The College Planning Workbook

Second Edition

Copyright 2008 - Collegiate Resources - All Rights Reserved

May Not Be Duplicated or Distributed In Any Way Without Written Permission
 Table of Contents
About The Author..........................................................................................4
Introduction..................................................................................................5
Selecting The Right College............................................................................6
5 Easy Steps................................................................................................7
The Career Tree............................................................................................8
Self Evaluation..............................................................................................9
Finding The Right College.............................................................................10
College Choice Selection..............................................................................12
College Location Considerations....................................................................13
Location Assessment.....................................................................................14
Two Year vs. Four Year College.....................................................................15
Comparing Costs.........................................................................................15
Consider Potential Scholarships.....................................................................16
Consider All Involved Costs..........................................................................17
Admission Standards...................................................................................17
Correlations Between Admission Standards And Financial Aid..........................18
School Reputation........................................................................................20
Athletics And College....................................................................................21
Understanding Financial Aid.........................................................................22
Financial Aid Questionnaire..........................................................................23
Types Of Financial Aid.................................................................................24
Student Aid Report (SAR) Example.................................................................26
Understanding The Aid Package And Components..........................................27
Tips For College Financial Planning................................................................28
The Timeline................................................................................................29
The School Visit...........................................................................................30
Writing Your College Essay...........................................................................31
Budgeting For College....................................................................................32

3
 About the Author
I think one of the main reasons I was drawn into the college planning business in my 20’s
was the recollection of difficulties I had in navigating through the college process. I remember
sitting down at the computer in high school and typing in accounting for my choice as a major
because I earned an A in Accounting I and Accounting II. I wanted to go to school south of New
York State where there was perhaps less snow and more sunshine. I also wanted to wrestle at a
Division I school.

With these meager qualifiers in place, I visited one school and immediately decided to go
there. One year later, I was transferring out of Slippery Rock State College in Western
Pennsylvania and back home to Broome Community College to commute for a year and decide
on my next step. Accounting had lasted only one semester as had wrestling, since I was over
my head competitively. However, I did start writing for the school newspaper, which I found
interesting.

Commuting from home was no picnic for me after being on my own for a year. I received
a Liberal Arts degree with an emphasis on English and managed to resurrect my wrestling
career. During that year I continued writing for the school newspaper and taking a more active
and serious look at what I wanted to do rather than what I should do. An A in Accounting tells
you what you should do. In retrospect, I had a knack for crunching numbers, not an interest.
Therein lays the difference!

Now full of energy and seeking adventure, I traveled to the University of Central Florida
to major in Communications, a good blend of interpersonal skills and writing with studies
including advertising and marketing. Once again, wrestling was a major component and helped
secure a Division II partial athletic scholarship. I graduated on time with my class in four years,
somehow. What I learned along the way has helped me work with students and families in very
real and effective ways.

One of the important things I learned was how to plan and how important an aspect in
life that can be. Later in this book, I will expose the characteristics I had developed which
ultimately led to my decision-making process in regards to a career choice.

In addition to making career choices and trying to choose the right college, I had to find
a way to pay for college on my own. As a family we did not have much money but somehow
we did not qualify for aid. I found out later that one of the problems was in filling out the forms
incorrectly. I received a small 4-year scholarship from my high school in addition to other
sources of aid. I was adamant about exhausting resources and it did pay off. It was a lesson I
taught to my own children as they have gone through college and been able to acquire funds
that few others knew existed.

It is my hope that through my personal experiences, as well as those of hundreds of others

I have worked with throughout the years, this book will help each individual who reads this to
navigate through the process in a much more effective manner.

Sincerely,

Kirk A. MacBeth
Kirk A MacBeth
4
 The College Planning Guide
Introduction
The purpose of this book is to provide an information center and guidebook for parents and
students as they prepare for college. Little else in life will have the impact as the choices students make
for the impending college years. Little else will have the economic impact that parents must endure in
providing for a college education for their children.

I have focused on the issues that are of importance in this process and my goal is for
parents and students to use this as their guide through the college planning process. I want to note that it
is especially important for parents and their children to work together throughout this process for the
express reason of helping each other. There are many books and sources of information available today
for just this purpose. I have not found any one source as complete as I would like or as insightful as
parents and students need in dealing with this entire process. I sincerely hope you will find all the
answers to help in your college planning process.

Today, I do not believe the average student could do what I did. To finance a college
education today is probably going to be a minimum of $40,000 and could be over $200,000 for a
4-year program. In this book, you will find the answers to many questions and helpful suggestions to
guide you along the way. In the end, you will be the judge of what is most practical and probable for
success.

The process of finding the right college should start with finding yourself. If you know what you
would like to become, you are on your way. Remember as you explore different colleges that our theme
is to find a direction and also have secondary interests in case things do not go as planned. It is very
important to stick to this theme. Success depends in large part on discipline. Stay the course and all
should go well. As always, remember that you have an advocate in your corner now and if questions or
problems arise, refer to your guide.

Do Not Let Anyone Tell You What You Can’t Do!!

• Beethoven’s music teacher once said of him, “As a composer, he is hopeless”.
• Winston Churchill failed the 6th grade and finished last in his class at
Harrow, England.
• Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because “he had no good ideas”.
• Louisa May Alcott was told by an editor that she could never write anything that
had a popular appeal.
• Issac Newton did poorly in grade school.
• Bill Cosby was a high school dropout even though he had been assigned to a
class for the gifted.
• Lee Iacocca was fired from the Ford Motor Company.
• Billy Joel once considered suicide and was quoted as saying, “the last thing the world
needs is another failed artist”.
• Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times.
• Einstein was four years old before he could speak and seven before he could read.
• When Thomas Edison was a boy, his teachers told him he was too stupid to learn
anything.
• Leo Tolstoy flunked out of college.
• Abraham Lincoln entered the Black Hawk War as a captain and came out a private.
• Admiral Richard E. Boyd had been retired from the Navy as “unfit for service”
until he flew over both poles.
5
Selecting a Major
I hold the opinion that if you want to be happy in life it begins with being happy with
work. Besides sleeping, where else do we spend the majority of our time? Therefore, choose a
career that you are interested in, that makes you feel good, that excites you and holds your
interest level. If a student looks at the influences that help create a direction in life, look at
personal experiences, parents, educational successes and areas of great interest to help develop
a direction.

Point: When you go to a mall, there may be 150 different stores. You look at the mall
directory to narrow your search into categories such as food, clothing, electronics, etc. From the
outside, you see this tremendous complex made up of many stores but inside, you narrow your
field quite quickly by knowing what you want BEFORE you go in.

You can make life a lot easier if you have a goal. I say this because if you have
something to reach for and aspire to, the in-between time will go faster and seem less arduous.
Many motivational speakers get paid a lot of money to speak to people about setting goals
and reaching for success. I believe that if you are self-motivated, i.e. have your own goal firmly
planted in your mind, you will not need help or inspiration from others. Have you ever seen
someone who worked one job, left and went to a secondary job? There is usually an overriding
motivation to do so. They may want to put their kids through college with the extra money or be
saving it for a vacation. Perhaps an illness in the family has left them no alternative to climb out
of debt. Rarely will the reason be that the person just loves to work.

