HOW TO UNDERSTAND A FINANCIAL AID AWARD

When a college offers you financial aid, it's important to understand exactly what they are offering you. Here's how to decipher your award and determine just how much it will actually reduce your college cost.

Once a college admits you—and crunches the numbers you provided on your financial aid applications—it will offer you a "financial aid package" (sometimes called an award). In this package are different types of financial aid intended to meet all or part of your financial need for one academic year. The size and makeup of a financial aid package is, for many students, a major factor in determining which college to choose.

The Award May Not Cover Everything

Many aid packages appear to cover all or most college expenses. But not all financial aid awards decrease what you will actually pay out-of-pocket. Before you accept any financial aid, make sure that you have reviewed each aid offer carefully and that you understand how it will—and will not—reduce your college costs. Here are some guidelines to follow.

READ THE AWARD LETTER CAREFULLY !!!

An "award letter" describing your aid package in detail usually arrives online or by mail soon after you are accepted. In fact, it may be part of your college admission notification. The letter will list the types and amounts of aid being offered to meet your financial need.

Aid may be a grant, a scholarship, a loan, or work-study. The amounts in the award letter may be estimates, but you can count on receiving aid fairly close to those estimates if you accept the aid promptly.

The letter may also offer aid that does not count toward meeting your financial need, such as an unsubsidized Stafford loan or a PLUS loan.

The award letter should also include:

• A breakdown of the college's cost of attendance (COA)
• Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
• The amount of your financial need the college is meeting
• The deadline for accepting the aid offered
• How and when the money will be disbursed
• The academic period the award covers
• The process for accepting or declining aid
• Any additional documentation needed
•  

The content of award letters, however, can vary dramatically from college to college. It may not contain all the information listed above. For example, some colleges omit the COA or do not show all its components. Award letters may use terminology and acronyms that you do not recognize. Before accepting any aid, be sure to ask the financial aid office for missing information and clarification of anything you don't understand.

Identify Aid That Reduces College Costs

Although your aid package may seem to cover most or all of your financial need, not all aid actually reduces your college cost.

Gift aid (scholarships and grants) does reduce your college cost. To identify gift aid, look for words like "scholarship," "grant," "discount," and "award" in your award letter. Sources for gift aid may be the federal government, the state, and the college itself. For example, Pell Grants are federal gift aid for lower-income families.

Self-help aid (loans and work-study) does not reduce your college cost. For example, the college may award you a federally subsidized Stafford loan, or loans provided by the state or the college. If you qualified for work-study, your award letter will list the maximum amount that you can earn from a work-study job during an academic period. You might have the option to convert all or a portion of your work-study aid to a loan, or vice versa.

Figure Your "Net Cost" to Attend

Let's say someone gave you a gift of $1,000 towards buying a $3,000 car. Your "net cost" (what you pay out of your own pocket) is $2,000. Let's say you decide to cover that $2,000 with a loan. Your net cost is still $2,000 even though you did not pay that amount up front.

Financing a college education works the same way. Gift aid reduces your cost dollar for dollar. Self-help aid simply makes it easier for you to pay for college out of your own pocket. To figure your net cost for one year of college, subtract your total gift aid from the college's full cost of attendance. The resulting number is the dollar amount you will have to cover, whether you use loans, income, or savings

If an award letter provides a "net cost" figure, look at it closely. It may treat loans and work-study as aid that reduces your net cost, when in fact these types of aid add to your net cost. Your actual net cost always includes the dollar amount of loans or work-study aid.

Compare Aid Packages

Comparing aid packages from different colleges can be tricky because there is no standard approach to award letters. Here are some tips to ensure you are comparing apples to apples.

Be sure the COA contains the same elements for each college. The major components of a college's cost of attendance are tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, local transportation, and personal expenses. If the college does not show the components of its COA or does not show all components, ask the financial aid office for a full COA breakdown.

Separately add up all gift aid and self-help aid for each college. For each award letter, identify every offer of gift aid and self-help aid and their amounts. Then total up all gift aid and all self-help aid.

Run the numbers for each college. Once you know each school's full COA and the total amount of gift and self-help aid, you can compare the net cost of each college. Simply subtract the total gift aid from each college's cost of attendance. To understand how much debt and work commitment you might take on, compare the total self-help aid offered by each college (plus any other loans you might get to cover your unmet need or your EFC). Ultimately, you may not choose the college with the lowest net cost or the college that will put you in the least amount of debt, but the information can be invaluable when making your final college decision.

Before You Accept

Check the loan terms and conditions. Make sure that you know the interest rate, fees, how many years you have to pay off the loan, whether the loan is a student or parent obligation, and whether the interest is subsidized or unsubsidized. Make sure that you or your family can afford to make the payments.

Find out what happens after the first year. Usually, your aid award is good for only one year. Find out whether the college typically offers less gift aid and more loan aid after the freshman year. Find out if your scholarships are renewable for subsequent years and what the requirements are for renewal.

Identify any strings attached. Many scholarships and grants require students to maintain a certain GPA and take a specific number of course credits to remain eligible for the aid. Don't wait until your scholarship or grant has been cancelled to learn about these requirements.

Find out the college's policy on outside scholarships. Colleges require you to report any outside scholarships you won, which may affect your financial aid package. Some colleges apply the scholarship to any unmet need, some will reduce your loans, and others will reduce your gift aid. If the total amount of your aid plus any outside scholarships is more than the college's COA, you may be required to pay the extra amount back to the college.

Understand how you will receive the financial aid. Colleges normally deduct your financial aid from your college bill. The school usually will give any excess funds to you by check or electronic transfer. You may have the option of applying the excess funds to your next college term.

Accepting and Declining Aid

You don't have to accept every offer of aid. For example, you may decide to accept a subsidized loan, but not an unsubsidized loan. If you change your mind later, the rejected aid will usually not be reinstated for the same academic year. Nor will the college increase other aid to make up for the aid you rejected. Your award letter should explain these consequences. Accept or decline each aid offer as soon as you are comfortable and certainly before the acceptance deadline.

Taking Care of Your EFC and Unmet Need

If your total award does not meet your full financial need, or you need help covering your EFC, you have options. You may be able to take out a private education loan. Your parents may qualify for a PLUS loan. You can ask the college about staggered payment plans. You can also review your situation with the financial aid office. If your financial circumstances have changed since you filed your FAFSA, the office may be able to adjust your package.
Some financial aid packages offer welcome relief from daunting college expenses. Others may be disappointing. Weighing your hopes and dreams against the actual cost of a college education is a sobering moment. But the more savvy you are about financial aid, the more able you will be to make a solid, informed decision about where to spend your college years.

