The Center for College Planning’s Summer Series is in full swing. This week we hosted representatives from Colby Sawyer College, The Culinary Institute of America, Chester College of New England, and Keene State College. The admissions professionals have provided students, parents, and the CCP counselors with a wealth of information. The Culinary Institute of America even did a chocolate tasting!

Over 20 colleges are still scheduled to come, so be sure to check out the schedule (and register) at www.nhheaf.org/collegesummerseries.asp.  This is a great way for you and your family to check out colleges before taking a road trip to visit them. You will even be given the chance to meet the admissions representative who may read your college application.

Also be sure to check NHHEAF's website for a complete listing of upcoming CCP events.

See you at the Summer Series!

        

Junior year has ended, and now you get to taste what life is like as a high school senior. Before you know it, you will be visiting colleges and trying to decide which one is the best fit for you. Nothing beats seeing a campus in person, and there’s no substitute for asking your own questions, but sometimes the internet has a wealth of good information as well. Here are a few cool websites you can check out:

 

Collegeprowler.com states that “everything you read in our books, on our blog, and on our website comes straight from the current college students and recent grads. No half-truths. No university affiliations.” On this site, you can search a variety of schools and find how students ranked things like parking, diversity, campus strictness, etc. If you want to find out the details the tour guide isn’t telling you, this is probably a great website for you. And - they are currently advertising a $2,000 scholarship giveaway as well!

 

Collegeconfidential.com is a website that was designed to help “demystify the college admissions process.” It gives parents and students the ability to post on discussion boards about different colleges and their admissions processes. You can also read school profiles and users have the ability to rate colleges after visiting. You will often find user’s asking “what are my chances of acceptance?”

 

Campustours.com offers you the ability to take a virtual tour of a college campus. This is a great site for those colleges too far to drive to. If you’re curious about what the campus buildings look like, but don’t want to pay for an airline flight, this site should provide what you’re looking for.

 

And…don’t forget – the Center for College Planning’s College Summer Series has over 30 colleges and universities coming to our Concord offices over the summer. This is also a great chance to learn about schools you might be interested in.

 

We want to hear your opinions on these websites!

 

Still surfing,

 

Rich

        

It’s true that not everyone’s personal circumstances allow them to attend college on a physical college campus. Whether you’re a single parent looking to go back to school, or a working professional looking to start a graduate program, distance education is designed for you.

After doing some searches, I realized it can be difficult to find online programs. I emphasize programs because it is pretty easy to find colleges that are entirely online. But if you are looking for a particular major (whether graduate or undergraduate), it can be hard to find which schools offer online courses. I found that typing in a college’s web address and looking at the listing of programs to see if they had any degrees offered online was a tedious way of searching.

So I recently came across elearners.com - a free search engine listing accredited online degrees and colleges. The site covers anything from an associates degree in graphic design to a doctorate in occupational therapy. You will find anything from the entirely online University of Phoenix to the traditional brick-and-mortar institution of Northwestern University. This site is comprehensive and user-friendly, and also includes a scholarship search engine. (Remember - adult students are not exempt from applying for scholarships!) Many, if not all, are able to award federal financial aid as well since they are designated Title IV colleges.

If you are considering any sort of distance learning, whether full-time or part-time, check this website out. It’s a treasure chest of information.

As a reminder, The Center for College Planning is hosting its college summer series. This event features 90-minute presentations from colleges across New England. Some of these schools have online programs as well, such as Southern New Hampshire University, Walden University, and the University of New England. Be sure to check out the schedule of attending schools.

Searching online,

Rich

        

I know summer jobs for most high school students can be pretty mundane. There’s only so much fun someone can have cleaning tables, putting groceries in a bag, or laying mulch and cutting grass. But here’s something to keep in mind, your summer job can have a bigger effect on you than you think. Think about what having a summer job can do for you -

Builds Work Ethic. Hopefully this is a skill you are acquiring whether you like your job or not. You should make a practice of showing up on time, being dependable, and going above and beyond the basic requirements of the job. These are skills employers want you to have.

