Category: College

Financial Aid for College

Everyone is rightly concerned about the costs of post-high school education. I often describe college costs as “funny money” because it can be quite unsettling to hear statements like “community college is only $1,000 a semester” or “public school is pretty inexpensive compared to public universities at $25,000 a year”.

There are so many things to take into consideration when considering the costs of a college education. As you begin researching colleges and universities, you first want to count the cost.

What are the costs associated with your student’s school choices? The total cost generally includes the following: tuition, fees, books, living expenses, food expenses, travel expenses, and miscellaneous expenses. A couple of places to do research and compare costs is to look at Niche.com, USNews&WorldReport.com, and BigFuture/CollegeBoard.org. Each of these resources has a Net Calculator and basic cost charts for you to compare each school.

I suggest considering both private and public colleges and universities. Private schools can be more expensive, but they also provide more scholarship opportunities. As you explore your options, one important factor to consider is the percentage of students receiving financial aid. Some schools have rates as high as 99%, ensuring that nearly all attending students receive some form of financial assistance, such as grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans. Another crucial figure to examine is the Net Price, which reveals the average expenses after accounting for scholarships and awards.

In the fall of your student’s senior year, you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In Texas, all public school students must complete the form before graduation. Even as a homeschool student, most colleges and universities will require the FAFSA for the student to receive financial aid. Below are links for the FAFSA and other relevant forms.

FAFSA – federal and state grants, work study and loans

CSS Profile – non-federal institutional aid for participating universities

TAFSA – state of Texas grants and loans for non-citizens and non-permanent resident students

Your next source of scholarships and academic awards come from the institution themselves. These can be based on many factors and are unique to each college and university. There are numerous scholarships even for 2-year colleges and technical schools. With some state schools, the scholarship applications are built into the ApplyTexas and CommonApp application. I recommend meeting with a Financial Aid officer from all the schools your student is accepted to review their many scholarship opportunities.

The time students spend looking for and applying for college scholarships is very valuable. It’s like having a job that pays $500 per hour. It’s really worth the effort. There are a lot of resources available online for finding scholarships. The more specific you are in your search, the better chance you have of getting a scholarship. For instance, you can look for scholarships that match your ancestry, your college major, or the area you live in. Here are some of my favorite search engines for finding personalized scholarships:

Going Merry      

Raise.me

Bold.org

SallieMae.com

Find Your Christian College/Financial Aid

FAFSA Checklist: ICanSucceed.org

For additional and more in-depth assistance, I can recommend Yorkshire College Planning.

Looking for in-depth guidance on assisting your student in choosing a major, researching colleges and scholarships? Explore the different opportunities I offer to meet your family’s needs which include Aptitude and Interest Advising, College and Career Classes, Finding Financial Aid Workshops, and Completing the College Application Workshops. I thoroughly enjoy meeting families for personalized consultations to devise the best high school and college plans for your student(s).

Reach out at my Contact Me page or email me at sharianne@ccctoolbox.com

Digital PSAT 8/9 and PSAT NMSQT

Homeschooled & Away Students Taking the PSAT/NMSQT – SAT Suite (collegeboard.org)

You can search for different schools to register or choose from a variety of private schools. Also, pay attention to the September 5th deadline for some schools and their specific requirements.

Student Guides: PSAT NMSQT and PSAT 8/9

Preparing for the PSAT NMSQT and PSAT 8/9

CollegeBoard PSAT 8/9 and PSAT NMSQT will be administered digitally from now on. The testing window is October 1-31. The date available for your 8th grade student, freshman, sophomore and/or junior student will depend on the testing center you choose.

As a homeschool student, you can sign up with any local high school or private school to take the PSAT depending on availability. Check with their administrative or counseling office to reserve a spot for your student by September 1st. Most likely, schools will require you to bring your own laptop. There will be a small fee for the cost of the test payable to the school.

One tip for preparing includes testing your device for compatibility to the new testing platform. You can do that at this link: https://bluebook.collegeboard.org/students

Also, another tip is for your student to become familiar with the testing platform through practice. Your student can do that at this link: https://bluebook.collegeboard.org/students/practice

For more information about standardized testing for 2-year, technical, and 4-year colleges and universities, see my previous blog on: College-Readiness-Tests-and-Test-Prep

Interested in knowing more about home educating a high school student, check out the Workshops, Classes and Seminars for upcoming events.

Aptitudes, Interests, Skills and Giftings: How are you wired?

Before beginning the process of searching for colleges or skill training in a technical field, it is helpful and informative for your student to spend some time in self-reflection and possibly complete a few different aptitude, interests and gifting tests.

Aptitudes: capability; ability; innate or acquired capacity for something; “natural ability to learn or perform in given areas” regardless of exposure or environment

I use YouScience.com to help students learn more about how they are innately wired, how their interests guide their calling, and how this combined knowledge can inform their career and major research.