A BLOG FOR THOSE LOOKING TO GO INTO BUSINESS WITH EMPHASIS IN SPORTS MANAGEMENT

A couple of years ago, Georgetown University decided to open up a graduate level program in Sports Management and held a 3 day seminar in Washington DC.  It was like no other seminar I had ever attended.

The seminar had very young professionals showing up and moving from 7:30 till 8pm with no real breaks in between. for lunch or just a break... you ate lunch through networking introductions, and listened to speakers at break.  All I could when I got back to the hotel room was go to sleep for the next morning's session.

During this seminar,  one speaker stated that the average burn out time for someone in sports management was about seven years....  that sounded like those practicing law, waking up one morning to realize they hate what they do.

I am writing this segment here, because as I talk to many high school seniors the discussion going into Sports Management which is really a business or communications major and emphasis in Sports Marketing and Management.

To keep you abreast of some of the new things going on in the world of sports marketing,   there is a blog, which hopefully has a website coming soon that you should keep tabs on.  This is a professional promotional marketer who is doing promotional marketing at major sporting events and travels the country visiting stadiums, teams, keep track of the latest developments in sports.

Check it out if you are looking into Sports Management.


http://finersideofsports.blogspot.com/

BEWARE OF THINGS SOME PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS

As our company start to finalize the "ends" for our 12th graders, and looks toward getting our 10th and 11th grade students for the next wave of college applications, I am shocked to not only see, but hear from other professional college admissions consultants, as well as  that public schools are informing parents early on in their seminars or emails to " Don't hire a college admissions consultant, we can do it all for you for free"

The truth is that after working for several weeks in a high powered public school counseling office,  I saw first hand how the counselors, do in fact,  work their tails off, but are not reach as many students as they think;  and they know it.   The public and private school counselors admit they  hate having to deal with the parents who are trying to cope with what is to come, and to top it off, they agree they can not reach all the students within their school.  At best, it appears the only ones who go into the college counseling office are in the top 5% -10% of students within that class, and the other are given some information, with much less time.

 These school counselors will provide some information about financial aid, but not help parents with the actual forms or extra information ( they are on their own, said one counselor), so where do the families turn?. Did you know that sometimes students get into a school, but because families did not know how to deal with the forms, the students could not attend that school, or in the alternative, a student went into major debt.

As I did my internship in the prestigious public high school,   it became more alarming to be told you were not being introduced to the school principal or school board members, nor were you to go to the school board meeting. One had to question why.  Why should a school not embrace an independent counselor as much as a public school one?  Job Security I was told.

As I talked with others who were going through this program with me,  I was shocked  to hear  how many college admissions counselors and high schools specifically state  their anti college admissions consultant philosophies when many have been in the very same programs as their counterparts..... and the sad part is that they don't recognize that a consultant could actually make them look better, and improve their school's image.  Some people though it was very capitalistic of us to want to work with students outside of the classroom, just as a tutor is hire to help with a subject matter.

Professionally  trained college admissions consultants are here to stay, and the number of people willing to go into this field increase each year.  These consultants belong to well regulated groups such as IECA or NACAC that recognize them as professionals and keep abreast on a more detailed basis of the newest things going on in colleges that their college admissions counselor counterparts don't know about. They hold many time a master's  or doctorate degree and other training as well.

Consultants have as much talent as their public or private school counterparts, if not more,   more resources,  travel the US to visit schools, work not only with the students  ---  some who need more guidance than others, but the entire families, counseling parents as well..... as parents need counseling for  what is to come in the coming months,  however school counselors tell families they don't need it.  Private Consultants are like Tutors and can buffer the stress of the process for all.  They take on as many students as they feel they can comfortably work with that year, knowing that an estimated number of hours to work with a family will be far more than a public or private school can offer.


I personally heard many students while at this school state that they felt, even with the counselors working from 7:30 am to 10 pm at night, driving long distances to and from home,  and showing signs of major exhaustion daily , were left out of the cycle and on their own to face the struggle of getting into college.  One student said specifically to an admissions rep from one of the colleges..... " The people here at this high school really don't care about us".  I have heard this comment several times, and kids are looking for a place where they can sit down and share their concerns, fears, questions, etc. without feeling pressured.   One mother I spoke to wanted her daughter just starting her junior year to attend a 4 year college only to be told, you have to go to the community college first.  One student needed help and needed "hands-on" assistance  for a half hour that the counselor could not afford to give ( so I did it) My response was why?

I think the counselors gave each student five to ten minutes of time, and ripped through without a lot of thought. The same students came back repeatedly,  which in many cases is just not enough time. I think many counselors take the easy way out, not because they want to, but because they have so much work, and not enough hands.  I have no complaints about individual counselors, but I do have a problem with the over philosophy of when they can not meet the demand of the work load,  they turn on those who are available and willing to help them.



Kids need attention, and and it is the duty of a parent, counselor, teacher, coach, etc to give them the wings to fly so they can build confidence in themselves.  If a students is in need to more time than a school counselor can give them, if there is major stress over the college admissions process in your home between parents and students, or a child is shutting down over the stress of it all, GET HELP.

A college admissions consultant is able to easily connect all the dots.  A consultant can line up "brag sheets" (aka resumes) to work with essays and get the WOW effect students and families seek,  work with the different applications,  get your financial aid in order, keep you on track with the deadlines, offer ideas for a scholarship search, and help with appeals.  A college admissions consultant in a matter of 3 hours can reduce your families' stress substantially, and make the process much more enjoyable for everyone.

25 WAYS TO REDUCED COLLEGE COST

The Washington Post just came out with an article by Daniel de Vise who offers ways to cut college costs.  These are not necessarly NEW  ideas,  but a refresher of ideas is not bad either.  

Take a look at these ideas as now that applications have been submitted, students are looking for ways to fund their dreams.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/college-inc/2010/12/25_ways_to_reduce_the_cost_of.html?hpid=sec-education

Congress Proposes Changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill

The beginning of academic year 2010-11 marked the second year of operation for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. While response to the law has been generally positive, earlier this year both the House and Senate introduced bills that seek to improve and clarify the legislation. The proposed legislative changes in both versions address current criticisms and implementation problems and also make the bill more relevant to the needs of today’s veteran students. The new bills would not dramatically change the funding of public education for veterans, but they would alter the contribution to private education.

