Welcome to College Information Night

1. Welcome to College Information Night September 28, 2011 6:30pm Chastity Sward, Guidance Counselor

2. Importance of Education • 99% of the fastest-growing careers require post-secondary training or education U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • Indiana will need 877,737 additional college degrees by 2025 to meet workforce needs. Lumina Foundation • About 14 million new job openings by 2018 will go to those with a two-year associate’s degree or occupational certificate. Ctr. On Education & Workforce at Georgetown University • Over the course of a lifetime, college graduates will earn about $1 million more than high school graduates. U.S. Census

3. Cost of Education • Traditionally, paying for public higher education has been a shared cost between the state and student/family. • Now, the burden is shifting to the student: 1970’s students/families paid 1/3 cost of college 1995~ 40% 2005~ 50% • The average debt load for students graduating from a 4-year college is now $17,250.27.

4. Cost of Education (cont.) Tuition at state colleges has grown by 300% since 1990. Indiana’s student debt load ranks 13th highest in the nation. Fewer than half of Hoosier students graduate college within 4 years Cost of college grows at ~7% per year Tuition doubles every 10 years Indiana spends about as much sending a student to college for a year as it does housing a prisoner in jail. 2/3 of students borrow money Total borrowing has tripled in the past decade Indiana Commission for Higher Education

5. Cost of Attendance in Indiana for 2011-2012 academic year • IU $18,044 Tuition, Fees, & Housing • Purdue $18,988 Tuition, Fees, & Housing • Ball State $15,948 Tuition, Housing only • USI $13,119 Tuition, Fees, & Housing • VU $13,573 Tuition, Fees, Housing & Books • Ivy Tech $3,355 Tuition only • UE $38,946 Tuition, Fees, & Housing

6. Timeline for Senior Year • Fall Semester • Make sure schedule/credits meet graduation requirements/admission requirements/NCAA eligibility requirements • Register to take SAT or ACT if you have not done so • Campus Visits • Submit admission applications with college admission office *Some programs/colleges will have early deadlines (i.e. Indiana University – Nov. 1st deadline to receive full consideration for merit scholarships; Purdue University – Nov. 15th is the admission application deadline for various programs as well as the deadline to be eligible for Purdue merit scholarships.)

7. Timeline for Senior Year (cont.) • Spring Semester • Financial Aid Night January 2012 • Complete FAFSA by March 10th receipt date deadline • Apply for scholarships of interest • Weigh admission offers and financial aid packages • May 1st typically deadline for accepting offers of admission • Watch for summer deadlines (orientation, registration, housing options, etc.) • *21st Century Scholars must complete and return Affirmation letters by March 10th deadline

8. Timeline for Junior Year Fall Semester -Make sure you are on track for your diploma type -Campus Visits -College Fairs -Explore colleges of interest -Explore career areas of interest (volunteer, job shadow, plan internship)

9. Timeline for Junior Year (cont.) Spring Semester - Campus Visits - College Fairs -Apply for any scholarships available to juniors -Explore summer programs at colleges & universities -Choose challenging courses for senior year -Take SAT or ACT -Register with NCAA Clearinghouse (if applicable)

10. Choosing a College What is important to you?

11. Consider College Characteristics • Four-year, two-year, technical or trade schools, apprenticeship program • Cost • Public, Private, or Proprietary • Location • Distance from home, Urban vs. Rural, Climate, Transportation costs/ease of access • Size, type of campus • Average class size • Liberal vs. Conservative, Coed, Religious affiliation • Reputation, prestige of school • Activities, organizations, sports

12. List, Compare, and Visit Schools Be organized in your search Research college websites Attend college rep visits to Barr-Reeve Make the most of your college visit days

13. College Visits • Important to get to that school & see if it ‘fits’ for you • Every senior is allowed 2 days excused absences to visit colleges; juniors 1 day • Student/parent’s responsibility to set up college visit • Contact Office of Admissions at least 2 weeks prior to schedule visit • Obtain absence forms from Guidance Office prior to date of visit (2 forms)

14. What to do on a college visit Admissions Office Departments of Interest Financial Aid Office Attend a class, if possible Tour campus Eat in the dining hall Visit a dorm Talk to current students

15. What to do on a college visit (cont.) • Anything of special interest to you (theatre, drama, athletics, etc.) • College visit is for YOUnot them

16. Applying to College Where to begin, when to begin, how to begin

17. Evaluation Criteria:(may vary among universities) • Subject matter expectations • Grades: HS GPA, Core GPA, Class rank • Courses & grades related to major • Trends in achievement • Strength of curriculum (w/senior year) • SAT/ACT Test scores • High school counselor’s comments • Essay • Time of year and space availability

18. Applying for Admission (cont.) • If you plan to participate in athletics at a Division I or II school, you must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse (typically spring of junior year) • Must meet NCAA freshman-eligibility requirements to be deemed eligible to compete in NCAA Division I or II athletics. *In addition to Core 40 or AHD requirements for IDOE

19. How to apply online Visit school’s website Fill out & submit application online Pay application fee online May need to download Counselor’s Signature page or request eSSR through e-transcripts Request high school transcript through e-transcripts

20. How to apply paper/pencil • Obtain application (from college, download from website or from guidance office) • Complete application & attach application fee • Turn completed application & application fee to the guidance office in a timely manner (at least 1 week prior to deadline)

21. Helpful Hints when filling out college applications • Apply early (application fees may be waived if apply early…$25-$50) College GO Week waivers!! • Most colleges prefer online applications (application fee may be waived) • If you are 21st Century Scholar or Project Aspire student, ask about fee waivers • If you attach additional sheets, be sure to put your full name on additional sheets

22. Helpful Hints when filling out college applications (cont.) • If you apply paper/pencil, follow up to make sure your application was sent. • If you have not heard anything from your college after 4-6 weeks, call admissions office and check on the status of your application. • Know what is on your transcript • Example: test scores updated?

