College Admission Help

Race for college admission to be tougher
Reprinted from The Times of India
CHENNAI -- The race for admission into professional and arts and science colleges is likely to be tougher this year considering that the number of students who have passed the State Board, plus two examinations, has gone up significantly. This year, 532,222 boys and girls have cleared the examination, which is 35,728 higher than the previous year. Also, the number of students who have secured a first class (aggregate score of 60% and above) has gone up by 23,040.

A preliminary analysis of these figures clearly indicate that this would push up the cut-off marks for admission into MBBS and BE/B. Tech courses. Many students are expected to be tied at every level of cut-off that is differentiated by a 0.25 decimal score. This tie could lead to some students missing the chance of joining preferred colleges or branches by a whisker.

As of mid-May, a total of 129,257 persons had purchased the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admission application forms, a clear sign of a continuing demand for BE/B.Tech courses.

If this is the case with admission into professional degree courses, the scene at the arts and science colleges is not going to be any different particularly for courses like B.Com and B.Com (Corporate Secretaryship).

Trends in the past have been that there is a mad rush among students who had studied in the Commerce Stream in Plus Two to apply for B.Com, B.Com (Corporate Secretaryship) and BA Economics. The competition for these courses is so intense that in well known institutions like the Loyola College, Ethiraj College and Meenakshi College, the cut-off for B.Com (merit quota) has been above 95%.


Race for college admission to be tougher

College Counselor Advice: Still Don’t Know Where to Go? Try Out These Ideas
By Dr. Patrick O’Connor
It’s coming right down to the wire. Chances are this won’t be an easy decision. While college applications are at an all-time high, most students were admitted to more than one college, leaving their options open for as long as possible—but now it’s time to choose.

It’s not uncommon to be uncertain right now, but you really do have a lot of time—you’ve put semester-long projects together in five days, and they came out O.K. If you’re in need of some guidelines as you think your way through these issues, try these:

• Think college qualities, not college names. There are reasons why you loved the colleges you applied to—the small class size, the classes they offer, the feel on campus. Write those qualities down, and see how each of your schools matches up to those qualities.
• Visit the campuses—one way or another. The last time you visited your colleges, you were thinking ‘I guess this could work.’ This isn’t a time to guess—head back to campus with Mom and Dad, bring your list of qualities, and take a much closer look—including sitting in on classes if at all possible. If you can’t get there, take the virtual tour on the college’s Web site—that may bring back some memories, or show you some new things to consider
• De-brief at the end. Once you’re through with a campus visit, talk with your parents about what you saw. What qualities were on campus that you liked? What new questions do you have? Can you see yourself at this college?
• Seek parental input. It’s great to show some independence, but your parents are the two people who know you best. Invite their expertise—“Mom, Dad, do you see me being happy here?”
• Compare the colleges you have, not the ones you wanted. Once you’ve toured the campuses, compare their strengths and weaknesses—but leave the dream school that denied you out of the picture. You might not find a perfect campus, but you’ll most likely find a best one—focus on that goal, and you’ll be fine. It’s time to move on.
• Don’t forget your heart... You might not able to describe why a college is best for you, but that’s OK. You’ve done a lot of research and thinking—at this point, you can trust your heart to lead you. Your head will remember why this college was best for you when you come to campus in the fall.
• Check finances one last time. You still can’t get two colleges in a bidding war over you, but if you have a college you love and it’s a little out of reach, call the admissions and financial aid offices—that’s usually two calls—and tell them so. A sincere call shows them you’re interested; not calling at all doesn’t give any impression, and may leave you short in the wallet for no reason at all.
• Start the hunt again. If your choices really don’t thrill you, wait until May 5th. That’s when colleges discover they have unexpected openings—and of course they’ll want to fill them. Getting financial aid might be a challenge, but you never know—call the admissions office, or look at the Space Availability Report at www.nacacnet.org – but remember, that may mean you risk having no school at all next fall.

I said it once, and I’ll say it again—you can do this.


College Counselor Advice: Still Don’t Know Where to Go? Try Out These Ideas

College Scholarship News: 8th Graders’ Exam Is Delayed
By JACQUES STEINBERG
New York Times
The College Board in New York recently said that it was putting off the unveiling of a new standardized test intended to help eighth graders prepare for rigorous high school courses and college. It cited school districts’ tight finances as the cause of the delay.
The exam had drawn sharp criticism from organizations like FairTest, a
non-profit organization that seeks to diminish the role of standardized tests like the SAT.
The College Board, which also oversees the SAT, announced last fall that it would begin offering the test, known as ReadiStep, this fall. It had described it as being for assessment and instructional purposes only, and not for any college admissions purpose.
“With the unforeseen challenge of the current economic situation, many states, districts and schools simply don’t have the resources to spend on new programs,” a College Board spokeswoman, Sheila Jamison, said in an e-mail message.
“When a large enough group of states, districts and schools have the resources that will enable them to launch ReadiStep, we will launch it.”
Robert Schaeffer, the public education director of FairTest, said the College Board’s decision reflected “the overwhelmingly negative reaction to this unnecessary new testing product among college admissions officers and high school guidance counselors.”
“They know that an additional exam would only push already rampant college admission testing hysteria down into middle school,” Mr. Schaeffer added, “with no benefit to anyone other than the College Board.”


