New Year's Resolution - Get Started on the FAFSA

The New Year means FAFSA filing for college students

The beginning of the new year is a critical time for college bound students who are seeking  financial aid. Everyone agrees that the best kind of financial aid is gift aid – the kind you don’t pay back. This includes grants, merit awards, and scholarships. When students borrow money for college, federally subsidized loans are often a good choice since repayment and interest do not begin until the student leaves college. All of these options begin with filing the FAFSA; and the FAFSA filing period begins January 1st.

The FAFSA is an acronym for Free Application For Student Aid. This form is used to calculate the federal government’s idea of how much the family must pay toward education.

The formula is something like this: Cost of Education - Family Contribution = Need

The cost of the education is determined by many factors including tuition, fees, housing, books, supplies and even travel expenses. Based on the methodology of how need is determined by the feds, sometimes students actually pay less out of their own pockets if they attend a higher priced school. This is why it’s so important to file a FAFSA regardless of income, family size or any other factor.

The family is the parent or parents with whom the child lives. In shared custody, it’s the parent with whom the child lives the most. The family income of the parent must include the spouse’s income. The family size includes children and step-children in the home where the student lives. Unmarried parents, do not include non-related members in the household.

Need is demonstrated once the family contribution has been calculated by a formula called the Congressional Methodology. Families are expected to pay school costs equal to the family contribution. The demonstrated need becomes the basis for need based aid.

Don’t disqualify yourself! Regardless of your family’s financial success it is a good idea to file the FAFSA form.  FAFSA information is used for work study jobs, subsidized loans and sometimes even college merit awards (money given based on something other than financial need) begin with information on the FAFSA.

The federal government offers a variety of funding possibilities, and California students also have access to Cal Grants, offered by the State of California. Students apply for both federal and state money with the FAFSA. Cal Grants require a supplementary grade point verification form, which must be completed by the school registrar. Cal Grant filing periods are January 1 through March 2 of each year, so while the FAFSA can be submitted after the March 2 deadline, California kids should always submit the FAFSA and the Cal Grant g.p.a verification form prior to March 2nd.

The FAFSA is available January 1st each year on-line www.fafsa.ed.gov . Be certain you are on the official FAFSA website, since at the dawn of the internet years ago, some very clever entrepreneur purchased fafsa.com , where he files the FAFSA for you, (after you’ve filled it out) for $100! Always remember the first word in FAFSA is FREE!

To file a FAFSA takes about a half hour. You’ll need your 2011 income tax forms, your social security number, the names of the colleges where you gave applied, and a personal identification number for your electronic signature, which is issued on the FAFSA website. Parents who have more than one child in college, will file the same information for both children, but on different forms; and be sure it’s the same information!

Your children must also file FAFSAs individually. Students will need their 2011 income tax forms, their parents’ and their own social security numbers, and an electronic signature PIN number. Students and parents must file a FAFSA for each year of college.

After filing, students will receive a Student Aid Report which tells what kind of aid they qualify for. Following that, the schools where students have been accepted will send financial aid offers which include a list of different types of aid. Students can then compare which college is actually the best value as they decide where to attend.

So if you’re a college student, or parent of a college student add one more item to your New Year’s resolution list - Get started on the FAFSA.

www.fafsa.ed.gov            Filing period January 1 – March 2, 2012

Colleges are still accepting applications

 

If you are a senior and you didn’t apply to the UC or CSU by November 30^th, you can still go to a four year college next fall. There are a handful of CSUs that have extended deadlines and you can find them on the CSU Mentor website.

There is more good news. Most of the private colleges and hundreds of public out-of-state colleges are still accepting applications for Fall 2012. These include, but are not limited to: University of Nevada Reno, Arizona State, University of Arizona, Oregon State and University of Oregon, and many public colleges in Hawaii, Idaho, Montana and Washington.

So if you missed the UC or CSU deadline and still want to attend a four year college next year, get on the Google search engine to find your favorite four year school. Be sure you’re on the official website that ends in ".edu" to confirm you are applying at the official website. Complete the on-line application before the deadline. Follow that up by submitting official transcripts and test scores. Then open the portal account on the college website for further directions or requirements. 

Final Countdown for California Public College Applications

Most high school seniors will admit they are not quite ready to head off on their own at college, just yet. But it’s time to put that plan into action. November 30^th is the University of California application deadline, and also the California State University deadline. Students across the Golden State have just a few days left to submit their applications to both of their public education options for four year colleges.

