2013 college guide

A SPECIAL SECTION OF THE DENISON BULLETIN AND DENISON REVIEW | FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

MARCH 1, 20132013 COLLEGE GUIDE

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Save early and often Setting goals is often the

first step to achieving yourhopes and dreams foryourself and your family.Making a plan, however, iscrucial to making thosedreams a reality. This isespecially true when itcomes to a college educa-tion for your children.Starting a college savingsplan when your childrenare young sets you on apath for success and canhelp you reduce the needfor expensive studentloans down the road. Es-tablishing a college sav-ings plan early and con-tributing to it often is thekey to reducing, or eveneliminating, student loandebt. According to the Pro-ject on Student Loan Debt,the average student-loandebt increased 24 percentto $23,200 in 2008, upfrom $18,650 in 2004.

According to FinAid.org,parents who put aside just$50 per month from thetime their child is born cangrow a nest egg of morethan $20,000 by the timethat child turns 18, as-suming a 7 percent return

on investment. Increasingthose contributions to$100 per month can yieldmore than $43,000.

While a number of col-lege savings vehicles areavailable to choose from,savers should keep inmind that a 529 plan is atax-free and, in somecases, state tax-deductible

college savings option. Op-erated by a state or educa-tional institution, a 529plan is an education sav-ings plan designed to pro-vide families with an easyway to save. Most offer on-line enrollment with mini-mal initial investment, aslow as $25. Additionally,contributions can be made

by more than just a child'sparents. Anyone can con-tribute to an account oropen one on behalf of achild.

Many states offer a 529plan and each state's planis different. Morningstar, aleading provider of invest-ment research, rates thevarious plans and is one of

many resources to consultwhen selecting a 529 plan.Others include SavingFor-College.com and College-Savings.org.

An example of a top-rated Morningstar 529plan is CollegeAdvantage,Ohio's college savings planmanaged by Ohio TuitionTrust Authority. Account

owners can contribute to aCollegeAdvantage accountfor as little as $25 and ac-counts are available to anyU.S. resident. Investingjust $25 per month in aCollegeAdvantage accountwith a 6 percent interestrate will result in nearly$9,000 in college savingsafter 18 years. CollegeAd-vantage funds can be usedat any college in the coun-try to pay for tuition, fees,room and board as well asbooks. For more informa-tion about CollegeAdvan-tage, or to start savingwith Ohio's 529 plantoday, visit www.col-legeadvantage.com.

"Saving with a 529 planoffers parents, friends andfamily members an afford-able and attainable way tosave for their loved one'sfuture college expenses,"said Richard Norman, in-terim executive director ofOhio Tuition Trust Author-ity.

"With a minimal invest-ment of $25, individualscan open a CollegeAdvan-tage account and beginsaving immediately."

MARCH 1, 2013 2013 COLLEGE GUIDE PAGE 3

Planning for college“i have a plan Iowa” publishes an extensive college plan-

ning timeline on its website (ihaveaplaniowa.gov). The time-line shows steps to follow for high school planning, collegeplanning and financial aid planning. The timeline can beprinted to be used as a checklist or reminder.

Links to programs and other useful resources are includ-ed in the timeline’s checklist. Following are grade-by-gradesteps through high school. However, the website covers fromseventh grade through college.

9TH GRADEDon’t neglect your study habitsIf you don’t have one, sign up for a college savings accountTalk to your guidance counselors, teachers, family mem-bers or trusted adults about your plans for collegeKeep track of your courses and gradesFind out about college entrance requirements for theschools you’re interested inCreate a file of the following documents and notes – reportscards, lists of awards and honors, school and communityactivities and volunteer workStart thinking about the colleges you want to attendFind out about AP and other honors-level coursesContinue to be involved in extracurricular activitiesIf you didn’t take it last year, take the ACT EXPLORE testto evaluate your skills in English, math, reading and sci-ence reasoningHow are you spending your summer? Volunteering andeducational programs can help give you a better idea aboutwhat kind of training or career would be right for youCollege life can be a big step – you’re on your own; try tak-ing some small steps towards independence this year, per-haps with more responsibility around your houseResearch your financial aid options – use the FASFA4cast-er to estimate your Expected Family Contribution and yourfinancial aid eligibility and also research your eligibility forstate financial aid programs with Iowa’s Eligibility Wizardand State Financial Aid Application

10TH GRADEKeep those grades upSign up for a college savings account or continue to addmoney to an existing accountContinue your conversations with your guidance coun-selors, teachers, family members or trusted adults aboutyour plans for college or other paths towards a careerFind out about honors-level courses for your junior yearUpdate your college planning file – or start one, if youhaven’t alreadyContinue extracurricular activities – remember, many admissions officers look for well-rounded students whoparticipate in the world around themIf you have room in your schedule, consider a part-timejob or volunteer positionLook into participating in academic enrichment programs,summer workshops and camps with specialty focusessuch as music, arts and sciencesTake the PLAN test if you plan to take the ACT; the PLANtest will help you prepare for the ACTIf you plan to take the SAT, take the PSAT in October; thescores will not count for National Merit Scholar consider-ation this year, but it is good practice for taking the PSATin your junior year, when the scores will countStart studying for standardized tests like the ACT and SATInvestigate your options for participating in concurrent en-rollment next year; it allows juniors and seniors to enrollin college courses if they meet certain requirementsMake a list of reasons why you like different colleges anduniversities - programs, location, cost and so onStart thinking about the factors that are important to youin choosing a collegeKeep readingResearch your financial aid options

