Noche de Ciencias Parent Workshops Raul Hinojosa Hinojosa Consulting Services October 1, 2014

Helping Your Child On Their Journey to College

Agenda Discussion: Why do you want your child to go to college? Benefits of college education Higher education options Getting into college Understanding admissions exams Paying for college College resources

Why do you want your child to go to college?

Benefits of a college education To broaden perspectives o Meet new people from diverse backgrounds. o Learn to be independent. o Explore new fields and views. To gain more knowledge that will be helpful throughout students’ lives To have more job opportunities o More and more jobs require education beyond high school. Many jobs rely on new technology and “brainpower.”

Earning potential A 4-year college graduate (with bachelor’s degree) earns almost $1 million more over his/her lifetime than a high school graduate. - Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Why STEM careers? STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) Pays More STEM careers are always in high demand STEM careers are growing STEM college internships pay very well Student loans are easier to pay with STEM degrees Engineering is a professional degree  Do not NEED MS/PhD to reach fullest career potential  Many Executives at STEM based industries have only a Bachelor of Science (BS – 4 year degree) in Engineering

Where Can You Use STEM education? 8

Naval Sea Systems Command Naval Sea Systems Command designs, builds, delivers and maintains ships and systems on time and on cost for the U.S. Navy. A diverse organization with a single purpose of keeping America’s Navy #1 in the world A world-class employer of choice that inspires innovation Set the standard for Naval engineering, shipbuilding and ship maintenance Support humanitarian efforts world-wide Recruits and trains men and women to serve as civilians (engineers, scientists, accountants, doctors, nurses, lawyers, etc.) to support the Navy and Marine Corps operating forces.

Higher education options Type of institutionDegrees offeredExamples Community collegesAssociates degree Certificates Mountain View College Palo Alto College Technical collegesAssociates degree Certificates ITT Technical Institute Texas State Technical College Public universitiesBachelor’s degree Master’s degree Doctoral degree University of California at Los Angeles University of Texas at Austin Florida State University Private universitiesBachelor’s degree Master’s degree Doctoral degree Stanford University Notre Dame University Harvard University Health-related and professional institutions Professional degrees (law and medicine) John Hopkins University

Getting into college Every university has different admissions requirements. Common admissions requirements include o Grades o Grade point average (GPA) o Courses taken o Class rank o Admissions exams (i.e. ACT/SAT) o Extracurricular activities, leadership o Community service o Employment o College essays and interviews

Know your high school graduation plan Students should discuss their college plans with their high school counselor as early as possible to make sure their graduation plan meets the minimum university requirements. TIP: Community colleges offer automatic admission to students who graduate from high school.

College admissions exams College admissions exams are commonly used to determine college admissions and for scholarship review. Students should begin taking the SAT and/or ACT exam during the spring of their junior year. Students may take these exams multiple times to raise their scores. Fee waivers may be available from the student’s school counselor.

Comparing the SAT and ACT exams SAT ExamACT Exam Three sections: Critical Reading, Math, and Writing Five sections: English, Math Reading, Science, and Writing (optional) Reasoning examContent-based exam Offered 7 times per yearOffered 6 times per year Timed test (3 hours, 45 minutes)Times test (3 hours or 3 ½ hours with writing) Maximum score of 800 per section (total 2400)Maximum score of 36 per section Students penalized for wrong answers, guessing discouraged Students receive credit only for right answers Cost is $52.50Cost is $38 or $54.50 with optional writing section Register at sat.collegeboard.orgRegister at

How much does college cost? There are five main college cost categories o Tuition and fees o Room and board o Books and supplies o Personal expenses o Transportation There is often a big difference between the published sticker price and the net price paid by students. Net price is a college’s total cost minus financial aid received.

How much is tuition? Type of collegeAverage Published Yearly Tuition and Fees Public Two-Year College (in-state students) $3,131 Public Four-Year University (in-state students) $8,655 Public Four-Year University (out-of- state students) $21,706 Private Four-Year University$29,056 Source: The College Board (bigfuture.collegeboard.org)

Using Financial Aid Four types of financial aid available to students Grants are free money for students based on financial need Loans are money that must be paid back Work study requires students to work part-time Scholarships are free money for students based on academic merit

Applying for financial aid Students must apply for financial aid after January 1 st of their senior year of high school. Parents must prepare their tax returns early to ease the submission of their financial aid application. Financial aid deadlines vary by college. Students should inquire at their college for priority and final deadline dates.

