Can’t Get to a College Campus? Why Not Visit from Home?

Visiting the campus is probably one of the most important steps in actually choosing your college. After all, you may be choosing where you would like to live for the next four years.  If you do not have the opportunity to visit, or have a chance to meet an admissions officer at a college fair in your hometown, it will be important for you to take a virtual visit:

  • Do your research about the college online.
  • Know your own goals and what questions you would like answered.
  • Know your PSAT, SAT and/or ACT scores, and GPA.
  • Understand your own strengths in the academic arena as well as in extracurricular activities.
  • Focus more on academic and student life opportunities.
  • Be honest on with yourself and what you are looking for.
  • Never underestimate the value of a tour whether online or in person. Click here to visit college virtual tour websites.

10 Ways to Start Saving for Your College Education

There are multiple ways to prepare to start saving for your college education.

1.  A 529 Plan is a state-sponsored program designed to help parents finance education expenses. They are administered by certain investment companies and subject to contribution requirements and guidelines. Withdrawals from the account are taxed at the child’s tax rate, and anyone can contribute to a Section 529 plan, regardless of their income level. In most cases, the money is invested in a portfolio of stocks, bonds, or mutual funds. The proceeds can be used only for education withdrawals for non-educational purposes trigger taxes and a 10% penalty. The investment company administering the account will be in control of how the money is invested, and will charge an ongoing fee for its services. Read 9 more ways to save for college.

What is “Demonstrated Interest” and Can It Affect College Admissions?

There are many factors that are considered in the college’s admissions decision. Some factors such as grade point average, standardized test scores, and rigor of course curriculum can be measured. Other factors, such as the college visit, attending an information session, having a positive attitude about the opportunity to attend a particular college or university, and social networking might be considered “demonstrated interest” and are not measurable. Attending college fairs and local events, completing supplemental essays, contacting admissions personal for more information about programs, sending a thank-you note, and completing and early admissions application can all be considered to be showing a high degree of interest in the institution. When you are making the decision to apply to a college, find out whether “demonstrated interest” is a factor in the application process.

 

Grade 12, Senior Year Action Plan

Fall Semester

September

Check your transcripts to make sure you have all the credits you need to get into your college(s) of choice. Find out from the colleges to which you are applying whether or not they need official copies of your transcripts (sent directly from your high school) at the time of application.

Register for October/November SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Test, and ACT (with writing) tests.

Take another look at your list of colleges, and make sure that they still satisfy your requirements. Add and/or remove colleges as necessary.

Make sure you meet the requirements (including any transcript requirements) for all the colleges to which you want to apply. Double-check the deadlines, and apply.

Give any recommendation forms to the appropriate teachers or counselors with stamped, college-addressed, envelopes making certain that your portion of the forms are filled out completely and accurately.  Be sure to give them a resume of your activities.

Most early decision and early action applications are due between October 1 and November 1. Keep this in mind if you intend to take advantage of these options and remember to request that your high school send your official transcripts to the college to which you are applying. Read what seniors should be doing during the application process each month of their senior year.

Action Plan for Junior Year – Grade 11

Fall Semester

Maintaining your grades during your junior year is especially important. You should be doing at least two hours of homework each night and participating in study groups. Using a computer can be a great tool for organizing your activities and achieving the grades you want.

Talk to your guidance counselor (or teachers, if you don’t have access to a guidance counselor) about the following: Availability of and enrollment in Advanced Placement classes.

Schedules and registration for the PSAT, SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subject Test, ACT with Writing, and AP exams. Remember that when you take the PSAT in your junior year, the scores will count towards the National Achievement Program and the National Merit Scholarship Program (and it is good practice for the SAT Reasoning Test). Read more on the action plan for students each semester of their junior year.

How Do I Avoid Scholarship Scams?

Are you asking, “How do I know when a scholarship is really a scam?”  There are several ways scams become apparent. Finaid.org discusses several including:

  • Money required before getting scholarship but scholarship never materializes
  • It may look like a scholarship program, but the scholarship company may be a for-profit agency. In other words, it costs to apply for it, and the money the company raises goes towards paying for the award.
  • A low interest loan if offered for a fee prior to approval.
  • A letter indicates you have won a scholarship prize but you must pay to receive it.
  • Scholarship matching services guarantee scholarships.
  • A free financial seminar often includes a sales pitch for insurance, annuity, or other investment products.

Read more about scholarship scams.

What Is The CSS Profile?

Some participating institutions use the CSS Profile in addition to other forms such as the FAFSA to determine a financial aid package for students applying to their school.

The College Board notes the following information about the Profile:

WHAT is the PROFILE? The PROFILE is an online application that collects information used by certain colleges and scholarship programs to award institutional aid funds. (All federal funds are awarded based on the FAFSA, available after Jan. 1 at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.  Some colleges may require additional information, such as tax returns or an institutional application. If your parents are divorced, some colleges will also require your noncustodial parent to complete the Noncustodial PROFILE. Continue reading What Is The CSS Profile?

Action Plan – Sophomore Year – Grade 10

Talk to your guidance counselor (or teachers, if you don’t have access to a guidance counselor) about the following:

Reviewing the high school curriculum needed to satisfy the requirements of the colleges you are interested in attending.

Find out about Advanced Placement courses:

  • What courses are available?
  • Are you are eligible for the classes you want to take?
  • How to  enroll in them for your junior year?

Update your file, or start one if you haven’t already. “See Action Plan – Grade 9” for a list of what it should contain. Read more about extracurricular and participation in other programs.