Going to College Applying and Financial Aid

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Going to College Applying and Financial Aid

• Occidental COLLEGE

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Why Go To College?

• Education allows you to help your family, serve
  your community, and achieve your goals.
• Create new career opportunities for yourself and
  earn more
• Average Income for Full-Time Worker without
  College Education
• 30,056
• Average Income for Full-Time Worker with College
  Degree
• 54,714
• Learn about something youre really interested in
• Meet new different people and try new things

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Applying to College

• Start now! What you can do in your junior year

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Steps to College
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Standardized Tests

• The PSAT/NMSQT
• Preliminary Standardized Achievement
  Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
• The SAT or the ACT
• Standardized Achievement Test
• SAT Subject Tests
• Subject-Specific Standardized Achievement Test

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The PSAT/NMSQT

• Taken during junior year - you may have already
  taken it!
• The qualifying test for National Merit
  Scholarships
• 50,000 students with the highest combined PSAT
  scores qualify
• All National Merit Qualifiers may opt to report
  their qualification to two colleges of their
  choice in April of their junior year
• In September of their senior year, two-thirds of
  qualifiers are named Commended Students and the
  other third continue for competition for National
  Merit Scholarship awards Semifinalists,
  Finalists, and Scholarship Winners

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The SAT

• SAT Reasoning Test 3 hours and 45 minutes
• Writing
• Scored out of 800
• Essay scored 1-12
• Math
• Scored out of 800
• Multiple choice, student-produced response, tests
  up to Algebra II
• Verbal
• Scored out of 800
• Sentence completion, passage-based reading

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The SAT Subject Tests

• SAT Subject Tests 1 hour per test
• Most colleges require 2 different subjects.
• For the UCs if you chose to take Math as one of
  your subjects, only Math Level 2 scores are
  accepted.
• The most selective colleges require 3 subjects.
• Examples of subjects US History, Spanish,
  Biology, Math levels I and II

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The ACT

• Test Length 2 hours and 55 minutes
• (plus 30 min. optional writing test)
• English/Writing
• Scored out of 36
• Tests Usage/Mechanics, rhetorical skills, student
  produced essay
• Math
• Scored out of 36
• Tests up to trigonometry
• Reading
• Scored out of 36
• Tests social studies, natural sciences,
  literature, humanities
• Science
• Scored out of 36
• Tests data representation, research summaries,
  logic
• Composite Score is the average of your four test
  scores, rounded to the nearest whole number.

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The SAT vs. The ACT
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Things to Keep in Mind About These Tests

• They are not an indicator of how smart you are
  rather they are a common benchmark against which
  all college applicants are held
• If you have a learning disability, you may have
  additional time to take the tests
• For those who qualify, the testing fees can be
  waived
• You are allowed to use a calculator

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A-G Requirements (for CSU, UC)

• A. History and Social Science (at least) 2 yrs.
• B. English 4 yrs.
• C. Math 3 yrs. (4 yrs. Recommended)
• D. Laboratory Science 2 yrs.
• E. Language-other than English 2 yrs.
• F. Visual and Performing Arts 1yr.
• G. College Preparatory Elective 1 yr.

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Types of Colleges

• Know your options
• 4 Year Public Universities (UCLA, CSULA)
• 4 Year Private Colleges/Universities (USC, Oxy)
• 2 Year Associate Degree Programs (PCC)
• Community Colleges (Glendale CC)
• Military Programs (US Coast Guard)
• Apprenticeships
• Private Career Colleges (De Vry)

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The UC System

• Most Selective
• Berkeley
• Los Angeles
• San Diego
• Selective
• Davis
• Irvine
• Santa Barbara
• Less Selective
• Merced
• Riverside
• Santa Cruz

• Application filing period November 1 30th
• www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply

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Applying to the UC System

• Admission Requirements
• A-G Subject requirements www.ucop.edu/doorways
• Eligibility Index www.universityofcalifornia.edu
  /admissions/scholarshipreq
• SAT Reasoning or ACT
• SAT Subject Tests (2 different subjects, if you
  chose to take Math, you must take Math Level
  IIC.)
• Personal Statement
• Students in the top 12.5 of their high school
  class are guaranteed admission to a UC School

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California State Universities (CSUs)

• Most Selective
• Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
• Selective
• Chico (Chico State)
• Fullerton
• Long Beach
• Cal Poly Pomona
• San Diego (SDSU)
• Humboldt (HSU)
• Less Selective
• Los Angeles
• Northridge
• San Marcos

• Less Selective (contd.)
• San Jose (SJSU)
• Stanislaus
• Bakersfield
• Channel Islands
• Dominguez Hills
• East Bay
• Fresno
• Monterey Bay
• Sacramento
• San Bernardino
• San Francisco (SFSU)
• Specialized Schools
• CA Maritime Academy

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Applying to the CSUs

• Admission Requirements
• A-G Subject Requirements
• Eligibility Index
• GPA www.csumentor.edu/planning/high_school/gpa_ca
  lculator.asp
• SAT/ACT www.csumentor.edu/planning/high_school/ca
  l_residents.asp
• ACT or SAT Reasoning
• Apply Online www.csumentor.edu
• Priority Application filing period October 1st
  November 30th

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Applying to Private 4-Year Schools

• Common Application 277 private colleges use the
  Common Application form exclusively. All give
  equal consideration to the Common Application and
  the college's own form.
• Admission Requirements
• Application
• SAT Reasoning/ACT, some require SAT Subject Tests
• Personal Essay
• 2 Teacher Recommendation
• School Report
• Midyear Report
• Supplemental forms
• www.commonapp.org

