Interview: High School “To Do” lists

More from student interviews on High School "To Do" Lists:

Sam:

In high school I wish I had known how to set a schedule for myself. In high school it was you got up in the morning, I got up 5 minutes before I had to leave for school, went to school, every single class was run on a bell schedule, and then I came home, did my homework, hang out with my friends, and that was my day. In college it is … I drive to school so I commute in, so it was the having to learn how much time to schedule for myself to get to school so I don’t show up late at school. It’s the freedom of saying well, yes my schedule today is I must be at class at 11 o’clock, however I’m really, really tired so I think I’m gonna sleep in. It’s the homework is no longer scheduled in after school because your classes can run back to back all day, or you can have 3 hours here, 3 hours there. So it’s the making a time for yourself to sit down and get what you need to get done, done.

James:

You definitely want to be able to take notes while a professor is talking, your teacher is talking, so you need to practice taking notes in class and finding out the best way that you learn before going to college because once you get into that environment, you can be put in a lecture room and you have to … it’s better to figure out the best way for you to get information before going to college instead of getting there and having to learn from there.

Maria:

I wish my disability support service worker - love her to death, she was a great woman - would have told me more about how to speak to professors or teachers or maybe taking me along when she went to tell my teachers what I had, just so I would have felt more comfortable explaining what my disability was and how it’s supposed to be dealt with because I really only had the explanation from my mom and then reading the wording in the disability support services letter that I got to help me to formulate how I was gonna tell a professor, well these are my accommodations and this is what I need. So I would have liked in high school for someone, I guess who is in that area at the high school, to have explained to me well, this is how you can go up to your teacher or professor in the future.

Jenna:

Once I hit my junior year, I wanted to become a more well rounded student so I started participating in a lot of different organizations, I started volunteering because a lot of colleges love seeing someone who is out there volunteering, someone who’s out there in an organization or working. It’s not always all about having the highest grades, but more colleges focus on a well rounded student, someone who takes charge in life, participates, and can improve their school by participating in a lot of activities; and at the end of my junior year once I started getting the applications together, I started focusing more on my school work. I knew that college was gonna be a little bit more intense, especially in the classes so I asked teachers for help, asked them what could I do to improve in this area before I get to college.

Amy:

By taking classes in high school that challenged me, I was able to deal a lot easier with the workload; just because I knew what I was getting myself into and I already knew what I needed to do in order to succeed. One of the other things I did was start learning how to get a rapport with your teachers in high school, because high school teachers tend to be a lot more approachable than college professors do, and if you’re already in the habit of talking to your teacher, of asking them questions, going in after class, going in before class, it’s a lot easier to pick those habits up when you’re in college.

Applying - The Essay

Each college application will provide guidance and instruction regarding your personal essay. Some colleges will ask you to write on a specific topic or will ask a series of questions for you to answer. Others will have a more open approach, allowing you to write on a specific topic of your choice. The essay is a way for a college to see a more personal side of you in addition to your application. All essays involve choice and your choices will reflect your preferences, values and thought processes. It is recommended that your essay be focused and specific. Your writing can reflect your organizational skills, your power of persuasion and your general mastery of standard written English. For more information, visit the College Board’s Web site.

Expect to write several drafts of your personal essay. This essay provides an opportunity to briefly express who you are, highlight your strengths, ambitions and values, and convince the readers that you would be a good candidate for their college.

Some students elect to briefly disclose (reveal) their disability in a positive way, especially when it has taught them an important skill or value, such as to be creative or “think outside of the box.” You should carefully consider this decision, and talk with your guidance counselor or teacher about including this information. If you decide to talk about your disability, remember to keep it positive and brief, and focus on your strengths and what you can do. Keep in mind that nowhere on the college application will there be questions about having a disability, so unless you tell them, the college will not know. Also, having a disability is not factored into your application review.

Share drafts of your essay with an English teacher or guidance counselor for input. Remember: if you are sending the same essay to a number of colleges, make sure you use the correct college name in the essay. This mistake is common and made by all students applying for college, so remember to proofread your work!

College Planning For the First in the Family

For students who are first in the family to attend college, the planning process can be particularly emotional and challenging. Several resources exist to help first families throughout the decision-making process. Family Firsts, a series of booklets from ACT, was created for first-generation college students and their families to assist with college planning. To access the booklets, visit www.act.org/path/secondary/resources.html.

A key to the process is learning about the college planning calendar. Most two-year and four-year schools follow approximately the same admissions schedule. ACT offers online checklists for keeping all students on track to a college education. Visit actstudent.org to see the steps you should be taking in each year of high school.

Many potential first generation students and their families believe that funding is unattainable. However, several websites are available to help explain financial aid and other resources for paying for college. Learn more by visiting:

• www.studentjobs.gov/e-scholar.asp – A list of federally funded scholarships, fellowships, grants and internships geared to high school, undergraduate and graduate students.
• www.fafsa.ed.gov – The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website. This is where you start when you are ready to apply for financial aid.
• www.eCampusTours.com/payingforcollege/default.htm – Features a free scholarship search as well as information on grants, scholarships, savings programs, and loans.
• www.act.org/fane – A financial aid need estimator.
• www.hsf.net – A Hispanic Scholarship Fund website that features scholarships for Hispanic students and research reports on the education of Hispanic students.
• www.studentaidalliance.org – Student success stories and descriptions of need-based financial aid programs.

Tips for Paying for College

Getting admitted to your choice college is only half the battle; the other half is figuring out how to pay for it. The competition for resources can be stiff, especially in tough economic times. The most important rule to planning so that you can take advantage of financial aid is to start early.

1. Start researching aid possibilities sooner rather than later. The competition for aid increases when the economy is weak. Those who plan ahead for the aid process will do much better than those who procrastinate and miss deadlines.

2. Take steps that improve your aid eligibility. For example, if someone in your family has lost a job, avoid the temptation to spend any assets in the retirement plan. In addition to the likely early distribution penalties and additional income taxes, the higher income will reduce your aid eligibility.

3. Apply for financial aid no matter what you think of your financial circumstances — good or bad. Applying by the priority deadlines, even if you think you won’t qualify, will help you if your finances take a turn for the worst. Some schools will only accept requests for reconsideration due to a decline in income from those students who filed for aid on time — even if they were turned down initially.

4. You should still not initially rule out any school as being too expensive. Many colleges — especially the private ones — have increased their aid budgets to attract applicants whose families are now more price resistant given the state of the economy. But have a back-up plan in case the aid is not enough to attend those pricier schools. Most likely this will mean also applying to a public institution in your home state and/or any school where the student can live at home instead of paying for room and board.

5. Pay less for a four-year degree. One way you can save on costs if you attend a community college for two years and then transfers to a pricier school for his or her remaining two years. However, be sure that the college where you want to transfer will accept the credits from the community college.

6. Take as many AP courses as reasonably possible and prepare yourself well for the AP exams. High scores on AP exams can save considerably on college tuition. Many colleges award course credits for them, which can reduce the amount you need to pay in tuition.

7. Apply strategically to colleges. If you exceed the school’s admission criteria, you are much more likely to get a better aid package than a marginal applicant. Be sure to prepare for the standardized tests like the SAT or ACT.

8. Be realistic about how much debt you and your family can incur, given the starting salaries for your probable major and career path.

9. If you have to borrow, pursue federal loans first and avoid having taking private loans at all costs.

10. If your circumstances have a taken a turn for the worst, request additional aid. But expect that the college may require considerable supporting documentation.