College Scholarship News: 8th Graders’ Exam Is Delayed

College Admission Help: Academic edge in science, math garners Goldwaters
By Rachel Cromidas
The University of Chicago Chronicle
College students Hannah Alpert and Hannes Schimmelpfennig have won Goldwater scholarships from the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation for their achievements and potential in the fields of math and science.
Alpert is a second-year majoring in mathematics, and Schimmelpfennig is a third-year pursuing a double major in physics and mathematics.
“Both Hannah and Hannes are very talented, young researchers whose promise has been recognized by the committee,” said Paul Anderson, College Scholarships Advisor. “Over the past 15 years, students in the College have received 46 Goldwater scholarships—that’s basically 70 percent of the time,” Anderson said. “We rely on College advisors, informational meetings and the input of faculty to tell promising candidates about the scholarship and encourage them to apply.”
One such faculty member was Paul Sally, Professor in Mathematics and the College and Director of the Undergraduate Mathematics Studies program; he alerted the University’s selection committee to both Alpert and Schimmelpfennig’s achievements.
“Hannah is far and away the brightest second-year student in mathematics now,” said Sally, who taught Alpert in his Honors Analysis class. “She has all the potential and knowledge to become a first-class research mathematician, even at this young age.”
When Alpert applied last fall, she wrote her scholarship application essay about a project she researched during high school on topological graph theory.
“The project was about drawing triangles on the surface of a donut … so that each triangle would have three edges that were all different colors,” she explained. “We didn’t figure it out completely, but we showed that for a certain class of triangulations, you can always figure out how to assign colors to all of the edges so that each triangle has three different colored edges.”
“Math is really big, and there are a lot of areas I don’t know anything about,” Alpert said, but graph theory is a field that is very accessible to younger students. “It’s very easy to pose accessible problems that people haven’t studied before, so a lot of undergraduate research is about that.”
Alpert plans to spend her summer participating in an undergraduate research program in Duluth, Minn.
Currently studying at Cambridge, Schimmelpfennig was selected for the study abroad opportunity by faculty members in the Department of Physics.
“My experience here is a major part of my undergraduate education in theoretical physics,” he said. “Studying in Cambridge is more independent than at Chicago. You have to find your way through the material largely on your own and make sure you are prepared for exams at the end of the year, which count for 70 percent of your overall mark. I think it is a good way to get used to independent studying and responsibility.”
Schimmelpfennig said his future goals are to attend graduate school for physics in pursuit of a research career as a theoretical physicist. He plans to focus on quantum field theory, an area of physics he will continue to explore during his fourth year in the College. He has worked on dark matter detection with Juan Collar, Associate Professor in Physics and the College, before he came to Cambridge. At Cambridge, he has written a research review paper under the supervision of James Stirling, the Jacksonian professor of natural philosophy in Cambridge’s physics department, on “Convergence of Perturbation Series in Quantum Field Theory.”
“During his year with us in Cambridge, Hannes has undertaken the full physics course load alongside our third-year students. It’s an enormously challenging thing to do to just drop into a completely different education system for the year and find yourself among some of the smartest kids in the UK,” Stirling said. “It doesn’t surprise me that he’s been winning scholarships because he is an outstanding student.”
He will spend the summer doing research on Lattice QCD, an active new area within quantum field theory, at the Thomas Jefferson Laboratory in Virginia.
“Hannes has not only been marked by the physics department [to study abroad]; he has been actively involved in research since he stepped foot on campus,” Anderson said. “In the sciences, having a good research profile is an essential component of being picked for the Goldwater scholarship.”
Congress established the Goldwater scholarships in 1986. They are awarded annually to second- and third-year students who are pursuing careers in the sciences, mathematics or engineering. The scholarship provides winners with $7,500 per school year to fund college expenses while the students remain in College.
“But more important than the monetary part, this award is meant to recognize the most promising young scientists and mathematicians this country has to offer,” Anderson said. “It’s really an honor to have two winners this year.”


College Admission Help: Academic edge in science, math garners Goldwaters

College Admission Help: The Dating Game - Admissions Style
Dorchester school plays matchmaker for students, colleges
By Peter Schworm
Boston Globe
Shakye Jones didn't waste time with small talk. No witty banter to break the ice. Without a hint of just-met jitters, the teenager cut to the chase.
"What would make me want to come to your college?" the Codman Academy junior asked the Wesleyan University admissions officer, looking her square in the eye.
Tara Lindros didn't blink, matching the teen's bluntness with a charm offensive.
"Wesleyan students are so fun and interesting," she said. "They have so much passion and energy, it's contagious. If you come and visit, you'll see that. It's only two hours from here."
Jones seemed interested. Maybe it wasn't love at first sight, but Wesleyan was worth a second date, so to speak.
The matchmaking meet-and-greet was part of the Dorchester charter school's second annual "speed-dating" event yesterday, bringing together about 30 college representatives with high school juniors in the hopes that they will hit it off. Making their way around the room in five-minute intervals, students got a crash course in potential college destinations, from Harvard University to Bunker Hill Community College. As students begin the courtship of colleges, they need to learn to play the field, school officials said.
"You're not going to love every person you date, and you aren't going to love every school," said Nora Dowley, the charter school's dean of enrichment, who organized the event. "Finding that perfect match takes a lot of work."
Sebastien Louis, fresh from a frenetic hour of 12 short interviews, said the dating analogy was spot on, self-conscious conversations and all. But he was relieved that the admissions officers were as eager to impress as he was.
"At first I was nervous, because I didn't know what to expect," he said. "But you could see they were nervous, too. So then it was more like just getting to know each other."
Louis, a tall 19-year-old from Mattapan, said he came away favoring Emerson College, Colby College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
After Jones' five minutes were up at the Wesleyan table, Arielle Correia took her place in front of the glossy brochures and pamphlets. She smiled and shook Lindros's hand, and the two launched into an easy conversation about the college's theater and study abroad programs. They quickly built a rapport, and Correia got up the nerve to ask what was really on her mind.
"The classes, how hard are they?" she asked quietly, as if in confidence. Lindros said they aren't easy, but tutoring is there for anyone who needs it, and students don't spend all their time in the library. Correia seemed relieved.
"It sounds wonderful," she said, filling out a form to put her name on the school's mailing list. "Thank you so much."
Over at the Emerson table, Olivia Kirby admitted right away that this was a blind date.
"I don't know much about Emerson," she said with an apologetic look. Undeterred, the representative whipped out a brochure to show her the campus was right beside the Boston Common, slyly noting its proximity to the popular movie theater.
"Oh, I walk by it all the time," she said, her eyes lighting up.
Afterward, Kirby said the meetings, though brief, were beneficial. She learned about a lot of schools, and was excited to find out that most have extensive community service and study abroad programs. Plus, the format made her realize that choosing a college, like a boyfriend, has a lot to do with intuition.
"You either have that chemistry, or you don't," she quipped.
School officials said introducing students to a range of colleges should help jump-start the selection process. Most Codman Academy students are poised to become the first in their families to attend college, and are often unaware of their options. Many mistakenly assume that selective colleges only accept students with perfect grades and test scores, and are too expensive for all but the wealthiest families.
From a motivation standpoint, students will almost surely work harder for a goal they believe is possible.
"We want to give them a picture of what college is like," said Meg Campbell, the school's executive director.
School administrators said it is also important for students to realize they are not simply at colleges' mercy, although it often feels like it. The schools need them, too, they said.
"Students think it's all on them, but it's a two-way street," Campbell said.
The admissions officers said the concentrated burst of contacts was good for business, and said they hoped they made a good enough impression that the students might follow up. Some said they would make the first move with a follow-up e-mail thanking them for the chat. Unlike dating, they weren't going to play games.


