VSACplanning guide for grades 7 12

Transcription

1 planning for college VSACplanning guide for grades 7 12 Gear up for your future!

2 Parents and guardians are the most important and influential people in their children s lives. Children need parents and other adults to be interested and involved in their activities, their academic progress, and their planning for the future. This publication provides the basic information you ll need to help children succeed in middle school, in high school, and beyond. It explains: helpful terms types of degrees and colleges Vermont high school graduation requirements the high school coursework necessary for college career exploration the college search process standardized testing college selection the college application process It also includes worksheets you can easily download from our website, along with online tools & resources; and for information on upcoming events and programs, check regularly. Start at any point in the guide that matches your student s progress in the planning process. Consider this your A-to-Z guide to getting your student college ready.

3 This booklet was produced by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, a public nonprofit corporation established by the Vermont Legislature in 1965 to help Vermonters plan and pay for education or training beyond high school. Planning for college: A guide for grades 7 12 VSACWhy college? Exploring careers Self-exploration checklist, Naviance and PLPs, online resources Getting started Important terms, types of colleges and degrees, two-plus-two programs, types of admissions, college admissions criteria, the four-year high school plan Paying for college Options, types of financial aid, saving for college, sources of financial aid, financial aid forms, FAFSA4caster Grades 7 and Student task list, parent/adult task list Grades 9 and Student task list, parent/adult task list, academic preparation Grade Student task list, parent/adult task list, standardized tests The college search Factors to consider, college fairs, questions to ask at college fairs, using costs as part of your college search Grade Student task list, parent/adult task list, the college visit Applying to college Admissions categories, applications timeline, the application process, the college major, the gap year Checklists and worksheets Undergraduate institutions in Vermont cover illustration 2015 Doug Ross Glossary

4 VSAC has the resources you need and the experts to help you use them. Paying for College presentations free at Vermont high schools throughout the fall College Pathways free events on Vermont college campuses for Vermont high school students and their parents Free online career exploration & planning tools SAT, ACT, and graduate exam prep tools to identify interests, skills, and work values links between careers, majors, and education college and scholarships searches monthly college planning tips and to-do items at VSAC s website for students and families who are planning for, applying to, and paying for college VSAC Resource Center in downtown Winooski with more than 9,000 books, DVDs, and other resources that you can borrow Grants & scholarships state grants for full-time and part-time degree programs state grants for non-degree courses to improve employability or to try a college class information on more than 140 scholarships for Vermont residents Financial aid applications & details online at FAFSA CSS Profile Vermont grant application for full-time and part-time degree study Vermont non-degree grant application Unified Scholarship Application for all VSAC-assisted scholarships Education loans for students for out-of-state students attending Vermont colleges for Vermont residents attending eligible colleges anywhere Vermont s 529 college savings plan the Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan (VHEIP) a Vermont state income tax credit federal and state tax-free earnings and withdrawals [email protected]

5 Why college? Even with higher tuition and other costs, a college degree is still considered a very good investment. Education beyond high school is likely to mean: more job opportunities. Most good jobs require more than a high school diploma. A college degree or other training will open more doors for your student because employers need people who can think critically, communicate well, and solve problems creatively. financial rewards. Over a lifetime, a person with a four-year degree can earn twice as much money as someone with only a high school diploma, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In addition, most jobs that provide paid benefits such as sick time, vacation time, retirement plans, and health insurance require training or college beyond high school. These benefits add up to thousands of dollars of income that don t appear in a paycheck. a sense of accomplishment. College can provide the satisfaction of personal growth. Meeting new people and participating in new activities enable young people to feel comfortable, competent, and accomplished. Reports show that college graduates experience higher earnings over a lifetime, higher job satisfaction, and healthier lifestyles. (Source: College Board) National median weekly earnings in 2014 $1,101 $1,326 $668 $741 $792 $488 Less than a HS diploma High school diploma Some college, no degree Associate s degree Bachelor s degree Master s degree 9.0% 6.0% 6.0% 4.5% 3.5% 2.8% National unemployment rate in 2014 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1

6 Exploring careers Planning for education after high school starts with paying attention to and exploring interests and skills. Students should begin exploring career options years before attending a college fair or filling out college applications. Naviance and PLPs Beginning in fall 2015, all students in seventh and ninth grades will be required to have a personalized learning plan (PLP), and many schools are implementing them sooner. A PLP is an excellent career and college planning tool that encourages each student to reflect on his or her learning and future. To assist schools with PLPs, VSAC with the support of the VT Agency of Education offers Naviance, an online career- and college-planning program with built-in PLP capacity, to all public schools in the state. Naviance allows students to collaborate with educators and parents to set goals and tasks, search for colleges, and explore careers based on personal skills and interests. Check with your school to see if Naviance is part of its plan for PLPs. Career planning starts by learning about oneself. For your student, this means taking a realistic look at who he is, what he s good at, and what he enjoys. Through self-assessment, your student can identify his values, interests, abilities, and skills. While there is no test that can determine what someone should be or do, the resources on the following pages, along with the worksheets on pages 35 37, can help your student identify academic or career fields that match her interests, skills, values, personal traits, and desired lifestyle. Help your student research careers to learn more about education requirements, salaries, working conditions, future outlook, and other factors that can help narrow his or her list of potential careers. Online resources Find information and links on college readiness, career exploration, college admissions and the application process, and college costs and financial aid. Sign up for timely info and reminders about free college planning events and important dates and deadlines. Explore communities and meet local leaders to learn the steps they took to get where they are. Create your own roadmap based on your interests and selfassessment activities. Find links to the trades, apprenticeships, and alternatives to four-year college. Learn about scholarships for trades in Vermont. Connect to the Trade Hub for every state in the nation. 2

7 Self-exploration checklist Use the questions below to help your student begin to think about what he or she is good at and enjoys doing. Interests c What gives you energy? c What activities do you enjoy in your free time? c What do you like to read about, learn about, or explore? Abilities c What are you good at? c What abilities and talents would you like to develop? c What are your strengths? Values and environment c What is most important to you in school: support, competitive challenges, reputation, flexibility? c What is most important to you outside of school: creativity, security, independence, helping others, free time? c What role do you want work to play in your life? Will it simply be a source of income? Will it be a creative outlet? Will it be a way to improve your community? Important relationships c Whom do you look up to? c Whose lifestyle do you admire? c List three important people in your life, along with your reasons for having chosen them. Personality c What makes you unique? c How would people describe you? c What gives you energy? 3

8 Getting started Many students assume that education after high school means four years at a residential college. Not true. Students and their parents can choose from many different types of degrees in different learning environments. Career schools may offer six-month courses that improve employability; community colleges within commuting distance may provide two-year associate s degrees; and part-time, evening, and online classes are alternatives to full-time education on residential campuses. Students are more likely to be college-bound and careerready when their families are involved in their schooling and education. Types of colleges College or university a school that offers associate-, bachelor-, or advanced-degree programs and requires students to take liberal arts courses in addition to courses in their areas of interest private: a college or university that is usually self-supporting and not for profit, meaning that incoming funds are put back into running the school. All students pay the same tuition, whether they re in-state or out-of-state students. public: a not-for-profit college or university partially supported financially by the state in which it s located, allowing the school to offer lower tuition to in-state students Community college a two-year institution that offers flexible schedules and/or lower fees; often has a smaller campus and most do not have residence halls. Students can earn their associate s degrees here, or they can begin their studies here and transfer to four-year colleges to complete their bachelor s degrees. Technical college a two- or four-year college that prepares students for technical or hands-on careers through a traditional college schedule; often requires courses (such as English or social studies) outside a student s field of study Trade or vocational school a one- to two-year school that offers programs in specific fields such as culinary arts, cosmetology, or refrigeration; often in session year-round, with schedules resembling a typical workday. Although shorter term, it can be as expensive as a year at a two- or fouryear college. proprietary school: a privately owned trade or vocational school that often has a recruiter who works on commission 4

