THORNTON HIGH SCHOOL OCTOBER 17, 2013 Scholarship & Financial Aid Information.

THORNTON HIGH SCHOOLOCTOBER 17 , 2013

Scholarship & Financial Aid Information

“If a man empties his

purse into his head, no one can take it from him. An investment in

knowledge always pays the highest return.”

-Benjamin Franklin

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College Fair

Fair was TODAY at THS. Seniors were allowed to attend from 1:00 – 2:00.

What is Financial Aid?

Financial aid consists of funds provided to students and families to help pay for postsecondary educational expenses

What is Cost of Attendance (COA)?

Direct costs i.e. tuition or housing (billed directly from college)

Indirect costs i.e. books, transportation or personal care items (not billed through college)

Colleges combine direct and indirect expenses into the cost of attendance

Varies widely among different types of colleges

Expenses Resident1

Tuition and Fees $ 10,529

On-campus Room and Board2 $ 12,258

Books/Supplies $ 1,800

On-campus Estimated Total3 $ 24,587

Types of Aid

Grant: Award that does not have to be paid back, calculated from FAFSA

Scholarship: Award that does not have to be paid back

Loan: Borrowed money that has to be repaid, usually after college graduation

Work Study: Money earned, usually through campus jobs, while attending college

Types of Aid

Need Based: Based on financial need. These awards are based only on the student’s financial need and not due to grades or other merit

Merit Based: Awarded on the basis of a student’s ability, talent or unique characteristics, such as academic achievements, athletic ability, musical talent, or ethnic heritage

Sources of Aid

Federal government (FAFSA)State (COF)Private sources Civic organizations and churches Employers

“Welcome graduates, parents, guests, faculty, and home equity loan officers”

Regardless of how much money students accumulate prior to college (scholarships, savings, jobs), the majority of students end up with some sort of student loan…..

What is FAFSA?

Federal financial aid application

How your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is determined by collecting family’s financial information

www.fafsa.ed.gov

What is FAFSA?

For 2013–14 academic year, the FAFSA may be filed beginning January 1, 2014

Colleges may set FAFSA filing deadlines Meeting or not meeting a college’s priority deadline

may impact the amount of financial aid a student receives

FAFSA PIN

PIN is your Personal Identification Number

PIN is needed for: Apply for PIN (keep in a safe place) To apply on-line for FAFSA (electronic signature) Make online corrections Access your FAFSA records at later date Will use annually to refile

http://www.pin.ed.gov

FAFSA Documents Needed

Social Security Number Driver's license 2013 W2 forms Student federal income tax return Parent federal income tax return Untaxed income including social security, temporary

assistance for needy families, and welfare documentation Current bank statements Veterans benefit records Current business, investment, business or farm records,

stock or bond information, and mortgage information Alien registration or permanent residence card (if you are

not a U.S. citizen)

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

FAFSA will determine your EFCIt is an estimate of the parents' and/or

student's ability to contribute to post secondary education expenses

The lower the EFC, the higher the financial aid award from the college may be

Zero is the lowest EFC number, and 99,999 is the highest

Financial Need

Cost of Attendance (COA)

- Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

_______________________________

= Financial Need

Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized Loans

Stafford Subsidized Loans

Federal loans based on financial need.

Interest does not accrue on the loan while you are in school at least half time, or during any future deferment periods.

The federal government "subsidizes" (or pays) the interest during these times.

Additionally, there are maximum amounts you can receive per school year. Freshman: $3,500 per year Sophomore: $4,500 per year Junior: $5,500 per year Senior and 5th year: $5,500 per

year $31,000 Total can be borrowed

Stafford Unsubsidized Loans

Federal loans that are not based on financial need.

Interest does accrue from the time the loan is disbursed to the school.