Example:

If you wanted to become an astronaut, the first thing you should do is research NASA
and what the various backgrounds have been for former and current astronauts. Secondly, I
would look into exactly what the career path entails, the type of sacrifices involved, time
required to reach your goal, likelihood of success, etc. This is, unfortunately, not a job where you
can easily shadow someone.

Next you would investigate various majors that would lead to a degree in a field that
would supply you with some of the characteristics necessary to have a chance at becoming an
astronaut. Finally you would research colleges offering the types of programs you would need
and also check to see if they have any astronauts as alumni. Now your planning could begin.

As stated above, there may be many influences in the life of a student that directly impact
career plans.
• Personal experiences – some students have worked in internships, part-time jobs
or know people in various lines of employment
• Parents - many students draw from the experiences or characteristics of their parents
• Educational successes – getting A’s in History class may seem irrelevant in high school,
but you can translate that success into a direction that sparks an interest in college for
use in the job world
Areas of great interest – sometimes what we like isn’t in the curriculum in high school. You can’t
take cartoon illustration, video game design or many other areas of interest simply because the
school district has limitations. Great news!!! Colleges offer obscure topics for those who can sift
through and find them.

6
Example:

A student has an interest and a talent in art. Many would say find another direction unless
you want to become a “starving artist”. I say, look at the various paths that are available within
the discipline.
• architecture
• drawing and design
• cartooning
• illustration
• painting
• advertising copy
• interior design
• art education
• curator

Please note that these are just some, not all, of the options available in this instance. It is
meant to demonstrate how one interest can grow into a sizable field of study producing many
different career opportunities. My suggestion is to find a school that has the basic major you
believe you are interested in. Then research what they do with that major. Do they expand upon
it or are they fairly limited. Can you get a specialized degree in an area you want or will you
receive a generic degree that will have to include an explanation to employers about what else
you may have learned.

5 Easy Steps to Success in College

1. Understand why you are going to college – Your goal should be a better, more
productive life that can be a contribution to society. We all strive for happiness; some
people think that money brings that. The reality is that those who are satisfied with
the direction they have chosen in life, will undoubtedly fare well, be better adjusted
for the ups and downs that happen and will make a more positive contribution overall.

2. Pick a college for your major - Based upon the strength of the core work that you
have chosen, a college should have many avenues within that discipline to both
interest you and entice you to discover all you can about yourself and what it is
that you want to do.

3. Talk to people in the field – College students will answer questions very frankly
about any college topic. Find out all you can about your field of interest, professors,
internships, etc.

4. Shadow someone – If you can, find someone who makes a living doing what you
might want to do. Especially important is to find out whether or not that is the
career they chose for themselves.

5. Placement – A good gauge of a solid program is the placement of graduates.

Find out where students are going after graduation and what the likelihood of
success is from that particular college.

7
 “The Career Tree”
The above illustration is something I have used effectively in high school classrooms.
The roots of the tree represent who we are now. They can include personality traits, strengths,
weaknesses, interests, skills or virtually anything else that puts a stamp on who you are.

Understanding that when you go to college, you begin to develop into the person you are
to become, we thus emerge from the ground and begin to take shape. The roots of the tree now
establish a solid trunk for growth. That growth as well as expansion will come from your course
selections and or the major field of study you pursue.

As the trunk expands with knowledge, you grow in different directions. These directions
are represented by the branches of the tree. Two people with the same major do not necessarily
end up with the same career choice. Also, we know that branches can become entwined with
one another, as in the knowledge you may have from your coursework coupled with your
personality traits and or various other interests.

The tree illustration represents my teen years and the direction that I took. I loved listening
to music and singing but that was where it ended. I started writing briefly in high school and
carried it through college, writing for the school newspapers at two colleges. I wrestled through
high school and college. I achieved an A in both Accounting I and II in high school. I was a very
talkative person, used a lot of humor to both gain attention and cope with things going on in my
life. I was a very stubborn individual. Perhaps because of being the youngest in the family, I
did things my way, right or wrong. My first job was as a janitor and I continued working in that
capacity through college.

8
 It’s funny how things change, or stay the same. Accounting, which seemed to be my life’s
work, lasted one semester. English was a good base to move on to Communications. Then
came the janitor…within a year of graduating from college, I owned my own janitorial
company. Why not, I had learned good communications skills, marketing and advertising and
had a strong accounting background. All of these characteristics fell into place in addition to
the stubborn guy who couldn’t be happy working for a large company.

I dabbled in coaching wrestling for a year for my oldest sons’ team. I sing in the praise
band at the church I attend. I also chair the evangelism committee and ironically it was my
marketing background that led our pastor to choose me for the role. I wrote a book called
“College Planning 101” which has been the culmination of years of work in a field that is
very close to my heart.

The thing is, what you do now may be the very start of what you will be doing in the
future as well as who you are to become. It is a very important lesson to be tuned into yourself
and stick to the truth of who you are.

Career Planning & Self Evaluation

What do you want to be doing 10 years from now?
Are you willing to sacrifice for what you want?
Do you have a back-up plan?
Are you ready to get started? (If no, see two-year college plan)

Self-Evaluation
What do I want most out of life?
What kind of job could I get excited about?
What kind of job will keep me motivated, interested and improving?
What skills do I need to get there?
What have I done or seen in this area that has interested me?

Choosing the Right College

Once you have made some headway with your direction, it will be easier to find a
college. You can search for schools that closely match what you want and see what options they
have available. My view is that the more options you have within a discipline, the better the
college choice will be.

There are many factors involved in finding the right college. It is important to understand
that there can be a perfect fit for every student and that taking time to evaluate the choices is a
step quite necessary.

On the page below and the following page, there are illustrations for use in selecting
a college. The criteria you use may be different but these are three examples. The first is more
computer-based as you would check off your particular interests. The second, college selection
matrix, is a detailed accounting per college to narrow the field. The third, college choice
selection, is a more general usage of information you might tally.

