KNOWHOW2GO!!! Revised 7/2013 AGENDA Why it is important to go to college The four steps to planning for college What families can do to help prepare BIG DREAMS AND GOOD GRADES ARENT ENOUGH!
To get into college, there are actual steps you need to take. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS? Who plans to go to college after high school? Why do you want to go to college? WHAT IS COLLEGE? WHY COLLEGE IS IMPORTANT Many places are called college.
Find the right fit for you. 4-yr College and university Community and technical college Public and private In or out of state WHY COLLEGE IS IMPORTANT What are the benefits of going to college?
Turn and talk now at your table about the benefits of going to college. 7 WHY COLLEGE IS IMPORTANT Postsecondary degrees lead to greater weekly earnings $1,200 $1,000 $800 $600
$400 $200 $0 High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor's Degree Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, 2013.
WHY COLLEGE IS IMPORTANT Over a lifetime, college graduates earn $1 million more than those who only have a high school degree. WHY COLLEGE IS IMPORTANT A high school diploma is just not enough anymore Jobs that require more than high school make up more than 2/3 of new jobs, and its growing. New jobs for
HS graduates New jobs for college graduates Source: Carnevale, Anthony P. and Donna M. Desrochers, Standards for What? The Economic Roots of K16 Reform, Educational Testing Service, 2003. WHY COLLEGE IS IMPORTANT Postsecondary education creates more job stability 9 8.3
8 7.7 6.8 7 6.2 6 4.5 5
4 3 2 1 0 High School Diploma Some College Average Unemployment
Associate Degree Bachelor's Degree AGENDA Why it is important to go to college The four steps to planning for college What families can do to help prepare KNOWHOW2GO TO COLLEGE
1. BE A PAIN-IN A GOOD WAY 2. PUSH YOURSELF 3. FIND THE RIGHT FIT 4. PUT YOUR HANDS ON SOME CASH STEP 1 Find Someone to Help Find someone who can help you with the steps to college. - Family member - Neighbor - Coach - Someone at your church
- Counselor - College student Dont stop until you find someone who can help. STEP 2 Push Take Yourself some tough classes to prepare for college: -Algebra, Geometry -Foreign Language -Biology, Chemistry
-Honors/AP Take the PSAT, SAT and/or the ACT. Volunteer for community service Participate in extracurricular activities TAKE THE TOUGH CLASSES Required High School Courses: Some may be toughTake the challenge!
English: 4 credits Mathematics: 4 credits Natural Science: 3 credits Social Science: 3 credits Foreign Language: 2 credits Approved Electives: 3 credits STEP 3 Find the Right Fit Find a college that fits your situation and interests (size, location, cost, etc.)
Find a college that has the program youre interested in - like Business, Education, Music, Healthcare, etc. Explore community college, university, and technical school options. Find the one thats right for YOU! STEP 4 Put Your Hands On Some Cash Theres money for everyone to go to college not just the smartest students.
Learn how to apply for scholarships Scholarship A scholarship is a financial award ($$$) to help you pay for college. You can receive many scholarships by doing a good job filling out applications. Talk to your counselor for more info. COST Community College-Highline Community College = $16-$18,000 4-Year Public College-University of Washington = $20-$27,000
4-Year Private College- Seattle University = $46-$53,000 !!!$150 Billion!!! Cost of Attendance: Tuition & Fees Room & Board Books & Supplies
Transportation Personal Costs Study Abroad 3 POTS OF MONEY Family Financing Community Financing Government/ Institutional Financing
FAMILY FINANCING What do you and your family have to contribute to your college education? Savings 529 Savings Plans Income Investments How many people are in your family? How many will be in college? What kind of unusual expenses do you have? COMMUNITY FINANCING
What scholarships or other financial assistance can you find? i u T n o ti re
m e s r bu im t n e Scholarships GOVT/INSTITUTIONAL FINANCING
What funds are available to me through the federal or state government or from my college? Grants Loans Work-Study FINANCIAL AID HIERARCHY High Private Loans High
PLUS Loans AVAILABILITY COST Unsubsidized Stafford Loans Subsidized Stafford Loans Perkins Loans Self-Help Aid: Work Study Low/No Gift Aid: Scholarships
Gift Aid: Grants Low AGENDA Why it is important to go to college The four steps to planning for college What families can do to help prepare WHAT FAMILIES CAN DO What are your students thoughts about going to college?
What do they dream of doing? WHAT FAMILIES CAN DO What can families do to help prepare their children for college? At your table list your ideas and suggestions. WHAT FAMILIES CAN DO Believe it or not, students think parents are helpful Who Students Say Are Very Helpful in Selecting High School Classes 70%
60% 50% 40% 30% 20% Source: Wimberly, George L.; Noeth, Richard J., College Readiness Begins in Middle School. ACT Policy Report, American College Testing ACT Inc, 2005. 10% 0%
Mother Father Teacher Friend Counselor Principal WHAT FAMILIES CAN DO Parent involvement is especially critical to create a college-going culture
Talk to your child. Make a plan. Supervise and support.
Talk to teachers and counselors. Set realistic academic expectations. Enforce limits. Be a cheerleader. Introduce the world of work. Help explore interests. Be there for questions and conversations. Do the grown-up stuff (e.g., visit colleges, be ready to complete financial aid forms) WHAT FAMILIES CAN DO Know what it takes to go to college
Take the right courses Algebra in 8th or 9th grade and continue to advance through 12th grade English every year Laboratory Science (at least two years) World Language (at least two years) Read, read, read. Reading books and magazines (at the 8th grade level or above) is the best SAT/ACT preparation you can do Newsweek instead of People National Geographic instead of National Enquirer HELPFUL WEBSITES Financial aid information: www.finaid.org
Federal student aid: www.studentaid.ed.gov College Bound: www.collegebound.wa.gov NELA: www.nela.net KH2GO Web site: www.knowhow2go.org Big Future: Bigfuture.collegeboard.org
CONCLUSION: KNOWHOW2GO! 1. BE A PAIN-IN A GOOD WAY 2. PUSH YOURSELF 3. FIND THE RIGHT FIT 4. PUT YOUR HANDS ON SOME CASH
