2. Welcome to Senior Year!!

3. PHA College Counseling Philosophy
Prospect Hill Academy’s College Counseling Department seeks to place students at colleges and universities that are the best “fit” for the whole student. Students should matriculate where they will thrive both academically and socially, but also have the most opportunities in life with the least amount of financial burden.

4. More important is finding a college that is right for the student, and that the goals and personality of the student are well matched with the college. Students who think first about who they are and what they want are more likely to choose a college that fits them. 4

5. Asking the Right Questions
Small or large?
Diversity?
Urban, suburban, rural?
Athletics and activities?
Retention and graduation rate?
Two year or four year?
School with specific major or school with lots of variety?
Cost?
Weather?
FCCT Page 50, Resource 4.1, page 87. These questions are included to help parents/ guardians understand a few of the variables among colleges.

6. Role of the College Counselor at PHA
Teach College Prep Course.
Get to know students and families.
Act as the student’s advocate in the college process.
Be available to meet with students and parents/guardians.
Help plan and create a list of colleges for students.
Advise families about chances of admission.
Write counselor’s recommendations for students.
Help students with applications, essays, and preparing for interviews.
Communicate key information on the college process to parents, including financial aid.

7. Senior College Prep—Weekly Class time
Semester 1
Every student has a CP 12 Google Folder that contains the essay, application organizer, timeline, and supplements
Writing (and re-writing) the college essay
Finalizing the list
Researching/visiting colleges
Writing supplements
Completing financial aid documents
Individual meetings with counselors
Semester 2
Application wrap up, including state college applications
Receiving and reviewing financial aid award letters with counselors
Transitions curriculum:
Financial
Academic
Social
Individual meetings with counselors

8. Applying to College
Keep college information in an organized location, every senior has a Google Docs folder for CP 12.
Keep notes about likes and dislikes, contacts, and visits (see the PHA College Counseling Handbook!)
Follow up on with an admissions rep with a professional . 
Two ways to gain exposure to specific colleges:
Admissions representatives visit PHA (list on following slide.)
Visit college campuses.
Use the CP 12 College Organizer for all college applications!
Discuss application pathways: Regular, Early Decision, Early Action, Rolling
FCCT page 52; Resource, 4.3, page 89 8

9. Admissions Rep Visits to PHA

10. Admissions Paths--Early
Early Decision
Binding commitment to attend the school, if student is accepted
Student, parent, and counselor signs an agreement
Deadlines: 11/1 or 11/15
Students must notify counseling office by:
10/14 for 11/1 deadline
10/28 for the 11/15 deadline
Early Action
Non-binding
Demonstrates early interest to colleges; come non-need based scholarships are only available by applying Early Action
Deadlines: 11/1 or 11/15
Students must notify counseling office by:
10/14 for 11/1 deadline
10/28 for the 11/15 deadline

11. Announcements and Q&A SAT reminder—this Saturday!
Boston-Cambridge Consortium College Fair—this Friday!
FAFSA fill-in night—October 12th (more from Ms. Peckler & uAspire)

