College Presentation – Class of 2021

Post-High School OptionsHave a plan…

• University or College - Bachelors Degrees

• Community College - Associates Degrees, Certifications, some Bachelors Degrees

• Technical College - Associates or Trade Degrees

• Specialty Schools - Art, Culinary, Technology etc.*

• Military *

• Trade Apprenticeships *

• GAP Year Program

• Job* Need to graduate!

COVID 19 RESPONSE

• For many of your more pressing questions, we don’t know the answer yet. Get in the habit of checking directly on the schools web-site. That is always the best place for current information

• SAT and ACT are being waived for most college applications for the 2020/2021

• The schools know your activities and extra curricular activities have been impact and will make allowances

• Watch deadlines carefully!

Choose Your Best Fit

• Majors/Programs- does the school teach what you want to study?

• Admission Requirements

• Size – Large or Small School, Large or Small Classes

• Location

• Campus Climate & Values

• Available Activities

• AFFORDABILITY!

How are you going to pay ?

• How much does each school cost?

• Is someone helping you pay?

• How much can they help? Have this conversation now!

• How much financial aid can I expect from the schools I am considering? There is a net price calculator on each school’s web-site where you can get an estimate.

Naviance

• Complete your personal profile

• Make & manage your college list

• Links to Common App

• Request Teacher Letters of Rec

• Counselor Reports & Letters of Rec

• Request Transcripts be sent for ALL 4-year colleges

What are Certificates, AA & Transfer Degrees

• Typically, certificate programs prepare students to work in a specialized trade or update their professional skills. Most certificate programs require taking between three and nine courses.

• An Associate of Arts – AA – Degree is a two year degree typically provided by community or technical colleges. They can lead to careers such as Air Traffic Controller, Radiation Therapist, MRI Technologist, Computer Programmer, Dental Hygienist, Registered Nurse and many more.

• A Transfer Degree is a degree intended for students who plan to pursue a bachelors degree at a four year university. The first two years are completed at a community college and the student then applies to transfer to a four-year college that the community college has an agreement with. The student uses the grades they have achieved at the community college to apply to the four-year college – not their high school grades!

• Go to https://catalog.bellevuecollege.edu/content.php?navoid=154for examples of Certificates, AA and Transfer Degrees. All Washington community colleges have similar offerings!

Technical CollegesTechnical colleges commonly offer programs in automotive technology, cosmetology, culinary arts, digital technology, health sciences and skilled trades, such as welding and more. These programs may result in an associate's degree, certificate of completion or diploma, depending on the school.

These programs typically include classes that focus directly on a career and have a great deal of hands-on training. The length of the programs can vary from a few months to a couple of years

Local Technical Colleges or schools with Technical Programs:

• Bellevue College

• Lake Washington Institute of Technology

• Renton Technical College

• Seattle Community Colleges

• Shoreline Community College

• Go to www.CheckOutACollege.org

Two Year Colleges• Apply online

• Complete their Math & English placement requirements (some require a test)

• Sign-up for classes

• Certificates – completion time varies

• AA degrees – typically 2 years

• Transfer Programs – typically 2 years

• Many 4-Year Degrees

• SAT, ACT and Transcripts not required except some specific programs

• Apply online

• Personal Statement/Essay (not all!)

• MANAGE APPLICATION PROCESS & REQUEST TRANSCRIPTS THROUGH NAVIANCE!!!

• Send SAT or ACT with Writing scores (most not req’d this year)

• Some may require SAT Subject Tests (most not req’d this year)

• Application Fee Waivers for Students with financial need

Four Year Colleges - Public

UW Seattle 2021/2022

• Application deadline – 11/15/2020• Coalition Application150 schools including UW use the Coalition

ApplicationProfile part is on-line now

• Direct Admit only to the Schools of Engineering • Direct Admit only to Computer Science• START EARLY!

Four Year Colleges - Private• Apply online: Common App, Coalition Application or school specific

application

• Personal Statement/Essay

• School Specific Supplements (many schools have these)

• MANAGE APPLICATION PROCESS & REQUEST TRANSCRIPTS THROUGH NAVIANCE!!!

