College Counseling Handbook by The Summit Country Day School

college counseling handbook

Support. Information. Encouragement.

Welcome Welcome College Counseling at The Summit is a partnership that brings families and college counselors together to educate, support and encourage students as their college search unfolds. With this approach comes the belief that the family is ultimately responsible for the key decisions and actions necessary to move this process forward. Summit’s college counselors are paired with faculty advisors. This collaboration ensures each student, beginning in the ninth grade, has a support team at school. Advisors serve as a communication link with college counselors throughout the school year. In the past few years, Naviance has become an essential tool used in our department. Naviance is a college and career readiness software provider that partners with high schools providing students a variety of features, including college research and matching tools, career assessment and personality tests. Each Summit student and parent receives a username and password upon enrollment. Families can connect with Naviance on their personal computer.

The Summit Country Day School College Counseling Team Maureen Ferrell

Director of College Counseling 513.871.4700 x226 ferrell_m@summitcds.org

Mike Fee

Guidance Counselor Grades 9-12

Susan Maxwell

College Counseling Administrative Assistant 513.871.4700 x282 maxwell_s@summitcds.org

Exploring the range of post-secondary opportunities can be overwhelming. College counselors are accessible to students and parents throughout the college search. We are open and positive, providing an atmosphere that encourages faculty, students and parents to take advantage of the available resources. Summit’s counselors stay abreast of current trends within college admission and are attuned to pedagogical issues regarding adolescent development. The College Counseling department represents Summit and articulates the school’s mission and values to colleges so that they understand the Summit school experience. In turn, the department represents the college admission landscape to The Summit community.  — Maureen Ferrell, Director of College Counseling

Index Welcome

Planning Calendar

College Application

How It All Works

Athletes

Testing

College Visit

What to Ask

The Interview

Financial Aid

Resources

Websites

513.871.4700 x249 fee_m@summitcds.org

Work with your college counselor: We start early! Colleges look at all four years of academics, extracurriculars and more when evaluating applicants, so at The Summit, we start early. Building a relationship with your college counselor is important to ensure success in the college admission process. Students need to take charge of their admission journey and that means establishing and fostering a professional relationship with their college counselor. This is often the student’s first experience setting up meetings, preparing requested materials and other tasks essential not only to working with their college counselor, but also in preparing for the road ahead. This is a major life event, and students often assume their parents will handle the details. What students need to remember, however, is this is their college education – not their parents – and they need to take responsibility for it if they want to achieve their admission goals. At The Summit, we stress the importance of this relationship because colleges require a recommendation from a student’s college counselor, and because it will make the college application process smooth and successful.

Plan Your Work ... Work Your Plan

College Counseling Planning Calendar: Freshman Year • Take the most challenging coursework offered and do well in those classes. Remember, colleges and universities look at your freshman year grades. • Get to know the college counseling staff, they are great resources. They will help you understand your GPA, choose coursework, activities, and help you to balance your academics with outside interests. • Attend Upper School evening programs with your parents. See school calendar for dates. • Become engaged in The Summit and larger community. Find extra-curricular groups of interest. It’s completely OK to go to one meeting and decide it’s not for you. Colleges want to see quality over quantity and want to see you are passionate about what you do. • Explore your talents and take advantage of opportunities to join a club, play a sport, and participate in art, music, theater, etc. • Organize your time and adopt good study skills. • In October, take the PSAT (Preliminary SAT). Review your score report along with your test book to learn your strengths and weaknesses as you prepare to repeat this test your sophomore year.

• Consider taking the SAT Subject Test Math Level 1 after Algebra II. Please note: Some colleges require, suggest or recommend sending SAT Subject Test scores for admission.  Summer Assignment: Plan worthwhile summer activities, such as college programs, volunteer work, a specialty focused camp or a summer job. Naviance Activity: Investigate your learning style. Explore your career interests.

“If I had offered just one piece of advice for incoming freshman, I’d say go meet the people in the college counseling office — not like a formal meeting about college search, but as a general meeting to say, like, ‘Hi, I’m Alex. I like technology.’ They’ll look at you and say this kid likes technology, and they’ll look at colleges with you in mind and make recommendations. There is a very personal connection with the college counselors here at The Summit.”

College Counseling Planning Calendar: Sophomore Year • Continue to take the most difficult coursework available to you and keep up the good work and grades. Continue to explore your academic interests. • Continue involvement in volunteer and extra-curricular activities. Find ways to give back to The Summit and larger community. Accept leadership roles. • Continue building a relationship with your college counselor. Your counselor will help you become more familiar with the college process. • Attend Upper School evening programs with your parents. See school calendar for dates. • In October, take the PSAT (Preliminary SAT). Review your score report along with your test book to learn your strengths and weaknesses as you prepare to repeat this test your junior year. • Begin to build a college file by gathering materials about colleges of interest. Use school vacations to visit college campuses. Journal your impressions of colleges upon return from visiting. • Take AP exams for courses you may have taken at the AP level. • Take SAT Subject Tests that are appropriate. Please note: Some colleges require, suggest or recommend sending SAT Subject Test scores for admission. Summer Assignment: Plan worthwhile summer activities, such as college programs, internships, volunteer work, a specialty focused camp, a summer job... Find out what interests you, or  better yet, what you’re not interested in!

“I started early. I thought about what kinds of schools I wanted  and did a little research on what it took to get in. I began to  go to college visits in my sophomore year.” — Isabelle Saldana ’13, Emory University

“Start planning as soon as the common application and individual essay topics are announced. During the summer, when you are bored with nothing to do, start writing outlines for the essays. It will make your life a lot easier during the fall of your senior year.” — Warren Hill ’13, Hampton University

“Practice interviewing. It really helps to have a good interview so  the person representing the college likes you and therefore can  be a good resource, i.e. recommendations, contacts, questions.” — Dale Lakes ’13, U.S. Military Academy at West Point

Naviance activities: Develop your personal resume recording activities and accomplishments Begin a prospective college list.Complete the “Do What You Are” assessment.

