COLLEGE FUNDING ON THE WEB-Whether you are a freshman or senior it’s not too late or early to begin searching out possible scholarships. Check out the College Scholarships and Financial Aid page on the NECA website (www.faithwebsites.com/neca). It is located in the High School Guidance section and is loaded with links to various scholarships and searches.
I find that Cynthia Good’s College & Career Planning Website has it all: www.bridge-rayn.org/cgood.html. You can find this link and more on College Planning Website Linkspage also found in the High School Guidance section on the NECA website.
In addition, feel free to visit the College Planning Center of Rhode Island in the Warwick Mall or check it out online at www.collegeplanningcenter.org.
PARENTS-DON’T GET TRAPPED: by putting college savings in a child’s name. Instead, keep college savings in your name, and then pay college costs after the child or grandchild receives tuition assistance. This avoids the reality that the “college financial aid formula requires children to use 35% of their assets…before receiving aid. Parents, on the other hand are expected to contribute only up to 5.6%…Grandparents aren’t required to contribute anything.” Barbara Weltman, How to Turn Your Lunch Money into $1 Million, booklet by Bottomline Publishing.
NCAA INITIAL ELIGIBILITY CLEARINGHOUSE-All college-bound student-athletes who wish to practice and compete at a Division I or II institution must register with the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse. Since 1994 all student-athletes must be cleared through the Clearinghouse before they may practice or compete. The Clearinghouse will determine a student’s eligibility by reviewing an official high school transcript and the official SAT/ACT score. Students should meet with their counselor to review the steps that must be followed. Students may file a paper copy of the NCAA application or may file online www.ncaaclearinghouse.net. Please note that Division III colleges do not participate in the NCAA procedure.
I have enclosed printed copies of pages from the NECA website that might be of interest to you. However, I update these pages regularly so I suggest that you check them often for updates.
Lastly, I have two books in my office that are available to be borrowed on finding scholarships for college. They are: Winning Scholarships for College by Marianne Ragins and How to Go to College (Almost) For Free by Benjamin R. Kaplan. Perhaps your local library has them also. Both of these authors were very successful in finding scholarships to finance their own college education.
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Prep for College Calendar - Sophomore Year
Concentrate on academic preparation and continue to develop basic skills and co-curricular interests.
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October
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- Take the PSAT for practice. The results will not be used for college admission.
- Sign up, if you have not done so already, for co-curricular activities that interest you. The level of involvement and accomplishment is most important, not the number of activities.
- Keep a record of your co-curricular involvement, volunteer work, and employment (all year).
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November
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- Make sure you are "on top" of your academic work. If necessary, meet with your teacher for additional help.
Save your best work in academic courses and the arts for your academic portfolio (all year).
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December
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- Receive results of PLAN and/or the PSAT. Read materials sent with your score report. Consult your guidance counselor to explore ways to improve on future standardized tests and courses to discuss which may be required or beneficial for your post-high school plans.
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January
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- Keep studying!
- Volunteer-a great way to identify your interests and to develop skills.
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February
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It is never too early to start researching colleges and universities. Visit your guidance office to browse through literature and guidebooks or surf the Web and check out college and university home pages.
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March
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- NACAC has developed a list of on-line resources to help you in the college admission process called Web Resources for the College-Bound. You can get the information on-line free at the NACAC Web site (www.nacac.com/techctr.html#web). Or send $5.00 to NACAC Publications, P.O. Box 18214, Merrifield, VA 22118-0214 and ask for Web Resources for the College-Bound.
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April
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- Continue to research career options and consider possible college majors that will help you achieve your career goals.
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May
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- Plan now for wise use of your summer. Consider taking a summer course or participating in a special program (e.g., for prospective engineers or journalists or for those interested in theatre or music) at a local college or community college. Consider working or volunteering.
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July
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- During the summer, you may want to sign up for a PSAT/SAT prep course, use computer software, or do the practice tests in books designed to familiarize you with standardized tests.
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August
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- Make your summer productive. Continue reading to increase your vocabulary.
For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
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