College 101
Brianna Kamphuis
Illinois Valley Community College District
Illinois Student Assistance Commission
Who We Are
“Making college accessible and affordable for all
Illinois students.”
- Mission Statement
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is the financial
aid agency in the state of Illinois. We are a mission-driven,
non-profit, state agency that administers nearly $400 million
in scholarships and grants. Illinois has set a goal to increase
the proportion of adults in Illinois with high-quality degrees
and credentials to 60% by the year 2025.
Illinois Student Assistance Corps
o Approximately 80 Corps members from diverse backgrounds
o Every community in Illinois
o Changing the conversation about higher education
Overview
Here are some things we will talk about today……
▫ Post-secondary options
 Types of degrees and colleges
 Apprenticeships
 Military
▫ Determining your “best fit” college(s)
▫ Researching colleges
Monthly Expenses
1 Adult
2 Adults, 2 Children
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Food $242
Medical $141
Housing $679
Transportation $306
Other $76
Required annual income $20090
Food $713
Medical $379
Housing $895
Transportation $736
Other $185
Required annual income $40445
Putting Things into Perspective
Cost to Support a Family
50000
40000
30000
20000
10000
0
Family of 1 Family of 4
Average Earnings by Degree
Types of degrees
Type
Certificate
Associate’s
Bachelor’s
Master’s
Professional
Doctorate
Approx. time
10-16 months
2 years
4 years
2 years (after a bachelor’s)
3-6 years (after a bachelor’s)
5-7 years (after a bachelor’s)
Types of colleges
Type
Public
universities
Degrees
Examples
Bachelor’s, Master’s,
Illinois State
Professional, Doctorate
Private colleges
and universities
Community
colleges
Bachelor’s, Master’s,
Bradley
Professional, Doctorate
Certificate, Associate’s IVCC
Trade/Vocational Certificate
schools
MTI
2014-15 Average Illinois Tuition and Fees
• Public universities $11,880
• Private colleges and universities $27,490
• Community colleges $3,731
Source: http://www.isac.org/students/during-college/applying-for-financial-aid/college-costs.html.
Deciding on a Major
o Your interests
o Debt you are willing to assume
o Average salary
o Job prospects
Certificate Programs
• Community Colleges
• Certificate programs: Certified Nursing
Assistant, Medical Billing and Coding,
Welding, etc.
• Assoc. Applied Science programs:
Sonographer, Industrial Maintenance Tech.,
Dental Hygiene.
• Vocational, trade, technical, and career
colleges
• Trade-specific schools
• Apprenticeships: provided by employers or
local unions
Apprenticeships
• Run by an employer or union
• Teach skills for a specific trade
• Combines on-the-job training and classroom
instruction
• Apprentice usually pays only for tools/supplies
• Apprentice agrees to work for a minimum time
after completing apprenticeship
Popular Apprenticeship Programs
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Electricians
Plumbers
Steel workers
Pipefitters
Boilermaker
Masons
Carpenters
Associate’s Degree Careers
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Childcare worker
Dental hygienist
Mechanic
Paralegal
Physical therapist assistant
Nurse
Bachelor’s Degree Careers
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Accountant
Computer programmer
High School coach/teacher
Nurse
Journalist
Pilot
Post-Bachelor’s Examples
Master’s
• Social worker
Professional
• Lawyer, medical doctor
Doctorate
• Psychology professor, economics researcher
Military
• Initial commitment is typically 4 years active duty
and 2 years inactive
• Branches include
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Army
Navy
Air Force
Marine Corps
Coast Guard
National Guard
• Long-term career vs. continued training/education
Determining your “best fit” college
Should you pick a college because…?
• Your boyfriend/girlfriend/best friend is going there.
• You recognize its name.
• They sent you a brochure in the mail.
Determining your “best fit” college
academic
social
financial
Academic:
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Available majors
Internship opportunities
Career/graduate school placement rates
Graduation and retention rates
Academic:
SAFETY
your academic record is stronger than most students
it’s basically guaranteed you’ll get in
MATCH
your academic record is similar to most students
you have a very good chance of getting in
REACH
most students have a better academic record than you
you have a chance of getting in
Plan on applying to at least two of each, for a total of six.
ACT
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Standardized test used to measure college readiness
Colleges use as an admissions criteria
Usually taken in spring of junior year
Can be taken up to 12 times
Most colleges take highest overall score
5 test sections: English, Math, Science, Reading,
Writing
• ACT may not be offered at LP, depends on state budget
• National test dates at IVCC
• www.actstudent.org to register; photo ID required;
$56.50
How Can I Improve My ACT Score?
• ACT Prep Classes
• Free website help at www.actstudent.org
• Check out ACT review books from the library for
additional practice questions and tips
• Information on the LP Counseling Website
College Match tool
https://isacportal.isac.org/en/collegematch
Social
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Religious affiliation
Extracurricular activities
Athletics
Theater/musical performances
Greek life
Average class size
Campus size
Commute vs. On-campus vs. Off-campus
Location
Financial
cost of
attendance
expected
family
contribution
• Sticker price vs. Net price
• Types of financial aid available
▫ Gift (scholarships, grants)
▫ Self-help (loans, work study)
financial
need
Financial
Maximum Award Amounts for 2015 - 2016
Up to
$4,720*
Up to
$5,775
Total = $14,495
Up to
$4,000
* Based on funding as of publication date. Announced grant awards
could increase or decrease throughout the academic year.
— State of Illinois
Monetary Award
Program (MAP)
— Federal Pell Grant
— Federal Supplemental
Education Opportunity
Grant (FSEOG)
Picking a College is A Lot Like Dating…
• Do you want to be with this college for possibly the
next 4 years?
• Does the college match your wants?
• Does the college better prepare you for your future?
• Do you and the college have the same values?
• Does the college just look good online?
• Are you going to this college just because your
friends want you to?
How to Find Colleges
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Studentportal.isac.org
ISAC’s College Match tool
College Scorecard
Ask teachers, counselors,
and other adults
• Choose 3-4 schools you’ve
never heard of to research.
• Don’t rule out any schools
based on cost.
• And remember, aim to apply
to at least 2 safety, 2 match,
and 2 reach schools
College visits
• It is going to be your home for the next 4 years.
• Every school looks good on a brochure or website.
• Get a sense of the on-campus experience.
College visits: Be proactive
• Ask intelligent, prepared questions.
• Schedule a one-on-one appointment with an
admissions representative.
• Talk to students who attend that school.
• Consider an overnight stay.
• Attend a class.
Your Support Network
Involve others in your decisionmaking process
Ask questions!
College Checklist for Juniors
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Meet with your counselor about college plans
Compile your initial list of colleges
Study and prepare for the ACT
Visit college campuses on days you don’t have school
Visit college reps who come to LP
Start thinking about who to ask for letters of
recommendation
• Plan your senior schedule based on plans for after high
school
• Begin preparing an activities resume
• Review college application deadlines
FREE Online Resources
College Scorecard
Search for colleges by…
• Programs or Majors
• Location
• Enrollment size
whitehouse.gov/issues/education/higher-education/college-score-card
studentportal.isac.org
Review
• Types of colleges and degrees
• Identify your interests and goals
• Determine “best fit” college(s) based on academic,
social, and financial factors
• Find your support network
• Ask Questions!
Additional resources
www.studentportal.isac.org
www.isac.org
www.StudentAid.gov
Contact Information
Brianna Kamphuis
Brianna.Kamphuis@isac.illinois.gov
815-202-0660