College Admission Help: The Dating Game - Admissions Style

College Costs 101 – College Grants, loans, scholarships and savings can open door
By Mark Glover
Sacramento Bee
Numerous state officials will tell you that getting a college education in California is still a bargain compared with the price of college in other states.
But the Golden State has been closing the gap on those pricier states of late.
With the latest round of increases approved this month by the University of California and California State University systems, the cost of a college education in California has climbed more than 70 percent since 2001, including the adjustment for inflation.
UC regents recently raised student fees 9.3 percent. Fees will increase by $662 for California resident undergraduates, who should expect to pay about $8,700 in fees for the coming academic year. Fees will rise $750 for in-state graduate students.
The CSU system recently voted in a 10-percent increase for next year. Student fees will increase $306 for undergraduates, $354 for teacher credential students and $378 for graduate students. Including the average campus fee of $801, the typical cost for CSU undergrads next year will be $4,155.
Both systems cited the need for additional revenue as California struggles with its budget. Perhaps most ominous, the future outlook of the state budget is bleak, at best.
"It is never an easy choice to raise fees, but we are faced with a dire state budget, and (Wednesday's) increase is necessary to maintain and operate our university campuses," CSU Board Chairman Jeffrey Bleich said after trustees met.
And the rising fees can reflect only a small fraction of total costs, especially for students who go away to school. Sallie Mae, the leading provider of student loans, estimates the freshman year for a California student at most UC campuses will cost more than $30,000 in tuition, fees, room and board and books, while some CSU schools run more than $12,000.
Many top private schools are estimated at more than $50,000 for the first year.
Bleich offered some financial advice for students: "It is critical that students get their financial aid requests in. This year, benefits for programs such as the Pell Grant are more generous than ever. Through financial aid and grants, nearly half of our students will see no increase in their fees."
It's good advice no matter what college a student will attend. Here are some of the ways parents and students can pay for a college education:
BASIC SAVINGS PLAN
The good news is if you start early, you can accumulate a sizable amount of money over time. Saving just $100 a month over 18 years will net you $23,655, at 1 percent interest compounded annually. And more at higher rates of return.
FEDERAL STUDENT AID
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid – or FAFSA, for short – is filled out annually by millions of high school and college students nationwide. FAFSA eligibility is determined by a financial need formula based on numerous variables. Federal aid includes Stafford loans, Pell Grants and other assistance described below.
More details:
• www.fafsa.ed.gov or (800) 433-3243.
STAFFORD LOANS
A Stafford loan is offered to students enrolled in higher education institutions. It can be subsidized (based on financial need, with the government paying the interest if the student stays in school) or unsubsidized (not based on financial need, with the student paying the interest. Repayment can be deferred). The subsidized range is $3,500 for freshmen, $4,500 for sophomores and $5,500 for juniors and graduating seniors enrolled for one semester. The unsubsidized range is $5,500 for freshmen, $6,500 for sophomores and $7,500 for juniors and graduating seniors enrolled for a semester. A FAFSA application must be filled out in advance to become eligible. The fixed interest rate on Stafford loans has recently been 6 percent to 6.8 percent, although lower rates become effective this year.
More details:
• www.staffordloan.com or (800) 433-3243.
PELL GRANTS
The Pell Grant program is a federal college education program based on financial need. A FAFSA application must be filled out in advance to become eligible. Grants do not have to be repaid. A Pell Grant can pay nearly $5,000 for college, and the annual amount depends on program funding. The Obama administration has been a strong advocate of additional funding for Pell Grants.
More details:
• www.ed.gov/programs/fpg/index.html or (800) 433-3243.
CHAFEE GRANT PROGRAM
The California Chafee Grant Program is sponsored by the California Student Aid Commission and the state Department of Social Services for eligible youths who are or have been in foster care. To qualify, students must be eligible, or have been eligible, for foster care between the ages 16 and 18, and not have reached age 22 as of July 1 of the award year. A FAFSA application is required. Recipients qualify for up to $5,000 a year for career and technical training or college. No repayment is required.
More details:
• www.chafee.csac.ca.gov or (888) 224-7268.
CAL GRANTS PROGRAM
Cal Grants are geared to graduating high school seniors or recent high school graduates. Applicants must meet academic, financial and eligibility requirements and submit required forms, including the FAFSA application. Grant recipients can get up to $9,700 a year to pay for college expenses at any qualifying California college, university or career/technical school. Grade-point averages are part of the consideration process.
More details:
• www.calgrants.org or (888) 224-7268.
PLUS LOANS
Parents can borrow via a PLUS Loan to help pay the education expenses of a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half time in an eligible program at an eligible school. PLUS Loans are available through the Federal Family Education Loan Program and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. Parents can get either loan, but not both, during an enrollment period. Application standards include a check of credit history. The yearly limit on a PLUS Loan is equal to the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid received. For example, if the cost of attendance is $6,000, and the student receives $4,000 in other financial aid, parents can borrow up to $2,000. The current interest rate is 7.9 percent.
More details:
• www.studentaid.ed.gov or (800) 433-3243.
529 COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN
A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged college savings plan named after a section of the Internal Revenue Code. Money in the plan is not taxed as long as it is used for higher education purposes. Each state administers its own 529 plan. Besides a tax advantage, the 529 enables participants to build up a college fund with contributions over time, with a minimum initial investment of only $50 required. In California, the plan is sponsored by the state's ScholarShare Investment Board and managed by Fidelity Investments.
More details:
• www.scholarshare.com or (800) 544-5248.
COVERDELL ESA
A Coverdell Education Savings Account is a tax-advantaged investment account. While similar to the 529 plan, it can also be used to cover education expenses before college enrollment. Also, unlike 529 plans, there are restrictions on contributions ($2,000 per year). There are also limitations based on household income.
More details:
• www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch07.html or (800) 829-1040.
STUDENT LOANS
Most major banks and other lenders, including Sallie Mae, offer student loans at interest rates that are favorable, and in some cases, negotiable. Some banks also offer interest rate reductions if applicants opt for services such as automatic payment withdrawals from a bank account. Colleges also offer emergency loans in some cases, but eligible amounts tend to be small.
SCHOLARSHIPS
High schools, community colleges and four-year universities offer numerous scholarships. The amount of monetary awards and niche fields of study for which scholarships are available run a wide gamut. Students beginning their junior year of high school are encouraged to work closely with their counselors to investigate the availability of scholarships. Likewise, students enrolled in college should regularly check with their advisers about scholarship availability. Many college Web sites and state/federal education assistance agencies have online links to free scholarship searches.
WATCH OUT
Here are some paying-for-college plans that most experts say are either bad ideas or are questionable in the current economic climate:
Home equity loans: The experts are divided on this one. But given the current availability of student loans at favorable interest rates and the volatility of California's real estate market, many experts say it pays to get a loan outside the equity realm. Others say it's OK if the equity loan interest rate you're quoted trumps other offers. If you do go the equity route, experts say you should lock in a favorable fixed rate.
Credit card advances: The experts are unanimous on this one: Don't do it. There are too many financial-aid options, scholarships and favorable-term loans available now to even consider the credit card route. Save the credit cards to pay for relatively inexpensive college needs.
Cashing in insurance policies: Again, the experts say there is plentiful financial aid available, making this an unwise choice. You can have an expert audit all your insurance policies, which might turn up a policy with limited benefit and good cash value. But the experts say that's going to be an uncommon occurrence. Under no circumstances should you cancel something like auto insurance, which is required by California law.