　

Over the past 19 years, I’ve made the observation that while most seniors are not ready to move away from home to attend college in November, but something magical happens to them by June. Students often become more mature, focused and the idea of living independently appeals to them on many levels by spring. I strongly encourage students to submit an application now, even if they are nervous about going out in the world. There is no penalty for not accepting an offer of admission, and students who are looking at the future today with a bit of trepidation, may be thrilled to have options to take bold steps toward college by graduation.

There are No Guarantees with College Application

A common question among college-bound high school students is, "What can I do to guarantee admission to a top ranked college?" The honest answer is, "Nothing." There are no guarantees for students hoping for admission to highly selective schools, but there are some guidelines that can enhance their applications. Each year many impacted colleges turn away more applicants than they accept, and often students who are denied acceptance, met all the admission requirements and were well-qualified.

College admission is increasingly competitive and as result, many schools, public and private, are demanding more than minimal eligibility for admission. This often confuses both students and their parents as they try to figure out what it takes to be admitted to a specific college.

There are different testing requirements for different schools, such as the SAT Reasoning, SAT subject exams or ACT with or without writing.

There are different grade point average minimums for not only different universities, but sometimes for different majors within those schools. Some colleges require students to be involved in activities, show evidence of leadership and community involvement. Many applications require essays. But regardless of what questions are posed, all college applications are designed to glean information that shows a student’s potential to succeed in the college classroom. The most important factor considered is the student’s academic preparation.

The academic course requirements are the same for both the University of California and California State University. Students must take college prep courses in English (four years), math (three years, and achieve a minimum of Algebra II), social studies (two years, including U.S. history), lab science (two years), foreign language (achieving a minimum of level II), visual and performing arts (one year required) plus an additional year of an approved elective. These subject area courses are what the CSU and UC refer to as the "A through G requirements." This A through G course requirement will usually meet or exceed most private colleges and out-of-state public schools as it demonstrates a student’s ability in all academic subjects.

A good way to bolster a college application is by enrolling in a tough academic senior year. At many high schools, the senior culture allows for students to take an abbreviated schedule for 12^th grade, with a shortened day. This is the worst thing a college bound student can do if she is applying to an impacted college. Highly selective college admissions officials consider the senior year to be the best evidence of a student’s ability to do college level work. It’s not enough just to be accepted into a university, students will need to be able to thrive within the college level course work once they arrive.

College application is a daunting process that takes time, energy and planning as early as middle school. One of the most critical aspects of college admission is recognizing that being eligible for college, does not equal being admitted to universities with impacted majors or programs. Students and their parents can unravel some of the mystery by visiting a host of websites offered by various institutions.



I recommend:

www.californiacolleges.edu, www.csumentor.edu, http://www.aiccu.edu/  and http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/.

Solid academic planning is paramount to college admission

　

September always brings the UC and CSU conferences designed to keep me updated on what’s new in college preparation, planning and application. Throughout both conferences a common theme seemed to be woven – Solid academic planning is paramount to college admission.

The University of California has seen an increase in applications in recent years. They expect this trend to continue and for UC admission to become increasingly more competitive. What that means for students is to plan early to be a competitive applicant. Students who wish to gain admission to any of the nine UC campuses should enroll in rigorous course work during high school and excel in core subjects (Math, Science, Social Studies and English) all four years of high school. They are also advised to step up into leadership roles in activities and to increase the breadth of their high school experiences to be beyond the normal teenage routine. The University of California is looking for students who will contribute to the vitality of their campuses; high school leadership and activities are excellent evidence of potential for this.

The California State University system is equally dedicated to academic preparedness. Many presentations at the conference included a recommendation that high school seniors be enrolled in college prep math courses. Beginning next summer, applicants who did not meet minimal placement assessment in Math or English will be required to begin remedial work during the summer prior to their freshman year. Classes will be offered through local community colleges or on-line and there will be a significant fee for them. The CSU is now reaching impaction at several campuses. Out of the 23 campuses, only Bakersfield, Stanislaus, Cal Maritime Academy, East Bay, Channel Islands and Dominguez Hills are NOT impacted and admit all eligible applicants. The remaining 17 campuses admit students using a competitive selection index.

Private Universities and out-of-state schools admit applicants with a variety of formulas, but all of them expect students to show evidence of being able to do college level work when students arrive at their campuses. Specific admissions formulas are usually not available, but academic strength is usually a solid indicator to predict student success.

As seniors begin applying for Fall 2012, I encourage them to think of this as a threshold for their futures. It’s one of the most exciting times in a person’s life; a chance to plot a course for a future in a career or just to be an educated person.

College Bound Seniors Have No Time To Waste for College Applications

As students return to school in the late summer, it always takes awhile to get into the school routine. For seniors, there is no time to waste if they plan to apply to college. Many colleges across the nation are already accepting applications for Fall 2012. Here in California our public universities will open application windows in October and November and most of our private schools are within that same time frame.

