College Prep Guide

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I L U L G O C EP R P

L I F E TA K E S C O U R A G E .

A N E X T R A O R D I N A R Y L I F E TA K E S

uncommon courage.

Where does uncommon courage come from? At the University of Great Falls, we believe it comes from within.

That’s why we cultivate those unique strengths – the building blocks of uncommon courage – in every member of our community. Here, you’ll explore your faith, develop your gifts, and learn how to live and make a living.

Where will uncommon courage take you? Visit the University of Great Falls and find out.

A private, Catholic, liberal arts university

1301 20th St South Great Falls, MT 59405 2

College Prep Guide Spring 2013

406-791-5202

www.ugf.edu

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Campus Visit Days Come. See. Learn.

Scholarship Application Tips.................................... 4, 5 College Visits....................................................................5, 7 Campus Outreach ...............................................................6 How Students Can Master Test Taking ................... 8 Freshman Survival Guide .............................................. 10 Financial Aid Awards ......................................................11 Handling the Stress of being a Student ................. 14

Friday, April 5, 2013

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SCHOLARSHIP (Family Features)

Volunteering and community involvement plays a big role in awarding today’s scholarships.

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College Prep Guide Spring 2013

APPLICATION TIPS

The high cost of a college education means that a big, full-ride scholarships available, but many smaller lot of students are looking for financial aid to help pay scholarships can add up to a surprising amount.” for it. But the competition can be stiff. According to the most recent National Postsecondary Student Aid The Scholarship Application 1 Study, only 5.5 percent of undergraduate students reWhen applying for scholarships, attention to detail is ceived non-athletic scholarships. What can students do an important step to success: to give themselves the best chance of receiving some • Follow directions carefully. Make sure you have all much-needed scholarship money? the supporting materials required, but don’t include “Start your search and application process as early anything that is not requested. as possible,” says Tiffany Turner, Program Manager at • Fill out the entire application. Don’t skip any quesInternational Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc., tions. If one doesn’t apply to you, make a note of who manages 30 scholarship programs. “Give yourself that on the application. If you’re not sure how to anplenty of time to find scholarships that fit your skills swer, you can contact the scholarship coordinator. and needs. And most applications will require essays • Proofread carefully. Typos and grammar errors can and letters of recommendation, so you want to make hurt your chances. Have a parent or teacher doublesure you have plenty of time to pull those together.” check your application.

Turner also encourages students to apply for as many Continued on page 5 scholarships as they qualify for. “There aren’t a lot of

NAVIGATING THE LEARNING CURVE OF COLLEGE VISITS

Call ahead to schedule tours, and make sure college is in session and students are attending classes so potential applicants see the whole experience.

(NewsUSA)

SCHOLARSHIP

students who not only take their studies seriously, but also have a long-term comcontinued from page 4 mitment to their local communities,” said Turner.

For example, Foresters, an interna• Watch all deadlines. Set up a calendar tional life insurance provider committed for application deadlines and make sure to family well-being, offers the Forestyou meet them. If you miss one, your ers Competitive Scholarship worth up to application won’t be considered. $8,000 for eligible customer members and their spouses, children and grandchildren.

Many scholarship applications require In addition to academic requirements, apsome kind of written essay or letter. plicants must have performed a minimum • Be specific. Focus on the topics the of 40 hours of community service in the application requires. Use concrete 24 months leading up to the application examples rather than vague, general deadline. statements.

“Do some research on the organization • Be yourself. This is your chance to providing the scholarships,” Turner said. show scholarship providers what kind “You may find that successful applicants of person you are and why they should have volunteered more than the minimum, help pay for your education. Let your and that can make a difference in their personality come through, and include award decisions.” details that reveal who you really are.

Finding and applying for scholarships • Be honest. Never exaggerate grades, is a big process. But, when done right, it skills or experience. If you find yourself can help you achieve your goal of going to feeling the need to do so, you’re probcollege. ably not applying for the right scholarship.

Volunteering and community involve1 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study: ment plays a big role in awarding today’s http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/awardscholarships. “More and more scholarship count.phtml#NPSAS providers are looking for well-rounded

Finding the perfect college is kind of like investigative journalism -- you must do loads of research, ask all the right questions and visit the scene to gather first-hand knowledge and experience.

College visits should start percolating in the parental and student lobes toward the end of junior year and the start of senior year. Road trips may be necessary, and several at that. The most comprehensive virtual tours and online scouring simply cannot replace the experience of seeing real dorm rooms or eating in actual dining halls.

