12/18/13
Welcome to
Milwaukie
High School
Tonight’s Program
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12/18/13
Be sure to
At the end of the evening
•  We’ll collect evaluations for tonight’s event
•  Even better, we’ll hold a scholarship
drawing
•  We’ll select four $500
scholarship winners
(you must be present to win)
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How
college can
change
your life
College is important
•  Unemployment rates are directly tied to your
level of education
•  Studies consistently show that attending
college adds to your lifelong earnings
•  Difference between a high school graduate and a
four-year degree—between $800,000 and $1 million
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College is important
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College is important
•  People who have attended some college
•  Report higher levels of job satisfaction
•  Typically live healthier lifestyles
•  Enjoy benefits such as insurance, paid
vacation, a retirement plan, etc.
•  Are more involved in their communities
through higher levels of volunteering and
voting
•  It’s true—college is important!
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Choosing
the right
college
Many choices
•  There are more than 6,000 colleges to choose
from in the United States
•  With this many choices, where and how do you
start to look for the college that is right for
you?
•  Before you start searching, think about your
goals
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What are your goals?
•  Some students already know they want to
•  Learn a trade or enter a specific profession
•  Obtain a degree, maybe in a specific field
•  Not sure about your goals?
•  College is a great place to explore your
options
•  Goals can change while researching
colleges
•  About 80% of college students
change their major at least once
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Choosing a college
•  Narrow down your list of potential colleges by
identifying the characteristics important to you
•  Factors some students consider
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Program or major you are considering
College size
Class size
Location or distance from home
Support programs
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Choosing a college
•  Additional factors to consider
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Campus culture
Extracurricular activities
Religious or cultural affiliations
Cost of attendance
•  Ultimately cost matters but
•  Think about cost when making your final decision,
not as much when starting your search
•  Consider your net out-of-pocket cost, not just
the sticker price
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Opportunities – page 5
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Researching college choices
•  Parents and school counselors can help
•  There are many college search websites
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www.CollegeProwler.com
www.CollegeBoard.org
www.PrincetonReview.com
www.nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator
•  All these sites allow you to search for
colleges based on the factors that are
important to you
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College application process
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Your college applications
•  Each college has its own requirements for
completing the application process
•  These can include
•  Completing a short form and taking a
placement test at a community college
•  Submitting test scores, essays,
reference letters and a
portfolio at some colleges
•  Check each college’s
website for requirements
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Your college applications
•  Determine college application due dates
•  Postmark date or arrive-by date
•  Note on your calendar
•  Read the directions carefully
•  Ability to follow directions correctly is
part of the acceptance criteria
•  Meet the application deadlines
•  Each college sets its own deadline
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Your college applications
•  Application fees
•  Most colleges have an application fee
•  Many colleges will waive the fee
•  You may have to submit
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SAT or ACT scores
Transcripts
References/recommendations
Essays
Other evidence of talent
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College entrance exams
•  The admissions process may include taking
college entrance exams
•  PSAT or PLAN—“Practice” tests for the SAT/ACT
•  SAT: Measures conceptual thinking rather than facts
•  Critical reasoning, math and a required writing
test
•  ACT: Measures what you learned in high school
•  English, math, reading, science and
•  Optional writing test
•  Disability accommodations and fee waivers
are available
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Opportunities – page 8
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Opportunities – page 8
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Your college applications
•  Transcripts
•  Official high school transcript needed for
each college application
•  College transcript also required if you’ve
taken any college courses
•  Transcript is used to document your
GPA, class rank and the rigorousness
of your high school program
•  Many acceptances contingent on
maintaining GPA
•  Most require a final high school transcript
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Your college applications
•  References
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Usually from teachers, other adults and peers
Allow plenty of time
Give as much information as possible
Include stamped, pre-addressed envelope
Write thank you notes to your references and let
them know when you get accepted
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Your college applications
•  Admissions essays
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Stay on topic
Essays should be error free
Don’t exceed the word limit
Be yourself
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Your college applications
•  Other evidence of talent
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Portfolio
Audition tapes
Writing samples
Contact specific program for
more information
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Any
questions?
Paying for
college
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Sources of college funds – 2013
Source: “How America Pays for College,” Sallie Mae, 2013
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Your college costs
•  Which college would cost you the most to
attend?