12. Dollars and Sense: Affording College 101
Quick welcome, Introduction
Here is a quick survey for you all to fill out, shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. It’s just to see whether we’re doing a good job, talking about the right things.
Presentation #1
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13. Who is uAspire?
uAspire helps make college more affordable for students and their families
uAspire will support you throughout senior year, and even beyond!
uAspire’s services are always FREE!
Your uAspire Advisors are: Erika Del Rosario and Katelyn Montalvo. Contact Ms.Peckler for dates that they will be available and to sign up!
We are an organization that helps you prepare for, afford, and succeed in college. At uAspire, college means any plans you have for school or training after high school. (See logo in bottom right corner).
Today, we will talk about how uAspire can help you afford college. Specifically, we’ll discuss your senior year.
I’m your uAspire advisor, and am here at ________School on ____________ in Room _________.
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14. Your Senior Year Schedule
Aug-Sept Oct- Nov Dec-Feb Mar-May
Identify Financial Safety Schools
Register for FSA ID (Parents Too!)
Submit FAFSA, Dream Act and CSS Profile (Starting Oct 1st)
Review Student Aid Report , Complete Verification and Institutional Forms
Review Financial Aid Award Letters
Decide on a College and Make a Deposit
These are some of the major steps you need to take this year to get to college. The first is identifying financial safety schools which is a school you can most likely be accepted to AND be able to afford. When you work with your guidance counselor of or family on your college list, keep this in mind and uAspire will be sure that you have financial safety schools as well. For most students this could be a 2 or 4 year public college (list some examples)
Next step is applying for an FSA ID which is one of the first things you can do to start the financial aid process. We will talk more about this is a moment.
The third step is applying for financial aid, there are two forms for this called the FAFSA and the CSS Profile. You may not need both but we will figure this out together. You should DEFINITELY come see me for this step. I do this stuff all day long, I’m the expert, and I’m helping you for free, so you should for sure let me help you do this. It’s complicated, difficult, and I can make it easy for you.
The next step is what happens after you complete the financial aid forms, it doesn’t end when you finish your FAFSA and CSS Profile. uAspire can help you with reviewing your Student Aid Report (making sure FAFSA was successfully processed with no mistakes), and help with all of the next steps that the colleges ask you to complete including sometimes filling out more forms.
Later in the year you will be celebrating and you absolutely should because you will start receiving acceptance letters! And you absolutely should celebrate because the hard work you’ve done in high school has paid off. BUT hold off on the real celebration until you know how much the school is going to cost you, which you will find out from your Award Letter. Your Award Letter is the most important piece of paper you will get all year, and it’s also VERY confusing, so make sure you come see me! Your award ‘letters’ may be paper letters that are mailed to you, or they can be posted by the college online.
I can help you figure out how much your college will cost, and finally make a decision on where you go. When you decide which college to go to you will make a deposit, which is a couple hundred dollars that you give to the school to show them that you are committing to their school. I will never tell you which school to go to, but I want to make sure that the school you choose is affordable for you.
Lastly, most colleges require a tuition deposit by May 1st as a way to say, “yes, I’m going to your college” and “here is some money (called a tuition deposit), to hold my spot for the fall”
As you can see, scholarships are a year long process, which we will talk about a bit later.
For community colleges the process looks very similar, the months might be just a little different.
Transition to next slide: ‘does anyone already have any colleges you are planning on applying to?’
Research and apply for scholarships
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15. How Do I Apply For Financial Aid?
Submit FAFSA, Dream Act and CSS Profile (Starting Oct 1st)
How Do I Apply For Financial Aid?
Oct >> Nov >> Dec >> Jan >> Feb
Research and apply for scholarships
CSS/Profile: Form required by some private colleges
FAFSA: Free Application For Federal Student Aid – Required by all colleges
TIP: Don’t spend too much time on this slide because FAFSA and CSS slides coming up
Emphasize the timing; both CSS and FAFSA can be filled out October 1st. The FAFSA process begins 3 months earlier than it ever has which means students need to get started!. Scholarships begin now and go through Feb.
FAFSA – government form
For each school ask students to guess which forms need to be done, have raise one hand for CSS only, the other hand for FAFSA only, or both hands for both. At some point review that FAFSA is for all schools.
FAFSA
FAFSA+CSS
FAFSA
FAFSA
FAFSA
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16. FSA ID for FAFSA
You can create an FSA ID anytime before starting your FAFSA
Go to fsaid.ed.gov to create an FSA ID
Help a parent do the same before your first meeting with uAspire
See your postcard for the link on how to do this
Add new postcard snip once we have updated FSA ID link
Emphasize that student and parent can create an FSA ID NOW but that they should save their ID, password, challenge questions somewhere SAFE so they don’t forget or lose this info. Put in your phone, write on a paper to keep somewhere safe, the answers to your self, just keep it and don’t lose it! uAspire also has a handout we can give you or you to keep track of this information if you need help
