Financial Aid: Understanding Award Letters and Communicating with Colleges

With reports of steep losses of personal fortunes, market instability and other gloomy indicators of a nationwide economic downturn, financial aid offices at colleges and universities around the nation are preparing for the anticipated torrent of requests from worried students and families.

But despite the downturn and continued interest in federal grants and loans, financial aid offices stress that money will continue to be available and students should seek out assistance as soon as they are admitted.
To help simplify the application process and encourage all potential aid recipients to explore their options. 

In part two of this discussion provided by NACAC,  on one of the most popular admission topics was "Understanding the Financial Aid Awards" and "Comunication with Financial Aid Offices", the presenters introduced ample amounts of instruction for bridging the gap between student aid applicants and the office of financial aid, while reinforcing important concepts from the first Webinar.

One important fact for college students to remember is that there is no shortage of federal student loans for eligible applicants, despite the slumping economy. Students looking to supplement college costs with loans should always seek out opportunities like scholarships, grants and federal loans before applying for a private loan. Private loans carry higher interest rates and less room for forgiveness.

Of course the first step to finding out about available federal financial aid is filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), but many students and families may still have more questions once they receive their aid status.

“Always ask the financial aid office if you’re unsure of whether or not an award is a loan and what type of loan,” said Cedrick Andrews, Policy Associate at the Institute for College Access and Success.

According to Andrews, Congress and the Department of Education are pursuing ways to standardize the structure of award letters and enhance comprehension of the documents.   Currently, the award letters are not standardized, but many contain variations on the following components:

• Cost of Attendance (COA): a figure based on tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, health insurance/fees, transportation, and personal expenses.
• Expected family contribution (EFC): This number is generated from information you fill out on the FAFSA. It should remain generally consistent from school to school. Loans and work-study earnings are also a contribution from the family.
• Financial Aid: This number consists of both gift aid and self help aid (need based and non-need based federal loans, work-study employment, and private non-need based loans).

Barbara Hall, a senior consultant at Murray and Associates and the National Center for College Costs, said that students should seek out financial aid offices even before they are aware of their aid award. “We strongly suggest, long before the student fills out the FAFSA, to contact the financial aid office,”.


One reason to contact the school quickly is to determine the actual award money available. “Just because the federal form gives the family an estimated family contribution, that doesn’t mean every college can honor that calculation and fully fund their financial need,” Hall said.

The expected family contribution (EFC) consists of the available amount to be paid by the family’s income and assets, the amount the student can contribute and any scholarship funds.

Open communication with a financial aid office allows students to learn the details of their particular institution. Since all schools have different aid capacities and rules and regulations, the student should never assume anything until contact is made with the office. Especially in this economic climate, Hall said, because colleges are making tougher decisions about where to inject funding: into new programs or into the aid office.
Even if a student has a firm grasp of the information contained in the award letter, there could still be more information to obtain. For instance, most letters do not include information on future aid packages, like renewability and possible changes in the proportion of grants vs. loans in subsequent years.

Youlonda Copeland-Morgan, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Director of Scholarships and Student Aid at Syracuse University.  She has outlined some basic principles for communicating with financial aid offices. One of the recommendation is to contact the Financial Aid Office early in the process.  In addition to contacting the office early on, Copeland-Morgan said students should feel comfortable to contact the office via email, but should never send confidential information electronically.

Students should also notify the office of any changes to their financial status. And if the student is making an appeal for additional aid, documentation that outlines the additional need is always necessary.

Colleges can also change their aid amounts from year to year, so be sure to follow up with the office annually.
If a financial award letter arrives with a lower number than expected, students still have additional funding resources. The student still has the opportunity to finance college with unsubsidized and Plus loans to fill the gap. Students should also consider work-study programs which are not subject to taxes, and  allow the student to pay for college with valuable on-campus employment experiences.

If you have situations or feel you can not afford college, contact our office and we can put you in touch with our highly trained financial office staff who can assist you.

ARE YOU AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SEEKING ADMISSION TO A U.S. COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY?