Additionally, there are maximum amounts you can receive per school year for dependent and independent students. Freshman: $2,000 for dependent

students, $6,000 for independent students

Sophomore: $2,000 for dependent students, $6,000 for independent students

Junior: $2,000 for dependent students, $7,000 for independent students

Senior and 5th year: $2,000 for dependent students, $7,000 for independent students

$57,500 Total can be borrowed

College Opportunity Fund (COF)

In-State Financial Aid

Application can be found: https://cof.college-access.net/cofapp/

The amount may differ each year. ($64/credit hour) It will be determined by the state legislature each spring for the upcoming academic year

Net Price Calculator

The U.S. Department of Education has

mandated that each college make available

a ‘Net Price Calculator’

You can find it on the college financial aid

website.

Financial Aid Resources

Naviance www.fastweb.com www.finaid.org www.collegeinvest.com www.collegegold.com www.edupass.org www.collegegoalsundayusa.org www.studentaid.ed.gov www.mappingyour future.org ftc.gov/scholarshipscams studentaid.ed.gov/guide/ www.finaid.org/calculators

Scholarships….

There is no magic answer!

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Scholarships require a lot of leg work!

There is no magic answer, or easy way of accruing scholarships.

Where to Look Online

Naviance!www.collegeboard.com/student/paywww.scholarships4school.comwww.cappex.comwww.collegeinvest.comwww.fastweb.comwww.finaid.orgwww.gocollege.comwww.salliemae.comwww.scholarships.com

NAVIANCE

Scholarships Can be Awarded Based on…

Need BasedGradesTest ScoresAthletic AbilityEthnicityClub membershipReligious affiliationCommunity Service

TalentsHeightWorkplaceMilitary serviceFamily legacyIntended college majorSchool involvementAnd more….

How to Recognize a Scholarship Scam

“For a small fee, we’ll give you a list of scholarships”

“We will do all the work for you”Indicates you won an award for which you didn’t

applyGuarantees you will win an awardRequires personal financial informationDoes not supply valid contact information

College Credit ($$$) & the IB Diploma

What exactly do I need to receive the full diploma?

Do most students receive the diploma?

Am I guaranteed college credit?

Do all institutions accept IB credit?

What if I go out of state?

Do I need the full diploma to earn college credit?

IB and AP Exam Fees

Escape Grant Fill out paperwork and return by October 21st 2013

to Ms. Burns

More IB Diploma Questions…

How does IB credit transfer to different institutions? i.e. - Will Berkeley accept the same credit as CU Boulder?

How will I know what scores I need to receive credit?

What happens if I earn a ‘3’ on one exam?

How do I find more information on IB credit?

When will my scores be sent?

Consider IB Friendly Colleges

University of Tulsa: “Students who earn the IB Diploma with a total score of 28 points or

more will be awarded at least 30 hours of university credit (sophomore standing).”

“The University of Tulsa offers a merit scholarship for entering freshmen who complete all work toward the IB Diploma with a minimum high school g.p.a. of 3.0. This scholarship is renewable for eight semesters with a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.”

University of Nebraska: “Students with an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma earn an

average of 25-28 University credits, including 3 hours of credit in Philosophy for completing the Theory of Knowledge course.”

“Once an IB student applies and is admitted to UNL, their IB Diploma may be worth a $50,000 scholarship (out-of-state students only). In addition, all IB Diploma candidate that submit an Informal Personal Statement are eligible for the $1,000 non-renewable IB Nebraska Legends Scholarship.”

12 Tips on How to Get a College Scholarship

Start ASAP and Apply Early Many scholarships have early application deadlines

Do not miss deadlines!