9 Types of degrees Associate s degree awarded after completing planned coursework that usually involves two years of full-time study (about 60 credit credit hours required; varies by program). Bachelor s degree awarded upon completion of planned coursework that usually involves four years of full-time study (about 120 credit hours) Master s degree earned after the completion of a bachelor s degree; involves a prescribed course of study in a specific field. The length of each program depends on full- or part-time status and the number of Doctorate awarded for advanced, intensive study in a specific field Two-plus-two programs A two-plus-two program enables a student to earn an associate s degree from one college and apply those credits toward a bachelor s degree from the same school or another school. Many two-year schools have agreements with four-year colleges for easy transfer of credits. Often, starting at a twoyear college will lower tuition bills for the first two years of classes while a student explores career fields or academic areas of interest. Since many two-year colleges offer precollege English and math courses, your student can begin at a community college or junior college, where he can improve academic performance and develop strong study skills. This may increase the likelihood of acceptance at a four-year college as a transfer student. If your student likes the idea of a two-plus-two program, it s important that she work closely with an academic counselor to plan courses and credits that will be accepted at the target four-year school. College admissions criteria The most important factors colleges consider in the admissions process are high school coursework and grades. Colleges look at courses taken, grades received, and course level difficulty in all four years of high school. It s important for students to take the most challenging courses they can handle. The more challenging the courses and the higher the grades, the greater the college and scholarship options available to the student. Important terms Accreditation: an endorsement or approval by an organization that reviews the qualifications and standards of educational institutions or academic degree programs Certificate: a credential awarded upon completion of a specific shortterm course of study Credit hour: amount of time per week spent in a class. A certain number of credit hours is required for graduation; one course is usually three or four credit hours, meaning that classes are held three to four hours each week. Degree: a credential awarded to a student who has successfully completed a required course of study Dual enrollment: an option that allows high school students to take college courses for both high school and college credit Grade point average (GPA): the average grade earned throughout a course of study; calculated by adding the grade points received in all classes and then dividing by the number of credit hours taken Major or concentration: a specific area of study in which a student specializes and receives a degree Minor: a specific area of study requiring fewer credits than the major Professional license: a credential received for study and training in a particular area or skill 5

10 There are many ways that students can continue their education or training after high school. To learn more about options in Vermont and beyond, go to: Define your goals. Identify your interests, strengths, and preferences. Explore careers and connect them to further education. Get reminders, feeds, and tips on important dates, deadlines, and local events. Find Vermont schools. Find statewide degree programs. Find out what s happening on Vermont campuses. Factors considered may include: academic preparation: whether or not the student has taken the necessary high school courses to prepare for her major standardized tests: primarily the SAT and/or ACT (covered in more detail on pages 18 21), taken junior and/or senior year essay: a writing sample that reflects a student s ability to think and write; also provides the student with an opportunity to express something about himself as an individual letters of recommendation: describe what school counselors, teachers, or other important adults think about a student s potential to handle college-level learning (see page 31) interview: a chance for college staff and a prospective student to ask questions of each other; can be conducted in person or on the telephone with a college admissions officer or a graduate of the college (see page 28) co-curricular activities, leadership roles, and jobs: show what a student has accomplished outside the classroom Online resources for online tools and self-assessments for students

11 The four-year high school plan School counselors can help students create a four-year course plan that meets high school graduation requirements, college admissions requirements, and career plans. Requirements for Vermont high school graduation and college admissions Vermont high school graduation requirements Two-year vocational/ technology programs Two-year community colleges and business schools Most four-year colleges Highly competitive four-year colleges Four-year nursing and allied health programs Four-year engineering and science programs Four-year business programs English Math Science Social Foreign Fine Arts/ Studies Lang. (one) Computer Ed. 4 years 3 years 3 years 3 years; 1 in 1 year U.S. history/ government 4 years 3 years 2 3 years 3 years 4 years 3 years 2 years 3 years 2 years (for liberal arts transfer programs) 4 years years 3 years 2 3 years 1 2 years years 4 years 4 years 4 years 3 years 3 4 years 1 2 years (2 lab sciences) 4 years years 3 years 2 years years (including lab sciences) 4 years 4 years 3 4 years 3 years 2 3 years 1 year (including lab sciences) 4 years 4 years 2 3 years 3 years 2 3 years Other courses 1 1 /2 years physical education, plus any local requirements 2 years related technology courses Related technology programs (computer, accounting) Lab sciences Honors & Advanced Placement courses (recommended) 1 2 years health science (recommended); 1 year human anatomy & physiology (recommended) Related engineering courses Related business courses Note: Check with your high school counselor to find out how to meet state graduation requirements through block scheduling. Standards and admissions policies vary from college to college. Students should review college catalogs for specific entrance requirements. Highly competitive colleges may require specific levels and courses in math and science. Check with your school counselor and college admissions offices for specifics. 7

12 Paying for college Finding the right combination of financial aid for your family circumstances requires research, discussion, and decision making. Talk with a school counselor or a VSAC representative about available resources. Myth: College is out of the question because it can cost more than $25,000 a year. Fact: What you ve heard is true college is expensive. However, two out of every three students attending four-year colleges in the United States are receiving some form of financial aid (to help meet college expenses. Before you decide, investigate and explore likely aid packages. At you ll find: questions to help determine how your family will plan to pay college costs ways to use net price calculators to estimate what families like yours receive in grants and scholarships suggestions for lowering college costs Consider the options To pay for college, families usually rely on several options, starting with their own resources. The least expensive way to pay for college is to use savings and investments. Saving for college does not have to be restricted to parents. Contributions to college savings programs (see page 9) make great birthday and holiday gifts from relatives and friends. Students can also be encouraged to put aside their own earnings toward college expenses. Another way to meet college expenses is to use current income, which may include using tuition payment plans offered by many colleges. These plans allow families to spread payments over the school year rather than pay a lump sum each term. This approach can save families money by reducing the amount required in education loans. In addition, many students receive financial aid (for which they will need to apply). Need-based aid takes into consideration a family s financial situation. Aid that is not based on need may be awarded for unique achievements in athletics, art, music, or leadership; or for factors such as desired field of study, residence in a particular county or town, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities. Types of financial aid Grants awards that generally are based on need and do not have to be repaid Scholarships awards based on factors that may include academic achievement, degree program, extracurricular activity, and sometimes financial need. These do not have to be repaid. Work-study student employment for wages that may be applied to the college bill or used for personal expenses Education loans money borrowed by students and/or parents to pay for school. Loans must be repaid with interest. 8

13 Financial aid packages almost always include education loans. Since education loans may have fees and are repaid with interest, borrowing is the most expensive way to pay for college and should be done wisely. The federal government provides education loans that students and parents can use for education or training beyond high school. federal Direct loans for students enrolled at least half time: Direct subsidized loans You are not responsible for the interest on these loans while you re in school, or during any periods of deferment. To obtain a subsidized loan, you must demonstrate financial need. Direct unsubsidized loans The interest on these loans accrues even while you re in school and during deferment; on the other hand, you don t need to demonstrate financial need to obtain an unsubsidized loan. federal PLUS loans for parents: These are loans that parents can take out to help pay education costs for a student enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. Because PLUS loans are based on credit, the application will require a credit check. To meet education costs, some students may need additional funds over and above the federal Direct loan. VSAC s Vermont Advantage loan is available to make up the difference. Visit or contact VSAC to discuss availability and your options. Sources of financial aid Financial aid is available from: your college or institution: Your school can offer grants and scholarships, which may vary from school to school, depending on each school s available funding and eligibility criteria. the federal government: Federal programs provide grants, work-study, and education loans. private foundations and organizations: These groups often provide scholarships, administered privately or through VSAC, that can be found through your local high school, VSAC, town offices and libraries, parent employers, or local businesses. the state government: In Vermont, state grants funded by the Vermont Legislature are available through VSAC. Saving for college One way to save for college is to use a qualified tuition program (a 529 plan). Nearly every state has its own 529 plan with its own features. The Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan (VHEIP) is Vermont s official 529 plan. It s the only 529 plan through which Vermont residents qualify for a Vermont income tax credit on contributions and a Vermont income tax exemption on earnings when withdrawals are used for qualified higher education expenses, which include costs for tuition and fees, certain room and board charges, and required books and supplies. VHEIP provides an affordable way for Vermonters to invest for college. You can enroll with only $25, and after that you can make automatic contributions of as little as $25 from a savings or checking account, or $15 per pay period through payroll deduction. For more information, call or visit 9