College Counseling Planning Calendar: Junior Year • Continue to take the most difficult coursework available to you and keep up the good work and grades. Continue to explore your academic interests.Continue involvement in volunteer and extra-curricular activities. Find ways to give back to The Summit and larger community. Accept leadership roles. • Continue developing your relationship with your college counselor. They will help you become more familiar with the college process. Attend evening programs with your parents. • Sign up and attend college visits during the school day and local College Fairs. This is a great way to begin the college search and just take a look at schools of possible interest. Attend regional college presentations; Summit hosts a few each year! • Take the PSAT in October. This test determines National Merit recognition. This test will help determine your strengths and weaknesses as you prepare for the SAT. • Register and take the SAT (October) and ACT (December). Please refer to The Summit’s College Counseling web pages for links to updated testing dates and online registration. • If you intend to seek an athletic scholarship, start contacting the coaches at the schools that most interest you. Complete the online NCAA Eligibility Center registration. • Use school vacations to visit college campuses. Look for tours on your individual college websites and sign up for them. • Schedule an individual meeting for you and your parents with their college counselor in the winter for college planning. • Think about teachers to ask for recommendation letters. Using information provided in Naviance, note any early action or early decision deadlines at each college of choice. • Using information in Naviance, develop a timeline for college and scholarship application deadlines. • Take AP exams for courses you may have taken at the AP level. • Take SAT Subject Tests that are appropriate. Please note: Some colleges require, suggest or

College Counseling Planning Calendar: Senior Year • Continue to take the most difficult coursework available to you and keep up the good work and grades. Continue to explore your academic interests. • Continue involvement in volunteer and extracurricular activities. Find ways to give back to The Summit and larger community. Accept leadership roles. • Continue developing your relationship with your college counselor. They will help you with all aspects the college application process. Attend evening programs with your parents. • Sign up and attend college visits during the school day and local College Fairs. This is a great way to continue the college search and just take a look at schools of possible interest. Attend regional college presentations, Summit hosts a few each year! • Visit colleges of major interest. Plan an overnight in the dorm if possible. • Meet with your college counselor to narrow list of schools; discuss deadlines, application types and financial aid opportunities.

recommend sending SAT Subject Test scores for admission. • In August, the Common Application (the application for about 400 colleges) becomes available. It’s a good idea to start early and look through the different schools you are applying to see what is required of you. Summer Assignments: Plan worthwhile summer activities, such as college programs, internships, volunteer work, a specialty focused camp or a summer job. Find out what interests you, or better yet, what you’re not interested in!Draft your college essay, personal statement and other essays you will need to submit.

August/September: • Submit drafts of college application essays to your college counselor to review for editing. • Make an appointment with your college counselor to review your online college application before submission. • Register for any additionally needed SAT or ACT tests. Please refer to The Summit’s College Counseling web pages for links to updated testing dates and online registration. • Register for and take SAT Subject Tests that are appropriate. Please Note: Some colleges require,

suggest or recommend sending SAT Subject Test scores for admission. Make sure you send your scores directly to your college or university. • Send ACT and/or SAT scores directly to colleges. October: • Finalize your application for early action/early decision schools. Submit prior to deadline to ensure all parts are sent and received. • File your FAFSA as soon as possible. This form becomes available October 1. Applicants will use prior-prior year (PPY) tax information when reporting personal and family income. REMEMBER: Completing these forms are essential for securing most types of financial aid for colleges. In addition to federal grants and loans, many colleges, states and scholarship programs use the form to assess eligibility for their aid programs. If required, complete the CSS Profile. November: • Finalize regular applications and submit before Thanksgiving. January: • Continue to do your very best in every class. The College Counseling Office will send your sixth semester transcript to each college of application. March/April: • Visit schools where you’ve been admitted, attend classes, meet admissions office staff and figure out the best school fit for you.

Naviance Activities: Sign up to attend college rep visits/ information sessions.Continue adding to your personal resume recording activities and accomplishments. Complete the “Game Plan Survey” which helps you think about what you seek in college (location, size, specific programs, competitiveness).

Understanding Your College Application By mid to late fall of the senior year, you should reduce the college exploration list to schools to which you plan to apply. The application list should only include colleges you would gladly attend if admitted. There are several application options including: Early Action: Under Early Action, students apply for admission in the fall of the senior year, and the college notifies the student of the admission decision before calendar year-end. This is a nonbinding process which means the applicant is not obligated to attend the college if accepted. Unlike Early Decision, Early Action still allows students to receive other admission decisions from the regular application process before making a final college choice. Early Action Single Choice or Restricted Early Action: Like Early Action, students apply for admission early in the senior fall and receive the decision in December. While the applicant is not obligated to enroll in the college if admitted, the opportunity to apply to other colleges is limited. Your College Counselor will help you interpret the process for each college. Early Decision: Early Decision is an application option in which an applicant agrees that if admitted, he or she will enroll in the college. Students also agree that they will not, upon acceptance, initiate applications to any other college, and will withdraw any outstanding applications. Early Decision deadlines can range from November 1 to January 15. Some colleges offer more than one Early Decision deadline. If accepted, your admission is binding. Early Decision candidates can only review one financial aid offer.

If the offer is insufficient, most schools will release you from the binding contract. Early Decision is only appropriate for those students who are absolutely certain of their first college choice. Regular Admission: Most students apply for Regular Admission. Regular Admission deadlines range from December 15th until March 1st with the majority due in January. Colleges notify most Regular Admission applicants of the admission decision by early to midApril. Admission under this option is not binding. Regular Admission is best for students who want to consider a selection of schools and several financial aid offers before making a final decision. Rolling Admission: Under Rolling Admission, colleges make admission decisions shortly (six to eight weeks) after receiving the application and the students are notified immediately. In some cases, if the admission office wishes to compare the applicant to later applicants, an application may be held and considered again at a later date. For colleges that offer Rolling Admission, it is best to apply well before the final deadline, because spaces will fill. Once full, a college will not be able to consider new applications. In addition to these primary application plans, there are other, less used, application options: Deferred Enrollment: Under this option an admitted student is permitted to postpone enrolling in the college for one year in order to pursue alternate plans. Open Admissions: These colleges accept all applicants who apply, and often admit the student and  register the student for classes at the same time.

perhaps an interview. The Personal Profile documents the applicant’s interests, extracurricular commitments, leadership, and personality. It helps the admissions representative know the applicant more personally.

all supporting documents are ready, they will be sent electronically by the College Counseling administrative assistant to each college/university listed in your Naviance account.

Supporting Documents: Serves to bring the two profiles together, verifying and balancing the applicant’s information. This part of the application consists of the secondary school report, college counselor’s recommendation, teacher recommendations (occasionally personal or peer recommendation), and additional supplementary materials.

