Life after High SchoolLife after High School

Review… Review…

Understanding the school system: Understanding the school system: Standards & ExamsStandards & Exams

Activity: Graduation Requirements. Activity: Graduation Requirements. Exams and QualificationsExams and Qualifications High School graduation High School graduation

requirements:requirements: Courses of Study and Credit Courses of Study and Credit

requirementsrequirements Strategies for SuccessStrategies for Success

WhatWhat willwill we do tonight? we do tonight? Learn about higher education opportunitiesLearn about higher education opportunities Learn about available sources of financial aid. Learn about available sources of financial aid.

The difference between these sourcesThe difference between these sources

Identify ways for the student to help out with the Identify ways for the student to help out with the cost of obtaining a higher education. cost of obtaining a higher education.

Compare the options in higher educationCompare the options in higher education Learn about FAFSALearn about FAFSA Learn about resources that may assist in Learn about resources that may assist in

obtaining financial aid. obtaining financial aid.

Life After High School: Life After High School: OptionsOptions

For Middle Schoolers:For Middle Schoolers:

Parents and Students: Parents and Students: Did you talk about the Did you talk about the course of study your child would like to course of study your child would like to

pursue?pursue?

For High Schoolers:For High Schoolers:

Parents: Parents: Did you find out what course of Did you find out what course of study your child is following?study your child is following?

Parents and students: Did you discuss Parents and students: Did you discuss whether or not the course of study you are whether or not the course of study you are

following will meet your goals?following will meet your goals?

Homework…Homework…

What do you want to do?What do you want to do?

Students:Students:What do you plan to do What do you plan to do

after high school?after high school?

Parents:Parents:What are your dreams for What are your dreams for

the future?the future?

Options for Higher Options for Higher EducationEducation

ActivityActivity

Community Colleges vs. UniversitiesCommunity Colleges vs. Universities

Options for Higher EducationOptions for Higher Education

Two Year Colleges ( Community & Junior)

Four Year Colleges & Universities

Two-year schools offer certificate programs, technical programs (associates degrees) and transfer programs. The coursework leading to an associate’s degree is usually transferable for credit at a four year school.

Four year schools offer bachelor’s degrees. Most also offer post graduate degrees such as master’s degrees, doctoral degrees and professional degrees

Advantages:Open enrollment policyLower tuition cost as compared to a four year schoolTransfer agreements between community colleges and four year schools allow a student receiving a two year degree to be accepted with junior status at any four year school state-wide.

AdvantagesGreater selection of majors and classes than are available at a two year schoolGenerally considered to be more prestigiousIncreased access to faculty members who are more involved with research

Good Option for:Students who are unsure of academic ability Students who are unsure about long term goalsStudents who are concerned about costStudents who are interested in updating existing work skills

Good Option for: Students who are confident in their academic abilityStudents who are confident about career goalsStudents entering professional fields or occupations such as those in the health sciences, law, education or engineering, which may require more advanced degrees

Public Institutions vs. Private InstitutionsPublic Institutions vs. Private Institutions

Options for Higher EducationOptions for Higher Education

Public colleges: less expensive than private colleges.Because these school are government run, a large percentage of their budget is received from the state or local government. Students who live in that state pay a relatively low tuition. Out-of-state students usually pay higher tuition rates.

Private colleges: tuition is generally more expensive than public institutions because of a lack of financial support from state and local governments. Private institutions depend on tuition , fees, gifts, corporate contributions and endowments. In-state and out-of-state students are usually charged the same tuition.

Myth BustingMyth Busting

ActivityActivity

Financial Aid that Financial Aid that does not does not need to need to be repaid:be repaid:

ScholarshipsScholarships:: - Academic excellence, financial - Academic excellence, financial need, volunteerism, member of need, volunteerism, member of organizations, athletic ability, etc.. organizations, athletic ability, etc..