While there are many resources on the Internet that can be helpful, one in particular
caught my eye many years ago:
9
Cynthia Good’s Home Page
Categories include: Testing, College Search, Career Planning and Financial Aid

Also:
Peterson’s Education Center
US News College Search – a pay site that is well worth the investment
College Net
College View

Finding the Right college

Career Goal
Major#1 Major#2 Major#3
Grade Average (0-100 scale) PSAT SAT
Geographic Location
Northeast West Southwest Southeast Midwest Other
Enrollment Size:
less than 1000 students _ 1000-5000 students _ 5000-10000 students _
10000-20000 students _ over 20000 students _
Campus Setting:
Major Metropolitan Area
Large City
Suburban
Small Town
Rural Town
2 Year College Yes No
Sports / /
Study Abroad Yes No
Learning Disabilty ROTC Drama Theater Choir Band Co-op

College Selection Matrix

Characteristics
Quality College A College B College C College D College E
% Returning Freshman 0 0 0 0 0
% Teaching Assistants 0 0 0 0 0
Student/Faculty Ration 0 0 0 0 0
Graduation Rate - 4 Years 0 0 0 0 0
Alumni Give Rate 0 0 0 0 0
Quantity College A College B College C College D College E
Population Under 5,000 0 0 0 0 0
Over 5,000/Under 20,000 0 0 0 0 0
Over 20,000 0 0 0 0 0
Affordability College A College B College C College D College E
Cost 0 0 0 0 0
% of Yearly Increase 0 0 0 0 0
Merit Awards Available 0 0 0 0 0
Aid College A College B College C College D College E
% Need Met 0 0 0 0 0
% of Grants Awarded 0 0 0 0 0
Acceptance College A College B College C College D College E
Grade Point Average 0 0 0 0 0
SAT 0 0 0 0 0
ACT 0 0 0 0 0
Acceptance Rate 0 0 0 0 0

10
 The graph on the previous page is an illustration to the type of detail that can be used to
differentiate one college from another. Remember in all of this that we have taken emotion out
of play and are simply looking at schools for their overall value.

Some values can be hard to recognize at first. Let’s start with Quality:
% of returning freshman – see next page for details
% of teaching assistants – some schools have to rely on graduate students to teach classes
because the professors are writing, doing research or other activities which take them away from
the classroom. You need to decide if this is a good or bad deal for you.
Student faculty ratio - see next page for details
Graduation rate (4 years) – if it is a 4 year program, I would like to pay for 4 and be out in 4
Alumni giving rate – graduates who really feel they benefited from their education tend to
donate money back
Quantity has to do with the student population of the college and your comfort level.
Affordability – it is easy to find out the cost but what is the cost to you? How much does it go
up each year, are they generous with scholarships.
Aid – when you apply for aid, do you get what you need or do they give what they can? What
is the percentage in terms of grants versus loans and work study program funds?
Acceptance – what is the average gpa that will likely get you accepted? What kind of SAT and
ACT scores are they looking for? What is the overall acceptance rate?

With both of my sons, I used this graph to basically come up with a number. I assigned
points based on most important factor to least important factor and not surprisingly, the colleges
they attended were first on the list. This gave both of them a feeling that they had made wise
choices.

Note: Under acceptance there can be another factor that is not well documented. STUDENT
DIVERSITY is a point of interest to many colleges. It can mean where you come from, race,
gender in a specific major or many other sort of categories but it can also mean acceptance at a
school where you did not expect that result. I always recommend that students look for a college
outside of the comforts of their home state and lifestyle if for no other reason than for the
experience of travel to different areas and meeting a more diverse group of people.

11
 College Choice Selection (sample results worksheet)

College College #1 College #2 College #3

Cost 28,000 32,000 23,000

% of Need Met 89% 76% 94%

Enrollment 16,845 11,888 6,400

Returning Freshman (%) 91% 96% 87%

S/F ratio 11-1 8-1 14-1

Academic Quality B A C

Division I I I

Cost = Tuition, room & board, fees. It can also include transportation, books and supplies and
personal expenses depending on the college

% of Need Met = the average amount of financial aid given v.s. the aid that was needed
If a family contribution is $4,000 and the cost of the school is $24,000, the need is $20,000.
If the school awards $18,000 in financial aid, they would have met 90% of need.

Enrollment = either the number of undergraduates the proceeding year who are enrolled or
the total number of students enrolled. I prefer to use the undergraduate number comparing
apples to apples.

Returning Freshman (%) = the % of freshman enrolled the previous year who came back for
their sophomore year. This number aids in giving you a glimpse of how well students like the
school and also how well they are taken care of once they enroll. A low number usually means
a school with low admission standards and a high dropout rate for a variety of reasons, none of
which may be appealing to you.

S/F ratio = the number of students on campus for every professor. Usually the more research
intensive the school, the lower the student/faculty ratio. This is not one of my favorite measuring
sticks in deciding what is or isn’t a good school.

Academic Quality = A school, B school, C school, D school, NC non-competitive school

see chart under “Admission Standards”

Division = sports-related, refers to the competitive level of play for varsity sports. The divisions
include: I, II, III, NAIA, NJCAA.

12
College Location Considerations
Many students tell me they want to travel as far away from home as possible during our
early meetings. However, later in the year they decide to stay close to home. Homesickness is
the biggest fear when choosing a college. Remember what it took to make friends in school. Use
the same personality to enjoy NEW friends in college. Generally speaking you will all be in the
same situation.

Remember how much you enjoyed traveling. My opinion is that you should get out there
and see as much as you can, because the freedom you have in college may be the last time you
have such an opportunity. I know many successful people who did nothing more than commute
through four years of college. I know others who not only went away, but decided to stay in that
area after college. An honest self-evaluation will tell you where to go.

My strength in counseling students in this area comes from the experience of being a
day’s drive away (6 hours) in year one, commuting in year two, and being 20 hours away and
getting home twice a year in my last two years of college.

Example:

Robert comes from a small school in South Dakota and decides that the University of
Colorado offers him the best educational experience. However, growing up in a very small town
has decidedly turned Robert against the big city setting and he soon escapes to the comforts of
home and to the local college where he can feel comfortable again.

Perhaps if Robert had taken the time to think about the social ramifications of his
decision, he may have chosen Chadron State College in Northwestern Nebraska, which offered
a solid degree program in the same area as the University of Colorado and was only 3 hours
from home instead of 8 hours away.

I think that out of all of the issues I have had to discuss with clients through the years,
deciding on a location was the most difficult. I really believe you, as a student, need the help of
your parents here, not to coddle you, but to guide you, knowing how you have developed. So
many times, what seems like the right situation turns into a mistake because the student did not
carefully weigh the choice of location. I know that I was terribly bored in Slippery Rock,
Pennsylvania but my roommate, who grew up in the same town with me, not only graduated
from there, but stayed 10 more years to work for the college.

You should consider that job opportunities may be greater near the college you choose
because many schools cater what they offer academically to the surrounding industries. You may
make contacts in the vicinity while you are in college and want to capitalize on them after
graduation.

I had a student who wanted to major in political science and insisted on being in the D.C.
area. Within a year of enrollment, he was interning for a Congressman and his second, third
and fourth years of college were spent working for the State Department, the Pentagon and on a
presidential campaign. Knowing what he wanted and where to go to get it, paid huge dividends
for this student.

13
Location Assessment
Ask yourself the following questions:

1. How have I felt when I have been away from home for extended periods of time?

2. Am I mature enough to develop study skills and homemaking skills on my own?

3. Can I succeed in a new environment with virtually no encouragement from others?

4. Do I want to live in this area after I graduate from college?

5. Would I be more comfortable taking on a new challenge from the comforts of home?

6. Do I seek out adventure or look for familiarity in my surroundings?

Remember, you will now be solely responsible for your own growth and development as
an adult. Independence is a great concept to a 17 year-old, HOWEVER, abusing your freedom
can lead to disaster if you are not ready to make mature decisions about friends, drugs and
alcohol and schoolwork. Your parents should be your rock and if they have done a good job
in developing your confidence and decision-making ability, no matter what choice you make, it
should be successful.

