COLLEGE PREP WORKSHOP PRESENTED BY GHANA SACRAMENTO LEGACY & ENDOWMENT (GSLE) November 6, 2016

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW Why College Which College Improving your chances for the most competitive colleges How to Pay for College

WHY COLLEGE Better Quality of Life; invest in yourself; unlock opportunities, become independent; gain confidence, network of friends but most of all, make more money. Graphic below shows median income.

https://bigfuture. collegeboard https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/know-yourself/college-what-its-all-about-and-why-it-matters

WHICH COLLEGE? Size Location Offerings/Majors Reputation Cost Over 3,000 colleges in the US; there is a college that fits the personality, qualifications and pocket book of every student. Challenge is trying to find the college that works for you. Key Considerations Size Location Offerings/Majors Reputation Cost Student’s Dream School

IMPORTANT TIPS Parents and Students should discuss the college choices before the application process. No need for student to apply to colleges that parents are not willing or able to pay for. Don’t count out private schools; they might give the best financial aid package and make it cheaper than public colleges. Parents should give weight to the student’s desire. Students will be the ones attending the college, not the parent.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES -PROS Most affordable. Easy to get in; no need for SAT and other tests. Provides a less competitive option to get into UC and CSU system. State guarantees number of slots reserved at UCs and CSUs for community college students. Suitable for kids that are not ready to move away from home. Extra 2 years to mature.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES -CONS Generally takes longer. 3-4 years for motivated students; even longer for less motivated students Atmosphere is not the same as college. Less school spirit. Not easy to get desired classes.

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY – Pros Most affordable of the 4-year colleges; Tuition and fees is generally less than $7,000 per year plus room and board. Easiest to get in of the 4-year colleges; depends on which college. Cal Poly is very competitive; Sac State not as much. Very simple application process; complete the forms, and send in transcripts. You can attend from home or live on or near campus.

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY – Cons In general, less school spirit than UC or private schools. Sometimes not easy to get desired classes.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - Pros Generally, more affordable than private schools (if no financial aid is offered); Tuition for CA resident is approximately $14,000 per year plus room and board $15,000 plus other fees. Annual total fees are approximately $32,000. More course offerings and Majors than CSU. More prestigious and higher reputation. Full college experience – mostly Division 1 sports, networks, alumni, etc.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - Cons Very competitive entry; UCLA and Berkeley the most competitive. Others are less competitive but still tougher than most schools. More expensive than CSU system Class sizes tend to be larger than private schools. Many classes are taught by Teaching Assistants, not Professors

PRIVATE 4-YEAR COLLEGES - Pros Generally, more course offerings and Majors than CSU. More prestigious and higher reputation. Full college experience – mostly Division 1 sports, networks, alumni, etc. The elite schools like Ivy League, Stanford and USC are considered as among best in college. Lots of academic and other resources on campus. Generally, have small class size – 80% of classes at Stanford has fewer than 20 students. Best opportunities for financial aid, especially if your family income is below $120,000 per year.

PRIVATE 4-YEAR COLLEGES - Cons Generally, the most expensive (if no financial aid is offered); Annual total fees at UOP is $58,000 and $67,000 at Stanford Most competitive entry; Elite schools admit fewer than 7% of highly qualified applicants. Application process is elaborate and time consuming – Stanford now requires 2 major essays and 9 short essays as part of the application. Challenging academic curriculum and high expectations. Not for everybody.

IMPROVING YOUR CHANCES OF ACCEPTANCE Good grades. Does not have to be perfect 4.0 GPA, but must be close to perfect. Write good essays. Start early and write on a topic that you are passionate about and tells a story about you. Extra-curricular activities. Show passion and dedication for something – sports, music, volunteering etc. PSAT, SAT, ACT Tests – take multiple times if needed to improve your scores. Check out College Board.com Take Advanced Placement (AP) Classes Apply to a range of colleges – stretch, comfort, and sure things. Maximum of 8-9 schools.

PAYING FOR COLLEGE There are college saving plans like 529 plans for those that have time. Start early, as soon as kids are born. Take advantage of in-state tuition – UCD – non-residents pay over $40,000 in tuition; resident pays only $14,000 There are plenty of scholarships, but you need time and effort to apply. Most HS Career/Counseling office keep a list. Most require short essays. Use the same essay for multiple applications. Private schools tend to have more money for financial aid than public schools A lot of public schools – in and out of state - offer merit aid, based on your academic performance.

PAYING FOR COLLEGE If you have to obtain student loans, avoid Parent Plus Loans – they tend to have higher interest rates and fees. Take PSAT in Junior Year. Good results will enter into national database that most colleges use for Merit Aid Consider Home Equity Loan; lower interest plus interests are tax deductible Most Colleges have payment plans; break payments into 10 monthly installments.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES College Board.com Fastweb.com for Scholarship Search Kaplan.com for SAT, ACT & Standardized Tests High School Career and Counseling Office GSLE

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Feel free to ask any questions on your mind.