Transcript School Name - StudentServices

Douglas Brady
Associate Director of
Admissions
Radford University
How
college can
change
your life
College is important
• Unemployment rates are directly tied to your
level of education
• Studies consistently show that attending
college adds to your lifelong earnings
• Difference between a high school graduate and a
four-year degree – between $800,000 and $1 million
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College is important
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College is important
• People who have attended some college
• Report higher levels of job satisfaction
• Typically live healthier lifestyles
• Enjoy benefits such as insurance, paid
vacation, a retirement plan, etc.
• Are more involved in their communities
through higher levels of volunteering and
voting
• It’s true—college is important!
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Choosing
the right
college
Many choices
• There are over 6,000 colleges to choose from in
the United States
• With this many choices, where and how do you
start to look for the college that is right for
you?
• Before you start searching, think about your
goals
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What are your goals?
• Some students already know they want to
• Learn a trade or enter a specific profession
• Obtain a degree, maybe in a specific field
• Not sure about your goals?
• College is a great place to explore your
options
• Goals can change while researching
colleges
• About 80% of college students
change their major at least once
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Choosing a college
• Narrow down your list of potential colleges by
identifying the characteristics important to you
• Factors some students consider
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Program or major you are considering
College size
Class size
Location or distance from home
Support programs
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Choosing a college
• Additional factors to consider
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Campus culture
Extracurricular activities
Religious or cultural affiliations
Cost of attendance
• Ultimately cost matters but
• Think about cost when making your final decision,
not as much when starting your search
• Consider your net out-of-pocket cost, not just
the sticker price
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Researching college choices
• Parents and school counselors can help
• There are many college search web sites
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www.CollegeProwler.com
www.CollegeBoard.org
www.PrincetonReview.com
www.nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator
www.vawizard.org
• All these sites allow you to search
for colleges based on the factors that
are important to you
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Your college applications
• Each college has its own requirements for
completing the application process
• These can include
• Completing a short form and taking a
placement test at a community college
• Submitting test scores, essays,
reference letters and a
portfolio at some colleges
• Check each college’s
web site for requirements
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Your college applications
• Determine college application due dates
• Postmark date or arrive by date
• Note on your calendar
• Read the directions carefully
• Ability to follow directions correctly is
part of the acceptance criteria
• Meet the application deadlines
• Each college sets its own deadline
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Your college applications
• Application fees
• Most colleges have an application fee
• Many colleges will waive the fee
• You may have to submit
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SAT or ACT scores
Transcripts
References/recommendations
Essays
Other evidence of talent
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College entrance exams
• For many students, the admissions process
includes taking college entrance exams
• PSAT or PLAN – “Practice” tests for the SAT/ACT
• Placement tests
• SAT or ACT
• Disability accommodations
and fee waivers
are available
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College entrance exams
• SAT
• Measures conceptual thinking rather than facts
• Critical reasoning, math, and a required writing test
• ACT
• Measures what you learned in high school
• English, math, reading, science and
optional writing test
• Depending upon your learning
style, you may perform better
on one test versus the other
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Your college applications
• Transcripts
• Official high school transcript needed for
each college application
• College transcript also required if you’ve
taken any college courses
• Transcript is used to document your
GPA, class rank and the rigorousness
of your high school program
• Many acceptances contingent on
maintaining GPA
• Most require a final high school
transcript
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Your college applications
• References
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Usually from teachers, other adults and peers
Allow plenty of time
Give as much information as possible
Include stamped, pre-addressed envelope
Write thank you notes to your references and let
them know when you get accepted
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Your college applications
• Admissions essays
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Stay on topic
Essays should be error free
Don’t exceed the word limit
Be yourself
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Your college applications
• Other evidence of talent
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Portfolio
Audition tapes
Writing samples
Contact specific program for
more information
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Any
questions?
Paying for
college
Sources of college funds – 2012
Source: “How America Pays for College”, Sallie Mae, 2012
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Your college costs
• Which college would cost you the most to
attend?