Please remember: • Follow the application instructions closely. • Secure all necessary information before you begin to work on the application. • Start early! If you procrastinate until two or three weeks before the deadline, it will probably show; you may create the impression that you aren’t really interested. • Organize your college application materials. Keep a separate file for each college. • Abide by the Golden Rule of College Admissions: Don’t file an application for admission to a college which you would not gladly attend if offered the chance. If you follow this rule, you will make good decisions about colleges. (Taken from NACAC, A Guide to the College Admission Process, NACAC Publications.) • Print your completed application for proofreading before you hit the “send” button. • Print a copy of each final application for your records.

Completing Your Application: At The Summit, we advise applications be completed before Days of Grace and Wisdom, which happen annually right before Thanksgiving. The applicant’s responsibility is to follow each application’s instructions. The College Counselors will provide guidance throughout the process, answering general and specific questions.  We can’t stress this enough: Meeting deadlines is imperative!  Students request teacher recommendations a minimum of six weeks before the deadline. Once

For Athletes • Students who are planning to participate in Division I or Division II athletics must be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center.  • Meeting The Summit’s graduation requirements will more than fulfill the NCAA core course unit requirements.  • Begin the certification process during the second semester of your junior year. Once you have received your second semester’s grades, you may submit your Records Release Form (found in the College Counseling Office) to the NCAA Eligibility Center for certification.  • Do not forget to contact the appropriate testing agency to request official SAT/ACT scores reports be sent to the Eligibility Center. Their code is 9999.Link to Eligibility Center: www.eligibilitycenter.org

How It All Works At every college, your academic record will be the most important information considered in your application. Some factors that affect the admission decision are within your control, such as contributions to school and community, leadership, personality, essay quality, and the interview. Other factors that are out of your control – such as institutional priorities, the role of legacies, diversity, and developing winning athletic teams – all of which can influence the outcome of your application.

The Academic Profile: Includes courses, Grade Point Average (GPA), and test scores (SAT Reasoning Test, ACT, and Subject Tests). The Academic Profile rates the candidate as a student and measures academic achievements and abilities to date. It supplies evidence to measure whether the applicant can meet, enjoy and contribute to the type of academic challenge of a particular college.  The Personal Profile: Balances the academic profile and includes extracurricular activities, essays, and,

The 11 Division I athletes and one Division II athlete in the Class of 2014: L to R, Daniel Bruns, Marist University, football; Michael Barwick, Jr., Indiana University, football; Alex Vance, University of Dayton, football; Antonio Woods, University of Pennsylvania, basketball; Meredith Schertzinger, University of Alabama at Birmingham, soccer; Mia Schreibeis, Winthrop University, soccer; Bryce Hueber, University of Dayton, soccer; Addie Englehart, Wright State University, soccer; Ellie Adams, St. Louis University, cross country/track; Sophie Adams, St. Louis University, cross country/track; Rebecca Stromberg, Belmont Abbey College, lacrosse; and Christian Hay, University of Cincinnati, soccer.

Standardized Testing Along with an examination of your academic program and grades, colleges also examine the results of standardized testing. Most colleges continue to require the SAT or ACT, and most competitive colleges also require the SAT subject tests. Some colleges place more emphasis on standardized testing than others, while there are a number of highly selective colleges that are “Test Optional.” Some colleges understand that very able students don’t always test well and determine their true academic achievement and potential by examining their strong academic record rather than relying on a morning’s testing experience. Colleges interpret standardized tests in a variety of ways, which are discussed in individual meetings with The Summit’s college counselors, but here is an overview of the tests. Please refer to The Summit’s college counseling website for upcoming test dates, fees and registration deadlines. Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) The PSAT is given at The Summit to all freshmen, sophomores and juniors in October. This is a twohour and 45-minute examination designed to measure reading, writing, language and math ability. Scores will be reported on a shared common scale with the SAT: the scale ranges for the PSAT/NMSQT are the total score, 160-760 for each of the two section scores. Scores range from 20 to 80 on each section. This is used as a practice test to acquaint you with the kinds of questions on the SAT Reasoning Test. Scores are reported to you and to Summit, and used as predictors of later scores on the SAT Reasoning Test. Based on these predictions, you will be aided in determining a plan of preparing for future testing. The results of this test, for juniors, are used to select National Merit Scholarship SemiFinalists and Commended Students. Those students receiving these honors are notified in the fall of their senior year. SAT Reasoning Tests and SAT Subject Tests Administered by the College Board, the three-hour SAT is divided into two parts: Critical Reading and Writing and Math. At The Summit, we recommend students take the additional 50-minute Essay section, which is optional. The SAT Subject Tests, as the name indicates, are subject-specific. The score range for the SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subject Tests range

recommendations that are part of the application process. from 200 to a high of 800. Some very selective colleges require or recommend that students submit results from two or three Subject Tests in addition to scores from SAT Reasoning Tests for admission or placement. Of the colleges that require this test, most ask for a math Subject Test plus one or two subjects of your choosing. You must check online information and application requirements!  Students who apply for Early Decision or Early Action should plan to take the SAT Reasoning Test and the requisite number of Subject Tests in their junior year. Subject Tests are best taken in the same year that you complete the academic course in that subject area. Registration dates about five weeks prior to test administration. Register at www.collegeboard.com. Students are responsible for meeting all registration deadlines. Students receive scores about four weeks after the test is taken. Unless students enroll in Score Choice, all of your SAT and SAT subject tests scores will be sent to colleges. ACT This is a three-hour test that measures skills in four major curriculum areas: English, Mathematics, Reading and Science. You must check with each individual college to see if they require the ACT plus a Writing test. Summit’s recommendation is that you take the ACT with the Writing test. The ACT score range has a composite score range of 1 – 36 and each test sub-section has a score range of 1 – 36. With the ACT, you can take this test more than once and choose which scores get sent to colleges. Students who apply for Early Decision or Early Action should take the ACT in their junior year. Registration deadline dates for these tests are about five weeks prior to test administration. Register at www.act.org. Test scores are reported about four weeks after the test date is taken. Advanced Placement Tests (AP) AP examinations are given in May with specific dates set by College Board. These are three-hour, college-level subject tests used by many colleges for placement and credit. Save your AP Score Reports if you plan to self-report your scores on your college application. You are the only one who will send these scores to colleges, though higher levels of performance (scores of 4 or 5) may be cited by teachers or college counselors within the written

Testing Accommodations The College Board and ACT may provide testing accommodations to students who have a documented disability (Learning Disability, ADHD or Health Impairment). This diagnosis must not be older than three years coming from educational testing performed by a psychologist. The accommodations for students at Summit have generally been given in the form of extended time. Other accommodations are available. If you feel you may qualify for testing accommodations or wish to discuss the procedure to document a disability, please contact Upper School Counselor Mike Fee.