International students and domestic students share the same access to the multitude of academic institutions in the U.S., but students coming from abroad require more permission from the federal government before they begin classes.

The article below describes the details of applying for student visas, including information on the necessary documents, qualifications, and the interview process.

Students from outside of the United States experience much of the same college search and application processes if they decide to study at a U.S. college. But international students must not only be accepted to a U.S. college; they must also obtain permission from the U.S. government to live and study in the United States. Although the process is relatively straightforward, getting that permission requires good planning and preparation. Read on for the basics of applying for a U.S. student visa.

The College Admission Process
Before you can apply for a visa, you must know what college you'll be attending. So, much like students living in the United States, international students must research their college options, apply to several colleges, and be accepted to at least one of them. Unlike U.S. students, international students must also prove to the college of their choice that they can pay all college fees and living expenses while studying in the United States. Some financial and merit aid may be available to international students, depending on the college you choose, but you still must have a well-thought-out, documented financial plan for your years in the United States.
Once you've been accepted and the college is satisfied that you can support yourself, the college will send you an I-20 form. This form documents that you have been offered admission to the college and that the college is satisfied that you can afford to study there. It also gives you a "report date," or the date when you're expected to arrive at the college to begin classes.

The I-20 is one of the main documents you'll need to apply for a student visa.


Documents and More Documents
Once you receive your I-20 from the college, it's time to put together the other documents you'll need to apply for the visa. Students who plan on attending a four-year or two-year academic program should apply for the F-1 visa.
You need several main documents to apply for a visa:

• Form I-20, which you receive from the college.
• Form DS-156, which you can get from the U.S. State Department's Web site, and Form DS-158 and Form DS-157 (for males only),  which you can get from your local U.S. embassy or consulate.
• A passport that is valid for at least the next six months (preferably longer).
• A passport-sized photo of yourself.
• A receipt that shows payment of the visa processing fee. How you pay the fee differs in each country, so make sure to check with your local U.S. embassy or consulate for details. In some countries, you may not be able to pay the fee at the consulate.

Although these documents are the only official ones needed to apply, you also need to gather documentation to support certain aspects of your visa application.


The Big Three Questions
Your visa application, supporting documentation, and your interview with a consular officer (see below) must work together to answer the following questions:

• Are you a real student?
• Do you intend to return to your home country after college?
• Do you have enough money to support yourself while in the United States (without getting a job, which is illegal for nonimmigrant students)?

Remember, by U.S. law, it is the consular officer's job to find reasons to deny your visa. The officers are required to assume that you're trying to immigrate to the United States permanently. It's your job to prove differently.

The documents needed to answer these questions may be different depending on your country and your situation, but they may include any or all of the following:

• Your academic record to date.
• Copies of scores from any standardized tests you've taken (SAT, TOEFL, GRE, etc.).
• Letters of admission and financial aid awards from your U.S. college.
• Financial documents, such as your and your family's bank statements, tax documents showing your/your family's income, and statements from any investments that you plan to use to finance you education.
• Documents showing any scholarships or financial help from other sources (college financial aid, governmental or organizational grants, outside scholarships).
• Business registration or licenses and other documents if you or your family owns a business.
• Evidence that you intend to return to your home country, such as a statement from an employer that you'll be considered for a job or have been offered a job after you complete your U.S. study; evidence that you own assets in your home country; anything else that shows that you have strong ties to your home country.

If you're not sure what documents you should bring, talk to your high school counselor, the college contact for international students, or someone at the U.S. consulate.

The Interview
All visa applicants must have an interview with an officer at their country's U.S. embassy or consulate. Different consulates may schedule interviews differently, so check with the consulate ahead of time.
Also, U.S. embassies and consulates in some countries are very busy and may have a long waiting list for visa interviews. It's a good idea to check with the consulate early in the college application process, even before you receive an I-20, just in case your consulate has a waiting period. Some countries may have a months-long waiting period; others may be able to schedule interviews fairly quickly.
During this interview, consular officers will ask you a variety of questions about your plans for your education, finances and career after college. Again, they are looking for any reason to believe that you're not a real student, that you may be planning to stay in the United States illegally, or that you won't be able to support yourself financially in the United States.