11TH GRADEFall semester

Maintain your grades during your junior year Make sure you’re challenging yourself academicallyReally focus your career and college researchAs you research education and career options, share yourdiscoveries with your familyStay involved in school and community activitiesTalk to your guidance counselor (or teachers) about avail-ability of and enrollment in AP classes; the possibility ofconcurrent enrollment; schedules for the PSAT, SAT I and

SAT Subject Test, ACT and AP exams; why you shouldtake these exams and how they could benefit you; whichof the exams would be the best fit for you; how to start get-ting ready for the exams; your academic record – reviewit with your counselor and talk about ways to improve; andthe admissions requirements for the colleges you’re inter-ested in

AugustObtain schedules and forms for the SAT I, SAT SubjectTest, ACT and AP exams

SeptemberRegister for the PSAT exam offered in OctoberStart a file for college catalogs and other informationKeep an eye out for college nights and any schools in yourarea you may want to attend

OctoberTake the PSAT if you registered for it this monthNarrow your list of colleges to include a few colleges withrequirements at your current GPA, a few with require-ments above your current GPA and at least one with re-quirements below your GPABegin scheduling interviews with admissions counselors;if possible, schedule tours of the school grounds on thesame day

DecemberYou will receive your scores from the October PSAT if youtook it that month

Spring semesterIf you’re choosing your senior year classes, look for class-es that will give you a strong transcriptConsider looking for a summer job or internship

JanuaryIf you’re choosing your senior year classes, look for class-es that will give you a strong transcript

FebruaryRegister for the March SAT or the April SAT, or both

MarchTake the March SAT I exam if you registered to take it thismonthIf you are interested in taking an AP exam, you shouldsign up now

AprilTake the April ACT test if you registered for this monthResearch your financial aid options

MayTake the AP, SAT I and SAT Subject Test examsTalk to teachers about writing letters of recommendationfor you

JuneAdd any new report cards, test scores, honors or awardsfrom the year to your fileContinue with your college visits – call ahead for appoint-ments with the financial aid, admissions and academicadvisors at the colleges in which you are most interestedIf you go on interviews or visits, don’t forget to sendthank-you notesTake the SAT I, SAT Subject Test and the ACT tests if you’reregistered

Summer between junior and senior yearsContinue to work on application essays and review theapplication procedures to the colleges you plan to apply Decide if you are going to apply under any early decisionor early action programsRead your college mail and send reply cards to yourschools of interest

12TH GRADEFall semester

Keep studyingTalk to your counselors about possibilities for concurrentenrollmentSave your moneySome colleges require the CSS/Profile, a supplemental fi-nancial aid form, in addition to the FAFSA

SeptemberCheck your transcripts to make sure you have all the cred-its you need to get into colleges that interest youRegister for the October/November SAT I, SAT Subject Testand ACT tests if you plan to take themTake another look at your list of colleges and make surethey still satisfy your requirementsMake sure you meet the requirements for all the collegesto which you want to applyGive any recommendation forms to the appropriate teach-ers or counselors with stamped, college-addressed en-

velopes, making certain that your portions of the forms arefilled out completely and accuratelyMost early decision and early action applications are duebetween October 1 and November 1

OctoberMake a final list of schools that interest you and keep a fileof deadlines and required admission items for each schoolTake the SAT or ACT tests; have the official scores sent bythe testing agency to the colleges or universities that havemade your final list of schoolsGet started on any essays to be included with applications

NovemberSubmit your college admission applicationsConsult with your school counselor about scholarshipsWork on your scholarship applications, and mail accord-ing to deadlinesCheck with the financial aid office of schools you are ap-plying to for specific information on scholarships and costsfor tuition, fees, room and board, and any additional fi-nancial aid info they require

DecemberWatch your mailbox if you submitted an early decisionapplicationMake sure your official test scores are being sent to the col-leges to which you are applyingSchedule any remaining required interviewsStart thinking about how you're going to spend your sum-mer. Summer is a great time to earn extra money and gainwork experience

JanuaryComplete and submit your college financial aid applicationand the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)between January 1 and February 15Check for other financial aid optionsIf you don't already have a good computer, investigatepurchasing one for collegeRequest that your high school send your official transcriptsto the colleges to which you are applyingMake sure your parents have completed their income taxforms in anticipation of the financial aid applicationsContact the admissions office of the colleges to which youhave applied to make sure that your information has beenreceived, and that they have everything they need fromyouKeep an eye out for financial aid workshops and semi-nars, for both you and your parentsComplete the application for State of Iowa Scholarshipsand GrantsCheck application filing deadlines for State of Iowa pro-grams and the college(s) you plan to attend