Applying for financial aid U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents and certain eligible non-citizens must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Apply online at Some states provide limited financial aid for undocumented students. Students should inquire with the Financial Aid Office at their college to determine eligibility and application requirements.

Applying for scholarships Scholarships are offered by o Universities and colleges o Corporations, businesses, private organizations o Non-profit organizations and foundations Deadlines and application requirements vary by scholarship. The peak period to apply for scholarships is November to March of your child’s senior year. Students should speak to their counselor to learn more about scholarship resources.

Where can you get help? College resources in English and Spanish are available in many communities and include o High school counselors and teachers o College outreach offices o Admissions offices o Online resources (i.e. CollegeBoard.org, Princeton Review, FinAid.org) o Professional organizations (i.e. SHPE Foundation, National Society of Hispanic MBAs)

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS Thank you for attending.

Paying for College: Financial Aid & Scholarships

Why Major in Science and Engineering? STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) Pays More STEM careers are always in high demand STEM careers are growing STEM college internships pay very well Student loans are easier to pay with STEM degrees Engineering is a professional degree  Do not NEED MS/PhD to reach fullest career potential  Many Executives at STEM based industries have only a Bachelor of Science (BS – 4 year degree) in Engineering

Top 10 Paying 4-year degrees? 4 Year DegreeStarting Median PayMid-Career Median Pay 1. Petroleum Engineering$97,900$155, Chemical Engineering$64,500$109, Electrical Engineering (EE)$61,300$103, Materials Science & Engineering$60,400$103, Aerospace Engineering$60,700$102, Computer Engineering (CE)$61,800$101, Physics$49,800$101, Applied Mathematics$52,600$98, Computer Science (CS)$56,600$97, Nuclear Engineering$65,100$97,800 *Data from Payscale.com employee surveys

What About the Rest? Top 20 paying careers are Engineering or Science Top 39/50 careers require advanced Mathematics (at least some calculus) *Data from Payscale.com employee surveys

How much will my education cost? Average Costs per Academic Year Regardless of Major $14,000 for a Technical/Trade School $14,000 for 2-year Public $19,000 for 4-year Public In-State $31,000 for 4-year Public Out-of-State $35,000 for 4-year Private School *Data from

Cost Breakdown Tuition & fees Room & board Books & supplies Personal expenses Transportation

Costs in Texas Southwest Texas Junior College 2 Yr Public In-state Tuition & fees $2,081 Room & board $3,600 Est. Personal $745 Transportation $710 Total $7,136 Univ. of Texas 4 Yr Public In-state Tuition & fees $9,418 Room & board $10,112 Est. Personal $2,472 Transportation ________$1,010 Total $23,012 Univ. of Texas 4 Yr Public Out-of-state Tuition & fees $31,218 Room & board $10,112 Est. Personal $2,472 Transportation $1,010 Total $44,812 Rice University 4 Yr Private Tuition & fees $33,771 Room & board $11,750 Est. Personal $1,550 Books & supplies $800 Total $47,871

Post-College Debt Is not dependent on degree program at most public universities Private schools typically require more borrowing More Science and Engineering degrees are available at 4-Year Public schools than any other type *Data from finaid.org/loans

Science & Engineering = Manageable Debt Assume average post-college debt: $22,656 Assume 7% interest for 10 years => $3156/year Assume 40% of pay towards taxes and retirement *Data from finaid.org/loans

Private Agencies Sources of Aid Government Federal & State Institutional (Varies by School)

Access to Financial Aid FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Used by federal government, state agencies, colleges, and some scholarship agencies to determine how much and what kind of aid you are eligible to receive A snapshot of your finances  Student and Parent Income  Savings and Investments  Benefits  State Tax Rates

FAFSA Eligibility Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate Are working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program Are a U.S. citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident with an Alien Registration Card, or an eligible non-citizen (refugee, asylum granted) Have a valid Social Security Number Some states offer their own financial aid applications for students who do not meet these qualifications