• Example private college - $55,850
• Sample state college - $19,619
• The answer seems obvious,
but it isn’t as simple as
comparing these numbers
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Your college costs
• When you look at the costs listed on the
previous slide, you are looking at the college’s
“sticker price”
• More formally known as “Cost of Attendance” (COA)
• Consists of direct and indirect costs
• Direct costs are paid to the college
• Tuition and fees
• Room and board if living on campus
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Your college costs
• COA also includes indirect costs
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Room and board if living off campus
Books and supplies
Personal expenses
Transportation
Allowance for dependent care
Loan fees
Cost of a personal computer
Costs related to disability
Reasonable costs for study abroad
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Your college costs
• Comparing COA – the “sticker price” – of
various colleges does not give you an accurate
picture of what it will cost to attend
• Can get an estimate of net price by using
your college’s “net price calculator”
• You find out the actual net price by
applying for financial aid
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About the FAFSA
• FAFSA = Free Application for Federal Student Aid
• Determines eligibility for
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Most federal financial aid programs
Many state financial aid programs
Much of the aid colleges award from their own funds
Some scholarship programs
• Colleges may require additional forms to collect
more detailed data
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About the FAFSA
• FAFSA asks you questions about
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Income
Assets
Family size
Number of family members attending college
• Number one reason people don’t file a FAFSA
• They assume they are not eligible for aid
• This may be a costly assumption
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Cost of not filing
• Each year 1.7 million students who would be
eligible for financial aid do not file a FAFSA
• 33.1% would have qualified for a Pell Grant
• 17.1% would have qualified for the maximum Pell
Grant award
• Also missed out on potential aid from the state,
the college and many scholarship providers
Source: Mark Kantrowitz, “Reasons Why Students Do Not File the FAFSA”,
January 2011 www.finaid.org/educators/20110118nofafsareasons.pdf
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About the FAFSA
• Three versions of the FAFSA
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Online – www.fafsa.gov
PDF FAFSA – Print from your computer
Paper FAFSA – Call 800.4.FED.AID
It is always free to complete the FASFA
• Online version is best
• Built-in edits make it easier to complete accurately
• Sign it electronically with your PIN obtained from
www.pin.ed.gov
• Faster results
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FAFSA help is available
• You can receive in-person help in completing
the FAFSA at a “ 2013 Super Saturday” event
• Financial aid professionals will help you
complete the FAFSA online
• The date for 2013
• Saturday, February 9, 2013
• Details at www.vasfaa.org
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Navigating financial aid
• After completing the FAFSA, the student
receives the Student Aid Report (SAR)
• Correct any errors and return
• SAR contains Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
• FAFSA information is also sent to the colleges
you listed to receive the data
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EFC determines aid offered
• COA (Cost of attendance) — EFC = financial
need
• Financial aid office will then determine the
student’s eligibility for federal and state
financial aid, and for any aid the college may
be able to offer from its own funds
• Financial aid office may ask for additional
information
• Student will receive an award letter
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Types of federal financial aid
Need-based federal aid
• Pell Grant
• SEOG
• Work-study
• Perkins loan
• Subsidized Stafford loan
Non-need-based federal aid
• Unsubsidized Stafford loan
• PLUS loan
• TEACH grant
There are additional Federal financial aid programs, most
of which require you to file a FAFSA
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Virginia grants summary
Virginia
Commonwealth
Award
VGAP
VTAG
Award
based on
Need
Need and merit
Attending a VA
private college
Eligible
schools
VA public
colleges
VA public
colleges
Participating VA
private colleges
Maximum
2012-13
award
Up to tuition and Up to tuition,
fees
fees and books
Approximately
$2,800
Other
information
Neediest get
largest awards
Must be fulltime student
Must maintain a
2.0 college GPA
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Understanding award letters
• Read your award letter carefully
• Could be either on paper or online
• Follow instructions for next steps
• Meet all deadlines
• Inform college of changing financial issues
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Understanding award letters
• What if it’s not enough?
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Research private scholarships
Consider any potential employer benefits
Check into college tuition payment plans
Make financial aid office aware of changes in your
financial situation
• Reminder – you must complete the FAFSA to be
considered for most types of aid
• Consider part time employment during college
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Any
questions?
Scholarship
searches &
scams
Scholarships
• A form of gift aid – money given to students
that doesn’t have to be repaid
• There are lots of different types of scholarships
• You don’t always need
• a very high GPA
• to be the greatest athlete
• Diligence and perseverance are great tools
when applying for scholarships
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Scholarships
• An estimated 45% of college students receive
scholarship funds
• Average scholarship amounts received
• 4-year public college = $4,876
• 4-year private college = $14,016
• Community college = $2,929
Source: How America Pays for College 2012
https://www1.salliemae.com/about/news_info/research/how_america_pays_2011/ 42
Popular scholarship sites
• Three good and legitimate sites
• Fastweb – www.fastweb.com
• College Board – www.CollegeBoard.com
• Scholarships.com – www.scholarships.com
• Many other scholarship search sites but
• Avoid paying a fee
• Keep an eye out for possible scams
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Other scholarship resources
• A successful scholarship search extends beyond
the Internet
• High school counselor
• May have a list of local competitions
• Check with other area high schools
• College/University
• Financial aid office
• Check within your major
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Other scholarship resources
• Family and friends
• Employers
• Religious, civic, and
community organizations
• Foundations
• Military
• Public library
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Successful scholarship candidates
• Apply for many different scholarships
• Request application allowing plenty of time to
complete application requirements
• Turn in error-free applications
• Follow all application directions
• Watch out for the fine print
• Keep copies of completed applications
• Be thankful and gracious
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Scholarship applications
• May need to provide
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Proof you have filed the FAFSA
Essays/personal statement
Letters of recommendation
Examples of work in specific study area/portfolio
SAT/ACT scores
Transcripts
Interview – in-person or phone
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Watch for scams
You’re guaranteed to win or your money back
You can’t get this information anywhere else
Give us your credit card number to get started
The scholarship will cost some money
You are a finalist (for a scholarship
you didn’t apply for)
• If it sounds too good to be true
• Come to a free seminar
• We’ll do all the work for you
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Tips to remember
• Scam mailings often sound and look official
• Expect winning notification from legitimate
scholarships via mail not by phone
• Watch out for 900 area code
telephone numbers
• Always walk away from high
pressure sales
• Be wary of endorsements
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When you win
• What to expect
Congratulations letter – keep a copy for your records!
High profile scholarships may include follow ups
May need to send transcripts and proof of enrollment
Fulfill obligations –
such as thank you letters
• Check may be sent to you or
your college
• College may adjust your
financial aid award
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Any
questions?