Onward Towards College The College Going Culture Understanding Financial Aid & Scholarships Asian Student Success Conference 9th & 10th Grade 2015

The College Going Culture The environment, attitudes, and behaviors in schools and communities that support and encourage students and their families to obtain the information, tools, and perspective to ensure access to and success in post-secondary education. College Talk Clear Expectations Information and Resources Comprehensive Counseling Testing and Curriculum Faculty Involvement Family Involvement College Partnerships Articulation Asian Student Success Conference 9th & 10th Grade 2015

Getting into College Why Should You Go To College? College is the pathway to success and a better life College graduates earn more money and get better jobs Unemployment rates are lower for college graduates College will help you help your family College is a lot of fun! College opens doors to opportunity and expands your horizons. You will experience new points of view. Graduating from college will be a source of pride because it is a great accomplishment. You get to follow your dreams and determine your future! Asian Student Success Conference 9th & 10th Grade 2015

Getting into College Pass high school classes that will prepare you for college level work – English, Math, Science, Social Studies. A-G Classes. Try adding Honors or AP classes to your schedule Take the PSAT, (SAT practice exam 9 th, 10 th, and 11 th Grade) Take the SAT/ACT 2 nd semester of your Junior Year. Research and visit colleges of interest Job Shadow Start the scholarship process Build your resume Asian Student Success Conference 9th & 10th Grade 2015

Top Factors for Getting into College Grades in A-G College Prep Courses Strength of Curriculum Honors AP Testing SAT ACT AP SAT II GPA Asian Student Success Conference 9th & 10th Grade 2015

Paying for College Sources for Financial Aid Federal Government State Government Colleges and Universities Private Agencies Companies Foundations Employers Asian Student Success Conference 9th & 10th Grade 2015

What is Financial Aid?? College Financial Aid comes in several forms. Some aid is “need- based, “ which means colleges award it solely based on student and family’s ability to pay for college. Other aid is “merit-based,” which means colleges award it based on other factors, such as academic achievement. Types of AID Federal Pell Grant: Does not need to be repaid Federal Work Study: Money is earned while attending school and does not need to be repaid Federal Perkins Loan: Must be repaid Subsidized Stafford Loan: US Dept. of Education pays the interest on this loan while the student is currently enrolled in school Unsubsidized Stafford Loan: student is responsible for interest during the life of the loan and student must be enrolled half-time. Scholarships: Does not need to be repaid Asian Student Success Conference 9th & 10th Grade 2015

What is Financial Aid?? FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid This application for financial aid which is required by most institutions of higher educations in order to obtain financial assistance. The application opens from January 1 st to March 2 nd of your senior year. Expected Family Contribution (EFC) The amount that the federal government determines a family is able to contribute towards the education of the student applying for the financial aid during the school year. This amount is based on the information provided by the family on the FAFSA. Student Aid Report (SAR) A document a student receives after the FAFSA has been processed listing all the answers provided on the FAFSA. Students should review these answers carefully to make sure they are correct. Asian Student Success Conference 9th & 10th Grade 2015

What are Scholarships?? Financial Aid Scholarships help students pay for their education and do not have to be paid back Scholarships are available for students who demonstrate achievement in academics, athletics, the arts, or community service It is very important for students to begin keeping track of their accomplishments and posting them on their student resume. Asian Student Success Conference 9th & 10th Grade 2015

Secrets to Winning Scholarships It’s a numbers game Even among talented students, who wins involves a bit of luck, not just skill To win more scholarships, apply to more scholarships, but only if you qualify You can’t win if you don’t apply One in four students never applies for financial aid It gets easier after your first 6 applications Essays can be reused and tailored to each new application Don’t miss deadlines Asian Student Success Conference 9th & 10th Grade 2015

Secrets to Winning Scholarships Start searching as soon as possible If you wait until spring to start searching, you will miss half the deadlines There are many scholarships available to students in grades 9, 10 and 11, not just high school seniors There are even scholarships for students in grades K-8 and to current college students Use a free scholarship matching service like Fastweb Look for scholarship listing books at the library or bookstore, but check the publication date Asian Student Success Conference 9th & 10th Grade 2015

Secrets to Winning Scholarships Look for local scholarships on bulletin boards near the guidance counselor or financial aid offices, or the library’s jobs and careers section Look in the coupon section of the newspaper Answer the optional questions on a scholarship matching service for twice as many matches Look for near-miss matches Pursue less competitive scholarships, such as small awards and essay contests, since they are easier to win, the money adds up and they help you win bigger scholarships Review Scholarship Bulletin that is ed to you or is on your counseling center webpage Asian Student Success Conference 9th & 10th Grade 2015

Secrets to Winning Scholarships Use a professional address, such as Clean up the content of your Facebook account, removing inappropriate and immature material Google your name to see what shows up Make a photocopy of your application before mailing it Send the application by certified mail, return receipt requested or with delivery confirmation If rejected, ask for the reviewer comments Asian Student Success Conference 9th & 10th Grade 2015

Beware of Scholarship Scams If you have to pay money to get money, it is probably a scam Never invest more than a postage stamp to get information about scholarships or to apply for a scholarship Nobody can guarantee that you’ll win a scholarship Do not give out personal information like bank account numbers, credit card numbers or Social Security numbers Asian Student Success Conference 9th & 10th Grade 2015

Scholarship Search Engines These websites help search for available scholarships for you. There are so many free scholarship search engines available to students online that it can be difficult to know which websites to use. These are the ones that have key elements and are most helpful to students Asian Student Success Conference 9th & 10th Grade 2015

Creating a Profile Let’s use a free online scholarship match service like It takes only half an hour. The site matches your personal background characteristics against a very large database of scholarships, so you will see only those scholarships for which you are qualified. The FastWeb database is updated daily, with automatic notification of new awards that match your profile. The FastWeb site also provides a lot of news, information and advice. Asian Student Success Conference 9th & 10th Grade 2015

Make a Difference for Yourself If a man empties his purse into his head, no one can take it from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the highest return. – Benjamin Franklin Asian Student Success Conference 9th & 10th Grade 2015