1. College Planning Seminar presented by Renee Baker, Early Awareness Counselor

3. CSLF Early Awareness & College Planning Department Free Services College Planning Services Financial Aid Assistance Assistance with Aid Applications One-on-One Advising Workshops and Professional Development Programs. Resource Center Rocky Hill, Connecticut Toll Free Number 1-800-237-9721 ext 589 rbaker@mail.cslf.org rbaker@mail.cslf.org Visit our website @ www.cslf.com

4. Fundamentals No such thing as ………“I’ve worked hard for 3 years and I deserve an easy senior year” Senior grades courses Count-Colleges will see them and use them

5. Special circumstances ATHLETES: Div. I and II must Eligibility Form for NCAA IDEA/504: You may qualify for special considerations and services ARTISTS & MUSICIANS: Prepare portfolios and/or auditions Note: There are special College Fairs for Artists and Musicians and hints at www.nacacnet.org

6. Senior year test dates SAT Test Deadline October 6SAT & Subj. September 10 November 3SAT & Subj. October 2 December 1SAT & Subj. October 30 January 26SAT & Subj. December 26 ACTTest Deadline____ October 27ACT September 21 December 8ACT November 2

7. Haven’t started yet ? Your GPA? Testing? Meet with your counselor? Career direction? Do a computer search Visit websites and colleges Gather applications

8. College Options 2-year colleges Associates Degree or Certificates Private or community Terminal or transfer Major in a subject Take courses in math, English, history, etc. 4-year colleges Bachelor’s Degree Private or public Major in a subject Take courses in English, math, history, science and world language

9. Current Trends 1. Admission is getting more difficult 2. “Gapping” in financial aid offers 3. Early Decision/Early Action 4. Use of electronic/internet-based applications, FAFSA, SAT, etc. 5. Earlier applications=better results

10. When to Apply Non-Restrictive Plans Regular Decision-Traditional admission plan Notified between mid-March and early April Rolling Admissions-Reviewed upon receipt Notified within 4-6 weeks Early Action-Submitted early in senior year Notified well in advance of college’s usual date Restrictive Early Decision-Making a commitment that student will enroll if admitted

11. How Colleges Make Decisions Student transcript is the most important consideration Testing usually is second in importance Other things are less important but can help in admissions such as activities Key Factors

12. Questions You Need To Answer Size of college or number of students Location(major city, suburban, rural) Majors Difficulty of admission Dorm or Home? Distance from home Activities or clubs Sports: NCAA eligibility Support services Dietary needs Medical needs College costs

13. Have you considered…? Can you get in and pay for it? Reach colleges Good Match or Target Likely schools How much can you afford? Financial aid: Need/Merit-based

14. Admission Strategies Look for schools that have $$$$$ Look beyond the “usuals” Consider leaving the northeast

15. Narrow your list Review and prioritize your criteria-do they all fit your needs and goals? Are they all schools you would attend?

16. Applications Paper or electronic-tell your counselor Answer all questions Fill in neatly and completely Essay Colleges’ deadlines Know your high school’s deadlines

17. Recommendations “ The thicker the file, the thicker the student” Teachers Counselor Coach Employer Club Advisor Two faculty: Verbal and Quantitative One from other person possible (shop teacher?) Don’t send too many Only from people who know you

18. Who does what? Your part Application Fee Getting recommendations Deadlines High School Part Transcript Counselor Recommendation School Profile Mid-Year Grades Final Grades

19. College decisions Admit: No definition needed Denied: No definition needed Wait List: Admissible if space later becomes available-after May 1 “ What ifs ”: Financial aid insufficient

20. Financials Apply for Financial Aid FAFSA and CSS/Financial Aid Profile What is affordable without financial aid Merit Scholarships

21. What is This Going to Cost? Annual tuition and fees for colleges in Connecticut range from $2,878 to more than $37,000 per year $2828 $8,362 $37,106 Add-Room and Board For comprehensive total According to Money Magazine and the College Board, more than 80% of students attend colleges that cost less than $18,000.

22. Distribution of Undergraduates by Published Tuition and Fees 3% 43% 21% 10% 9% Source: Trends in College Pricing, 2005. The College Board 9% 14%

23. What Is Financial Aid? Gift Aid scholarships grants Self-Help loans work programs Tax Credits and Deductions Source: The College Board: Trends in Student Aid 2005 47% 6% 7% 19% 5% 10% $128.9 Billion Federal Loans Tax Benefits Other Federal Programs Private and Employer Grants Institutional Grants State Grants Pell Grants

24. What is Merit Aid? Money given without demonstrated need Money given because of some special characteristic May or may not be renewable Not all colleges give Merit aid

25. Current Trends College costs are increasing and are outpacing increases in available financial aid Fewer colleges are able to meet full documented financial need Students and families are relying more heavily on borrowing

26. What is……Gapping? Definition: Documented need not met Cost of Attendance= 40,000 EFC= -10,000 Need= 30,000 Aid Package= -10,000 Gap= 20,000

27. Money Saving Ideas Community College & transfer State colleges and universities New England Regional Program AP or other college courses in high school for college credit Merit Scholarships (with Honors Programs?) Canadian and overseas colleges and universities

28. What’s Your EFC? Go to www.cslf.comwww.cslf.com Click on Parents Click on Tools and Calculators Click on College Aid Calculator Also, check out our Early College-Cost Estimator

29. Major dates College Applications: Vary CSS/Financial Aid Profile: October FAFSA: after Jan. 1, 2008 and before Feb. 10, 2008 Candidates Reply Date: May 1, 2008

30. What’s next? Notify colleges where admitted that not going Send deposit by May 1 to college you will attend Remember, senior grades will be sent to the college. They can withdraw admission because of poor semester 2 grades

31. Final comments….. Work closely with your counselor It’s college for you-work at it and stay focused on the long-term Work hard and your reward will be college acceptances Thank people who have written for you Have fun-you can do both

32. Thank you for coming tonight Connecticut Student Loan Foundation