Helps Find Your Fit. You may really enjoy your job or you may not like your job at all, but either way it will help you identify what your strengths are. You may find you are great working with people, or possibly that you are someone who likes to work alone. You may find that you sincerely dislike having a boss and want to be self-employed when you’re older. Not only focusing on what you like, but also what you dislike, will help you in deciding what future careers you want to consider.

Cultivates References. This is quite possibly the most important part of working as a teen. It’s never too early to start building your resume. Most employers will ask for a minimum of two or three work references when you apply for a job after college. It’s really important to impress the people you will use as references later on and to develop a strong relationship with them. It’s also not a bad idea to look for a summer job that is relevant to what you are studying in college. Being able to add relevant job experience to a resume can sometimes be as important as a college degree and give you a leg-up in a job search after college.

Creates Company Commitment. Many organizations like to hire from within. This means the longer you are dedicated to the company, the better chance you have of moving up the ladder. This is another reason why working a summer job relevant to your degree and possible future career field is important. Some top CEO’s started out as interns. With a little dedication and the help of a college degree, they were able to work themselves into leading the company they once interned for.

In this tight job market, you may be having trouble finding a summer job. If this is the case, consider community service. Volunteering offers you the chance to still do all these things, while helping others. Volunteering often exposes a person to new life experiences, which can lead you to becoming a well-rounded applicant in the fall. If volunteering doesn’t seem to fill up your time, consider job-shadowing as well. This is a great chance to see a variety of different careers in action. This too can help shape what your future goals may be.  

Think about making your summer job a little more relevant. I hope this is helpful and makes you think about what productive things you could be doing this summer. Make the most of it.

Focus on the future,

Rich

        

Download | Duration: 00:29:29

This podcast is designed for high school student-athletes looking to take their game to the collegiate level. It offers tips on self-marketing, figuring out what division is right for you, and insight into the NCAA Clearinghouse process. Whatever sport you play, this podcast will help you navigate the ins and outs of being a student athlete. Clicking the link below will connect you to the visual presentation. After listening, if you have any questions feel free to contact Rich Neilsen or Jay Hauser at the Center for College Planning at 1-800-525-2577 x119.

Visual presentation

Keep playing,

Rich

        

Are you starting your freshman year of college? Are you worried about making the right decisions during next year?  Do the decisions you need to make seem overwhelming? Joe College has comprised a list of five common freshmen mistakes – and is pleased to tell you how to tackle them so your college transition is a smooth one:

1. Rooming with a friend from home. This is a very common mistake and one that generally never ends well. It may seem like a great idea to room in college with your best friend from high school since you’ve been planning it for years, but be aware of the risk. Odds are, despite how great of friends you may have been in high school, living in a 12’ x 12’ dorm room will be a completely different experience. You may experience little things, which on a daily basis, drive you completely nuts. It’s not worth risking a friendship over. An even better reason is because college is a time to meet new people, and to break out of your comfort zone. Not knowing your roommate in advance gives you the opportunity to possibly room with someone from across the country or maybe even someone from another country. Wouldn’t it be great to learn about a new culture without having to go to class?!

2. Choosing not to go to class because the professor won’t notice. This is a popular habit among freshmen who are used to having a teacher take attendance each day in high school. Without getting into whether it’s smart or not, let me just offer some financial insight. An average private college costs $970 per credit. Therefore a 3-credit course will cost over $2900. If you have class 25 times during the semester, that would make the price of each class $116. That’s a lot of money to throw away each time you skip a class! Enough said right? Go to class!

3. Not managing time well. This is a difficult thing to master the first year of college. Some find it is difficult because they are on their own schedule and find that with too much free time, they can never focus on getting work done. Others find that with all the clubs and activities that are being offered, they try to do too much and wear themselves out. So although it is important to branch out and take in all you can, we recommend doing so moderately and at a pace that you can manage.

4. Thinking that transferring to another school will solve all your problems. If it crosses your mind to transfer, seriously consider the reasons. Try to decipher why you want to leave your school. There's a possibility that if you don’t address these issues you could face the same problems at another college. Remember to keep an open mind, give the college a chance, and to use the resources (your RA, a counseling center, and/or a tutoring center) on your college campus to help you along the way.
 