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17. CSS/Financial Aid Profile
Submit FAFSA, Dream Act and CSS Profile (Starting Oct 1st)
CSS/Financial Aid Profile
Oct >> Nov >> Dec
Only required by some private colleges
Complete online at beginning October 1st (be sure to check your school’s due date)
NOT free – $25 for the first school, $16 for each additional school (If you qualify for SAT waiver, you will also get CSS waiver for up to 8 colleges)
Can get fee waivers for up to 8 schools (determined by information provided on form)
Go over bullets.
During second bullet, you can explain that they all have been to collegeboard for PSAT or SAT’s.
Also explain that CSS requires lots of parent information so be sure to meet with your uAspire advisor so that you can start collecting it!
(optional: explain that CSS schools ask for so much information because they often have lots of money to give away, and they want to be careful about how to give that money away.)
During fourth bullet, explain that as much as we wish we could, we don’t have the waivers to give out and neither do guidance counselors, it just happens automatically online based on the information you put into the form.
If have time, can ask if student have heard of these schools, and if they think they require the CSS, FAFSA, or both.
The CSS is done early in the year, so check with your advisor ASAP to see if any of your schools require it!
FAFSA+CSS
FAFSA+CSS
FAFSA+CSS
FAFSA+CSS
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18. Important Notes About the FAFSA
Submit FAFSA, and CSS Profile (Starting Oct 1st)
Important Notes About the FAFSA
Oct >> Nov >> Dec
Required by ALL Colleges
It is FREE!
Apply online ( starting October 1st
Priority given to students who complete FAFSA early, all money awarded is first come, first served!
Prepare for the FAFSA by gathering the needed documents and by creating an FSA ID before completing it
SO, only some students need to do the CSS. Which students need to do the FAFSA? (wait for “everyone” response). All colleges includes universities, trade schools, community colleges – all education programs after high school. Raise your hand if you are going to do the FAFSA? (wait until everyone raises their hand)
Go over bullets. Make sure to emphasize that you want to do the FAFSA with them as early as possible in the Fall, starting October 1st
FSA ID: both student and parent need to create their own
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19. When Should I Meet with my uAspire Advisor?
The FAFSA (for all colleges) and CSS Profile (for some private colleges) are both available beginning October 1st!
What does this mean for me?
If you applying to any colleges that require a CSS Profile……….
schedule a meeting with uAspire TODAY for a meeting in October
If you know which colleges you are applying to and have started applications……
schedule a meeting with uAspire TODAY for a meeting in October
If you have special circumstances that may affect your ability to get financial aid…….
schedule a meeting with uAspire TODAY for a meeting in October
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20. Special Circumstances
If any of the following apply, it’s important to connect with uAspire EARLY:
I am neither a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident, OR am not sure of my status
I don’t live with my parents
My parents might not be willing to share their information with me to complete the financial aid process
I have been in foster care or have a legal guardian other than my parents
REMEMBER: uAspire works with ALL students, no matter your GPA, residency status, or family situation!
We know that one student is going to get different financial aid packages from different colleges. You are also going to get different financial aid packages from your friends and neighbors because everyone’s situation is different.
There are some cases that are important to address as soon as possible to make sure we have the documentation and paperwork that you will need again with the goal that we maximize the money for college that you receive.
Go through bullets, emphasize the “Remember:” point.
The information you share with me will remain private and confidential. I will always act in your best interests, and my door is open if you have a concern about anything we have talked about today.
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21. TO DO: Before Your First Meeting with uAspire
Create an FSA ID for you and show your parent how to do the same. Write everything down!!!
Come prepared with a list of your colleges including a financial safety school (2 year or 4 year public college)
FYI: You will receive a text from uAspire in the next few weeks reminding you of your first financial aid steps and about your meeting with your advisor
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22. What Else Should I Do Now?
Start learning about the financial aid process
Talk with your family about saving money for college
Schedule a meeting with your uAspire Advisor to get help with……
Considering options for your financial safety school
Gathering information to complete financial aid forms
Researching and applying for scholarships
Refer to postcard one last time to reiterate FSA ID creation and saving this information somewhere to bring back for 1st meeting AND You Can Book ME
Any Questions? Contact me:
Erika Del Rosario
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24. Let’s Create Your FSA ID! (Federal Student Aid)
Step 1: Visit
Step 2: Create username, password, and security answers which you will use to electronically sign the FAFSA
Note: It is very important that your name is listed exactly as is on your social security card
Step 3: Store your FSA ID in your student’s *College Application Organizer*
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