Welcome to College Information Night

September 28, 2011

6:30pm

Chastity Sward, Guidance Counselor

Importance of Education

99% of the fastest-growing careers require post-secondary training or education U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Indiana will need 877,737 additional college degrees by 2025 to meet workforce needs. Lumina Foundation

About 14 million new job openings by 2018 will go to those with a two-year associate’s degree or occupational certificate. Ctr. On

Education & Workforce at Georgetown University

Over the course of a lifetime, college graduates will earn about $1 million more than high school graduates. U.S. Census

Cost of Education Traditionally, paying for public higher education has

been a shared cost between the state and student/family.

Now, the burden is shifting to the student:1970’s students/families paid 1/3 cost of college1995~ 40%2005~ 50%

The average debt load for students graduating from a 4-year college is now $17,250.27.

Cost of Education (cont.) Tuition at state colleges has grown by 300% since 1990.

Indiana’s student debt load ranks 13th highest in the nation.

Fewer than half of Hoosier students graduate college within 4 years

Cost of college grows at ~7% per year

Tuition doubles every 10 years

Indiana spends about as much sending a student to college for a year as it does housing a prisoner in jail.

2/3 of students borrow money

Total borrowing has tripled in the past decade Indiana Commission for Higher Education

Cost of Attendance in Indiana for 2011-2012 academic year

IU $18,044 Tuition, Fees, & Housing Purdue $18,988 Tuition, Fees, & Housing Ball State $15,948 Tuition, Housing only USI $13,119 Tuition, Fees, & Housing VU $13,573 Tuition, Fees, Housing & Books Ivy Tech $3,355 Tuition only UE $38,946 Tuition, Fees, & Housing

Timeline for Senior Year Fall Semester

– Make sure schedule/credits meet graduation requirements/admission requirements/NCAA eligibility requirements

– Register to take SAT or ACT if you have not done so– Campus Visits – Submit admission applications with college

admission office

*Some programs/colleges will have early deadlines

(i.e. Indiana University – Nov. 1st deadline to receive full consideration for merit scholarships; Purdue University – Nov. 15th is the admission application deadline for various programs as well as the deadline to be eligible for Purdue merit scholarships.)

Timeline for Senior Year (cont.)

Spring Semester– Financial Aid Night January 2012– Complete FAFSA by March 10th receipt date deadline– Apply for scholarships of interest– Weigh admission offers and financial aid packages– May 1st typically deadline for accepting offers of

admission– Watch for summer deadlines (orientation,

registration, housing options, etc.)– *21st Century Scholars must complete and return

Affirmation letters by March 10th deadline

Timeline for Junior Year

Fall Semester

-Make sure you are on track for your diploma type

-Campus Visits

-College Fairs

-Explore colleges of interest

-Explore career areas of interest

(volunteer, job shadow, plan internship)

Timeline for Junior Year (cont.)

Spring Semester- Campus Visits

- College Fairs

-Apply for any scholarships available to juniors

-Explore summer programs at colleges & universities

-Choose challenging courses for senior year

-Take SAT or ACT

-Register with NCAA Clearinghouse (if applicable)

Choosing a College

What is important to you?

Consider College Characteristics

Four-year, two-year, technical or trade schools, apprenticeship program

Cost Public, Private, or Proprietary Location

– Distance from home, Urban vs. Rural, Climate, Transportation costs/ease of access

Size, type of campus– Average class size– Liberal vs. Conservative, Coed, Religious affiliation

Reputation, prestige of school Activities, organizations, sports

List, Compare, and Visit Schools

Be organized in your search

Research college websites

Attend college rep visits to Barr-Reeve

Make the most of your college visit days

College Visits

Important to get to that school & see if it ‘fits’ for you

Every senior is allowed 2 days excused absences to visit colleges; juniors 1 day

Student/parent’s responsibility to set up college visit

Contact Office of Admissions at least 2 weeks prior to schedule visit

Obtain absence forms from Guidance Office prior to date of visit (2 forms)

What to do on a college visit

Admissions Office

Departments of Interest

Financial Aid Office

Attend a class, if possible

Tour campus

Eat in the dining hall

Visit a dorm

Talk to current students

What to do on a college visit (cont.)

Anything of special interest to you

(theatre, drama, athletics, etc.)College visit is for YOU not them

Applying to College

Where to begin, when to

begin, how to begin

Evaluation Criteria:(may vary among universities)

Subject matter expectations Grades: HS GPA, Core GPA, Class rank Courses & grades related to major Trends in achievement Strength of curriculum (w/senior year) SAT/ACT Test scores High school counselor’s comments Essay Time of year and space availability

Applying for Admission (cont.)

If you plan to participate in athletics at a Division I or II school, you must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse (typically spring of junior year)

Must meet NCAA freshman-eligibility requirements to be deemed eligible to compete in NCAA Division I or II athletics. *In addition to Core 40 or AHD requirements for IDOE

How to apply online

Visit school’s website Fill out & submit application online Pay application fee online May need to download Counselor’s Signature

page or request eSSR through e-transcripts Request high school transcript through e-

transcripts

How to apply paper/pencil

Obtain application(from college, download from website or from guidance office)

Complete application & attach application fee Turn completed application & application fee to

the guidance office in a timely manner (at least 1 week prior to deadline)

Helpful Hints when filling out college applications

Apply early (application fees may be waived if apply early…$25-$50) College GO Week waivers!!

