Are you ready for the real world?

1. Are you ready for the real world?

2. Global competitive environment • The U.S has changed from a manufacturing-based economy to an economy based on knowledge. The importance of a college education is equivalent to a high school education 40 years ago. • What does that mean? • While our parents were able to find jobs without a college education, this is going to become much more difficult to do in the future. • Not only will it be hard to find a job, its going to be even harder to find a good job with benefits, high salary and one that is desirable. • You need to be very competitive, educated and well rounded to compete in this new global economy. • High school graduates today are unable to obtain the high paying jobs that were once available

3. Everyone wants a piece of the American pie

4. More Facts • A study in 2007 by college board confirmed that graduates with a bachelor’s degree earn over 60 percent more than people with a high school diploma. Over a lifetime this translates into a difference of more than $800,000

5. Why is college important • When a student experiences higher education, that student is more likely to read books and listen to lectures from experts which allows students to think, gain ideas and develop mentally which will give the student an edge in the job market. • Valuable resources: In college you make valuable connections that will often lead you to a good job and more choices when you want a job. • Greater promotion opportunities • Great experiences! – College is usually the time where many people find themselves, you can study abroad in another country, go out and enjoy your freedom. • Note: these are only some of the reasons why someone should go to college not all

7. Financial Aid resources • FAFSA.com – Everyone who is applying for college must complete a FAFSA form. It is free and will find all the federal and state financial aid you can receive, including state and federal grants and loans • finaid.org • Great source of general info. Definitions to many terms, descriptions of different types of aid, loan repayment calculators, and much more. • College InSight • http://college-insight.org/# • School specific info on affordability, including average % of need met, average indebtedness at graduation, and many other indicators of whether a college has a strong aid program. Searchable database. • Federal Education Budget Project • http://febp.newamerica.net/ • Searchable database that provides college-level data on financial aid, demographics, and completion rates. Project of the New America Foundation.

8. Financial aid • The Project on Student Debt • http://projectonstudentdebt.org/ • Policy and advocacy org with a focus on affordability and minimizing student debt. Also maintains a list of colleges that make no-loan pledges. • Higher Ed Watch • http://higheredwatch.newamerica.net/blogmain • Great blog for staying up to date on ever-evolving student aid policy. Written with a student-friendly emphasis on affordability. Project of the New America Foundation.

9. Scholarships • You can apply for scholarships to cover costs that loans and grants will not cover. • You can apply for scholarships all throughout your years at college. • Scholarships for Service is an AmeriCorps program that gives you a $1,000 scholarship for community service. • There are many AmeriCorps programs that offer grants to pay off loans that you can participate in either before entering college or after graduating college. • There are many scholarships for minorities and people who live in low-income neighborhoods • The College Guide office has many resources for finding scholarships

10. College research source list • www.collegeboard.comProvides a variety of statistical data on colleges, especially relating to the admissions process. This includes figures like percent of applicants admitted, middle 50% range of SAT scores, and average financial aid award.  The site also enables you to search for colleges by factors like geography, major, and size. Searches tend to return many irrelevant results, though. • www.collegeresults.org • Lists the 4-6 year graduation rates of nearly every four-year college in the country. • www.fairtest.org • Has a comprehensive list of SAT/ACT optional colleges, which are important options for many students. • febp.newamerica.net • Searchable database that provides affordability info on thousands of colleges.

11. College resource list • college-insight.org • Great college specific info on affordability, completion, enrollment, etc. • Opinion-Based Info: • Every school has a different personality—political bent, strongest academic programs, dominant teaching style, social life, etc. www.unigo.com and www.collegeprowler.com are great sites that compile college reviews based on questionnaires completed by students. They can be a tremendously helpful resource in understand the characteristics of each institution.

12. Prestigious Schools • Many prestigious Ivy league schools want diversity on their campus, so someone from an urban environment with a 4.0 GPA ,a decent SAT score and an excellent essay will make for a likely candidate.

13. Don’t limit yourself to one career path • A college degree is simply your passport for success, it is not a key for one career. • There are many types of careers you can get after earning one degree. • Don’t limit yourself to being a teacher, doctor or lawyer. • One career can lead to another • There are many types of careers out there including careers in advertising, producing, directing, student affairs, graphic design, entertainment, sports. • There are many opportunities out there. You can write for Vibe magazine, engineer the next bmw or design for Gucci

14. Do you have bad grades? • That’s okay, community college accepts everybody. Seek your college guide or guidance counselor to see how we can get you on a college plan. • You can either settle for an associates degree or transfer to a 4-year institution after community college.

15. Are you undocumented? • That’s okay many private college’s do not require there students to be citizens. • No money for college? • That’s okay, there are resources out there for you so that you can still go to college/ community college. • Seek your college guide today, so he can show you what steps you must take.

16. I want to go to college. what do I do now? • Seek the college guide or your guidance counselor as soon as possible, so that we can help you achieve your dreams • Start on your timetable for college bound students to do list, which can be found at the guidance office or at the college room.

17. College ROOM • The college room has tons of resources, even if you don’t think you need to see me. Come down to the college room for information on all types of colleges near and far, scholarships, SAT’s and financial aid

18. Contact information • Mr. Donnie Taveras can be found: • In the College room at the far end of the first floor 101A • By email: Donnie_taveras@brown.edu • On Facebook: Donnie Collegeguide • Twitter: Donnie Collegeguide • Blog: http://hopehighcollegeguide.wordpress.com/ • (This blog will contain online resources that will help you on your path to college enrollment.