Shopping for the Holiday? Build Your College Planning Library!

cb-2016-17-cvr-only-72dpiIt’s that time of year where students, parents, and educators stock their shelves with college planning tools. Dr. Christine Hand Gonzales has written several books you may find helpful to you in the college search and application process,  as well as the financial planning and scholarship search.

Top recommendations include College Bound: Proven Ways to Plan and Prepare For Getting Into the College Of Your Dreams,the companion workbook, My College Bound Plan, Your College Planning Survival Guide: Smart Tips From Students, Parents and Professionals Who Made It Through, and Paying for College Without Breaking the Bank: The Ultimate Students, Parent and Educator Guide to Over 500 Financial Aid and Scholarship Resources  (http://tinyurl.com/l7ofafs)- Read more about book choices – click here.

 “College Bound” and the companion workbook, “My College Bound Plan” guides you through the college planning timeline, the search and application process, and campus visits, with additional tips and resources. It will show ways to approach counselors, teachers, or moderators to request an effective letter of recommendation, give tips mcbp-2016-17-cvr-only-72dpion self-marketing through the college essay, provide suggestions for a top-notch resume of extracurricular activities, and offer advice for taking standardized tests. If you are a budding artist, a competitive athlete, or interested in a military career, or transitioning from being home-schooled to college, this book is for you. If you have special needs or a disability, this book is for you. If you are thinking about learning a trade or attending community college, this book is for you. Interested in understanding the “nuts and bolts” of financial aid and where to find scholarships? This book is for you. Looking for an extensive list of publications and internet resources that is beyond compare? “College Bound” is for you – giving you all these resources and more.Each book offers timelines, checklists, reliable internet resources and much more. See more books here!

Seniors, Remember to Complete the F.A.F.S.A.

Apply for Federal Student Aid — Fast track to FAFSA 

Introducing the FAFSA:  Let the Funds Begin

Getting financial aid starts with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA.

By filling it out, you apply for the U.S. Department of Education’s federal student aid programs, the largest source of student aid in America. In many cases, you’re also automatically applying for funds from your state and your school as well.

Who It is for:  See If You Are Eligible

You might be eligible if all of these apply to you:

  • You are a U.S. citizen or eligible non citizen
  • You are a high school graduate or GED holder
  • You are working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program
  • You are not in default on a federal student loan and do not owe money to the government related to other grants or loans

See if you are eligible by reading more here.

Need-based versus Merit-Based Financial Aid

It is important to understand how to get the most money from the colleges a student is applying to, as aid can be need-based or merit-based.

Need-Based Aid is based on the family’s financial need. A family can figure this amount to be the Cost of Attendance (COA) form the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Points to understand about Need-Based Aid:

Information from the Free Application for Federal School Aid (FAFSA) is needed. Other colleges may require completion of the CSS Financial Profile; Grants do not need to be repaid; Loans will need to be paid with interest; Other types of Need-Based Aid include Work-Study Programs, Perkins Loan and Subsidize Stafford Loan, and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG). Learn more about Merit-Based financial aid.

Admissions Representative Visit with Students

College admissions representatives begin their fall visits in August and conclude sometime in November. Your high school counselor is probably busy scheduling these visits right now. The representatives share information with prospective applicants and allow students time to ask pertinent questions about the search and application process.  This is a great time for seniors and juniors, who are interested in gathering data, to meet the representatives face-to-face.  The admissions officer may be the one who will eventually read your college application.

Here’s a list of places you may be able to meet with admissions representatives:

What’s “Your College Bound Plan?” Get Organized Now!

STAY ORGANIZED WITH THIS COMPANION WORKBOOK  TO “COLLEGE BOUND” INTERACTIVE GUIDE

“My College Bound Plan” by Christine M. Hand Gonzales, Ed.D.

mcbp-2016-17-cvr-only-72dpiA complete companion workbook to the College Bound interactive e-book with all the forms and checklists found in College Bound ready to use.