FAFSA Process Complete online at Online FAFSA is processed in a few days versus a paper FAFSA that can take a few weeks Get a PIN number online A new FAFSA application must be submitted for each academic year One application per student, not per family Check your college’s Priority Dates to get the best aid

Student Aid Report (SAR) Report that results from your FAFSA  Sent to students by  Retain for personal records The SAR will include the Expected Family Contribution (EFC)  This information will be shared with your college

Additional Requirements You may be asked to provide additional documents by your college/university Each college has its own financial aid deadline Always contact the Financial Aid Office or your financial aid representatives at your college for assistance

How Financial Aid is Determined COA: Total Cost of Attendance for one academic year at the student’s institution (varies by school) EFC: Expected Family Contribution – the amount is determined on your FAFSA COA – EFC = Need* * This amount will vary at each school

Types of Financial Aid Based on the Need, a student will receive a Financial Aid Package consisting of different forms of assistance Gift (Free) Aid – Grants – Scholarships Self-Help Aid – Work Study – Loans

Example: Financial Aid COA – EFC = Need $14,000 - $5,000 = $9,000 Need Sample Financial Aid Package ─ Institution scholarship$1,500 ─ State grant$3,500 ─ Work study$2,500 ─ Federal Loan$1,500 Total:$9,000 Students DO NOT have to accept the entire financial aid package. They can select the types of aid they want and seek additional funding elsewhere.

Other Sources of Aid Private Agencies Government Federal & State Institutional (Varies by School)

Scholarships Awarded based on merit, financial need, community service, academic achievements, etc. Sources Non-Profits:  Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Foundation  Hispanic College Fund  Hispanic Scholarship Fund Companies: Target, Southwest Colleges/Universities

Starting the Search Research for which scholarships you are eligible  It is never too early to start searching for scholarships  Avoid organizations that charge fees for scholarship searches or that guarantee a scholarship = SCAMS Keep a calendar of deadlines  Received vs. Postmarked Keep a notebook with contacts, requirements and instructions for each scholarship for which you will apply

Be Prepared, Students Should… Choose very carefully who will write a letter of recommendation for them Write a detailed essay - achievements, strengths, goals, and how student plans to reach the goals Create and constantly update resume Request updated transcripts with enough time to mail out Keep an updated photograph that shows professionalism; some scholarships request a photo to print in award programs

Scholarship Selection Process Late or incomplete applications are eliminated Ineligible applications are eliminated Selection Method  Essay, letter of recommendation and resume reviewed  Examples of leadership, responsibility, focus, and motivation to succeed despite challenges are looked for in the essay

SHPE Foundation Scholarships General Scholarships Type: Merit-Based and Need-Based Scholarships Amount: $1,000 - $3,000 Who Can Apply: SHPE Members: High School Seniors, Undergraduates, Graduate students, and Professionals Major: Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM fields) Deadline: May 1, 2015 (postmarked) * Goes directly to the student not the university

Navy ROTC Scholarship Provides 4-Year Scholarships at selected colleges and universities Full tuition and mandatory fees Monthly stipend from $ and $750 for text books each academic year On graduation, two- and four-year College Program midshipmen may be commissioned ensigns in the Naval Service or second lieutenants in the Marine Corps Required to provide a minimum of four years service commitment to the U.S. Navy ELIGIBILITY: U.S. citizen or naturalized citizen 17 years old by September 1 of freshman year in college No older than 23 years old by June 30 Graduate from high school by August 1 of the year of application SAT/ACT Minimum Scores: SAT: 530 Critical Reading (CR), 520 Math ACT: 22 English, 21 Math Apply and be accepted to an NROTC host college/university (If previously enrolled in college, may have a maximum of 30 semester credit hours) DEADLINE: January 31, 2015

Additional Resources Hispanic College Fundhispanicfund.org Hispanic Heritage Foundationhispanicheritage.org Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievementhispa.org Hispanic Scholarship Fundhsf.net MALDEF (Especially for non-US citizens)maldef.org Scholarships For Hispanicsscholarshipsforhispanics.org The Sallie Mae Fundthesalliemaefund.org Career One Stop (Department of Labor) careerinfonet.org/scholarshipsearch

Questions?