StudentAdvisor Blog

College Comparison: Kansas vs. Missouri

Mamlet & VanDeVelde: One College Admissions Book to Rule Them All?

By Taylor Cotter
StudentAdvisor.com Staff

Are you overwhelmed by the number of books out there that promise to clue you in on the nerve-racking college admissions process? Us too! But every now and then one college admissions book comes along and proves itself to be a real "game changer." College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step, a comprehensive guide for parents and students in the throes of the college application process, is one of the few college admissions books to earn our StudentAdvisor seal of approval. Authors Robin Mamlet, former Dean of Admission at Stanford, Swarthmore and Sarah Lawrence, and Christine VanDeVelde, journalist and parent, took a critical look at the college application process, and shared best practices for finding and getting accepted into the "right-fit" schools.

Admissions Pointers for Every Kind of Student

The book covers everything from becoming college-bound as a young student, to deciding where to apply, to actually applying, to deciding where to go and how to pay for it. One of the things we love most about this book is that Mamlet and VanDeVelde address a wide variety of student-specific issues, such as learning disabilities, home-schooled students, undocumented students, legacy students, in addition to issues pertaining to art students and student-athletes. No matter what concerns students and parents have about getting into college, they'll find practical pointers and a list of action items for almost every situation. 

Real Admissions Advice from Real College Admissions Professionals

Who better to learn about the wild world of college admissions from than a bunch of actual Deans of Admission? In addition to their wealth of experience, the authors include a litany of deans of admission from over 50 college and universities, half a dozen financial aid officers, high school college counselors, professors, teachers, college students and experts in college admissions and parenting.

Some of the most valuable advice is for students that have barely started thinking about life after high school – 9^th and 10^th graders. Mamlet and VanDeVelde prepare them for the adventure that is to come – making sure that they’re focused on, not blinded by, the college application process:

“The hype surrounding college admission has spun so far out of control that headlines hawking tutoring, test prep, and a campus visits for students in elementary school are commonplace. When a magazine for Harvard alumni set out to produce a tongue-in-cheek guide to preparing a child in utero for admission, the editor complained it was almost impossible to satirize the subject because every ridiculous recommendation they came up with was actually in use.

So when should the college application process really begin?

Elementary school is way too early. But students and parents can also make the mistake of starting way too late. For most students, the formal application process will begin in the junior year of high school Before that, most students should simply enjoy being in high school – discovering who they are and exploring what they like to do. Rod Skinner, direct of college counseling at Massachusetts’ Milton Academy, says, “Build a life and the colleges that work for you will come.

Very First Steps: Freshman and Sophomore Years: During the freshman and sophomore years of high school, there are a few things that students can and should do. But these things should be done in the spirit of being aware of college as a goal and making decisions that keep doors open – not with a fat envelope in mind.

Checkpoints:

• For most students, the college admission process will begin in junior year.
• During 9^th and 10^th grade, students should pay attention to course work and grades, find and invest in some extracurricular activities they love, and spend a good dose of time daydreaming.
• Too much pressure to perform can have serious negative consequences for health and learning.
• For families who will be applying for financial aid (and this is the majority of families), keep saving and practice good record keeping.

Reprinted from the book College Admission by Robin Mamlet and Christine VanDeVelde. Copyright © 2011 by Robin Mamlet and Christine VanDeVelde. Published by Three Rivers Press, a division of Random House, Inc. 

Facebook Timeline: New Privacy Concerns for College Students [VIDEO]

By Sam Coren
StudentAdvisor.com Staff

Thought you were comfortable adjusting privacy settings on your Facebook profile after the last round of changes? Get ready:  privacy settings are about to change yet again for the social networking juggernaut. While some users have had Facebook's new Timeline-style profile through the developer application, it has finally started to roll out officially to all users this week.

But there's more to this slick new photo-centric Facebook profile than meets the eye. WCBV Boston's Newscenter spoke with StudentAdvisor's Dean Tsouvalas and Ashley Jones in addition to Emerson College student Anum Hussain about Facebook Timeline's privacy issues:

What you should do once you get Facebook Timline:

When your profile transitions to Timline you have 7 days to delete posts and pictures before  they get published to your new profile.

• Go through post by post starting with the year you joined Facebook and click the pencil next to each post to adjust the settings.
  
  
• Use the "View  as" feature (accesible via the on the bottom right of your cover photo) to preview what certain friends are able to see.
  
  
• Log out of Facebook to see what's viewable on your public profile to a user who isn't signed in.
  
  
• Be mindful of the privacy settings on each new post you publish - if you posted a public update the next time you go to post something, it may still be stuck on the "Public" setting.

7 Ways to Get the Best Financial Aid Package for College [VIDEO]

By Dean Tsouvalas
StudentAdvisor.com Editor-in-Chief

Now that applications are in, it's time for college-bound students to start applying for financial aid to help fund their education. Yesterday I sat down with Gene Lavanchy of Boston's Fox 25 Morning News Show to discuss ways students and parents can land the best possible financial aid package. While the process of applying for aid may seem as easy as just filling out the FAFSA there's actually a lot more to it! So what can you do to ensure you're setting yourself up to receive the most aid?

Learn more about the 7 ways to get the best financial aid package for college:

 

1. Fill out the FAFSA! It all starts with the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

One study showed that 53% of eligible families did not bother applying for aid through the FAFSA leaving millions on the table. Colleges use the FAFSA to determine your eligibility for government funded financial aid such as grants and federal student loans. Schools will also determine if you qualify for need-based scholarships based on your FAFSA score. You can do it all online at FAFSA.gov. DO NOT pass on filling out the financial aid paperwork if you think you won’t qualify

2.  Proof read your FAFSA (at least 3 times) to avoid these common mistakes:

• Listing incorrect Social Security Number or Driver’s license
   
• Leaving blank fields – enter a ‘0′ or ‘not applicable’ instead of leaving a blank. Too many blanks may cause miscalculations and an application rejection.
   
• Using commas or decimal points in numeric fields – always round to the nearest dollar.
   
• Listing marital status incorrectly – only write yes if you are currently married. They want to know what your marital status is on the day you sign the FAFSA, or Renewal FAFSA.
   
• Listing parent marital status incorrectly – the custodial parent’s marital status is required; if they’ve remarried, you’ll need the stepparent’s information too.
   
• Leaving the question about drug-related offenses blank – if you’re unsure about something, find out before you submit your FAFSA instead of leaving it blank. A conviction doesn’t necessarily disqualify you from getting aid.
   
• Forgetting to list the college – obtain the Federal School Code for the college, you plan on attending and list it – along with any other schools to which you’ve applied.
   
• Forgetting to sign and date – if you’re filling out the paper FAFSA be sure to sign it. If you’re filing electronically, be sure to obtain your PIN from www.pin.ed.gov. Your PIN is your electronic signature and will always be assigned to you only.
  
  

3.  Make sure your parent has as little cash in checking, savings and other cash-equivalents as possible on the day you file your FAFSA.

The final set of questions on your FAFSA will ask about the money you have on hand. Make sure that you and your student have as little money in checking, savings and other cash-equivalents the day you file the paperwork. It also helps to pay off as many bills as possible before filing the paperwork.

4.  Your student should always file a tax return, even if he or she is not making any money.

A tax return that says $0 can actually work in his or her favor, as it demonstrates a need.

5.  Understand that grades have little to do with financial aid awards.

Many parents assume their child must have good grades to qualify for grants and scholarships. This is inaccurate. Most colleges award a majority of their grants based on financial need, not merit. Merit scholarships comprise less than 2% of the total “pot.” Although it’s fun to talk about merit scholarships, the big money - more than 98% - is in the need-based financial aid system.