• SAT, SAT Subject Tests and/or ACT are mostly optional or not required this year due to the COVID crisis

• Counselor Reports & Letters of Rec

Letter of Rec Packet is on the Sammamish Counseling Web-site

• Teacher Letters of Recommendation – Ask 1st and then invite via Naviance, and ask now

• Application Fee Waivers for Students with

financial need

College List – Where to apply• Be strategic!

• Look at your GPA and SAT/ACT scores and compare them to the schools you’re applying to

• Apply to:

• REACH/DREAM

• MATCH/SOLID

• SAFETY

• WUE

WUE Western University Exchange -www.wiche.edu/wue

Students who are residents of WICHE (WESTERN INTERSTATE COMMISSION FOR

HIGHER EDUCATION) states are eligible to request a reduced tuition rate of 150% of resident tuition at WUE participating two- and four-year college programs outside of their home state.

The WUE reduced tuition rate may not be automatically awarded to all eligible candidates. Many institutions limit the number of new WUE awards each academic year, so apply early!

WICHE members include: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Not all state schools in these states participate in the WUE program – RESEARCH!

What do 4 year schools look at?• Grades

• Course Rigor

• Grade Trends

• Standardized Test Scores (not so much this year!)

• Extra-curricular Activities

• Personal Statements

• Internships/Jobs/Volunteer/Family Obligations

• Counselor Report (private)

• Letters of Rec (private)

• Demonstrated Interest

Not necessarily in that order…

The Personal Statement/Essay

• Purpose is to illustrate to the schools something about you that they can’t get from elsewhere in your application

• “Other” writing opportunity

• “Optional” writing opportunities – should be utilized if you have something to say…

The importance of deadlines …

• Last day to apply, not the target date!

• Colleges don’t have to have sympathy for missed deadlines…

• There are application deadlines and financial aid deadlines and scholarship deadlines (you get the picture.) Look them up for each school as soon as you decide to apply

• Early Action

• Restricted Early Action

• Early Decision

Application TIPS

• Use your legal name, and the same name on all applications –college, financial aid, scholarships

• Make sure email address, telephone numbers and birthdate are entered accurately

• What does your email address and voicemail recording say about you?

• Create a separate email for college and job applications

• Check your email and respond to emails!!

• Keep track of all usernames and passwords – you willneed them later!

Name Brands & Highly Selective Schoolsare they right for you…?

There are 40 or so schools we’ve all heard of but there are 3,000 plus schools in the US alone (can you say geographical diversity?)

• How long will it take to get your degree?

• What are the chances of getting into your desire major?

• How much debt will result?

• What will be the cost to attend a UCLA vs a UW vs a WUE school vs a 2-Year Transfer Program or other?

• Undergraduate degree / Graduate degree

• How much does a school’s name actually impact your future plans?

UW Seattle 2018• 45,911 applicants

• 22,543 offers

• 7,050 seats filled• 4,450 seats filled with Washington residents (63%)

• 1,450 seats filled with out-of-state students

• 1,150 seats filled with international students

• 49.1% over-all admission rate

• 54% of in-state students admitted

• Negligible odds of being admitted off of the waitlist

• Approximately 45% of applicants get into Foster School of Business if not a direct admit

• Engineering Majors are all Direct Admits

• 2,600 waitlisted/ 1,150 accepted waitlist/145 admitted from waitlist (from 2016/17)

Cost of Attendance• Varies from school to school

• Is the total cost for attending a school for the full academic year

Direct Costs

Tuition, Fees, Room & Board, Health Plans

Indirect Costs

Off-campus Room & Board, Books & Supplies, Transportation, Loan Fees, Some Study Abroad Expenses.

Comparison – COANote: these are the “sticker price”

University of Washington, in-state public $27,638

E. Washington University, in-state public $23,466

UCLA, out-of-state public $63,738

University of Oregon, out-of-state public $49,015

U of AZ Flagstaff (out-of-state public) $41,984/WUE $32,190 (est.)

University of North Dakota $23,289

Seattle University (in-state private)* $61,608

Lewis & Clark (out-of-state private) $64,186

Bellevue College – does not include living expenses** $9,500

**Assumes living on campus except Bellevue College. Figures from2018/19.

Private colleges cost the same for in-state students as out-of-state students.