College Costs 101 – College Grants, loans, scholarships and savings can open door

College Scholarship offers a lot
Low-income middle school students can get up to $30,000 for college tuition, books and fees
By Adriana Janovich
Yakima Herald-Republic
YAKIMA, Wash. — Osvaldo Cardenas has a few goals for high school.
Save some money. Stick with basketball and the Future Business Leaders of America. Graduate with a decent grade point average. ("I'm shooting for a 2.5 or higher," he says.) And, "Stay out of trouble."
The last two are key. There's money on the line. As much as $30,000.
"You don't want to lose out on that," Cardenas says.
The 15-year-old Davis High School freshman was among the first Washington state middle and junior high school students to sign up for the new College Bound Scholarship last year.
This year, hundreds of students in the Yakima Valley might be missing out on the scholarship money because they haven't applied for it.
The deadline is looming. This year's applications for the state-funded scholarship are due June 30.
It's crunch time, says Janie Morales-Castro, the College Bound Scholarship counselor for Educational Service District 105, which includes school districts from Easton to Wahluke and Bickleton, as well as those in the Yakima Valley.
So far, approximately 40 percent of eligible students throughout the ESD have signed up -- about 3,250 of 8,123 students.
"We would like to reach 100 percent," Morales-Castro says.
The scholarship covers the cost of tuition, books and fees -- up to $30,000 -- at two- and four-year public colleges and universities, technical schools, and many private colleges and universities in this state.
It's free money for college for students that qualify. The only hitches are they keep up their grades, stay out of trouble and graduate from high school in Washington state. Eligible students include foster youths and students from low-income families, those that make 65 percent or less of the median family income, which is currently $47,000 for a family of four. That means the family income would have to be $30,550 a year or less.
And they must currently be in seventh, eighth or ninth grade.
Next year, only seventh- and eighth-graders will be able to apply. That means current seventh-graders will only have one more year to sign up, and current eighth- and ninth-graders that don't sign up this year will lose the opportunity.
"Time is of the essence to reach the current eighth- and ninth-graders," Morales-Castro says.
Higher education isn't cheap. Tuition at places such as the University of Washington and Washington State University can cost as much as an estimated $7,000 annually. On the lower end of the financial spectrum, it costs about $1,800 a year to attend Yakima Valley Community College.
"We don't want finances to be the reason they're not seeking higher education," says Maria Mendoza, a college preparatory adviser at Davis, where 423 freshman have signed up for the scholarship and another 414 are eligible. "We want students to take advantage of this opportunity."
To fund the College Bound Scholarship, the Legislature allocated $7.4 million in 2007. That money will pay for the first two years of the program, which will begin distributing the scholarship money for students in 2012.
The scholarship aims to make higher education accessible for thousands of students. It's designed to motivate them to pursue a college education at a young age.
Statewide, about 30,000 students have signed up for the scholarship this year, according to David Goehner, a spokesman for the ESD. About 60,000 more are eligible.
Locally, Morales-Castro and school counselors have been working to spread the word.
"We all have the same mission: to increase the college-bound culture in the Yakima community," Morales-Castro says. "We're trying to do whatever we can to get them to sign up, to get the word out."
That includes classroom presentations, parent nights and community events, like an upcoming informational meeting at YVCC. Morales-Castro says she's hoping students will take the pledge and sign up for the scholarship at the forum, scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. June 8.
Students are asked to promise to:
* Do well in middle school and high school, and graduate with a cumulative high school grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
* Not commit a felony.
* Apply for additional financial aid by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, in their senior year of high school.
"All those requirements are things kids do or should be doing anyhow -- not getting a felony, graduating with a C average," says Nick Hartman, an eighth-grade counselor at West Valley Junior High School. "The hardest part of this is filling out the form, and it's not a difficult form.
"We're going to put a copy of the application in our next newsletter."
Hartman is also the College Bound Scholarship coordinator for the West Valley School District, where 37 of 119 eligible ninth-graders have signed up for the scholarship. That's 31 percent of eligible ninth-graders in the district.
Fifty of 148 eligible eighth-graders have also signed up. That's about 34 percent of eligible eighth-graders in West Valley.
"We're trying to make a push here before the deadline to get as many students signed up as we can," says Peter Finch, assistant superintendent for learning and teaching at the West Valley School District.
While only a fraction of eligible students have signed up in some districts, the Mabton School District is bucking the trend, nearing 100 percent participation. So far, 68 of 72 eligible Mabton seventh-graders have turned in their applications. So have 54 of 66 eligible Mabton eighth-graders and 72 of 77 eligible Mabton ninth-graders.
