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Advice for High Schoolers Contemplating AP Courses

By posted February 6, 2012

Advanced Placement classes sometimes seem like a daunting option to a high school student, but the advantages of taking AP coursework heavily outweigh the effort they entail.  AP classes are meant to give students a taste of college-level coursework and course style.  They tend to go at a faster pace, and cover material more thoroughly than a non-AP class.  For parents, I realize this alone makes AP coursework something you want for your child; they will learn more and have to work harder. For students, I realize this may not be enough to convince you.

The best reason for any high school student to take AP courses, and this assumes you will also take the corresponding AP exam, is that passing the exam results in college credits. Each college and university has different policies about accepting AP exams for credit, usually depending on your exam score. Generally speaking, each AP exam passed exempts you from one general education requirement at your future college.  Speaking from experience, I took six AP exams in high school, I passed all of them, and received 28 quarter-credits, which was the equivalent of seven classes. I passed through seven general education classes that otherwise would have taken almost two entire quarters to finish.

If you are thinking that taking seven extra classes in college is better than taking AP classes now, look at it this way: not taking those seven classes saved me well over $5,000 in tuition fees (based on University of California in-state fees in the 2008-2009 school year).  College graduation seems far away when you are still in high school, and you may not think the decisions you make now will have any effect on your life in four, five, or six years. Graduating from even the best colleges on time is difficult, and tuition fees rise every year; making smart decisions now, to make sure you graduate from college on time, is critical.

Grockit’s AP Exam Prep services will help you pass your AP US History and AP Calculus AB exams. Use test prep for all your AP subjects to make sure you understand exactly what the exam will ask of you.  Working hard in high school, and passing AP exams, will save you time and money later on.

Angela Ballard is a senior at UC Santa Barbara. She works at FindTheBest where you can compare anything from the best ski resorts to mountain bikes.

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Unigo Expert Network: Experts Answering Your Questions

By posted December 13, 2011

The Unigo Expert Network is a group of top education experts from across the US answering questions submitted by students and parents about college admissions and succeeding after high school.

SAT. ACT. Six letters that every high school student dreads. But in the ever-changing landscape of college admissions, are standardized test scores still important? The short answer: yes. This week, our experts weigh in on just how important those scores are in comparison to the rest of your application.

“How important are standardized test scores compared to other pieces of the application?” — Chris Kim, Portland, OR

A: Test Scores Are Just One Piece of the Application

Standardized test scores are one important piece of the application. As I tell my students, “I won’t lie to you, test scores are important but they are only one piece of the puzzle.” At many state universities a GPA and/or a test score are the only admission requirements but many are realizing that other factors are just as important.  At privates colleges all factors are taken into consideration. Test scores need to be taken in context.  How well you do on a test taken early on a Saturday morning should not be the only factor in your college admission.

Maureen Lawler — College Counselor – Bishop Kelley High

 

A: Scores Get You Into Dance, But Getting Asked to Dance…

Your concern about the significance of SAT/ACT scores is well placed. College views vary on their importance, however, test scores are typically ranked third behind grades and strength of curriculum. Not all colleges view scores in the same light. Some are test optional, others allow single score choice, and still others will super score (pull the highest sub scores from different tests). Most will accept either SAT or ACT. Check college websites and consult with your school counselor. Don’t lose site of the fact that while colleges value quantitative data, it is often the qualitative information that tips their decisions.

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Money Saving Tips for College Students

By posted November 25, 2011

Campus Activities: Campus activities like movie nights or math club usually mean free food.  Take advantage of these opportunities to be involved.  You may just make a new friend or two as well.

Buying Smart: Consider buying store brand items instead of name brand and think about buying in bulk at stores like BJ’s, Costco, and Sam’s Club.  Also, look for some second hand stores and don’t feel awkward shopping there, you are not alone!  You may be shocked by what they have and how much things cost.  For example – one of our students last year found a Coach purse for $40!

