Reality Bytes for Parents Getting Ready for College Early Presented by the Michigan Student Financial Aid Association Revised 8/2003

Reality Bytes for Parents Getting Ready for College Early

What is “College”? zPublic and private four-year colleges and universities zTwo-year community or junior colleges zBusiness schools zProprietary schools (programs such as truck driving and cosmetology) zVocational-technical schools

Keep Your Options Open zDoes that mean your child needs to know now, what they want to do “when they grow up”?

Then, why think about college now? zCollege can be the key to the kind of life you want for your child zIt gives your child choices in -  The kind of jobs they can choose  How much money they will make  Ways they can help others

There’s money if you need it zEvery student can afford to go to college. zEvery student is eligible for some kind of financial aid.

Steps to getting you and your child ready for college

Step 1: Helping make the decision zResearch career options -  Talk to your children about their dreams  Help your children to  identify several career options  find the educational requirements for their career interests  talk with people about their interests (job shadowing)  find articles about their career interests

Step 1: Helping make the decision zImportance of college –  Choose careers based on interests  More career options  Increase earning potential

Education Pays….Unemployment rate by education level for 2011 (from the Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Step 1:Helping to make the decision zChoose the type of “college” –  Four-year college (university or college offering a bachelor’s degree or above)  Two-year college (community or junior college offering a training program, certificate, or associate’s degree)  Technical schools (skill centers and other schools offering occupational programs)

Reality Byte: zYou can encourage your child to research career options. Changing their mind about a career choice is okay, Failing to plan ahead is not. For More Information:

Step 2:Getting Ready zYou, your children and their school are working together to prepare them for a good life after graduation. zTaking the right courses for their future starts NOW! zHelp them get the most out of high school - encourage challenging courses EACH YEAR. zMeet with your children and their counselor to help them plan.

Step 2:Getting Ready Consider this –  Research shows that if students take challenging courses that make them think, they are more likely to go on to college.  These courses can also help them get into college.

Step 2: Getting Ready zHigh school graduation requirements under the Michigan Merit Curriculum include: yMathematics – 4 credits yEnglish Language Arts – 4 credits yScience – 3 credits ySocial Studies – 3 credits yHealth and Physical Education – 1 credit yVisual, Performing and Applied Arts -1 credit

Step 2:Getting Ready zMany colleges require additional courses in –  Foreign Language  Fine & Performing Arts  Computer Science

Reality Byte: zCourse selection: Easy is not always best - yMany times a student will choose based on what is fun and easy. yIt’s up to you to encourage the challenging choices throughout high school.

Step 2: Getting Ready zCollege credit while in high school –  Advanced Placement (AP) - college level courses offered by the high school  Articulation - occupational courses in H.S. or career centers that “transfer” to some college programs  Dual Enrollment - taking college courses while in high school that may apply to both the high school degree and the college degree

Step 2: Getting Ready zCollege entrance exams –  Encourage your child to take the ACT or SAT in their Junior or Senior year  

Step 3: Planning ahead zWhat Does College Cost?  Costs can vary a lot, depending on the type of school.  Parents and students need to begin saving NOW!  Tuition, fees and books are only part of the cost.  Additional expenses include housing, transportation, food, clothes, entertainment, etc.

Step 3: Planning ahead zYou can start your research on college costs at the U.S. Department of Education’s website on college affordability.

Reality Byte: zDon’t eliminate any college because of cost - Even the most expensive college may be affordable after you look at all your options.

Step 4: Paying for college zWhat you and your child can do -  Save  Use Federal income-tax credits  Use Student Financial Aid  Gift Aid - grants and scholarships that do not have to be paid back  Work Aid - a job during college to earn money  Loan Aid - money for college that must be paid back

Step 4: Paying for college zOther sources -  Military service scholarships (full-time and part-time service)  Americorps, community service program  Civic groups and organizations, foundations and businesses

Step 4: Paying for college zCautions – nScholarship Scams nCompiling debt nExcessive student loans nCredit cards

Reality Byte: zIt’s all about choices - Boat, cars, snowmobiles, pools or…. COLLEGE for your son or daughter You make the choices!

Reality Byte - Final You can change college from a dream into a reality, so… Make planning for college part of your child’s daily life. Think College Early!