Most colleges prefer online applications (application fee may be waived)

If you are 21st Century Scholar or Project Aspire student, ask about fee waivers

If you attach additional sheets, be sure to put your full name on additional sheets

Helpful Hints when filling out college applications (cont.)

If you apply paper/pencil, follow up to make sure your application was sent.

If you have not heard anything from your college after 4-6 weeks, call admissions office and check on the status of your application.

Know what is on your transcript– Example: test scores updated?

Helpful Hints when filling out college applications (cont.)

If you’ve taken dual credit classes, you must request your college transcript (OCU) be sent to your university prior to registering for classes.

BE AWARE OF DEADLINES – Student’s responsibility

READ DIRECTIONS!!– Student’s responsibility to fill out application

completely

Indiana e-transcriptThe preferred way to send your transcript

Safe, paperless way to electronically send transcripts to colleges

Students must sign up (Click on Indiana e-transcript link on Barr-Reeve’s Guidance Department web page)

Students need an email address Students will receive an email when your transcript

has been sent & received Free & available 24/7

College Admissions Tests

ACT or SAT

ACT or SAT Every 4-year institution will require ACT or SAT

scores

Will want to check with other colleges or trade schools to see if they require test scores

If you are a senior and you haven’t taken the ACT or SAT and plan on attending a 4-year institution, you need to be taking one of these exams ASAP

Must register

Test dates and registration deadlines are posted in the guidance office, senior newsletters, and on the web.

ACT or SAT (cont.)

May register online (preferred) or paper/pencil SAT registration materials available in the guidance

office If you are a 21st Century Scholar or Project Aspire

student, ask about fee waivers Students with disabilities may be eligible to receive

accommodations If you plan on taking the ACT, check to see if your

college requires the optional Writing portion

SAT

Critical ReadingMathWritingAverage score is about 500 on each

section of the testEach section is scored on the 200-800

scale, where 200 is lowest and 800 is highest

ACT

English Math Reading Science Writing (Optional, but required by many

colleges or for scholarship consideration) Average Composite Score (21.0) *The composite score is an average of the four test scores (Eng, Math, Reading, &

Science)

Each test is scored on the 1-36 scale, where 1 is lowest and 36 is highest

How do I pay for college?

Types of Financial Aid

GrantsScholarshipsWork-study programLoans

Grants

Financial aid that you do not have to repay. Government and other organizations award

grants usually based on financial need Academic Competitiveness Grant:

– Up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study/ $1300 for second year

– Must be full-time student and eligible for pell grant– Must have successfully completed Core 40 or

AHD

Grants (cont.)

National SMART Grant:– Will provide up to $4,000 for each of the 3rd & 4th

years of undergraduate study – Must be full-time student & eligible for a Pell Grant– Must be majoring in physical, life or computer

sciences, mathematics, technology or engineering; or in a foreign language determined critical to national security

Scholarships

Financial aid that you do not have to repay May be given for academic excellence (merit-

based), financial need, distinction in a certain activity (sports or 4-H), or affiliation with a religious, civic, or school organization.

May be one-time award or renewable each year Many are only awarded to incoming freshman

Work-Study Programs

Students work as part of their financial aid

Usually on-campus jobs

Loans

Borrowed money, will be paid back…WITH INTEREST!!

Many types of loansSome are federally regulated, some

offered by private companies

How to apply for financial aid

Fill out your FAFSA each year(Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Must be received by Federal Processor by

March 10th of each year Attend Financial Aid Night Contact Financial Aid Office at your university

for university-specific forms or financial aid applications.

Most colleges will offer ‘Early Aid Estimator’

Scholarship Tips

Read Senior Newsletters and Barr-Reeve Scholarship Booklet

Check with financial aid office at individual college/university

Check with program or specific department at your university (i.e. School of Business)

Local organizations or businesses **parent’s employer

Search internet BEWARE OF SCHOLARSHIP SEARCHES…NEVER

PAY $ TO GET A SCHOLARSHIP

I’ve been accepted, now what? Compare/contrast colleges and financial aid

packages from each school

What questions do I need to find out before making my decision?

Typically prospective students don’t have to make a decision until May 1st

Prior to May need to make housing decisions

Very appropriate to contact and inform schools if you are declining their offer of admission

Points to ponder If you are a 21st Century Scholar or Project Aspire participant,

you can receive fee waivers for college application fees and SAT/ACT registration fees.

OCU, UE, Marian, Franklin cover remaining tuition not covered by 21st Century Scholars Award = full tuition!

IU & Purdue provide financial assistance for housing, if you are a 21st Century Scholar & meet eligibility requirements.

Things to remember

GRADES, GRADES, GRADES!!

Don’t lose sight of your goals

Colleges will request a final transcript

Colleges have the right to rescind their offers of admission, scholarships or change financial aid packages if your grades, diploma track, or class rank change!!

Stay organized

Keep a calendar of important dates & deadlines

Savor the moments working together as a family

Guidance Top Ten: Read Directions Keep a calendar Develop Resume Check email regularly Go on campus visits Apply for scholarships

– don’t sell yourself short!

Register with e-transcripts Read senior newsletters each month Apply early File your FAFSA!

Questions?