Sending Scores to Colleges Students are responsible for sending your test scores to colleges to which you choose to apply. When you are ready to report your scores for the SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Tests or ACT, you should make a list of colleges to which you want your scores sent. Upon contacting the testing agency (College Board or ACT) they will send your scores. There will be a fee for each test score sent. The Summit Country Day School’s Code Number (CEEB) is: 361120

What to Expect on Test Day ACT Format: The English test is a 75-question, 45-minute test that measures understanding of sentence structure, grammar and usage, sentence structure and rhetorical skills.

SAT Format: The Reading Test is a 52-question, 65-minute test that measures your range of reading skills including command of evidence, words in context and analysis in History/Social Studies and Science.

The Math test is a 60-question, 60-minute test designed to assess Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry skills. You may use a calculator, check www.actstudent.org for details.

The Writing and Language Test is 44-question, 35-minute test that is part of the Evidence-Based Reading portion of the SAT test. All questions are multiple choice and based on passages.

The Reading test is a 40-question, 35-minute test measuring reading comprehension. Specific questions will ask you to refer to what is stated and use reasoning to determine the meaning. Passages are based on Prose Fiction, Social Science, Humanities and Natural Sciences.

The Math Test is 80 minutes and includes 58 questions/tasks measuring fluency (NO calculator), conceptual understanding and real-world applications. Although most of the questions are multiple choice, some are student-produced response questions, also known as grid-ins.

The Science test is a 40-question, 35-minute test that measures the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning and problem-solving skills required in Natural Sciences.

The Essay is optional, but The Summit strongly recommends it. Students have 50 minutes to analyze a 650-750 word document and draft an essay. This tests reading, analysis and writing skills. Facts matter.

The Writing test is optional, but The Summit strongly recommends it. This 40-minute essay test consists of one writing prompt that will describe an issue and present three different perspectives on that issue. You are asked to evaluate and analyze the given perspectives, state and develop your own perspective and explain the relationship between your perspective and those given. Your score will not be affected by the point of view you take on the issue.

A Concordance The following is a concordance of the 2,400-point, pre-2016 SAT, the same SAT on a 1,600-point scale, the ACT and the Redesigned SAT, as well as ACT percentiles, all on one chart. It’s based on 14 pages of data tables published by College Board on April 9, 2016 and on the 2006 concordance studies published by College Board and ACT. See Concordance chart on following page.

A Concordance

The College Visit

The following is a concordance of the 2,400-point, pre-2016 SAT, the same SAT on a 1,600-point scale, the ACT and the Redesigned SAT, as well as ACT percentiles, all on one chart. It’s based on 14 pages of data tables published by College Board on April 9, 2016 and on the 2006 concordance studies published by College Board and ACT.

Visiting a college campus is often the most important information-gathering tool in the search. It provides an excellent opportunity to determine a college’s fit for you.

2005-15 SAT (2400 scale)

2005-15 SAT R-M Only

ACT

Redesigned SAT

ACT Percentile

2390

1600

99.96

2330

1570

99.7

2250

1510

1540

2180

1460

1500

2110

1420

1470

2050

1370

1430

2000

1340

1400

1950

1310

1360

1890

1270

1320

1830

1230

1290

1770

1190

1260

1710

1150

1220

1650

1110

1180

1590

1070

1140

1530

1030

1110

1480

1000

1070

1420

960

1030

1360

920

990

1300

880

950

1240

840

910

1170

790

870

1100

740

830

1020

690

780

950

640

740

860

580

780

530

Sources: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/higher-ed-brief-sat-concordance.pdf http://www.act.org/content/dam/ act/unsecured/documents/ACT-SAT-Concordance-Tables-Report.pdfMarks Education

The junior year is a good time to begin visiting colleges. Starting too early can cause burnout in the college search process. College websites provide information that will help students prioritize the colleges they would like to visit in person. When visiting a college campus, there are several options to consider. Let us stress that there is no wrong choice, and each option has merit. Spring Visits: During spring break, you will find most colleges in the midst of their application reading process, and admission officers will be busy. Be prepared to see offices staffed by skeleton crew, with campus visits limited to tours and group information sessions. Summer Visits: Although you’ll not see the campus with the students in action, both you and the admissions office have more time to devote to your visit. It is often easier to schedule an interview with an admission counselor in the summer. Today, many colleges become summer conference facilities;

often the campuses are active. Although most of the summer programs do not reflect the campus life during of the academic year, summer visits will give you enough information to assess your interest in the school. Fall Visits: Many families prefer fall campus visits when college is in session. Admission offices may be understaffed in the fall because officers are on the road recruiting. It is most important to call early for fall visit appointments to make sure an admission representative is available to see you. Visit after being accepted: Some students visit campuses after they have received all their admission decisions, when many colleges offer special “admitted student weekend programs.” You will have the opportunity to stay overnight in a dorm, eat the school’s food, attend a class or two, and get to know some other students who may also be attending the school as freshmen next year. Begin your visits close to home: the greater Cincinnati area has many outstanding schools of all sizes and varieties: urban, suburban, rural, large, and small schools. You might begin your campus visits with an Ohio school that fits your exploration criteria. Go on these visits with an open mind; you might find a place that is right for you.

Tips for Making the Most of your Visit • If you will miss school, notify your teachers in advance by completing the College Visit form available online or in the College Counseling office.  • Review the college website and any information the school has sent.  • Develop a list of questions to ask the admissions officers and students, particularly important if you have an admissions interview.   • Depending on your interests, you may also want to arrange for meetings with people such as coaches or professors. If you do request additional appointments, prepare a separate list of questions for those meetings.  • We recommend no more than two college visits in a day. College visits are more work than you may think!

