Completed your FAFSA? Three Things to Do While Waiting for Those Award Letters

Waiting roomToday you are in

“a most useless place.

The Waiting Place . . .

Waiting for the fish to bite  .  . .

or Another chance.

Everyone is just waiting.”1

All your college applications have been turned in.  Your financial aid forms have been submitted.  You are in what Dr. Seuss refers to as “The Waiting Place.” Waiting for the colleges to which you applied to let you know – yes, no or wait listed.

“The Waiting Place” is a great place to stop and acknowledge your accomplishments over the past 4 years.  You have successfully navigated one of the most challenging times of your life so far – high school. And in the 4 months between September and December, you added to your already full plate – multiple college applications and essays, college visits, college interviews on top of all your senior classes and activities. Congratulations, you have much for which to be commended.  And now what should you do now that you’ve submitted your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?

Welcome to “The Waiting Place” Read more- click here.

Understanding the Federal Work-Study Programs

Will you be working while studying at your college under the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program? Many institutions throughout the United States participate and include FWS programs as a part of the student’s financial aid package.

BEFORE you choose this option, there are some things you need to understand:

1. A Federal Work-Study award may be a job offered on or off campus.

The Federal Work Study Program (FWS) is a federal financial aid job program regulated by the federal government. Colleges can award FWS funds based on financial need as calculated by the U.S. Department of Education from information reported on the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Read more about FWS by clicking here.

Taking an Online Class? Read Quick Tips on How to Succeed!

BOOK REVIEWS CONTINUE!

How to Impress Your Instructor Online:  Quick Tips to Success for the Virtual Student – A Must-Read Guide For Anyone Thinking About Pursuing Their Degree Online!

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 a must-read for 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. Every stu­dent who is cur­rently tak­ing online courses for credit — or is con­sid­er­ing doing so — should order this no non­sense book for straight facts about par­tic­i­pat­ing in the online edu­ca­tion expe­ri­ence.

Available for $4.99 in eBook format or as a Paperback for $9.99 on Amazon.com.

Free Reader Apps for Mac, PC, IPad and other devices – click here! Also  available at College-Path.com, https://www.college-path.com/college-path-store too! Read reviews and more about the author by clicking here.

Is “Senioritis” a Myth?

Is “senioritis” a myth? Every year students across the country struggle with a change in attitude. Many have applied to college and may have been accepted. My recommendation is to beware of the “senior slide.”  High school seniors try to balance responsibilities including academics, extracurricular activities, a social life, college admission, and perhaps a part-time job. Somewhere along the way, homework begins to seem less important. Then they get accepted to college, and after that, high school seems even less important. The students’ grades begin to slide—and so does their motivation.

Read about the danger signs and symptoms of

What Post High School Program Makes Sense to You?

Most post-secondary schools can be described as public or private, two-year or four-year.

Public institutions are state supported. Private for-profit institutions are businesses. Private not-for-profit institutions are independent – for instance, the school might have been established by a church or through local community donations rather than by the state government.

Four-year institutions offer bachelor’s degrees, and some offer advanced degrees. Two-year institutions offer associate’s degrees. Less-than-two-year institutions offer training and award certificates of completion. For more information on detailed descriptions of programs, click here.

Whom Do I Ask and Where Do I Look for College Information?

There are many resources available to find great information about colleges. Check out the following: Talk with your guidance counselor; review guidebooks like Fiske Guide, Peterson’s, Barron’s, or College Board. The Internet is a great source of information. You should also visit the individual websites of the colleges in which you are interested;  attend college fairs and meetings at your high school scheduled with admissions representatives; and thumb through college catalogs, videos, and brochures. Talking with friends, relatives, neighbors, coaches, teachers, etc. about college can be very helpful. Maybe one of them attended the college you would like to attend, or maybe they have some new ideas. Remember to stay organized by making files for those colleges.

Shopping for the Holiday? Build Your College Planning Library!

cb-2016-17-cvr-only-72dpiIt’s that time of year where students, parents, and educators stock their shelves with college planning tools. Dr. Christine Hand Gonzales has written several books you may find helpful to you in the college search and application process,  as well as the financial planning and scholarship search.

Top recommendations include College Bound: Proven Ways to Plan and Prepare For Getting Into the College Of Your Dreams,the companion workbook, My College Bound Plan, Your College Planning Survival Guide: Smart Tips From Students, Parents and Professionals Who Made It Through, and Paying for College Without Breaking the Bank: The Ultimate Students, Parent and Educator Guide to Over 500 Financial Aid and Scholarship Resources  (http://tinyurl.com/l7ofafs)- Read more about book choices – click here.

 “College Bound” and the companion workbook, “My College Bound Plan” guides you through the college planning timeline, the search and application process, and campus visits, with additional tips and resources. It will show ways to approach counselors, teachers, or moderators to request an effective letter of recommendation, give tips mcbp-2016-17-cvr-only-72dpion self-marketing through the college essay, provide suggestions for a top-notch resume of extracurricular activities, and offer advice for taking standardized tests. If you are a budding artist, a competitive athlete, or interested in a military career, or transitioning from being home-schooled to college, this book is for you. If you have special needs or a disability, this book is for you. If you are thinking about learning a trade or attending community college, this book is for you. Interested in understanding the “nuts and bolts” of financial aid and where to find scholarships? This book is for you. Looking for an extensive list of publications and internet resources that is beyond compare? “College Bound” is for you – giving you all these resources and more.Each book offers timelines, checklists, reliable internet resources and much more. See more books here!