Ready, Set, College!Bothell PTSA Event

Federal ProgramGEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness for Undergraduate Programs)

State GrantWashington GEAR UP

GEAR UP Grant PartnerUW Office of Minority Affairs & DiversityGEAR UP Educator Development InitiativeRoseann London, Director

College: My Dream. My Plan.

Why College?• It pays off. A college graduate with a bachelor’s degree can

expect to earn twice as much as non-college grads. This translates into about $1.6 million more in lifetime earnings than those with a high school diploma.

• Improved quality of life -- health, higher life-satisfaction, community involvement.

• More likely to stay employed.

• Economic forecasts predict that 72% of future jobs will require a bachelor’s degree or higher.

College Readiness =

Aware

+

Eligible

+

Prepared

Aware of Postsecondary Options in Washington

Public Universities• Central Washington University – Ellensburg

• Eastern Washington University – Cheney

• Western Washington University – Bellingham

• University of Washington--Seattle, Bothell, Tacoma

• Washington State University -- Pullman, Vancouver, Tri-Cities, Spokane

• The Evergreen State College – Olympia

Private Universities• Gonzaga University – Spokane

• Saint Martin’s University – Lacey

• Seattle University • Seattle Pacific University • Pacific Lutheran University – Tacoma

• Whitman College – Walla Walla

Community and Technical Colleges

Describe our colleges

Transfering plan ahead

College Fit – Considerations

• Location:

in-state vs. out-of-state

• Institutional Type:

4 year vs. community college

public vs. private

secular vs. religious

• Enrollment Size

small, medium, large

• Cost:

in-state vs. out-of-state

4 year vs. community college

private vs. public

• Academic Programs (Majors)

Others to consider

• Selectivity (admissions profile)ACT/SAT scoreaverage GPA

• Campus life

• Diversity

• Retention and graduation rates

• Accessibility to professors

• Reach, Solid, Safety

Career Exploration & Workforce Needs

Career Cruising http://www.careercruising.com/Bothell resource through counseling center.

Career Bridgewww.careerbridge.wa.gov/Searchable database of education and training programs.Average earnings & employment outlook.

Job Shadows

Explore your interests and related educational path.

How to pay for it all?

Financial aid includes grants, loans, work study, and scholarships - and can be either need-based or merit-based.

You can receive financial aid equal to your “financial need”.Your “financial need” is the difference between the “cost of attendance” and your “expected family contribution”.

The amount your family is expected to contribute is calculated based on the information you reported on your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

FAFSA4caster:www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov

Scholarships

It’s free money. If you put the time and effort, it can pay off in a big way!

theWashBoard.orghttp://www.thewashboard.org

Scholarship Junkieshttp://scholarshipjunkies.com

Washington Opportunities Pathways http://www.hecb.wa.gov/PayingForCollege/StateAid

Tip: start early and never pay for searches

College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs)

• English (4 credits)• Math (3 credits)• Social Sciences (3 credits)• Science (2 credits)• Foreign Language (2 credits)• Fine Arts (1 credit)

Note: More are recommended for competitive schools

Rigorous Courses and Programs

* Advanced Placement (AP) * International Baccalaureate (IB) * Dual Credit (Running Start, college in the high school)

Eligible

Prepared – more than eligible

College preparation involves putting college awareness skills into action as well as going above and beyond the minimally required coursework to ensure postsecondary success.

Students who are college prepared also have the personal and social skills required to succeed in the more independent environment of the workplace or postsecondary campus.

Working harder today will make getting into college easier and succeeding once you get there.

Times Lines

Develop a 4 year plan

Take the PSAT (Sophomore Year).Take the ACT or SAT (Late Junior Year and early Senior Year).

Beginning of your Senior YearWork on essays (personal statement -- tell your story)

Get personal.What challenges have you faced?What can you provide that is not in the rest of the application.

Recommendation letters if required by the school you are applying to.Submit your College Application (October/November of Senior Year).

FAFSA – www.fafsa.ed.gov (Beginning of January of your Senior Year). Beat every deadline! (find out the deadlines early)

Tips

Talk to your counselors, coaches, teachers.Contact your Admission Counselors.Visit Campuses.Attend College Fairs.

Get your college dreams on other people’s radar.

Thank you!