As any tooth-and-nails journalist will tell you about a hot story, parents should have a strategy for visiting college campuses and getting the most out of each tour. Prepare to be schooled

by Dr. Richard Bavaria, senior vice president of education outreach for tutoring authority Sylvan Learning.

Cast a wide net

If your high-schooler hasn’t done so already, help them compile a list of potential universities.

Ask what aspects of college life -- sports, extracurriculars, campus/enrollment size, dorm life,

Continued on page 7 College Prep Guide Spring 2013

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CAMPUS OUTREACH OFFICES:

REACHING OUT OUT TO TO STUDENTS STUDENTS REACHING Courtesy of the Student Assistance Foundation

Helena

Billings

Student Assistance Foundation (SAF) reaches out to students and families across Montana through staff at its nine campus outreach offices.

Managers at these offices provide money management counseling, scholarship search and application assistance, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion help, resource referrals and more.

“These outreach offices allow SAF employees to interact with students in a setting that’s accessible and comfortable,” said Kelly Cresswell, SAF’s vice president of Foundation Activities. “We know from our experience that we’re able to serve far more students when we’re on campus, and provide a valuable resource to the communities in which we have outreach offices.”

MSU Billings McMullen Hall 1500 University Dr. Billings, MT 59101 (406) 657-1639

Bozeman

MSU-Bozeman Strand Union Building, Room 179 Bozeman, MT 59717 (406) 994-5024

Butte

Schylar Canfield-Baber, Outreach Manager Montana Tech Student Union Building, Room 112A 1300 W. Park Butte, MT 59701 (406) 496-4890

Great Falls

MSU-Great Falls College of Technology 2100 16th Ave. S. Great Falls, MT 59405 (406) 771-5136

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College Prep Guide Spring 2013

UM-Helena College of Technology Student Center Donaldson Campus Helena, MT 59601 (406) 447-6950

Kalispell

Flathead Valley Community College P.O. Box 777 Lakeside, MT 59922 (406) 756-3382

Missoula

UM-Missoula Lommasson Center, Room 218 Missoula, MT 59812 (406) 243-5425

Miles City

Miles Community College 2715 Dickinson St. Miles City, MT 59301 (406) 874-6197

Pablo

Salish Kootenai College Kenmille Building 58138 U.S. Hwy 93 (406) 275-4860

COLLEGE VISITS continued from page 5 religious affiliations, academic strengths and offerings -- are important to them and use those criteria.

Mark choices as dream, target and safety schools based on your child’s academic performance and test scores. The initial list can be pared down to a realistic number of colleges to visit.

Go while college is in session

Get SAT/ACT prep support

Ask smart questions

If some of the dream schools seem out of range due to unsatisfactory test scores, get your student SAT help from the local Sylvan Learning (www.sylvanlearning.com) tutoring experts. The level of competition to get into top schools is more intense than ever.

“The number of early admission applications has increased dramatically, with some universities seeing double-digit jumps. To begin the college process, most students applying to competitive colleges now take the SAT/ACT more than once,” says Bavaria.

Weekends and holidays can be dead zones for college life, which won’t give your student a real glimpse of the campus.

Call ahead to schedule tours, and make sure college is in session and students are attending classes so potential applicants see the whole experience.

Encourage your kid to question everyone -- students, professors, advisors, librarians, coaches and more. Ask the same questions of different students and professors to compare answers. Parents, remember to hit key topics that students might forget, like financial aid and safety.

You can usually trust them to inquire about food selection and social activities.

Be seen. Be heard.

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Montana students pay in-state tuition.

College Prep Guide Spring 2013

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HOW STUDENTS

CAN MASTER MASTER TEST TEST TAKING TAKING CAN (NewsUSA)

Although educators and administrators continue to debate the actual value of tests and examinations, testing has become an intrinsic part of the American education system.

Neither students nor parents can escape the reality of exams, and continuing academic success largely depends on managing test anxiety and learning how to adequately prepare for exams. But, that’s not the only factor. Doing homework assignments and participating in class help testing proficiency, too.

“Make sure your child completes homework assignments and class projects,” says Richard Bavaria, Ph.D., senior vice president for education outreach at Sylvan Learning.

“Because tests reflect overall achievement, the more effort your child puts into learning, the more likely he or she will do well on tests.”

Here are some other test-prep tips for both parents and students from Dr. Bavaria:

Use strategies to manage test anxiety

Know the target

Support learning preferences

Use a study process campus

Use appropriate strategies to address different question types

A little test anxiety can be helpful, but too much can have an adverse effect on test performance. In order to manage test anxiety, make sure to be prepared, and use breathing and visualization techniques to work through the process.

