Supporting Your High School Student Caitlin McLaughlin & Emily Eilers Lewis & Clark Community College District Illinois Student Assistance Commission

Who We Are “Making college accessible and affordable for all Illinois students.” - Mission Statement The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is the financial aid agency in the state of Illinois. We are a mission-driven, non-profit, state agency that administers nearly $400 million in scholarships and grants. Illinois has set a goal to increase the proportion of adults in Illinois with high-quality degrees and credentials to 60% by the year 2025.

Illinois Student Assistance Corps o Approximately 100 Corps members from diverse backgrounds o Every community in Illinois o Changing the conversation about higher education

My Little Baby is All Grown Up 1 st major adult decision Impacts future career options Big investment FERPA

What’s in a Name?

Developing Criteria Size Fuel economy Brand Cost Entertainment Safety options Size Reputation of program Tuition and other costs Financial aid Campus life Course offerings

College Visits Look on the school’s admissions page for visit opportunities. Open houses Individual visits Admitted student days Overnight visits

My Student Still Doesn’t Know What They Want To Study! Don’t panic Interest surveys and job shadowing General education classes are a way to explore options Switching majors or being undecided at first is common

Career Paths Be Informed Research the career-major connection Certain fields do require a very specific course of study Nursing requires you to take CNA courses

Just the Facts: Financial Aid Sticker price ≠ actual price College/institutional aid State and federal aid FAFSA4CASTER

Types of Financial Aid These funds may be merit-based, need-based, or non need-based. gift aid self-help aid self-help aid Grants Scholarships Work-Study Loans

Know the Facts: Financial Aid The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) January Every year Tax information FAFSA.gov

Scholarships Search financial aid opportunities Help search for scholarships Businesses, local organizations, school counselor On-line search engines Create a system to keep track of deadlines Watch out for scams

Scholarships 10 hours spent researching for and applying to scholarships Win 1 scholarship for $500. How many jobs can a high school student get that will yield $50/hour?

Student Loans

Teach your Student to Budget First time budgeting major expenses and income Talk to them about finances Credit cards Checking accounts Loan balances Keeping track of expenses

Academic Preparation College vs. high school academics Responsibilities Academic success Get your student a planner

Not Sure Where to Go for Help? Talent Search programs School website Ask questions Talk to counselors and current students

What To Do Now Family / college planning calendar Create criteria College visits Be informed Ask questions

Additional Resources

Illinois Student Assistance Commission Caitlin McLaughlin Emily Eilers

Works Referenced p?i=83&q=5628j40902dE The Chronicle Newsweek Get Ready for College by Teri