The College Admissions Consultant is to introduce "SCHOLARSHIPS ON DEMAND"

Now that many students are finalizing the application process, getting their letters of recommendations in, ordering transcripts, etc... the thing that is in the back of their minds with their parents' already worrying is how much is this going to cost and how are we going to pay for it.

It all starts with FAFSA, most of the time, but sometimes what a school offers is felt to not be enough, and so students begin to wonder where they should look for additional support.

Here, at the College Admissions Consultant, while were interacting with Public High School Counselors this fall,  talking to students, and learning how many different obstacles everyone has to go through to make college a possibility, we were asked to do a special presentation on scholarships.

The response has been so positive from not only the school, faculty, and the students, but from other counselors across the country who are interested in presenting the same idea in their schools year round, or for students who want to spend the money to get the material up front quickly.

Starting in January, 2011, we are going to offer a more extensive version of what we created for the students we have worked with this fall, and hope that if you or your students are interested in all the various types of scholarships that are available to both high school. community college, and those returning to school to retrain for a new career.... that you will contact us at prep4college2@yahoo.com and join our mailing list.

Once our program is out in January, we hope you will take a moment to just try it out.  Please share any comments or questions you have here.

DO YOU KNOW OF ANY WONDERFUL SCHOLARSHIPS? ARE YOU OFFERING ONE? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Students as they are beinging to near the application process will soon be looking for scholarships to help fund the expense of college.  Here ar the College Admissions Consultant, we are building a base of current scholarships that will be available as an ebook for sale come the start of 2011.

If you are a company offering a scholarship, or wish to promote a scholarship you know about, please share the informaition with us.

If you are a college or university, we want to here from you too.  Many college have a variety of scholarships that are offered, and the bigger our base, the better for your goals.

UC Regents Adopt Changes to Freshman Admissions Policy

The UC Board of Regents in February 2009 adopted a proposal to change freshman admission to give more high-achieving students the chance to apply to UC and receive a full review of their applications. The new rules will take effect for the fall 2012 entering class.
The Academic Senate proposed the changes to address concerns that current policy prevents UC from considering thousands of outstanding students with high GPAs and test scores just because of a technical flaw in their record or a missing test – chiefly, the SAT Subject Tests, which are not required by any other public university in the country.

Policy highlights

Under the new policy, all California high school seniors who…

• complete the 15 UC-required college-preparatory ("a-g") courses, with 11 of those done by the end of 11th grade,
• maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better (weighted by honors/AP bonus points) in these courses, and
• take the ACT with Writing or SAT Reasoning Test

…will be invited to apply and will be entitled to a comprehensive review of their applications at each UC campus to which they apply.
Within this "entitled to review" pool, two categories of applicants will be guaranteed admission somewhere within the UC system:

• those who fall in the top 9% of all high school graduates statewide, and
• those who rank in the top 9% of their own high school graduating class.

Together, these students are expected to make up about 10% of the state's high school graduates. If these students are not admitted to one of the campuses they applied to, they will be referred to a campus with remaining space (currently UC Riverside or UC Merced) and offered admission there, as eligible students are now. The remaining admissions needed to make up the full 12.5% pool of top students will be drawn from the broader "entitled to review" pool.
All qualified students, whether receiving the referral guarantee or not, will have their applications reviewed comprehensively by all UC campuses to which they apply and will compete for those seats. Their qualifications will be assessed using the same campus-based review processes currently in place – ones that emphasize academic achievement, but that also account for a wide range of personal accomplishments and educational contexts. More information about the comprehensive review process is available at How UC Reviews Applicants.

Differences from current policy

The new policy requires the same number of "a-g" courses and the same GPA as current policy. What is different is:

• Two SAT Subject Tests will no longer be required for admission. However, students can still choose to submit their scores for consideration as part of their application, just as they do now with AP scores. The Subject Tests also may be recommended for certain majors.
• All applicants will need to complete 11 of the 15 "a-g" courses by the end of their junior year. Currently, this is required only of students who are designated eligible by ranking in the top 4% of their high school class.
• The share of students who are guaranteed admission based on their rank in their own high school class will grow (9% vs. the current 4%).
• Fewer students overall will receive an admission guarantee (10% of high school graduates statewide vs. 12.5% now), but nearly all students who would have received this guarantee under current policy will still be entitled to a full review by their campuses of choice under the new proposal.

A FINAL NOTE TO SENIORS

A NOTE TO SENIORS:   For those applying to colleges this year, the early admissions deadline is nearly upon us.

This year there are more confusing options than ever before ---
binding early decision, non-binding early action and single
action early action.

SINGLE ACTION, EARLY DECISION means that even though you are
applying early action school,  (it is  non-binding)  you are NOT
allowed to apply to any other college via early decision.

Why consider applying early?  Early decision gives you the highest odds of admission followed by early action (followed by regular decision where the odds dropsharply at top schools).

Finalize those early applications! Take one last read through of all your material to make sure there are no typos and that everything is there. Don't forget to enclose the check or your application will not be processed. Make sure the app is postmarked by November 1.

ONE MORE THING!  Don't bother using FedEx — it is very expensive and does not improve your chances.   Use  the US mail with delivery confirmation, certified, return receipt requested, or overnight it (saving you about 2/3 of what you would pay Fed-Ex, and getting there perhaps faster is you have to go the overnight route.)   just so you know your materials arrived, or submit on line.

As long as initial application package is complete and  postmarked November 1, the arrival date doesn't matter.

Good Luck!

MORE COLLEGE INFORMATION TO NOTE

As I am meeting with college admissions reps this year,  there are many thing that are changing.  First, there have been mamy budget cuts in Californa making the UCs  (Berkley(CAL), UCLA, UCSD, UCI,  UCR, UCSB, UCSC, UCF, UCD and UCM) ,  USC, Stanford, and LMU extremely competitive schools to get into, and there is changes in the Early Action, Early Decision, and Early Action, Single Decision.

Additionally, Class Size has been cut, tuition has gone up 35% for residents, and it takes about 4-6 years to graduate from these schools, especially the UCs. Many students this year are looking to out of state schools, and those schools are on the admission trail.

As a result, California has become the fifth largest market to other states, and so Colleges and Universities of other states are now targeting the California market in hopes of cashing in on us.