"I'm out there during lunch, in the classrooms, you name it, always hassling the kids to get their applications in," says JR Gomez, coordinator of the Latina/o Outreach Program at WSU-Tri-Cities and coordinator of the College Bound Scholarship for the Mabton School District.
To celebrate the fact they're college-bound, the district is hosting a College Bound ceremony and barbecue May 28. Parents will receive information and have the chance to ask questions. Students will publicly take the pledge and receive certificates.
"We're going to frame them as well, just to make it special, just to show we really care and support them in their educational endeavors," Gomez says.
In Yakima, Cardenas learned about the scholarship from a counselor at Lewis and Clark Middle School last year and signed up when he was in eighth grade, in the first year of the program.
"I just thought it would take a lot of weight off my shoulders," says Cardenas, who's hoping to attend the University of Washington and major in business. Plus, "It sort of inspired me more to go to college."
His parents -- a fruit warehouse worker and health and beauty products saleswoman, both from Mexico -- didn't go to college. He could become the first in his immediate family to do so.
"I'm just grateful to have this scholarship," he says. "We're not the only ones struggling. There's a lot of families struggling with money for college."
Like other students who've signed up, Cardenas promised to keep up his grades and stay out of trouble. That means no felonies and maintaining a grade point average of at least a 2.0.
"They're doable," Cardenas says of those requirements. "You gotta keep your head up if you want to follow your dream and go to college."
If he holds up his end of the bargain and still qualifies financially when he graduates in 2012, he'll receive free college tuition and fees and a $500 stipend for books for four years.
"It's a great opportunity," Cardenas says. "I think it will help me explore the world."


College Scholarship offers a lot

College Tuition Tips: Affordable City, State Schools Become More Popular In Gaining College Admission
By Tara Lynn Wagner
New York 1 Living
With college tuition on the rise and the economy in a slump, many families are turning to public schools to give their children a more affordable higher education. NY1's Money Matter reporter Tara Lynn Wagner filed this fourth report in an eight-part series on paying for a college education.
Richard Alvarez says he has the greatest job in the world. As university director of the City University of New York (CUNY), he says he gets to say "yes" to everyone.
"Every student who graduates from high school, whether it's in New York State or anywhere else in the country, can enter the university," says Alvarez.
Lately, more and more students are knocking on CUNY's open door, beginning with their two-year programs. Applications are up more than 12 percent, in part because tuition is just $4,000 a year.
That means the neediest students who qualify for state and federal grants could feasibly get a CUNY education tuition free.
Since students can apply to six schools at once, college counselor Jackie Kucker of Benjamin Cardozo High School says she encourages all her students to apply.
"CUNY is a bargain, it's an absolute bargain. It's a wonderful education and it's very, very reasonable," says Kucker.
The State University of New York has also seen an application surge of almost 25 percent in the last five years, even despite an increase in tuition.
"The SUNY system tuition has been raised to $4,660, so we're still under the national average for state systems," says Jonathan White, the dean of admissions for SUNY Maritime College.
Growing interest in public schools is creating several changes on campus. One money-saving strategy saw students attending a state or city school for two years before transferring to a private school, but that trend is waning.
"There are more students who are opting to stay at CUNY to complete their education, and we're also seeing a growth in our graduate programs," says Alvarez.
Experts say some 80 percent of American college students are getting their education at a public school, and they say that education isn't all that different from what they'd get at a private school.
In fact, in some cases it's almost exactly the same.
"The same faculty that teach at four-year schools are actually teaching at these community colleges, so you're getting the same education," says White. "Once you get past the Ivies, English is English, business is business, psychology is psychology."
Of course, more applications mean tougher competition at more selective schools. Several CUNY schools have raised their admission standards and since out-of-state students pay nearly twice as much, they are casting a wider net when recruiting.
CUNY continues to accommodate everyone, but officials say they are keeping a watchful eye on student-faculty ratios.
"We are concerned that we are reaching a point where without additional assistance from the city and the state that we are going to reach enrollment cap. We're not there yet," says Alvarez.


College Tuition Tips: Affordable City, State Schools Become More Popular In Gaining College Admission

College Admission Help: Higher learning, higher earning
By Anna Troppens
High school counselors emphasize this formula to students: higher learning equals more earning. Those who go on to community college, a university or technical schools have higher salaries than those with a high school diploma alone.

“We try to preach that to the kids,” said counselor Mark Mattingly of Holly High School.

