College Bound

Norfolk Area College Fair Sunday, September 22nd 1:00-3:00 p.m.

NORTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

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NORFOLK DAILY NEWS, Tuesday, September 17, 2013

What to Consider When Choosing a College

By EducationQuest Foundation Start narrowing your college choices during your junior year. This will give you more time to research which school best fits your criteria, and to meet admission and financial aid deadlines Answer the following questions to get started, and read about common mistakes to avoid.

What do you want to study?

If you know what you want to study, research schools that offer degree programs in that area. If you don’t know what to study, it’s okay - many students begin college undeclared and some pursue academic transfer programs at community colleges.

What kind of school do you want to attend?

Do you prefer a large university or a small college? Are you interested in a community college?

What kind of student/teacher ratio do you want?

What can you afford?

Consider the overall cost of college: tuition, room and board, books, transportation costs, and personal expenses. Determine what you and your parents can afford to pay out-of-pocket and plan to apply for financial aid to make up the difference. Calculate the loan debt your family may need to incur for your college education.

Where do you want to go to college?

Do you want to live close to home and commute?

Do you want to be in a large city or a small town?

How big of a factor is out-of-state or private school tuition? If you want to go out of state, investigate reciprocity programs such as the Midwest Student Exchange Program.

Avoid these college search mistakes: Don’t limit your search to familiar institutions.

Just because your parents or siblings went to a certain college doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for you.

Don’t limit your search to colleges you think you can afford. The more expensive the school, the more financial aid you may be eligible to receive. Do some financial aid-related research (using net price calculators, talking to an EducationQuest specialist, or a representative from the college) before crossing these schools off your list.

Don’t choose a college just because it’s near your boyfriend or girlfriend. The school may not be a good match for you – and he or she may not be either!

Don’t insist on an out-of-state school just because you want to “get away.” Even if you attend college in your hometown, you can still “get away” by staying on campus most weekends.

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Norfolk Area College Fair

September 22

Register for a barcode at NebraskaCollegeFairs.org!

College-bound students and their families can visit with representatives from nearly 70 state and regional colleges during the Norfolk Area College Fair Sunday, September 22 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at Northeast Community College, 801 East Benjamin Avenue.

The College Fair is sponsored by EducationQuest Foundation through partnerships with the Nebraska Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers and Nebraska high school counselors. The event will also feature financial aid presentations in the Auditorium.

Follow these tips to help you make the most of your College Fair visit: Visit NebraskaCollegeFairs.org to register for a barcode that you should print and take to the college fair. College reps will scan the barcode to retrieve your demographic information so you won’t have to complete information cards.

Determine which colleges you want to visit (a list is available in the www.educationquest.org/fallcollege-fairs/” College Fair article at EducationQuest.org).

Prepare a list of questions to ask college representatives. Ask about deadlines for admission, scholarship and financial aid applications.

Attend a financial aid program at the College Fair to learn about types of aid and how to apply.

For details about other College Fairs and Educational Planning Programs (mini college fairs) scheduled for this fall, see www.educationquest.org/ calendar/” Upcoming Events at EducationQuest.org.

NORFOLK DAILY NEWS, Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Wondering How You’ll Pay for College?

By EducationQuest Foundation

Parents – if you and your student haven’t saved enough for college, these options may take some of the sting out of tuition payments.

Financial aid Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) after January 1 of your student’s senior year to apply for grants, work-study, student loans, and some need-based scholarships. To estimate your FAFSA results now, use the www.educationquest.org/estimator/” College Funding Estimator at EducationQuest.org.

Scholarships www.educationquest.org/ scholarshipquest/” ScholarshipQuest at EducationQuest.org has over 2,000 Nebraska-based scholarships. You’ll also find links to free national scholarship search sites.

Your student’s earnings Encourage your student to save at least half of his or her earnings for college.

College payment plans Many schools offer a 10 or 12-month payment plan. This allows you to use

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current income to pay your out-of-pocket college expenses.

Home equity line of credit loan A line of credit allows you to use your home equity to pay college costs. Consult your tax advisor about deducting the interest.