So now, I am giving you dates to mark on your calendars as provided for by admissions rep. Getting your application early in many cases is helping you gain free scholarship money to pay for your schooling.

Tufts Universityis a need based school and while a good university was nothing out of the ordinary when it comes to scholarships.

The University of Michigan is more interested in the whole student, and a large school in Ann Arbor.  The big thing at this school is the SCHOOL SPIRIT.  You better like snow to go to this school. 

Emory University is a good school for those who are looking to go into Business or Pre Med.  It has its largest campus in ... and a smaller campus   Tuition with room and board this year is $53,000 and all their financial aid awards are need based

The University of Kansas, based in Lawrence is guaranteeing admissions to those who have a   This is one of the best deals in town with a tuition of $ 34,000 per year    It appears to be a school students should look at.  I plan to visit in the near future.Kansas University is a good deal, and is willing to work with students.  It is a very happening place in Lawrence, as the admissions rep stated, but then as I was traveling to Indiana to visit IU, students could not say enough about how great this school was.

As the early decision process is coming to a close, make sure to keep up on your time line.  Know when things are due.  Make sure to get your letters of recommendation requested, and get your SAT/ ACT scores ordered to all schools.

Good luck with applying, and remember, if you need extra help in connecting the dots of the admissions process, THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CONSULTANT is here to help you.

THE COLLEGE RANKINGS... LOVE THEM OR HATE THEM

When prospective applicants talk about college “rankings,”
they’re usually not  only referring to all the official criteria provided to research collectors on the topic,  but to the wildly popular and  controversial  annual survey
published by the U.S. News & World Report.   

The U.S. News & World Report is published annually and hits newsstands in late August across America, and even the world.   This publication ranks universities and liberal arts colleges as separate categories according to measures such as acceptance rate,
student-faculty ratio, and alumni donations. The magazine plugs that data into a formula and then produces its famous lists of the top 50 schools.

On one side of the coin, this publication gives prestige and visibility to schools that already have prestige and visibility as a rule.. On the other side, the schools contend that colleges are far too diverse to lend themselves to rankings and that the magazine’s straightforward formula fails to capture the essence of good teaching and learning. Subsequently, Colleges and Universities across America  have learned to have a love-hate relationship with the rankings.

This year with serous budget cuts in California, the tuition at the UCs has gone up 35%, and at the CSUs.  Competition to get in these schools is keen.  It has come to the attention of both schools and Californians that looking out of state is a good idea, making California the fifth largest college market to many schools.

That said, make the U.S. News & World Report your jumping-off point for the schools that you want to look at.  Do your own research and soul-searching – but never make the statements made by this publication the final  word.

You should also approach the rankings with a similar attitude. Don’t apply to schools simply because of their rankings,  base it on what feels right.  Do your own research. See which names are unfamiliar and then read up on them. Check out the familiar names and see which criteria you really care about.  Take stock of your own interests and ambitions and pick schools to match and be open.  You might find the perfect school in one you have never heard of before

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

I have been meeting with many colleges this season...  The competition is going to be keen especially in California as the UCs and CSUs announced that they have to reduce class sizes due to budget cuts.

Many California students are starting to look out of state, and colleges in other states are taking notice!

Bits of Info.

KNOW THE SCHOOLS YOU ARE APPLYING TO!  If you go Early Action or Early Decision, KNOW THE RULES!  Most of the deadlines are NOVEMBER 1st!

University of Indiana has a rolling admissions process and if you get your app in by Nov. 1st, you are eligible for the schools $9,000 financial aid award!

University of OREGON!--  if you have a GPA of 3.4 you are automatically IN!  This is the last year for this program as the competition to get in heats up.  NO ESSAYS required if you have a 3.4 or higher!

Once school that has impressed me is a small liberal arts school in Vermont.  MIDDLEBURY, Check it out!

For those who fall under AVID or AB540... check out HOLY NAMES university.  They can offer you a full ride if you are accepted.

Check out all the college fairs.  Make your list of questions, and VISIT campuses, especially before you make your final decision!

STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE FEELING THE PRESSURE THIS YEAR

As I am working part time this fall at one of the public high school in Los Angeles, I am getting to see first hand the issues that counselors, parents, and students all face,  I realize that the one thing that is so precious is TIME.  Counselors facing over 3,000 students just dont have the time to give a student what they really need as they struggle through the process, which is share time.  Counselors are starting work at 8 am in the morning, and leaving the school as late as 9 pm, not to mention attending School Board Meetings that sometimes go into the wee hours of the morning near by.

Therefore, it is important for families to be putting together a game plan.  Right now as students struggle through the application process, parents should be addressing financial aid.  Even though financial aid (FAFSA) does not open up till January 1, 2011,  parents should be putting the preparing all the necessary paperwork.  Mistakes are costly, and while many students have hopes and desires,  it is the financial aid that sometimes closes out those dreams.

Additionally, due to budget cut backs in California, the UCs, CSUs, etc are cutting spances which will put more pressure on the community colleges.  It will also force California students to look outside the box and look at schools all over the country.

Colleges and Universities are arriving in California to deal with this crisis as they all see it as an opportunity to bring a new bred into their schools, and by the same token student should look to the schools in the west such as USC, Stanford, University of the Pacific,  UCs, and CSU to bring more diversity to the nation.

Some schools like University of Indiana (Bloomington) are giving free money away to any student who applies by Novemeber 1, 2010, and there are coutless scholarships available.  If you are considering Brown,  Financial aid is dealt with on a need basis, as is Stanford.  If your family makes less than $60,000 per year, and you get in, count on being able to go because these schools will fund your way.

This is a stressful period that we are in.  If you or your family is suffering with the stress of college admissions, consider hiring an independent college admissions consultant.....  they are worth every penny to be the buffer of stress and help your students achieve!

Here at the College Admissions Consultant, we help students find the schools that suite them, not just name schools.  We help them create the essays that will grab an admissions officers eye, and get that acceptance.Consider us if you are applying to college.  Email us at thecollegeadmissionsconsultant@yahoo.com or call us and leave a message at (310) 452-4925

FALL 2010 NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION FOR DISABLED STUDENTS

This fall (2010) DisABLED Person, Inc is offering a National Scholarship Competition for college students with disabilities. With excitement they have announced that they have increased the award amount to $1500.
This competition begins on August 15, 2010 and ends on October 15, 2010 for the award of $1500.00 (one thousand five hundred dollars)!
To participate, follow these simple steps: Write an essay with no more than 750 words.
After you read the scholarship details, click on http://www.disabledperson.com/scholarships/3/registrations/new to register on the scholarship page. Make sure to fill out the form completely and paste your essay into the form.