Fellow counselor Chris  Major-Talley said she believes it is very important for students to get some type of education after high school. In today’s job market, work isn’t there for a person who doesn’t have training or education for the job.

Everyone doesn’t have to attend a four-year college or university. Community college, or a technical certificate are other options, Mattingly said. “Even the military is an option.”

Young people learn a trade while in the military, and can  attend college after or during service. More education is a path to a higher military rank, and more pay. In addition, the military will help pay for higher education, he said.

Woodard said students from Lake Fenton, Fenton and  Linden high schools can obtain some training at the Genesee Area Skill Center. In most cases, they will need more education beyond high school. But they can explore careers at the skill center, such as auto mechanics, commercial foods, medical assistant, nurse’s aide and cosmetology.

The sooner students  begin planning for life after high school, the better, said Career Development Facilitator Karen Logan of Holly High School. If they know what they want to study after high school, they can plan what high school classes they take accordingly.

Some students know in elementary school what they want to  be when they grow up, but it’s pretty rare, said Woodard. Not everyone in high school knows what career they will pursue.

If they do, future nursing  students can take biology in high school, while those interested in engineering can choose Computer-Aided Design classes. Logan referred to a quote from Yogi Berra of the New York Yankees baseball team, “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up somewhere else.”

LFHS students have Educational  Development Plans (EDPs) they begin working on in seventh grade. They refine their career goals and record skills they are accumulating, and how these fit into their plans for the future. “Certainly middle school is not too soon,” Woodard said.

Holly High School’s career center reopened in December and  is available to students during the school day. Students can come in and use the computers, fill out college applications and work on their EDPs.

Other  tri-county area students can check their high school’s career center, or guidance counseling office, for assistance.

With the ACT and Michigan  Merit Exam tests now required of high school students, some students are thinking about college who previously wouldn’t have, Major-Talley said. “We tell them the ACT is a free college entrance test.”

Due to current economic  conditions, less students are going to universities, Mattingly said. More are attending community college for their first two years, to save money. After their sophomore year of college, they transfer to a four-year college or university. Even top students are doing this now. “We say it is an excellent option.”

What to study

The type of career  someone chooses can affect where he or she lives, how much money they have and what hours they work. It’s a big decision affecting many facets of life, but research helps young people know what to expect.

College isn’t only  about becoming a doctor, lawyer or high school teacher, said Tom Saelens, coordinator of outreach for Mott Community College (MCC).

Nursing, and  other jobs in the medical field, are No. 1 in terms of “hot” careers, Holly High School counselor Mark Mattingly said. There are predicted shortages in the future for workers in this field. Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth statistics, supplied by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, estimate there will be 3,132 annual job openings for registered nurses through 2012 (www.michigan.gov/lmi).

Mott Community College (MCC) has the largest  nursing program in the area, Saelens said. It graduates 160 to 180 nursing students each year. The job market also is strong for other health-related occupations, such as occupational therapy and dental hygiene. Other programs Mott offers include police officer training, welding, certified nursing assistants (CNAs), auto mechanics and furnace repair/HVAC.

Linden High  School guidance counselor Sue Hinton said counseling, and career counseling, are in demand. The first type of counselor helps those who are dissatisfied with their lives, and the second assists those who have lost their jobs.

Alternative energy, such as producing power from wind and solar  sources, is a good field to study, Major-Talley said. Other top picks are business, education and engineering. Several female Holly High School students plan to study engineering. “That’s awesome,” she said.

Careers in  forensic science also are hot, said Karen Logan, career development facilitator for HHS. With the current economic conditions, auto mechanics are in demand because people are keeping their vehicles longer. “They’re the people that are still working.”

And if there aren’t job openings for a certain type of  career in Michigan, grads can move out of state if they’re willing, said Saelens. For example, there aren’t many openings in Michigan right now for high school teachers. This isn’t to say there won’t be in three to four years, though.

The average college freshman changes majors three times, data  from colleges indicates. If students aren’t sure what they want to major in, they can mark “undecided.” “The largest major is undecided, one college rep said,” Major-Talley added. Taking various classes and talking to people can help with the decision, Mattingly said.


College Admission Help: Higher learning, higher earning

College Admissions Help: Four tips to prepare your teenager for college -- and the job market
By Jennifer Openshaw
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- If your child were looking for a job right now, would she get hired?
Ask yourself, honestly: Would you hire him?
It's a rough job market out there, so if you've got children in high school or college, chances are you're worried about how prepared they'll be. A study by SuperFutures.org found that parents placed "preparing their teen for success in the 'real world'" above getting into college or even financing it.
There's good reason to worry. Today more students are facing stiffer competition as more people -- including more experienced workers -- look for jobs. And, as segments of the population return to college in a down economy, getting into college or finding first-time jobs can be even tougher.
"We know more than ever that this is a global world, and the students who are part of that are the ones who will be prepared to compete in a tough job climate," said Patrick Sciarratta, co-founder of the Youth Assembly at the United Nations which, along with SuperFutures.org, is holding a nine-day youth leadership and social entrepreneurship conference for teens this summer featuring Arun Gandhi, great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.
Listen to this: For every available job, according to the Labor Department, there are four unemployed people. And companies are receiving more resumes than ever before.
So what does this mean for your child? Here are four things children must know to be successful as they look ahead to transitioning to the real-world:
1. Stand out from the crowd
I've talked to a number of colleges and admissions coaches hired by parents for college applications and all stress the importance of "creating a story." That means being good or passionate about something, but having activities that support that passion.
Why is this so important? In college applications and even on the job front, you want to be able to tell a compelling story about your professional desires and commitment. For instance, a child planning to become a veterinarian might attend a summer camp or program to learn more about animals, start a charity to use animals in some positive way, or intern at a local vet's office.
2. Plan early
Too often, parents or students don't start thinking about the all-important extracurricular activities that are crucial to creating a story and discovering a child's true passions. And, unfortunately, many schools often have only one high-school counselor per 1,000 kids, meaning they're short-handed to provide personal guidance for college or career planning.
One 50-year-old investment banker told me how, looking back, he can now finally understand why he didn't get into medical school, even though he graduated 17th in his class of 1,400 and had a father who was a cardiologist.
"I didn't have anyone providing me guidance -- no one who told me how to network, how to get an internship, what extra curricular activities I should be doing, and why this was all so important," he said.
3. Demonstrate impact
Today more than ever, to get into college and to land a job, students need to show that they can lead and make things happen. After all, colleges are looking for students who can demonstrate their chance of being successful. More ability to succeed now equals a higher probability of succeeding later.
To help its students learn how to create change and operate in today's global world, SuperFutures.org has students develop their own social entrepreneurial ventures in small groups based on their personal interests. Students then create an action plan to move their project forward along with a video or essay -- which can be used in college or job applications -- describing the impact they have or hope to have. (Full disclosure: I am one of the conference leaders for the summer program).
4. Get experience
Internships are critical for real-world experience and for exploring a child's interests. But too often students don't do them until they're in college, even heading toward graduation. Internships even in high school can lead to great references that can help with college applications and help steer you toward the right college. The vet with whom your child interns, for instance, could educate her about the pros and cons of colleges in that space. At the same time, your child is forging an alliance with a successful alumnus, which might help her get into the school of choice.
Ultimately, with the cuts to support services in schools, it's up to parents and teenagers to start planning now for a successful transition to the working world.