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2-Year Colleges (Associate Degree)

• Prepares student for a specific careers
• Takes two years or less to complete
• Associate Degree in Applied Science
• Non-transferable / may not apply to bachelor
  degree
• Technical training
• Associate in Science / Associate in Arts
• Combines general education with technical
  training
• Transferable
• May be applied to a bachelors degree
• Some four-year colleges offer associate degrees
  (Mount St. Marys)

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Apprenticeship Programs

• http//www.calapprenticeship.org
• On-the-job training (2000 hours, supervised by
  skilled craft worker)
• Related instruction (144 hrs per year)
• Sponsored by joint employer and labor groups
• Apprenticeship agreement (contract - apprentice
  and employer)
• Paid a progressively increasing schedule of wages

• Eligibility requirements
• 16 yrs old (18 in hazardous occupations)
• Many programs also seek strong academic
  preparation
• Other things to consider
• Training facility / qualifications of
  instructors / transferability to an associate
  degree program

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Private Career Colleges

• For Profit Skill-Training Schools
• Evaluating A Post-Secondary Career Training
  School
• Accredited by national organization?
• Job Placement Rate

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Military Skill Training

• Military Schools
• US Air Force Academy, Colorado
• US Military Academy - West Point, New York
• US Naval Academy - Annapolis, Maryland
• US Coast Guard Academy, Connecticut
• US Merchant Marine Academy, New York
• Reserve Officer Training (ROTC)
• Civilian College Officer Training
• Four hours per week
• Military obligation after two years
• To Enlist
• 17 yrs / physically fit / most HS diploma / ASVAB
  / moral character / no single persons with
  dependent
• Training for 152 occupations

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How to Get College Credit Before You Get to
College

• APs and CLEP Exams
• Many schools give course credit for scores above
  a certain level (3 or 4)
• Honors Classes
• Many schools give course credit for good
  performance in honors classes
• Dual Credit
• Students enroll in college courses while still in
  high school and receive credit from both

You leaving everyone else in the dust
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Conducting Your College Search

• Hottest Colleges Near You Pomona, UC Santa
  Barbara, Occidental (2 Years in a row!)

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Things to Consider When Choosing A College

• Where do you want to live? Far from home? Close
  to home? At home?
• What are your career goals? What will you need to
  get there?
• Will you need financial aid? How much and where
  will you get it from?
• Do you have a favorite subject? What schools are
  strong in the same areas you are?

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How To Evaluate A College

• College Board College Search
• http//www.collegeboard.org/csearch/
• What to consider
• Type of school - size? coed? religious?
  private/public?
• Admission - admitted? / range of GPAs? / range
  of SATs?
• Location?
• Sports and Social Activities?
• Majors?
• AP and CLEP accepted?
• Cost and Financial Aid?

• Campus Visits
• Visit classes
• Stay on campus for a weekend
• Hang out in the student union and library

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Selecting Majors to Consider

• Consider your personal interests and the things
  you love to do.
• Are they related to career interests?
• Are they related to extracurricular activities?
• Do you desire to excel at them?
• Likelihood of success?
• Advice of others?
• You dont need to know your major before going to
  college

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Who Can Help You

• Research on the internet and college websites
• Guidebooks (you can read them for free in
  bookstores)
• Counselors
• Mentors
• Adults you know who have gone to college
• Beside your mentors and counselors, your teachers
  have a very important role in your going to
  college recommendation letters
• Make sure you have good relationships with the
  teachers whose classes you excel at (and maybe
  some whose classes you dont excel at). Get to
  know them personally and they will often be great
  recommendation writers.

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Financial Aid

• Financing Your Education

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Types of Financial Aid

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid
  (FAFSA)
• Allows you to apply for financial aid
• www.fafsa.ed.gov
• Grants
• Do not need to be repaid
• Based on need, cost of attendance and enrollment
  status
• Loans
• Borrowed money that must be repaid with interest
• Scholarships
• State or College
• Private Scholarships
• Athletic
• Work Study
• Can earn money to pay for education expenses
  while enrolled in school

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Myths and Realities About Paying for College

• Myth
• College tuition is becoming prohibitive, costing
  more than 20,000 a year.
• Reality
• Only 7 of all students attending schools in
  2002-2003 paid tuition of 24,000 or more.
  According to the College Board, 38 of students
  attending four-year schools pay less than 4,000
  for tuition and fees, while almost 70 of
  students attending four-year schools pay less
  than 8,000 for tuition.

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Myth 2

• Myth
• The very rich are the only ones who can afford
  college
• Reality
• More than 74 billion in financial aid goes to
  college students every year-and this is awarded
  to people who need it! About 20 of
  traditional-aged undergraduates come from
  families with income below 20,000 per year.

Who wants to be this guy anyways?
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Financial Aid Sources

• Public Institutions January 1st March 2nd
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  www.fafsa.ed.gov
• Private Institutions FAFSA www.fafsa.ed.gov
• CSS/PROFILE www.collegeboard.com
• Registrations accepted beginning October 1st
• Application deadline is different for each
  college
• California Institutions January 1st March 2nd
• Cal Grant www.calgrant.org

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Scholarships

• Types of Scholarships
• National
• Regional
• Local
• Institutional
• Web Sites
• www.fastweb.com
• www.chelastudentloans.org

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Any Questions?

• Remember PLAN AHEAD and THERE IS NO PERMANENT
  RECORD!

Good Luck
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A Sweet College in Your Backyard