Here is a copy of “DisABLED Person’s” announcement.



Fall 2010 National Scholarship Competition

Important! You need to "Sign up now" on disABLEDperson.com as a community member!

disABLEDperson, Inc. is excited to announce our Fall 2010 nationally based scholarship competition for college students with disabilities! This competition begins on August 15, 2010 and ends on October 15, 2010 for the award of $1500.00 (one thousand five hundred dollars)!

To participate, follow these simple steps: Write an essay with no more than 750 words (prompt can be found below). Click on the “Register Now” link below. Fill out the form completely and paste your essay into the form.

A few reminders: Please keep in mind that the form must be filled out completely. We cannot accept incomplete or fraudulent forms. Spelling and grammar is imperative. Please submit carefully edited drafts only.

In order to qualify, the student must be enrolled in a 2 or 4 year accredited college or university in the United States of America. They must be a full-time student and U.S. citizen (minimum of 12 credits for undergraduate, 9 credits for graduate). Unfortunately, we are not able to award scholarships to high school students or college students who are not attending classes full-time.

Upon winning, the student will prove disability through their Disability Student Services department. We define disability as: “A disadvantage or deficiency, especially a physical or mental impairment that interferes with or prevents normal achievement in a particular area, something that hinders or incapacitates.”

Be sure to submit your entry before the October 15, 2010 deadline. The winner will be announced on our website on October 29, 2010. All decisions made by disABLEDperson, Inc. are final.

The essay question for this competition is: “Is the U.S. government doing enough to ensure equality for people with disabilities”? Please give your opinion that is supported by facts!

HOW MANY TIMES SHOULD YOU TAKE THE SAT/ACT?

Many students, and their parents too, sweat bullets over the SAT/ACT scores. The first question out of their mouths once they see the results is “Should I take the test again?” This question is even asked by students are who are “overjoyed” with their scores. The anxiety over test scores then begs the question of how many times should you take these tests?RELAX.

Standardized tests have a way of creating havoc on students psyche. Students and their families are lead to believe that these scores are the all important decision factor into deciding weather or not a school accepts you. Students are always left questioning “I wonder if it could be higher?”

At some point students have to look at the "law of diminishing returns" and question weather there are better places you can spend your holiday or summer vacation over preparing to take the SAT or ACT yet again a third, fourth or fifth time just to gain a few points.

Students need to question if they should take both tests in hopes that one will produce better results. Many times, school will accept both SAT and ACT tests, so if you feel you are not doing well on one test, move to the other as each of the tests are based on different philosophies. If you want to repeat the test, then here are some questions you need to ask yourself.

AM I HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS ON MY SAT/ACT TEST? IF SO, YOU’RE DONE!
If you are happy with your score, end the process on a high note, and accept for what it is because there are a lot of things you can do with your time than to prepare yet again for another hit at the SAT/ACT exam. Schools are looking for students who have an out of academic life.  Don't sweat the "WHAT IFs!"

AM I FEELING OPTIMISTIC ON REPEATING THE TEST, OR BEATEN DOWN?
Some students want to take the test again. They feel that they can do better. If you feel you have the upper hand and want to show what you can do, go for it! If you're feeling defeated, but want another try, TRY! If you are just burned out, forget it. If you're feeling discouraged about doing a repeat, you've done your best and spent your time preparing and now just wish it was “just over”, quit! You have done your best and you should now close that chapter and do something else that will bring you pleasure.

SHOULD I TALK TO MY PREP TUTOR OR CLASS INSTRUCTOR?
Of course! Good instructors should be able to tell you whether or not you have a good chance of improving your scores. If you have a private tutor, perhaps they can focus on the problem areas to bring up the scores, but if it is just to raise a score by 20 points, don’t bother!

WILL THE COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY I WANT TO GO TO ALLOW ME TO REPORT ONLY MY HIGHEST SCORES?
Review in the Admissions Section of the College's Website. See if they will accept your best scores from different sitting.  Based on what you learn, you can then decide if taking the test again is necessary. Many colleges allow you to report your highest math, critical reading and writing scores from different sittings, so you might want to repeat it.

SHOULD I TAKE A TEST AGAIN BASED ON THE “AVERAGE SCORES” OF THE COLLEGE(S) THAT INTEREST ME?
Schools like to quote a “HIGH” average score as a marketing tool that score might be higher than yours, however, that isn't necessarily a good reason to take the test again. Wasting time to study yet again for a standardized test takes time away from things that you could be enjoying and bringing to the table at the school you are looking at.

Test scores are never the most important factor in the admissions decision, so don't make it your most important activity.  Focus on YOU.

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS OFFICERS' TWEETS FALL ON DEAF EARS

With a recession recovery that is not bouncing back too fast, it is interesting to see how colleges and Universities are using technology to attract students, or hoping to attract students. This is an article worth reading.


Admission Officials' Tweets Fall on Deaf Ears

By Kelly Truong

Colleges are ramping up efforts to connect with prospective students through Twitter—but students aren’t interested, a new study says.

Evidence has shown that teenagers rely on college visits and Web sites to learn about colleges, rather than social-media outlets. When it comes to Twitter, students are barely on the site at all, let alone for college research purposes.

Abe Gruber, director of marketing at Bloomfield College, found in a recent study that while 40 percent of college admissions offices are active on Twitter, only 15 percent of prospective students expressed interest using in Twitter to learn about colleges.

Mr. Gruber surveyed 200 prospective freshmen and 70 admissions offices in his study, which is not available online. He presented his findings at the Hobsons Connect U conference this week in Minneapolis.

“Twitter scores high for the admissions officers, but not for students,” said Mr. Gruber.

He calls this disparity “the Twitter anomaly.” Most high-school students are not active on Twitter, he says, but college admissions officers typically fall into the 30-to-40 age demographic that Twitter attracts.

“They just hear this as a buzz word,” said Mr. Gruber. “They keep hearing more and more and thinking it’s the next big thing, when their prospective students aren’t really as involved as they think they are.”

According to the study, Twitter is the second most popular form of social media used by college admissions offices (trailing Facebook by 28 percentage points). Twitter is the most up-and-coming form of social media used by colleges, with 35 percent of admissions officials planning to start accounts in the next year.

