Here is "Part 5: Misconceptions, Financial Aid, and Concluding Thoughts of a comprehensive guide to colleg"e readiness Get Me To College: A College Readiness Primer Written by Dr. Rebecca Joseph Please use this but cite me. I provide free or low-cost consulting to those working with under-represented students and also lead workshops to schools and community groups around the country and Canada.

1. Part 5: Financial Aid,
Misconceptions, Timelines,
and Final Advice
getmetocollege@gmail.com
rjoseph@calstatela.edu

2. TO LEARN MORE
 Email
 rjoseph@calstatela.edu
 getmetocollege@gmail.com
 Phone
 323-646-5759
 Facebook
 Getmetocollege Freeadvice
 Twitter
 @getmetocollege
 Website
 getmetocollege.org (focus on first generation
and under-represented students)

3. SOME MISCONCEPTIONS/
QUESTIONS
 I applied to only three colleges, so why should my child apply
to so many more?
 It’s a much more complex situation.
 Most teenagers in history in US.
 Most teenagers going to college in history in US.
 With more kids applying to more schools, a vicious trickle down
cycle is happening…
 I didn’t visit or contact colleges, so why should my child visit
colleges now?
 With the competitive colleges, visits are a sign of interest.
 In recent LA times article, director of admissions at Pitzer, calls
students who never visit or contact colleges, “stealth” applicants
and describes how Pitzer rejected a top applicant who had never
contacted campus.
 If you can’t visit because of cost, there are different ways to
connect with colleges
 Local fairs
 Campus visits to high schools and LA
 Emails
 Virtual tours

4. SO WHAT GOOD IS THIS INFORMATION IF
WE CAN’T AFFORD THE COST OF PRIVATE
COLLEGES?
 Apply to a range of colleges that meet all or
most of your child’s needs.
 Apply for merit scholarship available from
colleges to which you apply.
 Consider public universities in other states.
WUE (Western Undergraduate Exchange).
 Consider financial packages from schools one
level below your highest level
 Research colleges that have income
discounts…Harvard, Yale…
 Contact financial aid offices and negotiate….

5. FINANCIAL AID….
 For counselors and mentors:
www.fsa4counselors.ed.gov
 For students: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
 For everyone: 1-800-4-FED-AID
 Get some more guidance
http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/F4CApp/index/index.jsf
 http://www.fastweb.com is a great site to get
started with scholarships.

6. OTHER CORE READINESS
TIMELINES-COLLEGE RESEARCH
 College research takes time.
 Read key books and websites
 Fiske Guide-great hardcopy book
 http://www.collegeconfidential.com/--you can
post questions and hear from students and
parents
 Talk to friends who are seniors and recent
grads.
 Download College Match application on I
Phone.
 Become fan of college on Facebook
 Check how your students compares to peers on
Naviance and other school comparative
offerings.
 Let your child make calls to college with
questions.
 You can schedule tours and visits.

7. COLLEGE RESEARCH:
JUNIOR-SENIOR YEAR GRADE
TIMELINE
Junior Year-Develop core list of what match colleges
must have--
location, size, cost, academics, social
opportunities, service, merit scholarships, etc.
Spring Junior Year-Visit core colleges. Interview
when possible. Visit classes, meet students
Spring Junior Year-Attend local college fairs.
Collect names of college representatives. Begin
courting process.

8. COLLEGE RESEARCH:
JUNIOR-SENIOR YEAR GRADE
TIMELINE
• Search out NACAC College Fairs.
• Search out Colleges That Change
Lives College Fairs.
• Summer Consider early decision or
early action.
• Fall Senior Year- Attend all relevant
college visits at your school or in
local area.
• Fall Senior Year-Visit more colleges
and narrow down list.

9. APPLICATION: JUNIOR-SENIOR
YEAR GRADE TIMELINE
 Summer Post Junior Year-Start a master
list of college application deadlines and
requirements and passwords. Consider
rolling, early action, and early decision
routes.
 Summer Post Junior Year-Start writing
core essays and develop a resume.
 Fall Senior Year-Begin completing formal
applications. Devote one hour per day to
applications. Remember, write fewest
essays possible.
 Fall Senior Year-Make sure you follow
 Test score submission requirements
 School and teacher paperwork and transcripts
requirements
 Complete all technical forms on applications
 Develop outstanding essays
 Meet all deadlines.

10. FINAL WORDS
 Each student is a work in progress.
 Colleges want to know how student will
enhance and enrich campus.
 Yet they don’t read minds-use application
to showcase your student
 They worry about children of helicopter
parents. Students must make majority of
contacts with colleges except for planning
visits.
 Finances are a key component so make
decisions now about what you can afford.
 College is an amazing, life-lasting gift to
your child.
 It is never too late...to develop a strong
college readiness plan in this perfect
storm of college admissions.

11. SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM
HERE?
1. UC admissions fact sheets
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/index.php
2. College Board-SAT
http://www.collegeboard.com
3. ACT
http://www.actstudent.org
4. My Website
http://www.getmetocollege.org
5. My App: All College Application Essays
http://www.allcollegeessays.org
6. National Association of College Admissions Counselors
(NACAC)
http://www.nacacnet.org/StudentResources/CollegePrep/Pa
ges/default.aspx

12. COLLEGE READINESS
IS
NOT A GAME!

13. TO LEARN MORE
 Email
 rjoseph@calstatela.edu
 getmetocollege@gmail.com
 Phone
 323-646-5759
 Facebook
 Getmetocollege Freeadvice
 Twitter
 @getmetocollege
 Website
 getmetocollege.org (focus on first generation
and under-represented students)
 Allcollegeessays.org