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College Application Packet
Bronx Prep College Counselors
10th Grade Gary Henderson gary.henderson@ democracyprep.org 9175726816
11th Grade Dennis Pooler dennis.pooler@ democracyprep.org 9292460002
12th Grade Tamasia Johnson tamasia.johnson@ democracyprep.org 3478357152
Table of Contents
PreCollege Planning
Grade 11 Checklist 2
Grade 12 Checklist 4
Applying to College Everything You Need To Know 7 College Application Checklist 9 Writing A College Essay 13 College Essay Rubric 14
Recommendation Letters 16
NYC Opportunity Programs EOP 18 EOP List of Schools 19 HEOP 20
HEOP List of Schools 25
Colleges & Universities Test Optional 27
100% Financial Aid 29
Paying for College Financial Aid 101 32 The Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) 34 How to Complete FASFA 36
Financial Aid Lingo 38
Important Dates to Remember Add these to your calendars!
Junior Year (2015 2016)
April 9 ACT Test
May
20 College Fair June
4 SAT Test 11 ACT Test
July & August Prescheduled OneonOne Meetings
Senior Year (2016 2017) September
10 ACT Test (retake) October
1 SAT Test (retake) 3 7 Financial Aid Week 22 ACT Test (retake)
November 13 ACT Test (retake) 18 First College Application Deadline 18 Mail Out Day
December 15 Final deadline to submit College Applications
Your Planning Checklist Grade 11From First in the Family:Advice About College from First-Generation Students –
Your High School Years, by Kathleen Cushman (Next Generation Press, 2005)
nn At the start of the year, make a special folder marked “College.” Keep everything connected to your college planning
here—information, schedules, forms, and anything else.
nn Check test schedules for PSAT, SAT or ACT, and register yourself for tests on “My Organizer” at www.collegeboard.com.
Many college entrance tests like these charge a fee. If you cannot afford the fee, ask your counselor to help you apply for a
waiver, so you can take the test anyway.
nn Find out where “test prep” courses are given, and sign up for them.
The more familiar you are with college admission tests, the better you will do on them. Take practice tests as often as you can.
nn Attend a college fair to get more information about colleges.You can also write, telephone, or use the Internet to ask colleges
to send you materials.
nn Don’t delay college planning because your family cannot afford to pay for college. Low-income students receive funding—
from the government and sometimes the college—to help meet college costs.
nn Colleges want to see demanding courses on your grade schedule. Use this space to list the most challenging courses that
you can take this year:
. ___________________________________________________________ . ___________________________________________________________
. ___________________________________________________________ . ___________________________________________________________
. ___________________________________________________________ . ___________________________________________________________
nn Junior year grades are very important in college admissions. If you are having trouble with your schoolwork, ask for help.
If the teacher does not have time for you, ask another adult or a student who is doing well in that class.
nn At the end of your junior year, you will need to ask two teachers to write you a letter of recommendation to go in your school
file. Choose the teachers who know you the best (even if you didn’t have them this year), and write their names here:
. ___________________________________________________________ . ___________________________________________________________
Don’t be shy about asking for a recommendation. Just say, “You were an important teacher for me, and I wonder if you would
consider writing me a college recommendation and giving it to my guidance counselor.” (Only the college and the guidance office,
not you, are allowed to see the recommendation.)
nn Stay involved in the activities you most care about—at school, after school, and in the summer. Which ones do you most care
about this year? List them here, along with any leadership role you have in them:
. ___________________________________________________________ . ___________________________________________________________
. ___________________________________________________________ . ___________________________________________________________
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2
Colleges also will look at recommendations from adults who know you through your job or other out-of-school activities.
If you know someone like this, write his or her name here. Ask that person to send a letter to your guidance office, too.
. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
nn Keep reading as much as you can. Make a list of all the books you read this year. Put a star next to the ones you liked the
best, and make a note as to why.
. ___________________________________________________________ . ___________________________________________________________
. ___________________________________________________________ . ___________________________________________________________
. ___________________________________________________________ . ___________________________________________________________
nn Narrow down your list of colleges to six—two “safety schools” that you think will probably accept you, two “top choices,” and
two in between. If possible, talk over your choices with your parents at this point.
. ________________________________________ . ________________________________________ . _________________________________________
. ________________________________________ . ________________________________________ . _________________________________________
. ________________________________________ . ________________________________________ . _________________________________________
nn Look for summer opportunities that give you a taste of the college experience. One of the colleges on your list might have a pro-
gram for high school students—call and ask! (Don’t forget to tell them that you will be the first in your family to go to college.)
nn Ask your school if they arrange a “college visit” trip for juniors and seniors. If they don’t, plan your own with family or friends
over the summer.
nn Make a folder or large envelope marked “Grade 11 Portfolio” and save your best work in it, so it won’t get lost. This should
include class assignments, but don’t forget to include poems, artwork, or evidence of other things you do outside of school.
TIP
3
Your Planning Checklist Grade 12From First in the Family:Advice About College from First-Generation Students –
Your High School Years, by Kathleen Cushman (Next Generation Press, 2005)
nn Your “College” folder will become quite large this year, so keep it organized! If you want, turn it into a file box, containing separate
folders for testing documents and score reports, applications for admission, applications for financial aid or scholarships, copies
of your income tax forms, notes for your application essay, completed planning checklists from grades through , and so forth.
nn Choose challenging courses this year, and work hard in them.Your performance senior year shows admissions people that you
can go on to succeed in college.
nn Register for the SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Tests, or ACT tests given in the fall or early winter. Don’t forget to ask for your
scores to be sent to the colleges on your list.
nn In fall of senior year, attend another college fair to gather information about colleges and talk to their representatives. If you find
new ones that interest you, use the chart below to revise the list you made on your Grade planning checklist:
. ________________________________________ . ________________________________________ . _________________________________________
. ________________________________________ . ________________________________________ . _________________________________________
. ________________________________________ . ________________________________________ . _________________________________________
nn Take every chance to actually visit the colleges that interest you. Call the admissions office and see if you can arrange an interview—
colleges do not require them, but it can help your chance of getting in.
nn Find out your Social Security number (and/or your green card number, if you are a legal immigrant), which you must have for
your college applications. If you do not have a Social Security number, but you qualify for one, contact the closest Social Security
office (www.ssa.gov) as soon as possible to obtain a number. Write your number here:
. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
nn Decide six colleges you are actually going to apply to. Write their names in the chart below, and check whether you will apply
online, use the Common Application (www.commonapp.org), or send in a paper application.Then write the deadline for each
college—not all colleges have the same deadline!
. ___________________________________________________________ nn nn nn ______________________________
. ___________________________________________________________ nn nn nn ______________________________
. ___________________________________________________________ nn nn nn ______________________________
. ___________________________________________________________ nn nn nn ______________________________
. ___________________________________________________________ nn nn nn ______________________________
. ___________________________________________________________ nn nn nn ______________________________
Applyonline?
Mail in paperapplication?
Use commonapplication?
4
Most colleges charge you an application fee, but some colleges waive that fee if you apply online using the Common Application. If you
cannot afford the fee, ask your guidance counselor for a fee waiver, or call the college admissions office yourself and explain the situation.
nn For each college on your list, make sure you complete all applications for financial aid. Every college requires the F
(www.fafsa.ed.gov), and some colleges also require a form called CSS P (find it at www.collegeboard.com). Many colleges
even have another form of their own to fill out. Use the chart below to keep everything straight, including the deadline for each
different application.
. _______________________________________________________ _____________
. _______________________________________________________ _____________
. _______________________________________________________ _____________
. _______________________________________________________ _____________
. _______________________________________________________ _____________
. _______________________________________________________ _____________
In January, you and your parents should file your income taxes, because you will need them in order to fill out the FAFSA and other
financial aid forms. If your family does not file taxes because its income is too low, indicate that when you complete the FAFSA application.
Then telephone each college’s financial aid office to request a waiver form, which you can send them instead of your income tax forms.
Financial aid applications always ask for your parent’s signature. If your situation does not permit this for any reason, call the college
financial aid office to explain, and they will tell you what to do.
nn Apply for as many scholarships as you can find. (Use www.fastweb.com, and ask your guidance counselor for local scholarships
from businesses or organizations.) On the chart below, write down the names and deadlines for the ones you qualify for, and
keep track of deadlines:
___________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________ nn
___________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________ nn
___________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________ nn
___________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________ nn
nn Meet with your guidance counselor to go over your grades and other information you will need to fill out the college
applications. Ask your counselor to check if the teachers who said they would write recommendations have done it yet.
(If not, go back and ask them again—they probably just forgot.)
Write thank-you notes to those who write recommendations and keep them informed of your decisions.
nn Get together with a friend who is also applying to college, and spend a day filling out application forms. If possible, meet in a place
with access to a copy machine. Bring fine-tipped black pens, white-out to cover up any mistakes, and extra paper for making drafts
and notes. Use your best printing when you fill out the forms.You should complete the “personal essay” section on another day—it
is a project in itself. (See next page.)
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Deadline Completed
nn
nn
nn
nn
nn
nn
FAFSA
Deadline Completed
________________ nn
________________ nn
________________ nn
________________ nn
________________ nn
________________ nn
CSS PROFILE
Deadline Completed
________________ nn
________________ nn
________________ nn
________________ nn
________________ nn
________________ nn
College fin. aid app
5
From your “College” folder, pull out the lists you made in grades 9, 10, and 11 about your activities, reading lists, etc. They will help
you as you fill out your applications.
nn Take a few hours to prepare for writing the personal essay you will need on your college applications.Think back on your whole
life up to this point, and make a list of moments that you remember especially well. Whether they were happy or difficult times
for you, write down notes about each of them here. (Use extra space if you need it.)