14 Need-based financial aid is awarded according to a family s financial situation; it s determined through a federal formula based on a family s financial data. Merit aid is awarded for a special academic, artistic, or athletic talent, or for certain criteria defined by the donor. Be aware that your student will need to reapply for financial aid every year. Financial aid forms Students and families need to complete several forms to be considered for financial aid from state, federal, and private sources. Most forms can be completed online, although paper copies are available if you need them. Each of the major online forms has its own website that provides instructions and worksheets. Read instructions carefully, gather necessary financial information, and fill out the worksheets before completing the form. Meet all deadlines for submitting forms. You may lose out on aid if you re not prompt in filing forms or if you miss deadlines. To meet application deadlines, families can use estimated tax information on forms and then update forms after taxes have been completed. Since circumstances differ from household to household, some families will be eligible for more need-based aid than other families. Some will not qualify for need-based aid, though their students may qualify for merit aid. The only way to find out what you re eligible for is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); this will help ensure that you get the maximum amount of financial aid possible. Plan to complete: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): This is required in order to be considered for federal financial aid, a Vermont grant administered by VSAC, and aid from the college your student may be attending. Vermont grant application: This is required in order to be considered for a need-based Vermont grant. VSAC Unified Scholarship Application (USA): This is required for VSAC-assisted scholarships listed in the VSAC scholarships booklet (see Resources, below). Important: Even if your family income is too high to qualify you for need-based aid, fill out the FAFSA so you can qualify for federal education loans; these loans have better interest rates and terms than private loans do. You can file both the FAFSA and the Vermont grant application online at the VSAC website ( on or after January 1 of the student s senior year. (You can obtain a paper FAFSA by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center toll-free at , but online applications are faster and easier.) 10

15 You may also need to complete: CSS (College Scholarship Service) Profile : Check with each college s financial aid office to see if this form is required. Log on at A limited number of waivers are granted to first-time college applicants from low-income families. supplemental forms that may be required by the college you plan to attend applications for scholarships not administered by VSAC Online resources VSAC s scholarships booklet, detailing approximately 140 scholarships for Vermont residents, other scholarship resources, and tips on scholarship scams VSAC s paying for college guide, with details about the financial aid process. See the Paying for college section at for the online version. For a printed copy, contact your high school guidance office

16 Grades 7 and 8 Many parents think about college long before their children do, and the goals they develop for and with their children are the most important influence in their children s plans. Although middle school grades do not count in the college admissions process, a student s performance in middle school does provide the foundation for success in high school and college. Course choices are important, so parents and teachers should provide advice about the most appropriate challenging classes. By taking Algebra 1 or a foreign language in eighth grade, students can get a leg up on their high school graduation and college admissions requirements. There s an app for that iprocrastinate enables students to create to-do lists in sequential order (for Macs and iphone). Quizlet provides digital flash cards for studying. Student task list c Complete the career interest checklist on pages c Complete the personality and values worksheet on page 37. c Get organized. Learn to use a day planner or calendar to keep track of assignments, due dates, test dates, and other commitments. c Think about how you like to spend your time what do you do for fun, adventure, learning? Your experiences can give you clues to careers you might enjoy. c Talk to adults in your life about their careers. Think about the ones that seem interesting to you and why. Talk to your school counselor, teachers, and others about: c classes to take in ninth and tenth grade, based on your interest in preparing for and attending college c the importance of grades for college admissions c finding extracurricular activities (sports, performing arts, volunteer work, mentoring, or other activities) that interest you 12

17 Parent/adult task list c Help your student complete the student task list (above). c Monitor and encourage your student s academic progress by: 1) taking an active role in helping your student choose classes and activities for ninth grade 2) making sure that your student has a place to study and that homework gets done 3) helping your student organize schoolwork and practice good study habits: sitting close to the front of the room in class, joining class discussions, and asking questions keeping up with homework and completing assignments before they re due asking teachers for help, when needed (teachers want students to be successful in their classes!) learning keyboarding, note-taking, proofreading, and test-taking skills c If you can, visit a college campus. Middle school students often do better academically when they realize that college can be a goal. It doesn t have to be an official visit; go a ball game or performance, or simply take a lunch to have on campus. c Help your student to learn good financial management habits. Visit to get started. Books Raising a Thinking Preteen: The I Can Problem Solve Program for 8- to 12-Year-Olds by Myrna B. Shure Good Friends are Hard to Find: Help Your Child Find, Make, and Keep Friends by Fred Frankel Talk with your child early and often about choices after high school. Students are more likely to aspire to college if their parents let them know it s important. Many students who attend college made the decision to do so by the time they were in seventh or eighth grade. If you don t know how to start a conversation, try this: Talk with your student about five expectations you have of him or her upon beginning high school. Then ask your child what five expecations he or she has of you. 13

18 Grades 9 and 10 Grades 9 and 10 are times of transition and personal growth. These years are just as important as the junior and senior years, since the courses from all four are included on a student s transcript and all grades go into the cumulative grade point average, or GPA. Students have more homework and face higher expectations in high school, and the support of adults can help students deal with changing relationships and responsibilities. In addition to working hard in school, your student should start to identify and develop his abilities, interests, and values. Help your student select courses in high school that support her plan for the future. Taking courses to meet Vermont high school graduation requirements is not the same as taking courses to prepare for college study. Even if your student hasn t decided on college, encourage her to take courses that will put her in good standing for college admission if she chooses it later. There s an app for that Khan Academy provides instruction and practice in academic skill areas. Ace Your Next Test offers unique study tips and other resources to improve testing skills. Student task list c Talk to a friend or relative about his or her career. c Get involved! Sign up for an extracurricular activity or non-academic activity. This is a good way to meet new people, learn skills, and explore interests. c Reality Check: Do you know how much money you ll need to have in order to support the lifestyle you want? Take the Reality Check quiz at c Take the PSAT or ASPIRE (if offered at your school). Visit for information, practice tests, and resources. Talk to your school counselor, teachers, and others about: c the classes you need to take to ensure that you re on track for college entrance requirements c Advanced Placement/honors classes courses, eligibility requirements, and enrollment procedures c participation in academic enrichment programs, summer workshops, and camps with special emphasis on music, arts, science, etc. Many of these programs offer scholarships for students with financial need. 14

19 c what it takes to be a member of the National Honor Society or National Technical Honor Society. Make it a goal! c opportunities to earn college credit while you re still in high school c taking an Intro to College Studies course for free at a CCV center near you. Visit for details. Parent/adult task list c Have fun with and enjoy the person your teen is becoming. c Start the school year off right by helping your student organize schoolwork and practice good study habits: 1) joining class discussions and asking questions 2) keeping up with homework and completing assignments early 3) asking teachers for help (teachers want students to be successful!) 4) learning keyboarding, note-taking, proofreading, test-taking, time-management, and study skills c Monitor academic progress by making sure that your student has a good place to study and that homework gets done. c Stay connected with teachers and the school. Call or teachers with questions about your student s progress. Ask for ways you can help at home. c Help your student become involved in a variety of activities in and outside of school; encourage him to participate in an activity of interest. c Check with the school to see if sophomores need to register for the PSAT or the ASPIRE. Visit for information, practice tests, and resources. c Use the monthly planning tips at to stay on track. c Start to learn about the financial aid process. View our online presentation Paying for College at online-presentations. c Begin to explore and discuss college options. Attend a college fair with your child and/or visit a college campus. c Help your student find meaningful summer activities. Options include summer programs on college campuses, summer camps, paid work, and volunteer opportunities. Here are ways you can help your student become better prepared for college studies: Pay attention to math and foreign language requirements for college admission. Students should take as many of both as they can in middle school and high school. This will show that they can manage a challenging college preparatory program. There are typically two chances to double up in math in 8th and 10th grades. However, make sure your child is interested, developmentally ready, and working at the proper skill level. 15

20 Academic preparation Act 77, Vermont s new education mandate, offers many opportunities for students to achieve postsecondary readiness through high-quality educational experiences that acknowledge individual goals, learning styles, and abilities. Also known as Flexible Pathways legislation, Act 77 allows student to create their own paths to graduation through dual enrollment, work-based learning, early college, and personalized learning plans. Learn more about Act 77 at flexible-pathways#components. c Help identify classes that may be necessary as preparation for certain college-prep courses in eleventh and twelfth grades. c A student s grades, attitude, and performance during the first year of high school will influence teachers recommendations for higherlevel classes. c Studies show that students who are involved in extra curricular activities do better academically. c Free tutoring is available in many schools. Students should seek help if it s needed. Books Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers by Michael Riera Fighting Invisible Tigers: Stress Management for Teens by Earl Hipp The Path to Purpose: How Young People Find Their Calling in Life by William Damon 16

21 Grade 11 This is the year for standardized tests (SAT and ACT) and intensified college and career searches. Students need support, encouragement, and guidance as they begin to organize the multiple deadlines and forms in the college application process. School counselors and VSAC can help. College search information and resources At you ll find search tools and other online resources to help you look for schools that match your preferences, needs, and budget; checklists and other documents to help you stay on task and well organized; and info on shortterm training opportunities that offer an alternative to four-year college programs. Student task list c Begin your college search. See pages for factors to consider when researching colleges. Start identifying schools you may want to visit during spring or summer vacation. c Begin attending college fairs. Check out suggested questions on page 24. c Prepare for standardized tests. For information on the SAT and ACT, see pages c Register for VSAC s College Pathways, a free day-long conference for juniors and their parents offered every spring. For dates, locations, and registration, visit or call in early February. c Learn about financial aid and scholarships; attend a VSAC Paying for College financial aid night in your community. For dates of presentations in your area, log onto (click on Calendar of Events toward the bottom of the home page) or check with your school s counseling office. College preparation kicks into high gear this year. Meeting with a school counselor early in the process will keep students on the right track! Also check out the monthly planning tips at 17