5. Trying to fit the mold. In high school there is a lot of pressure to fit in. College should be a time where you are more focused on you and your own goals. Try not to spend too much time worrying about whether or not the upperclassmen will think you’re cool or not. Be yourself and keep your personal goals in focus.

If you’re able to steer clear of these 5 common mistakes, you’re much more likely to have a successful future in college.

Breakin’ the mold,

Rich

        

Now that you have chosen the college you are attending this fall, it’s time to make sure all your “ducks are in a row.” Here are some helpful tips soon-to-be freshmen should take care of this summer.

If you were awarded a Federal Stafford loan, you will need to sign a master promissory note. To do this you need to find out if your school allows you to choose your lender or if your school is a direct lending institution. You will also need to complete Stafford Loan Entrance Counseling which is usually done online; your school will notify you of how and when to apply for your Stafford loan and when to complete your entrance counseling. Remember – you can always check-in with your financial aid office for help. (Just remember, financial aid offices are very busy during the summer, so you may have to wait for a call to be returned to you.) 

Make sure to talk with your parents about how the rest of your tuition bill will be paid. If you are curious about the options, check out the previous blog on How to Pay the College Bill.

Check in with your parents about health insurance. Ask if you will be covered by their health plan or if you will need to take advantage of the plan offered by your school.  If you will be covered by your parent’s insurance, make sure to contact your school to find out their process for waiving the school’s health insurance. The fee for this is usually included in the bill, so make sure to notify the school if you will be waiving this charge.

Sign up for Freshman Orientation! This is a great way to meet the people who will be on campus with you. It’s also a great way to learn how to navigate the campus.  You may also sign up for classes at Orientation, and possibly take any needed assessment or placement tests.

If you are not currently checking your college email account, begin doing so. Once you made your deposit, the school most likely set up an account for you and now you may have some important information being emailed to that account.

Stay organized with all the mailings the school sends to you. It can become very easy to forget to send some stuff back when you are looking at a lot of forms. Read the forms or communications carefully - note important deadlines on forms that must be returned. 

Keep taking care of business,

Rich

        

At this time of year, this is the scenario many families are facing. They have filed for financial aid, reviewed the financial aid package, made the deposit, and now are looking at some sort of gap that needs to be filled. The amount will vary family to family, but the available payment options remain the same. These are options we recommend once the maximum amount of federal student aid (Stafford loans and Perkins loans) has been offered.

The first option to look at is a tuition payment plan with the college itself. This is a great option because it gives the family the opportunity to pay the bill over the course of 10-12 months with no interest accruing. It is the school’s choice whether or not a payment plan can be arranged for an amount lower then the total bill. We recommend using a tuition payment plan if you can – as this will help you avoid accruing interest. 

The second option is a PLUS loan which is the Parent Loan for an Undergraduate Student. This is one of the most common ways of financing the gap after financial aid. The PLUS loan is a loan that the parent of the student takes out, and the loan remains in the parent’s name during the duration of repayment. What makes this loan a great option in this current market is that it has a fixed interest rate. The rate is currently set at either 7.9% or 8.5% depending on the federal loan program the college participates in. Usually the loan enters repayment after it has been fully disbursed to the school (usually in the Spring), but parents now have the ability to defer this loan while the student is in school.  While this option might help families in the short-term, the loan continues to accrue interest while it is deferred.

Remember, because a PLUS loan is a federal student loan there are no prepayment penalties and the loan features many deferment and forbearance options that borrowers can take advantage of if making payments becomes a challenge.  A basic credit review is performed to determine one’s eligibility for this loan. If a parent is denied this loan based on the credit review, the student is then eligible for an additional $4000 in an unsubsidized Stafford loan as a freshman or sophomore. 

The third option that is often used is a private student loan, also known as an alternative loan. These are loans that are in the student’s name and most usually require a credit worthy co-signer. Nearly all private loans are using variable interest rates that are tied to the PRIME or LIBOR lending rates, and then the lender will add a certain number of percentage points on top of that based on the borrower and co-borrower’s credit history. Since regulations on these loans are not set by the federal government, the terms vary from lender to lender and deferment and forbearance options may not be offered – or if they are, they may not be as comprehensive as those offered for federal student loans. Student Lending Analytics has recently developed a list of lenders currently offering private loans, and features information on each of the loans.  You may also want to check with the Financial Aid Office to see if they would provide a list of private loan lenders. If applying for a private loan, it may be beneficial to apply to more then one lender, because they may not offer the same interest rates.