FebruaryIf you completed the FAFSA, you should receive your Stu-dent Aid Report (SAR) within four weeksComplete your scholarship applicationsContact the financial aid office of the colleges to which youhave applied to make sure your information has been re-ceived, and that they have everything they need from you

March-AprilYou will probably hear from the colleges as to whether ornot you are accepted by April 15Compare your acceptance letters, financial aid and schol-arship offersWhen you choose a college that has accepted you, you willbe required to pay a non-refundable deposit for freshmantuition

MayTake AP exams for any AP subjects you studied in highschoolDecision time – you should decide on a college by May 1– notify that school by mailing your commitment depositcheckIf you were placed on a waiting list for a particular collegeand have decided to wait for an opening, contact that col-lege and let them know you are still very interested

JuneHave your school send your final transcripts to the collegeyou will be attendingContact your college to determine when fees for tuition,room and board are due and how much they will cost

Summer after senior yearParticipate in any summer orientation programs for in-coming freshmenNow that you know you will be attending college in the fall,it is a good idea to make sure you have student health in-surance in case of any emergencies

4

PAGE 4 MARCH 1, 20132013 COLLEGE GUIDE

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Iowa Financial Aid Applicationgroups five programs in one process

The 2013-14 Iowa Fi-nancial Aid Applicationwas released on January 1,2013. In the first day, atotal of 403 individualsused the Wizard to deter-mine their eligibility forstate programs and 166completed applications.

The application, whichcan be accessed throughthe state-designated careerinformation system,IHaveAPlanIowa.gov, allows students to apply forfive state-administered fi-nancial aid programsthrough one applicationprocess. The Iowa Finan-cial Aid Application doesnot replace the Free Appli-cation for Federal StudentAid (FAFSA).

The FAFSA is a stan-dardized federal form usedto determine eligibility forfederal, state, and in somecases, institutional finan-cial aid. It is still the re-quired application forneed-based state programssuch as the Iowa Grant,Iowa Tuition Grant, IowaVocational-Technical Tu-ition Grant, the Iowa

Skilled Workforce TuitionGrant (Kibbie Grant), andthe Barber and Cosmetol-ogy Arts and Sciences Tu-ition Grant.

The FAFSA can be com-pleted online at fafsa.gov.

Students who completetheir FAFSA online willhave the opportunity tolink directly from theFAFSA confirmation pageto the Iowa Financial AidApplication. In doing so,students can pre-populatemany of the demographicinformation fields on thestate application.

Students and parents arereminded that the FAFSAcan be completed before2012 income tax returnsare filed and that it is im-portant to complete theFAFSA and Iowa FinancialAid Application as soon aspossible to meet all finan-cial aid deadlines.

By marking “I will filebut have not yet completedmy return”, applicants cancomplete the FAFSA withestimated tax amounts andthen return to the FAFSAto update after tax returns

have been filed. Using the IRS Data Re-

trieval Tool simplifies thisprocess by allowing eligiblestudents and parents to ac-cess and transfer the re-quired IRS tax return infor-mation from the IRS web-

site directly into theirFAFSA.

According to the IowaCollege Aid annual reportfor Fiscal Year 2012, morethan 202,000 Iowa resi-dents filed the FAFSA, aone percent increase com-

pared to Fiscal Year 2011and a 27 percent increasecompared to the number offilers from five years ago.

The report also showedthat in its first year, nearly33,000 applicants used theIowa Financial Aid Appli-

cation to determine their el-igibility for state-funded fi-nancial aid programs andthat more than 25,000Iowans received a total ofmore than $57 million inscholarship, grant and loanforgiveness opportunities.


S

Switching majorsChoosing a major is

often met with trepidation.College students may feelpressured to choose amajor when they are lessthan certain about whatthey want to study. Majorsaren't set in stone and stu-dents have the opportuni-ty to switch concentrationsif their original choice isn'tthe right fit.

Perhaps now more thanever, students are pres-sured to pick the right col-lege major. In this weakeconomy, experts are tout-ing advice on choosing amajor that gives studentsthe best chance of findinga job after graduation. TheNational Center for Educa-tion Statistics says that in2007-2008, the most pop-ular majors were business,social sciences, history,and education. Accordingto Capital University, stu-dents usually have somany interests that theyhave difficulty narrowingtheir choices. Their first in-clination is not to declare amajor and wait to see ifthey find their niche.

In general, two out ofevery three university stu-dents change majors at

least once. This shouldgive hope to students whofeel they need a chance.Here are some tips thatshould help with theprocess.Wait to declare.

Many educators advisewaiting a semester or twobefore declaring a major.Take a variety of electivecourses and general edu-cation classes that will fitdegree requirements re-gardless of major. A guid-ance counselor or adviser

can help undecided stu-dents choose courses thatmight help them find anarea of study.Take an assessment test.