Follow test instructions

While taking a test, make sure to pay close attention to test- and question-specific instructions. Circle key words to make sure that all responses/answers address all parts of the question. When in doubt, ask the teacher to clarify.

Use a process to organize schoolwork and a study area

Being organized helps students access all materials when they are needed. A clean, quiet study area also helps students focus.

Make sure that you understand exactly what is being Identify learning preferences, whether auditory, assessed, how it is being assessed (types of questions) tactile or visual. Keep them in mind when studying to and how it will be graded. help with difficult subjects.

Test preparation and studying should be an ongoing process. Ideally, students should spend 15 minutes per night studying content from each school subject, in addition to any nightly homework.

While taking a test, make sure to pay close attention to test-and question-specific instructions.

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College Prep Guide Spring 2013

Knowing what types of questions will be on the test helps determine what and how students should study.

Find out what kinds of questions will be used, be it multiple-choice, short-answer, true/false, matching or essays, and prepare appropriately.

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There are no limits to what you can learn here.

Over the past ten years, Montana Tech’s placement rate for graduates has averaged 93% including acceptance into professional and graduate programs.

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College Prep Guide Spring 2013

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When searching for dorm room essentials, make sure to stock up on items you typically use throughout the day.

FRESHMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE:

GET READY GET READY FOR FOR CLASS CLASS FOR FOR LESS LESS (NewsUSA)

Moving away from home for the first time can be scary -- for both students and parents. But life in the dorm shouldn’t cause freshmen fear. Get started now preparing for your college career, and you’ll be ready for class in no time.

Plan ahead

Start thinking about what you’ll need to thrive in dorm life. Make a list of items to purchase for your dorm and for class. Check with your college for a list of recommended items, as well as items that are not allowed in the dormitory.

Create a budget

Determine how much income you’ll have while in school, and create a budget. Explore all your options for sticking to your new budget. Reloadable pre-paid cards are a great tool for learning to live within a set budget. These cards can be used like any debit or credit card but are loaded with money upfront and don’t require a bank account. They’re cheap, and many offer e-mail or text updates on balances.

Dorm room essentials

Stocking a dorm room on a budget has been made easier by discount retailers. In one stop, you can get everything you need to outfit your dorm room. Basics include a bed-in-a-bag, sheets, towels, pillow, trash can and storage bins. You’ll also need laundry detergent and a laundry basket or bag, fabric softener and stain remover, an iron, a hair dryer, hand sanitizer and tissue. Think of the items you typically use throughout the day and stock up.

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College Prep Guide Spring 2013

Bathroom Basics

Most dorms don’t provide the luxury of private restrooms, so be prepared for the community restroom. Items you’ll need include a shower caddy filled with essentials such as shampoo, razor and soap, wash cloths, flip flops and a bath robe.

Stock the fridge

Busy class schedules and late-night study sessions require serious sustenance, typically in the form of easy and cheap foods. Fill your dorm room pantry with inexpensive necessities like ramen noodles, peanut butter, microwave popcorn, pretzels and bottled water. You’ll probably also want a few basic cooking supplies such as a can opener, a set of small bowls and a coffee maker.

Get ready for class

Now that your dorm room is in order, you’ll need to get ready for class. Classroom basics include a book bag, notebooks, highlighters, and pens and pencils. If you have a computer and printer, don’t forget copy paper, extra discs or an external hard drive.

COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID AWARDS: BE A COMPARISON SHOPPER

By Carolynn Bright, Student Assistance Foundation

For Montana students faced with choosing among two or three postsecondary institutions, the contents of their financial aid award letters may make all the difference.

As a result, it’s important for students and families to make a close comparison of financial aid opportunities and evaluate the overall benefits of each award package.

In general, most financial aid professionals agree that it’s best to compare financial aid award letters based on out-of-pocket cost.

Out-of-pocket cost is the difference between the total cost of attendance and the total gift aid (grants and scholarships). Net cost, on the other hand, corresponds with expected family contribution (EFC), and should be similar among the different colleges. Higher out-of-pocket costs result in greater debt after college, so it’s definitely favorable to select a school that helps to minimize out-of-pocket costs through financial aid.

Also, students and parents should be sure to take into account the full cost of attendance.

Consider direct costs which include tuition, fees, room and board and textbooks and supplies, and indirect costs which include travel, computer, personal expenses, student health insurance and more. Some schools only provide information on direct costs, so remaining costs should be factored into the equation when identifying the most generous financial aid award package.

