Danny Tejada

College admissions and financial aid for

first generation college graduate parents

WeGoToCollege.com

About Me

• First-generation high school and college graduate
• Grew up on public assistance in public housing in East New York, Brooklyn
• Went away to college and graduated debt-free
• Over 13 years of college counseling experience in public, charter, private schools, nonprofits, and my own business

Changes in two decades

• Common app is fully online
• The app goes from around 250 schools to over 1150 schools
• Almost 1.5 million use the common app
• Students went from applying to 1-4 schools to almost 7
• 1st Gen and low-income students have been applying at a higher rate over the past 5 years
• More students are applying early action within the past five years
• Selective colleges increased their use of early decision and are enrolling the majority of their freshmen class via early decision
• Most colleges are test optional
• Use of supplemental essays and demonstrated interest
• Supreme Court case banning race from being considered in admissions
• Federal loan debt and salary information by college is publicly available
• MAJOR CHANGES TO THE FAFSA: apply online, tax info automatically gathered

WHAT TO CONSIDER...

• How much are you willing to pay?
• Limits to Parent Plus Loan
• Looking for merit aid (high GPA, test scores) and need-based aid (CSS Profile)
• Net Price Calculator
• Outside scholarships
• Savings
• Cost of graduate school
• Location, size, type of school
• Student body (race, Pell-eligible)
• Future planning
• Occupational Outlook Handbook
• College Scorecard
• Fed’s Loan Simulator
• Cost of Living Calculator

What colleges want

• For your child to be themselves
• Main essay
• Supplemental essays
• Extracurricular activities
• Academic passion
• Teacher recommendations
• Counselor recommendation

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Your child can control their grades and how they present themselves.

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“Control the controllable.” -John Cena

Direct admissions

• Common App has a Direct Admissions program.

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• They use the GPA and test scores a student enters to give “offers.”

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• These schools COULD be affordable options.

Resources

• Outside scholarships: brands, non-profits, union
• GoingMerry.com
• Database

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• Merit scholarships
• Database
• List of outside and school-based scholarships
• Another list of outside scholarships
• Another list of school-based scholarships
• One more list of school-based scholarships

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• Database of colleges offering full tuition under a certain income

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• Helpful advice on Early Decision

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wegotocollege.com/resources

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Questions?

Contact Me

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CounselorDanny@wegotocollege.com

WeGoToCollege.com