1. College: Know the Facts
Career Preparedness

2. Questions from YOU! Cost? How to apply?/get accepted?
How to find/apply for scholarships?
Class size?
Weekly class schedule?
Class length?
Attendance?
Dress code?
Electives?
Living on campus mandatory?
Summer courses?
When is lunch?
Easy to make friends?
A lot to handle? Any free time? Hard?
Greek Life?
What is there to do?
Try out for sports?
Where are the classes?
What is the main difference from high school?

3. Financial Aid
Loans
Grants
Work-Study
Scholarships

4. to receive any type of financial aid!
Must fill out the
fafsa
to receive any type of financial aid!

5. Federal vs. Private Loans
Don’t have to repay until after school
Lower interest rate
Can be subsidized
No cosigner
No credit check
Can postpone or adjust payments when repaying
Possible forgiveness
Some require payments while still in school
Higher interest rates
Not subsidized
Require cosigner and credit check
No repayment help
No forgiveness

6. Direct Loans Subsidized Unsubsidized
Do not pay interest while enrolled
Must either:
pay interest while enrolled OR
Have interest start adding up and repay later

7. Grants First come, first serve!
Federal Pell Grant
Only undergrad students
$5,730 maximum
Cannot receive longer than 12 semesters (6 years)
Alabama Student Assistance Program (ASAP)
Undergrad
Alabama resident
Must qualify for Pell grant
Given for greatest financial need
FSEOG (Fed Supplemental Edu Opp Grant)
Undergrad
Alabama resident
Must qualify for Pell grant
Given for greatest financial need
Must pay back if you withdraw or do not graduate!

8. Work Study
Funds provided by federal gov and college
Work an average of 15 hours per week and earn minimum wage

9. GO TO EACH COLLEGE’S WEBSITE diploma or GED
Admission to School
GO TO EACH COLLEGE’S WEBSITE
diploma or GED
Fill out application – usually cost $
Send transcript from HS

10. Classes and Graduation
12 semester hours = full time student
No more than 21 total hours each semester
semester hours (for Bachelor’s degree)
Minimum “C” average in each major class – D is passing but not major classes

11. Classification of Undergraduate Students
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
0-31 hours hours hours 96+ hours

12. General/Core Classes Take most Freshman and Sophomore year
6 hours of English Comp
12 hours literature/history
12 hours biology/math
12 hours art, social/behavioral science (psychology), intro business, intro computer course, public speaking
Prerequisites/intro classes for major
Freshman studies class

13. Example Freshman Class Schedule 1st Semester – 16 total hours
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
8-9am
Biology 101 (4)
Biology 101
9-10am
Art Appreciation I (3)
Art App I
10-11am
11-12pm
History I (3)
History I
12-1pm
English Comp I (3)
English Comp I
1-2pm
2-3pm
Foundations of Design I (3)
Foundations of Design I
3-4pm
4-5pm
5-6pm
Biology 101 Lab
6-7pm

14. Example Freshman Class Schedule 2nd Semester – 16 hours
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
8-9am
9-10am
10-11am
Bio 102 (4)
Bio 102
11-12pm
English Comp II (3)
12-1pm
History II (3)
History II
1-2pm
Core Math
2-3pm
3-4pm
Bio 102 Lab
4-5pm
Psychology (3)
Psychology
5-6pm
6-7pm