•  Example private college—$55,850
•  Sample state college—$22,000
•  The answer seems obvious,
but it isn’t as simple as
comparing these numbers
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Your college costs
•  When you look at the costs listed on the
previous slide, you are looking at the college’s
“sticker price”
•  More formally known as “Cost of Attendance” (COA)
•  Consists of direct and indirect costs
•  Direct costs are paid to the college
•  Tuition and fees
•  Room and board, if living on campus
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Your college costs
•  COA also includes indirect costs
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Room and board, if living off campus
Books and supplies
Personal expenses
Transportation
Allowance for dependent care
Loan fees
Cost of a personal computer
Costs related to disability
Reasonable costs for study abroad
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Your college costs
•  Comparing COA—the “sticker price”—of various
colleges does not give you an accurate picture
of what it will cost to attend
•  Can get an estimate of net price by using
your college’s “net price calculator”
•  You find out the actual net price by
applying for financial aid
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About the FAFSA
•  FAFSA = Free Application for Federal Student Aid
•  Determines eligibility for
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Most federal financial aid programs
Many state financial aid programs
Much of the aid colleges award from their own funds
Some scholarship programs
•  Colleges may require additional forms to collect
more detailed data
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About the FAFSA
•  FAFSA asks you questions about
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Income
Assets
Family size
Number of family members attending college
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Excuses for not filing the FAFSA
•  $150 billion available in federal financial aid
•  Grants, loans and work-study
•  Many students simply don’t file because
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“I think my family makes too much money”
“Only students with good grades get financial aid”
“FAFSA is too hard to fill out”
“I’m too old to qualify for financial aid”
•  By not filing, will miss out on potential aid
from the state and from their college
Source: http://studentaid.ed.gov
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About the FAFSA
•  Three versions of the FAFSA
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Online—www.fafsa.gov
PDF FAFSA—Print from your computer
Paper FAFSA—Call 800.4.FED.AID
It is always free to complete the FAFSA
•  Online version is best
•  Built-in edits make it easier to complete accurately
•  Sign it electronically with your PIN obtained from
www.pin.ed.gov
•  Faster results
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Tips for FAFSA success
•  Before completing the FAFSA
•  Download the FAFSA on the Web worksheet
•  Provides a preview of FAFSA questions
•  Gather documents for both parents and students
•  Income tax returns
•  W-2 forms and other income statements
•  Benefits records from state and federal agencies
•  Current bank statements
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Tips for FAFSA success
•  Meet all financial aid deadlines
•  Can vary from college to college
•  Meeting “priority deadline” results in best financial
aid package based on your eligibility
•  It’s okay to estimate your financial information
•  Will have an opportunity to correct
•  List all colleges that you are applying to
•  Retain a copy of your completed FAFSA
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FAFSA4caster
•  For those who aren’t quite ready to file the
FAFSA; provides an early estimate of aid
•  Juniors, sophomores, freshmen in high school
•  Parents of younger students for planning and
estimating future financial aid
•  Older students to get an idea of aid they’ll get
•  Complete FAFSA4caster at: https://fafsa.ed.gov/
FAFSA/app/f4cForm
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FAFSA help is available
•  You can receive in-person help in completing
the FAFSA at “College Goal Oregon” events
•  Financial aid professionals will help you
complete the FAFSA online
•  Depending upon location, dates are to be
determined
•  Details at www.CollegeGoalOregon.gov
•  The College Place 1-866-326-8287
•  Assistance also available at 1-800-4-FED-AID
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Eligibility for federal aid
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Navigating financial aid
•  After completing the FAFSA, the student
receives the Student Aid Report (SAR)
•  Correct any errors and return
•  SAR contains Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
•  FAFSA information is also sent to the colleges
you listed to receive the data
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EFC determines aid offered
•  COA (Cost of attendance) — EFC = financial
need
•  Financial aid office will then determine the
student’s eligibility for federal and state
financial aid, and for any aid the college may
be able to offer from its own funds
•  Financial aid office may ask for additional
information
•  Student will receive an award letter
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Types of federal financial aid
Need-based federal aid
•  Pell Grant
•  SEOG
•  Work-study
•  Perkins loan
•  Subsidized Stafford loan
Non-need-based federal aid
•  Unsubsidized Stafford loan
•  PLUS loan
•  TEACH grant
There are additional federal financial aid programs, most
of which require you to file a FAFSA
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State grant program
•  The Oregon Opportunity Grant is available by
filling out the FAFSA—no additional application
needed
•  Must be an Oregon resident attending
an approved Oregon college
•  File by February 1 to be considered
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State grant program
•  Maximum family income to qualify for Oregon
Opportunity Grant is $70,000
•  Maximum 2013-2014 award is $2,000
•  Students will be notified of award by
OSAC email and by their college
of choice
•  You can receive the grant for four
years of full-time enrollment
•  Need to reapply each year
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Understanding award letters
•  Read your award letter carefully
•  Could be either on paper or online
•  Follow instructions for next steps
•  Meet all deadlines
•  Inform college of changing financial issues
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Understanding award letters
Understanding award letters
•  What if it’s not enough?