YouScience’s Aptitude and Career Discovery application “uses a series of 11 engaging exercises or ‘brain games’ to measure 9 aptitudes that are key to career performance: idea generation, numerical reasoning, spatial visualization, sequential reasoning, inductive reasoning, visual comparison speed, timeframe orientation, vocabulary, and work approach. The results include a review of your strengths, suggested careers that best fit your aptitudes and interests, and detailed information on over 500 careers including a personal fit analysis, job responsibilities, salaries, job forecasts, and educational pathways.”

“What’s YouScience? | Discover careers perfect for you” from YouScience on Vimeo:  https://vimeo.com/647002647

I also use a the free SHAPE Test to help students understand how their spiritual gifts, heart (passions), abilities (skills), personality and experiences do shape their purpose and calling in life as well.

The YouScience and SHAPE Test are best for students 14 years and older. To begin the conversation, though, with middle school students, I use a free Career Interest Survey. This allows the student to begin to see how they are uniquely wired with strengths and interests that eventually may lead to a career path and purpose for their lives.

For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise You because I have been fearfully and wonderfully made. Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.    PSALM 139:13, 14a, 16

Every person has a unique purpose and calling on their lives that are God-given. Our family, our experiences in life (both good and bad), our strengths and weaknesses, our innate abilities and aptitudes that have been wired into us before our birth, have purpose and intention. Finding that purpose and to see our calling applied is a gift and a worthwhile pursuit.

I can help advise students on their academic plans for both high school and post-high school, whether military, career, tech school, 2-yr college, or 4-yr university. This includes career and major research, as well as, college research that best aligns with their unique wiring.

YouScience program and one hour Consultation

To utilize my services in this process, you can purchase (at a discounted rate) the YouScience and Consultation meeting, or it can be completed as part of the College and Career Prep Course for your juniors and seniors.

If you are looking for more in-depth assistance, feel free to contact me: sharianne@ccctoolbox.com to discuss my one-on-one academic advising options that might be the best fit for your family.

College Readiness Tests and Test Prep

In gearing up for college applications, students need to begin preparing for college readiness tests no later than their freshman year.

In middle school, you can assist your students by teaching study skills and test taking skills. Taking timed tests, working with and without a calculator, completing bubble sheets and personal information on the test key, eliminating wrong answers, drawing illustrations for word problems, being familiar with common root words and grammar rules, and discerning main ideas from large reading passages are a few of the skills your student will need to experience prior to high school.

Several publishers offer standardized testing for homeschoolers:

hewittlearning.org

www.setontesting.com

www.depts.ttu.edu/k12

www.bjupresshomeschool.com/content/testing-support

Each test option offers different support and scope of testing depending on age and need. The practice in middle school is worth the money and test experience, as well as, the knowledge of possible gaps that you can add to the following year’s plan.

In high school, it is important to begin preparing your student for the SAT, ACT, CLT, and/or TSIA2 (accuplacer). All four tests are to determine college readiness for your student. One or more of these tests are required for college admission, core scheduling, and/or dual credit for 2yr and 4yr schools.

For Test Prep, I can recommend the following free opportunities for each:

Official SAT Prep: www.khanacademy.org/DigitalSAT

Bluebook Digital SAT Format: Bluebook Download and Practice

ACT Prep: www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation/free-act-test-prep.html

CLT Prep: www.cltexam.com/tests/test-prep/

TSIA2 Prep (specifically for dual credit and 2yr colleges):

www.tsipracticetest.com/

practice.accuplacer.org/login

(create account separate from your collegeboard account

For paid course and classes, I can recommend the following:

www.collegeprepgenius.com

www.kaptest.com/

www.princetonreview.com/

To create a baseline and to minimize anxiety, you can begin to sign up by taking any of the tests at the following sites. Your high school student needs create their OWN account at their OWN email. You can set up a dedicated email address for all things college and share that information in order to assist your student. Most of the sites listed allow you to create a parent account to mirror your students’ account. Also, encourage your student to share the login info with you so you may help them in times of deadlines, etc.

SAT: www.collegeboard.org/

ACT: www.act.org/content/act/en.html

CLT: www.cltexam.com/

TSIA2: sign up with your local community college’s testing department

UPDATE: Does your student need accommodations? You can request those by completing the forms and providing documentation at the links below:

SAT: https://accommodations.collegeboard.org/request-accommodations/request/forms 

ACT: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration/accommodations/homeschooled-or-non-enrolled.html

Have questions about test-optional and setting up a high school plan for test prep? Reach out to me by email: sharianne@ccctoolbox.com or schedule one-one-one advising for all your high school and college prep needs.

