My Kid Is Going to College In A Few

Months… And I’m Really Nervous!!!

Tips for Understanding and Enjoying the College Admission and Scholarship Search Process

- - - - - - -Presented by:

DeeDee Barnes Bruns, AVP for Enrollment Management

THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM09/09

Research College Choices…

Ask some questions… Does the college offer the major(s)

your student is considering?

What size institution would be the best fit?

What type of environment? Region of the country, city size, weather, convenience of travel?

What about costs? And scholarships? AND…

CAN THEY GAIN ADMISSION??

Do Your College Homework… Magazine rankings

College guidebooks and surveys

Web search engines-Yahoo!, Webcrawler, etc.

College publications & web pages

College video and DVD visits

Admission rep visits, area college fairs

Try to narrow the list to 3-6 colleges by the beginning of the student’s senior year. Try to visit MOST if not ALL of those colleges! BUDGET for visiting!!

Make Every Campus Visit Minute Count…

Make appointments BEFORE visiting!!

Have questions ready Ask to speak to faculty/staff in area(s) of interest Check security reports and job/graduate school placement info Eat on campus & ask to see residence halls Talk to/observe currently enrolled students Take a tour (preferably w/ a student guide)

Help your student prepare for an interview and determine chances for admission

Thank You notes after a visit earn big points!

What Things Do Colleges Consider?What Things Do Colleges Consider?

Test Scores Test Scores (ACT and/or SAT…take both!)(ACT and/or SAT…take both!)

Grades Grades (in appropriately challenging college-prep courses)(in appropriately challenging college-prep courses)

Strength of curriculum Strength of curriculum (AP, IB, Honors, Dual Enr., etc.)(AP, IB, Honors, Dual Enr., etc.)

And sometimes…And sometimes…

Essays Essays (Follow directions and proof, proof, proof!)(Follow directions and proof, proof, proof!)

Recommendation Letters Recommendation Letters (Don’t wait till the last minute (Don’t wait till the last minute and expect a great letter. Plan ahead for who and when!)and expect a great letter. Plan ahead for who and when!)

Extracurricular Interests/Community Service Extracurricular Interests/Community Service (Laundry list resumes’ are easy to spot and not very credible. (Laundry list resumes’ are easy to spot and not very credible. So is “service for resume’ building. Focus on 3-5 things.)So is “service for resume’ building. Focus on 3-5 things.)

Making the Application Stand Out…What is an appropriate number of schools for your student to apply to? Think about application fees!

Be mindful of deadlines. (The College Calendar)

Have the student treat this as a homework project. Care should be given to the appearance and accuracy of the application, but PLEASE….no DDI !!!

Determine whether to complete the on-line application form (Always make 2 hard copies - 1 for *your*records and another for your guidance counselor!)

Essay required? Give it proper attention!

Understand various kinds of admission decisions,

what they mean AND require, i.e. Early Decision, Early Action, Deferral, Wait List, etc.

Competitive Schools and/or Competitive Competitive Schools and/or Competitive Scholarships = Scholarships = Interviews and EssaysInterviews and Essays……

Many selective schools require an admission essay. Many selective schools require an admission essay. Do’s and Don’ts…Do’s and Don’ts…The more selective the school, the more likely a The more selective the school, the more likely a student will benefit by scheduling an interview student will benefit by scheduling an interview IFIF they they are well-prepared and polished!are well-prepared and polished!Occasionally, admission will be influenced by the Occasionally, admission will be influenced by the quality of your interview and/or essay.quality of your interview and/or essay.

BUT…BUT… the the qualityquality of an interview and/or an essay of an interview and/or an essay

will nearly ALWAYS affect scholarship will nearly ALWAYS affect scholarship amounts —positively or negatively, amounts —positively or negatively,

it’s up to the student!!!it’s up to the student!!!

A Big Question… How Will We PAY for College?

What is the difference between scholarships and financial aid?

What is the FAFSA and what does it do?