23. Helpful Hints when filling out college applications (cont.) • If you’ve taken dual credit classes, you must request your college transcript (OCU) be sent to your university prior to registering for classes. • BE AWARE OF DEADLINES • Student’s responsibility • READ DIRECTIONS!! • Student’s responsibility to fill out application completely

24. Indiana e-transcriptThe preferred way to send your transcript • Safe, paperless way to electronically send transcripts to colleges • Students must sign up (Click on Indiana e-transcript link on Barr-Reeve’s Guidance Department web page) • Students need an email address • Students will receive an email when your transcript has been sent & received • Free & available 24/7

25. College Admissions Tests ACT or SAT

26. ACT or SAT • Every 4-year institution will require ACT or SAT scores • Will want to check with other colleges or trade schools to see if they require test scores • If you are a senior and you haven’t taken the ACT or SAT and plan on attending a 4-year institution, you need to be taking one of these exams ASAP • Must register • Test dates and registration deadlines are posted in the guidance office, senior newsletters, and on the web.

27. ACT or SAT (cont.) • May register online (preferred) or paper/pencil • SAT registration materials available in the guidance office • If you are a 21st Century Scholar or Project Aspire student, ask about fee waivers • Students with disabilities may be eligible to receive accommodations • If you plan on taking the ACT, check to see if your college requires the optional Writing portion

28. SAT • Critical Reading • Math • Writing • Average score is about 500 on each section of the test • Each section is scored on the 200-800 scale, where 200 is lowest and 800 is highest

29. ACT • English • Math • Reading • Science • Writing (Optional, but required by many colleges or for scholarship consideration) • Average Composite Score (21.0) *The composite score is an average of the four test scores (Eng, Math, Reading, & Science) • Each test is scored on the 1-36 scale, where 1 is lowest and 36 is highest

30. How do I pay for college?

31. Types of Financial Aid • Grants • Scholarships • Work-study program • Loans

32. Grants • Financial aid that you do not have to repay. • Government and other organizations award grants usually based on financial need • Academic Competitiveness Grant: • Up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study/ $1300 for second year • Must be full-time student and eligible for pell grant • Must have successfully completed Core 40 or AHD

33. Grants (cont.) • National SMART Grant: • Will provide up to $4,000 for each of the 3rd & 4th years of undergraduate study • Must be full-time student & eligible for a Pell Grant • Must be majoring in physical, life or computer sciences, mathematics, technology or engineering; or in a foreign language determined critical to national security

34. Scholarships • Financial aid that you do not have to repay • May be given for academic excellence (merit-based), financial need, distinction in a certain activity (sports or 4-H), or affiliation with a religious, civic, or school organization. • May be one-time award or renewable each year • Many are only awarded to incoming freshman

35. Work-Study Programs • Students work as part of their financial aid • Usually on-campus jobs

36. Loans • Borrowed money, will be paid back…WITH INTEREST!! • Many types of loans • Some are federally regulated, some offered by private companies

37. How to apply for financial aid • Fill out your FAFSA each year (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) • Must be received by Federal Processor by March 10th of each year • Attend Financial Aid Night • Contact Financial Aid Office at your university for university-specific forms or financial aid applications. • Most colleges will offer ‘Early Aid Estimator’

38. Scholarship Tips • Read Senior Newsletters and Barr-Reeve Scholarship Booklet • Check with financial aid office at individual college/university • Check with program or specific department at your university (i.e. School of Business) • Local organizations or businesses **parent’s employer • Search internet • BEWARE OF SCHOLARSHIP SEARCHES…NEVER PAY $ TO GET A SCHOLARSHIP

39. I’ve been accepted, now what? • Compare/contrast colleges and financial aid packages from each school • What questions do I need to find out before making my decision? • Typically prospective students don’t have to make a decision until May 1st • Prior to May need to make housing decisions • Very appropriate to contact and inform schools if you are declining their offer of admission

40. Points to ponder • If you are a 21st Century Scholar or Project Aspire participant, you can receive fee waivers for college application fees and SAT/ACT registration fees. • OCU, UE, Marian, Franklin cover remaining tuition not covered by 21st Century Scholars Award = full tuition! • IU & Purdue provide financial assistance for housing, if you are a 21st Century Scholar & meet eligibility requirements.

41. Things to remember • GRADES, GRADES, GRADES!! • Don’t lose sight of your goals • Colleges will request a final transcript • Colleges have the right to rescind their offers of admission, scholarships or change financial aid packages if your grades, diploma track, or class rank change!! • Stay organized • Keep a calendar of important dates & deadlines • Savor the momentsworking together as a family

42. Guidance Top Ten: • Read Directions • Keep a calendar • Develop Resume • Check email regularly • Go on campus visits • Apply for scholarships – don’t sell yourself short! • Register with e-transcripts • Read senior newsletters each month • Apply early • File your FAFSA!

43. Questions?