• Arrange your schedule so you are able to attend everything: the information sessions, tours, and interviews.   • Remember to make a reservation about two weeks prior to when you’d like to visit. Most colleges prefer you make this reservation online.  • Secure good directions to the school’s campus and admissions office. Confirm the location of admissions parking ahead of time.  • Inquire about the possibility of observing classes. Most admissions offices are happy to provide a list of classes pre-approved for visitors.  • Observe class sizes, facilities, and teaching styles. Ask about the accessibility of faculty.  • Make sure you see a dorm room similar to the one in which you will live your first year.   • Eat a meal in the dining facilities. Inquire about meal plan options.

• Talk to as many students as possible. Also, check the bulletin boards for campus news, and pick up a campus newspaper, as it will tell you about campus life.  • If financial aid is a consideration, families may want to meet with and ask questions of a financial aid officer. Many admission counselors are also well versed in financial aid and will be able to answer questions. Make this appointment ahead of time.  • Take notes. If you visit several schools during a short period of time, you may have difficulty

remembering the differences. Use the time in the car to record your impressions or keep a journal on your Family Connection account.  • Collect business cards, keep the names of each person you meet during your visit, and send a thank you note. Remember, everyone likes to be appreciated for doing a good job.  • Don’t argue with your parents during the campus visit. They will have questions that might be different from yours – let them ask. An argument will only reflect poorly on you.

What to Ask on College Visits Families should come prepared with a list of questions to ask not only admissions officers, but more importantly student admissions representatives and tour guides, in order to get a full idea of campus life. By tailoring questions to these students’ personal experiences, families can see the school from a current student’s perspective, rather than just hearing statistics compiled by the admission office, which may create an incomplete impression for prospective students. Most quantitative data is available either on the school’s website or in paper pamphlets. Campus tours provide an opportunity to collect qualitative data that can provide important points of comparison between two schools with otherwise similar numbers. On a hot summer day of touring colleges, qualitative data can also give much needed character to an otherwise empty campus. Before heading out on your next college trip, consider a list of questions that are important to you. Below are ten aspects of college life that are of particular interest to prospective students, with possible questions for student admissions representatives.   Academics • How many students were in your introductory courses? Upper-level courses? Have your courses been taught by professors or teaching assistants? What roles do teaching assistants play in classes? • How difficult is it to sign up for classes as a freshman? • How often are you expected to meet with your advisor during the year? Are advisors readily available to meet with their students? • How did you decide upon your major? Is it easy to switch majors? How much time do I have to decide my major before formally declaring?

Residential Life • Where do freshmen live? Is it separate from upperclassmen? • What are the living arrangements in dorms? Do students generally move off campus? Is housing guaranteed all four years? If it isn’t, how easy/ difficult is it to find on and off campus options? • How is the food on campus? Are meal plans mandatory? How expensive are food options off campus? • How has your experience been living in the dorms? What do you like about it? What do you dislike about it?

have your internships impacted your college experience? • Do students study abroad? At what point in their college career do they generally do so? What resources are available to students interested in study abroad programs?  Freshman Experience • How long is freshman orientation? Is it a worthwhile experience? What was your favorite part of freshman orientation? Least favorite? • What advice do you have for incoming freshmen? What do you wish you knew then that you know now? • What resources are available to freshmen to help facilitate a smooth transition?  Requirements • How easy/difficult has it been for you to fulfill your requirements? Do you have a choice in what classes you take to fulfill requirements? • How many classes/credits are students required to take each semester? • How helpful is your advisor during the class selection process?  Campus Safety • How safe is the area around campus? Have you ever felt unsafe outside of campus? • What policies and procedures exist to keep

students safe? How accessible are campus safety personnel?  • Application Process • Why did you choose this school? What do you like most about your experience here? What do you like least? • What other schools were you interested in? • What do you know now that you wish you knew when you applied to college? • How is this school’s application process unique to those at other schools? Are interviews mandatory, highly suggested, or not necessary? Are the number of times I visit campus taken into consideration? When on a tour, listen to the guide and take notes on advice, dates, and other important information. If something is unclear, ask for clarification. Remember to note where additional information can be found (website, pamphlets, emails to the admissions office). Make a point to speak one-on-one with student admissions representatives and ask the questions that are most important to you. If you create a plan before visiting a campus, you are more likely to get the information you need and get a better sense of life at the college, despite the lack of student presence. Happy travels!

Student Life • What clubs and activities are active on campus? What are you involved in? • Is Greek life a large part of the social life on campus? What is recruitment like? • How often do students go home on the weekends? How does this affect your social life? What constitutes a typical weekend for you and your friends? • Are sports an important part of the school identity here? What levels are available — varsity, club, and intramurals? How competitive and time-consuming are they?  Other Opportunities • Are there research opportunities on campus? How often do students participate in research? Do students work alongside their professors when conducting research? • Are jobs readily available on campus? Off campus? How easy is it to obtain a job? • How many internship opportunities are available to students during the school year? How

The College Interview Some colleges recommend interviews and some do not even offer them. Interviews, when offered, can make a difference. The interview is the only faceto-face part of the process. However, it is unlikely the interview alone will persuade the committee to overlook weakness in an application. Types of Interviews On Campus: A college admissions officer typically conducts the on-campus individual interviews, and his or her reactions to your 30-45 minute conversation will be included in your file. It is, perhaps, the most important type of interview because the interviewer is often a decision-maker.  The alumni interview: This type of interview is becoming more popular. Alumni interviews are usually arranged after the college has received your application. The high school visit: A visit to a high school by a college representative or an admissions evening hosted by a college representative, this is similar to the campus group interview. You can distinguish yourself in the crowd by asking thoughtful questions. Admissions officers routinely keep notes of all their contacts with students in these and other settings. How to prepare for an interview • Practice answering questions about your record, test scores, grades, course selection, activities, summer experiences, goals, and your interest in this school.Read the literature sent to you by the college, on the college’s website, or in guidebooks. • Come prepared to discuss your academic background and your interests outside of school. • Know your objectives and what you hope to accomplish during the interview. • Candor and maturity will work in your favor. Be prepared to discuss a blemish in your record without complaining, making excuses, or blaming others. • Practice with your College Counselor.