Applying for Financial Aid

• FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Must be a citizen or eligible non-citizen with a Social Security Number.

• WASFA – Washington Application for Student Aid

For student who, because of immigration status cannot apply for the FAFSA. Must have lived in Washington for 3 years before graduation. Does not require a Social Security Number

• CSS Profile – Used by some schools for awarding institutional aid.

Cost of Attendance (COA)minus

Expected Family Contribution (EFC comes from your FAFSA or WASFA application)

equals

Your Financial Need

Most schools do not cover your full financial need

Each school and FAFSA has a financial aid forecaster on their web-site

that you should use upfront

Financial AidMerit Based Financial Aid – does not need to be paid back *

Institutional awards based on high school performance

The award is usually determined from the admissions application – a separate application is not typically required

Maintaining merit aid requires ongoing academic success in college

Award criteria can include

• Grades

• Test Scores (not so much this year)

• Community Service

• Leadership experience

• Talent

• Extra-curricular activities in and out of school.

There may be repayment required if you drop-out during a semester where in you were using the aid to pay for classes.

Financial Aid Con’tNeed-Based Financial Aid: does not need to be paid back*

Federal Pell Grant – up to $6,195 per year

Washington State Need Grant – up to $9,745 per year for 4-year school and $3,694 for a 2-year school (2018/19 figures) https://readysetgrad.wa.gov/college/washington-college-grant

Other Grants and Scholarships – awarded on a case-by-case basis

College-Bound Scholarship – signed up for in middle school. Must complete a FAFSA or WASFA to receive the award as a graduating senior

Work Study – on-campus job funded by Federal and/or State Work Study dollars. Work study dollars must be earned and are paid directly to the student.

*There may be repayment required if you drop-out during a semester in which you were using the aid to pay for classes.

LoansFederal Stafford Subsidized Loan: Need based students only – 5.05% interest

Does not accrue interest while in college

Federal Stafford Un-subsidized Loan: Available to all students who submit the FAFSA – 5.05% interest

Does accrue interest while in college

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized

For Both Types of Loans:

Repayment begins 6 months after completing OR leaving your program

Repayment terms can be negotiated

Repayment terms apply to the student only

Private Loans

Private Loans

An option for students not eligible to submit a FAFSA, as well as for others

Requires an application and approval

Usually requires a co-signer

Review terms and conditions carefully as they vary among lending institutions

Understand repayment requirements before signing!

College Reps Visiting Sammamish• Likely the rep assigned your school so may be the first one to review

your application – important to make this connection if you can!

• Sign up for College Visits via Naviance

• You MUST notify your teachers if you will miss class time!

College visits are a great way to show

DEMONSTRATED INTEREST!

Be a Savvy Consumer!

• Huge investment

• Public vs Private vs 2-Year Transfer vs AA vs Certification

• In-state vs Out-of-state vs WUE

• What is your financial aid opportunity at each school?

• Number that graduate in 4 years? In 2 years?

• Can you get into your major/ field of study?

•SPEND TIME ON THIS!!

Useful WebsitesCOLLEGE INFORMATION

Naviance: https://connection.naviance.com/family-connection/auth/login/?hsid=sammamish

College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/College Results: http://www.collegeresults.org/

Common Application: www.commonapp.orgNCAA Eligibility Center: www.eligibilitycenter.org

College Information: www.collegedata.com

FINANCIAL AID/SCHOLARSHIPSFinAid: www.finaid.org

Wash Board: www.washboard.orgFast Web: www.fastweb.com

Scholly: www.scholly.com

ADMISSIONS TESTING

College Board: www.collegeboard.org

ACT: www.actstudent.org

Khan Academy: www.khanacademy.org

Your Resources

• Your Counselor

• Ms. Scott & College Corps (CC)

CC is available after school October - January

Ms. Scott is available year-round in the College & Career Center

• Teachers/ School Staff/ People in your life

• College Admissions Representatives

• Naviance

• Counseling Center Website

Questions & Answers