Nearly all college applications are handled electronically, and prospective students will find complete information on college admission websites. High school students should be sure they are reviewing "Undergraduate" admissions pages when researching admissions information, since Graduate level programs often have a totally different admission calendar than Undergraduate.

Deadlines are critical for college applicants. All applications must be submitted by the assigned deadline and with electronic application there is no grace period, regardless of why you missed a deadline. So while students are making the decision about where to apply, it’s prudent to confirm that the deadline for application is realistic. If students stay on top of their college application process, there is no reason that they can not submit a complete, polished application. But procrastinators will find it challenging to present a competitive application if they try to complete it two or three days before the deadline.

California public universities (CSU and UC Systems) have a common undergraduate application deadline of November 30^th each year. Private California schools have varied deadlines, (some extending into spring) but often give priority to applicants who apply early in the filing periods. This is often true of schools outside of California, so waiting until the last minute to begin a college application is never a good idea regardless of your destination.

College bound seniors may find it challenging that before they even begin to settle in to their final year of high school they are asked to imagine themselves as college freshmen. But to be an outstanding college applicant, that’s exactly what must happen.

Students who expect to be carefully evaluated at competitive colleges might think of their college applications as one additional course for fall semester of senior year. There’s research involved – colleges, majors, programs; statistics – a list of the applicant’s achievements, activities and experiences; composition – college application essays and other information you must share in writing; and supportive documentation – letters of recommendation, transcripts, evidence of leadership and service. It’s sort of like practicing for your first college assignment – because it is; and most students want to earn an A.

Summer is a Critical Season for College Bound Juniors

As high school seniors finalize their college plans, it stirs up interest with college bound juniors. Typically high school juniors are completing their final semester before they submit their college applications in October and November of the senior year. Believe it or not, 16 year old students are eager to learn from their senior friends’ mistakes. They ask poignant questions in trying to understand how a student with a high grade point average, even higher test scores and an impressive profile wasn’t accepted at that first choice college.

It’s important to remember that college application is a process. Even students with incredible talents, who are being recruited by colleges, are often disappointed by schools like UCLA, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, CalPoly San Luis Obispo, USC and many others. Sometimes juniors become discouraged when they listen to the litany of colleges where a classmate wasn’t accepted. But students who are competitive applicants at the UC or USC are often accepted at others schools. A highly qualified student, who meets eligibility and applies by the deadline, can be assured of admission somewhere in California.

So what can a student who is finishing junior year do to bolster her college application? She can start by taking a look at her top choice college application from this past season. Since nearly all applications are now submitted electronically, visit the college admission website and look for the option to print an application. Then, sit down and actually complete the application to confirm that the applicant is strong in all the areas listed. Note which section on the application is weaker and focus on how to improve this section. For example, the University of California has five sections for students to share information about themselves. There’s a section for academics, awards and honors; on activities in and outside of school; on volunteer work and on employment. If students discover that they are loaded with activities, but only have one or two volunteer items to list, it’s time to get busy volunteering during summer.

Summer is a great time for students to gain life experiences that will increase the quality of their college application on many levels. It’s a perfect time to dabble in areas that stretch their comfort zones and give them an awareness of a world unlike their own. It’s an excellent time to take on a part time job or to take on a leadership role in a summer activity. And it’s important that whatever sections of the application the student is hoping to bolster, that the participation be meaningful.

 

If a junior hasn’t taken rigorous courses, she can improve her academic standing by enrolling in transferable summer classes at a community college. Students are allowed to put community college coursework on their college applications and those courses will be looked at the same as AP classes by the university. Many universities also offer summer programs for high school students and several corporations offer competitive internships. Community colleges are highly impacted, so gaining admission to a community college class might difficult. Follow the steps on the college admissions website for "Academic Enrichment" students, and complete all required items.

As for awards, while students can’t just "go out and get" awards, they can be submitting applications for awards. There are dozens of contests, essay competitions, and other opportunities for students to compete. Even contests that will happen during the school year might have information on their topics or formats on national websites. For example, the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Voice of Democracy contest will accept applications in October, but the prompt for the essay is available now. A great place to get started is the College Board’s Fastweb, (

www.fastweb.com) a scholarship search engine that will search for a student, based on the profile submitted.

National Awards You Pay For

National Awards You Pay For

Over the past month or two many of our students have been invited to become members of national award societies, or to attend various leadership conferences across the country.