6.  Don’t wait on your acceptance letters before applying for aid!

Financial Aid is on a first come, first serve basis. You don’t need to be accepted to a college before you can submit your FAFSA – you only need to list which schools you have applied to. Typically, for first year students, colleges mail their financial aid reward statuses to students a few months after the application deadline to accepted students. 

7.  Be sure to compare financial aid packages from different schools closely.

Do not be afraid to read between the lines on financial aid reward letters. It’s not uncommon for “expensive” private colleges to offer better financial aid packages than state schools. Examine the gap (if there is one) between the financial aid package and the cost of attendance for each school to see how well the package meets your need. Break down how much money is coming from grants, federal loans, scholarships, and work-study. Grants and scholarships don’t have to be paid back. Work-study money must be earned through part time employment during the school year and students must pay taxes on it. Loans need to be paid back and different families can take on different amounts of debt. Remember – federal loans are less expensive and have more benefits than private loans.

REMEMBER:

You must fill out a FAFSA every year you are in school, but if you apply online, you can re-use your FAFSA-on-the-Web PIN each year you apply for federal financial aid.

Make sure you fill in every year for every child you have in college starting in January of their SENIOR year in high school to ensure you have a chance at receiving the most aid.

How to Write a Research Paper in College by Mastering the Five Rs

By Stefanie Weisman
For StudentAdvisor.com

There are few tasks in college that demand such a wide variety of skills as writing a research paper. It requires time management, research skills, creativity, logic, persuasive writing, and much, much more. Intimidated? Don’t be.

By following the "Five Rs" below, you’ll be well on your way to writing a grade-A paper:

1. Read the instructions.

Most professors will give you a written assignment as the basis for your paper. I can’t tell you how many students throw points away by not following these instructions to the letter. Remember: read, don’t skim – and then read it again. Look out for things like how many pages and what types of sources are required. Don’t disqualify yourself from an A before you’ve even started!

 

2. Restrict your focus.

If your professor hasn’t told you what to write about, choose something you’re interested in, but keep your focus as narrow as possible. I recommend choosing a topic that's accessible but still fairly obscure – this way, you won’t be overwhelmed by all the material out there, and you’ll avoid writing on a subject that’s been done to death. That's how I chose a topic for my senior thesis. I wrote about the English Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 (ever heard of it?) because there were only a handful of primary sources to contend with and the secondary sources weren't too extensive.

 

3. Research actively.

Many college papers require you to do independent research and come up with a thesis. (A thesis, by the way, is the statement you'll be proving in your paper.) Start by searching your school’s online library catalog to find the general location of your topic. Then, go to that bookcase or shelf and tear it apart! Look at all the titles and skim through the ones that pique your interest; you’ll find stuff you never would have known existed with an online search alone. If your school provides you with access to it, use the database JSTOR to get a sense of the latest scholarship on your topic.

As you read through your sources, write down any quotations, facts, and ideas that strike you, with page numbers. This is critical for two reasons: (1) reviewing these notes will help you come up with a thesis; and (2) when you’re writing the paper, you’ll be able to cite your sources without going on a wild goose chase for half-remembered quotes.

If you’re lucky, a light bulb will go off and you’ll find the perfect thesis. For the 99% of the times when this isn’t the case, here are some tips on how to force inspiration:

• Challenge statements that are overly conventional, contradictory, or controversial.
  
  
• If your teacher posed a question in class and didn’t answer it, he or she is practically giving a thesis away. You just have to come up with an answer.
  
  
• Look in the footnotes of academic texts for the authors’ half-finished ideas and unproven theories. Footnotes are the great untapped resource for students in search of a thesis.
  
  
• Keep reviewing your research notes until a theme or pattern starts to emerge. Sometimes it takes a while to see the connection between things, but then – wham! – you’ll wonder how you ever missed it.
  
  
• Go to the prof’s office hours if you’re stuck, but come prepared with an account of what you’ve done so far. Your teacher won’t be pleased if you walk in demanding a thesis for free.

4. Reinforce your argument.

Before you start writing your paper, you should make an outline. For a short paper (under 5 pages), write down how each paragraph is going to support your thesis. For a longer paper, just sketch out the flow of your argument. This is when having taken detailed research notes really pays off; use them to find quotes, facts and figures to back up your thesis. Now that you’ve laid the foundation for a successful paper, it's time to start writing!

In general, your first paragraph should end with a clear statement of your thesis. Every succeeding paragraph should begin with a sentence that links the previous paragraph to the point you’re making in the current one. Don’t make your professor guess where you’re going. Words like however, moreover, while, nevertheless, in addition, and although can really help get your point across. Your final paragraph should summarize your argument and address its broader implications.

 

5. Revise, revise, revise.

Make sure you leave plenty of time to edit your paper! No matter how good your thesis is, your professor probably won’t take it seriously if your writing isn't polished.

 

Stefanie Weisman was valedictorian of Stuyvesant High School and graduated first in her class from Columbia University. She has a B.A. in History, a B.S. in Computer Science, and an M.A. in Art History. Her senior thesis won Columbia's Lily Prize for the best thesis in history on a non-U.S. topic. Stefanie is currently writing a book on how to achieve academic success called The Valedictorian's Guide to High School and College. For more information or to send her an email, go to her website at http://valedictoriansguide.com/

Photo:  elaine faith Lower Columbia College

First Time Applying for Financial Aid? 11 Things You Need to Know

By Purvi S. Mody
For StudentAdvisor.com

The beginning of a new year brings resolutions, hope, and change. For high school seniors, the next six months marks the end of childhood as they know it and the beginning of the rest of their lives. In just a few months, they will venture out into new territories: geographic, academic, emotional, and professional. Now, parents across America should begin the harrowing financial aid process.

This process can be more complex than the admissions process. While there are no essays to write or recommendations to manage, the forms are complicated and the process anxiety-ridden.

Here is a primer on how to tackle the financial aid process easily.

1. It is important that families gather the appropriate documents early to make filling out the forms an easier process. You will need to have last year’s and current year’s tax returns, end-of-year reports from all financial institutions including mortgage accounts, and social security numbers easily available. While many people wait until mid-April to file tax returns, it is vital that they are filed as soon as possible this year – ideally by February 1st.
    
2. The first step to applying for aid is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can do this online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. You will first need to create a pin in order to access the form. 
    
3. Many colleges also ask families to fill out the CSS Profile. This can be done online at https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/index.jsp. This form asks for additional information not captured on the FAFSA. Before you fill out this form, confirm that the colleges your child applied to require it since it has an application fee.
    
4. Some colleges require supplemental financial aid forms. Don’t rely just on the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile.
    
5. The financial aid application captures a snapshot of your financial situation. Make sure that snapshot demonstrates an accurate picture. For example, if a grandparent just gave a child a significant amount of cash for a holiday gift, it will appear to a college that money can be used to pay for tuition. But if that money was given to a child to pay for current expenses and cannot be used for college, it will hurt your financial aid situation. 
    
6. Remember that some types of debt are not taken into account when the college allocates your aid package. Credit card and car loan debt are two examples. If you have money sitting in an account, that money will be considered available for college expenses. If your financial situation allows it, pay off credit card and car loan debt. 
    
7. Talk to your mortgage lender or bank about rates on student and parent loans. Often existing relationships can help lower interest rates.
    