- Federal agencies, private institutions - Federal agencies, private institutions including businesses, religious and including businesses, religious and community organizations, non-profit community organizations, non-profit organizations,and the actual organizations,and the actual academic institution., academic institution.,

Types of financial aidTypes of financial aid

Grants:Grants:

- - Generally awarded based on economic Generally awarded based on economic need, but can also be based on academic need, but can also be based on academic merit. merit.

- Awarded by state or federal government as well as the university itself.

- Examples: Federal Pell Grant;Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunities Grant;Academic Competitiviness Grant; SMART Grant.

Types of financial aidTypes of financial aid

Federal Work StudyFederal Work Study- Students work flexible hours on and - Students work flexible hours on and off campusoff campus

- The money students receive is - The money students receive is based entirely on the economic based entirely on the economic resources of the student. resources of the student.

- Not all universities participate in - Not all universities participate in this program. this program.

Types of financial aidTypes of financial aid

Research Assistantship:Research Assistantship:

- Jobs on campus with a particular department or professor- A limited number of scholarships available. Apply at the same time as entrance application or as soon as you have been accepted.

Types of financial aidTypes of financial aid

Hope Tax Credit:Hope Tax Credit:- Tax credit up to $1,500 for the first two years of college.

Life Long Learning Tax Credit:Life Long Learning Tax Credit:

- - Tax credit offering tax reduction for the first two years of college.

Types of financial aidTypes of financial aid

Financial Aid that Financial Aid that does does need to need to be repaid:be repaid:

LoansLoans::- - Awarded by public and private agencies to help pay the college expenses.

- - It is important to investigate and be well informed before requesting a student loan.Use only reliable sources...

Types of financial aidTypes of financial aid

LoansLoans::

- - Federal Perkins- Federal Stafford- Federal PLUS - Institutional Loan

- Private LoanPrivate Loan

Types of financial aidTypes of financial aid::

Most students generally receive a combination of the previous options.

Types of financial aidTypes of financial aid

FAFSA = Free Application of Federal FAFSA = Free Application of Federal Student AidStudent Aid

Free application offered by the Free application offered by the government to determine financial government to determine financial aid eligibility.aid eligibility. Who is eligible?Who is eligible? How to apply?How to apply? When to apply?When to apply?

¿What is FAFSA?¿What is FAFSA?

Participants will receive a financial Participants will receive a financial aid bingo board. aid bingo board.

One type of financial aid will be One type of financial aid will be described. described.

Participants will identify the type of Participants will identify the type of financial aid. If it is on your board, financial aid. If it is on your board, mark it. mark it.

The first to complete a line of four The first to complete a line of four wins! wins!

BingoBingo: : Financial AidFinancial Aid

Activity:Activity: Each family is a team. Each family chooses one ‘case’ Using the information about the

case, each team completes the worksheet.

Compare your case with the sample case.

Each team presents their work Which option is the best for your Which option is the best for your

familyfamily?

Comparing Your optionsComparing Your options

Open Discussion:Open Discussion:

Parents: How do you expect your Parents: How do you expect your children to contribute towards some children to contribute towards some of the expenses associated with of the expenses associated with attending a college or university?attending a college or university?

Students: How can you help to cover Students: How can you help to cover

some of the cost associated with some of the cost associated with attending a college or university?attending a college or university?

Financing Higher Financing Higher EducationEducation

This week’s homework…This week’s homework…For High Schoolers:For High Schoolers: Each family should fill out a Each family should fill out a

FAFSA form (see tips on how to fill FAFSA form (see tips on how to fill this out in handouts)this out in handouts)

For Middle Schoolers:For Middle Schoolers: Talk about career choices and what Talk about career choices and what

would be the best option for obtaining would be the best option for obtaining a higher education. a higher education.

Talk about financing higher Talk about financing higher education. education.

CommentsComments?? QuestionsQuestions??

Thank you and Good Thank you and Good Luck!Luck!