. ___________________________________________________________ . ___________________________________________________________
. ___________________________________________________________ . ___________________________________________________________
. ___________________________________________________________ . ___________________________________________________________
nn Take another hour or two to yourself, and pick just one moment from the list you made of life memories.Then write down
everything about it—what it felt like, what it looked like and sounded like, who was there, what felt important about it.
Write freely, not stopping to worry about grammar or form, as if you were writing in your private journal. Then save those
pages. Later, they will help you write the actual essay.
nn Set aside a day or two to write the personal essay for your applications. (You can use the same essay for most applications.) Using some
of the free writing you did about your life memories, describe one important moment to you in essay form. Use as many concrete
details as you can—the college really wants to see how you notice and think about things.After you have something written, show it to
your English teacher, your mentor, or anyone else you trust, and ask for feedback.Then revise, revise, revise through many drafts.
Some colleges ask for more than one essay. Usually one of them is more personal, and the other asks about your reading, your activi-
ties, or why you want to go to that college. For the second essay, look back at your list of memories, but also look through your Portfolios
for grades 9, 10, and 11.
Somewhere in one of your application essays, let the reader know that you will be the first in your family to go to college. If it doesn’t
fit anywhere else, put it at the end, connecting the experience you describe to your hopes for college.
nn Once you start getting letters accepting you to college or putting you on a waiting list, you do not need to decide right away.
Use this chart to compare the offers you receive:
. __________________________________________________ nn __________________ __________________ _____________________ nn
. __________________________________________________ nn __________________ __________________ _____________________ nn
. __________________________________________________ nn __________________ __________________ _____________________ nn
. __________________________________________________ nn __________________ __________________ _____________________ nn
. __________________________________________________ nn __________________ __________________ _____________________ nn
If your first-choice college puts you on its waiting list, write another letter to the admissions office, making clear that they are your
first choice and that you would attend if they accept you. If you have any new activities or accomplishments since you sent in your appli-
cation, describe them, too.
nn By May , make your decision about what college you will go to, and let that college know. Also notify other colleges whose
offers you are turning down.
Celebrate! You are going to be the first in your family to go on to college!
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Accepted or waitlisted?
College notified of your decision
(by May 1)
Total costs for the year
Total financial aid offered(grants + loans)
Subtract your financial aid from the total costs, to get your
actual costs for the year
6
Everything You Need To Know About Your CollegeApplicationYou've been planning for this for your entire high school career.
You've crafted the perfect transcript, achieved the standardized test scoreyou want, committed passionately toyour extracurricular activities,researched schools, and identified your best-fit colleges. It's time to show off all that work on anall-star application. Here's what you need to know to get started on your college application and stay organized:
ApplicationYou will most likely complete this online,either through the CommonApplication or on a school's website.The Common App makes it easy toapply to multiple schools with just oneform, but each college will have differentrequirements for essays and test scores.Read the application instructions for thecolleges of your choice carefully.You will be asked to list basic informationabout yourself, your school, and yourfamily, as well as your GPA,standardized test scores,extracurriculars, and any awards youearned in high school.If you start to fill out an application and realize you need more information from your school or parents, you will beable to save an in-progress application and return to it before submitting.
Application FeeUsually $30–$60 for U.S. applicants and higher for international applicants.Many schools offer fee waivers for applying online, by a certain date, or a student's circumstances.
TranscriptYou will need to request official transcripts from your high school for each college where you're applying.Some colleges require that transcripts be mailed directly from the high school.Some colleges require you to collect your transcript in a sealed envelope and submit it with any other paperapplication materials.Remember that the administrators and counselors at your high school are helping all the other seniors in your class atthe same time, so be polite--and patient.
SAT or ACT Score ReportWhen you take the SAT, ACT, and SAT Subject Tests, you can request that a score report be sent directly to yourprospective colleges. You can also decide later whether colleges see one, some, or all of your scores.Schedule your test with enough time first to receive your scores (2–8 weeks for the ACT, about 3 weeks for the SAT)
7
and then to request reports for the colleges on your list. Both ACT and the College Board offer rush or priority reportoptions, for a fee.Confirm the test policy at every college on your list. A school may consider:
all test scores from all dates;your highest overall score from a single test date;your superscore , in which case you'll submit all your scores and the admissions committee will consider onlythe highest score on each section; ortest scores may be completely optional.
Letters of RecommendationMost colleges require two or three letters of recommendation from high school teachers or guidance counselors.Pick someone who knows you well and can speak to your strengths.Some schools may ask for one recommendation to be from someone who can speak to your character over youracademic work, like an employer or family friend.Request your recommendations—politely—about two months prior to the application deadlineGive your recommenders all of the information they need to complete the recommendation, whether it's a websitewith login information or stamped envelopes with hard copy forms. Don't forget to say thank you!
Personal StatementYour college essay will probably be the most time-consuming part of your application—start early.Use your essay as an opportunity to tell admissions counselors what makes you unique and what you can bring to agiven campus community.The prompt or question will be provided in the application along with length guidelines (usually 300 to 500 words).Ask a teacher or guidance counselor for feedback on your drafts.Revise, proofread, and repeat!
Financial AidBe aware that applying for admission and applying for financial aid are two separate processes.Complete and submit your FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible.Check every school's financial aid policies—some will require additional forms like the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®.Research loan options thoroughly before borrowing.
8
College Application Checklist
FOR JUNIORS
Having a list of important tasks to complete for each college application will make the application process go smoothly and help you meet deadlines.
PLAN To fill in all the blanks on the application form itself, you may have to dig up documents or get answers from your parents or guardians. Most students use online applications, but paper applications are usually available too. There are also services that let you complete one application online and submit it to several colleges.
College 1 College 2 College 3 College 4
Get information/application forms
Make a note about regular application deadline
Make a note about early application deadline Notes:
GRADES The record of the classes you’ve taken and your grades are important parts of your application. Your high school should send your transcript, along with a school profile, directly to the colleges to which you are applying. Ask your school counselor or principal how to arrange for this. And be sure to check the transcript for errors before it’s sent.
College 1 College 2 College 3 College 4
Request high school transcript sent
Request midyear grade reports sent Notes:
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TEST SCORES Most colleges require or recommend that you send scores from tests such as the SAT®. Colleges accept scores only from the testing organizations themselves. Visit bigfuture.collegeboard.org for more information and to learn more about the role of testing in college admission.
College 1 College 2 College 3 College 4
Send SAT scores
Send SAT Subject Test™ scores
Send AP® scores
Notes:
RECOMMENDATION LETTERS Many colleges require letters of recommendation from teachers or other adults who know you well. Ask your references well in advance of the deadlines to write you a recommendation. You may want to give them a short written summary of your achievements to help them write about you.
College 1 College 2 College 3 College 4
Request recommendation letters
Send thank-you notes
Notes:
ESSAYS Your essays are a chance for you to give admission officers a better idea of your character and strengths. Remember to proofread your essays carefully before you send them in.
College 1 College 2 College 3 College 4
Draft initial essay(s)
Proofread essay(s) for spelling and grammar
Have two people read essay(s)
Revise your essay(s)
Proofread your revision
Notes:
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Make copies of all application materials
Apply online
Include application fee
Sign application
Confirm receipt of application materials
Send supplemental material, if needed
Mail your institutional aid form, if needed
Mail state aid form, if needed
College 1 College 2 College 3 College 4
APPLICATIONS Applying to college is a big job, but you can make it easier by breaking it down into a series of small steps.
College 1 College 2 College 3 College 4
Complete college applications
Use exact same name on all of your forms
Carefully review entire application
Have a family member or teacher review application
Notes:
INTERVIEWS It’s a good idea to ask for an interview, even if it’s not required. It shows you’re serious and gives you a chance to connect with someone in the admission office. Even if a college is far away, you may be able to interview with a local alumnus. Read What to Do Before and After Your College Interview to prepare.
College 1 College 2 College 3 College 4
Interview at college
Look into an alumnus interview
Send thank-you note(s) to interviewer(s)
Notes:
SEND AND TRACK YOUR APPLICATION Once you’ve completed your application, follow these tips to make sure all the parts get where they’re going.
Notes:
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FINANCIAL AID College is usually more affordable than many families think, thanks to financial aid. Below are key steps to navigating the financial aid process:
College 1 College 2 College 3 College 4
Make a note of priority financial aid deadline
Make a note of regular financial aid deadline
Submit FAFSA
Submit CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®, if needed
Submit college aid form, if needed Notes:
DECISION You’ve received several college admission offers. Now comes the hard part: Which one do you choose? Find out how to make the best decision for you.
College 1 College 2 College 3 College 4
Receive admission letter
Receive financial aid award letter
Get more information about each college
Ask questions about student resources and services
Compare college features and things you want
Compare financial aid awards side by side
Make a decision
Respond to college you are attending
Respond to colleges whose offers you’re declining
Send deposit
Send final high school transcript Notes:
Visit bigfuture.collegeboard.org for more information
© 2014 The College Board. College Board, AP, CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE, SAT, and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. BigFuture and SAT Subject Tests are trademarks owned by the College Board. All other products and services may be trademarks of their respective owners. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org. 14b-9672 141916151
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Writing a College Essay/Personal Statement
Your essay reveals something important about you that your grades and test scores can't—your personality. It can give admission officers a sense of who you are, as well as showcasing your writing skills. Try these tips to craft your essay:
- Use an Outline
- Develop three essay parts - Introduction: One paragraph that introduces your essay. - Body: Several paragraphs explaining the main idea with examples. - Conclusion: One paragraph that summarizes and ends the essay.
- Find a creative angle - Be Honest - Get feedback - Proofread and Make corrections
Beginning your essay
- Concentrate on your opening paragraph - The lead or opening paragraph is generally the most important. It is here that you grab the reader's
attention or lose it. This paragraph becomes the framework for the rest of the statement. - Tips:
- Use a quote - Ask a thought provoking question - Be creative to draw the reader in
- Avoid clichés - BE UNIQUE - A medical school applicant who writes that he is good at science and wants to help other people
is not exactly expressing an original thought. Stay away from often-repeated or tired statements. - Questions to ask yourself before you write:
What's special, unique, distinctive, and/or impressive about you or your life story? What details of your life (personal or family problems, history, people or events that have shaped
you or influenced your goals) might help the committee better understand you or help set you apart from other applicants?
