Starting Early: 5 Reasons to Start Your Scholarship Search In Your Sophomore Year

Guest blogger, Felicia Gopaul, is the President of College Fundingbouquet flowers felicia Resource (CFR), teaches families how the financial aid system works. She shared the following article about getting a jump start on the the scholarship search.

Smart students don’t wait to start looking for scholarships until the fall of their senior year in high school (or later).  They get started much earlier than that.  In fact, many successful scholarship recipients start looking for scholarships as early as the spring semester of their sophomore year in high school.

Why start your scholarship search so early?

Starting your scholarship search early is smart.  It allows you time to get organized and leisurely put together a list of scholarships you want to apply for in your senior year.  It also allows you to complete any summer programs that you might have to attend in order to qualify for a scholarship.

For example, the New Jersey chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants has a summer Accounting Awareness Program (ACAP) that a student must complete in order to be eligible for a scholarship later.  By starting your scholarship search early, you have a few more summers to find and fulfill the requirements for programs like ACAP.  Starting early means you won’t find yourself ineligible for a scholarship because you did not know or have time to complete the requirements for qualification. Read more tips – click here!

Important Financial Aid Forms for College Bound Students

How do colleges calculate financial aid awards for students who have applied to their institution?  Each college has its own set of requirements so the student should be sure to check with the financial aid offices of the schools.  Along with forms that may be required, there are important deadlines to follow too.  Paying For College CoverRemember to apply for additional financial aid from your state government and outside scholarships.
Here are financial aid applications you may have to complete:

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) – a federal financial aid application form required by all colleges for federal financial aid including grants, loans, and work/study. In addition, some colleges use the FAFSA to award money from its own endowment funds and others require additional forms.

Verification Worksheet is to be completed if a student’s FAFSA was selected for review by the college.

State – Visit your state’s department of education site for information on state-sponsor on state financial aid programs for state residents.

Institutional – Email colleges on your list for additional institutional forms that the school may require before awarding money from its own endowment funds for financial aid.. Click here to read more!

10 Ways to Start Saving for Your College Education

There are multiple ways to prepare to start saving for your college education.

1.  A 529 Plan is a state-sponsored program designed to help parents finance education expenses. They are administered by certain investment companies and subject to contribution requirements and guidelines. Withdrawals from the account are taxed at the child’s tax rate, and anyone can contribute to a Section 529 plan, regardless of their income level. In most cases, the money is invested in a portfolio of stocks, bonds, or mutual funds. The proceeds can be used only for education withdrawals for non-educational purposes trigger taxes and a 10% penalty. The investment company administering the account will be in control of how the money is invested, and will charge an ongoing fee for its services. Read 9 more ways to save for college.

What Is The CSS Profile?

Some participating institutions use the CSS Profile in addition to other forms such as the FAFSA to determine a financial aid package for students applying to their school.

The College Board notes the following information about the Profile:

WHAT is the PROFILE? The PROFILE is an online application that collects information used by certain colleges and scholarship programs to award institutional aid funds. (All federal funds are awarded based on the FAFSA, available after Jan. 1 at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.  Some colleges may require additional information, such as tax returns or an institutional application. If your parents are divorced, some colleges will also require your noncustodial parent to complete the Noncustodial PROFILE. Continue reading What Is The CSS Profile?

What’s “Your College Bound Plan?” Get Organized Now!

STAY ORGANIZED WITH THIS COMPANION WORKBOOK  TO “COLLEGE BOUND” INTERACTIVE GUIDE

“My College Bound Plan” by Christine M. Hand Gonzales, Ed.D.

mcbp-2016-17-cvr-only-72dpiA complete companion workbook to the College Bound interactive e-book with all the forms and checklists found in College Bound ready to use.

Now available in paperback on Amazon for $14.95 – great for keeping notes on your college plan – just click here!

