Pre-Admission: Plan Ahead –Build your college list –Make campus visits spring and summer –SAT/ACT late junior year, early senior year –Apply for admission fall of senior year (often September 1 open date) –Take a full/challenging set of senior courses (AP/IB/dual enrollment) –Stay in touch with the colleges you are considering USC Aiken

Pre-Admission: Succeeding –Test preparation –Meet deadlines –Financial planning –Read your –Stay in touch with the colleges you are considering –Keep loved ones “involved” USC Aiken

Priority Deadlines Submit your completed application for admission, usually includes a fee Ask your guidance counselor to mail your high school transcripts Request scores directly from testing agencies Decision making process on both sides –Decision rendered upon receipt of above –Acceptance Packet starts next steps –This begins the student decision process Admission Process USC Aiken

What do colleges look for? General Standards –High School Courses College Prep –HS Class Rank –SAT/ACT Scores –Specific courses/categories –Holistic Review Provisional admission category Bridge programs USC Aiken

Required HS Courses 4 units of English; College Prep I, II, III, and IV. 4 units of Math: Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II required. Pre-Calculus, Calculus, or Statistics strongly recommended. 3 units of Laboratory Science: Biology, Chemistry or Physics. 2 units from 2 different fields. 3rd unit may be from same field as one of the first two units. USC Aiken

Required HS Courses 2 units of the same foreign language. 3 units of social studies; a unit of U.S. History is required. Half units of economics and government strongly recommended. 4 units of academic electives from 3 different fields selected from Fine Arts, Computer Science, English, Humanities, Foreign Languages, Lab. Sciences, Advanced Math, and Social Sciences. 1 unit of physical education or Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. USC Aiken

Honors Program Undergraduate Research Magellan Scholars Experiential Education Job Shadowing, Co-ops, Internships Special courses for freshmen First Year Readings Support/advising for new students What about Academics? USC Aiken

What about Success? First-Year Seminar Advisement Services Academic Early Warning Academic Success Workshops Tutoring Writing Room Math Lab Languages Lab other topics ALWAYS seek assistance USC Aiken

What else to ask/know? On campus housing Athletic programs Clubs and organizations Fraternities and sororities Overall cost of attendance (affordability) Rankings of the university (US News) USC Aiken

Transfer Admission General Standards –24 or more transferable semester credit hours not technical, vocational, developmental courses –2.0+ GPA in college-level courses –Must be in good standing and eligible to return to last institution attended Process –Submit application, fee, and official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended –Credit evaluation/degree audit performed after admission USC Aiken

Decision Time! Once you are admitted –Acceptance Packet Commitment requests Student technology accounts Housing application Placement Testing Summer Orientation Residency and state scholarships Immunizations Apply for financial aid and outside scholarships USC Aiken

Financial Aid  What is financial aid?  Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)  Types of financial aid  Federal Programs  State Programs  Cost of Attendance and Affordability

What is Financial Aid? Financial Aid is money intended to help students pay for their educational expenses. Typically, aid comes in one of the following forms: Scholarships Grants (Federal and State) Federal Work Study Loans

4 Types of Financial Aid Scholarships- Money that does not have to be paid back; awarded based on financial need, academic merit, skill, or unique characteristic. Grants- Same criteria as scholarships Loans- Money that students and parents borrow to help pay for college; repayment begins after education is completed. Employment- Allows students to earn money by working to help pay for educational expenses.

Million$ left on the table each year! Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

FAFSA = The key to financial aid May be filed at any time during an academic year, but no earlier than January 1 st prior to the academic year for which the student requests aid. FAFSA may be filed beginning Jan. 1st each year. Colleges may set priority FAFSA filing deadlines. USC Aiken priority deadline is March 1st each year.

Applying is easy as 1, 2, 3! 1) 2) 3) Follow up with the financial aid office of the school to which you are applying. USC Aiken School Code:

Federal Financial Aid Pell Grant SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant) Perkins Loan Direct Loan PLUS (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students) Work Study/Institutional Student Employment All federal aid programs require completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for eligibility review

Net Cost Comparison

Best Advice for College Planning Start early Involve those people closest to you Keep your options open Don’t choose a college based on a football team Find the true net cost File the FAFSA Get a feel for the campus and the people Ask questions continuously

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