When did you become interested in this field and what have you learned about it (and about yourself) that has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well suited to this field? What insights have you gained?
How have you learned about this field—through classes, readings, seminars, work or other experiences, or conversations with people already in the field?
If you have worked a lot during your college years, what have you learned (leadership or managerial skills, for example), and how has that work contributed to your growth?
What are your career goals? Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that you should explain Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships (for example, economic, familial,
or physical) in your life? What personal characteristics (for example, integrity, compassion, and/or persistence) do you
possess that would improve your prospects for success in the field or profession? What skills (for example, leadership, communicative, analytical) do you possess? What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be
interested in you?
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RU
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ersi
on 1
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5 – E
xcep
tiona
l 4 –
Stro
ng
3 – R
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ing
2 – D
evelo
ping
1 –
Em
ergi
ng
Ideas
o
Selection: I give a unique and
powerful m
ain idea/point
through my personal narrative.
o
Focus: My paper is 100%
focused through artful
techniques of dialogue, pacing,
description, and reflection.
o
Development: The text
creatively engages the reader by
setting out a well-‐developed
conflict, situation, or
observation and its significance.
o
Selection: I give a strong main
idea through concrete narration.
o
Focus: My paper stays focused
on the topic—
using techniques
of dialogue, pacing, description,
and reflection.
o
Development: The text engages
and orients the reader by
setting out a conflict, situation,
or observation and its
significance.
o
Selection: I suggest a main
idea, but it is predictable,
impersonal, or cliché.
o
Focus: My paper is m
ostly
focused on the topic—
while
juggling techniques of dialogue,
pacing, description, and
reflection.
o
Development: The text sets out
a conflict, situation, or
observation—
but doesn’t clarity
the significance.
o
Selection: My main idea is too
general, too abstract, or too
disconnected from
the story.
o
Focus: My paper m
eanders. It is
imbalanced in its use of
dialogue, pacing, description,
and reflection.
o
Development: The text
provides a setting with a vague
conflict, situation, or
observation with an unclear
point of view or significance.
o
Selection: There’s a vague hint
of a main idea/point in my
paper.
o
Focus: The paper is lost. There
isn’t m
uch thoughtful use of
dialogue, pacing, description,
and reflection.
o
Development: The text
provides a setting that is
unclear due to a vague conflict,
situation, or observation.
Organization
o
Introduction: My intro grabs
attention and dram
atically
hooks through dynam
ic
storytelling from
my point of
view.
o
Sequence: My exem
plary
progressions use techniques—
such as chronology, figurative
language, flashback, suspense,
etc.—
to establish a controlled
tone, natural flow
, and outcome.
o
Structure: My descriptions,
reflections, and sequences snap
together in a pow
erful way to
support the main idea/point.
o
Conclusion: My ending is
powerful and leaves the reader
thinking. The conclusion artfully
follows from and thoughtfully
reflects on what is experienced,
observed, or resolved over the
course of the narrative.
o
Introduction: My intro catches
attention and builds a concrete
situation for the reader.
o
Sequence: The sequence and
smooth progressions connect
my ideas using techniques—
such as chronology, figurative
language, flashback,
foreshadow
ing, suspense, etc.—
to create a tone and outcome.
o
Structure: Most of m
y ideas and
descriptions follow a logical
sequence to support the main
idea/point.
o
Conclusion: The ending is
satisfying to my reader. The
text builds to a conclusion that
logically follows from and
reflects on what is experienced,
observed, or resolved over the
course of the narrative.
o
Introduction: There is an intro,
but it does not hook the reader’s
interest/attention with a real-‐
life, concrete situation.
o
Sequence: I use some smooth
sequences, progressions, and
techniques—such as
chronology, figurative language,
flashback, foreshadowing,
suspense, etc.— to create an
outcom
e.
o
Structure: My ideas follow a
path, but the balance between
description & personal
reflection is way off.
o
Conclusion: The ending is not
very clear or pow
erful. The text
doesn't particularly reflect upon
or resolve the situation in any
meaningful m
anner.
o
Introduction: My intro is too
abstract, cliché, or vague.
o
Sequence: The text creates a
sequence or progression of
experiences and thoughts, but
lacks an identifiable tone or
outcom
e.
o
Structure: I focus w
ay too much
on one thing (description,
reflection, etc.), and the logical
structure is unclear.
o
Conclusion: My ending doesn't
develop a main idea or resolve
anything.
o
Introduction: My intro is
unrelated or unclear.
o
Sequence: There are very few
connections between my ideas,
and the text lacks an identifiable
tone or outcome.
o
Structure: My structure doesn’t
make sense because my ideas
and details seem
disorganized.
o
Conclusion: I have a conclusion,
but it is boring, too short, cliché,
or simply leaves the narrative
unresolved.
Grit
o
Tenacity: My essay gives
evidence of exceptional
character through both content
& form.
o
Reflection: I provide insight
into my ability to reflect deeply
into my life and humanity.
o
Risk: I reveal an appetite for
risk through how I tell my story
and/or through the events that I
am sharing.
o
Grow
th: I prove my "growth
mentality" through powerful
exam
ples of adaptability and
real-‐life reflection.
o
Tenacity: My essay gives
concrete evidence of character
through content and/or form.
o
Reflection: My essay provides
insight into my ability to reflect.
o
Risk: My narration reveals an
appetite for risk through how I
tell my story and/or through
what I share.
o
Grow
th: I show
my "growth
mentality" through exam
ples
from
real-‐life.
o
Tenacity: My essay hints at
concrete examples of
perseverance in content.
o
Reflection: My essay tells the
reader that I’ve reflected, but
doesn’t show it.
o
Risk: My narration neither
takes risks nor tells of risks
taken beyond giving a
confession or telling a story of a
struggle.
o
Grow
th: My essay strongly
suggests a growth mentality but
doesn’t provide clear evidence.
o
Tenacity: My essay suggests
that I have grit, but doesn’t give
any clear evidence.
o
Reflection: My essay provides
vague or disconnected
reflection.
o
Risk: My essay does not reveal
any form of risk.
o
Grow
th: My essay gives little
evidence of a growth mentality.
o
Tenacity: My essay doesn’t
clearly show
any hint of
perseverance in form or
content.
o
Reflection: My essay show
s little or no ability to reflect on
my experience.
o
Risk: My essay does not reveal
any form of risk.
o
Grow
th: My essay displays a
very fixed mentality regarding
life or myself.
14
Voice
o
Tone: M
y unique voice is
personal, sincere, and actively
engaging the audience from
start to finish.
o
Purpose: My storytelling takes
on a life, deeper implications,
beyond my ow
n dynamic tale.
o
Connection: I show
my reader
what they need to know with
passion so that they can’t help
reading.
o
Risks: M
y voice matches my
audience/purpose using “just
right” words/phrases.
o
Tone: M
y voice is personal and
sincere.
o
Purpose: The essay does m
ore
than just share a tale.
o
Connection: M
y reader enjoys
reading what I have to say, and
they can see that I know
what
I’m talking about.
o
Risks: I use “just right”
words/phrases that make it
clear that I am the one speaking.
o
Tone: M
y voice is sincere, but
not particularly unique,
engaging, or personal.
o
Purpose: My reader vaguely
suggests my purpose for w
riting
about this topic.
o
Connection: M
y reader likes
this paper, but I’m not reaching
out to them
at all tim
es.
o
Risks: I use “just right”
words/phrases here or there to
show
that I am
an original
author.
o
Tone: M
y voice is passive,
detached, and disengaged.
o
Purpose: My reader sort of
understands w
hy I wrote about
this topic, but not always.
o
Connection: M
y reader only
feels a connection to my paper
once or twice. Otherwise it’s
pretty robotic writing.
o
Risks: I use very little engaging
language; unimaginative.
o
Tone: have a tone, but it is so
basic it's boring to my reader.
There is no excitement.
o
Purpose: It’s confusing trying
to figure out why I wrote this
paper.
o
Connection: I may connect to
my reader once, but otherwise I
didn’t think of them
at all.
o
Risks: M
y original sound only
comes out once. For the most
part anyone could have written
this paper.
Words & Style
o
Verbs: I use powerful action
words that give my paper spice,
energy, and eloquence
o
Words/Phrases: I use a variety
of artful words/phrases,
especially descriptive and
figurative language that make
my paper deeply meaningful
o
Specific/Accurate: I use words
that are essential for my reader
to understand my them
e/thesis
o
Verbs: I use many strong action
words that give my paper
spice/energy
o
Words/Phrases: I have some
places where I successfully use
descriptive & figurative
language. M
y sentences vary in
length & style
o
Specific/Accurate: I use
precise words and phrases,
show
ing details and controlled
sensory language and mood to
convey a realistic picture of the
experiences, events, setting,
and/or characters
o
Verbs: I use the passive voice
and some action words to add
spice/energy
o
Words/Phrases: M
y paper has
attempted figurative and
descriptive language. I have
some variation in sentence
length and style.
o
Specific/Accurate: I use words
and phrases, telling details and
sensory language to convey a
vivid picture of the experiences,
events, setting, and/or
characters.
o
Verbs: There are action words
in my paper, but they aren’t
very spicy at all; they lack
energy
o
Words/Phrases: M
y paper has
descriptive or figurative
language, but it’s clichéd or
overused. There is little
variation in sentence length and
style.
o
Specific/Accurate: I use basic
words and phrases, telling
details to convey experiences,
events, settings, and/or
characters.
o
Verbs: My paper is full of basic
action words that are dull and
lifeless.
o
Words/Phrases: I either have
no figurative language or have
an awkward outcom
e. There’s
no use of variation in sentence
craft.
o
Specific/Accurate: I use the
same functional words over and
over to merely tell of events,
settings, and thoughts.