Alternative loans Talk to the college financial aid office about alternative loans that don’t require the FAFSA. They typically have a higher interest rate, so exhaust all federal financial aid before pursuing these loans.

Community college transfer program If your student is striving for a fouryear degree, an option might be to start at a less expensive community college and then transfer to a four-year college.

Live at home Room and board at a four-year college runs about $7,000 a year. If your student lives at home, that money can go toward tuition and fees.

The military All branches of the military offer education assistance ranging from the Montgomery G.I. Bill, to tuition reimbursement, to student loan repayment. Encourage your student to talk to a recruiter for details.

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Types of Financial Aid

By EducationQuest Foundation There are several types of financial aid available to help pay college expenses. To apply for federal financial aid, complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at www.fafsa.gov ß.

Scholarships come from private donors or from your college. Some are based on financial need, while others are based on academics, talents or community involvement.

Grants* are awarded based on financial need and you don’t repay them.

They include: Pell Grant Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) Nebraska Opportunity Grant College-based grants Work-Study*, also based on financial need, allows you to earn money while attending college through financial aid. You get paid for hours worked so don’t expect money up-front to pay tuition. Work-study earnings will not affect future financial aid eligibility.

Loans* are a type of financial aid you must repay. Some are in your name and some are for parents. Types of loans include: Perkins Loan Direct Stafford Loan Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Direct PLUS Loan (loan for parents) For more details about financial aid, see the www.educationquest.org/ 11th-12th-grade-students/paying-for-college/” Paying for College section at EducationQuest.org. *These types of financial aid are based on FAFSA results.

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NORFOLK DAILY NEWS, Tuesday, September 17, 2013

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NORFOLK DAILY NEWS, Tuesday, September 17, 2013

What Are You Going to Major In? 2. Make good use of your electives.

It’s a simple question, but the answer may be tough. While you don’t have to Along with core requirements during your start college with your major already freshman and sophomore year, take decided, it can be helpful to have a electives that are in your potential major. general idea of what you want to study.

in good academic standing. Talk to your academic advisor about majors, such as education, that may require you to declare when you enter college.

Don’t just settle on a major. Take your 3. Declare your major before your time, explore your options and make a fourth semester of college.

This should Follow these steps in high school to allow you to finish in four years if you good decision, then you can avoid making help you make your “major” decision. enroll full-time each semester and remain college a “major” disappointment.

1. Evaluate your skills and interests.

Personal Strengths – what adjectives describe you?

Talents – what do you do well?

Interests – what do you enjoy?

Values – what’s important to you?

By EducationQuest Foundation

EducationQuest Foundation provides free services and resources to help Nebraska students get on the path to college. To get started, check out these tools at EducationQuest.org: College Profiles provide information about colleges in Nebraska and across the country ScholarshipQuest has over 2,000 local and state scholarships Activities Resume tracks your extracurricular activities and part-time jobs FAFSA tools simplify the financial aid application process College Funding Estimator will estimate the results of your Free Application for Federal Students Aid (FAFSA) Videos will guide you through the college planning process

2. Gather facts about several majors that interest you. Talk to your school counselor about your selections, and look at advanced classes in each major. Some students change majors because they become disillusioned with upper-level courses.

3. Job shadow. By observing different careers, you may find some that suit you while you cross others off your list.

For free personal help, contact the EducationQuest location nearest you: Kearney – 800-666-3721, Lincoln – 800303-3745, or Omaha – 888-357-6300.

Follow these steps after you get to college: 1. Join student organizations that relate to potential careers. You’ll meet other students with similar interests and discover if the fit is right.

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Need Help With College Planning?

NORFOLK DAILY NEWS, Tuesday, September 17, 2013

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Pointers for Freshmen

By CRISTINA WOODWORTH cwoodworth@norfolkdailynews.com The futon was bought. New extra-long twin sheets were neatly folded and placed inside my bright green plastic hamper. My college ID card hung on a red lanyard I wore around my neck in true freshman style. I was all ready to start my first year at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

I learned a lot of things my first year in college. And not just from class lectures.

Whether it was how to live with a stranger in a tiny dorm room, how to make it to a 7 a.m. class when you accidentally wake up at 6:53 or how to write a decent 10-page paper the night before it is due, college is all about discovering important life lessons.