Rebecca Whitehead, assistant director of campus visits and engagements at Winthrop University, maintains the admissions office’s Twitter account, which currently has 373 followers. She says she uses it largely to connect with other higher-education professionals, to find out about upcoming events or research.

Ms. Whitehead anticipates that high-school students will eventually become more active on Twitter. For now, however, she agrees with Mr. Gruber’s findings, characterizing the account’s impact on students as “very low.”

“Right now, it’s a little difficult to engage with students,” she said. “So right now, we’re just trying to build a presence.”

PRINCETON REVIEW'S 2011 BEST 373 COLLEGES JUST HIT NEWSSTANDS!

The Princeton Review has just released their latest tally of the best 2011 U.S. schools in the county, ranking them in different categories such as financial aid, career services, campus beauty, top party schools, and food.

With a  four-year education at a college or university costing a family an average of $68,000 for a public school, and $142,000 for a private college or university, it is important that students and their families to take the time to find the right school.

In twenty years, the cost of a college education has risen annually 6% to 7%. The normal workers' salary increases 2% - 5% each year.  That said, colleges and universities are increasing at two to three times the rate of inflation, and students along with their parents need to figure out how to get the most bang for their buck out of these schools.

In today’s market, it is now “normal” for the cost of college to hit $200,000. In calculating the costs, The Princeton Review defines "average cost"  to include tuition, fees, and room & board  for one year.  On top of that figure you need add for books, flights to and from school, spending money, clothing, car expenses if you take a car to school, fraternity/sorority costs, and then multiple it by four years.

However, if a student chooses to live at home, it is possible that the cost of a college education may be less. By living at home it will cut costs, but at the same time it deprives a student of having the whole experience of a college or university when 85% of the experience is outside of the classroom.

While colleges continuing to rise, and  to be more expensive, it’s important for students and their families to do the research necessary, perhaps seeking out the aid of a college admissions consultant, and making sure that the right school for your student is made, and avoid costly mistakes. 

When families start to look at colleges and universities, a good source to start  with is FISKE. FISKE is a large book which list each college in the U.S. and gives the reader an overview of what each school is about. By periodically browsing a FISKE book, it will give students an idea of what they want and what they don't want, and prepare them for college fairs..

Public School and Independent College Admissions Counselors can also help families sort out the schools zeroing in on which schools offer the most and best of what you're looking for - and that goes for much more than just the quality of their education.

When readers review the Princeton Review,  remember this side note.....the schools that are listed today, may not be the schools that are listed next year. Students need to focus on what their needs are and what they are looking for.  If the school a student is looking at is not listed, it does not mean it that families should not continue to look at their choice schools.

The Princeton Review of 2011 is a compilation and writing based on a review on some 122,000 students about their schools.  Here is an excerpt from "The Best 373 Colleges, 2011 Edition" by Robert Franek and others.  Copyright © 2010 by The Princeton Review, Inc. Published by Random House, Inc.



Great Financial Aid

Based on students' ratings of their financial aid awards
1. Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering (Needham MA)
2. Univ. of Virginia - Charlottesville
3. Princeton Univ. (Princeton NJ)
4. Harvard College (Cambridge MA)
5. Stanford Univ. (Palo Alto CA)
6. Yale Univ. (New Haven CT)
7. New College of Florida
8. Washington Univ. (St. Louis MO)
9. Pomona College (Claremont CA)
10. Rice Univ. (Houston TX)

Best Career Services

Based on students' ratings of their career/job services center
1. Northeastern Univ. (Boston)
2. Pennsylvania State Univ. (State College PA)
3. Yale Univ (New Haven CT)
4. Univ. of Florida (Gainesville)
5. Barnard College (New York NY)
6. Bentley Univ. (Waltham MA)
7. Claremont McKenna College (Claremont CA)
8. Sweet Briar College (Sweet Briar, VA)
9. Rose-Hulman Inst. of Technology (Terre Haute IN)
10. Univ. of Texas at Austin

Most Beautiful Campus

Based on students' ratings of the beauty of their campus
1. Sewanee-The Univ. of the South (Sewanee TN)
2. Lewis & Clark College (Portland OR)
3. Colgate Univ. (Hamilton NY)
4. Univ. of San Diego (CA)
5. College of the Holy Cross (Worcester MA)
6. Sweet Briar College (Sweet Briar VA)
7. Mount Holyoke College (South Hadley MA)
8. Princeton Univ. (Princeton NJ)
9. Florida Southern College (Lakeland FL)
10. Vassar College (Poughkeepsie NY)


Top Party Schools

Based on students answers to survey questions concerning the use of alcohol and drugs, hours of study each day, and popularity of frats/sororities on campus.
1. Univ. of Georgia (Athens)
2. Ohio University (Athens)
3. Pennsylvania State Univ. (State College PA)
4. West Virginia Univ. (Morgantown)
5. Univ. of Mississippi
6. Univ. of Texas (Austin)
7. Univ. of Florida (Gainesville)
8. Univ. of California at Santa Barbara
9. Univ. of Iowa
10. DePauw Univ. (Greencastle IN)

Top Stone-cold Sober Schools

Based on students answers to survey questions concerning the use of alcohol and drugs, hours of study each day, and popularity of frats/sororities on campus.
1. Brigham Young University (Provo UT)
2. Wheaton College (IL)
3. U.S. Coast Guard Academy (New London CT)
4. U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs CO)
5. Wesleyan College (Macon GA)
6. College of the Ozarks (Point Lookout MO)
7. U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis MO)
8. U.S. Military Academy (West Point NY)
9. Calvin College (Grand Rapids MI)
10. Thomas Aquinas College (Santa Paula CA)

Best Campus Food:

Based on students' ratings of campus food
1 Bowdoin College (Brunswick, ME)
2 Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA)
3 James Madison Univ. (Harrisonburg VA)
4 Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL)
5 Cornell University ( Ithaca, NY )
6 St. Olaf College (Northfield, MN)
7 Univ. of Georgia (Athens, GA)
8 Bryn Mawr College (Bryn Mawr, PA)
9 Univ. of Notre Dame (South Bend, IN)
10 Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)

A WORD TO PARENTS AS THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SEASON QUICKLY APPEARS

As a parent, you want the best for your child. You want your child to do better perhaps than you did. You are nervous. You are excited. You are perhaps re-living your college experience all over again.

