This document provides information from Road2College on preparing for and navigating the college admissions process. Road2College is a content provider focused on making college admissions and affordability information easy to understand. They deliver value-added content to help various groups understand complex topics. The document outlines key terms, factors that influence financial aid estimates, strategies for finding good college fits, and resources for researching schools, preparing for standardized tests, and planning visits. It emphasizes becoming an educated consumer by understanding admissions trends, financial aid calculations, and tools for comparing college costs.

1. The premier source of unbiased information, educating families on the path through high school and beyond.
ARE YOU PREPARED?

2. BECOME AN
EDUCATED
CONSUMER
OF
HIGHER EDUCATION

3. The cost of a
college education
is a
major investment:
$80,000 - $240,000
3
BECOME AN
EDUCATED
CONSUMER

4. TUFTS
10/16/2016 Slide
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Road2College — Who Are We?
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 Content providers focused on the intersection of
college admissions and affordability
 We cut through the sea of information to
organize, annotate, and simplify information
from the most relevant resources into easy to
understand concepts and language
 We delivery value-added content to parents,
counselors, independents, and non-profits
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5. THE CHANGING WORLD OF ADMISSIONS
School 2005 Admissions
Rates
2014 Admissions
Rates
Brown 16% 8.6%
Columbia 12% 6.95%
Cornell 31% 14%
Yale 11% 6.3%
Harvard 11% 5.9%
Tufts 27% 17.4%
Penn 29% 9.9%
Wash U 20% 17%
Amherst 18% 13%
Vanderbilt 40% 13%
 Applications have increased 30% - 80%.
 Increased applications from foreign
students.
 Peak number of high school graduates.
 Increase in number of high school
students pursuing college. 5

6. (EFC) Estimated
Family Contribution,
FAFSA, CSS, PLAN,
ACT, SAT, PLUS,
Stafford, Need Blind,
Net price, Sticker
price, SAR, Early
Decision, Early Action
YOU DON’T KNOW
WHAT YOU
DON’T KNOW
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7. Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
It’s not one number but four different calculations.
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UNDERSTAND
EXPECTED FAMILY
CONTRIBUTION
Student
Income
Parent
Income
Parent
Assets
Student
Assets
Parental assets assessed at 5.6% vs. 20% for student assets.

8.  Parent Income
 Parent Assets
 Child’s Income
 Child’s Assets
 Number in College
 Family Size
 Age of Oldest Parent
 Types of Assets
 Tax Filing Status
 Family Structure
 Home Equity
 Other Children’s Assets
 Cars You Own
 Other Assets
 Other Tuitions
 Other Questions
 Business Assets
Federal Method Institutional Method
Impact on EFC Outcome
DIFFERENT METHODOLOGIES
EXPECTED
FAMILY
CONTRIBUTION
8

9. Jones Family has an EFC of $24,000
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EXAMPLE
EXPECTED FAMILY
CONTRIBUTION
School 1
EFC: $24,000
Cost of Attendance: $52,000
Potential Fin Aid Award: $28,000
School 2
EFC: $24,000
Cost of Attendance: $19,000
Potential Fin Aid Award: $0
Students in the top 25% to 33% of applicants will capture the best
financial aid packages.

10. Finding Net Price Calculators
10
RESOURCES FORECASTING & COMPARING
Comparing College Costs
EFC – COA = Net Price

11. Create a list of 8 – 10 colleges made up of
Likely, Target, Reach, Financial Safety, Merit Potential
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PLANNING CREATING A COLLEGE LIST
Resources to build your list & guide you through the process…
The best defense is a good offense – build a great college list!

12. Common Data Set
A collaborative effort between publishers (the College Board,
Peterson’s, and US News & World Report) and the educational
community
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RESEARCHING
WHAT INFORMATION TO
LOOK FOR AND WHERE
Custom College Rankings
Online spreadsheet with IPEDS Information, with ability to filter and
sort and ranked based on a custom methodology
DYI College Rankings
Information based on Acceptance Rates, Graduation Rates,
Ethnicity, COA, Majors, Athletics
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13. Increase your odds with high grades and test scores
AND applying to the “right” school.
13
EXAMPLE HOW TO FIND MERIT AID
Find schools that have the money AND are likely to give it away.
Sort by endowment per student, % of students receiving institutional grants, avg
institutional grant size, % of freshman receiving non-federal loans & CDS data.

14. Try to visit while school is in session.
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LISTEN COLLEGE VISITS
Play close attention to language used and emphasize
Research beforehand and
come prepared with questions to ask
Write down impressions right away

15. The Perfect Score Project – book & website
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TEST PREP ADVICE FROM A PRO
Plan a full year in advance to prepare.
Having a solid foundation is the best test prep possible.
Use official College Board materials as practice exams.
Build endurance – take 10 to 15 pracitce tests.

16. TEST PREP
www.perfectscoreproject.com
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RESOURCES BECOME AN EDUCATED
CONSUMER OF HIGHER ED
SEARCH
www.diycollegerankings.com
www.customcollegerankings.com
www./tractusinsight.com
www.admitted.ly
www.possibilityu.com
FINANCE
www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/paying-your-
share/expected-family-contribution-calculator
www.collegeabacus.com
http://studentnpc.collegeboard.org/participating-schools
www.Road2College.com

17. ARE YOU
READY
TO HELP
YOUR CHILD
THROUGH THE
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
PROCESS?
17
Sign up at
www.Road2College.com