College Is Obtainable

1. College Is Obtainable Presented By: Pierre A. LaRocco, MEd. Information provided by: The University of North Texas

2. Graduation Requirements • SUBJECTCREDITS • English…………………………….4.0 credits • Social Studies ……………………4.0 credits • Mathematics……………………..3.0 credits • Science…………………………….3.0 credits • 4th Math or Science……………..1.0 credits • Physical Education……………...1.0 credits • Health.……………………………..0.50 credit • Foreign Language………………2.0 credits • Electives…………………………..5.0 credits • Senior Project……………………Successful Completion Total Credits: 23.50

3. Which college is right for you? The different types of colleges What to look for in a college What are the major differences in colleges? Touring colleges How to set up a college tour What questions to ask while on that tour What to look for during your tour What colleges want to see What classes should I be taking in High School? Who decides if you are accepted or rejected? SAT/ACT What are these tests? Which test should I take? What is on these tests? How do I prepare for this test? The application process Applications Transcripts Why do they want all this information? How do I write this college essay? Financial Aid FAFSA What is the FAFSA? How do I apply for the FAFSA? Grants Scholarships Athletics NCAA Clearinghouse Scholarships FAQ Things we will talk about

4. Why go to college? • Why go to college? • What does college give me? • I can get a job now. Why do I need to go to college and pay all that money? • In the end, it all comes down to money. • Did you know?

5. Why go to college? • College graduates, on average, make almost double what high school graduates make. • There is a direct connection between the amount of education you have and the amount of money you will make.

6. Why go to college? • That money difference goes beyond your first job. College graduates make double over their lifetime than their high school graduate counterparts. • Beyond just making money, there are some jobs that you cannot acquire without a college degree. • A college education can challenge you to explore and broaden your interests, attain your goals, and meet some of the best friends you'll ever have.

7. Which college is right for you? • With all of these colleges, how do I pick the right one for me? • First let’s look at: • What is a good college? • A good college is the one that is right for you. • What are all the different types of colleges and what do all these categories mean? • Two-year colleges • Most two-year colleges are called community colleges, although the name may be "XYZ Community College," "XYZ Junior College," or just “ • XYZ College." These colleges offer programs that can be completed in one or two years, usually falling into two categories: • "Transfer" programs • "Terminal" programs

8. Which college is right for you? • Four-year colleges • Public colleges • Private colleges • Religious Affiliation • Ethic Minority • Same Sex • Specialty Major

9. Other things to look at that make schools different • Accreditation • Academics • Faculty • Location • Size • Generally, large colleges offer a wide variety of majors (and concentrations within those majors), while very small schools often focus on the liberal arts or a few specialties. • Small colleges offer an intimate setting where you get to know just about everyone on campus and they all get to know you. Some students find this comforting, while others find it restrictive. • Cost • Majors • Support services • Campus life • Safety and security

10. Other things to look at that make schools different • Miscellaneous • When choosing the right college for you, also consider the intangibles. Some examples: • Are things happening on the campus — conferences and lectures, new buildings being built, a sense of energy about the future? • Does this college seem student centered? Are enrollment services scattered in half a dozen campus buildings or grouped together for students' convenience? Are staff members friendly and helpful? • Do the students on campus seem fulfilled and happy to be there?

11. Where to find information about colleges • Surf the web • Obtain college publications • Compare your choices • Visit the campus • Attend events for prospective students • Many colleges have special events for prospective students several times a year. These events generally provide more information than you'll get on a tour and give you a chance to meet other students who plan to attend the university. These events are often organized by the admissions staff or by student groups to answer typical questions about admissions, campus life, professors, academic programs, class scheduling, residence hall life, advising, scholarships, financial aid, and registering for classes. • If you can, it's a good idea to attend. You'll meet key people at the college and learn how to navigate the admissions process and how to get set up for your first semester. Chances are you'll learn more about college in a few hours than you ever thought you could.

12. Preparing for college • It Is Never Too Early • Plan Ahead • English: 4 credits/years (English I-IV) • Mathematics: 4 credits (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II and Precalculus) • Sciences: 3 credits (to be selected from Biology, Chemistry or Physics) • Social Sciences: 4 credits (World Geography, World History Studies, U.S. Government and Economics, and U.S. History) • Foreign Language: 3 credits (Levels I-III proficiency in the same language) • You should also take computer courses or be able to demonstrate proficiency.