8. Even if you think that you may not qualify for need-based aid, you may qualify for federal loans if you apply for aid. You are not required to take out any aid that you are offered. It is better to leave loans as an option at least until May when your child decides where he or she will be attending next fall.
    
9. Don’t be afraid to call the financial aid offices of different schools. They are there to answer questions that you may have. In reality, the better you fill out the forms, the easier you are making their work. 
    
10. If you think that the forms you are submitting do not fully capture your need for aid, send in additional information with supporting documentation. The offices will use this information to calculate your aid package and it is easier to do this now then in April.
     
11. Sit with your financial advisor or accountant, if possible, about the benefits or downsides to second home mortgages, lines of credits, and distributing money across accounts. You don’t want to sacrifice your longer term financial plans for the sake of a little more financial aid.

Don’t procrastinate until the last minute. The faster a complete application is received by a college, the more quickly financial aid counselors can crunch the numbers, and the faster you will get an estimate of the hit to your bank account. There is plenty of aid out there for the families that really need it. And more and more colleges are changing their aid policies to make a college education more affordable across the board, which is beneficial to the middle class. Your kids have done the hard work, and now it is your turn. Your family will then be one step closer to beginning a new phase in your lives.

Purvi S. Mody is co-owner of Insight Education, an educational consulting firm that helps students throughout the country and internationally to achieve their educational goals. Get in touch with her via email at purvi@insight-education.net or follow her on Twitter @InsightEduc.

Student-Athletes: What to Consider Before Playing a Sport in College

By Ally Pelle
For StudentAdvisor.com 

Deciding whether or not to play a competitive sport in college is a big one for any student and the answer is different for everyone. After four years of high school swimming and diving, I chose to continue swimming in college. I was a student-athlete for my freshman, sophomore and the first semester of my junior year after walking-on to a Division I swim team in the Big East Conference. 

Although I loved my time as a swimmer, there were a lot of things I missed out on. I soon found out that most of the pros of being a student-athlete can also be cons.

Here are 9 things you should consider before becoming a student-athlete in college:

1.  Your financial need.

Many schools offer scholarships for athletes, which is great. If you’re one of those lucky enough to receive one and you’ve already got your school’s jersey on your wall, then you’re in the right situation. But if you’re only taking the scholarship because you can’t afford school without it – then think twice before accepting it. You’ll feel trapped by this obligation and won’t be able to enjoy yourself.

Do yourself a favor now and decide to make the most of your four years. They do go by as fast as everyone tells you.

2.   Your work ethic.

The way you do work in college will probably be very different than the way you worked in high school. For me, I had to pay much more attention, take better notes, ask for help more often and study much harder than I ever had to in order to get good grades. If you have solid study habits and are willing to be extremely regimented in the way you spend your time at school, than you’ll be a great student athlete.

Sometimes, you’ll have three classes, practice, lifts, club or group meetings all day. But just showing up isn't good enough:  sometimes coaches will keep GPA minimums that are above the NCAA requirements or create mandatory study hall hours. In the end - it's up to you to learn how to best manage your time to keep up academically.

3.  Your sleeping habits.

If you’re not exactly a morning person, you may not have the easiest time becoming a student athlete. Often, coaches will schedule early practices and lifts to avoid conflicting with classes and exams. I used to routinely go to bed at 9 p.m. every day, having to endure all of my friends calling me “grandma.” Very few people go to bed at 9 p.m. in college. If you find that you’re up with the birds, more power to you!

4.  Your dedication to your sport.

This is an important one. How much do you identify as a football/lacrosse/tennis/field hockey/whatever you are player? College sports will likely become your life. The friends you make, the parties you go to, the schedule you keep and the culture you become a part of will come back to this ultimate sacrifice of your time in order to be great at your sport. One of the things that shocked me about being a swimmer was that my teammates and I only talked about was swimming. Sometimes I just didn’t want to think about it anymore.

5.  Your other interests on campus.

Are you really excited about joining student government? Or the volunteer organizations? Maybe the newspaper? It’s difficult to manage a sport and academic responsibilities while being involved in a variety of on-campus clubs. There’s always that uber-involved guy or girl that we all love to hate who seems to be able to do it all.

Forget about them – they’re not human. After all of your prior commitments, it’s going to be tough to get to that choir or campus ministry meeting and really contribute as much as you’d have originally liked.

6.  Your friend-style.

This is one of the things that originally made me want to be a student-athlete. You get a pre-assigned group of friends! They’re excited to meet you! They want to take you places! A whole big group of guys and girls of all grade levels just waiting to accept you. You will no doubt get super-close with this group of people because you do everything from practicing, to rooming, to eating, sleeping and socializing together. These are some of my best friends from college.

Here comes the bad part: they were my best, but my only friends in college. When I decided not to swim my senior year, I was pretty unknown to the rest of the senior class. I went to parties and can’t tell you the amount of times I got “Hey, where do you go to school?” Once I got over that hump and started making new friends, I had an absolute blast. locked in for “social butterfly” for your school’s yearbook – then maybe opt out of being an athlete.

7.  Your FOMO.

In college, my friends and I used to refer to “FOMO” as “fear of missing out.” Usually, this applies to that girl or guy who goes out every night and begs you to come to the bar on Sunday nights because “so and so is there,” even though you couldn’t give a rat’s behind.

As a student athlete, you will probably miss out on a lot of things. For me, it was every Friday night. Our swim team had Saturday morning practice, so we spend Friday nights staying in. Consider that you may only have a few (or no) days off for breaks, one night per week to go out, and miss out on spring breaks and on-campus events. It’s a trade off for the glory on the field, I suppose. If you fear missing out on any college activity, you will suffer from FOMO as an athlete.

8.  Plans to study abroad.

This is a tough one to answer before you get to your freshman year – but if you’re dead set on going abroad already, you will probably miss out on some important team time. I spent my second semester of junior year in London, and not only did I miss out on training, meets and social events, I came back disconnected. This led to my not joining the team again senior year. If you’re okay with taking a break in your athletic career and coming back to your sport – do it! Plenty of people do. For me, it wasn’t the right thing to do.

9.  What are the perks?

Free stuff! Free hotels! Free food. Assignment extensions! Yes, athletes get a lot of perks. You’ll have to weigh how important those are to you. Sometimes it makes other students resent you a little bit, which is zero fun. No one likes those dirty looks shot across the dining hall when the basketball players walk in with new Air Jordans, but it happens.  For me, these things didn’t make it worth staying.

At the end of the day, I am glad that I got to be both a student-athlete and a “muggle,” as the ever-so-wise “axe bros” at my school so intelligently named non-athletes. I got the best of both worlds. I learned discipline, hard work and bonded with my team in incredible ways.

But I also got to experience sleeping past 6 AM, going out as much as I pleased and meeting a whole slew of new people. Whatever you decide, make sure to take the above things into consideration to find out if participating in college athletics its the right decision for you.

Ally Pelle is a 2007 graduate of Providence College, where she was a Division I swimmer for three years. Ally has a degree in marketing and is an Account Executive at CBS Radio Boston.

_{Photos:  SD Dirk Tulane Public Relations mbsurf}

$5,000 NursingHomeAbuse.net Scholarship for College Students

By Taylor Cotter 
StudentAdvisor.com Staff

The NursingHomeAbuse.net scholarship is the first scholarship to be offered to applicants who are pursuing a career that will help combat abuse in nursing homes. NursingHomeAbuse.net is part of the National Association to Stop Nursing Home Abuse and is focused on prevention, education, and repairing the conseuquences of abuse.

