I’m going to college! Things I need to know!

How do I prepare to go to college? Study hard and make good grades Work with your high school guidance office to plan out your high school courses Take college required courses (ex. 4 year colleges require foreign language) Take college entrance exams Apply to several colleges Visit the campuses of colleges you are interested in attending Apply for scholarships Complete FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

Types of College Entrance Exams ACT – 8 th Grade - ACT Explore changing to ACT Aspire – 10 th Grade – ACT Plan – 11 th or 12 th Grade – ACT SAT – 10 th Grade – PSAT – 11 th or 12 th Grade – SAT

What’s the PLAN The PLAN test is a “pre-ACT” test. High school students in the fall of their sophomore year. Subjects: English, Math, Reading, and Science. – TEST Preparations Study point: online website, common knowledge

What’s the ACT Entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admissions. Subjects: English, math, reading, science and writing. Junior or Senior year. – TEST Preparation: Tutors, classes, books and websites.

What are the PSAT’S Practice for SAT’s. Used for National Merit Recognition and scholarships. Subjects: (2) Math, (2) Critical Reading and (1)Writing Skills. Fall 10 th grade and 11 th grade year: – Test Preparation Tutors, take practice tests supplied by the College Board and private enterprises.

What are the SAT’S SAT is used for college admissions and scholarship. Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors. Subjects: (3) Critical Reading, (3) Math and (3) Writing and 1 un-scored section. – Test Preparation Boot Camp For Your Brain, College Board for SAT and Peterson's Real ACT Guide for the ACT, and

Types of Colleges Trade or Technical Education Schools/College – A trade school, also known as a technical school or a vocational school, is an educational institution that exists to teach skills related to a specific job. Community College – A 2-year government-supported college that offers an associate degree College/University – A school that offers courses leading to a degree (such as a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree) and where research is done

Private vs Public Colleges Private College/University A university that is privately-funded. Tuition for a private college or university(before scholarships and grants) is the same for all students. Public College/University A university that is funded by the government. Public colleges and universities are less expensive for residents of the state where they are located.

Types of College Certificates and Degrees Certificate Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree

Certificates What is it? Demonstrates that you have completed a program related to specific skills for a specific occupation. School Examples : Miller Motte College, Coastal Carolina Community College, James Sprunt Community College, Lenoir Community College, Wayne Community College. How long does it take? 6mos-1 year Example of professions: CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Coding/Billing, Law Enforcement, and Informational Technology ( IT)

Associate’s Degree What is it? Undergraduate academic degree, awarded by a community college, university or technical, junior college. These degrees provide students with the skills needed for employment Community College Examples: Cape Fear, Coastal Carolina, James Sprunt, Lenoir, Pitt, Sampson, Wake Tech, Wayne How long does it take? 2 years (usually) Example of professions: Dental Hygienist, LPN ( Licensed Practical Nurse), Paralegal and legal Assistants and Preschool Teachers.

Bachelor’s Degree What is it? AKA as undergraduate degrees. You take a core of general education courses, and in addition, you will focus on one main subject area as your “major”. University Examples: Campbell, Duke, East Carolina, Fayetteville State, Mount Olive, NC State, UNC Charlotte, UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Wilmington, Wake Forest How long does it take? 4 years (usually) Example of professions: Accountant, Architect, Computer Programmer, Engineer, Graphic and Interior Designer, Teacher, Social Worker.

Master’s Degree What is it? An advanced degree following a bachelor’s degree (after the completion of an undergraduate degree). Requires a higher standard of knowledge and dedication Universities: Campbell, Duke, East Carolina, Fayetteville State, Mount Olive, NC State, UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Greensboro, UNC Wilmington, Wake Forest How long does it take? Usually 2 additional years Example of professions: School Counselor, Clinical and School Social Worker, Librarians, Principal

Doctoral Degree What is it? A high-level degree that can follow a bachelor’s or master’s degree. It is work-intensive and usually requires full-time attention. Most are earned by researching a unique and specific topic under a professor’s supervision School: UNC Chapel Hill and Duke University, East Carolina How long does it take? 4-8 years to complete in addition to a Master’s and Bachelor’s Degree. Example of professions: Lawyer, Physician, Surgeon, Veterinarian

Areas of Study Major – A major is your main field of study in an undergraduate program, typically requiring 30 to 60 credit hours. – Ex. For example, a business major might minor in economics. Minor – A minor is your secondary field of study, often providing more of a specialization to support your major. – Ex. For example, a business major might minor in economics.

Types of Financial Aid Merit Aid - Financial aid that is awarded based on a student’s achievements and/or talents (e.g., academic, athletic). Need Based Aid - Financial aid that is awarded based on a student’s ability to pay for college.

Paying for College Scholarship - A form of financial aid—usually based on merit, such as academic or athletic—that does not need to be repaid. Grant - A form of financial aid based typically on need—funded by the federal government or nonprofit institutions—that does not need to be repaid. Loan - A loan offered to students which is used to pay off education-related expenses, such as college tuition, room and board at the university, or textbooks. It must be repaid. Work Study - A job (typically on campus) that allows a student to earn money to help pay for the costs associated with college.

Costs of College Tuition & Fees - The price you pay for taking classes at your college. This amount can change based on your academic program, the number of credit hours you take and whether you're an in-state or out-of-state student. Room & Board – Colleges usually offer a variety of dorm-room options and meal plans to students who live on campus. The charges vary depending on what plan you choose. If you decide to live at home or off-campus, you'll have your own rent and meal costs to consider in your college costs. Books & Supplies – You'll need books and other course materials. The yearly books-and-supplies estimate for the average full-time undergraduate student at a four-year public college is about $1,200. You may be able to lower these costs by buying used textbooks or renting them.

Additional Costs of College Personal Expenses -These include laundry, cell phone bills, eating out and anything else you normally spend money on. Figure out what you spend and add that amount to your budget. Transportation - Whether you commute to campus or take the occasional trip home, you'll have transportation costs. Of course, these will vary depending on how you travel and how often. You may be able to find student discounts on travel costs. Don't forget to factor in the cost of gas if you own a car.

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