College Admissions Help: Four tips to prepare your teenager for college -- and the job market

College Counselor Advice: Students need to consider what they want from life
Special reports
Glasgow Daily Times
Dear Editor,
There is a subject on my mind that I would like to share with you and the students of this area.
Back when I was in school, there was only one guidance counselor, and she spent most of her time and efforts on the upper class and upper middle class students. A doctor’s, lawyer’s or businessman’s student got her attention; leaving the middle and lower class students on their own.
The students that got her services were pointed to the right classes and assisted in getting into college.
The less fortunate either struggled through school or dropped out to take a job. There were lots of jobs for a young man then. Service stations dotted the map. They all needed attendants. Grocery stores and even some retail stores had jobs available, as did Mallorys, Sorenson’s and Tysons. The problem here was that they had jobs. Jobs were subject to end at any time and that person had to start over somewhere. For most, it was an endless road. Girls usually dropped out to get married and start a family. Another hard road to hold. The problem was that the average person did not notice or care.
The better students usually headed off to college, or were drafted. Because most men were drafted, people leaving the military were shown respect and jobs were open for them. These men in college often were there just to dodge the draft; and didn’t really have a plan for their life. I worked with a man like that. He went off to school, was on his own for the first time and didn’t know what he wanted. He spent most of his time partying, cutting class and just being a flop until the school sent him home after a year with one credit and a ton of money spent. He has regretted those decisions since, but somehow managed to be fairly successful in life. He knows that less partying and more study could have made a world of difference in his life.
Today we have counselors, teachers, parents and peers to help, guide and point students in the right direction for college. I commend the schools for that; but schools do not seem to consider that college is not for everyone that may get in the front door. While it is generally considered a degree is needed to be a success isn’t necessarily so. Students need to seriously consider what they want from life and school. Once a decision is made, a plan should be drawn up on paper, and perhaps discussed with a counselor. Attorneys, teachers and several other careers require a degree, or maybe an advanced degree. That takes time, dedication and most of all “money.”
If you see on your plan that you aren’t going to be able to pay for college, even with student loans, consider what you will be happy and secure doing. There are numerous tech schools and trade schools across the country. Maybe you want a career in medicine. You can become a licensed practical nurse, or x-ray tech, or maybe in a blood lab, or physical therapy office. There are numerous jobs in medicine; or maybe auto mechanics or aircraft mechanics is more to your taste. There are paralegals, EMTs, music instructors, heavy machinery operators and of course semi drivers. All of the above are careers, a short time in school and you are on your way. Don’t be misled, college is not for everyone; but almost everyone needs a secure, well paying career. The key word here is career, not job. Jobs can be temporary, but careers seem to endure.
I hope that someone has seen a small glimmer of light from this and will discuss it with their parents, counselors and maybe businessmen and women in the area. One word of advice. Don’t drop out of school and somehow get that paper that recognizes you as being trained and qualified to fill a given position.
May success and happiness be that of every student in school today. That is my wish, even my prayer for you.
Joe Grimsley
Glasgow


College Counselor Advice: Students need to consider what they want from life

What College Counselors Are Telling Class of 2009 Grads About Careers
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. -- With the highest national unemployment rate since 1983 and a record six million unemployed, the Class of 2009 is facing a huge but not impossible job search challenge.
Merrimack College Director of Career Services and Cooperative Education, James Greeley, tells soon-to-be graduates that the keys to finding employment are: Preparation, Perseverance, Flexibility, and very importantly, Networking.
Preparation
• Every graduate must have a professional looking resume highlighting accomplishments, not merely responsibilities. Working with a career counselor is essential in producing resumes that result in job interviews. Also, an articulate and concise cover letter outlining strengths and emphasizing how one can contribute to the company is both valuable and necessary. Finally, utilize Web sites specific to career goals - almost every profession has a variety of sites available.
Perseverance
• The meek may one day inherit the Earth, but they may not get a job in 2009. It’s natural at times to get discouraged, but the most motivated, aggressive, enthusiastic job seekers who utilize the various avenues available (career centers, on-line recruitment tools, Career Builder, Monster, Craigslist, LinkedIn, etc., and placement agencies) will ultimately find a job.
Flexibility
• 2009 is not a time to be especially picky. If a position isn’t a “dream job” or ideal starting salary or even a second or third choice, pursue it anyway. At the very least, it will provide “real job” experience to strengthen the resume and assist in applying for more attractive and challenging positions once the economy improves.
Networking
• 80% of all jobs attained are the result of some form of networking. In this economy, the percentage is closer to 90%. Professionals in career centers have extensive communication with hiring managers; alumni offices have large databases of alumni working at numerous companies; your family, neighbors, former supervisors, etc. Networking possibilities are extensive.