As a parent myself, I know how hard it is to balance our dreams for our precious children with the reality of where the world is today. That said, it is important to remember that your child’s school experience is not yours; it is theirs! It is their own journey and memories of elementary, middle and high school that only they alone can and must create, not yours. It does not mean they don’t love you.

The fact that we are just “parents” can be a real source of anxiety for a child. At the same time, parents want their children to love them, not hate them because the level of pressure on them is just too much for them at this point and time of their young lives. As parents, it is a difficult walk as you travel down that fine line between motivating them and over loading them

Parents many times approach their high school age students with plans of what THEY want for their students. I had the similar kind of ideas when my son was in High School. However, it is important to remember this “It’s your child’s life that is emerging, not yours.  You are living yours.   It is your child who needs to have his or her heart set on where they are applying to school, not you, the parent.” Read this sentence again, and take a moment to think about how you felt as a teenager when you parents probably did the same thing. All the parental wishing in the world will not help a kid get into Harvard, Stanford or UCLA, especially if it is not on their radar.

Students in the US today are confronted with an influx of foreign students, especially those from India, Japan, or China, or another Asian Countries. These students raise the bar on acceptances naturally as a result of their own individual cultural backgrounds.   These students have been brought up in a different way which lends to these students to be mentally and emotionally stronger than American peers because they have lived in one of the most competitive demographic areas of the world, and it is just part of who they are.

However, when college admission officers are building a freshman class, they are looking to build a diverse group of students into a class.  They want students who can blend and bring new ideas and concepts to their school, so they are not going to take just one type of student.  They want diversity.

Therefore, it is important for a child to do the best that they can, and important for parents to be supportive and help find the schools where their child can emotionally and intellectually grow. Sometimes you see a student who wanted a school so bad,  had it all, and should have been accepted and but wasn’t. It happens quite a bit, so you have to position yourselves for the "What IFs".

The goal of THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CONSULTANT is to position students to reach their potential; to look at each student attributes and match them with a school that will serve them well, not set them up for failure.

Our job, as consultants, is to be a neutral, non judging third party to maximize student’s grades, scores, academic effort and extras to be the best they can be before they ever get to the admissions application. As students prepare to apply to the schools of their choice, we assist them with narrowing down their selection to the schools which are the best match and at the top end of their range, allowing for the “what ifs”, not to mention  "we buffer the process".

The range that THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CONSULTANT works with is not necessarily determined by grades, scores, national prominence in academic areas, awards, etc…. The range is made up of a combination of a student’s academic background, schools they have attended likes and dislikes, interests, goals, etc. Once that is determined it is then processed them through a "blender like" technique to come up with a range. We know there is a college for every student; it is just about finding the “right one”. No matter when your child ranks, there is a school for everyone, even schools for those that deal with learning disabilities.

No matter how proud or optimistic a parent may be, both parents and students alike must understand that they are dealing with a system to which they have control over till all the applications are in. Once the applications are submitted and the mixtures are shaken out, it is anyone's guess. Admissions officers can never say what they will do till they see the applicant pool they receive each year.

Parents must accept the idea that as much as we would like to be,  and as often as we have been through out the life of our child, the key player(s),  we aren't anymore. Our job as parents is tapering down, and now the child is the key player. Focusing on the student is central to our process as it is their interests, passions, and goals we are trying to nurture.

Top Tier Schools now show tough odds of getting in. It’s not fair to a student to put pressure on them if they can not reach to and to set them up for failure. Students and Parents need to present themselves in the best light to a top tier school as best the can, keeping in mind that there are no guarantees, and sometimes the most you can do is hope.

So please, our word to parents is this, and we mean it from the heart. As you get nervous and excited as all parents do at this time in your life, simply revise the expectations you and your student have this year and fall in line keeping in mind your child’s natural tendencies and gifts. Failure to not do this is a recipe for disaster and will demoralized your son or daughter.

AS THE FALL SEMESTER APPROACHES, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TAKE NOTE!

As school starts this fall, and seniors begin to narrow down the choices of where they want to apply, seniors should also note that colleges are doing more than showing off their school to you.

While you have done well in the 9th, 10th and 11th grades, your SAT scores are good,  it is important to remember as "senioritis" sets in, that you can not quit because Colleges are continuing to "TAKE NOTE" about how a student does in the fall of senior year.( as well as the spring) . They’re looking for students who continue to make the mark and willing to maintain or improve their grades. Schools like to see students who are improving from the start of the 9th grade, showing that study habits are improving, and will be concerned if they see “up-and-down”, or students who started off strong, and have let up.

If you are a senior student, you need to return to school and start off the year on an upswing note. Students by now should be handling a more rigorous course load as they enter their senior year, demonstrating a continued solid performance in AP level classes, or in some cases community college classes that are specifically designed for high school students and give both High School and College credit.

However, seniors also need to remember that this fall with all the excitement coming, it will be a stressful few months for both you and your families, as you go to college fairs, visit campuses, fill out many applications, tailor making each essay, and going to interviews.

Students need to pace your activities so they can meet the demands of meeting all the deadline to the colleges while at the same time continuing to have the energy to do well in your classes, finalize any community activities, participate in sports or other programs you enjoy, AND, continue to make time for friends and family. The fall semester of your senior year is a balancing act.

For 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th graders, summer should be a time of the following:

READING
(noting NEW vocabulary, and its meaning)

SAT/ACT PREP

If you are in the 10th grade, take the PSAT

If you are entering the 11th grade, preparing for and taking the SAT/ACT, and AP tests

DOING SOMETHING YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT
(sports, music, art, or another passion, like volunteering at a hospital, or summer camp)


While there is at least a few more weeks of Summer left, make it count.  Summers are STRATEGICALLY important! This is only real time students can get anything done since school often takes up all of their time during the school year. Have fun, enjoy your summer but make the 100 days count!

"COLLEGES THAT CHANGE LIVES" COLLEGE FAIR SCHEUDULE

Loren Pope was a Washington newspaperman who became concerned with the lack of consumer information on colleges that has led to disastrous choices in which only three in ten freshmen are on the same campuses, or even in college, on cap and gown day.

He made a difference in the lives of thousands of students as he counseled them to choose a college for fit, not rank and to "look beyond the ivy league" to find faculty who were not just teachers but mentors for life. Many of the parents he worked with exclaimed that he not only helped their children find a college, he helped save their marriages in the process! His thoughtful, humorous and sometimes unorthodox approach to college counseling, earned him the respect and admiration of generations of college bound students and their parents as well as his colleagues in the college admission profession.

