HIGHER EDUCATION. What exactly is college? How do I get there? How can AB 12 help me with college?

Transcription

1 HIGHER EDUCATION What exactly is college? How do I get there? How can AB 12 help me with college?

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3 TRADE/VOCATIONAL Career Colleges are typically for profit institutions and should be researched thoroughly before enrolling. (ex: debt cycle) Career College credits do not transfer out to C.C. s or Uni s. Vocational Schools are state endorsed /state supported and have transferrable credits. Programs are typically 2 years. Due to the economic climate, many vocational school courses are available at C.C. s and are transferrable. Some well noted vocational schools include California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech) and Carnegie Mellon University. Students should check out the Association for Career and Technical Education to see if schools/programs are in good standing. Ex: Lucretia and Career.org

4 TRADE/VOCATIONAL Call HR departments re: credentials Contact accreditation agency re: pass/fail Ask To See Numbers: Program completion (+50%), Job Placement, etc Ask To See Happy Customers Confirm compatibility of credits between schools

5 COMMUNITY COLLEGE (C.C.) Serves greatest number of foster youth (estimated 7,000 10,000) 112 California Community Colleges throughout state Students can take G.E. (General Education) classes at the Community College level and then transfer to a 4 year university/college. This is often more economical, especially for foster youth. Board of Governor s Grant (B.O.G.) Students can earn A.A. (Associate s) degrees in 2years H.S. Diploma is required to be eligible for financial aid

6 UNIVERSITIES & COLLEGES Typically take 4 years to earn a B.A. or B.S. (or 2 3 if you transfer in with transferrable classes from a C.C.) Have wide areas of study available (art, engineering, language, history, physics, math, film, business, fine art, psychology, etc) Comprised of private and public institutions In CA, our public schools are in the Cal State (CSU) and University of California (UC) system of schools Universities typically have on campus housing options (dorms/apartments/suites)

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8 (SOME) NATIONAL PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES & COLLEGES

9 WHAT MAKES COLLEGE DIFFERENT FROM HIGH SCHOOL? YOU MANAGE YOUR OWN TIME! No one tells you to go to class or do homework (if you don t, you may not be there long!) You get to pick what classes you take (Sword Fighting 101, anyone?). If you re full time, you re in class roughly 15hrs/week (that means a solid 30hr/week should be spent studying) You can go to class in the morning, afternoon, or at night. You can hang with friends in the morning, afternoon, or at night. College courses are typically on the semester or quarter system and not year round like most high schools Some classes are online or hybrid (part in class, part online)

10 WHAT MAKES COLLEGE DIFFERENT FROM HIGH SCHOOL? THE STAGE IS BIGGER, AND THE STAKES ARE HIGHER There are dorms and apartments on campus (except for C.C. s) That qualify as SILPs You have access to professionals (professors) in different fields Most colleges have specific offices designated to support students You re surrounded by people from around the state, country, and sometimes the world With study abroad, you can live and learn in a different country (or two!) Grade breakdowns and class styles are different and professors often expect a lot more on your part

11 FOSTER YOUTH SUPPORT PROGRAMS Comprehensive campus support UC, and CSU Offer supportive services, both academic and non academic Located on CC, CSUs and UCs Visit EOP&S Free Tutoring, Academic Counseling, and Book Grants Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI) Counselors located at each community college, typically in financial aid or EOP area Assist with navigating all academic and student support services and programs and accessing financial aid

12 EDUCATION PAYS

13 GAME PLAN: BUILD A TEAM Get people on board with your mission. You d be surprised at what kind of resources are out there and how people are willing to contribute to your goals. Knows your strengths and areas to work on Write letters of recommendation Advocate/Solve Problems Emotional Support Networking

14 PICKING SCHOOLS Private or Public? What s the acceptance rate for Fall? Transfers? Close to my support system? Or get a fresh start? Average Student Debt? Rural? Or Urban? Do they offer the major(s) I am interested in? Can I see myself here for 4 years? What kind of student Support Services? clubs/activities are there? Can I start my own student organization? Weather? What is this school known for? What % of students finish in 4 years? Plane ride away? Or bike ride?

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16 COLLEGE BOARD.COM

17 TIPS FOR TRANSFERRING C.C. UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE Know what your transfer University/College needs and expects (don t take Ballet if you want to transfer into Biology) Go in with a GAME PLAN Keep regular contact with counselors at your C.C. and University to make sure you are taking enough of the right classes. Not everything transfers over! Be competitive. Talk with other students who have transferred from C.C. s to Universities. What did they do? What did they wish they d done? Have a backup plan when registering for classes (cross register, online classes, crash a course, etc) Be persistent; stick to the script and get in then out

18 APPLICATION PROCESS #1: Get organized early (SEE HANDOUT) Write down each school s deadline (for admission + financial aid) Register for tests (SAT, SAT Subject(s), or Keep Username Passwords for online portals handy #2: Gather needed documents Transcripts (Grades 9 th 12 th ) Letters of Recommendation (2 3) Fee waivers (applications and tests) #3: Essays Personal Statements Scholarships

19 HOW DO I GET INTO COLLEGE? SAT/ACT TESTS GRADES PERSONAL STATEMENT/ESSAYS

20 HOW DO I GET INTO COLLEGE? SAT/ACT TESTS Register online for SAT I and SAT SAT I: General Test SAT II: Subject Test(s) Get fee waivers from college counselor GRADES Get copies of official transcripts with grades from 9 th -12 th Meet with your counselor to make sure you are taking appropriate classes (ex: A-G classes for UC/CSU) Double check to make sure information listed is correct you have a right to a credit check

21 WHAT S FINANCIAL AID?

22 FINANCIAL AID: HOW YOU PAY FOR COLLEGE $ Scholarships $ Grants $ AB-12 Funds Money you do not have to pay back. May be renewable (meaning you get it every year/semester May have requirements (grades, certain major, club, etc) May go directly to you or school $ Work-Study $ Loans

23 FINANCIAL AID: HOW YOU PAY FOR COLLEGE $ Scholarships $ Grants $ AB-12 Funds $ Work-Study $ Loans Money you do not have to pay back. May be renewable (meaning you get it every year/semester Foster Youth ONLY: CHAFEE grant (up to $5,000/year) Cal Grant (award varies) H.S. counselor submits GPA Verification Form

24 FINANCIAL AID: HOW YOU PAY FOR COLLEGE $ Scholarships $ Grants $ AB-12 Funds $ Work-Study Money you do not have to pay back. Monthly income that goes directly to you if you live in a SILP (Dorms qualify as SILPS) Does not affect your financial aid package $ Loans

25 FINANCIAL AID: HOW YOU PAY FOR COLLEGE $ Scholarships $ Grants $ AB-12 Funds $ Work-Study $ Loans Work-Study is a form of federal fin. aid where you get paid to work certain on campus/off campus jobs. Ex: Work Study Award of $4,000/semester You work in the front desk in the library for $10/hour for 400hours/semester. That s roughly 20hrs/week. These jobs are great because they always work around your class schedule

26 FINANCIAL AID: HOW YOU PAY FOR COLLEGE $ Scholarships $ Grants $ AB-12 Funds $ Work-Study $ Loans A loan is money you have to pay back with interest. There are private and federal loans Some start accumulating interest while you are still in school. Some start after you graduate. There are loan-forgiveness programs available (AmeriCorp, Teach For America, etc)

27 FINANCIAL AID: HOW YOU PAY FOR COLLEGE Get Creative Utilize Your Team Utilize Campus Resources Ask For Help Be Smart with Your Money!