This scholarship is $5,000 toward non-tuition related expenses such as rent, childcare, books/supplies, travel/gas expenses, utilities or groceries.

Who is eligible?

• Applicant must be working towards a degree in Nursing (a background in Geriatrics is preferred), Social Work, Psychology, or Healthcare Administration with which he/she is planning to work with the senior citizen population
   
• Applicant must be attending an accredited post-secondary institution
   
• Applicant must be a US citizen
   
• Applicant must currently be receiving some type of financial aid

How to Apply

• Download and complete the scholarship application form at http://www.nursinghomeabuse.net/scholarship/.

This Week in College News: Big Changes for the Common App in 2013

By Sam Coren & Taylor Cotter
StudentAdvisor.com Staff

Every week StudentAdvisor compiles the top stories in college news. Here are some of the biggest stories that made the headlines this week: 

Common App to be overhauled for 2013.

The Common Application, the all-purpose college application accepted by 456 colleges and universities, is planning a major redesign for 2013. The Common App, which handles three million applications, will be revamped to process more student information. Students will be able to only view one essay question at a time, minimizing the risk of losing all answers. Common App is also considering offering a team of college counselors to answer questions students may have about their applications. Additionally, the new website will have less stifling word limits and likely be accessible from iPads and tablets.

Syracuse student returns to school after 5-month expulsion over Facebook post.

Matthew Werenczak, an education student at Syracuse University who was expelled in September 2011, returned to school this week. Werenczak was expelled for making a Facebook post about a comment he overheard while student teaching from member of the city's Concerned Citizens Action Program, who allegedly said he wished the school would hire more teachers from historically black colleges. Werenczak wrote on Facebook that he found the comment racist. Werenczak was expelled and pulled from his student teaching program for offensive and unprofessional comments. After raising first-amendment issues with the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, Werenczak had been readmitted to the education program and can resume student teaching this spring.

Apple offers iPad textbooks for high school students.

At Thursday’s keynote speech, Apple unveiled iBooks 2, an iPad app that will offer iPad specific textbooks from McGraw-Hill, Pearson and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. The textbooks will offer dynamic features like diagrams, photos, video clips and 3-D objects. Students will have the ability to virtually highlight text and use search functions to look up terms. Additionally, Apple offered an app called iBooks Author, which allows teachers to create their own interactive textbooks particular to their courses. iBooks textbooks are currently only available for high school students. We can only hope iBooks 2 will make its way to the college quad soon.

Florida Public College Presidents Want Higher Tuition Rate for STEM Students

Presidents at the University of Florida and Florida State University are encouraging law makers to allow colleges to charge higher, market based tuition rates for students enrolled in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs. In a time of tight education spending and budget cuts, lawmakers and college presidents are considering the benefits of market-based tuition for degree programs that have higher funding costs.

Have a college news story that you think should be featured on This Week in College News? Send suggestions to content[at]studentadvisor.com.

Photo: UBC Library

North Carolina's First Required ACT Exam: What it Means for Students

By Taylor Cotter
StudentAdvisor.com Staff

The American College Test, known nationwide as the ACT, has become more than just an SAT alternative for North Carolina students. Beginning this March, all public and charter North Carolina high school juniors will be required to take the ACT, while the state  foots the bill.

Lloyd M. Scott, director of admissions at Appalachian State University, said in a press release that other states that have moved to mandate the ACT early in a student’s high school career have seen the college-going rate of their high school graduates increase as a result.

North Carolina has a high school dropout rate of 2.55 percent (2009-2010) and about 14.2 students opt not to enroll in higher education of any kind (2011). Ultimately, North Carolina hopes by mandating the ACT, more students will discover their potential as college students and be able to plan accordingly.

Additionally, the state will be offering an ACT college readiness test called “PLAN” for students during their sophomore year.

“It’s almost like an academic early intervention that allows counselors and parents to work with and inform students early on about what they need academically to get into college,” says Jane Rex, director of Appalachian’s Office of Transfer Articulation and a N.C. representative for ACT.

Like most coastal states, the majority of North Carolina students take the SAT. By offering the ACT for free, students will be able to apply to more ACT-accepting colleges and use it to supplement their applications at SAT colleges. Additionally, ACT score reporting is comprehensive and offers students insight into their scores, as well as providing students with ideas about prospective job paths. Ultimately, giving the ACT to all students will likely provide helpful insight into their potential in both college and career.

For more information visit the ACT North Carolina State Testing Website.

_{Photo: Gates Foundation}

 

Grants and Scholarships: Is Your College Stingy With Financial Aid?

By Murray Miller
For StudentAdvisor.com 

Figuring out how to fund your college education can be overwhelming. If you've already been hunting around, it's clear that there's a massive amount of financial aid information on the web. Knowing where to look and what you should be looking for when you're applying for grants, scholarships, and other need-based financial aid can save you a huge amount of time and frustration.

Here are 3 steps for getting started with financial aid research:

1. Determine what percentage of financial need each college on your list has met historically.

All things being roughly equal, wouldn’t you rather attend a more generous school compared to a stingy one? StudentAdvisor's college profile pages offer information on what percentage of financial need has been met based off recent Department of Education data. Select a school from this list of US colleges to get started.

2. Determine how that college meets need.

This is the breakdown between free stuff (grants and scholarships) and self-help (loans/work study). Two colleges could meet the same overall percentage of need, but your financial aid could be vastly different between the two.

3. Pin down the priority deadlines!

Some schools require forms as early as November 1! Others may want you to file by February 15th. Make sure you research deadlines for each college on your list, since a lot of financial aid is first come, first served.

Now, a quick word on how to use the information uncovered in #1 and #2...

The ‘formula’ used by each school to determine your financial aid award is as follows: COA (Cost of Attendance) – EFC (Expected Family Contribution) = Need. Schools award financial aid based on how much need you show. As noted above, once you identify the percentage of need that your college meets, you have a decent handle on what your award will look like. Here is a simplified example:

Assume two colleges with a $50,000 Cost of Attendance and a $25,000 EFC. Your Need is $25,000. If “College A” meets 100% of need, you’ll receive an award of about $25,000 and your cost will be your EFC of $25,000. However, only the most elite, competitive colleges in the country will meet 100% of need. Most do not.

If “College B” only meets 80% of need, you may only receive $20,000 in aid, and you’ll have to pay about $30,000 (this is your EFC + the 20% unmet portion). So your total out of pocket for one year at the second school is $5,000 more than the first school, even though their sticker prices may be the same.

 

Where to Look for the Answers

How can you find this information? Always check the official websites for each college. Understand that you will have to click around for a while – colleges don’t make this information easy to find. Typically there will be a section of a college website dedicated to the financial aid department. Sometimes this information can be tucked away on an admissions or prospective student section. If you're having trouble finding information on the school website, you can also call the financial aid office. But we warned - you may end up frustrated by the lack of responsiveness, according to most of the parents we work with. 

If your'e still feeling lost you’d be well-served to consult a qualified college finance specialist. For example, our firm has all of this information at our fingertips and we get a lot of it directly from the colleges and some from the Department of Education. Our Smart Track™ Toolkit website has the tools (many of them for FREE) to help you project what each college will award within a small margin of error, and suggest legal and ethical ways to qualify for more grants and scholarships than you would on your own. No matter whether you seek out expert help or do it yourself, preparation and research can pay off in a big way.

Don’t put it off or you could lose out – on tens of thousands of dollars in financial aid.

