Making College An Affordable Reality Preparing and Paying For College The Right Way

Transcription

1 Making College An Affordable Reality Preparing and Paying For College The Right Way College and Financial Coaches Ready to Serve Your Family COLLEGE ADVISORS GROUP LLC

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3 Graduates 2013

4 College Enrollment is Growing o 65% of H.S. graduates go on to college. o enrollment in 4 year college expected to increase by almost 13% From million students enrolled in degree granting programs It s not always about getting them into college, it s also about getting them out of college on time and with a degree!

5 Getting through college Of the top 5% of High School Graduating classes who go on to college, 40% Never get any type of Collegiate Degree Time Magazine 38% of college Freshmen Never return for their Sophomore year US. Department of Education

6 May 20, 2011, 6:00 am The Rise of the Five-Year Four-Year Degree By JUDITH SCOTT-CLAYTON

7 NACAC Admissions Trend Survey, 2011 order of importance in the decision process for admissions Grades in college prep+ 83.4% Strength of Curriculum 65.7% SAT/ ACT scores 59.3% Grades in all courses46.2% Essay or writing sample 26.6% Student s interest 23.0% Class Rank 21.8% Counselor Rec 19.4% Teacher Rec 19.0% Subject Test Score (AP) 9.0% Guidance Counselors Per Student By A Sample of States Rhode Island 371:1 MA - 432:1 CT - 519:1 CA - 810:1 Texas - 437:1 Florida - 452:1 NY -416:1 NC -385:1 Wyoming - 183:1 VT - 318:1

8 College Costs Past, Present and Future $80,000 $70,000 $60,000 $70,000 $50,000 $40,000 $54,000 $48,000 $30,000 $20,000 $28,000 $24,000 $35,000 $35,000 $10,000 $9,000 $15, Average Public University Average Private College Elite Private College Source: College Board (in Constant (2006) Dollars)

9 How Do Most Families Pay For College In This Tough Economy? Grants & Scholarships fewer available Student Loans only cover up to $35,000 Investments have been cut in half Real estate has lost 30-40% of it s value Retirement Fund you may never catch up in light of the 40-60% drop in value! Today parents borrow to oblivion to pay for college Today you receive a DEBT award not grants.

10 A Confusing Process Families with seemingly similar incomes can meet vastly different fates in the financial aid sweepstakes. Two sets of parents with similar incomes will get very different financial aid packages LA Times This system is 180% different from anything that you ever learned about investing and taxes Financial Aid Professional

11 This is really the first time that we have asked an entire generation to go deeply into debt in order to get a higher education Congressman George Miller (D) CA

12 Undisclosed Fees are rising much faster than Tuition Students are swamped in fees A not mentioned regional college charges a service fee, a health fee, an activities fee and a curriculum fee, which together add up to about $4,100. NY Times

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14 From March of Junior Year until beginning of Senior Year Select senior year courses. Consider or plan to visit colleges over winter and spring break. Register for spring ACT/SAT I and/ or SAT II. Register for June ACT/SAT I and II. Look for as well as attend college fairs. Begin thinking about summer plans (enhancing your brag sheets). Take appropriate AP exams. Work save money for college. Explore what you want to learn more about - shadow Complete your community service hours. Add more community service hours and leadership hours Coaching, mentoring, volunteering Consider taking a summer course, such as SAT prep or essay writing. Visit colleges that interest you. Complete your Brag Sheet, Activity Essay & Personal Statement Identify 6-10 Colleges that fit you

15 Check your course schedule with your guidance counselor. Narrow your college list Check CSS Profile Deadlines! Finish Common App; note deadlines. Register for any additional SAT I, SAT II, ACT (if scores were low). Look for scheduled visits of college representatives at your school. Plan campus visits and interviews, or take virtual tours and make appointments to have interviews locally Process should be completed by 10/31 If applying Early Action, prepare application, request all necessary documents. Submit Early Action transcript requests to Guidance Departments by Columbus Day. Begin researching financial aid and scholarships. College Essay Completion. November 1st and November 15th are the deadline dates for some colleges Early Action

16 Regular Decision admission deadlines are December February; check your college application materials. Submit college applications with January deadlines by December. Rolling Admission and Early Decision students, look in the mail. If accepted, see what deposits are required for tuition and housing. Plan to go to an orientation session at your college. Check deadline dates for CSS Profile Schools deadlines = money Obtain financial aid form (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) *December Request mid-year grades for all schools you are still interested in. Regular Admissions deadlines Submit your completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. *January Use Feb and April breaks for additional college visits Make your FINAL decision first two weeks of April Be proactive in figuring out how you will afford all 4 years!