The career or guidanceoffice may offer some ofthe standardized tools tohelp students find an areaof concentration. TheMyers-Briggs Type Indica-tor (MBTI) and the Camp-bell Interest and Skill Sur-vey are two resources stu-dents use to identifystrengths and potential

paths of study.Do your research.

If you're considering anew major, talk to your ad-visor about what will berequired of that new major,including classes and othercoursework. You can alsotalk to students currentlystudying under that major.Knowing what to expectbeforehand can make thedecision-making process alittle easier.Talk to the dean.

Many colleges and uni-

versities have deans or ad-visors in charge of stu-dents in certain majors.They will know the cours-es required for a degree.Switching majors may in-volve taking or re-takingsome courses that will fitwith the new major. It mayalso mean that somecourses that were takencannot be applied to thenew major. This can resultin having to take moreclasses one semester ortaking an extra semester tograduate.Consider finances.

Taking different classesor stretching out your col-lege career an additionalsemester might cost moremoney. Be sure that the fi-nances are there, whetherpersonally provided orfunded through financialaid.Assess whether yourmajor truly matters.

Many liberal arts or gen-eral studies majors are ap-plicable in many fields.Therefore, switching ma-jors may not even be nec-essary. Think about con-tinuing with a currentmajor and then concen-trate or minor in some-

thing more specific.Determine if you reallyneed to switch majors.

Sometimes the decisionto switch majors is madefor you. If you are havingdifficulty keeping up inclass or find the coursesreally do not interest you,it may be time to change.Failing grades can impactgrade point average. Drop-ping a class -- or a major -- is a way to redeem your-self.Consider a double major.

Students who ultimatelycannot decide can chooseto study for a doublemajor. This may look goodon a resume and show po-tential employers that youare not afraid of work. Italso enables you to studytwo different subjects indetail. Keep in mind thatdouble majors will mean alot of extra work and maydelay graduation so thatyou can get all the creditsneeded.Choosing a major is sel-dom an easy decision.

Rest assured that if thefirst choice isn't ideal, stu-dents can switch majorssuccessfully with few ob-stacles.

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Take effective notes A student's success in

school is measured by theassignments completedand tests he takes. Thestudents who garner thebest grades and do well inclass are often those whoare effective listeners andnote-takers.

Professor Dennis Jertz ofSeton Hall University hassaid that taking lecturenotes effectively is one ofthe skills students mustlearn to make the transi-tion from high school tocollege careers. Note-tak-ing is also necessary in thebusiness world, making ita worthwhile skill to learn.

Despite its importance inhigher learning, not muchstudy has gone into thecorrelation between note-taking and performanceimprovement. As a result,statistics supporting theimportance of effectivenote-taking do not exist.But it stands to reason thatthe student who takesgood notes, and studieswell from them, has asporting chance to improvehis or her grades over oth-ers with poor notes.

Learning Note-takingIt may not seem as such,

but note-taking can almostbe a lesson all its own. Ifonly students could enrollin Note-Taking 101. Someelementary and high-school teachers attempt toteach strategies for takingnotes, including develop-ing outlines, but many stu-dents still struggle tomaintain the essentials asthey move through school.It can be confusing know-ing just how much to writedown without creating anovel or having notes soscant that they provide lit-tle information when itcomes time to study.

There are many systemsof note-taking that a stu-dent can learn. These in-clude using graphic repre-sentations to map out in-terconnected concepts.Outlines or charts cangroup terminology togeth-er with related ideas. Thereare other techniques thatuse cue words to triggerrecollection of facts anddates. Mnemonic deviceshelp recall information.Students can experimentwith different methodsuntil they find a systemthat works well and offersmeasurable success.

Improving ListeningSkills

No matter what methodof note-taking is used, ad-equate listening skills arenecessary to take effectivenotes. This helps studentstransfer what the professoris saying into ideas that

can be put down on paper.Staring off into space orhaving your mind drift cancause a student to miss outon key parts of a lecture.To improve note-takingskills, a student must firstimprove listening skills.

Sit up closer to theteacher or professor.This enables eye-to-eyecontact that may help astudent focus. It mayalso trigger visual cluesto a professor to gaugewhether the class iscatching on or missingwhat's being taught. It'salso advantageous froma practical standpoint. Itenables students to bet-ter hear what's going on.If the professor is gar-bled or inaudible whensitting far away, movingcloser is essential, espe-cially in a large lecturehall.Remove distractions.When a student entersthe classroom, he or sheshould be ready to learn.That means silencingmobile devices and gear-ing the mind toward thelessons. Not every lec-ture will be exhilarating,so students should makea conscious effort to payattention. Limiting dis-tractions can help.Use an assistance de-vice. Students who are

prone to "zoning out"may want to ask permis-sion to use a voicerecorder. This way if keyelements of the lessonare missed, they can beplayed back. Thismethod also helps stu-dents fill in gaps whentaking or studyingnotes.

Keys To Note-takingOnce listening skills

have improved, studentscan go onto to other note-taking pointers.