The invitations and "awards" look very impressive and allude to the great honor it is for the student to have been included. Prices range from $60 for a "one time membership fee," or $500 to as much as $5000 for a conference fee that usually doesn’t include travel expenses. Some are "free" to put your name in a book, but then, when they have all your information, pressure parents to buy the book along with other memorabilia at extraordinary prices.

Parents often ask if these are legitimate awards for their students. They also want to know if we think students should attend these conferences to give them a competitive edge with college or scholarship applications. And they want to know who nominated their students in the first place.

The answers to these concerns are complex – here are Frequently Asked Questions on this topic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will attending or joining this society, conference, camp, summit, etc. help my child get into college?

College admissions officials and scholarship selection committees have told us they are not impressed with awards or honors that parents purchase. Hundreds of thousands of students are nominated each year for honors, memberships, conferences and leadership training.

College and Scholarship competition is much more powerful if students have received awards that mark them above the norm in something they have actually earned, such as the Rocklin High Distinguished Community Service Award.

Paying for a conference might provide a beneficial experience, but it should not be considered an award.

This conference is at my son’s first choice college. Will it help him get accepted there?

Probably not. Beware that many summer offerings held on college campuses, actually have no affiliation with the college. Some organizations rent college facilities to hold their conferences, and loosely use the college name with promises of earned college credits or admission recognition.

Did the school send in the nomination?

Your school probably did NOT submit a nomination for your student – that’s against confidentiality policies.

How was my student nominated?

Students may have been invited or nominated simply because they registered for the SAT, ACT, applied for a scholarship, or something similar.

An issue to consider is that once you have registered with a conference, society or "award," you can expect to receive a plethora of mailings, since these organizations often sell their mailing lists to similar vendors.

My student really wants to attend. Is there a way to check it out?

Contact the registration office for the event and ask for local references (names and phone numbers) of Rocklin students, who have attended previous conferences. See if they can get a previous camper to contact you. Find out things like: Did someone meet your student at the airport? Were the meals good? The rooms clean? Did you feel safe? How did you get back to the airport? What other costs were incurred that were not outlined in the brochure? Do you think it was worth the expense?

Should we spend the money?

I never tell parents how to spend their money. There is absolutely no way to guarantee this is a good value.

If students are ready to navigate a national airport in a strange city on their own, and will benefit from the program, make your decision to attend based on as many facts as you can gather.

What have other Rocklin High students said about these opportunities?

Over the years many Rocklin High students have attended these kinds of conferences; some of them thought it was a great experience while others thought it was a "rip off."

Denied or Waitlisted?

In the next week or so seniors will receive admissions decisions to the last of a lengthy list of top colleges across the U.S.  It really is a life-changing moment for students, as the hopes and dreams are decided by clicking a mouse.

I think it's important to honor your feelings of disappointment, sadness, anger, frustration, or any of the miriade of emotions that wash over you, as you come to terms with a college denying admission. For many students it's the first time anyone, anywhere has ever told them that they do not measure up to an academic standard - and it hurts!

If you have experienced a college denial, I suggest that you let those emotions wash over you for about 48 hours, and then pick yourself up, dust yourself off and make plans to attend a college that offered you admission. If you weren't accepted by Ivy League schools, the University of California, Stanford, CalPoly or a wide variety of other top schools, take heart - you are in good company. Excellent academic achievers have been turned down from all of those schools too.  Focus on the good stuff - where ARE you going next fall?

Waitlisting is a concept that seems to simply prolong the agony of being turned down at a college. Being waitlisted is not an offer of admission and all students who have been waitlisted should begin making plans to attend a college where they have been formally admitted. If students are admitted from the waitlist, that information might come in after the deadline to submit an intent to enroll at another college. Waitlisted offers could come as late as the week before fall sessions begin. This will make housing, academic advising, orientation complicated. Yes, you will probably lose your deposits at a second choice school, if you accept a late waitlist offer,  but counting on a waistlist option is not sound college planning.

If you've received a denial of admission, and you wish to appeal, do not let the appeal side-track you from making plans to enroll where you have been accepted.

If you wish to appeal, this website offers some examples of an appeal letter and what you need to gather to support a successful appeal. Keep in mind that very few appeals are granted, and it is wise to make plans to attend a school where you have been admitted.

Appealing an Admissions Decision

Tis the season of College Admissions Decisions. Students are beginning to hear from colleges on whether they have been accepted or denied admission. It's a life-changing moment for some students, and many feel as if their destiny is about to begin. As jubillant as some students are with an acceptance letter, there are equally emotional moments of grief as students are turned down from life-long dream colleges.