Conventions
o
Spelling: My spelling is
noteworthy due to use of
complex, expressive vocabulary
o
Punctuation/Paragraph: I
masterfully use my
punctuation/paragraphs to
enhance the meaning of the
sentences.
o
Gram
mar/Usage: I masterfully
use gram
mar and style to
enhance the meaning of the
sentences.
o
Spelling: My spelling is under
control.
o
Punctuation/Paragraph: I
effectively use punctuation and
capitalization in my paper.
o
Gram
mar/Usage: I have
mastered the rules of Standard
English.
o
Spelling: I misspell 1-‐2
advanced words.
o
Punctuation/Paragraph: I
make 1-‐2 errors with
punctuation and capitalization,
but m
eaning is not significantly
lost.
o
Gram
mar/Usage: I made 1-‐2
gram
matical errors, but they
don’t stop my reader from
understanding.
o
Spelling: I have several (more
than 2) spelling mistakes.
o
Punctuation/Paragraph: I
have more than 2 punctuation
or capitalization errors. The
meaning of m
y sentences and
paragraphs becom
e confused
with the errors.
o
Gram
mar/Usage: I made more
than 2 grammatically errors but
the reader can follow along.
o
Spelling: My poor spelling
makes it very difficult to read
my paper.
o
Punctuation/Paragraph: I’ve
given very little attention to
correct punctuation and
capitalization. The meaning of
my sentences and paragraphs
are often confused with the
errors.
o
Gram
mar/Usage: M
y paper is
almost unreadable due to
gram
mar/usage issues.
15
How to Get a Great Letter ofRecommendation
Get recommendation letters from people whoknow you wellDylan, college senior
Colleges often ask for two or three recommendation letters from people who know you well. These letters should be writtenby someone who can describe your skills, accomplishments and personality.
Colleges value recommendations because they:
Reveal things about you that grades and test scores can’tProvide personal opinions of your characterShow who is willing to speak on your behalf
Letters of recommendation work for you when they present you in the best possible light, showcasing your skills andabilities.
When to Ask for RecommendationsMake sure to give your references at least one month before yourearliest deadline to complete and send your letters. The earlieryou ask, the better. Many teachers like to write recommendationsduring the summer. If you apply under early decision or earlyaction plans, you'll definitely need to ask for recommendations bythe start of your senior year or before.
Remember that some teachers will be writing whole stacks ofletters, which takes time. Your teachers will do a better job onyour letter if they don’t have to rush.
Whom to AskIt’s your job to find people to write letters of recommendation foryou. Follow these steps to start the process:
Read each of your college applications carefully. Schools often ask for letters of recommendation from an academicteacher — sometimes in a specific subject — or a school counselor or both.Ask a counselor, teachers and your family who they think would make good references.Choose one of your teachers from junior year or a current teacher who has known you for a while. Colleges want acurrent perspective on you, so a teacher from several years ago isn't the best choice.Consider asking a teacher who also knows you outside the classroom. For example, a teacher who directed you in a playor advised your debate club can make a great reference.Consider other adults — such as an employer, a coach or an adviser from an activity outside of school — who have agood understanding of you and your strengths.Perhaps most important, pick someone who will be enthusiastic about writing the letter for you.If you’re unsure about asking someone in particular, politely ask if he or she feels comfortable recommending you. That’sa good way to avoid weak letters.
How to Get the Best Recommendations Your teachers will do a16
Some teachers write many recommendation letters each year.Even if they know you well, it’s a good idea to take some time tospeak with them. Make it easy for them to give positive, detailedinformation about your achievements and your potential byrefreshing their memory.
Here’s how:
Talk to them about your class participation.Remind them of specific work or projects you’re proud of.Tell them what you learned in class.Mention any challenges you overcame.Give them the information they need to provide specific examples of your work.If you need a recommendation letter from a counselor or other school official, follow these guidelines:Make an appointment ahead of time.Talk about your accomplishments, hobbies and plans for college and the future.If you need to discuss part of your transcript — low grades during your sophomore year, for example — do so. Explainwhy you had difficulty and discuss how you've changed and improved since then.
Whether approaching teachers, a counselor or another reference, you may want to provide them with a resume that brieflyoutlines your activities, both in and outside the classroom, and your goals.
Final TipsThe following advice is easy to follow and can really pay off:
Waive your right to view recommendation letters on your application forms. Admission officers will trust them more if youhaven’t seen them.Give your references addressed and stamped envelopes for each college that requested a recommendation.Make sure your references know the deadlines for each college.Follow up with your references a week or so before recommendations are due to make sure your letters have been sent.Once you’ve decided which college to attend, write thankyou notes. Tell your references where you’re going and let themknow how much you appreciate their support.
better job on your letterif they don’t have torush.
17
Educational Opportunity Program ApplicantsNEW YORKSTATE RESIDENTS ONLY
What is it?The State University of New York'sEducational Opportunity Program provides access, academic support and financial aid to students who showpromise for succeeding in college butwho may not otherwise be offeredadmission. Available to first-time,full-time, matriculated students, theprogram supports students throughouttheir college careers within theUniversity.
Support ServicesEducational Opportunity Program students receive both academic andfinancial support. Academic supportservices may include: personal counseling, academic advisement, tutoring, skill development workshops,supplemental instruction and mentoring.As part of the student’s overall financialaid package, the EducationalOpportunity Program provides modestfinancial aid to alleviate non-tuition expenses (e.g., books, supplies, etc.).
Campus ParticipationThe Educational Opportunity Program isavailable at all SUNY campuses with the exception of: Empire State College,and Adirondack, Cayuga County, Clinton,Columbia-Greene, Corning, HerkimerCounty, Jamestown, Jefferson, MohawkValley, Nassau, Niagara County, NorthCountry, Orange County, Rockland,Sullivan County and Tompkins CortlandCommunity Colleges.
Fee WaiverStudents submitting applications forEOP consideration may qualify forapplication fee waivers for their firstfour campus choices. If the applicantdoes not meet both academic and economic eligibility guidelines or, if the campus does not operate anEducational Opportunity Program, the student will be billed for the fee.
*Subject to change for 2016-17.**Plus $7,696 for each additional household member in excess of eight.
Total Annual Income in Previous
Calendar Year
Household Size(Including head of household)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
EOP Income Guidelines*2015-16
Who is eligible?To be eligible for admission to theEducational Opportunity Program a student must: 1) be a New York Stateresident for 12 months prior to enroll-ment; 2) require alternate admissionsconsideration; and 3) qualify as eco-nomically disadvantaged according tothe guidelines indi cated. In selectingstudents for the program, priority isgiven to applicants from historicallydisadvantaged backgrounds. Admissionis subject to program capacity.
To be eligible for the program as atransfer, a student must have beenenrolled in the EOP, CD/SEEK, HEOP or a similar program at his or her previous college. If the previous collegedid not have EOP or a similar program,the student may receive considerationfor transfer eligibility and should notifythe college to which he or she is transferring.
Academic EligibilityAcademic eligibility will vary by campus. To view the EOP freshmanprofile for each campus, visitwww.suny.edu/eop-academics.
Financial EligibilityThe table to the right lists financialguidelines for Educational OpportunityProgram eligibility. To be determinedeconomically disadvantaged, a student'shousehold income must not exceed theamount shown for its size, or the student's circumstances must conformto one of the exceptions indicated.Eligibility guidelines may be adjustedslightly each year.
NOTE: Applicants who are deemed ineli gible for EOP may still qualify foradmission and financial aid through other admissions processes.
Exceptions to Income Guidelines
> The student’s family is the recipient of Family Assistance or Safety Net payments throughthe New York State Office ofTemporary and Disability Assistance; or through a county Department of Social Services;or Family Day Care paymentsthrough the New York StateOffice of Children and FamilyAssistance;
> The student lives with foster parents who do not provide support for college and the student’s natural parents provide no such support;
> The student is a ward of the state or county.
