COLLEGE ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID Fairview High School September 24, 2015

THINGS TO DO THIS Take campus visits. Develop a resume. Write a personal statement (short essay). Research colleges and universities. Prepare for and take the ACT. Secure letters of recommendation. APPLY TO COLLEGE!!! Start applying for scholarships. Clean up cyber profiles.

NAVIGATING COLLEGE WEBSITES  Spend some time looking at what programs the school offers, typically listed under ACADEMICS.  Research the cost of attendance, which includes tuition, room and board, books, etc.  When you are ready to apply, you can do so right from the website. Be careful to avoid typos and other errors.

COLLEGE APPLICATION WEEK OCTOBER GOAL: ALL SENIORS APPLY TO COLLEGE!!!

CAMPUS VISITS  Set campus visits up ahead of time.  Work with a recruiter to set up appointments with department representatives.  The school will excuse 2 absences for college visits. Use these wisely. Take advantage of Saturday open house events when you can.  Go with questions!!

DEVELOPING A RESUME  Highlight your academic and extracurricular participation and successes.  The resume will be very handy as students complete admissions and scholarship applications.  Resumes assist folks who are writing letters of recommendation.

ACT – REGISTER AT ACTSTUDENT.ORG ACT College Readiness Standards  English 18  Math 22  Reading 22  Science 23 Kentucky Council of Postsecondary Education College Readiness Benchmarks  English 18  Math 19  Reading 20

TREAT EVERY POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA LIKE IT WAS A NATIONALLY TELEVISED PRESS CONFERENCE.

THINGS TO DO THIS Apply for Federal Financial Aid. SCHOLARSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS!!!

TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID  Grants  Scholarships  Student Loans  Work Study  Military Benefits  Vocational Rehabilitation Monies

BEGINNING JANUARY 1…  Apply for Federal Financial Aid at  These are need-based monies based on family financial circumstances.  Whether or not students are eligible for federal financial aid, they must complete this application.  We will provide more detailed instructions on completing the FAFSA in December; we will schedule individual appointments in January also.

WHEN APPLICATION IS PROCESSED, AN EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION (EFC) IS FIGURED. THE EFC DETERMINES THE STUDENT’S ELIGIBILITY FOR FEDERAL AID (PELL GRANT).

DETERMINING FINANCIAL NEED  The EFC and the school’s cost of attendance (COA) are used by the school to establish the student’s need. COA generally includes tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.  COA – EFC = FINANCIAL NEED  Schools will try to get student’s financial need covered, but keep in mind, loans are considered financial aid.

MAXIMUM $$$ FOR PELL GRANT If students are deemed eligible for the full Pell Grant, they will receive approximately $5730/year. If they completed the FAFSA early enough and go to college in the state of KY, students will receive an additional $1900 from the KY CAP Grant. $ $1900 = $7630………..$3815/semester

FAFSA4CASTER  Access the FAFSA4CASTER at This is a free online tool that allows students to see early estimates of their eligibility for federal financial aid. It instantly calculates an estimated EFC, an estimated award amount for the Federal Pell Grant program, and sample award packages. This is NOT a replacement for the FAFSA. The FAFSA still must be filed beginning January 1.

THINGS TO DO THIS SCHOLARSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS!!! Submit requested paperwork from your college (i.e. financial aid, housing, etc.) Schedule an orientation. Request your final transcript be sent to your college through the Parchment site. Send out thank you cards for scholarships received. Don’t forget teachers who did letters of recommendation.

TYPES OF SCHOLARSHIPS  Merit-Based – Scholarships that are earned for good grades, test scores, athletics, etc.  Need-Based – Scholarships that are awarded based on financial need. Still yet, there awards will still consider the strengths of the applicants.

WHERE DO YOU FIND SCHOLARSHIPS?  Institutional – through the college or university the student plans to attend  Local – sponsored by local organizations, companies, families, etc.  National databases – Students complete their profile online at a reputable site (fastweb.com or scholarships.com) to learn about scholarships they may qualify for.

SCHOLARSHIP TIPS  Note the difference between admission application deadlines and scholarship application deadlines at colleges and universities.  Find out if the school has a separate scholarship application or if it is included as part of the admission application.  Pay attention to scholarship announcements from the counseling office (webpage, Twitter, One Call system).  Work ahead. Secure letters of recommendation early and have someone proofread essays.  Meet deadlines. Make sure that you have all the required materials to hand in to the counselor by the specified deadline.

AVOIDING SCHOLARSHIP SCAMS According to the Federal Trade Commission, beware of any of the following statements: “This scholarship is guaranteed or your money back.” “You can’t get this information anywhere else.” “We just need your credit card or bank account information to hold this scholarship.” “We’ll do all the work.” “The scholarship will cost money.” “You have been selected by a national foundation” or “you’re a finalist” in a contest you never entered.

GETTING RECRUITED FOR COLLEGE ATHLETICS  Have an honest talk with your coach about your athletic ability.  Treat this like a job search. Develop a cover letter and resume.  Personalize your letters with coaches’ names. These can typically be found on the school’s website.  Research the college’s athletic and academic programs.  If you receive profile forms or questionnaires from coaches, complete them and return them as soon as possible. These can often be found on the program’s website also.  Develop a skills video.  Inquire about open tryouts.  Register with the NCAA and/or NAIA Eligibility Centers.

STUDENT LOAN STATISTICS  Nearly 20 million individuals attend college each year. Of that 20 million, close to 12 million (60%) borrow annually to cover costs.  There is roughly $1 trillion in total outstanding student loan debt in the U.S. today.  As of 2012, the average amount of student loan debt for the Class of 2011 was $26,500, a 5% increase from the Class of 2010.

STAY INFORMED…  Counselor Webpage – Go to the FHS website and click on School Counselor.  Follow Ms. Lucas on  Sign up to receive text announcements through the One Call system.  –