Murray Miller is a financial educator devoted to the college planning space for over a decade.  Murray is the President and CEO of the College Resource Center, LLC.  You may contact him by emailing info@smarttracktoolkit.com or by calling 800-863-9440. For more information, including a schedule of free college workshops, visit www.SmartTrackToolkit.com. Connect with us Smart Track on Facebook and Twitter.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day: What Colleges Are Doing This Year

By Taylor Cotter
StudentAdvisor.com Staff

Though many college students might choose to spend next Monday sleeping in and enjoying their last days of winter break, thousands around the country plan on honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. by spending their day volunteering in their community. MLK Day, which was named a National Day of Service in 1994, gives students an opportunity to give back to their university neighborhoods and “transform Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and teachings into community action that helps solve social problems”. 

These universities have made the Day of Service into an event for the entire community:

University of Pennsylvania:

University of Pennsylvania brings out about 400 students to their annual Martin Luther King Day of Service, established in 1996 in conjunction with the Greater Philadelphia Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. UPenn invites students, faculty, staff and neighbors to join in on a number of projects, including recording Books on Tape for Philadelphia Reads, Mentor Program with students from Upward Bound and School of Social Policy and Practice, and Community Beautifications Projects. The university is also hosting a candlelight vigil that evening. To get involved with these projects at UPenn, visit UPenn Day of Service.

Northeastern University:

Students at Northeastern University honor MLK by hosting a variety of organizations in the student center on campus. Some of the projects that students will be working on include working with the Mural Club to paint canvas murals for a local elementary school, decorating book folders for literacy volunteers during reading sessions with children, and planting food and learning about sustainable food practices. Throughout the day, Northeastern is also sponsoring leadership workshops where students can meet with representatives from service organizations in the Boston area. Jonas Edwards-Jenks, a third year political science and economics major is thrilled about Northeastern's efforts. "I am excited to volunteer at Northeastern's King Day of Service as I think this will be a great opportunity for students to not only give back to the greater community, but also become a part of it," says Jonas. "I am looking forward to seeing the amazing impact Northeastern students can have in our surrounding neighborhoods." 

To learn more about these projects at Northeastern, visit Northeastern Center of Community Service.

Oregon Universities:

Nine colleges and universities from Oregon have teamed up to engage over 1,000 students in volunteer projects. For the third year, Concordia University, George Fox University, Lewis and Clark College, Mt. Hood Community College, Portland Community College, Portland State University, Reed College, University of Portland and Warner Pacific College have partnered with several community nonprofits to make social change throughout their state. Based out of a local high school, the college students are focusing their efforts on educational equality and civil rights. To learn more about service in Oregon schools, visit Oregon Campus Compact.

To start an MLK Day of Service at your school, or to get involved with service projects in your community, visit mlkday.gov.

 

Best Buy Scholarship Program to Award 1,200 High School Students

By Taylor Cotter 
StudentAdvisor.com Staff

In order to recognize students that excel inside and outside of the classroom, Best Buy and Best Buy Children’s Foundation are awarding up to 1,200 high school students with $1,000 scholarships. Scholarships are awarded to students who have shown consistent academic success and exemplary volunteer or work experience. This scholarship is not renewable and previous winners are not eligible to apply.

Who is eligible?

• Currently enrolled 9-12th grade students
   
• Must live in the United States or Puerto Rico
   
• Must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or equivalent
   
• Should show passion for involvement in the community through volunteer work or other work experience
   
• Must be planning to enroll at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, vocational-technical school, or online school/program in the United States or Puerto Rico the fall following high school graduation
   
• Students must never have been selected as a Best Buy Scholarship recipient

How to Apply

• Applications are open now and will be accepted until Feb. 15, 2012. Applications should be submitted online at https://bestbuy.scholarshipamerica.org/.

This Week in College News: Missouri GOP Candidate for Gov. Flubs College Degree in Biography

By Sam Coren
StudentAdvisor.com Staff

Every week StudentAdvisor compiles the top stories in college news. Here are some of the biggest stories that made the headlines this week:  

Missouri GOP gubernatorial candidate Spence admits to errors about college degree in biography.

Dave Spence, a Missouri candidate for Governor changed his online biography Thursday to fix a claim about holding an economics degree from the University of Missouri. In actuality, Spence holds a home economics degree from University of Missouri-Columbia. The candidate also acknowledged that members of his campaign have distributed erroneous fliers indicating that he attended business school at the University of Missouri.

 

Computer viruses at City College San Francisco founded to have had access to personal data for years.

An infestation of computer viruses originating within criminal networks in China, Russia and other countries has had access to personal data at City College of San Francisco for years according to the San Francisco Chronical. A few days after Thanksgiving the college's data security monitoring service noticed an unusual traffic pattern.  Because of the security breach sensitive information such as bank account numbers, addresses and other personal information from students, faculty, and staff has been put at risk. After further investigation the college found that the security issue may date back to as far as 1999. No cases of identity theft have been linked to the case yet, but that may change as the investitigation continues. 

 

Michigan Senate proposes new college grant program for resident K-12 students.

A new proposal by the Michigan State Senate's democrats called the Michigan 2020 plan would give the state's public high school graduates grant money toward tuition and associated costs covered at state community colleges or public universities. The amount toward tuition given would be based on the number of years the student attended school in Michigan. Under the proposed plan a student who attends Michgan public schools K-12 would be eligible to recieve the median yearly tuition at the state's public university, which is currently over $9,000.  

 

Undocumented college students take to social media to raise money for tuition.

Despite not being qualified for federal financial aid and many scholarships, undocumented college students are raising money to cover tuition by means of creativity and the kindness of strangers. In a recent  report by the NY Daily News, Angy Rivera, a Columbia-born student at John Jay College in New York City, explained how she was selling handmade bracelets to fund her education. Using the collection site ChipIn and advertising her $5 "education bracelets" on social media she's been able to raise money to fight her college's tuition hikes. 22 year-old Florida State student Juan Escalante has raised $1,000 on ChipIn toward his final tuition payment by selling $25 "I am Undocumented" shirts. Similarly, Jose Luis Zelaya, a Honduras-born student at Texas A&M has raised over $1,000 by selling hats he crocheted on his Facebook page.

 

Have a college news story that you think should be featured on This Week in College News? Send suggestions to content[at]studentadvisor.com.

_{Photo:  Jay Buffington}

 

FAFSA 2012: 3 Things You Need to Do Before Applying for Financial Aid

By Dean Tsouvalas
StudentAdvisor.com Editor-in-Chief

Get ready to block out a couple of hours on your calendar to sit down and just get that FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) done. If you'll be applying for aid you should definitely do it online. The Department of Education recommends using FAFSA on the Web for several reasons:

• Online instructions are provided for each question and live online help with a customer service representative is available if you get really stuck.
   
• FAFSA on the Web is designed to find mistakes and prompt you to correct them.
   
• You can get the federal school code while you’re right there in the form.
   
• You can fill out all the questions at once or save your application for later changes and updates. This is a great feature for submitting all the information you have other than your tax return. You have 45 days from when you first submit information, or until the application deadline passes.
   
• Once you click “Submit My FAFSA Now” your information is immediately sent to the Department of Education.
   
• Your application is processed more quickly.

So now that you know where to go, it's time to gather what you'll need to get started. Here are 3 things you need to do in order to start filling out that FAFSA!

1. Get a PIN

Before beginning the FAFSA, you should apply for a U.S. Department of Education personal identification number (PIN) at www.pin.ed.gov.  The PIN will allow you to sign your FAFSA electronically and to correct your processed FAFSA information online. Apply for your PIN ASAP because processing your request could take at least 2-5 business days.

