College Admission Help

College Admission News: Benefits of Early College Planning Debated

By Candice Evans
Staff Writer
Delaware Media Group
PRINCESS ANNE -- As students scramble to meet fast-approaching college application deadlines, they are often told to "look beyond the name" in Greg Montressor's guidance office.
"Picking a college requires a lot of thought and research," said Montressor, who schedules appointments with Washington High School seniors during the college selection process. "I always ask, 'Have you had a chance to visit the campus yet?' "
Last week, the National Association for College Admission Counseling released new research that suggests high school students avoid the college early-admissions frenzy because they may be more likely to regret their decision later in life.
"Many young people are being pressured into making college choices before they are developmentally ready," said Michigan State University sociologist Barbara Schneider, author of a report that examines the psychological and social implications of admission policies.
Though she said that case "has yet to be made empirically," she cites her forthcoming research, implying "students who make these choices very early without having opportunities to explore other options, (in their 20s) report some dissatisfaction with their college choices and lives."
David Hawkins of the nonprofit NACAC said the findings support some members' concerns that students are being rushed.
This year, about 37 percent of Salisbury University's applicant pool utilized the nonbinding "early action" option, which went into effect at the college nearly five years ago, said Aaron Basko, director of admissions.
"It eases some of that anxiety that goes along with the college decision process," said Basko, whose office notified early-bird students of their acceptance in January. "It just allows students to get that answer faster without tying them down."
Maureen Williams, guidance counselor at James M. Bennett High School, said she generally recommends students apply early if they decide that a particular college is "above and beyond all other schools."
Austin Wigley, 18, began planning his future at Duke University after attending a basketball game in the eighth grade. The JMB senior, who was named the male winner of Maryland's 2008 Wendy's High School Heisman Program, applied "early decision," which constitutes a binding commitment to enroll in the North Carolina school in September. He also filled out 10 applications for other colleges just in case he didn't make the cut.
"A lot of schools have great basketball teams," said Wigley, who received his Duke acceptance letter in December. "But after looking at Duke as whole, it really sold me."
Tyrone Young, director of admissions and recruitment at University of Maryland Eastern Shore, said most of the college's prospective students often wait until after Christmas to tour the campus.
The college may not offer an early-admissions option, but Young said that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
"Students need (a chance) to feel connected to the university, even to the highest level of the president," he said.