What College Counselors Are Telling Class of 2009 Grads About Careers

Types of college financial aid and college grants and college scholarships
Grants: Grants are what some in the financial-aid industry call "free money."
They don't need to be repaid. Some are given by universities, but most come from federal and state governments.
There are several types of grants, including grants for academic achievement, Pell Grants for students who meet need requirements, and federal work-study programs, which find students jobs to offset college costs.
Pell Grants are given to low-income graduates. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the total amount of money available to students from the Pell Grant in 2010 is $5,500. That's up from $4,860 in 2009.
Scholarships: Scholarships are available to students for a number of reasons.They can range from full scholarships based on athletics or academics to small ones available for many reasons.
There are several Web sites that list available scholarships. Financial-aid experts warn that parents and students should not pay for the information because it is readily available.
Experts also say that parents should look at their companies as a source for possible scholarships, as well as businesses with strong community ties.
Loans: Student loans are a major way to pay for college. Too often parents and students look at student loans as separate from financial aid, but it's actually an integral part.
The loans, for the most part, are low interest and subsidized by the federal government.
Loans that go directly to students aren't due to be paid back until after graduation.
The federal government backs Stafford Loans, Parent PLUS loans, and Perkins loans. Each has a different qualifying standard, but students can get the loans even if their parents do not qualify for them.


Types of college financial aid and college grants and college scholarships

College-bound students who rack up College Scholarships apply for funds early, experts say
By Gary Pettus
Mississippi clarionledger.com
Asked how much money she has received in college scholarships, Bailey Magnet High School's 2009 valedictorian said, "Wait, let me get my calculator."
The total, said Martha Taplin, 18, comes to more than $1.8 million - "so far."
Taplin, who boasts a grade-point average of 3.8 and a shining but not pristine ACT score of 24, has been offered more than 60 college scholarships.
Some of that money can be applied only to certain colleges, but wherever she decides to go - Jackson State University, Tougaloo College or Ole Miss - Taplin has more than enough to pay for her education.
Taplin got started early on the application process - as others should do, education experts say.
An alert, though, to those looking for help with tuition for the coming college year: most scholarship bucks have been taken. Some community college and private awards may still be untapped, but application deadlines for most scholarships have passed.
As for high school juniors and even students in eighth grade, they can, and should, be plotting ways to finance their college education now, experts say.
"When it comes to scholarships," said Mathew Cox, dean of enrollment management at Millsaps College, "the big take-away for parents and students is this: You don't have to be a National Merit Finalist or score 30 on the ACT to be highly sought after by colleges."
But it doesn't hurt.
Wesley Welch, 18, of Pearl is a National Merit Finalist who's going to Harvard University - a college he applied to "just because."
"I thought I would be going to Duke," said Welch, a Pearl High School senior. But I applied to Harvard anyway and found out I was accepted on April 1.
"I was incredibly happy."
Welch has received enough scholarships from various sources to pay for his education at the prestigious Ivy League school, where undergraduate tuition for the coming academic year is $33,696.
Welch's solid-gold resume sparkles with a list of activities featuring membership in 15 school clubs; participation in football, tennis and track; and at least three years of community service, including building houses with Habitat for Humanity.
It's Welch's connection with the community that is a lesson for scholarship-seekers who may not have those ginormous ACT scores.
"Students with leadership abilities and extensive service are also highly sought after," Cox said.
"Colleges pay attention to many things beyond an ACT score or a GPA."
Many top academic scholarships are reserved for the perfect 36 ACT scorers, said Paula Pratt, coordinator of counseling for Education Services Foundation, a Mississippi-based nonprofit corporation that offers college planning and other services.
"But there are leadership scholarships; often, students who receive them have found something they are really good in and stuck with it.
"Or they create something unique. Colleges love that."
For instance, she said, one student received a scholarship to Mississippi State University for her work with Hurricane Katrina survivors.
"She started a canned-food drive at her high school and took the food to the Gulf Coast, month after month.
"Student government, Beta Club, athletics - those are all good activities.
"But the students who are getting the scholarships are going a step further."
In the past, students with 20-something ACT scores didn't have the opportunities they have now, said Gina Morgigno, counselor at Pearl High, where a class of about 200 seniors nabbed more than $3 million in scholarship offers in 2008, the highest per-student average in recent memory for the school.
"We won't know the total for this year until May, but I'd be surprised if it isn't higher.
"Over the past few years, I've seen a greater effort by the universities to reach out to different types of students.
"Being a leader can really pay off."
But it doesn't pay to wait until your senior year to start leading, or studying.
"You start working toward scholarships when your GPA starts, and for some students that could be in the eighth grade," Morgigno said.
"That includes foreign language courses, pre-algebra and computer classes.
"It means taking some of the higher-level courses, even at that early stage.
"Also, you can't overestimate the importance of certain activities, including band and ROTC, which begin in the ninth grade. Scholarships are available for those students if they excel."
That was the case for Ameenah Abdur-Rashied, 19, a music-education major who entered Jackson State on a band scholarship.
"I did work hard on my grades, but I wasn't at the top of my class," said Abdur-Rashied, who graduated from Murrah High School with a 3.6 GPA and a 24 on her ACT.
"But I'm able to go to college with the band scholarship and other awards. There are plenty out there. People want to give you money to go to school."
Some will give you money after you're already in school.
This week, Abdur-Rashied received another music-related award, for $2,000.
"You can continue to get scholarships throughout your college career," said Maria Harvey, dean of JSU's W.E.B. Du Bois Honors College.
"So many students need them. The books here cost $700 a semester or more.
"Think of the average parents. They don't have that kind of money for books, tuition and everything else."


College-bound students who rack up College Scholarships apply for funds early, experts say