Sequencing material isimportant, so notesshould be dated andnumbered. If referencesare made to chaptersthat correlate to the text-book, jot those down sothey can strengthen thenotes.Charles Kettering, anAmerican engineer andinventor, said, "There isa great difference be-tween knowing a thingand understanding it."When jotting downnotes, a student whodiscovers that some-thing seems unclear canask for clarification ormake a point to researchthat component further.Students should consid-er writing notes on oneside of the page so thatthey can each be laid out

side-by-side. Loose leafpaper works well, ornotes can be typed andprinted out.Students should developtheir own method of ab-breviations and symbolsto cut down on theamount of writing need-ed. Notes needn't be infull sentences; phrasesare equally effective.If a professor writessomething on a chalk-board, puts text up on aprojector or repeatssomething several times,it should definitely bewritten down. There is agood chance that infor-mation will be on thetest.Students may want toreview note-takingstrategies with one an-other. Maybe there is asuccessful method em-ployed by one studentthat he or she can sharewith classmates.Rewriting or typingnotes helps ingrain theinformation in the brainmore than simplyrereading it.Note-taking is an impor-

tant skill many studentsshould make the effort tolearn. Improved test scorescan lead to a higher gradepoint average. This, inturn, can help with successin school and beyond.

Spring test dates approaching for ACT, SAT

The Iowa College Student Aid Commission (Iowa Col-lege Aid) reminded Iowa students that spring test datesfor the ACT and SAT, the two most commonly taken col-lege admissions exams in the United States, are quick-ly approaching.

Whether taking an exam for the first time or retakingan exam for an improved score, students in Iowa canboost their test-taking confidence by taking advantageof free test preparation resources available online atwww.IHaveAPlanIowa.gov.

I Have A Plan Iowa Test Prep includes the following: ACT - students can strengthen their knowledge in four

subject areas - English, math, reading and science rea-soning

SAT - students can build or refresh skills for theexam’s verbal and math sections

GRE - students can test their core abilities in verbal,quantitative, and analytical reasoning to prepare for thisexam used by many graduate and business schools toevaluate readiness for graduate-level work

Vocabulary Builder - students can expand and improvetheir word power which is useful for all college admis-sions exams

“We want to ensure that students are prepared for sus-tainable careers in Iowa, and that requires additional ed-ucation beyond high school,” stated Karen Misjak, ex-ecutive director of the Iowa College Student Aid Com-mission.

“College admissions exams, and the ACT in particular,measure academic skills taught in schools and aredeemed important for success in first-year college cours-es.

“Approximately 60 percent of Iowa’s high school grad-uates have taken the ACT and we want that number tocontinue to grow,” said Misjak.

“By offering free test prep through I Have A Plan Iowa,cost is no longer a factor for students seeking every op-portunity to prepare for these important exams.”

By entering the date of the approaching exam, I HaveA Plan Iowa Test Prep will personalize a study plan de-signed to make the most of the time available. I Have aPlan Iowa Test Prep adapts to the skill level of each stu-dent, provides personal tutoring with immediate feed-back on incorrect answers, and sends emails to the stu-dent about what to study next.

A status page enables students to monitor theirprogress by tracking what and how much they havestudied and how well they are doing.

Tests are conducted throughout the year for the ACTand SAT exams. Students can register online for the ACTat www.actstudent.org and for the SAT at www.college-board.com.

Upcoming exam dates for 2012-2013 are:ACT – April 13 and June 8SAT – March 9, May 4 and June 1For more information about the free test prep and

other resources available through www.IHaveAPlan-Iowa.gov, students and families can contact Iowa CollegeAid at 877-272-4456.

In addition, more information to help Iowa familiesplan, prepare and pay for college is available on IowaCollege Aid’s website, www.IowaCollegeAid.gov.


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Find the right internship Recent college grads

have found the job marketto be somewhat under-whelming. Gaining the at-tention of a prospectiveemployer is never easy,and it's even less so whenthe economy is struggling.

One of the ways currentstudents or even recentgraduates can make them-selves more attractive toprospective employers is tofind the right internship.Internships are not alwayseasy to get, and many ofthem don't pay. But stu-dents who find the rightinternship often look backand recognize that their in-ternship was their firststep toward a rewardingcareer, and a step that pro-vided valuable insight intotheir chosen field. To findthe right internship, con-sider the following tips.Work with your school.

Whether you're in col-lege or you're that rarehigh schooler looking foran internship, lean on yourschool for direction andadvice. Colleges and uni-versities have career cen-ters that can help you gain

an internship. They canassist you through accessto job listings and by pro-viding advice on craftingresumes and cover lettersor tips on how to interview.In addition to your school'scareer center, speak to pro-fessors in your desiredfield and seek their advice.Many professors likelyhave experience in thefield outside of the class-room and might even stillwork in the field, be it full-time or as a consultant.These professors can pointyou toward job opportuni-ties or give you advice onwhat prospective employ-ers are looking for from anintern.Start early.