Organize All Scholarship Materials Create a separate file for each scholarships and file by

application date Keep a calendar of application deadlines and follow up

appointments

12 Tips on How to Get a College Scholarship

Search Locally Local scholarships are probably your best chance due to less

applicants, therefore less competitive Local banks, grocery stores, libraries, clubs, businesses, organizations,

churches, state websites

Check Membership Organizations and Employers Organizations of all types and size sponsor scholarships – leave no

stone unturned! Examples: religious, community service, military, union, or

professional organizations Don’t forget your own employer. Check with human resources

department If your student works, check their employer. Many fast food chains,

supermarkets, and department stores give scholarships

12 Tips on How to Get a College Scholarship

Check School Specific Scholarships Usually there are many school-specific scholarships

available through the college you would like to attend

Stay Active Participating in a sport, extracurricular activity, or

community service will always better your chances. Consistency not quantity is best

12 Tips on How to Get a College Scholarship

Read the requirements Make sure you are eligible Never EVER pay to apply for a scholarship

Follow instructions carefully Any errors can get your application denied instantly Proofread! (or have someone help you) Do not go over essay length Do not send extra materials

Communicate Do not leave items blank If you are not sure about something, don’t hesitate to ask

12 Tips on How to Get a College Scholarship

Maintain your GPA Keep your grades up! A higher GPA will increase your

chances of receiving funds

Apply! Scholarships can be a lot of work but don’t make the

mistake of not applying at all

The Big Ones….

Boettcher Scholarship

Merit Based Full ride to CO institution 27 or higher on ACT Top 5% of class Based on community

service, academic achievement and excellent character

Interview if selected as semi-finalist

Deadline: Oct 24 at 11:59 a.m.

Daniels Fund Scholarship

Must demonstrate financial need (EFC calculator)

17 or higher on ACT Not a full ride but covers all

unmet need after EFC Can attend any 2 or 4 year

institution in U.S. Based on character,

willingness to work hard, passion to succeed, and commitment to giving back to community

Interview if selected as semi-finalist

Deadline: November 15

College Searching and Applications

The thing about schools like

Harvard and Yale, is that they don’t care at all about

the fact you have a high GPA. ALL students who apply

have high GPAs

What you need to do is highlight what makes you unique and special for admission or scholarship

monies

IB and AP Matters!

GPA and rank are becoming less reliable measures of absolute academic achievement.

IB curriculum, course content, and grading IS a reliable measure of academic performance…… use this fact and how the IB experiences has affected you in all your scholarship and/or college application essays and interviews!

Colleges who know IB students, know that IB means students know how to think!

Stress How IB Has Changed You…

As an IB student, you have taken a very rigorous liberal arts education

This is something that ALL scholarship and college applications, as well as recommendation letters should stress

Be sure to include how IB has changed you, specifically in your actions

This change makes you UNIQUE!

NACAC Top Ten Tips for Writing a College Essay

1. Start early2. Be yourself – don’t write what you think

others will want to hear3. Be honest – don’t “borrow” someone else’s

story – college admission officers are experts at spotting plagiarism

4. Take a risk – don’t write about what everyone is writing about

5. Keep in focus – stick to the main theme

NACAC Top Ten Tips for Writing a College Essay continued

6. Write and rewrite 7. Get a second opinion (criticism is good!)8. Proofread (spell check, read your essay

aloud)9. Be accurate (if submitting online, don’t

use “email language”). Use formal language

10. Don’t forget the “whole package” – academics, extracurricular, application, standardized exams

Myths About College

Senior Year doesn’t count You are responsible for maintaining your grades all

year longColleges are good or bad

Rate the college according to your needs. Is it a good fit?

Colleges that cost more or are harder to get into are of higher quality Cost is not a reflection on the standard of education Many schools have in- & out-of-state quotas

Myths About College continued

Colleges always choose the “best” students Admission officers are human

Test scores are the most important criterion in college admissions For most colleges your high school transcript is

more importantSome secret strategy can get me admitted

into a college You and record will!

Pitfalls for Students to Avoid

You vs your parents – communication is keyProcrastination – break tasks down into

smaller manageable tasksDisorganization

Letting your students take the wheel….

You drove them to Kindergarten in the hopes that someday they will drive themselves to college.

If you wish to receive scholarship notifications and information,

please be sure to add your name to the IB Parents Distribution List

QUESTIONS?