Supporting Your High School Student

Transcription

1 Supporting Your High School Student Caitlin McLaughlin & Emily Eilers Lewis & Clark 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 100 Corps members from diverse backgrounds o Every community in Illinois o Changing the conversation about higher education

4 My Little Baby is All Grown Up 1 st major adult decision Impacts future career options Big investment FERPA

5 What s in a Name?

6 Developing Criteria Size Fuel economy Brand Cost Entertainment Safety options Size Reputation of program Tuition and other costs Financial aid Campus life Course offerings

7 College Applications o A college application is part of the competitive college admissions process o Usually consists of: Academic records Extracurricular activities Personal essays Letters of recommendations Possibly an interview

8 Academic Records o Transcripts End of fall semester of senior year Final transcript at end of last semester o ACT/SAT scores o Awards and Honors List all academic awards/honors received since freshman year List by title, description of award, and year

9 Extracurricular Activities Athletics Clubs and activities Student council, NHS, band, chess club, and Glee club Community service/volunteer work Work experience Part-time job, internship, job shadowing, etc. Non-work summer experiences Outward Bound, summer school, camps, travel Interests and hobbies

10 Letters of Recommendation o Getting a good letter from teachers/counselors Choose someone with whom you have a good relationship Give at least 2 weeks notice Provide list of activities, honors and awards, class schedule, and the universities you are interested in

11 Deadlines & Costs o Deadlines vary November 1 - March 1 Fall semester of senior year o Application fees Average $35-50 Fee waivers may be possible Some fees are waived if completed on-line

12 College Visits Look on the school s admissions page for visit opportunities. Open houses Individual visits Admitted student days Overnight visits

13 My Student Still Doesn t Know What They Want To Study! Don t panic Interest surveys and job shadowing General education classes are a way to explore options Switching majors or being undecided at first is common

14 Career Paths Be Informed Research the career-major connection Certain fields do require a very specific course of study Nursing requires you to take CNA courses

15 Just the Facts: Financial Aid Sticker price actual price College/institutional aid State and federal aid FAFSA4CASTER

16 Types of Financial Aid gift aid self-help aid Grants Scholarships Work-Study Loans These funds may be merit-based, need-based, or non need-based.

17 Things to keep in mind o Many scholarships/grants come from school othe Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) January Every Year Tax Information FAFSA.gov

18 Scholarships Search financial aid opportunities Help search for scholarships Businesses, local organizations, school counselor On-line search engines Create a system to keep track of deadlines Watch out for scams

19 Scholarships 10 hours spent researching for and applying to scholarships Win 1 scholarship for $500. How many jobs can a high school student get that will yield $50/hour?

20 Student Loans Source: Division of Government and Public Affairs, American Council on Education.

21 Teach your Student to Budget First time budgeting major expenses and income Talk to them about finances Credit cards Checking accounts Loan balances Keeping track of expenses

22 Academic Preparation College vs. high school academics Responsibilities Academic success Get your student a planner

23 Not Sure Where to Go for Help? Talent Search programs School website Ask questions Talk to counselors and current students

24 What To Do Now Family / college planning calendar Create criteria College visits Be informed Ask questions

25 Additional Resources

26 Illinois Student Assistance Commission Caitlin McLaughlin Emily Eilers

27 Works Referenced p?i=83&q=5628j40902de The Chronicle Newsweek Get Ready for College by Teri