Always use caution when considering financial aid packages that include non-need-based loans. Accept gift aid first and non-need-based loans after that. Remember, students are not required to accept the full loan amount, and

WILLISTON STATE COLLEGE Where the people make [the difference].

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Continued on page 12 College Prep Guide Spring 2013

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Montanans automatically qualify for scholarships valued over $2,700 .

We suggest you ASSUME NOTHING and visit campus to SEE FOR YOURSELF what Northwest offers.

800.560.4692 / 307.754.6101

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COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID AWARDS continued from page 11

should try to limit this type of aid, if possible, in order to minimize debt load following graduation.

Parents and students should look for “gapping” in financial aid award letters.

Gapping occurs when a college is unable to meet the full, demonstrated need of the students due to limited financial resources.

Sometimes, schools attempt to disguise the gap by packaging student loans with other aid, leading students to accept funds that they will ultimately be required to repay.

In addition, be aware that some schools “front load” their grants. This means they award more grants in a student’s freshman year than in subsequent years. On the one hand, this practice helps students who drop out to have fewer loans to pay, but on the other, it paints an unrealistic financial aid picture for students who stick with their college agenda.

These are just a few of the items that students and parents should consider when evaluating financial aid award letters. Several helpful calculators and worksheets are available on the Internet to help with this process, including finaid. org, bigfuture.collegeboard.org, etc.

Remember, if you don’t understand something about your award letter, or think you should qualify for additional free aid, contact the financial aid office at your school immediately.

In addition, if you need help understanding or making comparisons of your award letters, go to smartaboutcollege. org/outreach to find a nonprofit Student Assistance Foundation campus outreach manager near you.

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College Prep Guide Spring 2013

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LinCOLn CEntEr 415 n. 30th St. Billings, Mt 59101 www.msun.edu/grants/eoc College Prep Guide Spring 2013

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The stress of being a successful student is a pressure many students must learn to deal with, particularly as they advance through high school and higher education.

HANDLING THE STRESS

OF BEING OF BEING A A STUDENT STUDENT (Metro Services)

In light of the country’s economic downturn, few topics are as prevalent as stress. In the course of the last year, many families have suffered the loss of their income, and many more have even lost their homes.

The reality of a recession always illustrates the problem of stress. But for the nation’s students, stress is a reality that, unlike economic woes, is more permanent than it is temporary.

Handling stress is a large part of being successful in the classroom, particularly as students advance through high school and into higher education. But handling stress is different for everyone, and there are myriad healthy ways in which students can cope with stress.

Combine regular exercise with a healthy diet

Studies abound as to the mental benefits of exercise. Exercise not only improves a person’s physical health, but also has a positive impact on mood, oftentimes making it easier to cope with stress. Part of that is because exercise relieves muscle tension, which can build up greatly in individuals suffering from significant stress. In addition, the negative effects of stress can be weight gain and other damaging physical effects, making exercise especially important for those under constant stress.

While a healthy diet can be difficult for the nation’s college students, that doesn’t mean it isn’t important. Recognizing that, many of the nation’s universities have increased their efforts to provide students with healthier fare at dining halls or other campus eateries. Students should take advantage of this whenever and wherever possible. Eating well can also help reduce stress, as a balanced diet will provide both the energy and nutrients necessary to handle a full load.

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College Prep Guide Spring 2013

Learn to take a breather

Adults often take breaks when going through the daily grind, and students should make note and follow suit. Studying for too long without taking a break can be counterproductive, as concentration will begin to wane after too long, making it increasingly difficult to soak in studies. Schedule breaks into each study session, whether it’s to go for a walk, jog or simply fit in a healthy meal. But don’t allow break time to become too big a distraction.

Determine the root cause of the stress

Work is typically the root cause of adult stress, and school is often the cause for students. Many students stretch themselves too thin, hoping to gain as much as they can from their high school or college experience and therefore filling their schedules.

But students who feel as though they’re being pulled in too many directions should drop an activity or two. For instance, playing a varsity sport while holding down a part-time job and having a full course load is simply doing too much. If a class is getting to be too much to handle, students should consult a teacher and explain the situation.

Don’t be afraid to speak about stress

Many students find it healthy and rejuvenating to simply speak about their levels of stress. This helps to get things off their chest, and it also inadvertently gives them time away from studies. Be it sharing experiences with stress among fellow students or simply talking to Mom and Dad, students should speak about stress in an effort to combat its ill effects.

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msubillings.edu • 406.657.2888 • msubsports.com College Prep Guide Spring 2013

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GE E L COL

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