Financial Aid Information Interview Do’s • Be yourself. • Maintain good eye contact. • Dress neatly. Take your baseball cap off. • Be positive. • Listen. • Avoid one sentence or one-word answers. Remember, each question is an invitation for a conversation. Keep it going. • Show interest. Pay attention to both the questions being asked and the answers your interviewer gives. • Be honest. • Prepare a few questions about the school ahead of time. • Relax, have fun! Remember the interviewer is looking for reasons to like you and to find ways in which the college is a good fit for you, just as you are trying to sell yourself to the college. • Send a thank you note.   Interview Don’ts • Do not be late for your appointment. • Do not ask the interviewer to compare colleges. • Do not make excuses or blame others for any blemish on your record. Offer concise explanations that indicate a sense of personal responsibility and/or lesson learned. • Do not provide academic materials unless they are requested. Admissions Counselors will review your transcript and resume at another time; they prefer to use the interview to get to know you personally. Most important, relax and be yourself. The admission decision does not depend exclusively on the interview. Interviews are, generally, just a friendly, informative conversation. This is your opportunity not only to establish a personal connection with the college through the interviewer, but search seriously about this college and how well it fits you. Remember: “College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.”

Financing a college education is becoming more difficult for many families. If you think you will need financial assistance in order to attend college, be sure to acquaint yourself with the procedures that must be followed in applying for financial aid. We can’t stress this enough: Meeting deadlines is imperative! Regardless of a family’s financial situation, a college education is a significant investment that requires careful research and planning. When it comes to financing a college education, the fundamental premise is that to the extent they are able; it is the family’s responsibility to pay for a child’s education. In the 1960’s, federal and state financial aid programs were developed to help our nation’s most needy families access higher education. When competition for students increased in the 1990’s colleges began to use merit (non-need based) scholarships to encourage selected students to enroll. Today, families encounter a combination of need and merit based financial aid options. Principles of Need Analysis  The single most important factor in determining aid eligibility for most families is parental income. Other factors include non-discretionary expenses (such as taxes, medical expenses and basic living expenses), parental assets, and the number of dependents attending college. • To the extent they are able; parents have primary responsibility to pay for their dependent children’s education. • Students also have a responsibility to contribute to their educational costs. • Families should be evaluated in their present financial condition. • A family’s ability to pay for educational costs must be evaluated in an equitable and consistent manner, recognizing that special circumstances can and do affect ability to pay.  When you evaluate the packages offered by colleges, remember, the largest award may not necessarily be the best. Consider differences in cost of attendance. The largest dollar offer may also be the one at the most expensive college, and, therefore, the one with the greatest unmet need or “gap” between cost and available resources. If you cannot fill the gap with

other resources, you still may not be able to enroll in that college.  Even two offers that fully meet your needs may not be equal. If the estimated student expense budget used to calculate need is unrealistically low, you may have more real unmet needs than the award letter suggests. Some institutions estimate their costs conservatively to imply a more complete meeting of need than actually exists. You should compare stated costs with similar institutions to verify reasonableness. Consider, too, the loan burden you will have at the end of college in light of your long-range plans. Will you be attending graduate school? Will you be entering a lower-paying profession? If so, the cost of loans might be extremely burdensome.  If you have questions about your financial aid package, you or your parents should contact the financial aid administrator at the college. Divorced/Separated Parents: Most colleges and universities will also require information from the non-custodial parent with the expectation that contributions to the college expenses will be made if able. The College Board’s Divorced/Separated Parent Statement should be available from the college’s financial aid office. Early Decision Candidates: Early Decision candidates MUST communicate directly with the college’s financial aid office. In most cases, you will need to complete the CSS PROFILE in November and you may need to complete additional institutional forms. The college will likely give you an estimated award package at the time of admission. Your aid award will not become official until you submit a FAFSA in order to become eligible for federal aid.

Meeting Deadlines is Imperative! 17

Types of Financial Aid Once the admission office decides to admit a candidate and the financial aid office has determined that the candidate qualifies for financial aid, the financial aid office puts together a financial aid package which is a combination of several types of financial assistance. Grants: Federal, state and institutional grants are financial aid awards that you do not need to repay. Loans: Most are interest-free during enrollment; student loans must be repaid with interest over a period of time after graduating. Subsidized/ Stafford loans are need-based loans on which the federal government pays the interest while the student is enrolled in college and for six months after graduation. Any student, regardless of financial eligibility can apply for an unsubsidized Stafford Loan. Work: The vast majority of financial aid recipients will be expected to hold part-time jobs. Note: Not all schools guarantee that they will meet the full need of every admitted student. Most schools are unable to fund everyone, which causes a “gap” (unmet need) for which you are responsible. Other schools that are unable to offer aid to some applicants choose to deny admission.

by the Department of Education. Some colleges and private scholarship programs may also require the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE (PROFILE) processed by The College Scholarship Service of the College Board. It is important to check with the college financial aid office or scholarship program for specific application requirements.  When to Apply for Financial Aid  FAFSA: File your FAFSA as soon as possible. FAFSA is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov and should be completed and filed as soon after October 1 as possible using information from two years prior federal tax forms. The FAFSA calculates the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) based on a standard formula known as federal methodology. Each college’s financial aid officer then determines each student’s demonstrated financial need by assessing the difference between educational expenses (tuition, room, board and some expenses) and your EFC. Many families are required to submit additional information such as income tax records as a part of the process.

Sources of Financial Aid

Expected Family Contribution: The EFC and what the family feels it can afford to contribute often differ. Financial Aid Officers are there to help students and parents through the process—don’t hesitate to contact them for help. College financial aid officers attempt to maintain loan and work levels that will allow reasonable repayment either during or following college.

Institutional: Institutional aid comes directly from and is controlled by the individual college or university. Amounts of institutional aid offered by one college may differ significantly from what may be offered by another and can be based on financial need and/or merit.

Important Note: There should never be a fee to complete the FAFSA. If a website charges a fee, you are not using the correct online FAFSA! The CSS Profile is available online at www.collegeboard.com and families can begin to complete this form in the fall of the senior year.

Private: Private sources include foundations, religious, cultural, community, or fraternal organizations. This funding may be scholarship- or loan-based and can be based on merit, need, or by association with the awarding organization.

Non-Need Scholarships

Federal Government: The Federal Government administers a number of grant and loan programs designed to aid students with college costs. Applying for Financial Aid: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the financial aid application required by all colleges and is processed

For the student who does not qualify for aid but finds it difficult to cover college costs, alternatives often exist. Seek out possible scholarships offered by the colleges of interest to you. Colleges will use scholarships to entice students who will enhance their student body (often students who are at the top end of the academic profile) to enroll. Also pursue scholarships you might apply for from “outside” sources such as companies, foundations, and community organizations.

