COLLEGE/CAREER CENTER UPDATE

March 21, 2012 College/Career Specialist: Mrs. Judy Bracken Room D112 (703) 248-5531 brackenj@fccps.org
Hours: 7:30 am 3:30 pm

THINGS TO CONSIDER AFTER YOU ARE ADMITTED TO COLLEGE

Compare financial aid packages from the colleges you are considering. www.collegeboard.com/student/pay is a calculator that helps you appropriately compare need-based financial aid packages. Compare the types of financial aid. What is the proportion of grants, loans and campus employment? Compare living costs. Does the college guarantee to provide housing for all four years? Off-campus living can be expensive. Compare policies concerning financial aid for future years. Does the college guarantee to meet your financial need for all four years, just one year, or not at all? Compare the bottom line. How does the total aid package compare with the total cost of attendance? In addition to tuition, fees, room & board, is the college considering books, transportation and personal expenses?

Remember your key question is NOT how much grant money you receive but how much your family has to pay and borrow to afford the college.

FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA) www.fafsa. gov

SENIORS & SENIOR PARENTS, its not too late to fill out the FAFSA, the federal form that determines eligibility for grants, loans, work-study and in some cases scholarships. Be sure to request a Personal Identification Number (PIN) www.PIN.gov. The PIN allows you to electronically sign the FAFSA. Both the student & one parent must request a PIN. Did you know that FAFSA on the Web allows applicants to access their IRS tax information and have it automatically inserted into the FAFSA as of February 1? Just answer a brief series of questions to determine if you are eligible for IRS data retrieval.

TUITION ASSISTANCE GRANT (TAG) is a program of the Commonwealth of Virginia, providing annual grants to Virginia residents who are full-time students at eligible non-profit, private colleges and universities in the state. For more information go to www.virginiaprivatecolleges.org

USEFUL WEBSITES
www.finaid.org/questions/divorce.phtml will help divorced parents figure out how to fill out the FAFSA http://nursingdegreeguide.com will help students who are interested in nursing find degree programs in the United States www.HealthManagementCareers.org is a website to view students discussing their choice of a career in healthcare management, plus successful executives talking about their own careers as leaders of hospitals and other healthcare organizations. www.collegemajors101.com offers lots of information about what you can do with dozens of majors, as well as what you can expect academically if you pursue these majors.

COLLEGE VISITS offers the college bound student a first-hand look at

colleges and universities throughout the United States. Almost every region in the U.S. is covered. Go to: www.college-visits.com for more info.

REGISTRATION FOR 2012 SAT & ACT JUNIORS, if you are planning to take the ACT, SAT or SAT subject tests
this spring you should sign up NOW in order to insure your test site of choice. SAT I at www.collegeboard.com MAY 5 SAT registration deadline: APRIL 6, 2012 JUNE 2 SAT registration deadline: MAY 8, 2012 ACT at www.actstudent.org JUNE 9 ACT registration deadline: MAY 4, 2012 Make sure to sign up for the ACT writing. Most colleges require it. For ACT practice questions go to: http://www.acttestquestions.com The first opportunity you will have to take the ACT for the 2012-13 school year is September 8, 2012. The first opportunity you will have to take the SAT for the 2012-13 school year is October 6, 2012. You may register for these tests after July 1, 2012.

FEE WAIVERS FOR SAT and ACT There are certain circumstances
that may allow you to take the SAT & ACT for free by obtaining a fee waiver. If you feel you may qualify, see your counselor. NOT A GREAT TEST TAKER? Go to www.fairtest.org to see schools that do not use, or place less emphasis on, SAT or ACT scores for admission.