Get a Job: You may have been given the opportunity for work-study but even if you weren’t, you can still look for a part-time job on campus or close to campus.  Working while in college is highly recommended.  Not only is it a great resume builder and networking opportunity, but you can meet friends and make some money so you won’t be hassling mom or dad.  Some on-campus and work-study jobs may even let you do your homework or get studying done when you have down time.

Bank Accounts: There are a lot of different accounts out there and many banks have student checking accounts where there aren’t any fees or charges to keep a minimum balance.  We suggest that you find a bank that has a local branch for both you and your parents.  Your parents and you should each have a debit card and access to on-line management.  Setting up joint accounts with your parent(s) as the primary account holder will help them easily deposit money as necessary.  Link your checking and savings accounts to help with overdraft protection and to help you save money. Have your paychecks and all other funds directly-deposited into your savings, then transfer spending money to your checking account and try to spend only what you have in checking. This will help you save money now to fund future large purchases such as books, a computer, or maybe even a trip for Spring Break.

Credit Cards: Be aware of credit card hooks such as free prizes, a percent off today’s purchase for opening account, no interest for a certain number of months, etc.  A free T-shirt may sound great now, but not so much when compared to the amount of potential credit card debt you may incur and a mark on your credit report. You can also look into Credit Unions or AAA, but if you do decide to have a credit card, we suggest having only one if possible.  Be sure to minimize your credit card debt even after graduation; don’t forget about your student loans you will have to pay off.  Also, typically if you are under 21, you will need to show that you are able to make payments (meaning you have some sort of income) or you will need a cosigner in order to open a credit card account.  If you are under age 21 and have a card with a cosigner but want an increase in the credit limit, your cosigner must agree in writing to the increase.

Being money conscious from the start can seriously help you throughout college and you’ll be very thankful once you graduate.

Any additional tips to share?  Leave your comments.

About Smart Track™ Toolkit: The toolkit is a web based service that assists families with everything from admissions and test prep, to student athletics and financial aid. Our intuitive software and on-demand workshops are key components to making sure students find their top choice colleges, and families can afford to send them there.

About the author: Laura Guarino is the Student Services Coordinator with College Planning Strategies, LLC. Laura has a degree in Human Development from Boston College and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in School Guidance Counseling.  She is also enrolled in a certificate program in College Admissions Counseling.  Laura is at the forefront of the college admissions process for the families of CPS and The Smart Track™ Toolkit.

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Why the PSAT Matters

By posted October 3, 2011

The standardized test that everyone seems to talk about when it comes to college admissions is the SAT.  It is common to take the SAT at the end of junior year or the beginning of senior year.  Therefore, many students decide to do their SAT test prep during their junior years, or perhaps over the summer before their senior years.  However, if you want to get into your dream college, ace the SAT, and maybe even win a scholarship, you might want to rethink that timeline and be sure not to overlook another important standardized test: the PSAT.

Find out how Grockit can help you prepare for the SAT today!

Why does the PSAT matter?  The PSAT (or Preliminary SAT) is typically taken during the fall of junior year.  One obvious reason to take the test is that it is great practice for the SAT.  It is made by the same company that creates the SAT, the College Board, and tests the same three subjects as the SAT: reading, math, and writing.  The types of questions and the directions are the same or similar to the SAT.  Besides the content itself, it is also helpful to experience sitting down for a two to three hour test with minimal breaks before the real thing.  When you receive your PSAT scores, you will also get an estimate of how you might do on each section on the SAT.  This is an invaluable tool for helping you decide where to focus your studies.

The other benefit of taking the PSAT is the opportunity to participate in the NMSC, or National Merit Scholarship Corporation, scholarship program.  If you score above a certain percentile on the test, you could become a National Merit Scholar.  Different schools offer different amounts of scholarship money to high-scoring students.  There are different levels that can be reached in this competition: Commended, Semifinalist, Finalist, and National Merit Scholar.  Even if you don’t advance very far in the competition, you may be offered outside scholarships for receiving this distinction.