Here are just a few helpful tips I discovered during my own first nine months at school: — Must-have dorm room item that you might not be aware of: a foam pool noodle. After hitting your head for the millionth time on the bottom of your metal dorm bunk bed, that thing will sure come in handy. Just cut it in half lengthwise and stick it on the underneath side of your bed to protect your skull.

— Like most college kids, you’ve probably bought one of those threedrawer plastic compartments to store your socks and other undergarments. Just a forewarning: those things always come apart when you carry them. Always. And then all the clothing that you really didn’t

want everyone to see is spilled across the sidewalk or hallway. Employ caution and always carry those things from the bottom to avoid embarrassment.

— If you bring a bike to campus, you really should invest in a solid bike lock.

Otherwise, the bike that you saved up for all summer by working at McDonald’s might just get stolen when someone decides to cut the chintzy lock you bought. That’s what happened to me.

— Try to explore the city your college is in, not just places on campus. You’re in a new place, so you might as well take advantage of it. Look for nearby state parks to camp at or find the most awesome 24-hour donut shop in town.

Then bring your new friends there!

— Another must-have college item: a power strip. There are never enough outlets in the dorms for all of the electronic “necessities” you need to bring with you. And what are you going to do if there’s no outlet to plug in your awesome rainbow-colored rope lights?

— Also, definitely bring some shower flip-flops. The whole community shower thing can get a little gross sometimes.

— Here’s the obvious one. Try new things! Maybe you were a star softball player in high school, but that doesn’t mean you have to continue doing that in college. Perhaps it’s time to branch out and join the soap carving club or the marching band or try out the rock climbing wall at the rec center. Most colleges have a list of all their student organizations online for you to peruse

and pick the ones you want to try out.

— Bring photographs of your family and high school friends to school, but make sure you leave room in your dorm room for new mementos from your college years. It’s perfectly OK to keep some of your longtime friendships going, but don’t get stuck in the past. Let yourself make new friends and try not to go home every single weekend to hang with your old buds.

— Enjoy college while it lasts because it goes by quicker than you might think.

How to Get Better Grades

Use a planner or assignment notebook. It’s a great way to stay organized and keep up with homework assignments and extracurricular activities.

Take careful notes in class and while you’re reading. This will help you retain information and keep your mind from wandering.

Review your notes each evening. This will help keep the information fresh in your mind and will make it easier to study for tests.

Ask questions when you don’t understand something. If you don’t want to ask during class, set up a time after class to meet with your teacher, or send your teacher an email.

Set aside time after school for homework and studying. Scheduling time for homework helps prevent procrastination. Try to do it before dinner time; by late evening, you’ll be too tired to absorb information.

Limit distractions. Find a quiet place to study and avoid TV, your cell phone and social networking websites.

Ask your teacher how you can improve your grades. He or she may offer extra credit opportunities or provide strategies to help you succeed in that class.

Have a Minute for “Timely” Advice?

By EducationQuest Foundation

Many a college student will tell you that a lack of structure and poor time management nearly led to their demise during their freshman year. Heed their warning and follow their “timely” advice: Go to class! It’s a better use of your time to hear class information first-hand rather than trying to track down lecture notes later.

Use a planner every day.

Schedule time for classes, work, studying – even socializing and exercising. Schedule time to make your schedule and reward yourself when you stick to it.

Use the class syllabus to plan your workload. Divide large projects into manageable chunks and create shorter-term deadlines.

Study in blocks of time. Plan ahead with blocks of study time separated by brief periods to rest and clear your head.

Use the time in-between classes to review for a test, copy notes from a previous class, catch up on textbook reading, conduct research or do other homework.

Learn to say “no.” Learn to

The list could go on and on.

Sure, college can be kind of intimidating. You might be traveling to a different city, state or even country for your post-secondary educational experience. There are so many new people to meet, opportunities to take part in and free food to eat, though, that you eventually will feel right at home.

After your freshmen year, you’ll be an old pro again.

politely say “no” to short-term activities that will interfere with you achieving your longer-term goals.

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NORFOLK DAILY NEWS, Tuesday, September 17, 2013

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