid. • Review offer to see if it will meet your needs. If O.K, sign and return to the college. If not, sign and return to college with an additional letter (Letter of Special Circumstance)

33. What is meant by ‘NEED’? • Total Cost of Education (all costs) minusEstimated Family Contribution (EFC) (EFC determined by the information you provide on the FAFSA. This EFC gets sent to the colleges you specify on the FAFSA) = Your Financial Need (colleges calculate your financial aid package based on this $$ amount)

34. Example of Financial Aid Award • EXAMPLE: Total Cost of Education = $16,000 • Estimated Family Contribution = $ 4,000 • Indicated Financial need = $12,000* • Total Gift Aid = $ 6,000 • state & fed grants, institutional scholarships) • Total Self-Help = $ 6,000 • work study, loans • Total Financial Aid = $12,000*