$ 21,775
29,471
37,167
44,863
52,559
60,255
67,951
75,647**
18
2014 SAT* ACT High EOPEOP Planned Scores Scores School Supplemental
Campus Name Undergraduate Freshman Total EOP (Combined) (Composite) GPA Information Summer(by campus type) Enrollment Enrollment Enrollment (Scores reflect middle 50%) Required Program
University Centers and Doctoral Degree Granting InstitutionsAlbany 12,929 200 636 920-950 19-21 82-87 No Yes
Binghamton 13,412 148 588 1000-1090 21-25 86-92 Yes Yes
University at Buffalo** 19,831 210 880 910-1030 19-22 83-89 Yes Yes
Stony Brook** 16,702 180 600 970-1070 20-24 85-92 No Yes
SUNY Polytechnic Institute 2,000 17 58 815-940 -- 81-88 Yes Yes
NYS Ceramics at Alfred University 610 2 2 730-910 15-19 76-81 No Yes
Cornell University: (Human Ecology, Agriculture and Life Sciences, Industrial and Labor Relations) 1,208 23 85 1130-1260 -- 92-95 Yes Yes
Environmental Science & Forestry 1,700 9 23 1040-1110 23-25 86-92 No Yes
University CollegesBrockport 6,819 65 283 860-920 16-20 81-85 Yes Yes
Buffalo State 9,316 170 719 810-840 17-19 79-81 Yes Yes
Cortland 6,350 35 141 850-900 -- 82-85 Yes Yes
Fredonia 4,941 43 120 830-930 17-18 79-85 Yes Yes
Geneseo 4,950 34 153 920-1010 24-24 86-92 Yes Yes
New Paltz 6,642 125 498 850-980 17-21 82-88 Yes No
Old Westbury 4,313 75 320 800-1000 -- 75-80 Yes Yes
Oneonta 5,800 55 225 840-920 17-18 81-89 Yes Yes
Oswego 7,200 115 333 810-910 16-16 81-86 Yes Yes
Plattsburgh 5,565 80 200 770-890 15-25 77-82 Yes Yes
Potsdam 3,707 43 133 -- -- 79-83 No Yes
Purchase 4,493 40 150 840-980 -- 77-83 Yes Yes
Colleges of TechnologyAlfred State 3,661 43 116 780-890 17-18 80-85 Yes Yes
Canton 3,291 120 245 700-810 -- 75-81 No Yes
Cobleskill 2,470 55 129 760-870 15-19 72-79 Yes Yes
Delhi 3,375 70 172 780-930 -- 74-81 No Yes
Farmingdale 8,394 32 125 850-900 17-19 78-81 No Yes
Maritime 1,600 16 42 970-1065 23-23 80-85 No Yes
Morrisville 3,095 78 186 690-820 14-17 74-81 Yes Yes
Community CollegesBroome+ 6,700 19 63 -- -- 70-82 No No
Dutchess 10,221 34 119 -- -- 72-75 No No
Erie 13,649 150 438 -- -- 70-82 Yes No
Fashion Institute of Technology 9,667 43 203 750-910 18-18 76-82 No Yes
Finger Lakes 6,800 52 150 -- -- 73-81 Yes No
Fulton-Montgomery+ 2,589 15 39 -- -- 66-72 Yes No
Genesee 7,087 49 83 -- -- 70-79 No No
Hudson Valley 12,452 42 119 -- -- 65-79 Yes No
Monroe 15,335 93 260 -- -- 70-79 Yes Yes
Onondaga 12,271 100 267 -- -- 65-75 Yes Yes
Schenectady 6,466 33 80 -- -- 72-76 Yes Yes
Suffolk 26,219 68 155 -- -- 69-83 Yes Yes
Ulster 3,702 110 133 -- -- 77-81 No No
Westchester 13,916 37 133 -- -- 70-78 No No
Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Information Summary – 2015For more information call our toll-free number at 800-342-3811 or visit us on the web at www.suny.edu/attend
OVER >>
EOP is also available at Downstate Medical Center and Upstate Medical University.* * The SAT ranges above represent combined critical reading and math scores (the maximum possible total is 1600). While most campuses base admissions decisions onmath and critical reading sections of the SAT, prospective students should consult with campuses of interest to determine policies regarding the SAT writing score andfor students taking the ACT, if the ACT writing component is required.
** Enrollment includes Health Science Centers.+ 2014 Data
+
+
+
+
15K
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
19
What is HEOP?
The Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) provides supportive services and financial aid to NewYork State residents attending independent colleges and universities in New York State.
Who is Eligible?
To be eligible for HEOP you must meet all of the following conditions. You must:
1. Have been a resident of New York State for one year preceding your term of entry into HEOP.2. Possess a high school diploma or a State-approved equivalency diploma (with a composite score not
higher than 3100) or its equivalent. The equivalent of a general equivalency diploma is defined asbeing one of the following:
1. An Armed Forces Equivalency Diploma, with a minimum score of 410 on each test section and aminimum composite score of 2250?
2. A level of knowledge and academic ability equal to the level required for entrance to theeducational opportunity program at the institution to which the individual seeks admission.
3. Be educationally disadvantaged. An educationally disadvantaged student is a student who otherwisewould not be accepted as a matriculated student under the institution’s normal admissions standardsin the degree program for which application is made. At open admissions institutions, aneducationally disadvantaged student must meet one of the following criteria:
1. Possess a high school equivalency diploma? or b) Possess the equivalent of a GED? or2. Have no high school diploma? or3. Meet other acceptable academic criteria, which differentiate the HEOP student from regularly
admitted students (e.g., lower test scores, lower GED scores).
4. Have the potential and motivation for successful completion of college.5. Be economically disadvantaged. (See section titled “Economic Eligibility Criteria for Opportunity
Programs.)6. Have been in an approved opportunity program (if a transfer student).
How Do I Apply?
To apply for admission to a Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), request an application from theinstitution that you are interested in attending. There are 58 HEOP programs throughout New York State,offering a wide variety of academic courses in major fields of study. Specific information can be obtainedby writing to the HEOP program on that campus. A roster of HEOP programs is listed at the end of thisbrochure.
Please note: Many independent colleges require you to apply by February 1 of the year you intend to begin.This date varies at each campus. Please plan to apply as early as possible.
20
If I Am Accepted – What Next?
Summer Program. Entering students usually are required to take part in a prefreshman summer program.The summer program is designed to orient the student to college life, initiate a program of academic skillsbuilding, and acquaint the student with the services available through HEOP.
Supportive Services. During the summer and academic year, supportive services take many forms:
1. Remedial and Developmental Courses. If you need additional academic assistance to prepare you forcollege-level work, HEOP can meet your academic needs. Before you begin your classes, the HEOPprofessional staff will evaluate your academic strengths and weaknesses, and design a specificacademic program to help eliminate your academic deficiencies. You will have the opportunity to takenoncredit and credit remedial/developmental courses. These courses provide instruction in basicskills, reading, writing, vocabulary, mathematics, and other areas of study.
2. Tutorial Services. HEOP provides you with tutorial services to assist you with your academic courses.Tutorial services are conducted on a one-to-one basis or in groups, depending upon your needs.Some tutors are competent, experienced HEOP students and some are professional tutors.
3. Counseling Services. Counseling services are provided by the HEOP staff on an individual or groupbasis to assist you with any problems that may interfere with your academic work. You will receive thefollowing types of counseling:
1. Academic The HEOP counselor will assist you in selecting your academic major and courses. Youcan take a reduced course load during your first semester. You are also given an extra year ofeligibility to graduate.
2. Personal Adjustment to college life often presents many new problems for HEOP students.Counseling helps you develop your self-confidence, identity, and a positive attitude aboutlearning.
3. Career Students are often undecided about what to do after graduation. The HEOP staff will assistyou in making career choices. Career counseling will help you in selecting the necessary coursesto prepare you for employment or postgraduate study.
Can I Afford to Attend College?
HEOP provides colleges with funds to help meet the cost of your education. You will also be eligible forother State, Federal, and institutional financial aid awards. Students are required to apply for the State’sTuition Assistance Program (TAP) and the Federal Pell Grant.
The amount of financial aid and the application procedures vary from campus to campus. HEOP studentsare expected to contribute to the cost of their education from family savings or summer earnings. Specificinformation can be obtained by contacting the HEOP Office or Financial Aid Office at the college you areinterested in attending. For general questions about HEOP, please feel free to call or write to:
Collegiate Development Programs UnitNew York State Education Department 21
89 Washington Avenue, Room 1071 EBAAlbany, NY 12234 (518) 4745313
Economic Eligibility Criteria for Opportunity Programs
Family Income Scale for the Purpose of Determining Eligibility for Supplemental Financial Assistance forFirst-time Students Enrolled in Opportunity Programs:
1. A student is economically disadvantaged if he or she is a member of a household supported by onemember thereof with a total annual income which does not exceed the applicable amount set forth inthe following table? or a household supported solely by one member thereof who works for two ormore employers with a total annual income which does not exceed the applicable amount set forth inthe following table by more than $2,790? or of a household supported by more than one workerthereof or of a household in which one worker is the sole support of a one-parent family, if the totalannual income of such households does not exceed the applicable amount set forth in the followingtable by more than $5,570. For the purposes of this subdivision, the number of members of ahousehold shall be determined by ascertaining the number of individuals living in the student’sresidence who are economically dependent on the income supporting the student.
Household Size
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11+
22
Household size must include all household members including the head of thehousehold. Total annual income must be from the preceding calendar year.
The income figures in the table of this section apply to the student applicant’s income only when he orshe is an independent student. For purposes of this part, an independent student:
1. is a student who is 24 years of age or older by December 31 of the program year? or2. is an orphan or ward of the court (A student is considered independent if he or she is a ward of
the court or was a ward of the court until the individual reached the age of eighteen)? or (iii) is aveteran of the Armed Forces of the United States who has engaged in active duty in the United
Total Annual Income
$21,257
$28,694
$36,131
$43,568
$51,005
$58,442
$65,879
$73,316
$80,753
$88,190
$95,627+$7,437 for each family member in excess
of 11 persons
23
States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard and was released under a condition otherthan dishonorable? or
3. is a married individual? or4. has legal dependents other than a spouse? or5. is a student for whom an opportunity program and financial aid administrator has made a
satisfactorily documented determination of independence by reason of other extraordinarycircumstances.
2. A maximum of 15 percent of the students admitted to a HEOP program may come from householdswhose income exceeds the scale listed in the preceding table when unusual and extenuatingcircumstances warrant. Documentation of these circumstances shall be kept on file by the institutionsat which such students are enrolled, and shall be corroborated by a disinterested, reliable third party.Categories into which the exceptions may fall are limited to the following:
1. Serious mismanagement of the family income, with little accruing to the interest of the student?or
2. A onetime fluctuation in household income, where there is a history of low income? or3. Households with substantial long-term, non-reimbursed medical obligations such as
maintenance of physically or mentally handicapped children? or4. Families which must maintain two households, one for the wage earner and one for the
dependents in order to maintain employment? or5. Families where the family contribution as computed from base year financial data by a United
States Department of Education approved needs analysis system indicates no contribution otherthan the minimum expectation from student income for independent students, or a zero parentalcontribution for dependent students.