Tips for Pursuing Non-Need scholarships • Be aware of deadlines. • Treat any required essays with great care. Carefully read the qualification requirements and only apply for those scholarships if you meet the criterion. • Like the college application, scholarship applications take time. • Evaluating Financial Aid Awards • Are the non-billed costs (such as books and travel) used to determine financial need realistic? • Is my full need being met with financial aid? If not, what is the gap? • If the billed fees (tuition, room, board, activity, etc.) increase in future years, will the new costs be considered in awarding future financial aid? • How many meals per week are covered by the dining plan? • What portion of my aid is gift aid (grant/ scholarship)? • Must I accept all the financial aid offered in the financial aid package, or can I decline the loan or job without losing any other part of the package? • What is the school’s policy if I receive an outside, private scholarship? Will it be used to reduce the college grant or the self-help (loan/work) portion of my award? • Is my top choice college (for academic and other reasons) feasible financially? • Every fall or spring students and their families are targeted to receive letters from companies claiming to be able to provide special access to scholarships, grants, or “guaranteed” financial aid packages. If you have to pay money to use the service, it is probably a scam. Financial Aid Tips • Both students and parents should learn as much as possible about the college financial aid process. Meet with college financial aid administrators to establish a relationship. • Submit a FAFSA, even if you do not think you qualify for aid. Being rejected for federal aid is often a prerequisite for private awards. • Apply for aid as soon as possible after October 1. Be aware of ALL deadlines. • Inform financial aid administrators in writing about unusual expenses. Sometimes allowances may be made to assist you. • Take advantage of tuition prepayment discounts. Some colleges offer discounts for early payment • Investigate company-sponsored tuition plans. Many employers will invest in the education of their employees.

It is important to check with the college financial aid office or scholarship program for specific application requirements.  • To avoid gift tax liability, money from grandparents should be paid in your name directly to the school • Apply! You cannot win awards or receive funds for which you do not apply, so pay attention to deadlines. • Use scholarship search engines like www.finaid. org or www.fastweb.com to help you find the private sector assistance you need. • Beware of scholarship scams. You should never have to pay a fee to file a FAFSA or to receive a scholarship.  Web Resources for Financial Aid The following websites will be helpful to you as you research financial aid and apply for various financial aid programs and scholarships. These links are also on The Summit’s College Counseling web pages and you may find them easier to explore online. Financial Aid and Scholarship sites FAFSA: Free Application for federal student aid, need-based applications and scholarships.  (800-4333243) www.fafsa.ed.gov FastWEB: Offers a personalized scholarship search for various merit awards. www.fastweb.com FinAid: Offers users information about every type of financial aid and scholarship. www.finaid.org FinAid/OtherAid: Offers information about scholarships for students with disabilities. www. finaid.org/otheraid/disabled.phtml Black Students: Helps African American students find the latest scholarships and grants.www. blackstudents.blacknews.com

GoodCall Scholarship Search Engine: One of the largest databases of scholarships on the web, requires no personal information and it is free to use. www.goodcall.com/scholarships/search Merit Aid: Lists merit aid organized by state. www. meritaid.comSchool Soup: Claims to be the world’s largest  scholarship database. www.schoolsoup.com Sallie Mae: The nation’s leading provider of funds for insured student loans. www.salliemae.com Federal Student Aid: A student gateway to the U.S. government. (More than financial aid.) www. studentaid.ed.gov/redirects/federal-student-aid-edgov U.S. Department of Education: Explains policies on federal aid. www.ed.govScholarships.com: How to fund your education. www.scholarships.com CSS / Financial Aid PROFILE: Application site for nonfederal financial aid. www.student.collegeboard. org/css-financial-aid-profile

Tax Benefits for Education: Explains tax credits, deductions and savings plans that can help with college expenses. www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Benefits-forEducation:-Information-Center Students with Disabilities Resources BestColleges.com collection includes information for students with hearing, visual, physical and learning disabilities. Scholarships: http://www.affordablecollegesonline. org/college-resource-center/affordable-collegesfor-students-with-disabilities/Social Security Administration: www.ssa.govCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services: www.cms.govDepartment of Health and Human Services: www.hhs.gov

College Search Resources The Summit Country Day School College Counseling Office has prepared a quick reference guide on books often used during a college search. Most of these books are available through local bookstores, libraries or online booksellers. Many selections are also available for your review in The Summit’s College Counseling Office. Objective College Profile Books: The college profile books offer you the basic facts about colleges, number of students, majors, admission data, housing information, cost, addresses, etc. A number of publishers put them out, and they all have similar data. Two examples include are College Board College Handbook and Peterson’s Four Year Colleges. Subjective College Profile Books: The subjective college profile books are a bit more controversial, because as the name implies, they are subjective. However, you may find them useful. Usually based on questionnaires distributed to students, professors, administrators and deans, the profiles in these books are an attempt to characterize the aspects of college that cannot be quantified: social atmosphere, academic pressure and competition, quality of housing, food attitudes of students and faculty, etc. If you use these books, make sure to read a number of them. Do not take one books’ word for it! Some examples include: The Fiske Guide to Colleges, Insider’s Guide to Colleges, Colleges That Change Lives, The Best 377 Colleges, Ruggs

Recommendations and America’s Best Colleges (US News & World Report). Guidebooks: College guidebooks are available to help students and parents understand the entire college search and selection process. These resources have been quite useful to many families. Some recommended titles include: College Admission by Robin Mamlet; Colleges Unranked by Lloyd Thacker; I’m Going to College – Not You! by Jennifer Delahunty; Letting Go by Karen Coburn and Madge Theeger; and Crazy U by Andrew Ferguson. Specialized Guides: Among the many specialized guide books to colleges are these examples: Colleges with Programs for Students with Learning Disabilities or ADD by Peterson; K & W Guide to Colleges for the Learning Disabled by Kravets and Wax; African American Student’s College Guide; and America’s Black Colleges: the Comprehensive Guide to Historically and Predominately Black 4 Year Colleges and Universities by J. Wilson Bowman. Browse bookstores and booklists to find out about specialty books that may fit your situation or consult with a Summit College Counselor. Websites: College websites can give you a visual image of the campus and general student body. It seems that in photographs and promotional videos, every day is sunny and every student is smiling. However, these are often useful tools to get an idea of what the campus looks like. See a detailed list of college search web sites in the chapter “Useful Websites.”

