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N avigating the Higher Education Process. 2013 hope for the future. Section I: Choosing a College. Choosing A School. Students have many options to advance education beyond high school Two-year community and junior colleges Four-year colleges and universities
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Navigating the Higher Education Process 2013 hope for the future
Section I: Choosing a College 2013 hope for the future
Choosing A School Students have many options to advance education beyond high school • Two-year community and junior colleges • Four-year colleges and universities • Technical, Vocational, or Trade School • http://studentaid.ed.gov/prepare-for-college/choosing-schools 2013 hope for the future
College Search Tool http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator • general school information; • tuition, fees, and estimated student expenses; • types of financial aid provided; • net price; • enrollment; • admissions requirements; • retention and graduation rates; • accreditation; • campus security statistics; and • default rates for students with student loans 2013 hope for the future
Admissions Requirements • Admission’s Advisor • Know the admissions requirements (GPA, GED, ACT, SAT) • Adhere to application deadlines for desired semester • Submit application fee • Submit additional documentation (Essay, or transcript) • Ask about alternative programs if student doesn't meet the general requirements 2013 hope for the future
Admissions Requirements • Admissions • Missed application deadlines • Apply at on-site admissions days • Apply for next semester • Student did not meet admissions requirements • Bridge program • TRIO program • http://www.coenet.us/coe_prod_imis/COE/Home/COE/Home.aspx?hkey=040cec49-d947-4110-b9fa-1f30bef9c919 2013 hope for the future
Financial AID • Financial Aid • Complete FAFSA as early as possible Available • January 1 each year for next academic year • http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ • Deadlines • State priority deadline • College priority deadline 2013 hope for the future
Financial Aid • Documentation • Homeless Student Status • Submit determination of homeless student status from verifier to Financial Aid Office • Verification • Separate process than verifying homeless status • Student will need to submit requested tax/income information in a timely manner 2013 hope for the future
Choosing a Major & Understanding Expectations 2013 hope for the future
Choosing A Major • Before choosing a major students should figure out what jobs or careers they are passionate about • Occupational Outlook Handbook • http://www.bls.gov/ooh/ • Students should consider jobs earning potential • Determine what schools offer that major • Where is the school located? • Consider the cost for the degree 2013 hope for the future
Take a Career Assessment • To decide if a careers matches a students skills and interests they can take a career assessment • Free assessments can be found at • CareerShiphttp://mappingyourfuture.org/planyourcareer/careership • Skills Profiler http://www.careerinfonet.org/skills/default.aspx?nodeid=20 • O*NET http://www.onetonline.org/ 2013 hope for the future
Choosing Classes • Schedule an appointment with an Academic Advisor • Get overview of degree requirements • Map out course schedule for the year • Create a Plan of Work to outline degree completion (Refer to catalog or bulletin) 2013 hope for the future
Understanding College Fees • There are many fee’s associated with attending college (tuition, student activity, medical insurance, housing, books, meal plans, miscellaneous, ) • Ask for assistance from Cashiers, or Student Accounts Office • If a student is being charged for a student activity fee encourage them to use the service (recreation, university transportation) • Seek alternative options for books (online versus bookstore) • Book Vouchers from Financial Aid 2013 hope for the future
Understanding College Fees • It is vital that homeless students determine the best housing/meal plan for them (on/off campus) • If a homeless student is residing on campus communicate with Housing Office about status • If not see if host families are in the area • http://www.couchsurfing.org/ • Student can become a Residential Advisor for reduced housing rate 2013 hope for the future
Health Insurance • Homeless students should see if they are eligible for any free state health insurance • http://finder.healthcare.gov/ • Determine if health insurance or immunizations are required for program • http://www2a.cdc.gov/nip/schoolsurv/schImmRqmtReport.asp • Consider the benefit of student fee(health insurance versus being uninsured) 2013 hope for the future
Student Services • Student Services offices can include: • Student Life/Student Center, Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrar, Academic Advising, Tutoring, Career Services/Counseling, Testing Center, Ombudsman Office • Student should know where each office is located and what services they provide • Remind student they are paying for these services so take advantage of them 2013 hope for the future
Best Practices on Campus • Campus advisors can work together to create campus networks to focus on meeting needs of homeless youth • Communicate with local homeless liaisons to streamline the transition process • Get involved with local state network for homeless youth that are accessing higher education • Create a SPOC on Campus 2013 hope for the future