Will financial aid pay for my education?

File ALL the required forms and adhere to ALL the deadlines (back to the College Calendar!)

Research the options, apply early & expect higher education will be costly!

Types of aidGrants/Scholarships

OR Loans… OR Work

What is a Grant? Grants are “free money” that

you qualify for because of demonstrated financial need.

Remember …… Grants are Great!

– PELL Grant does not have to be re-paidHard to qualify for; few do, so don’t panic!

Maximum PELL Grant award for the fall 09 year is $5230. Minimum is $400

– SEOG Grant also does not have to be re-paidPreference goes to PELL recipients

Sign Letter “G”

What About Loans?

– Federal Perkins Student Loan (5%)– Stafford Student Loans (2 types)

* Subsidized (5.6% interest) is need-based and the government pays the interest while the student is enrolled at least ½ time

* Unsubsidized (6.8%) is not need-based, but interest is not deferred;

interest must be paid quarterly while in school

– PLUS (Parent) Loans 7.9 -8.5% depends on college

Loans that make your “1st choice” college a viable option are an excellent investment. Be prudent and take out only what you need.

Loans, continued…

Eligibility and Loan Limits (by class) for Subsidized Stafford Loans

Regular student enrolled at least 1/2 time

Dependent undergraduates can borrow through the Stafford Student Loan:

$3500 - first year maximum

$4500 - second year maximum

$5500 - junior and senior year maximum

Loan eligibility amounts increase as you demonstrate your ability to progress

successfully through college.

Federally Funded Work-Study…

– Federal Work Study Program provides jobs for students with financial need.

Considered financial aid because the government pays 75% of the student’s

salary and the college pays 25%.– Encourages community service work and work related

to course of study– Jobs pay at least minimum wage – Paid by the hour in regular pay period– Jobs available both on- and off-campus

Studies show college students who work 10-14 hours per week have higher GPA’s and are more likely to graduate.

How the Government Determines Financial Need Is NOT Magic…Government-funded financial aid is awarded on the basis of something called “Demonstrated Financial Need”A formula from the Federal Government determines your financial need, NOT the individual college!

Your EFC (Expected Family Contribution) is used as part of the calculation for financial aid

A simplified version of the formula is this:

Cost of the College

- minus EFC (Expected Family Contribution)

= Demonstrated Financial Need

Parents of Juniors… Parents of Juniors… Curious to know your approximate EFC?Curious to know your approximate EFC?

The Federal Government has a form you The Federal Government has a form you can complete that gives you an can complete that gives you an “early estimate” of your EFC “early estimate” of your EFC based on the current year’s based on the current year’s income and assets to help income and assets to help you make projections for you make projections for NEXTNEXT year. Go to… year. Go to…

http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/

Web Sites to Help in the Web Sites to Help in the Search for ScholarshipsSearch for Scholarships

www.fastweb.com

www.collegetoolkit.com

www.collegeboard.com

AND my favorite internet source for AND my favorite internet source for information on all things college:information on all things college:

GOOGLEGOOGLE!! Google the scholarship Google the scholarship phrase or phrases that are most specific to you and to phrase or phrases that are most specific to you and to your interests, i.e. “college scholarships your interests, i.e. “college scholarships male nursing”male nursing”

Staying organized is KEY!Staying organized is KEY!The value of “THE COLLEGE CALENDAR”The value of “THE COLLEGE CALENDAR”Log of info sentLog of info sentPhotocopies/hardcopyPhotocopies/hardcopyList of key contact people w/ phone numbers List of key contact people w/ phone numbers and/or e-mail addressesand/or e-mail addressesFinal decision “etiquette”Final decision “etiquette”

Know Your Rights … ANDKnow Your Rights … ANDKnow Your Know Your ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities!!

www.nacacnet.org/MemberPortal/AboutNACAC/Policies/……then scroll to “Students Rights and Responsibilities”then scroll to “Students Rights and Responsibilities”

QUESTIONS?