What does this mean for your SAT prep plan?  For me, it meant doing my SAT review and practice early, the summer before the fall of my junior year when I knew I would take the PSAT, so that I would perform my best on it.  I decided to take my SAT around the same time since all of the preparation would be fresh in my mind.  If you decide to go this “early” route and are not happy with your SAT score, you still have lots of time to study more and take it again, and you’ll know that you prepared as well as you could for the PSAT.  The PSAT is a a valuable practice tool that many people don’t realize can result in interest and scholarships from colleges.  So don’t wait around until just before your senior year to study for the SAT and PSAT.  Get started early so you can make most of all the advantages the PSAT has to offer!

Get personalized tutoring in live online sessions with an experienced expert instructor on Grockit.

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A Beginner’s Guide to Financial Aid Part II

By posted September 13, 2011

In the last blog entry, we covered some of the basics of the college financial aid system and how it is used to determine how much money you could receive. In case you have forgotten, the key formula is “COA – EFC = NEED”. COA in this case stands for “Cost Of Attendance” and is pretty straightforward (just add up the cost of everything for one year of college). What I would like to focus on in this entry is the EFC, which stands for “Expected Family Contribution”.

The first thing to do is clearly define what your EFC is. Most colleges and universities will define your EFC as “the minimum amount your family can afford to pay for one student for one year of college”. It is important to identify key components of this definition. “Minimum” implies that your EFC is a starting point and you may actually have to pay more than your EFC (depending on the college your student chooses.) Also notice the “one year of college” part. This is because you should file for financial aid every single year, which means that your EFC will likely be different every single year. The reason financial aid is filed for every year is because situations change. Jobs are gained or lost, benefits will start or stop. Even the number of students in your family attending college at the same time could change, and all of these things impact your EFC.

Now in terms of actually calculating your EFC, college and universities will use one or two methodologies (read: formulas.) The first is the Federal Methodology (FM). This is derived with a formula the Federal Government came up with and is calculated when you submit the FAFSA. Every college in the country that awards federal financial aid requires the submission of a FAFSA, which means that all of these colleges will see your FM EFC. Some colleges will go a step further and they will use their own formula to calculate your EFC. This is known as using an Institutional Methodology (IM). This can get complicated because different institutions can use different IM formulas. However the basic IM formula was created by CollegeBoard and is calculated when you submit your CSS/Profile.

Now that you know there are two different EFCs, it’s probably best to figure out what’s included in these formulas. Simply put, the FM and IM formulas use the following: parent income, parent assets, student income, and student assets. There is a handful of other information that could be used (ages of parents, ages of younger siblings, certain monthly expenses) but income/assets of parents/students are the big players.

Keep in mind that since we’re dealing with two different formulas, income/assets could be assessed differently. One example is your primary residence. Any equity in the primary home is considered an asset in the IM formula, but primary home equity is not part of the FM formula. If you happen to have more than one property though, equity in the additional properties is considered an asset in both the FM and IM formulas.

Things get more complicated when you delve into the nitty-gritty of each formula. If you’re concerned about your EFC and how you’re going to be able to afford to send your students to college, it is usually best to consult with a professional college advisor. Much like a CPA helps you with your taxes; College Advisors (the ones worth their salt) are well versed in EFC formulas and the many different avenues for paying college bills.

Once you finish your applications and the college gets your EFC, its time to create your financial aid award. In the next series entry we’ll discuss Awards and Appeals, something you may need to utilize depending on your EFC, your award, and any extenuating circumstances you think may be affecting your ability to pay for college.

About the author: Justin Munio is a Business Development Manager and Financial Aid Consultant with College Planning Strategies, LLC. With a degree in mathematics from SUNY Geneseo and 4 years working in the CPS Financial Aid Department, Justin is at the forefront of the financial aid process for the families of CPS and the Toolkit.

About Smart Track™ Toolkit: The toolkit is a web based service that assists families with everything from admissions and test prep, to student athletics and financial aid. Our intuitive software and on-demand workshops are key components to making sure students find their top choice colleges, and families can afford to send them there.

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When are the 2012 SAT test dates?