17 Bad Fit? Wrong Major? Expensive Mistake? From our experience: The student chose a major that was not suited to the child s personality and skills The student chose a college that didn t fit the their need. Student choose major on perceived amount of money that they can make, regardless of student s personality, strengths and blindspots The three top reasons that students pick a college I have a friend that goes to that school One of my parents went there The campus was beautiful

18 Decide what general factors you want in a school o Look at school profiles and websites to determine if they have those factors o Talk to alumni Visit a school BEFORE you accept, if possible before you apply Look at Application Requirements Know the criteria to get into the college

19 Duration Setting Location Private Vs. Public Size Academic Programs Sports & Activities Clubs & Organizations

20 Look carefully at school profiles o o o Graduation Rate, Transfer percentage etc. Need to pay attention to graduation rates for college and for the specific programs Financing: will you be able to afford the school for 4 years, or just 1? Scholarships: what can you get a scholarship for? Academics, Community Service, Athletics? You can determine a lot about the values of a school based on what they award you for. Google alumni scholarships Decide what factors are MOST important to you in a school o Make sure the school you are considering offers those factors

21 Application Process The Common Application What A Counselor Looks At Leaving the WRONG Lasting Impression Leaving the RIGHT Lasting Impression

22 From Assessments to Applications

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24 Materials You Submit Common App o Grammar Mistakes o The College/University Name misspelled or wrong. Campus Visit: o On the phone. o Wandering away from guides or groups. o Chatting with a friend about this weekend o Dressed in Pajamas Local Celebrity o Facebook You Tube - Twitter o Pictures and Hobbies you do NOT want a professional to know about you

25 Materials You Submit o Well Written o Sent in a complete packet o Early Applications o Cover Letter Campus Visit o Involved & Engaged Audience o Ask Questions o Greeting faculty or students along the tour o Attending an Open House Local Celebrity o Extensive Brag Sheet

26 Financials Of College! Financial Assistance - Knowing the cost of college, stretching your dollar, understanding the bigger picture

27 The Cost of College It may be cheaper to buy these four luxury cars without negotiating than it is to pay sticker price for four years education at a local private college

28 Financial Aid How Is Need Determined? Income, assets, family information Forms of financial aid: Loan Grant Scholarship Work-study job Federal or institutional methodology Expected family contribution (EFC) Cost of college less EFC equals financial need

29 Financial Aid The Formula & Definitions Estimated Cost of Attendance (ECOA) minus $35,500 Expected Family Contribution (EFC) -$22,500 Need Equals: $13,000 Need is attempted to be met by the college Need is met two ways: Your Money - Loans, work study, cash flow Their Money Scholarships, grants

30 Financial Assistance For All Students The two top reasons that students do not get financial aid Remember Need Based or Merit Aid They never complete the required forms This can mean no scholarship money or grant money They incorrectly complete the required forms, and they never know it Would you let the IRS complete your tax returns? Everyone MUST file all forms whether you think you have need or not, otherwise your student may not get the merit money they deserve

31 Where do you pay less? Why would you pay less? What s the competition?

32 Meeting Student Needs Choose your college wisely, because: Not all will meet 100% of need Private colleges generally: Meet a higher percentage of need Award a higher percentage of gift aid Many students can attend a private college for the same cost as a public university!

33 How To Apply For Assistance File FAFSA Online After 1/1 and before school deadline CSS Profile Required by some private colleges Could be as early as Oct 1 Institutional Forms May be required by some colleges

34 What is our Number One Competition?

35 Expected Family Contribution Parents AGI plus Untaxed Income & Benefits - Income Allowance Taxes x 22 to 47% = Parents Contribution from income + Parents Assets - Asset Protection Allowance x 5.6% = Parents Contribution from assets + Student s AGI plus Untaxed Income & Benefits Student s Assets - - Taxes $2,420 Allowance Nothing x 50% X 25% = = Student s Contribution from income + Student s Contribution from assets Expected Family Contribution

36 Biggest Scholarships Come From The Colleges! How Can I Get Private College Money? 1. Good Grades 2. Good SAT/ACT test scores 3. A solid resume of achievement 4. Apply early in the academic year 5. Apply to schools that compete for the same students 6. Apply to schools that have a low yield factor 7. Apply to 6-8 colleges

37 Form Filing FAFSA, CSS Profile, College Forms Loan Analysis-How Much/ Who s Name Cost Recovery-How Much Will It Cost Cash Flow vs. Efficiency-Can I do Better Your Money or Someone Else s Money Financial Foundation Review Be Proactive NOT Reactive Graduate On-Time and Without Lots of Debt Learn More By Coming To See Us For Your Take Advantage of FREE Phone Consultation

38 Student Loans Anyone???? Stafford Perkins PLUS Private Alternative Home Equity 401k Loans Your name???? Student name????

39 Student Centered Classes Cost Efficient Time Efficient We become nagging parent! Strategic Counseling Strategize with other students Locations throughout MA, CT and RI Campus Tours Included Career Assessment College List Creation Identifying fit Identify criteria Match College Criteria To Your Achievements Develop essay topics Establish theme for applications Start the common app Interview Preparation And More!

40 Locations Available in: MA RI CT T: Visit us on the Web at wwww.collegeadvisorsgroup.com