13. College Entrance Exams • The tests primarily used for admission to colleges are the ACT and the SAT. The tests are used with your high school record to evaluate your level of academic knowledge. • SAT • ACT • Preparation Aids • Advanced Placement Tests (AP) • CLEP Tests

14. The Application Process • Applications • Everything that is on the application needs to be filled out unless it is stated on the application. • The application is the main way for the school to get to know you. It is important that you do not leave anything out. The application needs to become you since most schools will not get a chance to get to know you. • Official Transcripts • Essay • Who Is On The Evil Admission Board? • The admission boards for each school are the admission counselors. That’s right the same admission counselors who help you apply and guide you and tell you things about the school are also the people who decided if you are granted or denied admission. MAKE FRIENDS WITH YOUR ADMISSION COUNSELOR, AND ALWAYS WATCH HOW YOU ACT AND WHAT YOU DO AROUND THEM. • IMPORTANT • Your application is not complete and will not be reviewed until you have all of the information that the school asks for turned in. • Every school wants different things so create a check list for each school or ask the admission counselor for one and make sure you have all the information turned in.

15. Financial Aid • How to pay • Scholarships from colleges • Merit-based, need-based and athletic-based scholarships • Scholarships from other sources • Veterans' programs • Grants • Federal Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. • Work-study programs • Campus jobs (other than work-study) • Loans • The Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan and the Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students are two that are available to students regardless of financial need. • IMPORTANT • If you do not fill out and turn in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) then you will not be eligible to receive any scholarships, grants, or loans from the Federal, or State governments, and also the Schools.

16. Types Of Financial Aid • MERIT-BASED AID • Awarded to students who meet a certain set of criteria • Usually competitive • NEED-BASED AID • Awarded to students on the basis of financial need • Non-competitive

17. Sources Of Aid • FEDERAL GOVERNMENT – 88 % • STATE GOVERNMENT - 3 % • EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS • PRIVATE BUSINESS / ORGANIZATIONS 9%

18. Expected Family Contribution (EFC) CONSIDERATIONS • Student income • Student assets • Parent income • Parent assets • Number in family • Age of parents • Number in postsecondary • Business / Farm

19. How Colleges Use The EFC COLLEGE COST - EFC = NEED BALL STATE UNIVERSITY* College Cost $ 10,050 Family Cont. 4,000 NEED $ 6,050 Need Met (80%) 4,840 Need Unmet 1,210 TOTAL PAID $ 5,210 UNIVERSITY of NOTRE DAME* College Cost $ 30,207 Family Cont. 4,000 NEED $ 26,207 Need Met (100%) 26,207 Need Unmet 0 TOTAL PAID $ 4,000 * 1999-2000 budget figures

20. Institutional Aid • AMOUNT: Few hundred dollars to full tuition • Renewable • ELIGIBILITY: Students enrolled at that university • CRITERIA: Varies, often class rank and/or SAT/ACT scores • APPLICATION: Available from the postsecondary institution

21. Athletics • Athletic Scholarships • There is very little athletic scholarship money out there and most athletics do not offer a full scholarship. So, do not count on one. • NCAA Clearinghouse • What Do I Need To Do? • Test score rule: Test scores must be reported to the eligibility center directly from ACT or SAT. • High school core-course list: Is yours up to date? Verify the classes you are taking and/or scheduled to take appear on your high school's approved core-course list. • Amateurism questionnaire and final authorization signature: Remember to log back into your account and finalize your amateurism questionnaire before you enroll in college. If you are beginning school in the fall semester (August), you will need to complete the amateurism questionnaire and sign the final authorization signature on or after April 1 prior to enrollment. If you are beginning school in the spring semester (January), you will need to complete the amateurism questionnaire and sign the final authorization signature on or after October 1 of the year prior to enrollment.

22. A challenge College is a challenge for most students. You'll have more freedom than you've ever had. You may choose how many courses to take, what time to schedule them, and even whether to attend every class or not. With this freedom comes a great deal of responsibility. If you goof off, sleep, or party too much, you'll soon get behind in your studies and pay the price one way or another — getting bad grades, failing, or having to drop classes and pay to take them again the next semester. College Survival Tips Making the Transition The jump to college can be stressful. You're leaving behind your school, friends, family, and home, and going off to explore a new place, make new friends, learn new things, and set your own priorities. Many students overlook the stress involved in making so many big changes in such a brief period of time. The more prepared you are for college when you get there, the more ready you'll be to confront any new pressures. The Work Is Harder Courses are at a higher level than high-school classes and the material is presented at a faster pace. Plus, professors are likely to assign more reading, writing, and problem sets than you may be used to. Being Successful In College