Providing an email address will speed up the process. If you are providing parent information on the FAFSA, one of your parents must also sign your application. To sign electronically, your parent must apply for his or her own PIN.

2.  Gather the information required to apply.

Required personal identification information and financial documents:

• Your Social Security Number (SSN)—or your alien registration number if you’re not a U.S. citizen
   
• SSN of your parent(s) if you meet the FAFSA criteria for a Dependent Student
   
• Your driver’s license if you have one
   
• Your most recent bank statements
   
• Your W-2 Forms and other records of money earned
   
• Your Federal Income Tax Return (and your spouse’s, if you are married): IRS Form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, foreign tax return, or tax return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia or Palau
   
• Your parents’ Federal Income Tax Return, if you meet the FAFSA criteria for a dependent student
   
• Records of your untaxed income such as Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans’ benefits
   
• Your most recent business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, and records of stocks, bonds, and other investments

 

3.  Grab the FAFSA on the Web worksheet.

Your college or high school might have a copy of the worksheet, or you can print one from www.fafsa.ed.gov. This worksheet is optional, but it will help you collect the information you need to fill out your FAFSA online.

High School Seniors: You've Applied to College, Now What?

By Purvi S. Mody
For StudentAdvisor.com

It is hard for many high school seniors and their parents to believe that the Fall Season of applying to college will ever come to an end. With most application deadlines behind many students submitted their last applications just before the new year began. After such a stressful and trying process, most students are ready to relax and hopefully enjoy the remainder of senior year before decisions start to roll out.

But before you completely zone out of the admissions process, there are several things you need to get in order first:

Your applications may be in, but the financial aid process is just beginning. 

If your family is planning to apply for aid, this is the time to start planning. Families are now eligible to fill out te FAFSA, which is the starting point in the process. This is the federal financial aid form. In order to complete this form, your parents should try to get their taxes done as quickly as possible this year. So make sure they don’t wait until the April 17^th deadline. Waiting means that you likely will not get your aid packages from different colleges before you have to make a final decision on where to go next year. Certain colleges will also require additional documents including the CSS Profile, college specific forms, or tax returns from the past two years.  While there are typically no hard deadlines for financial aid, apply early.

Many colleges will also require students to submit mid-year reports, which will list your first semester grades from this year.

Some students do not take their finals until late January, but just make sure that your school sends off these reports as soon as grades become available. Your high school should be very familiar with the process since they go through this process every year. If you do not ensure that your mid-year grades are sent, your admissions decisions are in jeopardy.

Occasionally, colleges will send questionnaires to specific students. If you get one of these, please do not take it lightly.

This is a college’s way of saying that they need more information from you in order to make an appropriate decision. Failing to submit the form indicates a lack of interest in that school and that can in no way be interpreted positively. When completing these questionnaires, think about what is already on the application you submitted and add new information. Simply repeating or copying essays will not give the admissions officers the information that they seek. Do not wait until the last minute on these.

Now is also the time that colleges that conduct interviews will start to make those requests.

Check your email and phone messages in a timely manner. You don’t want to ignore an interviewer. While the college interview and its impact have been hotly debated, please don’t take these lightly. You don’t want any negative feedback to reach the admissions officer. Be prepared for these interviews and know why you want to go to that specific school.

While it is common for Senioritis to settle in easily, do not let your grades slide.

I cannot stress enough how important this is. Colleges reserve the right to rescind an offer of admissions whenever they so choose. If a college receives your final semester grades in July and they are not up to par, you may lose your acceptance late in the summer and not have many options. A general rule of thumb is that your grades should not fall more than one GPA point. So if you have maintained a 3.7 throughout high school, make sure you stay above the 3.0 mark. Also, many schools will consider a D or an F to be grounds for automatic rescinding, regardless of the overall GPA.

Enjoy the fact that you have now done most of the hard work, but don’t let that hard work go to waste now. Good Luck!

Purvi S. Mody is co-owner of Insight Education, an educational consulting firm that helps students throughout the country and internationally to achieve their educational goals. Get in touch with her via email at purvi@insight-education.net or follow her on Twitter @InsightEduc.

_{Photo:  daniellinphoto}

Starting College Spring Semester? 5 Tips for New Students

By Sam Coren
StudentAdvisor.com Staff

Maybe you were deferred from your top choice college and had to start in the Spring. Or perhaps you wanted to take some more time off between high school and college. Or you might just be a transfer student who decided to start the new year at a new school. Whatever your reason is for starting college in Spring semester is, one thing is for sure:  it's a bit "different" than starting in the Fall.

When you see students all around bouncing from classes to activities with established circles of friends, it's easy to feel left out.  So what can you do to get caught up to speed?

Whether you're a freshman or a transfer, here are a few ways to quickly get acclimated to your new school:

1.  Don't be afraid to tell people you meet that you're new.

This can feel a little awkward, especially if you're an older transfer student around first year students who have been on campus for a semester. But even if you're nervous about openly declaring your newbie status, it can work to your advantage. Most people will be willing to help you out -  whether it's sharing the best short cuts for getting to class, recommending clubs to join, or introducing you to new people. Every student around you has been in your shoes before and knows what it's like to start at college from scratch. It's ok to ask a lot of questions when you start meeting other students - you need answers! 

2.  Avoid being attached at your roommate's hip.

My second year at Northeastern University I ended up starting Spring semester with three new roommates - all of them transfer students. While I didn't mind showing them around campus or hanging out with them from time to time, it started getting a bit dicey when I had to focus on schoolwork or spend time with other friends outside the apartment. They thought I was avoiding them, while I thought I was just going about my business - a classic roommate miscommunication. While roommates can be great social starting points, it's important to not rely on them too much - get out there and make an effort to meet new people without them.

3.  Join student groups that relate to your personal and professional interests. 

Student activities are an excellent way to meet students outside of classes and your residence hall. It's quite common for new students to join many groups at the beginning of a semester and decide to stick with one or two. Be sure to get a feel for the group as a whole and how much of your out-of-class time you can dedicate to it before going "all in." 

Joining clubs in Spring semester can be a bit tricky at some schools. Some colleges will hold student activities fairs for the spring semester that let you talk to many different groups at once before joining - others might not. If your school doesn't hold an activities fair, be sure to hit up your college's website for a listing of current student groups. Email the student leaders explaining that you're new and would like to find out about joining. Some groups might have their own websites (or Facebook groups) where there will be new member information or a calendar of when the meetings are, so be sure to search for those. 

4.  Eating alone too much can be a downer. Find lunch buddies!

Just like high school - not having anyone to sit with at lunch can bum you out. If you see familiar faces in the dining hall from your classes, suck up your shyness and strike up a conversation. Meal time chats can be a good way to get to know people beyond small talk. If things go well - great, you just might make a new acquaintance! If the conversation is a bit stale and awkward - don't sweat it! College is all about meeting new people; not everyone's going to be your new BFF right away. Keep making an effort to meet new people and eventually you'll find people you can click with.

5.  Become a fixture at your favorite professor's office hours.

While you might be worried about starting a social life with other students, don't forget about valuable relationships you can have with professors. Even if you're doing fine in class, it's a good idea to stop by and introduce yourself to a professor whose class you really enjoy. Professors can be a huge help during your college experience, from career advice to connecting you with like minded students you might not have otherwise met. And don't forget - you never know when you might need their reference one day for grad school or a job, so don't just be another face in the crowd!