22 Parent/adult task list Parents, continue to check on grades and ask about assignments. For many students, junior year is the most academically challenging. According a survey by the U.S. Department of Education, 73 percent of young teens want to spend more time with their parents. Make time for them! Get to know who they re growing up to be. c Have engaging conversations that explore your student s personality, likes, and dislikes. Talk about nonacademic concerns and joys. c Attend open houses and teacher conferences at your student s school. c Continue discussing and exploring college options with your student. c Get to know the resources offered by the high school counseling office. c Help your student register in the fall for the PSAT/NMSQT and in the spring for the SAT or ACT. c Begin visiting colleges with your student (see pages for tips). c Learn about financial aid and scholarship options. During the fall, VSAC holds Paying for College financial aid nights at high schools throughout the state. For dates of presentations in your area, log onto (click on Calendar of Events toward the bottom of the home page) or check with your school s counseling office. If you re unable to attend a presentation, view our online version at In addition, contact local financial institutions to find out if they have information sessions and/or financial aid resources. c Attend VSAC s College Pathways, a free conference for juniors and parents held every spring. For dates, locations, and registration, visit or call in early February. Standardized tests As part of the application process, many colleges require standardized tests such as the SAT or the ACT. These tests indicate where a student stands in comparison to other students nationwide. Scores are also used to determine eligibility for some scholarships. A standardized test is not an intelligence test; your student cannot fail. In the application process, most colleges place the most weight on high school coursework and grades not on test scores. Tests have registration deadlines. Registration fees can be waived for students with financial need (your student s school counselor can help determine whether your student qualifies). Students should check college websites or catalogs to see what tests, if any, colleges require or prefer. 18

23 Types of standardized tests The SAT is an aptitude and achievement test designed to assess a student s ability to handle college-level material. The ACT is a curriculum- and standards-based education and career planning tool that assesses a student s academic readiness for college. The PSAT is a practice test for the SAT, most often taken in October of junior year. It is not part of the admissions process. The ACT ASPIRE is a computer-based assessment that measures the development of knowledge and skills. These tests identify student strengths and focus areas for educators and parents. The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is for students who do not speak English as their first language. This test may help colleges determine student proficiency and, in some cases, may be required in order to determine class placement. Preparing Several free practice tests, in addition to apps (see page 20) are available to help students prepare for and study for the PSAT, SAT, and ACT. Online resources ASPIRE: ACT: PSAT: New SAT for March 2016: (familiarize yourself with the redesigned SAT, get personalized practice recommendations, and use free practice tests and exercises) Number 2: (ACT, SAT, and GRE) Both the SAT and the ACT are usually taken in the spring of junior year and again the fall of senior year if students want to improve their scores. For both of these tests, results arrive three weeks after the test. Be aware of the differences between the ACT and the SAT. Some colleges accept the ACT in place of both the SAT reasoning test and SAT subject tests. Taking one test instead of two can save time and money. See page 21 for more information. For more test prep tools and materials, go to get-ready/standardized-tests. Many high schools offer free workshops or classes to help students prepare for the SAT and ACT. Students should inquire at their high school counseling office for more information. 19

24 SAT or ACT? Most colleges and universities will accept the SAT or the ACT. Some students find that one test makes better use of their strengths than the other does. Each year an increasing number of students take both tests so they can submit the better set of scores to admissions offices. Students should take practice tests to determine which test(s) to take, based on their strengths and abilities, and based on the application requirements of the schools they re considering. Students who decide to take the ACT instead of the SAT should plan to take the optional ACT writing section. TOEFL The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) measures a student s ability to use and understand English at the college level. It also evaluates how well a student can combine his or her listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills to complete academic work. SAT subject tests In addition to the standard SAT reasoning test, SAT subject tests are required by some of the more competitive colleges either for admission or for placement in a specific program. These one-hour tests assess a student s knowledge in specific subjects (English, math, science, history, foreign language). Students cannot take SAT subject tests on the same day they take the SAT reasoning test. Students must register separately for subject tests. A student can take one, two, or three subject tests in a single morning. There is a fee for each test. If your student must take a particular SAT subject test, she should try to take it as soon as possible after having studied the subject in school. That way, the material will be fresh. To learn more or to register online, visit There s an app for that SAT Flashcard Review provides more than 5,000 flashcards for test practice, along with tools to help you focus on problem vocabulary words. BenchPrep gives students access to dozens of different kinds of test prep materials for AP exams, the SAT, and the ACT. SAT Question of the Day provides prep questions on vocabulary, science, and math for the SAT ACT MathPrep & ACT Verbal Prep in flash card review provide the ultimate ACT study guides in an app. istudiezpro helps students stay organized with test days, admissions applications, homework, jobs, and more. Naviance Student helps students organize schoolwork and the college planning process. Your school must use Naviance in order for you to utilize the app, but most Vermont schools do. 20

25 SAT vs. ACT When students typically take it Type of test When it is administered Spring of junior year and/or fall of senior year Assesses a student s ability to handle college-level material, and the ability to analyze and solve problems; important to practice test strategies and reasoning skills in order to score well. Seven times per year Junior year and/or fall of senior year Tests knowledge and mastery of high school subject material; important to use knowledge and reasoning skills to score well. Six times per year Test structure Beginning spring 2016: Three major sections: mathematics, evidence-based reading and writing, and optional essay Four sections: English, math, reading, and science reasoning; experimental section is added to tests on certain dates only and is clearly experimental; optional fifth section on writing Test content Math: up to ninth grade geometry and Algebra II No science section Reading: sentence completions; short and long critical reading passages; reading comprehension with a stress on vocabulary; questions testing grammar, usage, and word choice Math: up to trigonometry Science section Reading: four passages one each on prose fiction, social science, humanities, and natural science; English section stresses grammar Penalty for wrong answers Beginning spring 2016: No No Scoring Scores sent to schools Other uses When to register Test dates and more information Beginning spring 2016: per reading & writing and math sections; score scale of 1600, with separate score for essay Beginning spring 2016: A scorechoice option allows students to choose which schools will receive their scores and which scores the schools will see. Scholarship purposes At least five weeks before the test date The College Board for each subject, averaged for a composite score Highest possible composite score: 36 A score-choice option allows students to choose which schools will receive their scores and which scores the schools will see. Scholarship purposes Certain statewide testing programs At least five weeks before the test date ACT, Inc. 21

26 The college search Don t rule out a college because it seems too expensive. Consult the college s financial aid office and VSAC for information on ways to pay for college. And remember: There is not only one perfect fit! Now is a good time for your student to get an appropriate address to share with college admissions staff and other school contacts. Also, make sure that Instagram, Twitter, or similar online pages are free of inappropriate language, photos, and/or stories. Helping your student find a training program or college that fits both academically and financially is a team effort that can be interesting, rewarding, and sometimes challenging. A good fit will look different for each student and will depend on several factors, including programs appropriate to your student s needs, comfortable campus size, appealing location, and affordability. Use the list of factors to consider (see below) to help your student explore what he wants in a college. Use the search tool at to find any school in the country, basic information about the school, and links to the school s website for details. Encourage your student to talk with teachers, family members, and counselors about her needs and options. Encourage your student to use college websites, guidebooks, and other online programs to help him explore colleges. Try to visit the VSAC Resource Center, your high school, or local library for additional information. Visit college campuses to get a feel for the campus atmosphere. For information on college visits, see pages Factors to consider in the college search Your student can use college catalogs, websites, and college visits to research schools. He should call schools to see if graduates in your area would be willing to talk with him. While doing her research, your student should keep in mind the characteristics and questions below (use the chart on page 42 to help compare the information collected). Major/academic program A major is a field of study, such as engineering, education, or business management. It s often the first variable considered as students begin to research colleges. You should ask about internships, study-abroad programs, and opportunities for interdisciplinary and self-designed majors. For more information on majors, see pages Selectivity A college s selectivity is usually based on the average GPA (grade point average), class rank, and SAT/ACT scores of admitted students. Refer to each college s website or catalog for its specific admissions requirements. 22

