PARENTS' COLLEGE GUIDE
2005 - 2006 Edition Now Available
| The First 3 Pages to the Parents College Guide is Below |
PARENTS' COLLEGE GUIDE
2005 - 2006 Edition Now Available
TAKING THE MYSTERY OUT OF COLLEGE SELECTION, ADMISSIONS APPLICATIONS AND THE FINANCIAL AID PROCESS:
A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS
FORWARD
It was early August. My son would be a high school senior in one month. I had been down this road before; my daughter had graduated six years earlier.
I ran into the mother of one of my son’s classmates that month. We began talking about our sons and the conversation soon turned to the upcoming college process we both would face in the fall. Her response to that prospect was pretty common: "My husband and I are scared to death. We’ve never done this before. We don’t know where to start. It all sounds so confusing".
At that point, I began thinking about producing this guide. In writing it, I have drawn on my experience both as a father who has been through this process twice in the parent role and as an educator in a public high school. My teaching career spanned thirty four years, the last nineteen as a guidance counselor.
It is intended to serve as a general outline of the entire process; from selecting schools, to application filing and, finally, the financial aid process. It will help you to know what to expect and, in turn, help you to ask the right questions as this all unfolds. You are urged to rely on your child’s guidance counselor. These well-trained and experienced professionals know your son or daughter. You can only obtain specific help and advice appropriate to your situation in your local guidance office.
Accompanying this Guide is a double-sided "College Planning Calendar" printed on heavy 8 1/2" by 11" card stock. It provides you with a timetable of steps to follow as you wend your way through the college application process. It begins with grade 9 and concludes with a detailed outline for grade 12. I believe it will serve as an excellent quick reference and checklist.
I wish this kind of timetable and outline had been available the first time I went through this as a parent and as a 12th grade guidance counselor.
I hope you find it helpful.
Michael J. Jarvis BA MA CAS
| TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| INTRODUCTION | Page 4 |
| COLLEGE SEARCH | Page 5 |
| SAT AND ACT | Page 7 |
| APPLICATION PROCESS | Page 9 |
| FINANCIAL AID | Page 11 |
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| AFTER THE PROCESS: |
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| WHAT TO TAKE TO CAMPUS | Page 15 |
| WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU ARRIVE ON CAMPUS | Page 16 |
| APPENDIX A: CAREERS FOR THE 21st CENTURY | Page 17 |
| APPENDIX B: GLOSSARY | Page 18 |
| APPENDIX C: INTERNET SOURCES | Page 19 |
| APPENDIX D: SUGGESTED READING LISTS | Page 21 |
INTRODUCTION
"Parents, your child is suddenly in high school. Looming in the not-to-distant future is the process of investigating college choices, filling applications and filling out what appears to be a confusing make of financial aid forms.
Students, this process is aimed at you. You will be working with your parents to complete this journey to the next stage of your lives. Get involved in each step. Be an active participant. This is all about you!
Where to start? What to do? Where to go for help? What has to be done? ...When? Questions like these are universal.
The entire process actually consists of three components:
- Identifying colleges to apply to.
- Filing the admissions application(s).
- Filing the financial aid applications.
This booklet will take you through these three steps and provide other useful information to help you through the process. It is intended as a general guide. Your individual situation will be unique. Everyone’s is. Seek answers to specific questions from your school’s guidance counselor. By using this booklet as a guide, you will become aware of things to look for, time frames to take note of and an outline of the process. This will help you ask the appropriate questions and seek specific help from your child’s school guidance personnel.
My vision of the role this booklet will play is simple: I see families using it to gain a basic understanding of what to do, what questions to ask and when to complete each step. Then, with that basic outline, visiting your local school and utilizing the expertise of your local guidance professionals to tailor the process to your individual circumstances. Knowing when each step needs to be completed will insure you have time to ask questions, prepare well and not miss any deadlines.
At times throughout the Guide I will directly address parents and at other times, students. In the end, however, it takes your combined efforts to do a thorough job. Good luck!
To get the rest of the most important steps, order your Parents College Guide by selecting the "Add to Cart" Above.
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