1. College 101 Brianna Kamphuis Illinois Valley Community College District Illinois Student Assistance Commission

2. Who We Are “Making college accessible and affordable for all Illinois students.” - Mission Statement The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is the financial aid agency in the state of Illinois. We are a mission-driven, non-profit, state agency that administers nearly $400 million in scholarships and grants. Illinois has set a goal to increase the proportion of adults in Illinois with high-quality degrees and credentials to 60% by the year 2025.

3. Illinois Student Assistance Corps o Approximately 80 Corps members from diverse backgrounds o Every community in Illinois o Changing the conversation about higher education

4. Overview Here are some things we will talk about today…… ▫ Post-secondary options  Types of degrees and colleges  Apprenticeships  Military ▫ Determining your “best fit” college(s) ▫ Researching colleges

5. Monthly Expenses 1 Adult2 Adults, 2 Children Food $242 Medical $141 Housing $679 Transportation $306 Other $76 Required annual income $20090 Food $713 Medical $379 Housing $895 Transportation $736 Other $185 Required annual income $40445

6. Putting Things into Perspective

7. Average Earnings by Degree

8. Types of degrees TypeApprox. time Certificate10-16 months Associate’s2 years Bachelor’s4 years Master’s2 years (after a bachelor’s) Professional3-6 years (after a bachelor’s) Doctorate5-7 years (after a bachelor’s)

9. Types of colleges TypeDegreesExamples Public universities Bachelor’s, Master’s, Professional, Doctorate Illinois State Private colleges and universities Bachelor’s, Master’s, Professional, Doctorate Bradley Community colleges Certificate, Associate’sIVCC Trade/Vocational schools CertificateMTI

10. 2014-15 Average Illinois Tuition and Fees Public universities $11,880 Private colleges and universities $27,490 Community colleges $3,731 Source: http://www.isac.org/students/during-college/applying-for-financial-aid/college-costs.html.http://www.isac.org/students/during-college/applying-for-financial-aid/college-costs.html

11. Deciding on a Major o Your interests o Debt you are willing to assume o Average salary o Job prospects

12. Certificate Programs Community Colleges Certificate programs: Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Billing and Coding, Welding, etc. Assoc. Applied Science programs: Sonographer, Industrial Maintenance Tech., Dental Hygiene. Vocational, trade, technical, and career colleges Trade-specific schools Apprenticeships: provided by employers or local unions

13. Apprenticeships Run by an employer or union Teach skills for a specific trade Combines on-the-job training and classroom instruction Apprentice usually pays only for tools/supplies Apprentice agrees to work for a minimum time after completing apprenticeship

14. Popular Apprenticeship Programs Electricians Plumbers Steel workers Pipefitters Boilermaker Masons Carpenters

15. Associate’s Degree Careers Childcare worker Dental hygienist Mechanic Paralegal Physical therapist assistant Nurse

16. Bachelor’s Degree Careers Accountant Computer programmer High School coach/teacher Nurse Journalist Pilot

17. Post-Bachelor’s Examples Social worker Master’s Lawyer, medical doctor Professional Psychology professor, economics researcher Doctorate

18. Military Initial commitment is typically 4 years active duty and 2 years inactive Branches include ▫ Army ▫ Navy ▫ Air Force ▫ Marine Corps ▫ Coast Guard ▫ National Guard Long-term career vs. continued training/education

19. Determining your “best fit” college

20. Should you pick a college because…? Your boyfriend/girlfriend/best friend is going there. You recognize its name. They sent you a brochure in the mail.

21. academic socialfinancial Determining your “best fit” college

22. Available majors Internship opportunities Career/graduate school placement rates Graduation and retention rates

23. SAFETY your academic record is stronger than most students it’s basically guaranteed you’ll get in MATCH your academic record is similar to most students you have a very good chance of getting in REACH most students have a better academic record than you you have a chance of getting in Plan on applying to at least two of each, for a total of six.

24. ACT Standardized test used to measure college readiness Colleges use as an admissions criteria Usually taken in spring of junior year Can be taken up to 12 times Most colleges take highest overall score 5 test sections: English, Math, Science, Reading, Writing ACT may not be offered at LP, depends on state budget National test dates at IVCC www.actstudent.org to register; photo ID required; $56.50 www.actstudent.org

25. How Can I Improve My ACT Score? ACT Prep Classes Free website help at www.actstudent.orgwww.actstudent.org Check out ACT review books from the library for additional practice questions and tips Information on the LP Counseling Website

26. College Match tool https://isacportal.isac.org/en/collegematch

27. Social Religious affiliation Extracurricular activities Athletics Theater/musical performances Greek life Average class size Campus size Commute vs. On-campus vs. Off-campus Location

28. Financial Sticker price vs. Net price Types of financial aid available ▫ Gift (scholarships, grants) ▫ Self-help (loans, work study) cost of attendance expected family contribution financial need

29. Maximum Award Amounts for 2015 - 2016 Up to $4,720* Up to $5,775 Up to $4,000 — State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) — Federal Pell Grant — Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) Total = $14,495 * Based on funding as of publication date. Announced grant awards could increase or decrease throughout the academic year. Financial

30. Picking a College is A Lot Like Dating… Do you want to be with this college for possibly the next 4 years? Does the college match your wants? Does the college better prepare you for your future? Do you and the college have the same values? Does the college just look good online? Are you going to this college just because your friends want you to?

31. How to Find Colleges Studentportal.isac.org ISAC’s College Match tool College Scorecard Ask teachers, counselors, and other adults Choose 3-4 schools you’ve never heard of to research. Don’t rule out any schools based on cost. And remember, aim to apply to at least 2 safety, 2 match, and 2 reach schools

32. It is going to be your home for the next 4 years. Every school looks good on a brochure or website. Get a sense of the on-campus experience. College visits

33. College visits: Be proactive Ask intelligent, prepared questions. Schedule a one-on-one appointment with an admissions representative. Talk to students who attend that school. Consider an overnight stay. Attend a class.

34. Your Support Network Involve others in your decision- making process Ask questions!

35. College Checklist for Juniors Meet with your counselor about college plans Compile your initial list of colleges Study and prepare for the ACT Visit college campuses on days you don’t have school Visit college reps who come to LP Start thinking about who to ask for letters of recommendation Plan your senior schedule based on plans for after high school Begin preparing an activities resume Review college application deadlines

36. FREE Online Resources

37. Search for colleges by… Programs or Majors Location Enrollment size whitehouse.gov/issues/education/higher-education/college-score-card College Scorecard

38. studentportal.isac.org

39. Types of colleges and degrees Identify your interests and goals Determine “best fit” college(s) based on academic, social, and financial factors Find your support network Ask Questions! Review

40. www.studentportal.isac.org www.isac.org www.StudentAid.gov Additional resources

41. Contact Information Brianna Kamphuis Brianna.Kamphuis@isac.illinois.gov 815-202-0660