For information about similar programs at public universities, you may write to:
SEEK & College Discovery Programs (SEEK/CD)The City University of New York535 East 80 th StreetNew York, NY 10021Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)State University of New YorkState University PlazaAlbany, NY 12246
24
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26
FairTest National Center for Fair & Open Testing
195 “Top Tier” Schools which Deemphasize the ACT/SAT in Admissions Decisions per U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Guide (2016 Edition)
from http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional -- updated October 8, 2015 --
National Liberal Arts Colleges
4. Bowdoin College (ME)
4. Middlebury College (VT) “Test Flexible”
14. Hamilton College (NY) “Test Flexible”
14. Smith College (MA)
14. Wesleyan University (CT)
19. Colby College (ME) “Test Flexible”
25. Bates College (ME)
25. Bryn Mawr (PA)
25. Colorado College (CO) “Test Flexible”
32. College of the Holy Cross (MA)
35. Mount Holyoke College (MA)
36. Pitzer College (CA)
38. Union College (NY)
40. Dickinson College (PA)
40. Franklin and Marshall College (PA)
43. Trinity College (CT)
45. Bard College (NY)
48. Connecticut College (CT)
48. Sewanee -- The University of the South (TN)
48. Gettysburg College (PA)
51. Furman University (SC)
55. Denison University (OH)
55. St. John’s College (MD)
57. Lawrence University (WI)
57. Sarah Lawrence College (NY)
60. St. Lawrence University (NY)
61. Beloit College (WI)
61. Hobart and William Smith Colleges (NY)
61. Earlham College (IN)
66 Kalamazoo College (MI).
67. Wheaton College (MA)
67. Agnes Scott College (GA)
72. Allegheny College (PA)
72. Knox College (IL)
72. Lewis and Clark (OR)
72. Muhlenberg College (PA)
72. University of Puget Sound (WA)
79. Gustavus Adolphus (MN)
82. College of the Atlantic (ME)
82. Transylvania University (KY)
93. Bennington College (VT)
93. Cornell College (IA)
93. Ursinus College (PA)
100. St. John’s College (NM)
100. Washington College (MD)
100. Washington & Jefferson College (PA)
105. Augustana College (IL)
105. Juniata College (PA)
105. St. Michael’s College (VT)
108. Lake Forest College (IL)
108. Ohio Wesleyan University (OH)
112. Drew University (NJ)
112. Goucher College (MD)
112. St. Anselm College (NH)
112. Siena College (NY)
116. Stonehill College (MA)
120 Susquehanna University (PA)
127. Presbyterian College (SC)
134. McDaniel College (MD)
136. Illinois College (IL)
136. Marlboro College (VT)
143. Roanoke College (VA)
148. Wittenberg University (OH)
158. Guilford College (NC)
158. William Jewell College (MO)
164. Lycoming College (PA)
164. Hartwick College (NY)
164. Warren Wilson College (NC)
National Universities
27. Wake Forest University (NC)
32. New York University (NY) “Test Flexible”
33. University of Rochester (NY) “Test Flexible”
34. Brandeis University (MA)
52. Univ. of Texas – Austin (TX) “Top 8%”
57. George Washington University
57. Worcester Polytechnic Institute (MA)
70. Texas A & M (TX) “Top 10%”
72. American University (DC)
75. Clark University (MA)
115. Duquesne University (PA)
115. Temple University (PA)
121. University of Arizona (AZ)
123. DePaul University (IL)
123 The Catholic University of America (DC)
127. New School (NY)
129. Arizona State University (AZ)
135. Hofstra University (NY)
135. George Mason University (VA)
140. University of Mississippi (MS)
140. Univ. of Texas – Dallas (TX) “Top 15%”
146. Kansas State University (KS)
156. University of Massachusetts – Lowell (MA)
156. Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)
187. University of Nevada – Reno (NV 27
Regional Universities – North
2. Providence College (RI)
3. College of New Jersey (NJ)
3. Fairfield University (CT)
3. Loyola University (MD)
8. University of Scranton (PA)
9. Ithaca College (NY)
11. Bryant University (RI)
13. Marist College (NY)
15. Saint Joseph’s University (PA)
19. Le Moyne College (NY)
19. Rowan University (NJ)
26. Wagner College (NY)
29. Hood College (MD)
29. Nazareth College (NY)
32. Assumption College (MA)
34. Montclair State University (NJ)
36. Roger Williams University (RI)
36. Salve Regina University (RI)
41. Mercyhurst University (PA)
41. Sacred Heart University (CT)
53. Chatham University (PA)
53. College of Saint Rose (NY)
53. King’s College (PA)
58. Johnson and Wales University (RI)
58. Western New England University (MA)
66. Emmanuel College (MA)
66. Endicott College (MA)
71. Salisbury University (MD)
76. Norwich University (VT)
79. University of Saint Joseph (CT)
92. Manhattanville College (NY)
92. Eastern Connecticut State University (CT)
92. Saint Peter’s University (NJ)
92. SUNY Potsdam (NY)
100. Plymouth State University (NH)
100. The Sage Colleges (NY)
112. Point Park University (PA)
116. Utica College (NY)
131. Southern New Hampshire University (NH)
Regional Universities -- South
1. Rollins College (FL)
5. Stetson University (FL)
9. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (FL)
14. Christopher Newport University (VA)
16. University of Mary Washington (VA)
18. Hampton University (VA)
34. Radford University (VA)
53. Marymount University (VA)
63. St. Thomas University (FL)
71. St. Leo University (FL)
Regional Universities – Midwest
3. Drake University (IA)
13. Baldwin-Wallace College (OH)
54. Walsh University (OH)
74. Northwest Missouri State University (MO)
75. Wayne State College (NE)
104. Robert Morris University (IL)
Regional Universities – West
10. Whitworth University (WA)
37. California State Univ. – Fullerton (CA)
39. San Jose State University (CA)
42. California State Univ. – Chico (CA)
42. Walla Walla University (WA)
48. Sonoma State University (CA)
52. California State Univ. – Fresno (CA)
52. Texas State Univ. – San Marcos (TX)
57. California State Univ. – Stanislaus (CA)
57. Humboldt State University (CA)
63. California State Univ. – Los Angeles (CA)
63. California State Univ. – Monterey Bay (CA)
63. California State Univ. – Sacramento (CA)
63. San Francisco State University (CA)
69. California State Univ. – San Bernadino (CA)
70. California State Univ. – Northridge (CA)
73. University of Texas – Tyler (TX)
77. Hawaii Pacific University (HI)
77. University of Alaska – Anchorage (AK)
77. Weber State University (UT)
77. Western Oregon University (OR)
83. California State Univ. – Bakersfield (CA)
87. California State Univ. – Channel Islands (CA)
87. California State Univ. – San Marcos (CA)
Regional Colleges – North
4. Elizabethtown College (PA)
6. Lebanon Valley College (PA)
9. Merrimack College (MA)
11. Bard College at Simon’s Rock (MA)
19. University of Maine – Farmington (ME)
21. Wilson College (PA)
24. Cazenovia College (NY)
28. Unity College (ME)
28. SUNY College of Technology – Delhi (NY)
31. Dean College (MA)
36. Nichols College (MA)
37. Pennsylvania College of Technology (PA)
38. University of Maine – Fort Kent (ME)
40. University of Maine – Presque Isle (ME)
43. Washington Adventist University (MD)
44. Thomas College (ME)
Regional Colleges – South
15. Catawba College (NC)
36. Keiser University (FL)
39. Belmont Abbey College (NC)
60. Lees-McRae College (NC)
69. Everglades University (FL)
Regional Colleges – Midwest 52. Olivet College (MI)
Regional Colleges -- West
12. Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OK)
27. St. Gregory’s University (OK)
31. University of Houston – Downtown (TX)
28
Colleges and Universities That Meet 100% of NeedTo make the search easier, here are the schools that I know of that meet 100% of financial need for all ormost of its students. If you are aware of others, please let me know.
Also on the list I included schools, which I boldfaced, that meet at least 94% of need for the majority of itsstudents.
1. Amherst College (MA)2. Barnard College (NY)3. Bates College (ME)4. Boston College (MA)5. Brown University (RI)6. Bryn Mawr College (PA)7. Bowdoin College (ME)8. Bucknell University (PA)9. California Institute of Technology10. Carleton College (MN)11. Claremont McKenna College (CA)12. Clark University (MA)13. Colby College (ME)14. Colgate University (NY)15. College of the Holy Cross (MA)16. College of Wooster (OH)17. Colorado College (CO)18. Columbia University (NY)19. Connecticut College (CT)20. Cornell University (NY)21. Davidson College (NC)22. Denison University (OH)23. Dickinson College (PA)24. Duke University (NC)25. Dartmouth College (NH)26. Emory University (GA)27. Franklin and Marshall College (PA)28. Franklin W. Olin College29. Georgetown University (DC)30. Gettysburg College (PA)31. Grinnell College (IA)32. Hamilton College (NY)33. Harvey Mudd College (CA)34. Haverford College (PA)35. Harvard University (MA)
29
36. Johns Hopkins University (MD)37. Kenyon College (OH)38. Lafayette College (PA)39. Lehigh University (PA)40. Macalester College (MN)41. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)42. Middlebury College (VT)43. Mount Holyoke College (MA)44. Northwestern University (IL)45. Oberlin College (OH)46. Occidental College (CA)47. Pitzer College (CA)48. Pomona College (CA)49. Princeton University (NJ)50. Reed College (OR)51. Rice University (TX)52. Saint John’s College (NM)53. Saint Olaf College (MN)54. Scripps College (CA)55. Sewanee: The University of the South (TN)56. Smith College (MA)57. Stanford University (CA)58. Swarthmore College (NY)59. Thomas Aquinas College (CA)60. Trinity College (CT)61. Tufts University (MA)62. Tulane University (LA)63. Union College (NY)64. University of Chicago (IL)65. University of Notre Dame (IN)66. University of Pennsylvania (PA)67. University of Richmond (VA)68. University of Rochester (NY)69. University of Southern California70. Vanderbilt University (TN)71. Vassar College (NY)72. Wabash College (IN)73. Wake Forest University (NC)74. Washington and Lee University (VA)75. Washington University, St. Louis, (MO)76. Wellesley College (MA)77. Wesleyan University (MA)78. Williams College (MA)
30
79. Wheaton College (MA)80. Yale University (CT)
31
2 THE FAFSA IS THE PLACE TO START — AND IT’S FREE
Financial Aid 101 FOR JUNIORS AND SENIORS
What is financial aid? Financial aid is money that can help you pay for college. Some aid needs to be paid back or earned, and some aid is a gift. This money is available to all kinds of people. Here are the most important things you should know about financial aid.