Example:

A 17-year old female from Pasadena, California has relatives in the mid-west. Deciding
that “getting away” could be very beneficial to her growth as a person, she decides to make the
trek. Upon enrolling at the University of Kansas, she finds that her upbringing is vastly different
than the majority of students at that college. She is used to a faster pace and is resentful of her
choice initially. However, given time, she adjusts and finds out that there is a benefit to
experiencing a different way of life.

It does take time to adjust to any new surroundings. Patience is a virtue and when you
have made a decision through careful planning and forethought, you must then be patient that
the decision has been the correct one.

I remember the drive from New York to Orlando, Florida as an incoming junior. Upon
arrival, I found out the wrestling coach had quit and I had no place to stay, as he was supposed
to make arrangements for me. I tried calling home to say that I would be back after a week’s
vacation in Florida. Fortunately for me, I was blessed by a constant busy signal and never
placed that call. Within three hours, I had met the new coach who gave me lodging for the night
and a roommate the very next day. I then enjoyed two wonderful years at the University of
Central Florida!

14
Two Year vs. Four Year College
Many employers believe the best education usually comes from the most education.
Therefore, a four-year college would be most suitable. There are, however, reasons for entering
a two-year college first:

1. Keep costs down for the first two years.

2. Experience college first, independence later.
3. Student can work while going to college to pay for later years.
4. Experiment with different subjects if you are unsure of a major.

These factors can make going to a two-year college seem quite reasonable. Now let’s
discuss some reasons why they may not be so attractive:

1. Lack of competitiveness in classroom...you don’t find many top 10% students at the
local community college.
2. Admission standards are lower, and many less serious students can be admitted
with no intention of staying.
3. Cost may be equivalent to a four-year college for some families.
4. “Just like high school syndrome”...same kids, same fun time, same trouble, same
poor results.

There are cases where I will recommend a two-year college especially if the student wants
specialized training and has no interest in the overall education a four-year college can offer.
The decision can also be financial but only after all the facts are in from other schools.

It seems rather obvious, at first glance, to send your child to a community college for the
first two years of a four or five year program. I have a difficult time arguing the economics of
that decision. Some considerations that need to be made are that there are students who lose
focus in a two-year school without a clearly defined career path.

An argument that is made is that you have to take all the same courses the first two years
so why pay the extra money? I say, if you look at what is being taught the first two years at a
community college and it mirrors the four-year schools you were looking at, you need to find
some different schools. One of the advantages of going to a four-year school is the early
introduction into your major. If that is not available then you should look into other options.

Comparing Costs
When comparing schools for cost basis, know the numbers:

Local Community College

Tuition/Fees $3,000
Room/Board $1,200 (at home - $30/week for 40 weeks)
Books/Supplies $600
Transportation $1,000 ($25/week for gas when commuting)
$5,800 per year

With financial aid, it is possible to find a four-year school for the same cost.

15
Another aspect regarding college costs are the “hidden costs”.

College A College B
Tuition/Fees $15,250 Tuition/Fees $14,937
Room/Board $6,594 Room/Board $5,898
Books/Supplies $600 Total Cost $20,835
Personal Exp. $1,056
Total Cost $23,500

Although College A appears at a higher total cost, they report all expenses when determining
financial aid. College B will (in fine print) acknowledge that other expenses of approximately $1,500
may be incurred for books, supplies and personal expenses. Now the total cost rises to $22,335. Let’s
say that your family contribution is $5,000.

At College A you are awarded $18,500 in aid and at College B you receive $15,835. Your
total cost at College A is $5,000. At College B you will pay $5,000 plus the incidental costs of
$1,500. In addition, since your family contribution is only $5,000 and the cost to you at the community
college is $5,800, you now have a better option.

Community College = $5,800

College A Net Cost

$23,500 – $18,500 = $5,000

College B Net Cost

$22,335 – $15,835 = $6,500

Many publications will list schools as a “best buy”. The fact is that only applies if the family is not
receiving financial assistance. If you are wealthy and definitely will not receive any financial aid, then
yes, a school that costs $20,000 could be a better buy than another school that costs $30,000.

For students who do well academically, let the bidding begin!! Academic awards can range in
value from less than one thousand dollars to a full scholarship. Usually a student is offered an academic
scholarship before all other aid is awarded. You should use the time wisely to weigh all options.

Consider Potential Scholarships

Another important area in examining the cost is academic or talent scholarships. A student with a
high grade average may qualify for a reduction in cost and thus make a school affordable that otherwise
may have been out of reach. Knowing that you can negotiate will help in the process as well.

Example:

My junior year in college I was offered an out-of state tuition scholarship to wrestle for the
University of Central Florida. I told the coach at the time I would need more money than that. I was told I
would receive more money if I made the starting team. When I accomplished that goal I met with the
financial aid director and he wrote out a grant on the spot for $1,500. I had proven myself an asset
to the school and was rewarded for that. Isn’t it amazing that financial aid still existed for me after the
semester had already started?

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Consider All Involved Costs
Example:

You need a new car. You have a trade-in with a book value of $5,000. The new car is listed at
$15,000. You visit three different dealerships. At the first, you are offered $2,800 for your trade-in for
a net cost of $12,200. At the second you are offered $5,500 for your trade for a net cost of $9,500.
At the third dealership you are offered $4,200 for your car for a net of $10,800. You find out that the
second dealership is in need of a car like yours to complete another transaction. They found the ultimate
value in your car and gave you the best deal. Now try to look at the financial aid process through the
same type of scenario. You will find the right college, if you have the patience and fortitude to look.

Example:

College #1 is 1400 miles away. It will cost approximately $250 each time you fly home. If Mom
and Dad come to visit, double that, plus hotel room and car. You might spend $2,000 per year for that
choice. College #2 is 180 miles away but you like to come home every weekend. You will need a car, fill
the tank every weekend, and eat Mom and Dad’s food while they are also paying for a meal plan. This
choice could cost you over $2,000 extra per year depending upon the car purchased.

College Search process can cost money, too!

College Costs: A perspective on the “other indirect costs”
College visits (5) average $100.00 each $500.00
College applications (5) average $40.00 each $200.00
Financial Aid applications (private schools)-2 $50.00
Total up-front cost of college selection $750.00

Admission Standards
Many college publications will rate colleges according to their entrance difficulty. The average
grades necessary to gain admittance are usually the factor. I have found 5 distinctive levels for use by the
student to gauge their chances at a particular school. One caveat, however, is that some schools have
much higher standards for particular programs of study. An example would be Ithaca College where
admission is generally granted to students with average grades. In the physical therapy program, it is as
difficult as any Ivy League college.