College Admission News: Benefits of Early College Planning Debated

College Counselors Help Charter Grads Stay in College

By Jennifer Mrozowski / The Detroit News
DETROIT -- University Prep High School was founded with a mission to graduate 90 percent of its students and send most to college.
A year and a half after the Detroit charter school graduated its first class, the plan seems to be working -- in a city where just over half the students graduate from high school.
School officials credit financial aid to students and a full-time counselor who tracks their progress.
"With support, urban students can get into college, but few stay in," said Doug Ross, founder of the U Prep schools and CEO of New Urban Learning, the non profit that manages the schools. "The better we get at preparing them, the easier it is for them to stay in and finish."
Of the class of 2007, comprised entirely of African-American students, 83 percent re-enrolled in the same four-year universities as sophomores, while 57 percent re-enrolled in the same two-year colleges -- surpassing national averages.
A 2008 study by ACT showed that nationwide, 73 percent of freshmen re-enroll in the same four-year public colleges, and 54 percent re-enroll in public two-year colleges. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Education, analyzed by the Washington D.C.-based Education Trust, show re-enrollment rates for African-American students are significantly lower.
A key component of the students' success is College Success Counselor Chandra Davis-Evans, who visits the grads on their campuses to discuss their grades. She e-mails them regularly, holds forums on financial aid tips and other topics and meets with college officials to discuss strategies to assist the students.
What she's learning about the students' strengths and weaknesses in college is being used to improve the curriculum at the Detroit high school.
University Prep officials, which pledged to graduate 90 percent of high school students and send 90 percent to post-secondary schooling, say tracking students' progress is vital to knowing if the school is meeting its mission. Michigan high schools are required to track college retention rates, and Detroit Public Schools' officials say the district doesn't track those statistics.
Daria Hall, director of K-12 policy at the Education Trust, a nonprofit dedicated to closing the achievement gap between students, said only about half of states are able to match enrollment records between K-12 education and higher education institutions.
Too few high schools track their students' college progress, she said.
"If (college) students are not doing well, we need to find out what the K-12 system can do to better prepare students," she said.
Shannon Junior, 20, who is attending Wayne State University, credits Davis-Evans' visits and counseling with helping him stay in school. While at Rock Valley College in Rockford, Ill., last year, his grades were slipping. He was homesick and struggling with bills. Davis-Evans sensed he needed a good talking-to, he said.
"I kind of was like 'I don't want her to know how bad I was doing, but she wanted to know," he said.
Over a plate of shrimp alfredo at Red Lobster, which Davis-Evans paid for, Junior told her of his struggles. The college success counselor talked to him about the merits of being at college near home and a support network.
Taking Davis-Evans' advice, Junior transferred and his grades have improved at Wayne State, he said. U Prep also awarded Junior a $1,000 scholarship.
Providing scholarships to graduates, most of whom are low-income, has become central to U Prep's college retention strategy, Ross said.
"We decided we had to get into the scholarship business," he said, adding that most students struggle financially because there is a gap between college tuition and financial aid.
In 2007, U Prep students received $125,000 in scholarships from the school through private fundraising, Ross said. The Thompson Education Foundation, which financed the startup of the school, also provided thousands of additional dollars in scholarships. Even more money was awarded to the class of 2008. Their financial support is contingent on the school continuing to meet its graduation goals.
The school currently has 512 students in high school and 1,620 students in the full system, which includes two elementary and a middle and high school. In 2007, its high school graduation rate was 93 percent, and up to 98 percent last year.
Davis-Evans also makes sure students are on top of filling out financial aid forms.
Henry Ford Community College student Princess Collins, 21, visited Davis-Evans recently after she had trouble logging into the federal financial aid Web site.
"It's good that we can come to her whenever we have questions about college," she said. "She's a good resource."
Tracking college retention rates has given a window into how the students are faring academically, Ross said, which is helping improve the high school curriculum. Officials found U Prep graduates in demanding programs, like the University of Michigan, need more rigorous math and heavier workloads.
The high school has since increased the math courses for students who are struggling. The school also reduced students' participation in unpaid internships to two days a week one trimester a year, instead of every trimester, to allow more time for tougher coursework.
The class of 2008 had to agree to authorize U Prep to see their college grades if they received school scholarships. Future years' scholarship winners might be more dependent on the grades they receive in high school, Davis-Evans said.
Though two $50,000 grants paid for Davis-Evans' position the first two years, Ross said the school is committed to finding a way to fund it permanently. Students like Junior think that's invaluable.
"Ms. Evans is one of the main reasons I'm still in school," Junior said. "She motivates me."


College Counselors Help Charter Grads Stay in College

College Counseling Center Offers Help for Social Difficulties

By Alex Faris
Staff Writer
Published: February 23, 2009

Whether new to campus or counting the days until graduation, college life poses an array of challenges to unprepared students.

“The biggest problem for incoming freshmen is just the run-of-the-mill transition,” said Carol Challenger, senior clinical counselor at the Student Counseling Center.

Challenger said part of that transition is learning responsibility: new students’ freedom to do what they want, when they want is easily abused. However, this isn’t the only challenge students’ face: Many students suffer from loneliness.

“Being alone all the time was the hardest thing for me,” said Caitlin Guthrie, a computer engineering freshman. “Not having someone there to talk to all the time and to pay attention to me was also hard.”

Challenger said the difficulties can be more than social. “Courses are at a higher level than high school classes, and the material is presented at a faster pace,” Challenger said. “In addition, professors are likely to assign more reading, writing and problem sets than you may be used to.”

Freshmen are not the only ones to face challenges: Challenger said seniors, although seasoned, are still susceptible to “senioritis,” the main symptom of which is “coasting,” or,” or going through classes with little difficulty.

“Many seniors who come in are suffering from senioritis, and they get after-college jitters and just need someone to talk to,” she said.

Challenger said one way to keep senioritis out of the picture is to be prepared and plan everything out. Suzanne Burks, director of University Counseling Services, said her department exists to help all students. “Many students can encounter many problems whether they are psychological or educational,” she said. “Everything we do is confidential and students should not hesitate to come in and set up an appointment. Students should use at least four since they are already paid for.”



College Counseling Center Offers Help for Social Difficulties

College Scholarship Application for 2009

Turner Construction Company, the nation's leading builder, announced its New York City YouthForce 2020 Scholarship Program is accepting college scholarship applications for 2009. This marks the program's 20th successful year in guiding minority students towards a career in the building industry. Since the program's inception, Turner has awarded over 60 scholarships to students living in the five boroughs.
This year, Turner's New York business unit will select five graduating high school seniors from New York City schools to be recipients of the scholarship in the amount of $2,000 each year, a total of $8,000 after completing four years of college. As a scholarship recipient, students must maintain a 2.80 grade point average and complete a four-year summer internship at Turner that begins immediately following the first full year of college.
In addition to mentoring these students throughout their college education, Turner extends full-time employment to the majority of its scholarship recipients upon graduating from college.
YouthForce 2020 was created by Turner, first as a company-wide program in 1989 and then brought to the New York business unit in 1992, to provide employee opportunities to minority students attending college to study Electrical, Civil, Occupational, Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management or Architecture. The scholarship program has been established to encourage minorities and women who have a strong, sincere desire to pursue an education that will result in a career in the Building Industry.
The deadline for submission of the application is Monday, May 4, 2009. The applications must be mailed to Turner Construction Company, attention Stephanie Burns at 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014.
For additional information please visit the website: www.turnerconstruction.com/newyork.