The best way to succeed in your interview is to arrive well-prepared. Think through your answers to some of the following questions:

• Why do you want to study in the United States?
• Why did you choose this college?
• Why did you choose this major? What jobs does this major prepare you for?
• How will studying in the United States prepare you for a job here at home?
• What have you been involved in that shows your commitment to your home country?
• How will you pay for the college fees and living expenses in the United States? (Remember, students with F-1 visas are not allowed to get jobs in the United States except under special circumstances. So you cannot plan on any job income to pay for your studies or expenses at colleges.)
• Other questions about the United States, your educational plans, your career plans, and your finances.

You may wish to practice your answers with a counselor or friend. Be polite, and make your answers short and to the point. Most interviews are less than five minutes, so short answers are best.

Start the Process Early
Since the terrorist attacks in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, the student visa process has been scrutinized by the media (several of the hijackers had visas to study in U.S. flight schools). The U.S. government now evaluates applicants more carefully than in the past, and some applications require additional security screening. With these changes, advance planning is very important for international students.

This is only an overview of what international students can expect from the U.S. visa application process. For more detailed information and help, talk to your high-school counselor or the advisor to international students at your college. In addition, the U.S. State Department has placed quite a bit of information on their Web site.
If you have questions about the visa process, it's best to call your local U.S. embassy or consulate directly, or to check their Web site for information. It may seem intimidating to call the consulate, but it's the best way to get good information about the visa process in your country.

If you are overwhelmed by all of this, contact us to set up an appointment for a FREE 1/2 consultation.

WHY PARENTS SHOULD CONSIDER HIRING A COLLEGE CONSULTANT IN ADDITION TO WORKING WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS

If you had to describe adolescence, how would you define it?  Would your definition address the music adolescents listen today, or would it be about  the clothes they wear?  Perhaps your description would include the changes that occur at this time of their lives. 

This is  a “curious phenomenon” that almost all adolescents experience and at the same transitions.   These transitions occur earlier for some, and later for than  others.   The period of Adolescence starts at the on-set of puberty and lasts generally through high school or a little longer as some late bloomers take their adolescence with them to college.  Some are so late in maturing that they party themselves right back home because they have not transitioned yet.. This group of individuals is a breed all unto their own

One of the main characteristics of this stage is peer pressure.  The effect that peer pressure on a student who is preparing for or is starting the college application process is this: the student overlooks the real reason they are going to college and fail to consider what kind of college would best meet their needs and desires. 

It becomes more an issue of to them of who else is applying where and what will others think of this or that college? If a counselor, consultant  or parent recommends a particular institution, the student’s reaction will often be predicated on what the "group" will think. An "in" school activity will be more quickly accepted in the eyes of a student rather than an unknown one. 

As a consultant working with students from all over the US, I get to enjoy the different experiences and levels of maturity that students this age bring to the table.  I love working with the student who is open-minded and independent enough to be unconcerned with the opinions of others. 

I have had a few students not only apply to, but attend, small liberal art colleges less familiar to students, especially those students in California, who this past year have been more than willing to look outside the box, and look to schools such as Occidential, Holy Names, or Manhattanville . IIn this time, I have found this attitude especially and  most pronounced in the Greater Los Angeles area where the students who attend the private “independent schools” are more likely to be receptive to less well-known liberal arts colleges than public school students who you sense walk on egg shells. 

Certainly there are exceptions, but the scope of peer pressure influences such areas as: clothing, hairstyles, automobiles and movies. Most noted in the public schools is the issue of drugs and alcohol usage . I have known many students, as I am sure you have, who, left alone, would not become involved in alcohol or drugs, but who do not have the self-confidence to be the only one not drinking at a party. 