• You can translate the admissions standards into a numerical category by researching
the college admission standards or simply by asking the college admissions office.

A School > 94-100 Grade Average > 3.6 GPA/1350 SAT score, ACT score 32 = Most Selective
B School > 86-93 Grade Average > 3.0 GPA/1200 SAT score, ACT score 27 = Very Selective
C School > 78-85 Grade Average > 2.5 GPA/1000 SAT score, ACT score 22= Moderate
D School > 72-77 Grade Average > 2.0 GPA/870 SAT score, ACT score 18 = Minimal
NC School > 65+ Grade Average = Non Competitive

Some examples:

A= Harvard, Yale, University of Chicago, MIT, Princeton, Brown, Stanford, Duke, Rice
B= Washington U-Missouri, Northwestern, Boston College, Florida State, Colorado School of Mines
C= Baylor University, Auburn University, Ithaca College, University of Vermont, Cal State-Long Beach
D= Johnson & Wales, Tennessee State, Portland State, Trinity Lutheran College
NC= Cleveland State, Texas Southern, U of Akron, U of Phoenix

17
 Sometimes a student’s desire to enroll in a particularly difficult college clouds the
consequences of that decision. Higher SAT scores, a great essay, an impressive interview and
tons of extracurricular activities may sway an admission’s director. The problem is that for some
reason, this student’s grades were not enough. I think if you evaluate why you received the
grades you did in high school you may better accept your lot in college. Go to a school where
you fit in comfortably and then strive to achieve rather than fighting and scratching to get into a
school where the fight to stay in has only begun.

Example:

A good friend of mine had a 78 average in high school although he scored exceptionally
well on the SAT exam. He enrolled at the local community college and did not really improve his
first year. After finding a course in business to his liking, he achieved straight A’s his next two
years, started his own business, was accepted at Cornell and graduated with a 3.6 GPA.

A lot of our success depends upon our level of interest. Once you find something you
have a passion for, YOU WILL SUCCEED!!!

Also to be noted!!!! Admission standards at state schools may be very different for
in-state students as opposed to out-of-state students. I had a client in New York State rejected at
the University of North Carolina and accepted at Cornell University. The standards for accepting
out-of-state students at UNC were far greater than the standards for in-state students

Correlations between Admission Standards and Financial Aid

Now, combining the knowledge of college costs with academic standards and financial
aid, let’s see what correlations there may be.

• If you are an A student going to a B college, you probably will receive a favorable
financial aid award including an academic scholarship. Admission should not
be a problem.

• If you are a reasonably qualified minority student going to a school where the
minority population is low, you will probably receive a more favorable financial
package. Admission should not be a problem.

• If you are an athlete recruited by a school chances are very good that you will
receive a favorable package. Admission should not be a problem.

What do all three of these examples have in common? Each student brings something
special to the school for which the school is willing to pay.

18
 The unwritten rule - if you are a C student trying to get into a B college and you do not
require financial assistance, your probability of acceptance goes up. That is purely economics
on the part of the college. Your money helps to subsidize a student who needs help.

Some schools have a confused notion of their own value. I had a student apply for
admission to a school that cost $42,000. His family contribution was $7,000. Thus he qualified
for $35,000 in aid. The school offered $18,000 total and stated that if he had a family
contribution of $0, they still would only offer $18,000 because that was their cap limit on
financial aid. My suggestion would be to find another college.

I do not believe there is any college worth over-paying for in terms of an undergraduate
degree in a reasonably popular major. There can sometimes be unique majors that may cause
a student to make a decision based upon a limited pool of colleges.

Example:

You have looked at five colleges within 6 hours of your home in Denton, Texas. The
colleges include Rice University, Baylor University, University of Houston, LSU and the University
of Tulsa. Rice is very tempting because you know the regional as well as national reputation
academically is great. However, at Rice, you are considered a “stretch” and may have to pony
up some extra money to make it work. You also may find yourself not fitting in as well with very
high achievers. The other schools could very well fit the bill for you if you would consider all
factors and not the bragging rights of the school from which you graduated. Yes, the reputation
can open doors but getting a great education can be just as easy as working hard, giving your
best effort and making your plan work at the school that is the best fit academically, socially and
financially.

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School Reputation
Many times the reputation of a college is derived from the school itself. There are public
relations gimmicks going on at colleges all over the country. Trying to sort out which college is
good at which subject can be very difficult. First of all, you can find a school based on what it
has to offer in all the various areas that you are concerned. Then, try to find the best program
within the list of schools you have available. Many schools will be strong in certain types of
areas, such as: health sciences, engineering, business, education, etc.

Once you know what you are looking for it is so much easier to find where to go.

College reputations can also be regional. If I were to name the best engineering schools
in the Northeast, my list may include MIT, Clarkson, RPI, WPI. Now, what if I lived in Western
Pennsylvania? My list may change to MIT, U of Pennsylvania, Lehigh and Penn State.

My son is considering schools on the West Coast for graduate work in Chinese Relations.
Reputation has played a role in his search to forgo the D.C. area for what he believes to be a
more inclusive program in a specific field for continued studies. At the graduate level, I would
agree especially since you are dramatically narrowing your scope to find the program that is just
the right fit.

Consider where you might be 5 years from now when considering the reputation of a
school.

Example:

A woman I talked with from New York told me her son was going to the University of
Montana for engineering. I asked why and she replied that they had one of the top programs
in the country. I jokingly asked, “what country”! Then I asked where her son planned on living
when he graduated from college. Now it may be that the University of Montana has an excellent
engineering program, but the respect in the business community may be regional.

People constantly talk to me about what a school is rated or what kind of reputation it
has. My answer is that the reputation of the school comes from the students who attend there. If
you like the school and feel well-prepared, that was a great school. If you go to a school solely
based on its’ reputation, you may be disappointed if it just doesn’t meet all of your expectations.

A good measuring stick may be in alumni giving. If a school has a large endowment
fund, chances are very good that the money came from former students who felt so good about
the education they received there, that they gave some of their acquired wealth back to the
school.

Have you heard about the endowment funds at some of the Ivy League colleges? They
are enormous, but usually graduates give back from the millions they make. There really is a
correlation. I have seen some small schools with some really large numbers and have also seen
some large schools with some really small numbers. It definitely is a factor worth looking into.

20
Athletics and College
No one knows you but you. No one knows what you are capable of but you. No one knows
what burns inside, what you have left or have yet to show, i.e. your potential. You will find the level at
which you feel comfortable. You will determine how much you are willing to sacrifice of your body, your
mind, your time and energy. You will decide how hard you want to work and the rewards you expect to
reap.

I had not even come close to reaching my potential in high school and I knew it! I was not going
to settle for someone else’s assessment of my talent. The same things we talk about academically hold true
for athletics. Find your level of comfort and then strive for more. If you do this, at the end of your career
you will have no regrets. That is all any athlete should want.