27 Type of college Do you want a two-year community or junior college, or a four-year college or university? Are you interested in a technical/vocational program? Are you interested in a single-gender or coed school? Do you want a school with a particular religious affiliation? Academic atmosphere How challenging an academic program do you want? Choose an appropriate one not too easy, not too tough. It s important to balance academics, work, and social activities. Are there academic support services on campus? Are there any residence halls with quiet hours or tutor-supported residence floors on campus? Cost & financial aid Total costs cover tuition, room and board, fees, books, and personal expenses. Consider applying to several colleges in different price ranges. For information on costs, visit the website of each college your student is applying to. Call the financial aid office if you have questions. Do you have information from colleges on their financial aid offerings and application processes? Student life Are there campus activities/volunteer options that interest you? What goes on during the weekends? Do people stay on campus, or do they leave on weekends? There s an app for that Fiske Interactive College Guide is a robust college search tool with info on more than 300 schools and ways to help you make your selection. College Score Matcher finds colleges whose students have SAT scores similar to yours. College Search Guide helps you search by geographic area and provides info about schools, admissions requirements, and more. Size Do you want a smaller college (between 1,000 and 5,000 students) or a larger college (between 10,000 and 20,000 students)? What is the student-faculty ratio? Are faculty members accessible? Do you prefer large lectures with more than 75 students or small group discussions among classmates? Student population How important is it to you that classmates come from a variety of cultural, geographical, religious, or socioeconomic backgrounds? Location Do you want to stay close to home, be within a day s travel, or live in an entirely different part of the country? Do you want to live in a rural, urban, or suburban area? 23

28 Questions to ask at college fairs Here are some questions that college reps are used to hearing. Time will be limited, so your student should ask the questions that address his or her specific interests. What are the admissions requirements for my major? How do first-year students choose their classes? What tutoring or learning support services are provided? What options are available for study abroad? What percentage of last year s first-year students returned for sophomore year? What services are available to help me with career planning? What percentage of your first-year students eventually graduate? Do you schedule interviews? If so, with whom? What is your admissions deadline? Does your college require its own financial aid application? What is the deadline? Do you require the CSS Profile or other financial aid applications? Do I need special items for my major? College fairs College fairs enable students, parents, and other involved adults to meet representatives from many different college admissions offices. Go to some local college fairs with your student. Encourage her to talk with college representatives. To find out about local college fairs, ask your school counselor or visit Being prepared will make the experience more worthwhile and meaningful. See the box to the right for questions to consider and encourage your student to: think about what he needs and wants in a college education ask a school counselor which colleges will be represented and then research those colleges before attending choose five to ten colleges to see at the fair develop specific questions to show her interest (see suggestions on this page, though your student may have others) determine the three questions that he most wants to ask each college representative At the fair, your student should plan to: visit each college on her list, making sure to ask questions, take notes, and give each representative her full attention take business cards from all of the representatives he talks to so he can contact them later with follow-up questions or requests for information take only those materials she s truly interested in looking through Time saver Admissions counselors often have mail-in cards so they can add prospective students to their contact lists. Students can use their time more effectively by bringing self-addressed labels to the fair with the following information: name, address, and phone number graduation year intended major (or undecided ) high school At each table your student visits, he can affix a label to the school s mail-in card and leave it on the table. This will provide him with more time to talk with the representative. 24

29 Using costs as part of your college search When looking at schools and considering the costs, net price will matter more than the sticker price. The net price is what a student pays to attend an institution in a single year after subtracting scholarships and grants. Today, every college and university is required to have a net price calculator on its website. This tool provides an early, individualized estimate of what the school may cost. You can enter your financial information to find out what families like yours paid after taking grants and scholarships into account, which will help you in deciding whether or not the schools you re considering will be affordable. To find the net price calculators for the schools you re interested in, go to and search by school. Using these calculators at the beginning of your college search may help you to create a list of schools that better fit your family circumstances. Learn more about college costs Visit the Pay section at for: a list of questions to help determine how your family will plan to pay college costs tips for using net price calculators in your college search suggestions for lowering college costs video tutorials on filling out the FAFSA information on state grants and scholarships Every college website has its own net price calculator (NPC), where you can enter information about yourself to receive an estimate of what you might pay after taking grants and scholarships into account. When looking at colleges, be sure to use each school s net price calculator as part of your search. Note: The net price you find for any particular school is simply an estimate of your cost of attendance. It isn't a formal offer of admission or aid. 25

30 Grade 12 Senior year is an exciting and busy time full of opportunities, decisions, and planning. Students will need support and guidance as they decide what to do after graduation. There are many choices, including a gap year (see page 33) between high school and college, trade school, twoyear college, four-year college or university, and apprenticeships. Students will need help as they sort through these options to find the one that best matches their interests, abilities, values, and level of readiness. Student task list In the fall, attend VSAC s Paying for College night in your community to learn about financial aid. For a list of presentations at high schools statewide, go to or check with your school s counseling office. If you re unable to attend, view our online video at online-presentations. c Continue to attend local college fairs (see page 24) and visit college campuses (see pages 27 28). c Register for standardized tests. See pages for preparation tips. c Pay attention to test registration dates and application deadlines. c Create file folders for each college you re applying to. c Check with to see if the schools you re applying to will accept the online Common Application. c Fill out applications (see pages for information). c Gather materials to apply for financial aid. c Search for scholarships. Call VSAC for a free copy of its scholarships booklet, with information on approximately 140 scholarships for Vermont residents. You can also look through the booklet online at c While you re narrowing your list of school choices, go to their websites to check out prospective-student blogs, virtual tours, and chats with current students, faculty, or staff. There s an app for that College Plan helps you make objective decisions about the schools to put on your final application list, by providing a systematic, step-by-step evaluation based on your lifestyle and your geographic, academic, and career criteria. World University Rankings enables you to personalize your rankings of the best-performing institutions, to collect more detailed performance data from each school, and to help you shortlist your favorite schools. 26

31 Parent/adult task list c Encourage your student to keep up his high school grades. Senior year is as important as any other. Colleges often request a mid-year and end-year grade report before finalizing an offer of admission. c Help your student obtain college application materials and follow through to complete them. c Obtain a copy of VSAC s paying for college guide from your student s high school counseling office or from VSAC. c Familiarize yourself with financial aid and scholarship application procedures and paperwork. c Encourage your student to search for scholarships on the Internet, and to ask the high school counseling office for applications to local scholarships that may be available. c Watch deadlines, but resist the temptation to do the work that is your student s responsibility. c Keep copies of everything, including college applications, financial aid applications, and tax returns. c Attend open houses and teacher conferences. c Use planning tips at to stay on track. The college visit Once your student has narrowed her list of colleges, plan visits to campuses for a firsthand experience. While on campus, gather information about programs, students, facilities, and financing; and get a good feel for each campus, schedule interviews with admissions and financial aid personnel, and get a student-guided tour. Can t make a campus visit? Ask the admissions office about graduates or current students who live near you. Often they re willing to talk with prospective students. Call or the admissions office, students, or professors with your specific questions. At you can find online tours. Most colleges have online tours at their own websites, too. Arranging a visit Call the admissions office to arrange a tour and an interview, if desired. Find out if the school will provide a meal, a chance to sit in on some classes, and/or overnight accommodations on campus. Develop a list of questions to ask (see page 41 for suggestions). While on campus Encourage your student to talk to people on campus to find out how they feel about the college. What do they like? Dislike? What makes the college unique for them? Notice what s on bulletin boards and in the campus newspaper. Note the weekend activities. Encourage your student to walk around by himself to get a feel for the place. Can he picture himself there? 27

32 Reviewing the college website is a good way to prepare for an actual visit to the campus. Want to get a real feel for a school even if you can t visit? Most colleges have blogs on their websites so you can read what current students at the school have to say about the college s academics and life on campus. Also check to see if any of the school s class content is on the Internet. What to see on campus Whether you re walking the campus alone or on a tour, think about: academic support services (campus learning center): Does it provide tutoring, access to study groups, writing coaches, or other help? campus bookstore: What can be bought there? How do prices compare with off-campus stores? career planning office: What resources are available? Is job placement data for graduates available? classrooms: Are individual rooms easy to find? computer lab: How many computers are available? Are lab techs available for troubleshooting? dining halls: How many are there? What kinds of foods and meal plans are offered? library: How big is it? Do students study there? residence halls: Are there nonsmoking floors? Coed or singlegender dorms? Quiet hours? sports complex and other extracurricular facilities: Are the facilities what you re looking for? When are they open? Can you talk to a coach during your visit? student center: What facilities are offered? The interview Students should be prepared to ask questions about campus life and academics and to answer questions about themselves. For questions to ask, see page 41. The interviewer will also be considering each student s: appearance and dress special interests manner of speech and clarity of thought enthusiasm, frankness, and honesty degree of maturity, tact, and courtesy social attitudes Books Get It Together for College, 2nd Edition: A Planner to Help You Get Organized and Get In by the College Board: A planner to help you organize your college application paperwork. Admission Matters: What Students and Parents Need to Know About Getting into College by Sally P. Springer, Jon Reider, Joyce and Vining Morgan: Comprehensive, no-nonsense advice on college admissions, and ethical behaviors and integrity. 28