It's never too early tostart looking for an intern-ship. In fact, many compa-nies hope to have their in-ternship positions filledwell in advance. For exam-ple, if you're looking for asummer internship, beginyour search no later thanJanuary and continue thatsearch throughout the se-mester.

In addition to starting

early, don't just seek sum-mer internships. Somecompanies make intern-ship opportunities avail-able year-round, so youmight be able to get onethat coincides with theschool year, even if youhad a previous internshipwith a different companyduring the year. Internshipexperience is invaluable,and the more of it you can

gain the more attractiveyou are likely to be to po-tential employers aftergraduation.Do your homework.

Chances are you'reworking toward a degreein a specific field. Researchthe leading companieswithin that field and learnabout their internship pro-grams. Visit each compa-ny's Web site and peruse

their job listings. This ismore direct and takes lesstime than searching for in-ternship opportunities onthe large job listing Websites. Such sites mighthave internship listings,but searching throughthem can feel like lookingfor a needle in a haystack.Do some networking.

You might not have anexpansive network of as-

sociates to tap into, butthat does not mean youshould go it alone. Talk toyour parents to see if theyor someone they know hasheard about any internshipopportunities in your cho-sen field. You might alsobe able to network via yourschool's career center,which likely has an alum-ni-networking service thatenables you to contact pastgraduates currently work-ing in your chosen field. Insome instances, thesealumni-networking servic-es can be an internshipgold mine, as past gradu-ates might prefer to hirecurrent students from theiralma mater as opposed toapplicants from otherschools.

Competition for intern-ships is often steep, andthat's especially so whenthe economy is strugglingand even recent graduatesare hoping to land intern-ships. But students canemploy several strategiesto find the right intern-ships and take their firststeps toward rewarding ca-reers.


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Remember to claim highereducation tax benefits

The Iowa College Stu-dent Aid Commission(Iowa College Aid) remind-ed Iowa families payingcollege costs or repayingfederal student loans totake advantage of federalhigher education tax bene-fits to reduce their tax ob-ligations.

Eligible students andfamilies can save thou-sands of dollars by takingadvantage of tax creditswhich reduce federal in-come taxes owed, and de-ductions which reduce ataxpayer’s taxable income.

However, according tothe U.S. Government Ac-countability Office, 14 per-cent, or roughly 1.5 milliontax filers in 2009 (the mostrecent data available)failed to claim a credit ordeduction for which theywere eligible.

“Tax filers left behindnearly $800 million worthof higher education taxbenefits in 2009, an aver-age of $466 per person,”stated Karen Misjak, exec-

utive director of Iowa Col-lege Aid. “We want tomake sure that Iowans areaware of the money-sav-ing tax benefits for stu-dents and families whopaid college expenses lastyear.

“Iowa College Aid en-courages all Iowa familieswho incurred higher edu-cation expenses during2012 to explore the tax

credits and deductionsavailable,” she added.

Available higher educa-tion tax benefits for the2012 tax year include:

American OpportunityTax Credit - this credit isavailable to a broad rangeof taxpayers, includingmany with higher incomesand those who owe no tax.Many of those eligiblequalify for the maximum

annual credit of $2,500 perstudent for out-of-pocketeducational expenses in-cluding, tuition, fees andrequired course material.Up to $1,000 of the creditis refundable if the creditis more than the amount oftaxes owed. This credit,which reduces the amountof income tax owed, can beused annually for the firstfour years of undergradu-

ate postsecondary educa-tion.

Lifetime Learning Credit- this credit allows taxpay-ers to reduce their federalincome tax by up to$2,000 for qualified edu-cation expenses paid for allstudents enrolled in eligi-ble educational institu-tions. Unlike the AmericanOpportunity Tax Credit, theLifetime Learning Credit isnot refundable. This creditcan be used annually forall years of postsecondaryeducation and for coursesto acquire or improve jobskills. Taxpayers cannotclaim both a LifetimeLearning Credit and anAmerican OpportunityCredit for the same studentin the same year. Only onecredit can be claimed, butnot both.

Student Loan InterestDeduction - this deductionenables eligible studentloan borrowers to reducetheir taxable income, up toa maximum of $2,500,based on the amount of

student loan interest paidduring the tax year. Stu-dent loan interest is inter-est that was paid duringthe year on a qualified stu-dent loan. It includes bothrequired and voluntary in-terest payments.

Tuition and Fees Deduc-tion - taxpayers can reducethe amount of their incomesubject to tax by up to$4,000 for qualified edu-cational expenses paid in2012 including tuition,fees, and amounts re-quired to be paid to the ed-ucational institution forcourse-related books, sup-plies and equipment.

Iowa College Aid recom-mended students and fam-ilies consult with a profes-sional tax advisor or theIRS to determine eligibilityfor the tax benefits. Moreinformation about IowaCollege Aid and its prod-ucts and services that helpIowa families plan, prepareand pay for college can befound at www.IowaCol-legeAid.gov.


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7-COLLEGE (COLLEGE SPRING 2013-CSM) CM

U.S. Department of Education releases college scorecard

Following President Obama’s State of the Union ad-dress on February 12, the U.S. Department of Educationreleased an interactive College Scorecard, which providesstudents and families critical information to make smartdecisions about where to enroll for higher education.