The same advice should hold true no matter what area you have a talent in. Strive to be your best
and know that there may be some colleges out there willing to pay for your abilities. It is also important
to know that once you accept money from a college in exchange for your talents, they have every right
to expect great things from you and will make demands on your time. It is likely that you will be told how
long to practice, what to eat, when to sleep and so on. You must remember that you are receiving an
education in return and its’ value is what you can derive.

I would like to stress one important point here. Athletics are a means to an end at best
for most students. Don’t get me wrong because I truly love sports, but I am over 40 years old with
a great career in life and fond memories of sports, not the reverse. Use your abilities on the field to get
what you want off the field. If you have your priorities straight then all will go smoothly.

I’m not an athlete. Why do I care in what division the

sports teams play?
College athletics is big business. The athletes, whether they recognize it or not, are paid to
perform. While the average student gets through college with loans and grants and work-study and Mom
and Dad, the athletes go for free. (At least the good ones do). These athletes have a responsibility to put
fannies in the seats. The people, who sit in those seats, pay for those seats. They eat food; buy
programs, tee-shirts, mugs, etc. They buy advertising and sponsorships.

In other words, those people, whom the athletes have attracted, create a revenue base for the
college. Most, if not all colleges, are required to share their revenues with the university as a whole. That
means better chemistry labs, and more varieties of food in the cafeteria. That means more financial aid, a
new theatre and day-care center. All this because a guy can dunk one-handed while doing a 180-degree
spin or run the hundred-yard dash in 9.5 seconds.

There is another reason why you should care about sports. It can create a positive atmosphere on
campus. When the team is winning, there is excitement in the air. While living in Syracuse, New York, I
was caught up in the Orange Crush. Syracuse University football and Basketball were big-time programs
regularly ranked in the top twenty of the country. I would go to the bank and the tellers wore orange on
game day. You would see posters all around town. Local establishments carried games and the
excitement was in the air. Pep-rallies on campus, trips to NCAA tournament or bowl games for the
enthusiasts were quite common. So walking around town, whether you cared about sports or not, you
became a part of the excitement.

21
 Another reason that sports can be important is publicity. Did you ever watch a college
game on a network? Somewhere during that game there is going to be a free advertisement for
both colleges playing in that contest. There is a chance to show off facilities, programs, location,
student life, etc. Notoriety can bring its’ own rewards.

How about graduating from Syracuse University in upstate New York and then looking
for a job in Boulder, Colorado? Do you think that the person interviewing you ever watched
SportsCenter on ESPN? Maybe they did, and because of that, you now have some legitimacy
to your resume instead of “where’s Syracuse University”?

There are plenty of colleges that are doing just fine based on academics alone. For my
money, I want the excitement, too.

Understanding Financial Aid

Financial aid or student aid is intended to meet three primary goals. The first is to provide
the student with access to some form of postsecondary education. The second permits the student
to choose between types of postsecondary educational institutions. Choice may involve
dormitory or apartment costs, travel costs, as well as university or private college tuition rates.

Although the first two goals are important, a third goal is often overlooked. Persistence is
the ability to stay and complete a particular program or course of study. This goal may involve
from one to eight years in which financial aid plays a crucial role in the future of the student
reaching his or her potential career goals. Thus the underlying mission of all three of these goals
is that financial aid permits attendance at a postsecondary institution, which may not be possible
without such aid.

In 1992, the federal government introduced the FAFSA, Free Application Form for Student
Aid. Out went the uniform methodology as the sole source for determining financial need.
Another form, the CSS Financial Aid Report, seeks to gain information for private schools who
use its’ services. The old formula used before 1992 is in essence, still employed by these schools
and by many others who will send out their own financial aid forms.

The federal aid formula does not include the value of the home, does not ask about other
indebtedness and does not go into a lot of detail. However, many of the schools using only the
FAFSA, can have difficulty in meeting the EFC or Estimated Family Contribution for those who
apply for aid.

The single most important element of financial aid is to be EARLY!

When you look into the resources like The Financial aid page, for example, you will be
asked a series of financial questions regarding the year of student enrollment. You can use this
worksheet as a base to work from which to derive your information. Most of the information
pertains to the FAFSA form but some questions would likely be asked on the CSS Profile or
institutional form.

22
Financial Aid Questionnaire
Income (parents)
Father
Mother
Untaxed
Soc.Sec.
Child Supp.
Interest Inc.
Dividend Inc.
Other Inc.
Total Income

Assets Savings Checking Stocks Bonds CD’s

Home Value
Mortgage
Year Bought
Amount

Other Real Estate

Income (student)

Assets
Family Medical Expenses

# of exemptions claimed
# of family members at home
# of children in private school
tuition for above Age of older parent # of family members in college

Why are they asking for this information? The FAFSA form will ask general questions such
as income, assets, family members in college. However, a college has the right to probe much
deeper and ask about home value, retirement accounts, other real estate, etc. Be prepared a
year in advance for what might be asked, then you can get through the process in the best
possible light.

Great Source:
Financial Aid Page – Get to a financial aid calculator and
plug in the numbers to see where you stand!

Great Source: FAST WEB - searches for non-need outside scholarships at no cost.

23
Types of Financial Aid
Pell Grant – This is a federal grant and is the largest Federal Student Aid Program. Application
for the Pell Grant is through the FAFSA.

Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant – This program is also administered through the
federal government and is awarded at the discretion of the individual college financial aid
officer.

Institutional Grants – These are need-based awards given out by the college financial aid officer.

State Funded Scholarship Programs – Most, if not all states, have some method of awarding
money to residents based on similar criteria used in determining federal aid. The amount of the
award, however, can vary greatly from federal standards and is not dependent upon a student
receiving federal aid.

All of the above programs will leave you with NO money to pay back, NO
strings attached and NO future obligations. These are the BEST sources of
financial aid available.

Scholarships – Academic scholarships have a wide variety of ranges. They can be based on
grades, class rank, SAT scores, ACT scores, extracurricular activities, etc. Usually the student
receiving an academic scholarship is required to maintain a certain G.P.A. to continue the
award. Always know the guidelines before accepting such an award. Athletic scholarships are
given to gifted athletes with the understanding that they will contribute to the reputation of the
giving institution. “Pay for Play” is a common terminology in this case and the student should
be advised that although the glamour of receiving an athletic scholarship can be potent, the fall
from grace can be devastating. Division I sports are allowed to give full scholarships.

Division II schools may give scholarships covering tuition or room and board.
Division III schools are not permitted to give out scholarships.

Non-Need scholarships – have a tremendous appeal to those who cannot qualify for traditional
financial aid awards. Usually there is a competition for awards whether local, regional or
national. The allure for someone who is also receiving financial aid is far less because most
outside awards will be blended into the existing financial aid package, thus reducing their
effectiveness.

