College Planning

1. Prepare
2. Plan
3. Search
4. Select
5. Pay

Prepare

*Take challenging classes

*Take courses related to interest (Helps with majors)

*Have the student communicate goals with counselor at course selection

*Look at clubs, volunteer, and work experiences to make you more college ready

Prepare

*Has your family talked about expectations for paying for school?

*How far away is okay?

*Is it okay to live at home?

*Is community college a good fit for you?

*What are you looking for in a school?

Plan

*Set up a plan for your family

* College Visits (before senior year!)

* Testing- PreACT 9,10, PSAT (Junior Year), School Day ACT, ACT/SAT again?

* What is test optional?

* Timeframe for applying:

Applications completed by Halloween of senior year, FAFSA done by Thanksgiving, Financial Aid Award letters by Spring Break, and decision by May 1st

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Search

*Plan to go to a variety of schools- Learn about private/public

*Don’t exclude a school based on tuition listed!! Ask about scholarships/grants

*The more colleges you attend, the more you know what you like/dislike

*Think about buying a car/house

*Learn about their admission requirements and philosophy!

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Search- Find an academic, social, and financial fit

Location

Size

Environment

Admission Requirements

Costs

Housing

Life after College

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Apply/Select

Common Application

• Time saver for those applying for more than 3 colleges/universities
• Every state school in IL and most private schools accept Common Application
• Lots of work on the front end, but organizes and makes it easier on the back end of the process.
• If you don’t use the common application, you will use the institutional application.

Apply/Select

1. Why am I going/not going to college in the first place?
2. How does the college fit my expectations? Can I get in? Can I get out? Can I pay for it?
3. Where do I see myself being successful? Big/Small School, Big town/Rural, Religious affiliation, Close/Far from home,
4. How will the college help me achieve my goals? Major, Job placement, Graduation Rate, Financial Aid Packages, Career Services, Social Networking
5. Evaluate your wants/needs

PAY

PAY

Financial Aid basics

• Cost of attendance - grants/scholarships/loans= balance

As you plan, do you know the following?

• Who is paying?
• What is the student’s responsibility?
• How much can you afford?
• Beyond tuition, who is responsible for books, travel expenses, etc?

Questions?