The College Scorecard – as part of President Obama’scontinued efforts to hold colleges accountable for cost,value and quality – highlights key indicators about thecost and value of institutions across the country to helpstudents choose a school that is well-suited to meet theirneeds, priced affordably, and is consistent with their ed-ucational and career goals.

“We know students and families are often over-whelmed in the college search process – but feel theylack the tools to sort through the information and decidewhich school is right for them,” said U.S. Secretary ofEducation Arne Duncan. “The College Scorecard pro-vides a snapshot about an institution’s cost and value tohelp families make smart decisions about where to en-roll.”

The College Scorecard provides students and familieswith information through an interactive tool that letsthem choose among any number of options based ontheir individual needs – including location, size, campussetting, and degree and major programs. Each scorecardincludes five key pieces of data about a college: costs,graduation rate, loan default rate, average amount bor-rowed and employment. These data will be updated pe-riodically, and the Department of Education plans to pub-lish information on earnings potential in the comingyear.

Consumers can access a College Scorecard for everydegree-granting institution at whitehouse.gov/score-card, and they can email comments or questions aboutthe tool to [email protected].


Filing the FAFSAeach year is now easierfor students and familiesBe sure to file beforedeadlines

System updates and en-hancements have helpedto make filing the Free Ap-plication for Federal Stu-dent Aid (FAFSA) easierfor students and families.

The FAFSA is a stan-dardized application usedto determine eligibility forfederal, state, and in somecases, institutional finan-cial aid.

“We encourage studentsand parents to completethe FAFSA online atwww.fafsa.gov becausethe help features and built-in edits, which reduce ap-plicant error, simply aren’tan option when completingthe paper FAFSA,” ex-plained Karen Misjak, ex-ecutive director of the IowaCollege Student Aid Com-mission (Iowa CollegeAid). “With all the recentenhancements to the on-line form, it only takes

about 30 minutes to com-plete.”

Iowa College Aid urgesall college-bound studentsto complete the FAFSA re-gardless of their financialsituations.

“Most families are eligi-ble for some form of finan-cial aid, and they need toapply early to meet the pri-ority deadlines associatedwith different programs,”said Misjak.

To help Iowa families,Iowa College Aid offers thefollowing FAFSA filingtips.

File the FAFSA no mat-ter your financial situa-tion. Even if you do notthink you will qualify forneed-based financial aid,you should still file theFAFSA. Many colleges re-quire that you file theFAFSA to be consideredfor institutional aid. In ad-dition, you are required tocomplete a FAFSA to be el-igible for federal Staffordloans and completing theFAFSA does not obligate astudent to accept any ofthe aid offered.

Never pay to file theFAFSA. You can file theFAFSA for free at

www.fafsa.gov. Reputableresources, including IowaCollege Aid, are availableto help you for free.

Meet state and collegedeadlines. Many states, in-cluding Iowa, have aFAFSA filing deadlines forstate-funded scholarships,grants and work-study op-portunities. Several Stateof Iowa financial aid pro-grams have priority filingdates as early as March 1.Keep in mind, most col-leges and universities havetheir own FAFSA filingdeadlines. Students shouldcheck with their college ofchoice to determine its pri-ority deadline for financialaid and if additional docu-mentation is required.

Double check informa-tion to avoid delays. Re-view your FAFSA informa-tion before you submit itfor processing. Make surethe student’s Social Secu-rity number and the par-ent’s Social Security num-ber are typed in the correctspaces. Mix-ups like thesewill cause processing de-lays.

It’s easier than ever. Oneof the newest enhance-ments, the IRS Data Re-

trieval Tool, allows appli-cants to automaticallytransfer the required taxinformation to the FAFSA,which saves time and re-duces applicant error. Stu-dents and families can filethe FAFSA prior to com-pleting their 2012 taxes byusing estimated income in-formation. Once taxes arefiled, the IRS Data Re-trieval Tool can be used tomake a FASFA correction,streamlining the comple-tion of the FAFSA.

Electronically sign yourFAFSA. The electronic ap-plication is not completeuntil both the student andparent electronically signthe FAFSA using theirFederal Student Aid Per-sonal Identification Num-bers (PIN). You can applyfor student and parentPINs while completing theFAFSA online, or you cango to the Federal StudentAid PIN website,www.pin.ed.gov, to obtainyour PIN prior to startingthe FAFSA.

Upon receiving theFAFSA data for an admit-ted student, a college willgenerate a financial aidpackage for the student

and communicate that in-formation to the studentthrough an award letter.The award letter typicallyincludes information re-garding the college's costof attendance, in additionto the types and amountsof financial aid being of-fered to the student. Mostaward letters will includefederal grants and studentloans, state grant andscholarship programs andany institutional scholar-ship or grant programsbeing offered to the stu-dent. Students and parentscan compare award lettersfrom different schools withthe Financial Aid Wizardin I Have A Plan Iowa(ihaveaplaniowa.gov).