Work on Campus – As a veteran of three years of college work-study, it is an option I highly

recommend. Some jobs offer the student an opportunity to study while making money. Others
offer a refreshing insight into the real world without a degree. Students are paid for the work
they do consisting of usually no more than 10-12 hours per week while earning at least minimum
wage. The concept is for the student to use the money for books, supplies and personal
expenses. Most awards will be in the $1,000 to $2,000 a year range.

Loans – Federal Guaranteed Student Loan (Stafford Loan) Program is a long-term, low
interest loan available to students who qualify. Amounts that can be borrowed are $2,625
freshman year, $3,500 sophomore year and $5,500 junior and senior years. Total cannot
exceed $23,000. Interest rates for theses loans are variable. Interest on GSL loans, is paid by
the federal government, up until the student has completed or left college. Repayment on the
loan begins 6 months after graduation.
24
 The Unsubsidized Stafford Loan allows students to borrow the same amounts while
paying interest only during the college attendance years unless deferred.

The Federal Perkins Loan Program is awarded to students with significant need. It has a
ceiling on the amount you can borrow and repayment starts 6 months after graduation or
termination from college.

The Federal PLUS Loan is available to parents with children in college. The amount can be
up to the total cost of attendance. Interest rates are dependent upon current economic indexes.
Repayment begins 60 days after disbursement.

Many colleges have additional loan programs as well as payment plans and special
deferments available.

A typical financial aid package will consist of the following:

Grants and or scholarships

Federal Guaranteed Student Loan or Subsidized Stafford Loan
College Work Study
Parent Loan or Federal Plus Loan

The Financial Aid Award on Page 27 shows

the representation of all of these different awards

The student is expected to contribute as much as possible to his/her own education. That
is why student loans are offered as part of the aid package. It is assumed that the student will
receive an education adequate enough to pay back student loans starting shortly after
graduation.

A student is expected to work, earn and save a certain amount during their college years
to help pay for college. Although it is not present in the equation shown, a student with some
monies available upon high school graduation can cut into either the student loan amount or
work-study amount instead of accepting the entire financial aid award.

It is imperative to note that the award on Page 27 was not the original
award sent by the college. Some negotiating took place and adjustments were
also made regarding the family medical expenses. If you feel that an award is
not right, you should contact the financial aid office to ask for a review. Also
note that the student did not pay less for college than the EFC had anticipated,
the package was merely reshaped to be more favorable to the student.

25
Student Aid Report (SAR) Example
The key to the student aid report is your EFC.

When you file a FAFSA, you will generate a student aid report. This report verifies your
information and allows for corrections to be made to the original filing. Since corrections can
be made and time is of the essence it is very wise to ESTIMATE your financial answers to get the
process started instead of waiting until you have completed an income tax return.

FAFSA on the Web Submission Confirmation

Congratulations on completing your application! Your FAFSA Corrections on the Web form has been
submitted to the U.S. Department of Education.

Your confirmation number is: 02/05/2Q05 15:18:25

If you have access to a printer, we recommend you print this page out and keep it for your records. If you do not
have access to a printer, write down the COMPLETE confirmation number and keep it for your records. This
confirmation number is proof that your FAFSA Corrections on the Web form was received.

Your estimated Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is: 7051

Your estimated EFC is a preliminary estimate based on the information you provided on this FAFSA Corrections on
the Web form, it is subject to change based upon your school’s verification of information you provided- The EFC is
used to determine your (and your spouses, if applicable) eligibility for federal student aid. Note that many schools
have their own methodology to determine your family contribution and financial need. You will receive an official
EFC on your Student Aid Report (SAR) based on the processing results of your FAFSA Corrections on the Web form.
For more information about the EFC see www.studentaid.ed.gov, select “Funding” then “Student Aid Eligibility” and
scroll down to “How will I know what I’m eligible for?”

What Happens Now?

Submitting your FAFSA Corrections on the Web form is only one step in completing the FAFSA application process.
In order to complete this process, please review and complete the following instructions,

A. Provide required signatures.

Your FAFSA Corrections on the Web form will be sent to the Central Processing System within three days, and it will
be processed immediately. You should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR).

B. Check the status of your submitted FAFSA Corrections on the Web form.
We recommend you check the status of your FAFSA Corrections on the Web form:

• You can check the status of your submitted FAFSA Corrections on the Web form by selecting this check my
submitted FAFSA Corrections on the Web form link, or selecting the Check status of a submitted FAFSA or Print a
Signature Page option under the FAFSA Follow-up section of the FAFSA on the Web home page at
www.fafsa.ed.gov.
• If you have signed electronically using a PIN, you can check in 3-4 days to see if we have processed your FAFSA
Corrections on the Web form with an official EFC.
• If your signature(s) are missing, and you have printed, signed and mailed a signature page, you can check in one to
two weeks to see if we’ve received the necessary signature(s) and processed your FAFSA Corrections on the
Web form with an official EFC.

C. Receive and review your Student Aid Report {SAR).

26
Understanding the Aid Package and Components

• Notice that the EFC and Federal Plus Loan numbers are virtually the same. The grant was increased to
reflect higher medical expenses and the student was rewarded for good academics as well. In addition,
the student received a work-study allowance and a Stafford Loan at the maximum level for a freshman.
The total package of $21,425 was represented by $17,000 in gift aid which accounted for 79% of
the award. The total costs for year 1 were $28,468.

27
Tips for College Financial Planning:
• The best time to start planning is before January of the student’s junior year. All
information required on the financial aid form reflects that following year.

• Check out sources before doing planning: Peterson’s Guides, the internet
(the Financial Aid Page) and get a good idea of what your family contribution
is and how changes will be reflected.

• On joint accounts held by parents and children, parents should claim the interest for
the appropriate FAFSA filing years.

• Never assume that a school is too expensive! Financial aid and academic scholarships
can make a HUGE difference.

• Make sure before accepting an award package that you ask the administrator if the
package is guaranteed based on the current numbers and will increase or decrease
only according to those numbers.

• Financial aid awards are usually presented between late February and late April. Do
not cave in from demands for a decision from one school if you are still waiting to hear
from others. You should have until May 1st to reach a decision.

• DO expect that you can appeal any financial aid award and that there is a good
possibility it can be changed.

• When you are using the financial aid calculators, try to experiment with
the numbers based upon your family situation. So many times people
would ask me questions like:

1. Should my spouse quit his/her job so we can get more aid? No.
2. Should I put my kids money into my account? The answer to that one is easy
because you will be figured to contribute at about a 5.5% rate and your
son/daughter at a 35% rate.
3. What if I take out a home equity loan? Check with your financial advisor.
4. Does it matter how much my son/daughter makes from their employment?
Check with your financial advisor.
5. I don’t claim my son/daughter, can I still file? The answer is no you MUST
claim the child for whom you are filing for financial aid.
6. What if I (the parent) go to college part-time? You will need at least 6 credit
hours per semester and it will be up to the discretion of each college as to how
much credit they will give you for that.
7. We have unusually high expenses, does that matter? It does if they fit the right
categories like medical expenses (see award letter above), higher taxes,
family grievances, etc.