33 Applying to college Most counselors recommend that students create a list of at least five or six schools that include: colleges that are very likely to be a good fit based on transcripts, GPA, and standardized test scores second-choice schools with admissions requirements that match their transcripts, GPA, and standardized test scores choice schools with difficult admissions standards and a high number of applicants; often called reach schools Admissions categories Early decision A student can apply by an early deadline, stating that the school is his first choice. If accepted, he commits to attending and withdraws applications to other schools. Early decision is binding and can adversely affect the student if the school does not provide enough financial aid. Early notification/early action A student can apply and receive notification earlier than regular applicants. This does not obligate the student to attend or to withdraw applications submitted to other schools. Regular admission A single deadline applies to all applicants; applications are pooled and reviewed, with admission offered to the most competitive candidates. Rolling admission Applications are reviewed as soon as all parts of the application have been received by the admissions office. Openings are filled on a first-come, first-served basis to qualified students, so those who apply early stand a better chance of being accepted and being included in the first round of financial aid. Wait list A student is put on a list for acceptance if space becomes available in the incoming class. The student may be asked whether or not she would like to remain on the wait list or be removed because she s accepting another school s offer of admission. Types of admissions Non-competitive: Everyone with a high school diploma or equivalent is accepted. Placement tests and/or SAT/ACT scores may be required. Minimally difficult: Accepted students can be ranked in the lower half of their high school graduating class, and can have ACT scores of 19 or below and/or SAT scores of 1515 or below. Moderately difficult: Accepted students are ranked mostly in the top 50 percent of their graduating class, and typically have ACT scores of 18 or higher and/or SAT scores of 1515 or higher. Most difficult: Accepted students are primarily ranked in the top 10 percent of their graduating class, and have ACT scores of 29 or higher and/or SAT scores of 1965 or higher. Deferred admissions A student can apply and, if accepted, postpone enrollment until the following term or academic year. This is an option for any student who needs or wants to take a year off before continuing her education. Note: Any student planning to earn money during her year off should find out how increased income may affect financial aid. 29

34 College admissions and financial aid application timeline (senior year) for traditional four-year colleges November December January February March April May June July College application deadlines Scholarship preparation (application and all materials for VSAC-assisted scholarships are due March 4, 2016) Deposits due Continue searching for local, regional, and national scholarships FAFSA and VSAC grant application process Look for college admission and financial aid awards letters College financial aid deadlines Students accept financial aid offers Students complete loan promissory notes Keep track of all application and financial aid materials due to each school, along with the deadlines for those materials. Organization is key! Help your student submit complete accurate applications to the high school counseling office (if applicable) at least two to three weeks before deadlines. Most colleges charge from $25 to $100 to process applications, though some colleges will waive the fee. Check with your high school counselor or college if your student needs help with fees. The college application process Contact your high school Many high schools want to see completed applications before they re mailed. Some high schools prefer to package and either mail or upload applications for their students. Many high schools have their own procedures for assisting students with college applications. Check with your school counselor early in your student s senior year. Ask about forms. Your high school may have special letterhead for teachers or counselors to use for recommendations, as well as request forms for students who want their transcripts mailed to colleges. Consider online applications Most colleges encourage students to apply online, and some schools will even waive application fees for students who submit their applications electronically. Find out if the colleges on your student s list have online applications or use the Common Application (an online form accepted by more than 400 colleges). Both can save time, energy, and paper. Learn about the Common Application at Neatness and completeness count If your student is using a paper application, encourage her to photocopy the blank application and use the copy as a draft. That way, the final application will be neat and clean. She should use the same pen throughout to avoid color changes. 30

35 Help your student determine what supporting information and documents need to be included in the application, and be sure he provides this information by required deadlines. Use the college admissions checklist on page 39 to help organize details. Possibilities include: transcripts teacher or counselor recommendations standardized test scores essay(s) interview audition tape or CD (for performing arts programs) portfolio (for art or architecture programs) Letters of recommendation Encourage your student to: check to see how many recommendations each college requires and from whom choose people who will write positive recommendations and do them well allow writers plenty of advance notice and time to complete recommendations provide writers with deadlines and the appropriate forms, if forms were provided by colleges check in with writers to keep them on track and thank each one who provided a recommendation The essay Once college admissions counselors have seen a student s grades and test scores, they next want to know what makes this student different from other applicants; they want honest insights into the real person. Students should write from the heart. Good admissions essays are creative, interesting, and thoughtprovoking; students should be relaxed and natural when writing. Students should avoid big words and big sentences, but take care with spelling and grammar. Make sure students read directions and understand the question(s) they must answer. Remind students to write, rewrite, and proofread, and then have at least one English teacher or another skilled person review the essay. When recounting an experience for an admissions essay, students should demonstrate what they learned and how they felt about it, as opposed to providing simple narration. This may require them to think about things they ve never thought deeply about before. Be aware of deadlines Teachers and counselors receive many requests for recommendations and need time to complete them. Encourage your student to ask early in the fall and to allow writers plenty of time before letters are due. To make the process easier, have your student fill out a form for everyone writing a recommendation. Your high school may have a form for students to fill out. If not, use the one at (scroll down to the section on applying for college and click on recommendation request form ). The form provides space for: addresses of all the schools to which your student needs the recommendation to be sent all submission deadlines details on his or her classes, awards, activities, after-school jobs, and goals Providing this information will make it easier for teachers and counselors to write accurate recommendations and to meet deadlines. 31

36 If your school has Naviance (see page 2) use it to explore interests and careers or visit VSAC Roadmaps for other college and career exploration tools. Remember, though, that even if your student has a particular major or career in mind, taking related coursework in college will help determine whether that major or career is a good fit. The college major What you need to know Regardless of one s major, colleges require students to fulfill specific core requirements covering a wide variety of subjects, including English, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts and humanities. The benefits are two-fold: Students become more adept at interpreting and analyzing information, appreciating other viewpoints, drawing accurate conclusions, solving problems, and expressing themselves more effectively. These are skills that students can build upon and transfer across jobs and careers throughout a lifetime. General requirements often expose students to subjects they haven t had a chance to pursue in the past. What better way to choose a major than to take a variety of courses to learn more about different subjects, while fulfilling college requirements? Choosing a college major Choosing a major is not the same as preparing for a career, as most majors do not lead to particular jobs. As a result, choosing a major based on a career goal may not be necessary (exceptions include nursing or other health care fields that require very specialized programs). Instead, it s common to choose a major in an area of interest that a student wants to explore in depth through courses and activities. If a college application asks your student to indicate a major, it s perfectly acceptable to write undeclared or undecided. It will not hurt his or her chances of being accepted. At most four-year colleges, students usually are not required to choose a major until the end of the second year, which gives them plenty of time to explore different subjects. To graduate with a particular major, a student needs to take and earn passing grades in specific courses recognized by the college as relating to that major. Narrowing the choice Encourage your student to: review college websites or catalogs for lists of all academic majors at colleges on his list. Identify the requirements for admission (if he s going to state a major on his application) and the requirements for graduation. check the Internet for various What can I do with a major in...? fact sheets review college catalogs or websites page by page, highlighting interesting courses. Notice any patterns? 32

37 If she s deeply interested in more than one subject area, she should speak with an academic advisor about declaring a double major (which, in some cases, will require a heavier course load), a self-designed major, or an inter - disciplinary major that combines classes from several different departments. Remember that every major has applications that might not immediately come to mind. A political science major could become, among other things, a fundraiser, consumer advocate, convention organizer, social worker, journalist, market researcher, or museum staff member; and an education major might become a corporate trainer or a living history guide. The gap year Every year, more and more high school graduates are choosing a longstanding British custom the gap year, a year off between high school and college. Schools usually look favorably on the idea, but this depends on what students do with the year off. If a gap year interests your student, talk to her about her plans. More often than not, a well-planned year to explore interests and ideas before going to college can enhance the experience of college. If college has always been her goal, a year off for a planned experience won t take her off track. Books Taking Time Off straightforward recollections and thoughts by students who took time off If your student is thinking about a gap year, encourage him to apply to colleges during senior year postponing the application process may make it more difficult later, when students have lost access to teachers and counselors. Many colleges will allow accepted students to defer for one year to pursue an interest, volunteer with an organization, or intern with a business. Travel is fine, too, as long as the trip has clear educational value. Online resources for international employment for study abroad, gap year, and interim learning opportunities for gap-year options overseas and links to other gap-year websites for information on spending a year in Britain getting paid to work in various industries 33