Students and familieswho have questions aboutapplying for financial aid,or are interested in learn-ing more about the re-sources available for col-lege and career planningcan contact Iowa CollegeAid at 877-272-4456. Ad-ditional resources for Iowafamilies as they plan, pre-pare and pay for collegeare available on Iowa Col-lege Aid’s website,www.IowaCollegeAid.gov.

What to look for in a graduateprogram

Today’s college gradu-ates are facing a difficultjob market, one that isflooded with unemployedprofessionals but few jobopenings.

As a result, many col-lege juniors, seniors andeven recent graduatesare considering the pur-suit of an advanced de-gree.

When researching dif-ferent graduate pro-grams, prospective appli-cants should take the fol-lowing under considera-tion.

Admissionstandards.

Applicants should belooking for schools withtough admissions stan-dards.

Schools with low ad-missions standards won’tnecessarily provide a de-gree that’s valued byprospective employers.

Since many studentswill be pursuing an ad-vanced degree in thehopes it will help themstand out in a crowdedpool of applicants, thatadvanced degree shouldbe one that has substan-tial value and not one thatwas easy to pursue andobtain.

Assistance. A good graduate pro-

gram will boast a careerdevelopment programthat helps place gradu-ates in desirable careers.

Ask about past gradu-ates of the program, andwhere they are currentlyworking and what they’reearning.

Faculty. When researching

graduate programs, lookfor one whose faculty arewell known in your de-sired field.

Most school Web siteslist faculty biographies.

A strong faculty is onethat has a history of schol-arly publications, acclaimamong colleagues andprofessional experiencenot just in academia, butin the desired field aswell.

A proven and respect-ed faculty can be a greatway for students to makeconnections in the field.


7-COLLEGE (COLLEGE 2013-WALDORF) WM88-College Prvw(2013NWIowaAreaCommCollege)CS

Handling student loandebt after college

Today's college gradu-ates face numerous chal-lenges. With the globaleconomy still struggling,the job market for recentgraduates is less thanideal. Competition for jobsis also heated, as highrates of unemploymenthave created a job marketin which out-of-work yetexperienced professionalsare routinely competingover entry-level jobs withrecent graduates, many ofwhom have little or no ex-perience in their chosenfields.

But the difficult job mar-ket is only part of the trou-bles recent graduates mustface. Mounting debt is amajor issue for many col-lege grads. In Canada, forexample, the average debtfor a university graduatemore than doubled be-tween 1990 and 2000. By

2009, Canadian students'collective debt from theCanada Student Loan Pro-gram exceeded $13 billionfor the first time in history.Across the border in theUnited States, the Class of2011 earned the distinc-tion of being the most in-debted graduating class inthe country's history. Ac-cording to estimates fromstudent-aid Web sitesFastweb.com and Fi-nAid.org, the average2011 graduate was$22,900 in debt upongraduation.

In addition to findingwork in a job market that'sovercrowded with appli-cants, recent graduatesmust also find a way tohandle their now historicamount of debt. Those fac-ing loan repayment whilestruggling to find a jobshould consider the fol-

lowing tips.Don't delay requests forhelp.

Procrastination isn't agood approach to dealingwith debt, whether thatdebt is from student loans,credit cards or personalloans. Recent graduateswho cannot find work orwho were laid off shouldcontact their lenders rightaway and inquire aboutlowering or postponingmonthly payments. It'snever good to miss a pay-ment, which will negative-ly impact an individual'scredit rating and is almostcertain to draw a financialpenalty. If trouble is on thehorizon, consult the lenderas early as possible. Thelender will likely grant adeferment or forbearance,neither of which will tar-nish an individual's credit.

Don't ignore it. Simply ignoring a stu-

dent loan and not repayingit is not a good approach.The loan will still be there,and even bankruptcy courtis not likely to discharge astudent loan. In otherwords, individuals aregoing to have to repaytheir student loans, so ig-noring them is not going towork. If an individualstops repaying his or herloan without being granteda deferment or forbear-ance, eventually wagesmight be garnished andprivate lenders might evensue their borrowers.Don't panic.

The current economycould seem daunting to re-cent graduates. Some maywonder if they will everfind work in their fields orif they will ever be able torepay their loans. But pan-

icking won't help. Lenderswill be willing to work withborrowers who are honestand straightforward.

Avoiding lenders andmissing payments willonly make the situationworse.


Liberal arts, technical and career advancement courses, classes to satisfy

curiosity or ignite a passion.

Partnerships with other institutions help the Carroll Campus offer more choices and flexibility

with greater affordability than you will find anywhere else. Come and check us out!

Sign up for Registration Plus+. You get your classes reserved early but don’t pay until classes start!

3447-1-11

Call 877-TO-DMACC (877-863-6222) or 712-792-1755 for more information or to make an appointment with one of DMACC’s career planning experts.

RIGHT HERE AT

INVEST IN YOURSELFat the DMACC Carroll Campus

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2013 college guide

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