Planning For College
Planning For College
If you have not researched colleges, here are some suggested steps to start the college selection process. This information comes from the Iowa College Access Network (ICAN).
Step 1: Learn About Types Of Colleges And Their Degrees
Colleges & Universities (four-year) offer bachelor’s degrees and advanced degrees such as masters and doctorates.
Public Colleges are operated and financially supported by the state in which they are located while private colleges rely on endowments, tuition, and fundraising.
Community Colleges (two-year) offer certificates, diplomas, and two-year associate degrees. They offer a variety of programs, and many courses may transfer to a four-year college.
Private Career Schools (for profit) specialize in fields or trades such as technology, business, or cosmetology. Some offer bachelor’s and associate degrees, but most award diplomas or certificates that are completed in a short amount of time.
Step 2: Research Colleges And Create A List Of Potential Schools
During your Senior Interview with your counselor, talk about your college selections and plans to date. Senior interviews will take place during the months of September through December.
Speak with the college admissions representatives that visit Underwood HS.
Make a list of questions to ask college admissions reps:
http://www.educationquest.org/11th-12th-grade-students/selecting-a-college/college-visit-questions/
http://icansucceed.org/en/high_school/explore_colleges/college_fairs/
Register to attend a College Fair to learn more about colleges in Iowa, Nebraska, and across the country.
Register to attend Iowa College Fairs at www.iowacollegefairs.com
Sept. —Lewis Central HS
Sept. —Golden Circle College Fair in Des Moines, IA
Register to attend Nebraska College Fairs at www.nebraskacollegefairs.org
Oct.—Omaha Area College Fair in Omaha, NE—UNO campus
Check your RAI score for the Iowa Regent institutions: www.regents.iowa.gov/RAI
Step 3: Visit The Colleges You Think You May Want To Attend
Many colleges offer special days for seniors and parents to visit their campuses. Pre-arrange your campus visits with the colleges and let Mr. Hughes and the office know you are going. Mr. Hughes can help you set up these visits as well.
Do these visits early so you don’t run into weather problems during the winter.
Check our school website on the Guidance site for a list of questions to ask while on your visit.
Step 4: Register For The ACT or SAT College Entrance Exams
Know which test your college/university will accept.
Take the exam more than once. You should probably take it at least once or twice toward the end of your Junior year and then once or twice the beginning of your Senior year. If you need financial assistance to pay the cost of testing, see Mr. Hughes for a fee waiver form before submitting your registration.
ACT registration— http://www.actstudent.org
SAT registration— http://www.sat.collegeboard.org/home
SAT Subject Area Test registration— http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/Controller.jpf
Underwood HS does offer the John Baylor ACT Prep Course twice. It is offered to Juniors in February and March to prepare for the April ACT test. It is offered again to Seniors in September and October to prepare for the October test. This is free to students and is done during the school day.
If you are planning to attend a community college you may not need to take the ACT or SAT. They will take those scores but you can also take either the ASSET or COMPASS tests at the community college. These tests are usually free the first time you take them.
Step 5: Narrow Your List Of Top College/University Choices
Compare your top colleges based on academics, size, location, career preparation, internships, social climate, and costs to help narrow your choices. Just because you have a friend attending a certain school, doesn’t mean it is the right choice for you.
Step 6: Apply To Your Top 3-4 Schools Before Their Priority Deadlines
Most colleges will require the application and fee (if there is a fee), your official high school transcript, and your ACT/SAT/COMPASS test scores.
Ask the admissions office if your application is used for college-based scholarships or if there is another form you need to fill out for scholarships.
Ask the Guidance Office to send your transcripts to the college/university of your choice.
If you have taken IWCC classes, you must get a transcript request form from either IWCC or Mr. Hughes has some in his office.
Step 7: Complete Scholarships
Scholarships come from many different sources:
The college/university itself
National Scholarships
State Level Scholarships
Local Scholarships
Go to the Underwood Guidance Counselor Connections website to view scholarship lists. Mr. Hughes sends out a list each month. There is also a list of scholarships by due date on the web site.
NEVER pay for a scholarship search. There are so many free ones available.
You can use your Ihaveaplaniowa.gov account and search for scholarships through their scholarship finder.
Some other scholarship searches:
Step 8: Apply For Financial Aid (FAFSA)
Attend Financial Aid Night October 19th at 7:15pm at Underwood HS Auditorium. ICAN will give a presentation about the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
On May 10, 2015, Federal Student Aid, that operates the FAFSA, will make a change away from PIN numbers and to a username and password system for the FAFSA. Any student starting a new FAFSA on or after that date will have to set up a user name and password. Any student that has a PIN number already, will only need to make the change whenever they login to their FAFSA, StudenLoans.gov, the National Student Loan Data System (www.nslds.ed.gov), etc. The biggest thing that will affect high school students is the FAFSA.
Students/parents who have already filed the FAFSA won’t have to do anything right away. They will be prompted to set up a username and password when they next login to their FAFSA.
In the fall of each year you are attending college, complete the FAFSA at fafsa.gov before your college’s/university’s priority date.
You will need your taxes to be done before you complete the FAFSA.
ICAN can help you fill out your FAFSA. They have an office on the IWCC campus. Their services are free.