To exacerbate this problem, many parents have a great deal of difficulty on being able to say “NO” parents,  and in turn become their child’s friend, using the rationale that “it ‘keeps the communication lines open”. 

I’ve had parents even provide tagging boards in their garage for graffiti artwork or alcohol related parties at a their homes, saying that "they are going to do it anyway" and "I would rather it be here than somewhere else". Interestingly enough, these are the same parents we work with in the transition to college process.  (There are also the "Prescription Pill" parties where students and their friends during any given week go through parents medicine cabinets and take a hand full of this or that and then drop them in a large bowl at any party  At these parties students pop them in their mouths as though they are M & Ms, but this topic is for anther time)

Another way these teens exhibit their adolescence is by making decisions are made by their group of friends rather than individually.  They shop together, go out to eat together, select and go see movies together, even make prom plans together. Too often, these teens want to make college plans together and that is where we as consultants ( as well as school counselors)  must intervene. 

I use a shopping analogy when I discuss this issue. Two best friends go clothes shopping together. What looks good on one won’t necessarily look as good or fit as well on the other. The issue of colleges needs to be treated in the same light. When I present it that way to parents and students together, it seems to hit home. Students need to find the schools that will fit their personalities, goals, talents, and embrace them to flourish so that they can become young thriving adults.

The issue of independence is a major factor in the lives of teenagers. As soon as they go through puberty, they think they are adults.  Subsequently, they believe they should be treated as such. The topics of curfews, parental pressure, and freedom to do what they want –when they want – and with whom they want - are the central focus of their lives. This gets progressively worse as they get older and as their bargaining and reasoning skills advance. It becomes increasingly difficult to win arguments with teens without using the old "because I said so" response.

The transition to college is a rite of passage that receives a great deal of attention in our society. Many think it is greatly overemphasized. The subjects of where a child got in, where he/she is going, whether he/she got scholarships become the main discussion topics of parents of seniors. At times, the college application process seems more like a competition between parents than the educational experience it should be. Some teens do not feel ready to leave the nest and choose to begin at the local community college or small 2 year liberal arts college close by. Others feel the need to conform to the “going away to college” trend not looking to see is it “is” or it “is not” what they truly desire.   The selection of schools next to the essay(s) is the most important part and most time consuming of the entire college application process. 

The college admissions process is the official start of the separation between child and parent, and it becomes the paramount issue within the life of a family.  It usually commences at the middle to end of the 10th grade year.  It is especially important if you child has to deal with physical limitations or learning differences, is an athlete that was not recruited but wants to play a sport they love, or has taken a year or two off and is coming back to the process.

It is essential that parents who work with counselors and consultants understand that those of us who work with adolescents in the transition to college process understand the characteristics of our clients, and we have to be the ones who buffer many situations that will occur in this period of time. We must know what to expect in our interactions with students if our role is to be productive for the lives of our students, and to be able to readily identify those issues that may have not been brought to the forefront up to this point. 

As you and your family prepare for the college admissions process, know that your school counselors are wonderful, hard working individuals who are highly skilled and trained but who are also overworked and really don't have the time to devote to each student the amount of time which is required to effectively get through this process.  They really do their best to give your child some attention throughout the process, but as I have seen working with schools, sometimes a child needs more, even with the counselors working from 7 am to 10 pm several weeks in a row.  The students are not always able to immediately grasp the admissions process or even clearly understand it, and it is where we are trained consultants can bridge the gap, being trained as the high school counselors have been, belonging to recognized professional groups such as NACAC and/or IECA, and then going beyond where the school counselors go through that we can make a difference to the student.... such as working with students who have been struck with disease, serious injury or suffer with ADHD. Then there are the students who are looking to top tier schools or are looking at "legacy" situations where they have to cope with yet another different set of issues as well as all the demands placed on them.  Counselors just don't have enough time to deal with these specific issues, and passing the responsibility off to the honor students to peer mentor your child is not a complete answer.   

