College Knowledge DeAnna Brown School Counselor & Andrea McDonald College For Every Student (CFES)

What Brought You Here?  Your name  Grade(s) of child(ren)  What you hope to learn today

College For Every Student

College For Every Student (CFES) Mentoring Leadership Through Service Pathways to College

College For Every Student (CFES) at LPES Mentoring 4 th Grade/1 st Grade 5 th Grade/Kindergarten Staff/Student Individual class projects Leadership Through Service 4 th Grade classes will plan and lead service projects 5 th Grade – ongoing service opportunities (Pledge, Loop, Cafeteria, Mix-It-Up, etc.) Pathways to College 4 th Grade College Visit 3 rd & 5 th Grade College Information & Guest Speakers

Let’s Talk About College

Talking to Younger Children About College & Careers  Keep it simple  Keep it concrete  Point out different jobs  Identify strengths & interests and careers that are related to them.  Most jobs require college= College teaches you to do different kinds of work.

Talk About College Often  Express confidence that your child can go to college.  Visit college campuses when you are travelling – even just to drive through.  Help students keep an open mind about attending college.

Colleges come in all shapes and sizes!  Degrees/Majors  Location & Size of School  Admissions Criteria  Cost & Financial Assistance  Housing  Clubs & Sports  Support Services  Ability to bring your horse, ATV, fish…

Better Grades = More Options  Anyone with a high school diploma can go to college.  Some colleges are very selective and require very high grades.

Prepare for College  Do his/her best in school!  Create strong homework & study habits (Same time, same place, positive attitude)  Maintain strong attendance.  Learn about different jobs and careers  Volunteer/Community Service  Get Involved in Clubs, Sports, Community Programs or other Activities

Paying for College

Cost of Attending College  It costs money to attend college.  There are Financial Aid Programs to help students pay for college.  Better Grades = More Free Money for College (scholarships & awards)  Most people make more money after attending college.

How much does it cost to go to college? Answer: It depends on how much financial aid you receive. Cost of Attendance - Financial Aid = Actual Cost to You

For Example… School A School BSchool C $40,000$20,000$15, , , =$20,000=$15,000 $15,000 Each college has a Net Price Calculator to estimate your actual cost of attendance. SUNY Albany Net Price Calculator

Grants, Awards, & Scholarships  Federal & State Financial Aid (mostly based on family income)  Financial Aid from college/school you are attending (mostly based on academic achievement, some based on family income)  Private groups and organizations (based on all sorts of things, many for community service)

Did You Know?  North Country Community College offers free tuition to our students who graduate in the top 20% of their class.  Many colleges have similar scholarships for students above a 90 average or at the top of their class.

Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP / HEOP) Provides academic support, and financial aid to students. Eligibility  Ineligible for admission under traditional standards, but demonstrate potential for completing a college program; and  In need of financial assistance within established income guidelines.

College Loans  Student loans are funds that are loaned directly to the student and must be paid back by the student. They are not based on family income or credit. ~$5000/year  Parent loans are based on the credit of the parent(s) and must be repaid by the parent(s).

College Savings Programs *It’s never too early (or too late) to start saving for college* See Yellow Handout on Saving For College for information on different ways to save.  NY State 529 Plan  See your bank or financial advisor

Questions or Comments? We are collecting college pennants… We will be having a district-wide college pride day this spring… Thank you for coming! Contact DeAnna Brown for more information x4533