1. COLLEGE MAKING IT HAPPEN FOR MY CHILD

2. Topics Is College Worth It?
How Can I Help My Child Get Ready for College Now?
Financial Aid & Scholarships
California College Systems

3. IS COLLEGE WORTH IT?
By 2020,
67% of Jobs in California Will Require a College Education or Career Certificate
Research shows that a child who go to colleges and earns a Bachelors degree at a university will make $1 million dollars more over than their lifetime than a high school graduate.

4. WHY COLLEGE & CAREER TRAINING MATTER
On average College Graduates earn $1.34 million more dollars
over their lifetime compared to high school graduates.

5. SALARY & UNEMPLOYMENT RATES IN 2015
WEEKLY PAY
EDUCATION LEVEL
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
$1,623 per week
Professional Degree, eg: doctor, lawyer
1.7%
$1,730 per week
Doctoral Degree
1.5%
$1,341 per week
Master’s Degree
2.4%
$1,137 per week
Bachelor’s Degree
2.8%
$798 per week
Associate’s Degree (community college)
3.8%
$738 per week
Career Training only 5%
$678 per week
High School Diploma
5.4%
$493 per week
High School Drop Out 8%
* Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Learning and Earning Chart, June 15, 2015.

6. WHAT CAN I DO to help my child GET READY FOR COLLEGE NOW?
As a Parent or Guardian
WHAT CAN I DO
to help my child
GET READY
FOR COLLEGE
NOW?

7. Build the dream of going to college
Visit College Campuses
Celebrate academic achievements
When your child shows an interest - encourage them and talk about how it relates to careers
Talk about your child’s Strengths & Talents and relate them to possible careers
Talk about how college will help them in the future
How do you build the dream of going to college for your child?
College visits – you can go on a campus tour at any age or just walk around campus on your own so your child understands what college feels like. Idea: when you go on vacation somewhere, find out what colleges or universities are nearby and stop to visit.

8. SET HIGH EXPECTATIONS
Set the expectation that your child IS GOING to College &/or Training for a Career
The earlier you start talking about college & careers the better!
Have high expectations! Children will live UP or DOWN to your expectations

9. How do you promote college AT home?
15 minutes – ask parents to share ideas
Parents share ideas

10. “What was the best thing that happened today?”
ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS!
Ask Open-Ended Questions
Avoid questions that can be answered with a “Yes”, “No,” “Nothing,” or “Fine”
Example:
“How was school?”
vs.
“What was the best thing that happened today?”

11. Good habits now = academic success later
Make sure you child does their homework everyday.
Good attendance is important!
Read with your children & encourage them to read on their own at home.
Strong Writing, Reading & Math skills are extremely important in college.

12. SCHOOL SUCCESS Talk to Teachers Often
Homework BEFORE TV, video games & friends.
Quiet Space for Studying
Get Tutoring if Needed
If Your Family Speaks Another Language – Keep Speaking it at Home
*In Middle School - take Algebra I, Geometry and/or a Foreign Language These classes Count for college admissions as long as they get a “C” grade or better.
Communicate with Teachers
Get to know their teachers and communicate frequently
Don’t wait for their Report Card to find out there is a problem
Stay Involved & Become a Parent Volunteer
Quiet Space - No TV while studying or doing homework; but Music is Okay
Bi-Lingual - Reinforce how important knowing two languages is for future success. Research shows that children learn languages faster and easier before the age of 13.

13. FINANCIAL AID, SCHOLARSHIPS & COLLEGE SAVINGS

14. Financial Aid & Scholarships
GRANTS = FREE $$$
State & Federal Grants for Low Income Families
Grants for Good Grades
Special Grants for Foster Youth, Children of Veterans, etc.
SCHOLARSHIPS = FREE $$
STUDENT LOANS = NOT Free, must be paid back
COLLEGE SAVINGS - Start NOW!
CURIOUS? - Find out your financial eligibility for financial aid now
California’s 529 Saving Accounts – Scholar Share is the State’s official administrator
When you contribute to the ScholarShare College Savings Plan (ScholarShare), any account earnings are federal and California income tax-deferred. Plus, distributions used to pay for qualified higher education expenses will be free from federal and California income tax. Non-qualified withdrawals may be subject to federal and state taxes and the additional federal 10% tax.
Payroll deduction for ScholarShare is a convenient and flexible method to contribute to your existing ScholarShare account. If your employer offers this benefit, you can contribute from your paycheck for as little as $15 per pay period. You can stop, start or change your deduction amount at any time.

15. Scholarships High Academic Achievement Sports (Grades are important)
Community Service Hours
Family Challenges
Immigrant parents,
1st in family to go to college
Specific Scholarships
Parent is a military veteran, postal worker, etc.
Child has specific career goals, 1st to go to college, etc.
Athletics – scholarships are given only at Division 1 Colleges – not all colleges or universities give out athletic scholarships. Very competitive. Good grades are extremely important to getting recruited.

16. SCHOLAR SHARE SAVING PROGRAM FEDERAL & STATE TAX FREE!
Savings Plan EXAMPLE
College Fund Savings Plan:
$10 per month = $120 per year x 12 years = $ 1,440
$35 per month = $420 per year x 12 years = $ 5,040
$100 per month = $1,200 per year x 12 years = $14,400
California Scholar Share Saving Program.
Allows you to save money for college tax free. College Saving 529 Plan
SCHOLAR SHARE SAVING PROGRAM
FEDERAL & STATE TAX FREE!
California’s 529 Saving Accounts – Scholar Share is the State’s official administrator
When you contribute to the ScholarShare College Savings Plan (ScholarShare), any account earnings are federal and California income tax-deferred. Plus, distributions used to pay for qualified higher education expenses will be free from federal and California income tax. Non-qualified withdrawals may be subject to federal and state taxes and the additional federal 10% tax.
Payroll deduction for ScholarShare is a convenient and flexible method to contribute to your existing ScholarShare account. If your employer offers this benefit, you can contribute from your paycheck for as little as $15 per pay period. You can stop, start or change your deduction amount at any time.

17. QUESTIONS ABOUT financial aid or scholarships?

18. California college & university systems
What Do Colleges & Universities
Expect?

19. LEVELS OF EDUCATION University 3 – 6 years MASTERS DEGREE University
DOCTORAL DEGREE
University
3 – 6 years
MASTERS DEGREE
University
3 - 4 years
BACHELORS DEGREE
University
4 – 5 years
ASSOCIATES DEGREE
Community College
2 – 3 years
CAREER TRAINING CERTIFICATES
Community College
1 – 2 years

20. Higher Education in California
The Four Systems of
Higher Education in California

21. California’s college systemsCC
CSU UC
Private
Colleges
111 23 10
77+
Tuition Costs
$1,104 /year
$5,970 /year
$13,200 / year
$6, $50,000+ / year
Admissions Requirements
18 years old or High School graduate
2.0 GPA min.
SAT or ACT exam
3.0 GPA min.
SAT or ACT & Subject Exams
Varies
GPA
Not Required
3.0 GPA 
Expected
3.5 GPA  Expected
3.0 GPA  Expected
*Based on college tuition rates.

22. Online Resources Know How To Go To College www.knowhow2go.org
California Colleges - research info on all types of California Colleges
My Child’s Future

23. QUESTIONS?

24. [insert Presenter name, school & contact info]