By posted August 17, 2011

The SAT is offered 7 times a year. You should be familiar with the college application deadlines for the schools you will be applying to and decide which SAT test date to register for. Most students will take the SAT the spring of their junior year and some will take the test again, or the first time, the fall of their senior year. Make use of SAT test prep to help familiarize yourself with the SAT before test day by knowing the SAT test structure and content tested.

2012 SAT test dates:

Exam Date:          Register By:            Late Registration:

1/28/2012              12/30/2011                  1/11/2012

3/10/2012              02/10/2012                  2/22/2012

5/05/2012              4/06/2012                   4/18/2012

6/02/2012              5/08/2012                   5/16/2012

TBD                            TBD                            TBD

TBD                            TBD                            TBD

TBD                            TBD                            TBD

Check out this SAT Identifying Sentence Errors question. Good luck!

Register to take the SAT at collegeboard.org

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When is the ACT offered in 2012?

By posted August 15, 2011

The ACT is offered 6 times a year in most states. Before you schedule your ACT test you should be aware of the college application deadlines and what it means for rolling admissions and early action deadlines. You should give yourself enough time for ACT test prep to give you the best advantage in achieving the highest ACT score possible.

2012 ACT test dates:

Exam Date:          Register By:            Late Registration:

*2/11/2012             1/13/2012                   1/20/2012

4/14/2012              3/09/2012                   3/23/2012

6/09/2012              5/04/2012                   5/18/2012

9/08/2012                  TBD                            TBD

10/27/2012                TBD                            TBD

12/08/2012                TBD                            TBD

Test your ACT skills by answering this ACT reading question. Good luck!

* Note: There will be no ACT test offered in New York for the February test date.

Register to take the ACT at act.org

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When is the ACT offered in 2011?

By posted August 1, 2011

The ACT is offered 6 times a year in most states. Before you schedule your ACT test you should be aware of the college application deadlines and what it means for rolling admissions and early action deadlines. You should give yourself enough time for ACT test prep to give you the best advantage in achieving the highest ACT score possible.

2011 ACT test dates:

Exam Date:          Register By:            Late Registration:

*2/12/2011             1/07/2011                   1/21/2011

4/09/2011              3/04/2011                   3/18/2011

6/11/2011              5/06/2011                   5/20/2011

9/10/2011              8/12/2011                   8/26/2011

10/22/2011            9/16/2011                   9/30/2011

12/10/2011           11/04/2011                 11/18/2011

 

Check out this ACT science question for practice! Good luck!

* Note: There will be no ACT test offered in New York for the February test date.

Register to take the ACT at act.org and if you have any questions on ACT test dates, registration, and college admissions please feel free to leave a comment!

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Unigo Expert Network: Experts Answering Your Questions

By posted July 22, 2011

The Unigo Expert Network is a group of top education experts from across the US answering questions submitted by students and parents about college admissions and succeeding after high school.

See answers from the Director of Admissions at St. Michael’s College, and have your questions answered at www.unigo.com/expertnetwork.

“In all of your years working with students, what were some of the most unexpected successes you witnessed – I could use a little pick me up?”—Jamie S., Rutland, VT.

A: An A+ inspiring story

Recently, I came across a transfer student who was addicted to drugs and alcohol and was arrested several times in high school.  At one point he even lived on the streets. At the time of our working relationship, he had been sober 18 months, was living a healthy lifestyle and earning straight A’s at his community college.  He had submitted to Mount Rainier, ran marathons, and worked as a personal trainer.  He also served as a mentor to others in the recovery process.  He applied to three colleges last fall, and was admitted to all of them.  He was frank about his background to the admissions counselors and was admitted to his first choice.

-        Kiersten Murphy–Director – Murphy College Consultants

 

 

A: Somebody has to get in; why not you?

Lisa had a 4.3 GPA, a near-perfect SAT math score, and impressive extracurricular activities, but she was convinced she’d end up studying astrophysics at a large state university. Her dream school, she confided, was Harvard. “But I’ll never get in,” she lamented. “They take 7% of applicants.” “That means somebody gets in,” I said. “Why not you?”  She applied to Harvard and several other colleges that were far less selective. That spring, against the odds, she became one of the Harvard 7%. It just goes to show: You’ll never know unless you apply. Breathe deeply and go for it!