Now available in paperback on Amazon for $14.95 – great for keeping notes on your college plan – just click here!

Reviews:

“College Bound has everything! The first place I went was how to figure out what to major in. The links to O*NET and the career and major profiles really helped. Then I used the link to College Navigator to match majors with colleges. Testing, essay ideas, asking for letters of recommendation, and finding money are all important topics to me. There’s so much in this book. No matter what I needed, I found it in College Bound! There’s nothing else like it – and I know it helped me get into USC.” Jessica – University of South Carolina Freshman

“College Bound is awesome! I began my search for a college my junior year when I was interested in playing sports at the Division II or III level and Dr. Chris’s book helped a lot. The step-by-step instructions made the process for a student-athlete easy to understand. It also answered all my other questions about visits, the interviews, and the application process. Thanks, Dr. Chris!” Brian, High School Senior – Connecticut!–more– Read more reviews – click here.

cb-2016-17-cvr-only-72dpi“College Bound has been an amazing resource for our family! With one child in college and another who will graduate in two years, this book is a wealth of information! We are using it to help our daughter prepare for getting into the right school, and we’re using it to find additional financing for our son. I would have loved to have this book when he was in high school.” RM, Mother to a High School Junior and College Sophomore

“College Bound has been an amazing resource for our family! With one child in college and another who will graduate in two years, this book is a wealth of information! We are using it to help our daughter prepare for getting into the right school, and we’re using it to find additional financing for our son. I would have loved to have this book when he was in high school.” RM, Mother to a High School Junior and College Sophomore

“As a high school college counselor and a private consultant, ‘College Bound’ and the My College Bound Plan workbook have become essential tools in working with my students. The step by step process details every piece of important information needed to for your student to be successful in the college search and with the challenge of applications. I use the workbook with my students and have College Bound on my iPad as an instant resource.  I have recommended both of these books to my students and their parents.” Christine Carriuolo, M.S., College Counselor

For “College Bound” in eBook or paperback, click here!

Starting Early: 5 Reasons to Start Your Scholarship Search In Your Sophomore Year

Guest blogger, Felicia Gopaul, is the President of College Fundingbouquet flowers felicia Resource (CFR), teaches families how the financial aid system works. She shared the following article about getting a jump start on the the scholarship search.

Smart students don’t wait to start looking for scholarships until the fall of their senior year in high school (or later).  They get started much earlier than that.  In fact, many successful scholarship recipients start looking for scholarships as early as the spring semester of their sophomore year in high school.

Why start your scholarship search so early?

Starting your scholarship search early is smart.  It allows you time to get organized and leisurely put together a list of scholarships you want to apply for in your senior year.  It also allows you to complete any summer programs that you might have to attend in order to qualify for a scholarship.

For example, the New Jersey chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants has a summer Accounting Awareness Program (ACAP) that a student must complete in order to be eligible for a scholarship later.  By starting your scholarship search early, you have a few more summers to find and fulfill the requirements for programs like ACAP.  Starting early means you won’t find yourself ineligible for a scholarship because you did not know or have time to complete the requirements for qualification. Read more tips – click here!

Important Financial Aid Forms for College Bound Students

How do colleges calculate financial aid awards for students who have applied to their institution?  Each college has its own set of requirements so the student should be sure to check with the financial aid offices of the schools.  Along with forms that may be required, there are important deadlines to follow too.  Paying For College CoverRemember to apply for additional financial aid from your state government and outside scholarships.
Here are financial aid applications you may have to complete:

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) – a federal financial aid application form required by all colleges for federal financial aid including grants, loans, and work/study. In addition, some colleges use the FAFSA to award money from its own endowment funds and others require additional forms.

Verification Worksheet is to be completed if a student’s FAFSA was selected for review by the college.

State – Visit your state’s department of education site for information on state-sponsor on state financial aid programs for state residents.

Institutional – Email colleges on your list for additional institutional forms that the school may require before awarding money from its own endowment funds for financial aid.. Click here to read more!