A great way to introduce the college matriculation process with your junior parents.

2. In 365 days….
You will be sending your
son or daughter off to college!

3. College is preparing your child for
adulthood and their future career.
 If you think your child is not ready for adulthood, you
are correct!
 College gives your child the opportunity to grow,
develop, individuate and become the adult they will be
for the rest of their life.
 Going “away” to school is an important element in
growing up and learning how to be an adult, while still
under the safety-net of an academic environment.

4. Adulthood is full of responsibility and obligation.
 College is the last chance for your child to focus on
their own growth and development before they begin
their own families and careers.
 This opportunity will only come once! Once it is gone,
it is gone.
 Going to college later in life is much more difficult
because you have to juggle work, family and schooling.

5. Imagine what you would give to have four years of self exploration.

6. The best way you can support your
child in earning their degree is…
 NOT money
 BUT by fostering a “college culture” at home.

7. What’s a college culture?
 Talk about college at home.
 Ask your child what colleges they are considering.
 Let your child know how important it is for them to
graduate from a four-year college, not just attend
college.
 Let them know that graduating from a four-year
college is not an option but an expectation.
 Research colleges together.
 Be honest if you don’t know about something and find
out together.

8. Why a 4yr college?
 Individuals with a bachelors degree earn an average of
$15,000 A YEAR MORE than those with an associates
degree and $22,000 A YEAR MORE than those with
only a high school diploma.
 Over a lifetime, that’s between $1,000,000.00 and
$3,000,000.00 MORE with a college degree than
without one!!!!
 Over half a MILLION $$$ more with a bachelors
degree than with an associates degree.

9. College Admissions Timeline
 Before summer: 2010 taxes and W2s (submit to office)
 Over the summer:
 Research colleges with your child
 College admissions essay
 August-December: College Applications (10 total)
 October: College admissions essay due
 January 1st: FAFSA Completion
 Feb 1st: 2011 Taxes and W2s Due
 March/April: Verification Month
 May 1st: College decision
 intent to enroll,
 tuition deposit,
 housing deposit)
 May 15th:
 Accept financial aid,
 submit forms to college,
 register for orientation
 Mid May:
 College Signing Day

10. What can I do as a parent?
 Use your child’s college match category as a starting point.
 Research school with your child. Do not consider price or
location yet! Let your child dream and dream with them!
 Research the graduation rates for each school.
 Consider what will give your child the greatest chance at
earning a bachelors degree and encourage them to pursue
that option, even if it a challenge.
 Set your expectations high and make sure your child knows
them. Your child will be an adult soon, but you will always be
their parent and they look to you for guidance (even if they
pretend they don’t).

11. Researching Colleges
 Don’t limit your selection because of location or cost!
 DO create a diverse list of schools.
 DO consider graduation rate!
 START where you want to graduate from! Life throws all
kinds of challenges at us and planning on transferring is a
huge gamble with your son/daughter’s education and career.
 Dream big! This is the beginning of your child’s life as an
adult. If you want them to be successful start them off
somewhere that IS successful!
 Don’t say “it’s your choice” when you really mean “I don’t
know”. Learn with your child, so you can help guide their
decision in a helpful way.

12. What matters?
 Reputation: The school your child will graduate from
will be on their resume’ for the rest of their life. This
will distinguish them from their competition and
either help them or hold them back.
 Cost: There is a point where a school is no longer
worth what it costs.
 Graduation rate: How much is it worth to go to a
school with a better chance of success?

13. Graduation rates matter!!!!
 Chicago community colleges have some of the lowest
graduation rates in all of the nation.
 The AVERAGE graduation rate for a community college in
Chicago is 10%!!!! That means 90% of the students who
attend there will not earn their degree!

14. The danger of for-profit schools
 For profit schools are usually significantly more
expensive than other private or public colleges.
 Students of for profit colleges are 5 times more likely
not to be able to repay their student loan.
 Why?
 Higher student loans that mean higher payments.
 Not as competitive in finding a job as students who
attended a not-for-profit public or private school.

15. Examples of for-profit schools
 American Academy of Art
 DeVry University
 University of Phoenix
 Kaplan University
 Westwood College
 The Art Institutes
 ITT Technical Institute
 Trade schools

16. But how can we afford this?
 It is important to know that college is an investment in
your child’s future, but it is not only for the rich.
 Even if you can’t help financially, your child CAN go to
a 4yr college, and you can help support them in other
important ways.
 Even if your child receives NO federal aid, because
they are undocumented, there are affordable choices
in Chicago.

17. Paying for college
 Grants: Free money
Most students will receive between $5,000 and $12,000 a year in
federal/state grants. These grants are called Pel, Map and
FSEOG. These are based on your financial need.
Scholarships:
Most schools (private and public) offer some type of free money
based on financial need and merit.
Student Loans:
Student loans are an investment in your child’s career, but they are
only worth it IF YOUR CHILD GRADUATES! This is why parent
support is so important.

18. The advertised tuition is NOT what you pay.
 The federal government and schools offer scholarships
and grants that can significantly reduce the amount
your child would pay.
 Student loans will also cover some of this cost.
 The amount that is left over after all scholarships,
grants and loans is called “out of pocket”.

19. SIU Edwardsville
Actual student ACT 18, GPA 2.81
 Cost of attendance: $17,500
 Free money (grants/scholarships): $10,940
 Work Study: $3,000
 Loans: $5,500
 Out of pocket: NONE! Everything is covered.
 Plan: Use work study money for personal expenses and
text books.

20. Lake Forest
Actual student ACT 21, GPA 3.86
 Cost of attendance: $ 50, 652
 Free money (grants/scholarships): $ 37,270
 Work Study: $ 2,500
 Loans: $ 5,500
 Out of pocket: $5,382! Over 90% of the costs covered!
 Plan: Save $2,500 between now and September. Student or
parent contributes $300/mo during the school year.
This one is a bit tougher without parent help, but if you could
split the monthly cost and each contribute $150, this becomes
much more doable.

21. Concerns for undocumented
students/parents.
 If your child IS documented but you are not, your child
IS eligible for financial aid including grants,
scholarships and loans. They WILL complete a FAFSA
with their social security number, but will enter
000,00,0000 for YOUR social security number.
 FAFSA is only concerned with your child’s
immigration status NOT yours.

22. If your child is not documented
 Your child SHOULD NOT submit a FAFSA! This is
VERY important
 Encourage your child to focus on school!
Undocumented students ARE eligible for merit
grants/scholarships from colleges, but they are
dependent on ACT/GPA!

23.  Your child is eligible for thousands of private
scholarships that can be researched through various
sources such as http://latinocollegedollars.org and
www.thesalliemaefund.org .
 Begin a college savings plan immediately. Encourage
your son/daughter to work over the summer and save
as much money as possible.
 Seek out resources such as the match-savings program
offered by the Heartland Alliance.

24. Sample FAFSA
 All students (documented or not) will fill out a sample
FAFSA in class.
 There will be MANY questions about the FAFSA. We
will address these in the fall at a FAFSA workshop.

25. Please feel free to contact
Ms. Clark and Ms. Martinez
if you have any questions about the college
application process.
We are here to help!
Thank you!