Check into non-need scholarships through the high school guidance office, library,
the Internet or your local weekly newspaper. Do not pay for this service because it
is merely an information service, not a guarantee of assistance.

28
The Timeline
Freshman Year – Wherever possible, take classes that will enrich and challenge the best in you.
This is the beginning of high school, all these grades count on your college resume, so be
studious in what you do.

Sophomore Year – Begin the search for what it is that you want to do. Start exploring your
options and recognize your interests.

Junior Year – Begin the college planning process, college search process and parents should be
doing some financial planning if necessary before the first of the year.

Senior Year – essays, narrowing the college choice, scholarship searches (both local and
national).

Regardless of what time of year it is you should use the following guide:

1) Find someone in the field(s) of study in which you are interested. Take an interest in
what they do, how they do it, how they like it and what it took to get to that position.
If you feel you have made a wrong choice, then start over rather than forcing a bad
choice. I like to think that your instincts will prevail.

2) Assuming you are on the right path, make a list of colleges that offer what you want.
Be as thorough and detailed as possible. Try not to compromise what you want,
investigate a school down to the smallest detail.

3) Investigate the schools in more detail through catalogues found in the guidance office,
on the Internet, in the library or order them from the college. Go through the
program(s) of study to compare one school to another.

4) Map out a strategy for visitations. (See “the visit”). If you can’t visit in person, try
looking for sites on the Internet that will offer “virtual tours”. Though you can’t touch the
real thing, at least you get a better idea of the school.

5) Narrow your selections to 3 - 5 schools.

6) Start your applications in the fall of your senior year. Collect recommendations, write
essays (see following page) and do well on your standardized testing.

7) Complete financial aid applications in the earliest part of January of your senior year.

29
The School Visit
You will receive all kinds of letters informing you of and inviting you to open houses. As a
refresher, I went on an open house visit this past year and I can tell you this, I would have seen
everything I wanted by doing it myself. The visit should include the campus drive around, the
community search, the academic buildings of interest, the sports complex or other types of
interest, the dorms, the cafeteria(s) and the social atmosphere. Do the campus visit, ask questions
and do your own visit.

Campus Drive - You have a class at 8a.m. and it is on the other side of the campus. Look around
and see how that will work for you. The school I visited was very accessible. No building was
more than a 15 minute walk away.

Community Search - this is more for the parents to give you a better feeling of the safety issues,
outside influences and problems the student may face at this college. It is strictly a judgment call
for all of you. Stick to your instincts as to what your comfort level may be.

Academic buildings - try to find out where you will spend most of your academic life. Are the
buildings old and dilapidated? Is there any new construction? If necessary, check out labs,
research facilities, etc. There can be a huge difference in this area from one college to another.

The sports complex - Do you like to work out? Are you an athlete? Are the facilities up-to-date?
Are the facilities easily accessible?

The dorms - check out where you are going to live. Is it clean, roomy enough, can you pick a
roommate and how many will you have?

The Social Atmosphere - get a feel for fun, you won’t be studying all the time! Is it in a small
town that would not exist except for the college or is it in a thriving area where you may settle
down after graduating?

Lastly, talk to students, they are your best source for honest answers. You can probably see and
experience all you need just by talking to a few undergraduates who have been there and done
that. You can talk about the cafeteria food but I would rather try it for myself.

30
Writing Your College Essay
If you are like most students, you see the college essay as another hurdle that you must
jump on the way to being accepted at the college of your choice. In fact, the essay is not a
hurdle but a rare opportunity. It is a chance for you to help the college admissions people see
you as a thinking and feeling person, rather than simply a set of impersonal statistics. Except for
the interview, it is your only chance to share your thoughts, insights, and opinions; to highlight
your accomplishments; and to convey your maturity and outlook on life. If you see the college
essay in this way - as an opportunity, then it is clearly worth the effort to put some extra time,
thought and energy into writing it.

Choosing A Topic - Narrow your topic and try to be as specific and illustrative as
possible. Realistically, the easiest topic to write about is you. No one knows more about you
than you. Since one important purpose of the essay is self-revelation, it is no place to be shy or
modest, although you should not exaggerate. If you choose to write about yourself, remember
that little incidents and facts are often the most revealing of character and outlook. Do not be
afraid to write about something you think is a little different. A unique topic or approach is often
refreshing to a college admissions officer who has been reading applications all day. Further,
an unusual or off-beat essay is an excellent way to show your creativity.

If an essay topic is chosen for you, put as much of your own stamp on it as possible.

Do:

Do think “small” and write about something that you know about.
Do reveal yourself in your writing.
Do show rather than tell. By giving examples and illustrating your topic, you help bring it to life.
Do write in your own “voice” and style.

Don’t:

Don’t write what you think others want to read.

Don’t exaggerate or write to impress.
Don’t use flowery, inflated, or pretentious style.
Don’t neglect the technical part of your essay (grammar, spelling, sentence structure).
Don’t ramble - say what you have to say and conclude.

Well, now you have it! This is a comprehensive guide to use when going through the college
planning process. Keep this handy and refer to it often because you will be using different parts
at different times during the course of your college planning years. The best advice I can give
you is to be honest with yourself and others, challenge yourself to become the best you can and
discover richness in life not on what it can buy.

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Budgeting for College
You may be like I was, trying to figure out a way to pay for college on your own. Or, you may
have an eye on the future and recognize that saving money will help pay down debts when you
graduate. Whatever the reason, budgeting makes good sense.

A few tips
• Write down expenditures when they happen – it is a good way of keeping track of
how and where you spend your money
• Set up a separate account for spending money aside from your expenses
(cell phone bill, utilities, laundry, etc.)
• Stay committed to your budget or learn to penalize your mistakes – it is easier to say
to your friends “can’t we do something that doesn’t cost money” than it is to say
“can you lend me some money”
• Be honest with yourself about the differences between NEEDS and WANTS

My Budget
1st Semester Actual 2nd Semester Actual
Fixed Expenses
Tuition 8,000
$
8,000
$

Room/Board 6,500
$
6,500
$

Fees $
560 $
560
Cell Phone $
240 $
240
$
15,300 $
15,300
Other Expenses
Travel 250
$
250
$

Books 500
$
500
$

Supplies $
150 $
150
Personal $
1,500 $
1,500
Allowance $
1,000 $
1,000
$
3,400 $
3,400

Total Expenses $
18,700 $
18,700

Income
Academic Scholarship Scholarship 5,000
$
5,000
$

Grant $
2,500 2,500
$

Student Loan $
1,250 $
1,250
Work Study $
1,000 $
1,000
Total Student Income $
9,750 $
9,750
Parent Loan $
8,400 $
8,400
Student Savings $
550 $
550
Total Income $
18,700 $
18,700
Summer
Summer Job Income $
3,000
Less Taxes 300
$

Less Gas 400

$

Less Spending Money $

1,000
Total Summer Expenses $
1,700
Total Summer Savings $
1,300
Need (see student savings) $
1,100
Balance $
200

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