Planning for a New School Year

A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Summertime has typically been my favorite time for planning my homeschooling for the upcoming year. Overtime, you will find what works for you, but here are some suggestions that have helped me and my family over the years.

A great place to start is considering the past year regardless of where your student(s) attended school: public, private or homeschool. For my first step, I spent some time evaluating where each of my kids were socially, academically, spiritually, and physically. Then, I would prayerfully determine where we needed to make changes or stay the course from the previous year. This process would enable me to set new goals and plan opportunities that would meet their needs or our families’ needs for the new school year.

My next step would be to purchase a desk calendar (or use a digital version), typically August-July, and map out our vacations, holidays, and special trips to visit family. Then, I would block out 36 weeks for school. Most curriculum and schools use a 36 week calendar (or 180 days).

Next, I would consider co-ops, sports, music or art lessons, college calendars, clubs or groups that take into account each child’s unique bent and needs. If I knew when lessons, teams, co-ops, or classes met for the year (or when the season began and ended), then I would add those to the annual calendar.

Finally, the most practical step for me each year was using the Weekly Planner worksheet (included here for your use). First, I would block out family commitments, chores, church, and family time. In order to stay organized with 4 kids, each one would have their own color. I would color code blocks with each of their lessons, practices, youth groups or clubs, and classes. At last, I mapped out when we would home school during each day. If we didn’t have enough time to get our school work done, then back to the drawing board I would go.

With high schoolers, we became a little more structured with the core subjects (math, science, history, English and foreign languages) and needed electives that take more time. By considering each student’s graduation plan (those requirements needed by colleges and those required by our family’s goals), I could make a schedule that included driver’s education, community service, dual credit and jobs, as well.

Just remember, this is just a blue print, and every year, we encountered changes to our plans. “Best laid plans of mice and men . . .” always comes to my mind with a little chuckle.

It is important, and sometimes difficult, to remember to include the LORD in the process. He can bring direction, wisdom, and insight. Throughout the years, God has been my constant adviser. Only He knows what the year will hold and will faithfully prepare you for it.

If you would like more ideas, tips and tricks on planning, and even organization, plan on attending any of my upcoming seminars and workshops. Need more one-on-one help, see my Academic Advising link in the menu or email me at sharianne@ccctoolbox.com to discuss the different options.

The High School Transcript

The purpose of the high school transcript is to create a legal document detailing courses taken over the last four years of a student’s high school education. It may not be “required” if your student never attends a four year university, but it is the legal documentation proving a successful completion of their education that supports the awarding of his/her diploma.

At any time in the near or far future, your child may be asked for his/her high school transcript for college application, tech school, private school, employment, or even scholarship awards. Better to be prepared and ready!

There are two designs for transcripts: one that details all the courses by school year and one that details all the courses by subject matter. Either is acceptable and recognizable in the college admissions process. Here are two examples:

Sample Transcript by Year

Sample Transcript by Subject

Items that must be included in the transcript: Full name according to birth certificate, date of birth, name of school, parents’ names if applicable, student contact information (email, cell phone or both), address, completion year of individual courses, letter and number grades, amount of credit for each individual course, grading scale, notations if courses taken as dual credit or with a co-op, grade point average, graduation date (once completed), parent (or admin) signature and date, and notary signature and date. Adding official entrance exam scores like SAT, ACT, or CLT are optional, yet sometimes helpful to the process.

The key to building and creating a thorough transcript is keeping sufficient records. For each year, it is best to keep a list of courses taken, curriculum used, grades acquired, and time spent. These all play a part in determining course names, credits and grade point averages.

In the Building the High School Transcript Workshops, we will work together to plan, organize and create the high school transcript for your student. This workshop is now available ON-DEMAND.

If you are looking for more individualized assistance in producing a professional transcript ready for college applications, feel free to contact me: sharianne@ccctoolbox.com.

High School Resume

Building the high school resume begins during the middle school years. Students can begin to look into ways to serve the community, play sports, get involved in their church youth group, serve in missions, look for leadership opportunities, and eventually seek internship and job opportunities. Colleges are also looking for students who take more challenging coursework to add to their resume.

Throughout the high school years, keep records, awards, emails, grade reports, and team rosters. As a student is completing their junior year, it is important to prepare the resume for college and scholarship applications.

Here are a few categories to consider: Volunteer Experiences, Work or Job Experiences, Extracurricular Activities, Athletic Experiences, Awards and Recognition, Honors Education/Coursework, Leadership Positions, Internships, Organizations

Here are a few sample resumes:

Click to access resume-sample-updated.pdf

Click to access sample_resume_3.pdf

In the Building the High School Transcript Workshops, we will work together to plan, organize and create the high school resume for your student. This workshop is now available ON-DEMAND.

If you are looking for more ideas or would like me to work with your student personally on building their resume, feel free to contact me: sharianne@ccctoolbox.com