What option does a student have if he receives a denial of admission to his first choice college? Is there any hope of appeal? It depends on the college, the major and what the student has to put into the appeal. Most universities discourage appeals, and grant few, if any. But the University of California undergraduate admission website does give information on what will be reviewed if a student does appeal. "New and compelling information" is the only hope a student has. This is good advice for an appeal to any university.

To determine if a student has new or compelling information, he needs to first look at the original application. Is everything there that he submitted? Nearly all college applications are now submitted electronically, and frequently I find students who don’t even have a printed copy of their application sent back in November.

They honestly don’t know what was on that application!

Students can access their applications on the college website. Print a copy and confirm that all courses are listed, that all the awards, activities, volunteer hours, employment, etc. are there. Verify that the student directed the College Board or the ACT to send the test scores to the college. If the college required letters of recommendation, contact the admissions office to be certain that those letters arrived and are in the student’s application file. Review the essays or personal statements. Try to determine if the student left something important out of the application that he had intended to send, or should have sent.

Then the student should evaluate what new information he has to tell the college that is germane to admission. Being named a National Merit Scholar or class valedictorian might be considered new information, but keep in mind that at a highly selective university, these kinds of honors will be common, so that alone won’t be helpful. New information might include a new, higher SAT score or a community college course you forgot to list. Achieving some kind of talent recognition such as being named to an Olympic team would be considered new information, if it happened since you submitted the application.

Compelling information is the other option for students to submit an appeal. Each year I find myself astounded at what a high school senior thinks is compelling information. The fact that you have always wanted to go there and that you will be a fourth generation to attend the highly selective college is not compelling. Compelling information must be just that – compelling the admissions office to reevaluate your application because of this extradordinary information.

Compelling information is that you are homeless, but you’re still getting straight A’s; and you just found out that you have free housing a few blocks from their campus. Compelling must be serious, related to your application or college plans, and above all it must be something truthful, that you can document.

As students struggle with college dreams shattering with the click of an opened an email, parents often wonder how they could have helped their children achieve these goals. It’s never too early to start talking with kids about college, about career aspirations, about dreams and what it will take to achieve them. Many college denials could have been prevented with prudent and early college planning.

Cal Grant filing period ends soon

Cal Grants are entitlements for California students who meet the eligibility requirements. Students must have a qualifying grade point average, meet the income cap and attend a California accredited institution to receive a Cal Grant. Many Cal Grants are renewable if students continue to meet eligibility requirements. Cal Grants can only be used for "fees" or tuition.

The FAFSA is the application for a Cal Grant, but students must also have verified their grade point average with the California Student Aid Commission to qualify. Both the FAFSA and the Cal Grant gpa verification form  must be filed by March 2nd each year.

The FAFSA can be filed at http://www.fafsa.gov/ .

The Cal Grant gpa verification is done first by completing a form (located under 'forms' on this website) and taking it to your school registrar's office. Most California high schools submit the gpa to the California Student Aid Commission electronically.

College freshmen must also have their high school submit their gpa for Cal Grants. College students can download the form, complete it and mail to their high school registrar's office.

File Your FAFSA!

It's FAFSA season! The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. All college-bound seniors and continuing college students can file for federal and state financial aid by completing a form at http://www.fafsa.gov/  .  This simple form requires information from both the parent and student 2010 income tax returns.

Financial aid is based on a student's "need" for funding. The methodology includes the parent and student adjusted gross income, size of the family and cost of attendance. This information is processed to determine the family contribution. The difference between the cost of attedance and the family contriution equals what the government believes to be the student's "need."

Many times parents neglect to file a FAFSA thinking that their income will be too high to qualify for financial aid. While income is indeed part of the formula, I always recommend that everyone file a FAFSA for two reasons. First of all - Don't disqualify yourself! You never know what program might be on the horizon that you might qualify for. Secondly - We all know how quickly things can change. Even if you have plenty of income right now, recent economic tribulation has made us all aware that things can change overnight.

While no one wants to enter college planning to go into debt, the reality is that most students borrow some money to complete a college degree. The FAFSA opens the gateway to federally subidized student loans, which can offer no interest (or low interest) or repayment until after leaving college.

The FAFSA is a simple form that can change the life of a student. Deadlines vary at many colleges, and at Rocklin High February is a very short month. I recommend all students make Valentine' Day their filing deadline. Afterall - we all love money - and that's what the FAFSA is all about - maximizing your money for college.

A final note of caution. At the birth of the internet a creative entrepreneur purchased fafsa.com . This site clones the official http://www.fafsa.gov/,  but when you get ready to submit the site requests about $100 to file a free form.  Remember the first word in FAFSA is FREE.        File at http://www.fafsa.gov/!