Reviews:

“College Bound has everything! The first place I went was how to figure out what to major in. The links to O*NET and the career and major profiles really helped. Then I used the link to College Navigator to match majors with colleges. Testing, essay ideas, asking for letters of recommendation, and finding money are all important topics to me. There’s so much in this book. No matter what I needed, I found it in College Bound! There’s nothing else like it – and I know it helped me get into USC.” Jessica – University of South Carolina Freshman

“College Bound is awesome! I began my search for a college my junior year when I was interested in playing sports at the Division II or III level and Dr. Chris’s book helped a lot. The step-by-step instructions made the process for a student-athlete easy to understand. It also answered all my other questions about visits, the interviews, and the application process. Thanks, Dr. Chris!” Brian, High School Senior – Connecticut!–more– Read more reviews – click here.

cb-2016-17-cvr-only-72dpi“College Bound has been an amazing resource for our family! With one child in college and another who will graduate in two years, this book is a wealth of information! We are using it to help our daughter prepare for getting into the right school, and we’re using it to find additional financing for our son. I would have loved to have this book when he was in high school.” RM, Mother to a High School Junior and College Sophomore

“College Bound has been an amazing resource for our family! With one child in college and another who will graduate in two years, this book is a wealth of information! We are using it to help our daughter prepare for getting into the right school, and we’re using it to find additional financing for our son. I would have loved to have this book when he was in high school.” RM, Mother to a High School Junior and College Sophomore

“As a high school college counselor and a private consultant, ‘College Bound’ and the My College Bound Plan workbook have become essential tools in working with my students. The step by step process details every piece of important information needed to for your student to be successful in the college search and with the challenge of applications. I use the workbook with my students and have College Bound on my iPad as an instant resource.  I have recommended both of these books to my students and their parents.” Christine Carriuolo, M.S., College Counselor

For “College Bound” in eBook or paperback, click here!

Can’t Get to a College Campus? Why Not Visit from Home?

Visiting the campus is probably one of the most important steps in actually choosing your college. After all, you may be choosing where you would like to live for the next four years.  If you do not have the opportunity to visit, or have a chance to meet an admissions officer at a college fair in your hometown, it will be important for you to take a virtual visit:

  • Do your research about the college online.
  • Know your own goals and what questions you would like answered.
  • Know your PSAT, SAT and/or ACT scores, and GPA.
  • Understand your own strengths in the academic arena as well as in extracurricular activities.
  • Focus more on academic and student life opportunities.
  • Be honest on with yourself and what you are looking for.
  • Never underestimate the value of a tour whether online or in person. Click here to visit college virtual tour websites.

Dispelling the Myths About the College Selection Process

There are many myths about the college selection process, a few of which follow: 1) there is one perfect college for each student; 2) investigating colleges is an unpleasant chore; 3) a prestigious college education is a necessity for a successful career; 4) you can only afford a low-priced college; and 5) if you’ve never heard of a college, it can’t be good. These ideas frequently interfere with the primary goal of college admissions – to help students and colleges find the best possible match. We often associate exclusivity with higher value, but the fact is that “more selective” does not necessarily mean “better”. A student should not simply attend the most competitive college that accepts him or her. It is a mistake to narrow your sights to only one college, or to steer away from certain colleges because of higher costs. Keep your options open. Looking at colleges is an exciting and interesting activity that often leads to important self-discovery and new direction for the future. Let your enthusiasm and optimism shine and have fun with the process.

How to Impress Your Instructor Online: Quick Tips to Success for the Virtual Student

How to Impress Your Instructor Online: Quick Tips to Success for the Virtual Student by Harold T. Gonzales, Jr. Ed.D., is the essential resource guide for online students and educators working with students in higher education settings. The author offers an overview of the keys to success for the virtual student as they delve into their online learning experience and provides tips to impressing their online instructor. The book covers a broad range of topics including learning styles, time management techniques, online etiquette and communication skills, evaluation, and the challenging problems of plagiarism and cheating.

This must-read guide for any student considering online learning! Available for $4.99 in the College-Path.com Bookstore. Also on Amazon for the Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook versions!