The quality of life you have as a family, identify issues prior to the start of college, can discover who your child is, and point them in the right direction to schools that will benefit them in significant ways, and set up plans to help you maximize your dollars as you go through the four to six years ahead of you, allowing your child to graduate and not end up with  a mountain of debt to start their young lives off with.

If you feel you need someone to guide you and your family through the admissions process,buffer the stress in your situation, and you see your child "caving in" under pressure contact us for a FREE half hour session to see how we can do to assist you and your family. have a positive college admissions experience. 

THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CONSULTANT PRESENTS ***** College Admissions --- 101*****: DO YOU NEED COLLEGE CONSULTING BUT FEAR THAT YOU C...

THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CONSULTANT PRESENTS ***** College Admissions --- 101*****: DO YOU NEED COLLEGE CONSULTING BUT FEAR THAT YOU C...: "Many families across America continue to suffer with finances, and the first thing we always hear is ' I want to do this, but I can not affo..."

DO YOU NEED COLLEGE CONSULTING BUT FEAR THAT YOU CAN NOT AFFORD IT?

Many families across America continue to suffer with finances, and the first thing we always hear is " I want to do this, but I can not afford to right now".  Everyone is in that position on some level, so here is what we recommend..

You are applying to college, or preparing to, right?  You need help but mom and dad are struggling...... what if you find 6-10 friends who need help...  we can make payment plans for parents, you bring your friends, and for pennies on the dollar, you can have a consultant who will still work with you and your family....  for a reduced rate.

Our goal is to help students! If you think you need help and you are trying to get into a good school, and find the ones right for your talents... check us out.   We are offering unique college programs for high school sophomores and juniors who will be juniors and seniors in fall, 2011

SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE!

With summer almost here,  one of the ways to make it count for something is to launch into "just for fun" reading..  There is an endless variety of material available in every imaginable genre. With iPads and Kindles, you no longer have to wait to get your hands on a book –they are always a click away, so take a few minutes each day to just read something for the pure and simple fun of it to keep you skills active. 
  
The students we work with have become extension of who the The College Admissions Consultant is,  and we encourage students to spend some of their time actively reading, especially with book titles that are connected with their interests.  

If you are a student who suffers with some type of learning disability  (ADD, ADHD, Asperger's or Autism), don't fear,  you can do this too... through audio tapes and television or the ways you best learn.

Vow to get reading this summer and we’ll be with you in spirit.  Many of you have schools that have a reading list of material for you to read over the summer, but try to do a little more than just "the basics".  You’ll never be able to read too much .

If you feel you need help in preparing for college, and want to get a head start on the application process, this is the time you should be doing this... Those entering their junior and senior years of high school should be preparing RIGHT NOW!   Don't put it off.

SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATIONS, WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO PREPARE

Supplemental Applications are applications that are required IN ADDITION to the application you are filling with the university.  In the event you are doing the common application, you will submit another application to the school and then a third application is a supplement application is required.

What is a Supplemental Application?

A Supplemental Application is used if as a freshman you are applying to a specialized school such as the School of Art and Architecture or the School of Music or Film.  The university will accept you  and also the school you will be attending.  Most students will be going to Letters, Arts, and Sciences, and your classroom grades and activities will dictate to the school how you might do at their school once you are accepted, but when you are applying to a more specific school such as Art or Music, the schools have no way to measure how you will do and so they will ask for a supplemental application which will be a collection of all of your work products up to date.


If you are applying to the school of art, you will want to keep track and have pictures to provide of your work.  It usually will include 10-15 photographs.  If you are applying in fall to a school as an art major, take this summer to put together a sample of your work so schools can see what you have created. It will take time, so give yourself enough time to prepare.  You should find out how schools want your presentation submitted -- ie: video presentation, DVD, Slides, etc.  Each school is different, and you need to remember that many of the companies that put these type of presentations together for you will be closed between Thanksgiving and New Year's.

If you are thinking about being a music major, you probably will have to put together a small presentation to audition for the department.

Use this summer to prepare.  The application process is stressful enough,  add on the supplemental application, and you will be going crazy if you have not organized yourself a head of time.