23. You Make the Schedule You are responsible for managing your time in college. If you cut classes and don't do assignments, no one will nag you. You may wish they had if it comes time for the final and you don't know the material. More Independence—and Responsibility You may not have the same day-to-day support system as you do now. For example, how will you manage your money and debt, especially when credit card companies are bombarding you with offers? Who is around to make sure you're not getting sick or run down? Factors like stress, late-night parties, and generally pushing yourself too hard can take a toll. A New Social Scene New social opportunities (and pressures) abound. Suddenly, you can recreate yourself in any way you want. College is full of resources—professors, tutors, counselors, and often resident advisors. In college, it is up to you to initiate getting help. The good news is that once you do adjust to college life, it opens new doors to all sorts of learning—and living. Being Successful In College

24. Counselor Information • Pierre LaRocco • 215-952-8598 • plarocco@philasd.org • @SPHSCounselor • southerncounselors.wikispaces.org

25. Junior year in high school September Attend a college fair to begin gathering information on colleges. October Take the PSAT. Review PSAT results. Discuss any concerns you may have about your scores with your guidance counselor. February Register for spring SAT or ACT. Start a list of potential colleges. March Begin to visit your potential colleges. (Spring Break may be a good time to schedule visits.) May Take Advanced Placement exams. July Review college options, requirements and deadlines (admission, housing, financial aid and scholarships), and begin preparing to narrow college choices. Senior year in high school September Attend a college fair to ask specific questions about colleges. Register for fall SAT or ACT if necessary. Narrow list of potential colleges. Search for possible scholarships. October-December Attend campus-visit programs. Review final college list with high school counselor and parents. Request teacher recommendations if needed. Apply to schools with early deadlines or rolling admissions. Begin other college applications. Mail all admission applications, submit them online or turn them in to your high school, depending on the system your school uses. January Submit Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Apply for scholarships. Submit paper or online housing application for best selection of halls. Make sure your high school sends midyear grades to colleges you selected. March Visit campuses on final college list. April-May Attend campus-visit program at the college of your choice, if you haven’t already. Review college acceptances and scholarship awards. Pick your college and send in your deposit if required. Notify other colleges of your decision. Suggested Timetable

26. Accreditation: An endorsement given to educational institutions or academic degree programs by an organization that reviews qualifications. Associate's degree: A two-year degree from a community or junior college. Audit: To attend a class without receiving credit for the class. Bachelor's degree: A four-year degree from a college, university or professional school; usually requires at least 124 credit hours. Course numbers: Numbers assigned to specific classes. Credit hour: Credit given for attending one lecture hour of class each week for 15 weeks or equivalent. Most college classes are three credit hours, meaning their total meeting time for a week is three hours. Degree: A certificate of completion of a course of study. Degree plan: A specific list of required courses and electives to be completed for a degree. Doctoral degree: The most advanced degree that can be earned. Fees: Course-related costs to attend college. Flat-rate tuition: Policy instituted by some institutions in which students are charged a single rate beyond a certain number of credit hours taken. Freshman: A student who has completed less than 30 hours of college credit. Full time: Twelve or more credit hours per semester for undergraduate students. GPA: Grade point average; the average of your class grades, generally based on a 4.0 scale. Grants: Financial assistance that does not require repayment. Half time: Six credit hours per semester for undergraduate students. Internship: A job in a student's field of study; may be required in some academic programs and may include salary and college credit. Junior: A student who has completed 60 to 89 college credit hours. Glossary of College Terms

27. Loans: Financial assistance that must be repaid. Long session: Regular fall or spring semester. Major: A student's concentrated field of study. Master's degree: A graduate degree that usually requires two or more years of study beyond the bachelor's degree. Minor: A student's secondary field of study. Nonresident: Any student who lives out of state or does not meet specific state residency requirements. Online courses: Classes held on the Internet instead of in a traditional classroom. Prerequisite: A course that must be taken prior to enrollment in another course. Private university: A non-state assisted college or university that relies on private funding, tuition and fees. Public university: A state-assisted college or university. Registration: Enrollment in classes. Resident: A student who meets state residency requirements. Rolling admission: Policy in which a school sends out acceptance letters to students as they are accepted. Scholarships: Financial assistance based on merit; do not require repayment. Semester hour: See Credit hour. Senior: A student who has completed 90 or more hours of college credit but has not received a bachelor's degree. Sophomore: A student who has completed 30 to 59 college credit hours. Summer session: A summer term of approximately six weeks. Teleregistration: Registration by telephone for classes. Three-quarter time: Nine credit hours for undergraduate students. Tuition: Costs for courses, not including certain fees. Web-based classes: See Online courses. Web registration: Registration through the Internet for classes. Work-study program: A federal financial aid program that allows students to work on campus. Glossary of College Terms