College Scholarship Application for 2009

College Costs are Funded by Savings, College Scholarships, Loans and Current earnings

By Robert Fredrikson
Fredrikson Financial Advisors

Research FAFSA and aid formulas determine your "contribution and need." Assets and income that determine contributions are treated differently based on the source, type and owner.
Apply for acceptance and financial aid as soon as possible at several schools. Enrollment, scholarship and grant money are limited and often awarded to the first to qualify.
Save as early as feasible but not at the expense of financial goals. Build in flexibility as the amount of "need" may not be known until the first semester.
Keep money out of the child's name, by avoiding UTMA/UGMA accounts except for the child's own money. The Indiana 529 plan offers a generous 20 percent matching tax credit (up to $1,000) per year for Indiana residents, including other family members.
Have a frank conversation about commitment and repayment expectations. You would be amazed at how many parents are paying their working kids' loans and not funding their own retirement.
Be flexible. If the aid package is not enough, consider a different school with a more generous offer. Community college also can be cost-effective.
Advisory services provided through Creative Financial Designs, a registered investment adviser; securities are offered through CFD Investments, a registered broker/dealer and member FINRA & SIPC. Fredrikson Financial Advisors is not owned or controlled by the CFD Companies.


College Costs are Funded by Savings, College Scholarships, Loans and Current earnings

College Admission Help: College Costs Rise Much Higher Than Average Annual Rate Of Inflation

By Dennis J. Meyer
Meyer Financial, Strategies
According to the College Board, the tuition and fees last year increased an average of 6 percent and over the past five years rose 35 percent. Web sites such as www.ed.gov and www.collegeboard.com are full of calculators, current costs and sources of funding.
For example, ed.gov lists grants that you can apply for online. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, this Web site should be checked periodically because grants are listed as they become available, and each grant has an application closing date.
If you're a year or more away from having to pay college costs, consider the Indiana 529 college savings plan. This plan has various enrollment date portfolios that range from a blended mix of funds proportionately allocated from a conservative cash and bond position to an aggressive all equity/ stock position.
For example, if the student is entering college 10 years from now, you could allocate contributions to the moderately aggressive Enrollment 2019 Portfolio. Likewise, if college entry is next year, the conservative Enrollment 2010 Portfolio should be the considered funding vehicle. Plus, Indiana households that contribute to the Indiana 529 College Choice Savings Plan receive a 20 percent tax credit on up to $5,000 of annual contributions. Because there are many variables that may affect a college fundraising effort, a financial and tax adviser should be consulted.



College Admission Help: College Costs Rise Much Higher Than Average Annual Rate Of Inflation

Introducing: Patrick O'Connor – a Great College Counselor

Patrick O’Connor is the author and creator of COLLEGE ADMISSION SUCCESSWARE, a complete college application and admission toolkit.
COLLEGE ADMISSION SUCCESSWARE is an all-in-one package which will provide students and parents alike with the tools and knowledge to effectively make it through the application process. That's right, not only will you gain the knowledge and insight, but also the tools and a PLAN to succeed.

Patrick O'Connor is an Author and one of America's most effective admissions counselor.

O’Connor is on the Political Science Faculty of Oakland Community
College and is Director of College Counseling at The Roeper School, both
in Metropolitan Detroit. Born and raised in Detroit, he has been a college
counselor since 1984, serving students in rural, urban, and suburban high
schools, as well as community college. He has worked as an independent
college consultant, and is one of the counselors who assists students
through the Ask the Counselor column on MyFootpath.com.

The first generation in his family to go to college, Patrick has served as
president of the Michigan Association for College Admission Counseling,
and the National Association for College Admission Counseling. He is a
recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Award from Oakland Community
College, the Margaret Addis Service to NACAC Award, and the William
Gramenz Award (for outstanding contributions to college counseling in
Michigan.) He holds five college degrees, including a Ph.D. in Education
Administration.


