The College Process: Information for Juniors and their Parents

Presented by:

Christina AndersonJohn Carroll University

Timeline: Junior Year

Review your course selections with your Guidance Counselor

Continue researching schools

– Attend college fairs and school visits

Take SAT and ACT in the spring

Visit College Campuses in the spring and summer before senior year

– Talk to an Admissions Counselor and tour campus or attend an Open House event

– Pay close attention to admission and scholarship criteria

Keep grades up!

Document all honors and activities

Begin to investigate outside scholarship opportunities

Think of people who can write letters of recommendation.

Timeline: Senior Year The Busiest Year of Them All!

Visit College Campuses (and return visits) – Talk to an Admissions Counselor and tour campus

– Overnight visits, meetings with faculty and coaches, class visits

– Eat on campus!!!

Retake the SAT/ACT if necessary Review admission criteria for the schools/programs you are

interested in pursuing to ensure you meet all requirements Apply to colleges in the Fall of your senior year

– Applications should be in before Christmas Break (preferably before Thanksgiving)!

– Be aware of priority deadline dates, scholarship dates

– Myth: I cannot attend a Private institution because it is too expensive. Fact: Private institutions traditionally have more institutional aid to award.

Timeline: Senior Year

Look and apply for scholarships all year

– Peak scholarship season is October until Mid-March

– Most scholarships will only allow Seniors to apply

File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid beginning January 1st

Meet all DEADLINES!!!

Wait until you receive your Financial Aid Award Letter to decided which institution you will attend.

See your LEAF Advisor

Comparing SAT and ACT:

SATTen sections with a mandatory

Writing section. Three Critical Reading Three Math Three Writing Experimental Final Score: The sum of each

section score for a possible total of 2400.

Average SAT Score: 1509

Length: 3 hours 45 minutes.

ACTFour sections with the optional Writing

test. Math Science Reading English Optional Writing Test Composite Score: Average score of

all four sections. (Does not include Writing Section)

Average ACT Score: 21Length: 2 hours 55 minutes. Add an

additional 30 minutes if the student takes the Writing Test.

What differences should I know about?

The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more like an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal skills.

The ACT counts only correct answers and does not penalize for guessing. SAT will deduct a fraction of a point for wrong answers.

Some colleges require the ACT Writing Section. Check the college’s Admissions website.

SAT Questions get progressively harder through a section. ACT questions are mixed up throughout each test.

Misc Testing Information:

All 4 year institutions accept the ACT as well as the SAT.

Some colleges, especially Ivy League Institutions, will require SAT subject tests as well as the SAT.

Some colleges, like Baldwin-Wallace College, are test optional schools. It means students do not have to submit ACT or SAT test scores.

How Important are Grades???

Final Transcripts are sent at the end of a student’s senior year

– Admissions can be rescinded based on final transcripts

– Grades can get students academic scholarships

Average GPA if Incoming

Freshmen

Cleveland State 3.2*

Baldwin-Wallace 3.5*

Bowling Green 3.2*

John Carroll 3.5*

Ohio University 3.4** www.princetonreview.com

Things to do… Get Organized!

Create a College application organizer.

Create an e-mail address just for correspondences from institutions.

Keep copies of any applications you complete, including financial aid and scholarship. (Copy your tax forms, too)

Financial Aid Process

Student receives Student Aid Report (SAR)

from the Department of Education

Student appliesfor aid to cover

costs

Student startsschool year

Student receives Financial Aid Award Letter

from the school

March/April for new studentsMay/June for continuing students

Beginning January 1st

Student files FAFSA for upcoming school year

Scholarship Season

Institutional Scholarships– Academic/Merit Based

Admissions Office

– Need Based/Endowed Financial Aid Office

Outside Scholarships (November-May of senior year)

– Local Organizations– Work Place– Clubs/Boosters

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Most Federal, State, and Institutional Aid requires that you complete a FAFSA.

The processed FAFSA yields an Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Students starting Fall 2015 will fill out their 2015-2016 FAFSA no earlier than January 1, 2015.

You can file the FAFSA for free at www.fafsa.gov.

BEWARE of agencies that charge to file the FAFSA!

Loans, Work-Study, and Federal Aid… Oh my!

A FAFSA must be completed to be eligible for Federal Aid. Work-Study

– Federal Work-Study– Campus Work-Study

Loans– Stafford Loans– Perkins Loans– PLUS Loans

Grants– Pell Grant– FSEOG Grant– TEACH Grant

Comparing PLUS vs Alternative - What is the BEST Option

Federal Parent Loans

Fixed interest rate Accrued interest capitalizes

once at final repayment Credit check on parents based

upon federal standards-(no debt to income ratios

Alternative LoansX Variable interest rate set

monthly or quarterlyX Interest rate usually will not

exceed 25%X Accrued interest may

capitalize monthly, quarterly or at final repayment

X Student and co-signer must pass a comprehensive credit check

Comparing PLUS vs Alternative - What is the BEST Option

Federal PLUS Loans Federally insured against death

and disability for both the parent and student

Ability to easily consolidate PLUS Loans under the Federal Consolidation Loan Program

PLUS Loans will be reported only on the parent’s credit report

Alternative LoansX Not federally insured against

death and disability of both student or co-signer

X Can not consolidation under the Federal Consolidation Loan Program

X Alternative Loans will be reported on both the student’s and the co-signer’s credit report

Link Manageable Student Loan Debt to Future Earnings!

Unmanageable Student Loan Debt is defined as having payments exceed 8% of a students gross monthly income!

Examples: Major(Undergraduate)

Average Starting Salary*

Estimated Debt Threshold

Monthly Payment**

Computer Science $63,017 $36,506 $420.11

Engineering $57,176 $33,122 $381.17

Nursing $55,774 $32,309 $371.83

Business $46,832 $27,130 $312.21

Psychology $40,611 $23,526 $270.74

Education $32,661 $18,921 $217.74

*NACE Salary Survey

**Based on Unsubsidized Stafford Loan interest and repayment period.

Resources

College Advantage (529 Plans)– www.collegeadvantage.com

EFC Calculator– www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov

Loan Payment Calculator– www.collegegold.com

Financial Aid Information– www.finaid.org– www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov– www.ohiohighered.org

Scholarship Search– www.fastweb.com (national)– www.leaf-ohio.org (local)– www.ohiohighered.org

Questions???

Sandy Hanley

Advisor

LEAF

shanley@leaf-ohio.org

440-358-8045

Christina Anderson

Assistant Director of Enrollment

cmanderson@jcu.edu

www.jcu.edu

216-397-1627