QUICK FACTS ON FINANCIAL AID4
1 There are four main sources:
Federal government (largest source)
State governments
Colleges and universities
Private organizations
MORE THAN $185 BILLION IN AID IS AVAILABLE
Questions for Financial Aid Officers:
Once you identify a college that is a good fit for you, you should investigate your financial aid options. Each college has its own financial aid policies — guidelines for deciding who qualifies for aid, what type of aid is available, and similar questions.
To be sure you understand what is available, check to see if the answers to these questions appear on the college’s website or in their print materials. If not, schedule a phone meeting or an interview with a member of the financial aid staff if you’re going to be visiting the college.
To qualify for many types of aid, you’ll need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application gives you access to these types of aid:
Grants and scholarships: money you don’t have to pay back
Work-study jobs: paid, part-time work that’s generally on campus
Loans:money you need to pay back, usually after you graduate
3 THE FAFSA IS CONVENIENT Complete the form online at fafsa.gov or download paper forms there. You can even import your family’s tax information directly from the IRS website.
4 MORE AID IS OUT THERE Once you have completed the FAFSA, you should apply for these types of aid:
Financial aid at the colleges to which you are applying
Private scholarships for which you are eligible
What’s the average total cost — including tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, travel, and other personal expenses — for the first year?
How much have your costs increased over the last three years?
Does financial need have an effect on admission decisions?
What is the priority deadline to apply for financial aid, and when am I notified about financial aid award decisions?
How is financial aid affected if I apply under an early decision or early action program?
Does the college offer need-based and merit-based financial aid?
Are there scholarships available that aren’t based on financial need, and do I need to complete a separate application for them?
If the financial aid package the college offers isn’t enough, are there any conditions under which it can be reconsidered, such as changes in my family’s financial situation or my enrollment status (or that of a family member)?
How does the aid package change from year to year?
What are the terms of the programs included in the aid package?
What are the academic requirements or other conditions for the renewal of financial aid, including scholarships?
When can I expect to receive bills from the college, and is there an option to spread the yearly payment over equal monthly installments?
32
What to Do When Your Financial Aid Award Isn’t Enough
1
2
3
Colleges want to provide financial aid to their students, but they don’t always have enough funds to meet the full need of every student. That means a school may not award you enough financial aid to cover all your college expenses. Or maybe your family’s financial situation has changed, and you now need more aid than the college awarded you. If you are in either of these situations, follow these steps.
Contact the Financial Aid Office Call or email the financial aid office. If someone there can’t answer your question in a phone call or email, make an appointment to meet with a financial aid officer, if possible.
Talking with a financial aid officer can help you learn how you can make up the difference between what you need and what the college awarded you. Financial aid officers want to help you attend their college, so they will work with you to find the right solution.
You can start by asking questions like the following:
What are my options for receiving more aid?
How can I find scholarships to help pay for college?
Can I talk to someone at the college about finding part-time work?
Do you have any advice about getting a private loan?
File an Appeal If there is a significant change in your family’s finances — such as a drop in income or unexpected medical expenses — you can submit an appeal asking the financial aid office to review your award. Call the office to find out what the college’s standard appeals process is so you can follow it. Be ready to provide proof of the change in your circumstances, such as bank statements, pay stubs, or medical bills. But remember, it will take you time to prepare the appeal, and it will take the college time to act on it.
If your appeal is not successful, you may want to consider applying for a private loan or explore other ways to pay for college.
Don’t Be Shy About Asking for Help No matter what your situation, don’t be shy about contacting the financial aid office. Financial aid officers are there to answer your questions.
Visit bigfuture.collegeboard.org for more information
© 2014 The College Board. College Board and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. All other products and services may be trademarks of their respective owners. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org. 14b-9678 141916156
33
The Expected Family Contribution(EFC): FAQs
How can you tell what college will really cost?Myra Smith, Executive Director, Financial AidServices, The College Board
Colleges figure out how much financial aid they will offer you, in part, by calculating your expected family contribution(EFC). Your EFC is a measure of your family’s financial strength. It's a number that’s calculated using information you giveabout your family’s circumstances.
How is the EFC calculated?Two similar formulas, or methodologies, are used to determine your EFC. The federal government uses a formula calledthe Federal Methodology. Many colleges use a formula called the Institutional Methodology. Both formulas figure out yourEFC by looking at how much money your family has, how big your family is and how many people in your family are incollege.
The EFC Calculator can help you estimate what your EFC will be using either methodology.
How does the Federal Methodology work?The Federal Methodology relies on the information you provide on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)to figure out your EFC. This version of your EFC determines how much financial aid you can get from the U.S. government.Some colleges use the Federal Methodology to award their institutional funds as well.
How does the Institutional Methodology work?The Institutional Methodology relies on information you supply inthe CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® (the financial aid applicationservice of the College Board) to figure out your EFC. This versionof your EFC is used by some colleges and scholarship programsto determine how much nonfederal financial aid to give you.
How do colleges use the EFC?Colleges subtract your EFC from the total cost of attending theirinstitution for one year. The total cost — which includes tuition,fees, room and board, books and supplies, personal expenses,and transportation costs — minus your EFC is how muchfinancial aid they estimate you’ll need to attend the college.
Why am I expected to pay different EFC amounts atdifferent colleges?Financial aid policies vary somewhat from college to college. For example, some colleges may consider familycircumstances, such as unusual medical expenses, while others may not.
Is the EFC the only amount I will need to pay to go to college?Not necessarily. Colleges might not be able to offer you a financial package that meets your full need. In these cases, yourfamily will need to cover the gap (as well as paying the EFC). Ask about a college’s average percent of need met toestimate how much of your need the college might cover.
What can I do if my EFC seems higher than it shouldbe?If you believe that a college has calculated your EFC incorrectly,contact the financial aid office. Financial aid officers can explainhow they determined your EFC and discuss your options. YourEFC may be lowered if your family has had a significant changein income or expenses since you applied.
What should I do if my EFC is high?If your EFC is high, you should not expect to receive a largeneedbased financial aid package. Look for colleges that have astrong meritawards policy or practice needblind college admission.
What should I do if my EFC is low?
Colleges use yourEFC to help themdecide how muchfinancial aid to awardyou.
OTHER TOPICS IN PAYFOR COLLEGE
Financial Aid 101
College Costs
Grants & Scholarships
Financial Aid Awards
Loans
Tools & Calculators
Wheremoststudentslive oncampus
Wheremoststudentscommute
Start a college search:Want a residential orcommuter campus?
Find colleges
EXPERT Q&A
What are the biggest mythsabout financial aid?
Mary Nucciarone, AssociateDirector of Financial Aid, Universityof Notre Dame
RELATED RESOURCES
College Costs: FAQs
College Tuition Payment Plans
Your Financial Aid Award Explained
College Loans: Your Strategy
Your College Saving Options
Comparing Financial Aid Awards
34
EXPERT Q&A
Think you can't afford thecollege you want?
William M. Schilling, UniversityDirector of Student Financial Aid,University of Pennsylvania
COLLEGE COSTS: FAQS
How much is college? What istuition? Is college worth it? Getanswers to your questions aboutcollege costs.Read article
COLLEGE TUITIONPAYMENT PLANS
How will you pay for college? Learnabout different payment plans, soyou can make the right decisionsfor you and your budget.Read article
If your EFC is low, you are more likely to receive a larger needbased financial aid package. Look for colleges that offersignificant needbased financial aid packages.
What should I do if financial aid isn’t enough?If your financial aid package falls short of what you need, you have options. Consider getting a parttime job, finding waysto reduce college costs or taking out a private loan.
Recommended
35
How to Complete the FAFSA
To apply for most financial aid — including federal and state student grants, workstudy, and loans — you’ll need tocomplete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Although this financial aid form may seem complex, thereare many free resources to help you. And completing the form is easier than it used to be, thanks to the new IRS DataRetrieval Tool.
Where to Find the FAFSAThe FAFSA is available online at FAFSA on the Web. If you need a paper copy, you can download a PDF atwww.studentaid.ed.gov/PDFfafsa or call 8004FEDAID (4333243).
FAFSA on the WebYou can complete, submit and track your application online. Thisis the easiest way to apply for federal aid. The online programeven checks your data before it is transmitted to the processingcenter, so there's less chance of making an error.
Before You ApplyComplete your income tax return. You don’t have to file your income tax return before you fill out the FAFSA, but it’s agood idea to do so. A lot of the requested information is the same, and you may be able to use the timesaving IRS DataRetrieval Tool.
If your college has an early financial aid application deadline, you may need to complete your FAFSA before your incometax return is ready. Just estimate your and your parents’ income as best as you can on the FAFSA. Don’t worry — you canreturn and update your information once your tax returns have been filed.
Create an FSA ID. When you start your FAFSA on the Web application, you will set up your account by creating a user IDand password. These will become your online identifiers for all federal student aid programs. You will need to provide yourown email address and password (parents will create their own account using a different email address and password). Setup your user ID and password before you start your FAFSA. Learn how to create an FSA ID (.pdf/2.1MB).
Note: The FSA ID replaces the FAFSA PIN as of May 10, 2015. If you already have a FAFSA PIN, you can create a newFSA ID and link that to your existing PIN.