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Research private scholarships
Consider any potential employer benefits
Check into college tuition payment plans
Make financial aid office aware of changes in your
financial situation
•  Reminder—you must complete the FAFSA to be
considered for most types of aid
•  Consider part time employment during college
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Any
questions?
Scholarship
searches &
scams
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Scholarships
•  A form of gift aid—money given to students that
doesn’t have to be repaid
•  There are lots of different types of scholarships
•  You don’t always need
•  a very high GPA
•  to be the greatest athlete
•  Diligence and perseverance are great tools
when applying for scholarships
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Scholarships
•  An estimated 30% of college students receive
scholarship funds
•  Average scholarship amounts received
•  4-year public college = $5,903
•  4-year private college = $13,709
•  Community college = $5,450
Source: How America Pays for College 2013
https://www.salliemae.com/about/news_info/research/how-america-pays/
default.aspx
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Finding scholarships
•  Develop a plan to search and apply
for scholarships
•  In Oregon, the first step is to
complete the FAFSA, next is the
OSAC Scholarship Application
•  Apply online
www.OregonStudentAid.gov
•  Instructions, list of scholarships, and
worksheets available online
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Finding scholarships
•  More than 400 scholarships
totaling over $18 million are
available
•  Deadlines for complete
applications
•  Early Bird date is Tuesday, February
18, 2014
•  Regular date is Monday, March 3,
2014
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Popular scholarship sites
•  Three good and legitimate sites
•  Fastweb www.fastweb.com
•  College Board www.CollegeBoard.com
•  Scholarships.com www.scholarships.com
•  Many other scholarship search sites but
•  Avoid paying a fee
•  Keep an eye out for possible scams
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Other scholarship resources
•  A successful scholarship search extends beyond
the Internet
•  High school counselor
•  May have a list of local competitions
•  Check with other area high schools
•  College/university
•  Financial aid office
•  Check within your major
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Other scholarship resources
•  Family and friends
•  Employers
•  Religious, civic and
community organizations
•  Foundations
•  Military
•  Public library
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Successful scholarship candidates
•  Apply for many different scholarships
•  Request application allowing plenty of time to
complete application requirements
•  Turn in error-free applications
•  Follow all application directions
•  Watch out for the fine print
•  Keep copies of completed applications
•  Be thankful and gracious
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Scholarship applications
•  May need to provide
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Proof you have filed the FAFSA
Essays/personal statement
Letters of recommendation
Examples of work in specific study area/portfolio
SAT/ACT scores
Transcripts
Interview—in-person or phone
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Watch for scams
You’re guaranteed to win or your money back
You can’t get this information anywhere else
Give us your credit card number to get started
The scholarship will cost some money
You are a finalist (for a scholarship
you didn’t apply for)
•  If it sounds too good to be true
•  Come to a free seminar
•  We’ll do all the work for you
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Tips to remember
•  Scam mailings often sound and look official
•  Expect winning notification from legitimate
scholarships via mail not by phone
•  Watch out for 900 area code
telephone numbers
•  Always walk away from high
pressure sales
•  Be wary of endorsements
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When you win
•  What to expect
Congratulations letter—keep a copy for your records!
High profile scholarships may include follow ups
May need to send transcripts and proof of enrollment
Fulfill obligations—
such as thank you letters
•  Check may be sent to you or
your college
•  College may adjust your
financial aid award
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Any
questions?
Thanks for
coming out
tonight!
Let’s pick
some
scholarship
winners!
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