AGNES SCOTT COLLEGE

ALLEGHENY COLLEGE

AUSTIN COLLEGE

BELOIT COLLEGE

BIRMINGHAM-SOUTHERN COLLEGE

CENTRE COLLEGE CLARK UNIVERSITY

CORNELL COLLEGE DENISON UNIVERSITY

EARLHAM COLLEGE

ECKERD COLLEGE

EMORY & HENRY COLLEGE

THE EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE

GOUCHER COLLEGE

GUILFORD COLLEGE

HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE

HENDRIX COLLEGE

HIRAM COLLEGE

HOPE COLLEGE

JUNIATA COLLEGE

KALAMAZOO COLLEGE

KNOX COLLEGE

LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY

LYNCHBURG COLLEGE

MARLBORO COLLEGE

MCDANIEL COLLEGE

MILLSAPS COLLEGE

NEW COLLEGE OF FLORIDA

OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

REED COLLEGE RHODES COLLEGE

SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE MD

ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE

NM ST. OLAF COLLEGE

URSINUS COLLEGE

WABASH COLLEGE

WHEATON COLLEGE (IL)

WHITMAN COLLEGE

WOOSTER, COLLEGE OF

As parents and their students attend college fairs, consider going to this unique fair when it comes to your city.

Albuquerque, NM
Thurs., August 5, 2010
Denver, CO
Wed., August 4, 2010

Atlanta, GA
Thurs., August 19, 2010

Houston, TX
Sat., August 14, 2010

Portland, OR
Sat., July 31, 2010

Austin, TX
Sat., August 14, 2010

Indianapolis, IN
Tues., September 14, 2010

San Francisco, CA
Mon., August 2, 2010

Los Angeles, CA
Tues., August 3, 2010

Santa Clara, CA
Sun., August 1, 2010

Memphis, TN
Tues., August 17, 2010

Seattle, WA
Sat., July 31, 2010

Chicago, IL
Sun., September 12, 2010

Nashville, TN
Wed., August 18, 2010

St. Louis, MO
Mon., September 13, 2010

Cincinnati, OH
Wed., September 15, 2010

Tulsa, OK
Mon., August 16, 2010

Cleveland, OH
Thurs., September 16, 2010

Twin Cities , MN
Sat., September 11, 2010

Dallas, TX
Sun., August 15, 2010

WHAT COLLEGES ARE LOOKING FOR IN THE 2010-2011'S APPLICANT POOL

As colleges and universities across America have become more competitive since the turn of the century, student’s academic performance in high school continues to top the list, which includes taking a rigorous academic curriculum that challenges the student. Demonstrating a willingness to challenge oneself is becoming more important than the grades obtained. While grades need to show an upward trend, mediocre grades in the freshman year can be overcome by demonstrating that better grades came with maturity, and allowing colleges to see the student that they will get today.

Strong SAT or ACT scores are still important, but are not enough today to gain admission into a competitive school. That said, poor scores will still be difficult to overcome.

Colleges want to see students who are passionate and involvement in a few activities, obtain meaningful letters of recommendation, and still a well-written essay that provides insight into the student’s personality, values and goals. The importance now with schools is the ever important essay that really gives a school a chance to meet the student, especially if there is not an interview.

In recent years, colleges have been seeking students who will contribute in a meaningful way to campus life, and so this year for the first time, schools what to see “demonstrated leadership in activities” and demonstrated intellectual curiosity .

Finally, schools want to see a “demonstrated enthusiasm to attend,” and “special talents and abilities” something that schools just implemented a few years ago. This means that schools want to see a sincere “want” to attend and will offer admission only to those who seem serious about enrolling.

“Financial resources” and “out of school experiences” fell off the top ten list.
What is not as important to schools now is “financial resources and out of school experiences” “creative applications with videos or unique components”, and “legacy status”.

" THINGS GO BETTER WITH COKE" SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

One of the biggest names in soft drinks now offers some of the largest corporate scholarships available to high school and college students. The Coca Cola Scholarship Foundation offers two major awards categories to graduating seniors. These categories include the Coca Cola Scholars Program Scholarship and the Coca Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship.

The first award, which is also known as the Coca Cola Scholars Program Scholarship, is an unusually generous four-year offering for $20,000. These monies are awarded to 50 high school or home-schooled seniors planning to attend four-year colleges or universities. An additional 200 four-year Coca Cola scholarships of $10,000 each are provided to other graduating seniors who reside in the United States.  These residents may be permanent citizens or residents, or temporary residents. Refugees and persons seeking political asylum are also eligible to apply.

reprinted from coca-cola

KRAFT'S FOODS IS OFFERING GREAT AWARDS TO KIDS 6-13 UNTIL SEPT. 30,2010

This is a really good sweepstakes for kids.
Eligibility: Open to residents of the 50 United States and D.C., 6 – 13 years of age.
Entry Dates: Begins April 5, 2010 through September 30, 2010.
How to enter: Visit www.kraftfoods.com/lunchables
Access codes are found inside specially-marked packages of LUNCHABLES. You may also obtain a free access code online.
How to get a free code online:

1. Visit the site www.kraftfoods.com/lunchables
2. Scroll down and click Where’s My Code?
3. When the window pops up click the word HERE under, Don’t have a code? A code will be inserted into the code box and you can continue to log in and enter.

Entry Limit: One game play per day per login and password/person.
Prizes:
(10) Grand Prizes: 3 day/2 night trip for winner and up to ten (10) guests to winner’s choice of one of the following “field trip” destinations: Georgia Aquarium, Georgia or Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Florida or San Diego Zoo, California. Trip consists of round trip airfare from major airport nearest winner’s residence to destination city; 3 days/2 nights hotel accommodations (up to 11 rooms, double occupancy); roundtrip ground transportation between airport/hotel and hotel/”field trip” destination selected by winner; admission for up to 22 people at “field trip” destination of winner’s choice; one meal for winner and guests provided the day of the field trip; and $9,000 in spending money for winner only. Approximate retail value of the prize is $34,000.
(100) First Prizes: $150 cash card that winner may use toward the purchase of admissions/items at a local field trip destination.
Prize Limit: One prize per person/family/household.
Official rules: kraft.promotions.com/ultimatetrip/page.do?page=rules_ntb.html
Sweeps Rating: Good
Photo Credit: Kraft Lunchables

reprinted from kraft foods