-        Lora Lewis—Founder, Educational Consultant – Lora Lewis Consulting

 

 

A: Sometimes good things do happen, but we all don’t win the lottery

This year I had a student denied at his dream school in California. He wrote to ask me if he had a chance if he appealed the decision. I was a bit skeptical. He told me his chances were slim, but the school did have a policy of accepting appeals and that the student needed to be clear in why they were asking. He wrote a very clear statement make very specific points. In late May he was admitted. While it is rare in this time of competitive admissions to “come out of the hole of denial” this student took the risk, accepted that his chances were slim, and took on the responsibility of writing a strong appeal.

-        Hamilton Gregg—Educational Consultant – Private Practice

 

 

 

Don’t miss answers by the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies at Seton Hall, and more – at www.unigo.com/expertnetwork.  To send your question to our experts, visit www.unigo.com/expertquestions

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A Beginner’s Guide to Financial Aid Part I

By posted July 20, 2011

As most parents and students are aware, if you need money to go to college then you deal with the financial aid department. These are the people that are in charge of awarding grants, scholarships, student loans, and work-study packages. Figuring out how the college determines who gets money and who doesn’t can often times seem tricky, so let’s try to look at this process in as simple a format as possible.

Now, the concept is that financial aid goes to those families who need it the most. To determine this, colleges use two factors: Cost of Attendance (COA) and Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). Then, the financial aid department uses a simple formula: COA – EFC = NEED.

Your COA is pretty straightforward. It is the cost of tuition, room & board, books, fees, transportation, and an allowance for miscellaneous fees. The COA at a college can change every year, so financial aid is recalculated every year. Remember to include all of the items I just mentioned in your budget, since that is exactly what the college is doing when figuring out your financial aid. If you forget to factor in the cost of textbooks, you may not have enough money when you head off to college in the fall.

Your EFC is a bit more complicated because the college is trying to determine how much money they think your family can afford to spend on college. Unfortunately, your EFC is never going to be as low as you would prefer (unless of course it’s $0), but it is important to know what factors impact your EFC. There are many different things that go into the calculation of your EFC, but four of the biggest influences are Parent Income, Parent Assets, Student Income, and Student Assets. We will cover all of these in more detail in future blogs, so stay tuned as we continue the posts. Other factors that can influence your EFC include the number of family members in your household, the number of students in college at the same time, the ages of each family member, and even what state you live in. If this seems complicated, plenty of other families are thinking the same thing. Much like how a CPA can help you with your taxes, a good college advisor should be able to help you understand your EFC.

The last step in the process is to determine your NEED. This is high much financial aid you may be eligible for. Let’s say for example that your college has a COA of $50,000 and your EFC is $20,000. This means your NEED is $30,000 ($50K-$20K=$30K). Now, does this mean that you’re going to get a $30,000 scholarship? Not usually. Most colleges will award you some combination of grants/scholarships (free money) and work-study/student loans (self help). Keep in mind that money you receive based on this formula is called “Need-Based Aid”. Scholarships that you get for having a really high GPA or good SAT scores are called “Merit-Based” and are awarded based on separate criteria. Even if your EFC is higher than a college’s COA, you could still receive “Merit-Based” aid (so study hard!)

Next time we’ll talk about your EFC in more detail and explore the fact that there are 2 possible EFC formulas a college could use, each with a different set of questions.

About the author: Justin Munio is a Business Development Manager and Financial Aid Consultant with College Planning Strategies, LLC. With a degree in mathematics from SUNY Geneseo and over 3 years working in the CPS Financial Aid Department, Justin is at the forefront of the financial aid process for the families of CPS and the Toolkit.

About Smart Track™ Toolkit: The toolkit is a web based service that assists families with everything from admissions and test prep, to student athletics and financial aid. Our intuitive software and on-demand workshops are key components to making sure students find their top choice colleges, and families can afford to send them there.

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