Collect documents. See a list of the documents you need to get started.Completing the Application
My parents helped me complete the FAFSA
Taylor H., college senior
Find out why Taylor H. thinks the financial aid application process is "pretty simple."
Video Transcript
0:33
January 1 is the firstday you can file theFAFSA.
OTHER TOPICS IN PAYFOR COLLEGE
College Costs
Grants & Scholarships
Paying Your Share
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Loans
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WEBINAR: COMPLETINGTHE FAFSA — WHAT YOUNEED TO KNOW
Watch this webinar to get anoverview of the application, find outwhat information you'll need toprovide, and learn about resourcesand tools to help complete theform.Play recorded webinar and getresources
EXPERT Q&A
When should you apply forfinancial aid?
William M. Schilling, UniversityDirector of Student Financial Aid,University of Pennsylvania
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STUDENT STORY
After you file once, the FAFSA’seasier next year
FINANCIAL AID: FAQS
Most students receive some formof financial aid to help them pay forcollege. Learn about financial aidand how it can work for you.Read article
EFC CALCULATOR
This tool calculates your EFC, ameasure of your family’s financialstrength. Colleges and states usethis number to help determine yourfinancial aid award.
Completing the ApplicationThe following tips make it easier to complete the FAFSA.
Reminders and ResourcesJanuary 1 is the first day you can file the FAFSA. You should try to file as close to this date as possible. College, state andprivate aid deadlines may be much earlier than federal deadlines. You should pay attention to your colleges' priorityfinancial aid deadlines.For help, go to the free government website Completing the FAFSA. It has a detailed questionbyquestion guide to fillingout the FAFSA.More free help can be found at Student Aid on the Web.
The New IRS Data Retrieval Tool
You can save time and effort if you qualify to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. It will transfer your income tax data directlyfrom the IRS to your online FAFSA.
You and your parents may be eligible to use this tool if:
Your family income tax returns were filed electronically at least two weeks before you complete the FAFSA.Your family income tax returns were mailed to the IRS at least eight weeks before you complete the FAFSA.
If you are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool and choose to do so, you’ll be transferred from the online FAFSA tothe IRS website, which will guide you through the transfer of your tax information. When you’re done, you’ll be sent back toyour FAFSA.
You don’t have to use this tool, but it’s recommended that you do. If you have to complete the FAFSA using estimatedincome tax information, you can always return to FAFSA on the Web to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool once you have filedyour tax forms.
What Happens After You ApplyOnce you submit the FAFSA, your family’s financial information is analyzed using the federal need formula.
The Student Aid Report (SAR)
After the information you provided is analyzed, you will receive a SAR that contains the data you entered on the FAFSA.The U.S. Department of Education will send this form to you either by email or by postal mail.
Review the SAR carefully for errors (the form highlights items that may need attention) and follow directions for making andsubmitting corrections. Submit corrections promptly. Make sure to keep a copy of the SAR for your records.
Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
On the front page of the SAR, you'll find a figure called the expected family contribution (EFC). Your EFC is an indicator ofyour family’s financial strength. It is sent to your state scholarship agency as well as to the colleges you listed on theFAFSA. They use this number to determine your financial aid award. Learn more about the EFC.
Other Financial Aid Forms
After you complete the FAFSA, make sure you submit any additional financial aid forms that your colleges require. Forexample, some colleges require you to submit the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® or their own forms.
Help with the FAFSAIf you have questions about the application, FAFSA on the Web or federal financial aid for students in general, call:
Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC)8004FEDAID (4333243) / TTY 8007308913Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to midnight Eastern TimeSaturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time
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Financial Aid Glossary: Learn theLingo
FAFSA, net price, priority date — you may come across some unfamiliar terms as you start looking into and applying forfinancial aid. Here’s a glossary to help you make sense of it all.
Award LetterThe document you receive from a college that explains the terms of the financial aid that the college is offering you. Theinformation includes the types and amounts of financial aid offered, what you’re expected to do to keep the award and adeadline for accepting the award.
BursarThe college official responsible for handling billing and payments for tuition, fees, housing and other related expenses.
College CreditWhen a college grants credit for a course, it means that passing that course counts toward a degree. Colleges may alsogrant degree credit for scores on exams.
Cost of AttendanceThe total amount of college expenses before financial aid. Cost of attendance includes money spent on tuition and fees,room and board, books and supplies, and living expenses.
CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®A financial aid application used by more than 400 colleges, universities and private scholarship programs to award theirfinancial aid funds. The College Board offers this service. Read more about the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE.
Demonstrated NeedThe difference between your expected family contribution (EFC) and the total cost of attendance for a particular college.
Enrollment StatusA classification based on the number of credithours you're taking; for example, your enrollment status may be fulltime orhalftime. Some loans or aid may be available only to students with a certain enrollment status, usually halftime or more.
Is some financial aid better than others?
Myra Smith, Executive Director, Financial Aid Services, The College Board
An expert describes the main types of aid and explains that not all aid is equal.
Video Transcript
1:09
OTHER TOPICS IN PAYFOR COLLEGE
College Costs
Grants & Scholarships
Paying Your Share
Financial Aid Awards
Loans
Tools & Calculators
2year /communitycollege
4yearcollege oruniversity
Start a college search:Where do you think you'llbegin?
Find colleges
DID YOU KNOW?
More than $185 billion infinancial aid is available.Financial aid comes frommany sources:
Federal governmentgrants, loans and otheraid: 69%
College grants/scholarships: 21%
Private and employergrants/scholarships: 6%
State governmentgrants/scholarships: 5%
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Expected Family Contribution (EFC)A measure of your family’s financial strength. States and colleges use this number to help determine your financial aidaward. The EFC is calculated using information you supply about your family’s financial circumstances. Read about the EFC.
Financial AidMoney given or loaned to you to help pay for college. Financial aid can come from federal and state governments, colleges,and private and social organizations. Learn about financial aid options.
Financial Aid OfficeA college office that serves as a resource for students who need help paying for college costs. Financial aid officers canhelp you to apply for and receive grants, loans, scholarships and workstudy employment. The financial aid office may alsooffer programs to help you manage your money.
Financial Aid OfficerCollege employees trained to help students and families apply for and receive grants, loans, scholarships and workstudyemployment. They can answer questions about ways to make college more affordable.
529 Savings PlansStatesponsored investment plans — officially called qualified tuition programs (QTP) — that help families save money forcollege. The plans have tax benefits so your savings can grow faster. The money in the accounts can be used only foreducation expenses.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)The free application form you submit to apply for federal financial aid. It is required for all students seeking federal studentgrants, workstudy programs and loans. Most colleges require it as well. The FAFSA may also qualify you for statesponsored financial aid. Read more about the FAFSA.
GrantA kind of "gift aid" — financial aid that doesn’t have to be paid back. Grants are usually awarded based on need. Learn moreabout gift aid.
LoanMoney you borrow from the government, a bank or another source. Loans need to be paid back, usually over an agreedperiod of time. You will most likely also have to pay interest on a loan — a fee for borrowing the money. Learn about YourCollege Loan Options.
Merit AidFinancial aid given to students based on their personal achievements. Most scholarships are considered merit aid, as theyare generally awarded for success in school, the arts, athletics or another area.
NeedBased Financial AidFinancial aid (grants, scholarships, loans and workstudy opportunities) given to students because they and their familiesare not able to pay the full cost of attending a certain college. This is the most common type of financial aid.
NeedBlind AdmissionA policy of making college admission decisions without looking at applicants’ financial circumstances. Colleges that use thispolicy may not offer enough financial aid to meet a student’s full need.
Net PriceNet price is the true amount a student will pay for a college.
On this site, we use “net price” to mean the published price of tuition and fees for a college minus the amount of gift aidand education tax benefits a student receives. Another common definition of “net price” is the full cost of attendance at acollege (including room and board, supplies, and other expenses) minus the gift aid and education tax benefits.
Net Price CalculatorAn online tool that gives you a personalized estimate of what it will cost to attend a specific college. Most colleges arerequired by law to post a net price calculator on their websites.
Outside Scholarship
Read Financial Aid Can HelpYou Afford College
EXPERT Q&A
Do you have to pay a college’s“sticker price”?
Mary Nucciarone, AssociateDirector of Financial Aid, Universityof Notre Dame
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39
STUDENT STORY
Applying for aid was stressfulbut worth it
Alexandra, college senior
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Also called “private scholarship.” A scholarship offered by a private organization — not the government or a college.Outside scholarships are offered by all kinds of groups, individuals, corporations and nonprofit organizations.
Priority DateThe date by which your application – whether it’s for college admission, student housing or financial aid – must be receivedto be given the strongest consideration. Since financial aid is often limited, meeting the priority date is important to beeligible to receive funds.
Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)A program offered by the military and available at some colleges. ROTC offers scholarships to students who agree to servein the military after they graduate. Some ROTC fouryear scholarships cover full tuition and fees. The program combines amilitary education along with college study leading to a bachelor’s degree.
Residency RequirementsThe amount of time a student has to live in a state before he or she is eligible for instate tuition prices and state aid.
ScholarshipA kind of "gift aid" — financial aid that doesn’t have to be paid back. Scholarships may be awarded based on merit orpartially on merit. That means they’re given to students with certain qualities, such as proven academic or athletic ability.Learn more about gift aid .
Student Aid Report (SAR)The report sent to your family after you submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that tells you whatyour expected family contribution (EFC) is.
TranscriptThe official record of your course work at a school or college. Your high school transcript is usually required as part of yourcollege application and for some financial aid packages.
UndergraduateA college student working toward an associate degree or a bachelor's degree.
WorkStudyA program that allows students to take a parttime campus job as part of their financial aid package. To qualify for theFederal WorkStudy Program, which is funded by the government, you must complete the Free Application for FederalStudent Aid (FAFSA). Some colleges have their own workstudy programs.
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