Introducing: Patrick O'Connor – a Great College Counselor

Experts: Pell College Grant Hike Will Be Big

Boston Business Journal - by Jesse Noyes
Friday, February 20, 2009
The stimulus package signed into law by President Barack Obama earlier this week includes increases to grants for needy college students that will provide millions of dollars more in student aid at Massachusetts campuses this fall, experts said.
But financial officers are still in the dark on exactly how the money will be distributed.
The maximum amount a student can receive from a Pell grant, which goes to the most needy students, will increase by $500 to $5,350 for the 2009-2010 academic year. It will go up to $5,500 the next year.
That’s a huge increase, financial aid officers said, and will be helpful in holding up retention rates as student need rises in a terrible economy.
“It’s a win-win for the school and the student because the student gets more money and the school in turn is able to retain more students” said Bernie Pekala, director of student financial strategies at Boston College. About 1,000 students received pell grants at BC this past year.
But Pekala said it’s not clear whether the additional funds will be spread out to a greater number of students or whether eligible students will get more money at this point.
Each year the U.S. Department of Education provides colleges with what’s called a “Pell grid” outlining what students are eligible for the grants and how much they are eligible for. Typically, universities will have already received the grid by now, but there’s been a delay as the recent stimulus actions are factored in, financial aid officers said.
It’s unclear whether the eligibility requirements will be changed to give more students access to the funds, experts said.
“Will start packaging students estimated awards in the next couple of weeks,” said Dan Forster, chief financial aid officer at Simmons College, which said about 20 percent of students there are usually eligible for pell grants.
Whether eligibility requirements are changed or not, experts said more students will be eligible for pell grants as family incomes drop because of lost jobs and declining investments.
“Times are tough for students and the more grant money we can offer them to help them afford the cost of education is a plus,” said Joyce McLaughlin, director of financial aid at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Experts: Pell College Grant Hike Will Be Big

College Costs Are Rising. Do You Have Advice on How To Get College Grants or College Scholarships?

Indianapolis Star
February 22, 2009
The prospect of paying for a college education for yourself or your children is a daunting consideration. Continually rising costs mean people should carefully research grants and scholarships and consider saving money in a tax-free savings plan, such as the Indiana 529 College Choice Savings Plan.
It is a fact that the cost of sending your child to college is rising at a greater rate than other things. Many wonder what to do. This question can be answered by looking at what stage of life your future college student now is in.
If you have a young child, begin by putting money into a college savings plan. This money will grow tax-free, and as long as the money is used for qualified college expenses, it will come out tax-free, too.
Assist your child with schoolwork, when needed, to help him or her earn good grades, and consult with school counselors to learn about available grants and scholarships.
If you have a child in high school right now ,and your savings are not going to cover the cost of college, there are many programs that might be of benefit to you. First and foremost, it is advisable to always complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form by March 10. Without this form being filed on time, a student will not be eligible for state or federal student aid. Additionally, there are many loan programs that might be of assistance. These programs include:
Perkins Loan, for low-income students.
Stafford Loan, for dependent undergraduates with a $5,500 yearly maximum.
Parent Plus Loan, which has higher borrowing limits; however, parents need to pass a credit check.
Many programs can help with the rising costs of higher education. The key is to start planning early, get involved and get informed. Advice from a financial adviser can assist in this planning.

College Costs Are Rising. Do You Have Advice on How To Get College Grants or College Scholarships?

Two Myths and One Sure Truth About Financial Aid and College Grants

By BECKETT HOWORTH
Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

Today's column covers two common myths and one sure truth about college financial aid. That truth? The early bird catches the worm: The "worm" in this case is any type of limited-fund need-based financial aid or scholarship. The most dollars are available to those who apply at the earliest possible date. The key document in determining need is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Go online today with your tax return in hand and complete the FAFSA. If you haven't done your taxes, use last year's to estimate and then update later.

Which brings us to those myths:

1: "You make too much money to get financial aid so there's no need to fill out the FAFSA."

Since you cannot really know without filing the FAFSA, it is far better to go ahead and cover your bases. Keep in mind that the number of dependents in the home and especially the number who will be in college can greatly increase the calculation of a family's financial need. Some families, perhaps those who farm or own businesses, may be cash-poor and show need despite the potential liquidated value of what they own.

Since the official estimated Coast of Attendance can vary tremendously from college to college, a family's relative need for financial assistance can change greatly depending on where the student goes. The COA includes tuition, fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, and some amount for "miscellaneous" expenses.

For example, this year a well-known private university in a contiguous state estimated annual COA for a first-year student living on campus at "$50,200 + transportation"; a nearby public university estimated $16,797; and a local community college calculated $10,350. The greater the COA, the greater the potential need.
When comparing costs, make sure you are getting the official COA. Every college has one.


