College Admission testsS A T-college ($49)A C T-college ($49.50)C O M P A S S-technical ($10)

•When•Where•How

Estimated cost of attending the following colleges or universities for the year in 2010:

• USCL $5624• Anderson University $27,500• Clemson University $24,285• Coastal Carolina $21,118• College of Charleston $19,569• USC $21,498• Winthrop $17,339• Lander $15,612• Wofford $40,580• Duke $53,390• Harvard $52,000

So!Why do some

colleges cost more than others?

Applying to college

• Which college-reach, match, & safety

• Be realistic with Financial Expectations

• College Admission deadlines

• College Admission requirements?

(do the “colleges of choice” requirements and the high school graduation requirements match?)

SC requirements to graduate from High School- 24units

• English-4 units• U S History-1 unit• Economics-1/2 unit• Government-1/2 unit• Other Social Studies-1 unit• Mathematics-4 units• Science-3 units• Computer Science-1 unit• Phys Ed or JROTC-I unit • Foreign Language- 1 unit for college prep (your college requires

how many?) or Vocational-1 unit for tech prep• Electives-7 units

A P courses

• Free or Nominal SC college credit

For making a 3, 4 or 5 on the AP testEach AP course worth around $1100-$1200

depending the cost of semester hours

• Helps prepare for the rigor of college courses

What type college or University

• Large university-usually offers extensive and varied programs and cutting edge research

• Small private 4-year-commonly a liberal arts education and more personal interaction

• Technical or trade school-practical training and job skills

• Community College-2 years of general course work and associate degrees in certain fields

Financial Aid

1st thing

FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid

www.fafsa.ed.gov

Prepare for FAFSA

• Fill out taxes early

• Fill out fafsa online

• Do not pay for fafsa

• Do not pay for firms to do fafsa for you

www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov

Different types of Financial Aid

• Non-need based aidBased on student’s achievements or

characteristics

• Need-based aidAwarded to students who would not be able

to pay for postsecondary education using only their family’s financial resources.

4 major types of financial assistance

• Grants-typically need based & depend on enrollment status-do not have to be paid back.

• Loans-to be paid back (some can be forgiven). Need or non-need based

• Scholarships- do not have to be paid back. Typically merit based

• Work-Study-students work on campus to help pay for college.

Where does your family find information about scholarships?

• Colleges or Universities

• Community Organizations

• Local or National Businesses

• On-Line Scholarship Searches

• Local Library

• Counselor’s Office

• School web page

State Academic Scholarships

HOPE• 3.0 regardless of rank or SAT score

• Good for only 1 year

• Converts to Life with a 3.0

• Must earn 30 semester hours

$2500 + $300 for books

State Academic Scholarships

LifeMust include 2 of the 3

• 3.0 GPA• 1100 on SAT or 24 on ACT• Top 30% of the graduating class

$5000 including book allowance

Must earn 30 semester hours

State Academic Scholarships

Palmetto FellowsMust include all 3 criteria

• Top 6 % of the graduating class• 3.5 GPA• 1200 SAT or 27 ACT

$6700 freshman year$7500 sophomore/junior/senior

Must earn 30 semester hours

Acronyms

• COA-cost of attendance

• EFC-expected family contribution(comes from FAFSA)

• FN-financial need

COA – EFC = FN

status

• Is your student or guardian dependent or independent?

• When you have step children, whose income is used when filling out the FAFSA?

Overage checks

• Are you and your child prepared for overage

checks?

Professional Judgment

Call the financial aid offices

The financial aid administrators will work

with you.

Sticker shock!

Do

Not

Get

sticker shock!

There is no silver bullet!

This information is like medicine…

While it will help cure the sick, it will not

raise the dead!

The Springs Close Foundation

Student loans Contact-Judy Rowell

Tel 803-286-2197Lancaster

Tel 803-548-2002Fort Mill

Fax 803-416-4626

M-TH 8am-5pmFriday 8 am-2 pm