Making a Plan – Where To Start – Middle School Years

Are you thinking about attending college or training in a field of interest? It is never too early to get started in the process even if it is a few years away. You can start positioning yourself to get into college by following the college planning timeline as a guide.

Talk with a school counselor about:

Taking courses required for entrance into high school and developing strong study habits

Review college preparatory courses you plan on taking in high school including English, math, history, science, and Modern and Classical Languages

Participating in summer enrichment programs or community-based extracurricular activities that may be available in your county or school

“Starting to read” magazines, newspapers articles, and books of interest

Doing  well on standardized tests

The Value of Community Service

Do you have a passion for involvement in community service? Are you interested in the betterment of our society? Participating in community service is one way to give back, not a way to pad your resume. Start by thinking about your values and your interests.

Many students are involved in community service every day. Here are some reasons they found service to be of value:
• Gain an understanding about each other
• A sense of human compassion
• Never feels like an obligation or responsibility; can be energizing
• Provide support to others
• Affects someones life
• Builds a stronger community Read more comments about the value of community service.

Can I Earn College Credit by Taking a CLEP Exam?

Know Your College’s CLEP Policy

CLEP stands for College Level Examination Program. The College Board shared there are currently 2,900 colleges and universitiesgrant credit for CLEP, and each institution sets its own CLEP policy. Each institution determines the exams for which it awards credits, the minimum qualifying score required to get credit, and the amount of credits that will be granted per exam. CLEP exams test mastery of college-level material acquired in a variety of ways — through general academic instructions, significant independent study or extracurricular work. CLEP exam-takers include adults just entering or returning to school, military service members and traditional college students

How Much Credit Can I Earn?

If you pass a CLEP exam, you may earn up to 12 credits. The amount of credit you can earn on an individual CLEP exam varies with each college. Some colleges place a limit on the total amount of credit you can earn through CLEP. Other colleges may grant you exemption but no credit toward your degree. Some colleges may offer six credit hours versus three credit hours. Learn more about CLEP – click here.

Do You Know How to Decipher the Financial Aid Award Letter?

The amount of correspondence your student gets from colleges can bepiggy bank staggering. Before they’re even accepted you’ll be getting mountains of brochures, pamphlets, and other marketing materials. Then, once they do get in, even more information gets sent your way: housing forms, deposit slips, acceptance letters, campus information, and more.

There is one piece of mail you’ll be getting that should be studied carefully, since it will have a pretty big impact on your wallet. That is the financial aid award letter. Be aware that some colleges are moving towards electronic award letters. This means that rather than getting an envelope in the mail, you get login instructions in an email for the college’s website. Keep in mind that lots of email is sent to your student, so keep an eye on their account as well. Click here to read more on deciphering award letters. Read more about financial award letters.

I’m Going to Be a Senior Next Year…Will My Course Selection Make a Difference?

Many juniors (and their parents) want to know what courses they should take to improve their chances of admission to the college of their dreams. There is no magic formula but when weighting your course selection for the upcoming year, there are a few things you should consider:

•  Have you taken full advantage of opportunities available to you in high school?
•  Are you achieving at your highest level all four years?
•  Have you consulted with your counselor before locking in your course selection?
•  Ask yourself,  “Am I challenged by the courses I am taking?”
•  Are your courses a good foundation for college and will you be prepared to take college-level math, writing, and science courses?
•  Are your courses among the most rigorous ones available to you at the school? Read more suggestions for how to succeed in courses you choose.

How Do I Appeal My Financial Award?

Congratulations, you were admitted to your college of your dreams! Next you receive a letter of notification from the financial aid/scholarships office. If you did not receive the award you expected, you may need to make an appeal. Follow these steps to appeal for more funds:
1. Begin by contacting the aid office and ask them what procedure you should follow to appeal for more financial assistance. Visit the office in person if time is on your side.

2. A “financial appeal” is when you attempt to demonstrate that with your current level of income and assets, you can’t afford to pay the total cost of attendance for the first year. Ask the aid counselor to recalculate the initial Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Be sure to share any new information as well as all supporting documents including income verification, an update on asset holdings, a list of unusually high expenses, a description of special circumstances, etc. This new data could bring your EFC more in line with what you can afford. See more ways to appeal your financial award.