2: "If you do well in high school, you won't have to pay for college."

College is free for very few students. We generally think of varsity athletes playing high profile sports as getting "free rides," but they have regular expenses not covered by their athletic scholarships. Yes, a few top academic students do win scholarships that cover everything, possibly including summer travel, research support, a computer - the works - but those who win those most generous scholarships 1) have demonstrated extraordinary leadership skills, 2) have consistently excelled in all classes, including the most challenging their high schools offer, and 3) almost without exception have eye-popping standardized test scores.
There are a huge number of very good reasons to do well in high school, starting with building a foundation you can rely on in the future and including earning at least a partial academic scholarship, but, sorry to say, getting to go to college free is rarely one of them.

A note on the FAFSA: If you Google "FAFSA," you will get many sites, some asking for fees. The FAFSA is free, so be sure you go to www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Beckett Howorth, M.Ed., former director of admissions and a past president of the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling, has 33 years of admissions experience. He now guides students and families as an independent college counselor. To contact him or to read more information on college, go to www.howortheducationalplanning.com. Appeared originally in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 2/23/2009,


Two Myths and One Sure Truth About Financial Aid and College Grants

College Admission Help: College Fair Provides A Learning Experience

By ROBERT SAMUELS
rsamuels@MiamiHerald.com
The economy may be shaky, but college recruiters told parents and students that college is not out of reach.
With thousands buzzing behind them, a crowd of parents and teenagers three deep swarmed Natalie Cuenca-Suñer, a Florida State University admissions officer.
In one minute, she said six times what a good SAT score would be: somewhere between 1740 and 1990. She gave the typical range for grade-point averages five times: 3.6 to 4.2.
''They're always interested in us here,'' Cuenca-Suñer said while opening her seventh box of brochures at the National College Fair, which came to the Doubletree Miami Mart on Sunday. ``We're the local school. The students can get in-state tuition. We just want them to apply.''
Miami-Dade Public Schools, which brought the touring national fair to Miami, expected as many as 10,000 students to visit the booths.
Freak-outs about admissions and financing are to be expected. But now, more than ever, the fair's hosts wanted to emphasize that the economic slump should not deter qualified students from getting a college education.
''We want people to realize they don't have to be wealthy to go to college,'' said Perla Tabares Hantman, a Miami-Dade School Board member and co-chair of the local college-fair committee. ``We want them to know about scholarships. And we have workshops about how to apply for financial aid -- in English, Spanish and Creole.''
Marlene Mitchell and her son, Christopher, attended one such session, where the speaker discussed the different federal loans and grants that a student can obtain.
''Today, I learned that some schools give financial aid, not just the government. I didn't know that. It helps me feel a little better,'' the elder Mitchell said.
The fair, coordinated by the National Association of College Admission Counseling, plans to return to South Florida in November -- this time, to Fort Lauderdale.
Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, who attended the fair, called it one of the best ''one-stop shops'' to ever visit the area.
Representatives of more than 150 colleges, from St. Petersburg, Fla., to Rome, Italy, came to Miami to woo students and field their questions.
While state universities and the University of Miami received the most attention, others hoped their locations and specialized offerings would interest students such as Shannon Hemmings.
Hemmings, a junior at Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School in North Miami-Dade, is looking for a college with a good arts and musical-theater program. She carried University of Florida paraphernalia, but she and her mother were discussing other options.
''Maybe I should look at some places in California or New York,'' Hemmings told her mother, Sharon McCormack.
Then they passed the booth for Bond University, located in Queensland.
As in Australia.
Hemmings' eyes perked up at the possibility. ''How about Australia!'' she said. ``I never thought about it before, but I could study someplace international.''


College Admission Help: College Fair Provides A Learning Experience

Senator Proposes Increasing College Grants

By PETER JACKSON (AP)

The Times Leader
Northeastern Pennsylvania's Newspaper

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

A key state senator is calling for an expansion of Pennsylvania's grants for college students and strict new limits on tuition increases at most colleges and universities that get state funding.
Senate Education Committee Chairman Jeffrey Piccola advocated an injection of $145 million into the grant program, which he said would help an additional 25,000 students.
His plan would offset the cost largely by eliminating tax breaks for the film industry.
The Dauphin County Republican also advocates requiring colleges and universities that get the most state funding to limit their annual tuition increases to the inflation rate.
Piccola cast his proposals as an alternative to Gov. Ed Rendell's more expansive plan to boost tuition aid by more than $500 million a year by legalizing and taxing video poker machines.



Senator Proposes Increasing College Grants