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College 101

College 101. For Sophomores. Agenda. Words of Wisdom Preparing for Early College Preparing for a College Search Financial Aid/Scholarships Next Steps for Sophomores. Words of Wisdom. Most jobs do not require a 4-year college degree, but…

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College 101

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  1. College 101 For Sophomores

  2. Agenda • Words of Wisdom • Preparing for Early College • Preparing for a College Search • Financial Aid/Scholarships • Next Steps for Sophomores

  3. Words of Wisdom • Most jobs do not require a 4-year college degree, but… • Most jobs do require education or training beyond high school • More education = more $$$ “Education teaches a man how to spell experience” (Teacher’s Pet, 1958)

  4. Average annual salary by education level (source: U.S. Census Bureau surveys)

  5. Words of Wisdom You don’t need to go far away and you can start next year with the right index score. 88% of high school students go to college in their home state.

  6. Words of Wisdom 98% % Accepted If you want to go, you will get in. 70% of colleges accept an average of 70% of their applicants. Most of Utah’s Colleges have open admission policies (no minimum GPA or test scores) 100% 80% 82% 69% 100% 81% 100%

  7. How do I get into a College? • Fill out admission form during 1st half of senior year • Pay application fee (usually $25 to $45) • Send official high school transcript • Provide test scores (most colleges require or prefer the ACT)

  8. How do I get into a Early College? • Fill out admission form and consent form and give it to Ms. Nelson • Pay application fee (usually $30-if you have not paid already) • Take ACT no later than April, for Fall enrollment.

  9. Preparing for a College Search

  10. Know Yourself • Values • Ambitions • Achievements • Academic Strengths • Do your homework! • Interests • Your Standout Talents

  11. Types of Colleges

  12. Types of Colleges

  13. Types of College Degrees • Certificate(18 months or less) • Associate of Arts or Science (2 years, transfer-oriented) • Associate of Applied Science(2 years, career-focused) • Bachelor of Arts or Science (4 yrs) • Master’s degree (2 years beyond BA/BS) • Doctorate/Professional degree (2-4 yrs beyond Master’s degree)

  14. Preparing for College If you don’t have a major, it’s OK. More than half of new college students say a very important reason for going to college is “to find my purpose in life.”

  15. What is a “major”? • A “major” is just a concentration of courses in your main area of study • To earn a degree, you need 3 types of courses: • General Education (“Gen Ed”) • Major • Electives or minor • Visit to discover possible majors and interests.

  16. Choosing Your College Priorities What is important to you? • Location • Academics • Size • Campus Appeal • Social Life • Total Cost – Including aid • Extracurricular activities

  17. About College Admission Tests • ACT • Consists of four tests: English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing • Writing component is optional • Top composite score is 36 • SAT • Consists of three tests: Verbal, Math, Writing • Each test is scored on a scale of 200-800

  18. How to signup for the ACT? • Sign up online at www.actstudent.org • Submit form by deadline or pay the late fee! • Always on Saturdays • Fee is $33 • Recommended that you take it more than once.

  19. What information do college admission officers review?

  20. Collecting College Information – Where to go • Cappex.com - College search made simple. Your first stop to kick-start your college and scholarship search • nacacnet.org - National Association for College Admission Counseling. Offers national college fair information and articles about the college process • collegeboard.com - Information about the SAT • act.org - Information about the ACT test • Assessments, college information, test preparation, ACT practice tests.

  21. Scholarships

  22. Paying for College • Tuition @ Utah’s public colleges and universities ranges from $1250 to $2900 per semester • Private & out-of-state colleges cost more, but may also offer more financial aid • College is an investment, not an expense

  23. Merit Scholarship Tips Merit scholarships are where the money is. • There is more than $11 billion in merit scholarships available to students from colleges • Not just for “A” students • Many awards emphasize leadership or school involvement • Nearly all colleges offer merit aid scholarships • The average merit scholarship is $5,000 • Many awards can be renewed year after year

  24. Financial Assistance • Two types of financial help are offered: * Scholarships * Need-based financial aid • Many students receive both types

  25. Need-based Financial Aid • Awarded on financial need, not grades • Most 18-to-24 year olds will file as dependents, so parents’ income & resources are considered (this is not necessarily a bad thing!) • No fee to apply, use FAFSA form after Jan. 1 of your senior year (available in Career Center)

  26. Examples of need-based aid programs • Grants (Pell Grant, state grants) – no repayment • Loans – must be repaid • College Work-Study (jobs on campus) Need-based aid could cover all college-related costs, not just tuition, depending on your family’s financial situation.

  27. Scholarships • Many types are available, including: • Academic (GPA/test scores) • Leadership • Talent • Departmental • Some are full-tuition, some just partial. VERY FEW “full-ride” scholarships! • Regents vs. New Century

  28. Scholarship Resources • Fastweb.com: Private scholarships • fafsa.ed.gov: Free Application for Federal Student Aid • Studentaid.ed.gov: The federal government’s website about paying for college • MeritAid.com: $11 billion in merit scholarships • Cappex.com: Scholarship matching • Finaid.org: Free student resource for learning about all types of financial aid • Utahscholarshipguide.info: Academic source for Utah students

  29. Next Steps

  30. Next Steps for Juniors In School • Stay focused on academics • Do not lighten your academic load for senior year • Meet with your school counselor • Stay involved in school activities • Do your homework (says Mr. Dau) Standardized Testing • Prepare for and register for ACT / SAT tests College Exploration • Explore colleges on the Web • Visit colleges if you can • Meet with college representatives • Attend college fairs

  31. Questions • Do you plan on returning to NUAMES? • Did either of your parents attend college? • Have you applied for any scholarships this year?

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