_{Photo:  Skyline College PR & Marketing/Christianne Marra}

State FAFSA Deadlines for 2012 - 2013

By Dean Tsouvalas
StudentAdvisor.com Editor-in-Chief 

The FAFSA is your first and most important step to getting the money you need to help you pay for college.  And we have all the FAFSA Deadlines for 2012 - 2013.

Federal Deadline:

FAFSA applications for the 2012-2013 school year must be submitted by midnight Central Time, June 30, 2013. Any corrections or updates to an existing application can be submitted by midnight Central Time, September 15, 2013. 

College Deadlines:

Some colleges set a different financial aid deadline than the state and federal deadlines. They may also have additional forms their financial aid department needs from you in order for you financial aid application to be considered complete. If the college deadline is significantly earlier than the state and federal deadline, have that deadline take priority. You should also ask your college about their definition of an application deadline – whether it is the date they receive your FAFSA, or the date your FAFSA is processed.

State Deadlines:

To be considered for state-funded financial aid such as grants and need-based scholarships you should submit your FAFSA before your state's deadline. Each state has a different FAFSA deadline for this. Find your state's deadline in the listings below. Keep in mind that your state of residence is often used to determine your eligibility for state-funded financial aid:

Alabama	Check with your financial aid administrator.
Alaska	AK Education Grant and AK Performance Scholarship – June 30, 2012 by midnight, Central Time.
American Samoa	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required.
Arizona	Check with your financial aid administrator.
Arkansas	For Academic Challenge – June 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. For Workforce Grant – check with your financial aid administrator. For Higher Education Opportunity Grant – June 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time.
California	For initial awards – March 2, 2012. Applicants encouraged to keep a record of their submission by printing out their online FAFSA confirmation page or obtaining proof of mailing the FAFSA. Additional form may be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. For additional community college awards – September 2, 2012 – date postmarked. Applicants encouraged to keep a record of their submission by printing out their online FAFSA confirmation page or obtaining proof of mailing the FAFSA. Additional form may be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency.
Colorado	Check with your financial aid administrator.
Connecticut	February 15, 2012. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified. Additional form may be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency.
Delaware	April 15, 2012 by midnight, Central Time.
District of Columbia	June 30, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. Additional form may be required. For priority consideration, submit application by May 15, 2012. Contact your state agency for more information.
Federated States of Micronesia	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required.
Florida	May 15, 2012 – date processed.
Georgia	Check with your financial aid administrator.
Guam	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required.
Hawaii	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required.
Idaho	Opportunity Grant – March 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified. Additional form may be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency.
Illinois	As soon as possible after January 1, 2012. Awards made until funds are depleted.
Indiana	March 10, 2012 by midnight, Central Time.
Iowa	July 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time; earlier priority deadlines may exist for certain programs.
Kansas	April 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified. Additional form may be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency.
Kentucky	As soon as possible after January 1, 2012. Awards made until funds are depleted.
Louisiana	June 30, 2013 (July 1, 2012 recommended)
Maine	May 1, 2012, by midnight, Central Time.
Marshall Islands	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required.
Maryland	March 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time.
Massachusetts	May 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified.
Michigan	March 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time.
Minnesota	30 days after term starts by midnight, Central Time.
Mississippi	MTAG and MESG Grants – September 15, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. HELP Scholarship – March 31, 2012 by midnight, Central Time.
Missouri	April 2, 2012 by midnight, Central Time.
Montana	March 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified.
Nebraska	Check with your financial aid administrator.
Nevada	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required.
New Hampshire	New Hampshire is not offering a state grant this year.
New Jersey	2011-2012 Tuition Aid Grant recipients – June 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. All other applicants – October 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time, for fall and spring terms; March 1, 2013 by midnight, Central Time, for spring term only.
New Mexico	Check with your financial aid administrator.
New York	June 30, 2013 by midnight, Central Time. Applicants encouraged to keep a record of their submission by printing out their online FAFSA confirmation page or obtaining proof of mailing the FAFSA. Additional form may be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency.
North Carolina	As soon as possible after January 1, 2012. Awards made until funds are depleted.
North Dakota	April 15, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified. Early priority deadlines may exist for institutional programs.
N. Mariana Islands	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required.
Ohio	October 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time.
Oklahoma	March 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified.
Oregon	OSAC Private Scholarships – March 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. Oregon Opportunity Grant – February 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time.
Palau	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required.
Pennsylvania	All first-time applicants at a community college; a business/trade/technical school; a hospital school of nursing; or enrolled in a non-transferable 2-year program – August 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. All other applicants – May 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time.
Puerto Rico	Check with your financial aid administrator.
Rhode Island	March 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified.
South Carolina	Tuition Grants – June 30, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. SC Commission on Higher Education – As soon as possible after January 1, 2012. Awards made until funds are depleted.
South Dakota	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required.
Tennessee	For State Grant – As soon as possible after January 1, 2012. Awards made until funds are depleted. For State Lottery – September 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified.
Texas	Check with your financial aid administrator.
U.S. Virgin Islands	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required.
Utah	Check with your financial aid administrator.
Vermont	As soon as possible after January 1, 2012. Awards made until funds are depleted. Additional form may be required.
Virginia	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required.
Washington	Check with your financial aid administrator.
West Virginia	Promise Scholarship - March 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified. Additional form may be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. WV Higher Education Grant Program - April 16, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified.
Wisconsin	Check with your financial aid administrator.
Wyoming	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required.

This Week in College News: Georgetown Study Links Unemployment to College Majors

By Sam Coren
StudentAdvisor.com Staff

Every week StudentAdvisor compiles the top stories in college news. Here are some of the biggest stories that made the headlines this week: 

New Georgetown Study: Among New Grads Architecture & Arts Degree Holders Have Highest Unemployment Rate 

A new report released Wednesday by the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University reveals a relationship between unemployment and the majors chosen by recent college graduates. According to the study, entitled "Hard Times, College Majors, Unemployment, and Earnings: Not All College Degrees Are Created Equal,"  those with the highest rates of unemployment had undergraduate degrees in architecture (13.9%), the arts (11.1%) and the humanities (9.4%). Despite the unemployment rate for arts and architecture grads, their prospects are still much better than those without a high school diploma (31.5% unemployment rate) and those who only have a high school diploma (22.9% unemployment rate).

 

University System of Georgia Chancellor Proposes Consolidating 8 State Colleges to 4

Hank Huckaby, the University System of Georgia Chancellor, has recommended to the Board of Regents that eight of the System’s 35 colleges and universities be merged. According to Huckaby, “These proposed consolidations are the right approach for us to take at the right time in the system and the state’s history. Our goal is a more educated Georgia, with a network of institutions that offer a range of needed degrees for 21st century demands. We are going to fulfill our mission within the limited resources available.” New distance learning options will be at the forefront of the consolidation plan to bridge geographical difficulties caused by the mergers.

The colleges recommended for consolidation include:

Gainesville State College with North Georgia College & State University 

Middle Georgia College with Macon State College

Waycross College with South Georgia College 

Augusta State University with Georgia Health Sciences University 

 

New Hampshire Public Colleges End Affirmative-Action

A new state law in New Hampshire went into effect January 1st that prevents the state's public colleges from using affirmative-action in admissions decisions. Despite the law going into effect the consequences are believed to have little impact on the current admissions process at state funded colleges. "Nothing in this bill would cause or require the community-college system to alter its practices,"  said Shannon E. Reid, a spokeswoman for New Hampshire's community-college system.

_{Photo:  Tulane Public Relations}

Have a college news story that you think should be featured on This Week in College News? Send suggestions to content[at]studentadvisor.com.

