1. College Knowledge DeAnna Brown School Counselor & Andrea McDonald College For Every Student (CFES)

2. What Brought You Here?  Your name  Grade(s) of child(ren)  What you hope to learn today

3. College For Every Student

5. College For Every Student (CFES) Mentoring Leadership Through Service Pathways to College

6. College For Every Student (CFES) at LPES Mentoring 4 th Grade/1 st Grade 5 th Grade/Kindergarten Staff/Student Individual class projects Leadership Through Service 4 th Grade classes will plan and lead service projects 5 th Grade – ongoing service opportunities (Pledge, Loop, Cafeteria, Mix-It-Up, etc.) Pathways to College 4 th Grade College Visit 3 rd & 5 th Grade College Information & Guest Speakers

7. Let’s Talk About College

8. Talking to Younger Children About College & Careers  Keep it simple  Keep it concrete  Point out different jobs  Identify strengths & interests and careers that are related to them.  Most jobs require college= College teaches you to do different kinds of work.

9. Talk About College Often  Express confidence that your child can go to college.  Visit college campuses when you are travelling – even just to drive through.  Help students keep an open mind about attending college.

10. Colleges come in all shapes and sizes!  Degrees/Majors  Location & Size of School  Admissions Criteria  Cost & Financial Assistance  Housing  Clubs & Sports  Support Services  Ability to bring your horse, ATV, fish…

11. Better Grades = More Options  Anyone with a high school diploma can go to college.  Some colleges are very selective and require very high grades.

12. Prepare for College  Do his/her best in school!  Create strong homework & study habits (Same time, same place, positive attitude)  Maintain strong attendance.  Learn about different jobs and careers  Volunteer/Community Service  Get Involved in Clubs, Sports, Community Programs or other Activities

13. Paying for College

14. Cost of Attending College  It costs money to attend college.  There are Financial Aid Programs to help students pay for college.  Better Grades = More Free Money for College (scholarships & awards)  Most people make more money after attending college.

15. How much does it cost to go to college? Answer: It depends on how much financial aid you receive. Cost of Attendance - Financial Aid = Actual Cost to You

16. For Example… School A School BSchool C $40,000$20,000$15,000 -20,000 - 5,000 -0 =$20,000=$15,000 $15,000 Each college has a Net Price Calculator to estimate your actual cost of attendance. SUNY Albany Net Price Calculator

17. Grants, Awards, & Scholarships  Federal & State Financial Aid (mostly based on family income)  Financial Aid from college/school you are attending (mostly based on academic achievement, some based on family income)  Private groups and organizations (based on all sorts of things, many for community service)

18. Did You Know?  North Country Community College offers free tuition to our students who graduate in the top 20% of their class.  Many colleges have similar scholarships for students above a 90 average or at the top of their class.

19. Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP / HEOP) Provides academic support, and financial aid to students. Eligibility  Ineligible for admission under traditional standards, but demonstrate potential for completing a college program; and  In need of financial assistance within established income guidelines.

20. College Loans  Student loans are funds that are loaned directly to the student and must be paid back by the student. They are not based on family income or credit. ~$5000/year  Parent loans are based on the credit of the parent(s) and must be repaid by the parent(s).

21. College Savings Programs *It’s never too early (or too late) to start saving for college* See Yellow Handout on Saving For College for information on different ways to save.  NY State 529 Plan  See your bank or financial advisor

22. Questions or Comments? We are collecting college pennants… We will be having a district-wide college pride day this spring… Thank you for coming! Contact DeAnna Brown for more information dbrown@lpcsd.org 523-3640 x4533