38 34 Checklists and worksheets

39 Career interest checklist Identify your interests To find a career that interests you, you need to know what you like to do and how to categorize your interests. Dr. John Holland created a system of placing people s interests into groups. He believed that every person s interests fit into at least one group and that most fit into two or three groups. Your personal combination of Holland groups will result in your Holland Code. To begin discovering careers that match your interests, find your Holland Code by completing this career interest checklist. 1. Circle the subjects, activities, or people that are the most appealing to you. Auto mechanics Building things Carpentry Driving a truck Farming Fixing electrical things Typesetting a printed piece Wildlife biology TOTAL R = Attending sports events Belonging to a club Doing volunteer work Helping people Making new friends Studying foreign cultures Teaching children Working with elderly people TOTAL S = Advanced math Astronomy Being in a science fair Building rocket models Doing puzzles Physics Using a chemistry set Working in a science lab TOTAL I = Being elected class president Being with leaders Buying materials for a store Giving speeches Selling a product Talking to salespeople Talking with people at a party Working on a sales campaign TOTAL E = Being in a play Creating fashion designs Creative writing Drawing or painting Going to concerts Learning foreign languages Playing with musicians Reading about art or music TOTAL A = Filing letters and reports Following a budget Keeping detailed reports Typing reports Using a cash register Using business machines Word processing on computer Working 9:00 to 5:00 TOTAL C = 2. Count the number of items you circled in each section. Write this number at the end of the section. 3. In the spaces below, write the letters from the three sections containing the highest numbers, from greatest to smallest. This is your career code and may be used in the same manner as a Holland Code. My career code: 4. Read about your career code on the next page. 35

40 Career codes R = Realistic Realistic people have athletic or mechanical ability. They usually like to work outdoors with objects, machines, tools, plants, or animals. Auto body repairer Cabinet maker Chef Commercial driver Electrician Farmer Mechanic Surveyor I = Investigative Investigative people like to observe, learn, investigate, analyze, evaluate, or solve problems. Biologist Chemist Doctor Engineer Fire investigator Meteorologist Pharmacist Veterinarian A = Artistic Artistic people have innovative or intuitive abilities. They usually like to work in unstructured situations, using their imagination or creativity. Actor/actress Architect Composer Dancer Interior decorator Musician Stage director Writer S = Social Social people like to work with others. They like to inform, enlighten, help, train, develop, or cure people. They may also be skilled with words. Athletic trainer Counselor Dental hygienist Physical therapist Probation officer Psychologist Speech therapist Teacher E = Enterprising Enterprising people like to work with people, mainly to influence, persuade, or perform. They like to lead or manage to achieve goals or make money. Buyer Cosmetologist Flight attendant Insurance agent Lawyer Manager Salesperson Travel agent C = Conventional Conventional people have clerical or numerical ability, like to work with data, and like to attend to detail. Accountant Air traffic controller Bank teller Computer operator Mail carrier Receptionist Secretary Tax preparer Do you feel that you fit any of these groups? It s okay if you don t think you fit any of the groups above. Interest inventories can help you explore career ideas that may not have occurred to you. They are not meant to limit your choices. You may want to talk with a school or career counselor about your preferences and career options. 36

41 Personality and values worksheet Pretend that you re an employer about to hire new staff. Look over the following list of personality characteristics and values. Put them in order of importance for you. Mark 1 for the most important, 2 for the second most important, and so on. Note that the traits have different importance, depending on career goals and employer needs. In other words, which traits would be important for a nurse, a professional clown, a teacher, or a stunt double? Ambitious (hardworking) Broad-minded (open-minded) Capable (having the ability to do a job well) Cheerful (lighthearted and joyful) Clean (neat and tidy) Courageous (stands up for one s beliefs) Forgiving (willing to pardon others) Helpful (considers the welfare of others) Honest (sincere and truthful) Imaginative (daring and creative) Independent (self-reliant) Intellectual (intelligent and reflective) Logical (consistent and rational) Loving (affectionate and tender) Obedient (dutiful and respectful) Polite (courteous and well-mannered) Self-controlled (restrained and self-disciplined) Serious (earnest and intent) Humorous (can tell jokes and make others laugh) Put a check by each trait that you possess. How do you think the traits you chose will help you in the future? Put a star by any trait that you think you need to build. What other traits would you add to the list? Think about your career interests and goals. Which traits will be important for your career path? List some traits you possess that do not appear above. 37

42 Senior year timetable September c Meet with your high school counselor to review your transcript and discuss college options/future plans. Set up an October meeting to review college applications. c c c c c c Register for the October and/or November SAT or ACT. Check with your high school guidance office or go to to find the VSAC Paying for College presentation at your high school. At start exploring financial aid. Then go to to get an estimate of eligibility for federal student aid. Both parents and students will need to create an FSA account in order to submit a FAFSA online. To create an account, go to and click on the FSA ID tab at the top of the page. Create two files to organize admissions and financial aid information. Become familiar with both processes. Review college catalogs or websites for deadlines! Attend a college fair. Maintain your classwork and grades. October c Visit colleges that interest you. Meet with someone in both the admissions office and the financial aid office. c Determine whether you want to apply for early admission to a particular college. Check necessary deadlines. Make sure you understand the school s financial aid policies for early decision. c Check with colleges to find out what financial aid forms (other than the FAFSA) they may require, and by when. c Meet with your high school counselor. Review applications to understand what you ll need to do. c Begin writing college application essays. c Ask for recommendations required for college applications. November c Begin to research scholarships at your high school, town offices, local library, and local businesses. c Start reviewing VSAC s scholarships booklet. Obtain a copy at your guidance office or publications@ vsac.org to request a copy. Begin gathering materials; the application deadline for all VSAC-assisted scholarships is March 4, c Take the SAT or ACT and have your scores sent to the colleges on your list. c Be aware of application deadlines. December c Pick up financial aid information at your high school counseling office. c Gather information needed for financial aid applications. c Study for exams your grades are still important! January c Complete your financial aid applications, including the FAFSA ( Use estimated income figures, if necessary, to ensure that application deadlines are met. 38 c c c c Keep copies of the forms you submit. Start preparing materials and the unified application for VSAC-assisted scholarships. Submit your application and all supporting documents by February 5, 2016, and be entered in a drawing for one of three $1,000 scholarships. Ask your high school counselor to send your first semester transcript of grades to the college(s) to which you applied. Apply for a Vermont grant at February c Look for your Student Aid Report (SAR) from the federal student aid programs (the report is generated after you complete the FAFSA). Review the SAR for accuracy and follow instructions on the form if you need to make corrections. Make changes at c Respond to requests from colleges and VSAC for additional information. Make and keep copies of all correspondence! c Finish and submit your application for VSAC-assisted scholarships, along with all required supporting documents, no later than March 4, c If possible, visit colleges during vacation. March c Look for notification from the VSAC Grant Program confirming that your Vermont grant application is on file. Return with correction(s), if necessary. c Go to your myvsac account at to check the status of your grant application to see if additional information is required. April c Look for financial aid award notifications from colleges; then make comparisons to analyze your college options. c Look for Vermont grant eligibility notification from VSAC. c Contact each college to find out how outside aid (such as scholarships) will affect your financial aid award. c Many schools require that students respond by May 1 with a deposit and commitment to attend. If you haven t received all of your award letters, call admissions offices to ask for extensions. Then make certain you send your deposit to the college of your choice. c Contact other schools that have accepted you to notify them that you won t be attending. May c Make certain you understand the process for obtaining federal education loans through your school. Contact the financial aid office to make sure everything is in order. c Take Advanced Placement (AP) examinations (if applicable). c Request that your AP scores be sent to the college you will attend. c c Request transcripts for any dual enrollment classes you took. Contact the financial aid office of each college to discuss payment options.

