1. How to get into the Nation’s Top Schools: Secrets to Applying to Selective Enrollment Schools and to getting a fabulous education at little or no cost!

2.  Respect each other  Turn off your phone, the next 45 minutes will be more important to your future than any Facebook post or text you receive during this time or the next year!  YOU may earn $130,000 tax free in the next hour given my suggestions!  Collectively this room could receive up to ____ million dollars in financial aid in 2 years.

3.  Who are you and why should I listen to you?  Background  A step-dad  Twins entering university $120,000 year in tuition for private school or stuck with $59,000 in state school with no financial help.  We preferred not to spend life saving for state school!  We had the resources to afford research, travel, & networking.  Family education/experience  I like to look outside the box for solutions.

4.  Financial Aid ▪ Free consultation with private consulting firms ▪ Free consultation with High school counselors  Top Schools ▪ Admission Success ▪ Employment Success  Ivy Coaches—Why pay for them-I got free consultation  Diversity-how to use it as an advantage???  College fairs  Phone Calls  Parchment—other data bases  25 Schools Visited  I have put in another 40 hours looking into transfer!

5.  Get you to consider schools that were off your radar  Step outside your safety zone.  Take a risk.  Secure a chance for a better future.  Look outside the box for solutions.

6.  MONEY!  Study abroad with financial aid  Small Class size ▪ Organic Chemistry 9 or 400? Which leads to success?  Internship Opportunities--$6000 Connecticut College  Networking Opportunities ▪ Famous Alumni with connections

7.  63 best schools for financial aid-- ▪ Need Blind-Full financial aid met ▪ Compare UIC/Cornell ▪ Depaul/Bates ▪ Net price Calculator  US News and World Review-College Rankings  http://www.cbsnews.com/news/63-colleges- with-the-best-financial-aid/ http://www.cbsnews.com/news/63-colleges- with-the-best-financial-aid/  http://www.bates.edu/financial-services/costs- financial-aid/financial-aid-estimator/ http://www.bates.edu/financial-services/costs- financial-aid/financial-aid-estimator/

8. Financial Aid This is the federal Estimated Family Contribution or EFC?

9.  http://www.finaid.cornell.edu/cost- attend/financial-aid-initiatives http://www.finaid.cornell.edu/cost- attend/financial-aid-initiatives

10.  Great Grades, 3.5 or better  Prepare for an interview  Great test scores 28+ ACT or test optional. Test optional Schools. Super-score.  Great Essay ▪ Start Very Early—plan on spending 40 hours on this ▪ Get help ▪ Get more help ▪ Compelling story  Great Recommendations ▪ Early request ▪ Have a relationship with professor/dean/etc.

11.  Over 800 schools are test optional including many of the 63 schools that I suggest  http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional

12. 1 ACT TEST Math30 Reading22 English24 Science22 Composite24 3 ACT TEST Math30282230 Read222532 ENG242532 Sci22342234 Comp24282732

13.  Start early  Research what is expected for it, no surprises at 11pm when it is due by 11.59pm  START EARLY-today would be a good day!

14.  Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.  Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?  Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?  Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?  Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family

15.  You may have better chance as transfer  http://transferweb.com/stats/transfer- acceptance-rates/#.VCNmGPnRUVw http://transferweb.com/stats/transfer- acceptance-rates/#.VCNmGPnRUVw  High chance verses low CHANCE!  I suggest applying to a dozen schools  4 Reach/4 mid-tier, 4 safety schools  Opportunities to negotiate financial aid package

16.  Look for schools that are under-represented  Many of these schools want to increase their diversity! But have been unsuccessful.  http://wp.stolaf.edu/about/files/2013/11/StOP rofile.pdf http://wp.stolaf.edu/about/files/2013/11/StOP rofile.pdf  Parchment Example: https://www.parchment.com/u/college/1671- Wesleyan-University/fit https://www.parchment.com/u/college/1671- Wesleyan-University/fit

17.  Female student with children? Smith College-Child care is included in Financial Aid Calculation http://www.smith.edu/sfs/docs/prospective_ada_instr uctions.pdf http://www.smith.edu/sfs/docs/prospective_ada_instr uctions.pdf  Cornell-Biology one school 7%, Another 30%  http://admissions.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/Transf er%20Guide%202013-14.pdf page 5 http://admissions.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/Transf er%20Guide%202013-14.pdf  Transfer statistics and how to predict future opportunities  Diversity-St. Olaf—look at the Band?? Something missing?http://www.morrissuntribune.com/sites/defa ult/files/styles/16x9_860/public/fieldimages/1/0128/no rseman-band.jpg?itok=cF21zETRhttp://www.morrissuntribune.com/sites/defa ult/files/styles/16x9_860/public/fieldimages/1/0128/no rseman-band.jpg?itok=cF21zETR

18.  Vassar-Summer program for community college students—Any 1 st year students?  Veterans-Veteran’s Posse  Warrior Scholar’s program  Foreign university—Korean Veteran heritage??

19.  Transfer Center Director on your campus  The internet  Search list  Pick up your phone AND ASK!

21.  Presentation selective useful web sites  Transfer acceptance rates  http://transferweb.com/stats/transfer-acceptance-rates/#.VCNmGPnRUVw http://transferweb.com/stats/transfer-acceptance-rates/#.VCNmGPnRUVw  Test optional schools  http://www.thecollegesolution.com/colleges-and-universities-that-are-test- optional/ http://www.thecollegesolution.com/colleges-and-universities-that-are-test- optional/  Dad efc  http://www.thecollegesolution.com/answering-a-dads-financial-aid-question/ http://www.thecollegesolution.com/answering-a-dads-financial-aid-question/  CSS/FAFSA  http://www.forbes.com/sites/troyonink/2013/01/02/2013-simplified-guide-to- expected-family-contribution-efc-and-college-aid/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/troyonink/2013/01/02/2013-simplified-guide-to- expected-family-contribution-efc-and-college-aid/  63 best schools for aid  http://www.cbsnews.com/news/63-colleges-with-the-best-financial-aid/ http://www.cbsnews.com/news/63-colleges-with-the-best-financial-aid/  Article about discrimination in college admissions  http://priceonomics.com/post/48794283011/do-elite-colleges-discriminate- against-asians http://priceonomics.com/post/48794283011/do-elite-colleges-discriminate- against-asians  Harold Washington Transfer Information  http://ccc.edu/colleges/washington/departments/Pages/Transfer-Resources.aspx http://ccc.edu/colleges/washington/departments/Pages/Transfer-Resources.aspx