Statewide Networks • Convene a meeting with local stakeholders from the McKinney-Vento K-12, Foster Care, Higher Education, and RHYA/HUD shelter communities as well as other local service providers and advocates • Allow each to share knowledge about their area of expertise • UHY and independent student definitions • Financial aid • Campus and community resources • Build an action plan for serving UHY/FCY that makes sense for your community 2013 hope for the future
Section II: Paying for College 2013 hope for the future
What is financial aid? Any source of funds other than from the family used to pay college expenses 2013 hope for the future
Sources of Financial Aid • Federal government • States • Colleges • Private sources 2013 hope for the future
Costs that Can be Paid with Financial Aid • Direct costs • Indirect costs 2013 hope for the future
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) • Standard federal form • Must be completed every year • Asks for demographic and financial information • Some students must provide parental information 2013 hope for the future
Dependency Status • Dependent students must provide parental data on FAFSA • Expectation of parental support • Independent students do not provide parental data on FAFSA • No expectation of parental support 2013 hope for the future
Who Can Make a Determination that a Student is an Unaccompanied Homeless Youth? • School district liaisons • Director or designee of a HUD-funded emergency shelter or transitional housing program • Director or designee of a runaway or homeless youth basic shelter or transitional living program • Financial aid administrator 2013 hope for the future
Department of Education Guidance • Determinations are not the use of professional judgment or a dependency override • Use McKinney-Vento Act definitions • Use of a documented interview 2013 hope for the future
Department of Education Guidance • Reach out to homeless education professionals • Use of discretion • Students may appeal financial aid administrator’s determination to Department of Education 2013 hope for the future
Tools for Financial Aid Administrators • Determination of independent status template • Making determinations tool 2013 hope for the future
Other Forms and Applications • CSS Profile • Institutional applications 2013 hope for the future
Awarding Process Cost of Attendance (COA) ─ Expected Family Contribution (EFC) ____________________________________ Financial Need 2013 hope for the future
Awarding Process • Financial aid packages consist of a mix of: • Grants/scholarships • Work • Loans 2013 hope for the future
Awarding Process Packaging philosophy varies from college to college so a student’s financial aid offer will also vary from college to college 2013 hope for the future
Understanding Budgets • College use the same standard cost components • Value of components will vary based on college type, location, and other factors 2013 hope for the future
Understanding Award Letters • EFC will be the same regardless of college • Mix of aid will vary by college • Look at out of pocket costs 2013 hope for the future
Scholarships • Common sources • Civic organizations • Houses of worship • Nonprofit organizations and foundations 2013 hope for the future
Searching for Scholarships • Fastweb!: http://www.fastweb.com/ • College Board: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search • U.S. Department of Labor: http://www.careerinfonet.org/scholarshipsearch/ScholarshipCategory.asp?searchtype=category&nodeid=22 2013 hope for the future
Impact of Outside Scholarships • Could reduce existing aid package from college • Changes depend on school policies and procedures 2013 hope for the future
Resources: State Programs • Some states have special provisions available for low-income and/or homeless students: • Indiana – Students receiving free lunch receive a tuition waiver when participating in Indiana’s Double Up Program (dual enrollment in college courses for students in 11th and 12th grade)http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title21/ar14/ch8.html • Indiana – Twenty-First Century Scholars Program - Income-eligible 7th and 8th graders who enroll in the program and fulfill a pledge of good citizenship are guaranteed to receive up to four years of undergraduate tuition at any participating public college or university in Indianahttp://www.scholars.in.gov 2013 hope for the future
Resources: State Programs • Florida – Homeless students are exempt from the payment of tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a school district that provides postsecondary career programs, community college, or state university (2011 F.S. 1009.25); Florida statute establishes the definition of “homeless” usedhttp://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=1000-1099/1009/Sections/1009.25.html • Look for resources in your state! 2013 hope for the future
Resources: Scholarships • Check with the high school’s guidance counselor for a list of private scholarships available to area students • The LeTendre Education Fund Scholarship: www.naehcy.org/letendre_ab.html(application period closed until 2013) • Give Us Your Poor/Horatio Alger Scholarship: https://www.horatioalger.org/scholarships/ 2013 hope for the future