43 College admissions checklist College name Application deadline Date sent or submitted online College portal user name College portal password Essay(s) completed Date sent/uploaded Application fee amount $$ Date paid/waived Date I requested transcript from school counseling office (parent signature may be required if student is under 18) Date sent/confirmed Recommendations requested: Rec #1 from: Rec #2 from: Test scores required? (ACT, SAT, or SAT subject tests) Date sent Interview recommended? Interviewer Campus visit date Contact person 39

44 Financial aid checklist College name College financial aid application deadline CSS Profile required? Deadline Date completed/sent Separate college financial aid application required? FAFSA deadline Date FAFSA completed and sent Vermont grant application deadline Date application completed and sent Separate college financial aid application required? VSAC Unified Scholarship Application (USA) completed College scholarship applications completed High school and local scholarship applications completed 40

45 Questions to ask admissions staff, campus tour guides, or students What are the smallest and largest class sizes? What types of transportation are available on or near campus? Are first-year students permitted to have cars on campus? What employment and work-study options are available? What measures or systems are in place across campus to maintain and ensure safety? What day trips or weekend excursions do the students take? Are weekend activities offered on campus? What makes this college unique? What clubs and student groups exist? How are student housing decisions made? Are students required to live on campus? Is housing guaranteed? How competitive is the school academically? In sports? How many classes are taught by teaching assistants? By professors? How does the academic advising process work? Does the school have internship programs? How do they work? What percentage of graduates find employment within six months of graduation? Are tutoring and other support services available? How close are the local movie theaters, stores, restaurants, and other services? Questions the admissions office may want to ask students Why are you interested in this particular college? What strengths could you add to our campus community? What are your career and personal goals? If you could read the evaluation your counselor has written about you, what might it say? How accurately do your grades and test scores reflect your true abilities? What do you do in your spare time? What have you read lately? Questions that you or your student may wish to ask 41

46 College comparison chart As you investigate colleges, use this worksheet to keep track of the schools in which you re most interested and to compare them to your wish list of ideal characteristics. In the second column, list all 12 factors in order of importance to you (1 for the most important, 12 for the least important). Factors to consider my factor my wish list of college name: college name: college name: rank (1 12) college characteristics Type (technical, two-year, college, university) Selectivity Major/academic program Academic atmosphere Faculty and class size Size of school Diversity of student population Location (setting/ surroundings) Student life/activities Cost (college budget) and affordability Housing Facilities (library, theater, cafeteria, sports) 42

47 Undergraduate institutions in Vermont The following information may be obtained from these college offices: Admissions office catalog of available programs application for admissions payment of deposits Financial aid office application for college financial aid breakdown of charges Advanced Welding Institute Admissions & financial aid 2 Green Tree Drive, Ste. 3 South Burlington, VT Bennington College Admissions 1 College Drive Bennington, VT [email protected] Financial aid [email protected] Burlington College Admissions 351 North Avenue Burlington, VT [email protected] Financial aid [email protected] Burlington Technical Center Aviation Technology Program Admissions & financial aid 52 Institute Road Burlington, VT Castleton University Admissions 86 Seminary Street Castleton, VT [email protected] Financial aid Champlain College Admissions 251 South Willard Street Burlington, VT [email protected] Financial aid [email protected] College of St. Joseph Admissions 71 Clement Road Rutland, VT [email protected] Financial aid [email protected] Community College of Vermont Admissions PO Box 489, 660 Elm Street Montpelier, VT ccv.edu/contact_us Financial aid [email protected] Fanny Allen/Williston Campus VTC Nursing Program Admissions 101 Lawrence Place Williston, VT Financial aid [email protected] 43

48 Goddard College Admissions 123 Pitkin Road Plainfield, VT Financial aid Green Mountain College Admissions One Brennan Circle Poultney, VT Financial aid Johnson State College Admissions 337 College Hill Johnson, VT Student Financial Services Landmark College Admissions & financial aid 1 River Road South Putney, VT Lyndon State College Admissions PO Box 919, 1001 College Road Lyndonville, VT [email protected] Financial aid/student Services [email protected] Marlboro College Admissions PO Box A, 2582 South Road Marlboro, VT [email protected] Financial aid [email protected] Middlebury College Admissions The Emma Willard House 131 South Main Street Middlebury, VT [email protected] Student Financial Services [email protected] New England Culinary Institute Admissions 56 College Street Montpelier, VT [email protected] Financial aid [email protected] Norwich University Admissions & financial aid 27 I.D. White Avenue Northfield, VT [email protected] O Brien s Aveda Institute South Burlington admissions & financial aid 1475 Shelburne Road South Burlington, VT [email protected] Williston admissions & financial aid Aveda Institute Williston 400 Cornerstone Drive Williston, VT [email protected] [email protected] Putnam/Bennington Campus VTC Nursing Program Admissions 210 South Street, fourth floor Bennington, VT Financial aid [email protected] Saint Michael s College Admissions One Winooski Park, Box 7 Colchester, VT [email protected] Office of Student Financial Services [email protected] 44

49 Southern Vermont College Admissions 982 Mansion Drive Bennington, VT Financial aid Springfield College Admissions & financial aid 347 Emerson Falls Road, Ste. 2 St. Johnsbury, VT Sterling College Admission PO Box 72 Craftsbury Common, VT [email protected] Financial aid [email protected] Thompson Campus VTC Nursing Program Admissions 4 Harmony Place Brattleboro, VT Financial aid [email protected] Union Institute & University Brattleboro Academic Center Admissions 3 University Way, Ste. 3 Brattleboro, VT Financial aid 28 Vernon Street, Ste. 210 Brattleboro, VT , ext 1242 [email protected] University of Vermont Admissions 194 South Prospect Street Burlington, VT [email protected] Student Financial Services uvm.edu/sfs Vermont Technical College Admissions PO Box 500 Randolph Center, VT [email protected] Financial aid [email protected] Williston campus 201 Lawrence Place Williston, VT (802) Vermont Student Assistance Corporation 10 East Allen Street, PO Box 2000 Winooski, VT Toll-free In the Burlington area Visit us online at vsac.org us at [email protected] 45

50 Glossary academic unit (sometimes called credit hour or credit ): credit given for attending one hour of class each week for 15 weeks (a typical semester) or the equivalent. Most college classes are three academic units, meaning that classes are held three hours per week. advisor: a college faculty or staff member who offers academic advice associate s degree: awarded after completing planned coursework that usually involves two years (or 60 credits) of full-time study audit: attending a class without receiving academic credit for it bachelor s degree: awarded upon completion of planned coursework that usually involves four years (about 120 credit hours) of full-time study catalog: a comprehensive guide to a college s campus life, academic programs, and class selections first-year student (sometimes called a freshman ): someone who has completed less than 30 hours of college credit full time: 12 or more credit hours (usually equivalent to four classes) per semester for undergraduate students internship: a job in a student s field of study; may be required in some academic programs and may include a small salary and/or college credit junior: a student who has completed hours of college credit matriculation: an agreement between a college and an enrolling student that both the school and the student will work to help the student achieve his or her education goals myvsac: an online portal that provides you with access to Vermont grant and VSAC-assisted scholarship applications, your grant status, and tools to help you compare financial aid awards. nonresident: any student who does not meet the college s specific requirements for state residency prerequisite: a course that must be taken before enrolling in a related course rolling admissions: a policy in which a school responds to each application (accepting or denying admission) as it arrives instead of waiting for all applications and then reviewing the pool to choose the best applicants senior: a student who has completed 90 or more hours of college credit sophomore: a student who has completed hours of college credit syllabus: a description of course content provided to students by the class professor or instructor; includes a schedule of reading assignments for the semester tuition: costs for the instruction of courses; does not include expenses for housing, meal plans, transportation, student insurance, or other items 46 See also Important terms, page 5.

51 Questions To do

52 Visit us online at for grant, scholarship, and loan information; online applications; online account access; and more. Go to VSAC s online roadmaps help high school families stay organized, informed, and on schedule. Visit us for career and college planning information and interactive tools, college searches, and standardized test preparation. Also sign up for reminders about workshops, important dates and deadlines, and other timely info. Enroll in the Vermont s 529 college savings plan cover illustration 2015 Doug Ross Vermont Student Assistance Corporation 10 East Allen Street, PO Box 2000 Winooski, VT Toll-free In the Burlington area Visit us online at vsac.org us at [email protected] A federally funded program Vermont State GEAR UP is funded in part by a seven-year federal grant and by dollar-for-dollar, in-kind support provided by non-governmental sources. VSAC does not discriminate in employment or the provision of services on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, place of birth, age, veteran or military status, genetic information, disability, or any other legally protected status. Please contact VSAC at or in the Burlington area (TDD for hearing impaired, or ) if auxiliary aids or services are needed for application or participation in VSAC services. Summer 2015