Life After Graduation: So You Want to Teach English Abroad?

By Noah Greenberg
For StudentAdvisor.com

The cliché, unfortunately, is true: Graduation day comes and goes in the blink of an eye.

One minute you’re all cap and gown; the next, you’ve either occupied the basement couch at your parents’ house, or you’re cinching up a tie for that coveted ‘job’ that everyone seems to be after these days.

Not everyone can land one of the top job prospects in the country, and unless you’re absolutely committed to a graduate program, you probably won’t be one of the 6.25% of applicants that gets into some of the top law school programs in the country either.

The outcomes look pretty bleak. Fortunately, there’s another option.

While your recently graduated classmates are setting new records in World of Warcraft or refining their corporate pencil sharpening skills, there’s a far more adventurous and rewarding path: travel.

But I’m not proposing any ordinary travel. This is travel with a highly specific purpose. That purpose is to teach elementary school English in a foreign country.

The popularity of English teaching programs in foreign countries has exploded in recent years.

Due in part to a small job market in the United States, and increasing demand for English speakers around the world, these programs have become the thing to do after graduation for you, your career, and the little kids you’ll be teaching.

Don’t just do it because everyone else is.

Do it to explore another country, learn a language, and immerse yourself in a foreign culture. Not to mention you’ll earn a competitive salary and still get plenty of time off to explore. 

You can find English teaching programs in almost every country.

Both governments and private companies manage these English teaching programs. Whether it’s the former or latter will depend on which country you’re interested in.

To get started with the process, you’ll need to do some research:

1.  Find a Program: If a teaching program is run by a government or an embassy, it will be listed on a government website. Explore several government sites to see what programs are available. If there are none, search for private companies that manage teaching programs through schools. All programs require applications. You may need to write an essay and get a recommendation from an employer or teacher.

2.  Get a Visa: Check the travel requirements for the country where you’ve decided to teach. The teaching program should provide guidance for paperwork and forms you need to apply for a visa. The visa application process for each country is different. Make sure you understand what the travel requirements are for that specific country well before you leave.

3.  Sort Out Your Finances: Moving to a new country for a year can feel daunting, especially when thinking about money. Make sure that you’ll have access to your checking account when you move, and look into credit cards that are accepted where you’ll be teaching.

4.  Book a Ticket: Booking your travel plan in advance is always a good idea. Not only will it save you money, by you’ll be able to survey your options of how to get to that country, then how to travel locally once you arrive. Since airplane tickets can get expensive, don’t risk flying with a shoddy airline; book with the best on time performance airlines.

5.  Pre-departure checklist: Start preparing for your trip early. First, brush up on your etiquette and local customs of the country where you want to teach. Then, refresh your knowledge of the language by reviewing that language’s common words translated into English. As a teacher, you’ll need to learn quickly how to communicate with your students.

_{Photo:  WAVA Limited}

Noah Greenberg is a senior at the University of California, Santa Barbara, studying Sociology and Technology Management.  He is President of the Santa Barbara Media Group, and interning at Santa Barbara startup FindTheBest.  Santa Barbara Media Group is a student run advertising agency helping local businesses reach out to their target audience.  FindTheBest is a comparison engine helping people to make quicker, more informed decisions.  

Time to Fill Out the FAFSA! Are You Ready to Apply for Financial Aid?

By Dean Tsouvalas
StudentAdvisor.com Editor-in-Chief

The FAFSA is your first and most important step to getting the money you need to help you pay for college.

What is the FAFSA?
The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is the application for U.S. government financial aid for college, including need-based Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), National SMART Grants, TEACH Grants and more.

The FAFSA’s purpose is to determine how much money you and your family can contribute to paying for your college education. Since most states, colleges and private sponsors of need-based scholarships want you to apply for federal financial aid first, the FAFSA also helps make you eligible for thousands of non-federal grants and scholarships.

Why You Need to Fill Out the FAFSA
Each year, the U.S. Department of Education provides over $100 billion in new education grants, student loans and work-study stipends to more than 14 million college and career school students. Filing a FAFSA gives you access to a number of these need-based grants and subsidized student loans.

Federal student aid also includes unsubsidized student loans, which are not income-restricted. That means even if your income is too high to qualify you for a subsidized loan, you may still be able to get an unsubsidized student loan.

A survey done by the National Postsecondary Student Aid revealed that almost half the students who are eligible for federal student aid do not even apply. There are many reasons for this, but the bottom line is: that’s a lot of money left on the table.

TIP: File your FAFSA as early as possible! Some federal financial aid is allotted on a first come, first served basis. File your FAFSA as soon after January 1 of each year as possible to ensure you are awarded the maximum amount of financial aid you are eligible for.

FAFSA for Federal and State Financial Aid
The same FAFSA you file to apply for federal financial aid is forwarded by the US Department of Education to each student’s state higher education assistance agency. State financial aid is most commonly received in the form of grants, scholarships and loans. Eligibility requirements, award amounts, repayment and interest terms and application deadlines for state financial aid varies from state to state.

Although you can file one FAFSA for both federal and state financial aid, be sure to know the deadline date for the state financial aid application since it varies according to state. Deadlines are firm so if you do not apply on time, you will not be eligible to receive state financial aid for the entire following academic year. Check your state’s higher education agency to find out what kind of grant programs you may be eligible for.

FAFSA Deadlines
Pay attention to the deadlines! There are federal and state deadlines, and your colleges may also have a deadline.  Visit http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/deadlines.htm to check your state deadlines.

For more information please check out the Free StudentAdvisor Guide to FAFSA

Rejected From Your Top Choice College? How to Cope

By Sam Coren
StudentAdvisor.com Staff

With decision letters coming back for those who did early action or early decision there are bound to be some broken hearts out there. On the StudentAdvisor blog we already covered what to do if you get deferred to the regular applicant pool or spring admission at your top choice. But what about getting out right rejected from your dream school?

No one likes hearing "no" - especially when you're trying to peruse a college degree. So how can you deal? Here are 3 ways to help you "get over" being rejected from your top choice college:

1. Accept the fact you were rejected and don't do anything irrational.

Consider it like getting turned down for a date. You certainly don't want to waste your time and make a fool of yourself trying to win them over. Bombarding the admissions office with phone calls and emails trying to track down the reason why you were rejected or what you could do to still get in will not do you any favors. It's also important to avoid being bitter or resentful (in person or on social media) to people you know who got accepted to that school. You wouldn't want someone raining on your parade, so don't rain on someone else's!

2. Don't let your rejection determine your self-worth.

The college admissions world (especially for selective schools) is very much a numbers game. With every school out there trying to make a diverse student body of academically promising students there are always going to be plenty of well-qualified students who are going to get rejected. It's ok to have a good cry and some ice cream to get the disappointment out of your system. But don't let your wounded pride cast too big a shadow on what should be an exciting and happy time in your life.

3. Avoid viewing the schools you get accepted to as "inferior" to your top choice.

If you streamlined your college application process you should have only applied to schools you would actually want to go. In theory there shouldn't be any bad blood about attending your second, third, or even fourth choice. Even if you only got into your "safeties" or schools you didn't think you would end up consider this:  smart, motivated students will succeed wherever they go as long as they're willing to seize opportunities and make valuable connections.

Entering college with the thought in your head that you don't want to actually be there is not a good way to kick off your freshman year. If you're having trouble deciding which college to choose, dig deeper in your research. Check out college reviews, do an admitted students weekend, talk to alumni - whatever it takes to find the best choice for you.