Some families find using a combination of these three options helps them “fill the gap” on the tuition bill. I hope this helps your family!

Weighing the options,

Rich

        

                                                          

The Center for College Planning is excited to announce that registration for the 2nd annual College Summer Series is now available! The College Summer Series is another free program offered by the CCP that brings college admission representatives from all over New England to our Concord office.

The format allows the college reps. a 90-minute time frame to give a presentation about their schools, and then time to speak directly with students interested in their colleges. This is a great opportunity for juniors going into their senior year to meet some professionals that might be reading their applications this fall! It's also a great opportunity for motivated sophomore and junior students. It will help them start the college process and hear about some colleges they may not be familiar with.

This summer we have a wide range of colleges participating. If you are thinking about art school, come listen to the rep. from the New Hampshire Institute of Art. Or maybe you're interested in culinary school? Great, come listen to the rep. from the Culinary Institute of America. Or maybe you're thinking pre-med? Who better to talk to than an expert from Tufts University? All of these colleges and many more will be joining us on Mondays and Wednesdays during July and August.

To register and see a complete listing of schools, simply click here. Don't miss out on this great opportunity!


Making Connections,

Rich

        

As my internship here at NHHEAF sadly comes to end, I look forward to taking with me the knowledge, skills, and character that I have developed here. As I head into my senior year in school, as well as in the future, the skills I have acquired are sure to show.

When I first came to NHHEAF I told them what I had hoped to accomplish out of this internship, and I had three goals in mind.

#1: Understand the workings of the many computer programs needed in a business, and how to use them to my advantage.
Objective: Work with some computer programs that are used. Be able to complete a program with assistance. 
Goal Reached?: I was able to set up a company email account and used the sometimes confusing computerized phone system. I also used word processing software to initially write these blogs. These may seem basic, but are an integral part of any business. I was also able to use various college search software, which is offered to students in NHHEAF’s mission of promoting college access.

#2: Marketing
Objective: Help with the process that it takes to complete a successful advertisement. Also to explore, how much thought and time goes into marketing.
Goal Reached?: My internship was within the marketing department, and I was lucky enough to see all the thought and time that is put into all they do. It was interesting to see the development in regards to presentations, event planning, and 1-on-1 customer service.

#3: How they Budget/Finance
Objective: Work with checks, paper work, etc. and possibly work with someone in this department.
Goal Reached?: I did not complete this goal, however, I am okay with that. After spending my time in the marketing department I have started to seriously consider a career in this field. I love the team that they have here and the environment of always having something to do.

The most interesting part of my internship here at NHHEAF was creating this blog. I am not someone who often writes, nor do I care for it much. But when they told me that I would be writing a blog for a section on Joe College, I thought that it was a great useful idea for the community. I sat down with the college planning manager, a college counselor, and a senior business analyst and they explained why they wanted me to blog. They explained that they wanted a real high school student’s perspective on all things college. 

As I was just starting my college search, it was a great fit to blog about what I have learned.  Writing a blog forced me to look at many different aspects of the college process, which I am excited about. I hope other students can utilize my entries to help them in the college process as well.  And writing the blog pushed me out of my comfort zone a little – and that’s okay too!
   
As I reflect on my internship here at NHHEAF I have come to realize that I have now taken that next step towards my future goal…college and a career. They helped me put together my athletic resume, provided me with all their pamphlets and information about applying for college, and made me feel comfortable enough to ask questions.

One thing I learned is it’s not uncommon to have question when going through this process, and NHHEAF understands that. Once you step foot into NHHEAF's building, you are not alone in your college process. They will sit with you for five minutes or they can sit with you for over an hour. They want to make sure that you understand what you’re looking at and that you stay focused and on track.

I wish you all the best of luck with your college process, but it’s now time for me to continue my own. See ya!

Still Planning,

Lauryn