Summit College Counseling Reader’s Guide: College Search Books Title

Author

Description

O'Shaughnessy

Great book on finding the right fit at the right cost!

What High Schools Don't Tell You

Wissner-Gross

Strategies to be admitted to highly selective colleges.

The College Hook

Proctor

Hints on how your student can differentiate themselves.

Running of the Bulls

Ridgway

Describes 5 Wharton Undergrads' experiences.

Getting In!

Cohen

Practical information on getting into selective colleges.

Paying for College without Going Broke

Chany

Up to date info on Financial Aid, easy to read with tips.

Best Buys in College Education

Barrons

Getting the most for your money.

Winning the Admissions Game

Van Buskirk

Advice to parents and to students. Highly recommended.

Fat Envelope Frenzy

Jager-Hyman

Gollows 5 seniors from Sept to May with applications.

The Financial Aid Handbook

Stack

Former financial aid officers describes merit awards/aid.

The New Rules of College Admissions

Kramer

Former admissions officers reveal how to get in to colleges.

Shrinking the Cost of College

O'Shaughnessy

Easy to read workbook with great examples and info.

Overachievers

Robbins

High end stressed kids trying for the top.

The Gatekeepers

Steinberg

How Wesleyan Univ determines acceptances.

Reflections on 100,000 Admissions at Stanford

Fetter

X-admission's officer talks about her previous job.

A is for Admissions

Hernandez

Former admissions officer at Dartmouth.

Admissions Confidential

Toor

Duke's admission officer feedback.

Getting In

Cohen

Written by a high priced college admissions counselor.

The Select

Greene

Realities of life and learning in America's Elite Colleges.

A Parent's Guide to College Admissions

Kaplan

Logical approach to college admissions.

Harvard Schmarvard

Mathews

The ins and outs of going to Harvard.

Campus Visits and College Interviews

College Board

Describes how you should visit colleges.

Acing the College Application

Hernandez

Advice from a former Dartmouth admissions officer.

Go to College Almost for Free

Kaplan

Logical strategies for finding outside scholarships.

Scholarship Scouting Report

Kaplan

Insider's guide to the best scholarships.

Privilege

Douthat

Harvard alum writes about his time at Harvard.

The Price of Admission

Golden

How the ruling class buys its way into elite colleges.

Pledged

Robbins

College life in a Sorority, written by undercover writer.

Debt-Free U

Bissonnette

How to pay for college without loans or scholarships.

The College Solution Guide for Right School at Right Price

Zinch Guide to Gollege Admiss and Fin Aid

Inside the Admissions Process

Useful Websites There are an abundance of websites offering information about every aspect of the college admission process. We have listed a number of sites we find reliable and informative. These links are also on The Summit’s College Counseling web pages and you may find them easier to explore online. Essential Sites The Common Application: The standardized application used by many colleges and universities. www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/default.aspxThe ACT: Administers the ACT test. Free prep materials. www.actstudent.org College Board: Administers the PSAT, SAT and Advanced Placement tests.  www.collegeboard. orgNCAA Eligibility Center: Provides information about eligibility for Division I and II.  www.eligibilitycenter. orgFree Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Need-based applications and scholarships. www. fafsa.ed.govNaviance Family Connection: The Summit uses this throughout the college planning process. It lists every scholarship we know of with application links and deadline information. You will find this link on The Summit’s website and in the portal. https:// connection.naviance.com/summitcds Researching Colleges in the U.S.  Go See Campus: A college search engine with a trip planner tool. www.goseecampus.com Princeton Review: Offers test prep options. www. princetonreview.com Kaplan: Offers test prep options. www.kaplan. comCampus Tours: Offers virtual tours of colleges. www.campustours.com Unigo: Offers student’s reviews of colleges they attend. www.unigo.com College Confidential: A forum where you can ask questions of insiders.  www.collegeconfidential.com Colleges That Change Lives: Directory of colleges worth consideration. www.ctcl.org Reputation Management: A guide to a student’s online reputation. www.reputationmanagement. com/online-reputation-management-for-high-schoolstudents

Researching Colleges outside the U.S.  WorldWide Classroom: Library of International Programs. www.worldwide.edu/index.html Education International (EI): www.ei-ie.org/ Braintrack: www.braintrack.com Study in Canada: www.studyincanada.com/english/ index.asp Financial Aid and Scholarship sites

Social Security Administration: www.ssa.gov Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: www. cms.gov Department of Health and Human Services: www.hhs.gov Other Online Test Prep Sites Number2: Free practice tests for the SAT and ACT. www.number2.com/ Prep Me: For profit company offers a diagnostic SAT and ACT. www.prepme.com/ Reviews.com: Evaluates ACT and SAT prep courses. www.reviews.com/act-sat-test-prep-courses

FAFSA: Free Application for federal student aid, need-based applications and scholarships. (800-4333243) www.fafsa.ed.gov FastWEB: Offers a personalized scholarship search for various merit awards. www.fastweb.com FinAid: Offers users information about every type of financial aid and scholarship. www.finaid.org FinAid/OtherAid: Offers information about scholarships for students with disabilities. www.finaid. org/otheraid/disabled.phtml Black Students: Helps African American students find the latest scholarships and grants. www. blackstudents.blacknews.com Merit Aid: Lists merit aid organized by state. www. meritaid.com School Soup: Claims to be the world’s largest scholarship database. www.schoolsoup.com Sallie Mae: The nation’s leading provider of funds for insured student loans. www.salliemae.com Federal Student Aid: A student gateway to the U.S. government. (More than financial aid.) www. studentaid.ed.gov/redirects/federal-student-aid-edgov U.S. Department of Education: Explains policies on federal aid. www.ed.gov Scholarships.com: How to fund your education. www.scholarships.com CSS / Financial Aid PROFILE: Application site for nonfederal financial aid. www.student.collegeboard. org/css-financial-aid-profile Tax Benefits for Education: Explains tax credits, deductions and savings plans that can help with  college expenses. www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Benefitsfor-Education:-Information-Center College Scorecard: Compares affordability for various colleges and universities. www.collegecost. ed.gov/scorecard/index.aspx Online Schools: College financial aid guide. www.onlineschools.org/financial-aidStudents with Disabilities Resources