245.Unstack the Odds--GO TO COLLEGE:STEPS 4-7

Unstack the Odds: Help All Kids Access College—and Graduate!

by
Joe Rottenborn
Executive Director, Mahoning Valley College Access Program (MVCAP)

18. GO TO COLLEGE: STEPS 4-7

4) Use an online estimator, like that on the website of the ACT (http://webapps01.act.org/fane/docs/) to determine your financial need by calculating the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) for the first year of college.

5) Compare your EFC to costs of any colleges of interest, via a website like the link on the ACT site at http://webapps01.act.org/fane/docs/

6) Search local resources, college viewbooks, and Internet sites to identify scholarships, tuition-discounts, and gift-aid. Try using a free scholarship search & e-mail notification site, like Fastweb at the link http://www.fastweb.com/

7) Consider the advantage of Early-Decision and Early-Action options vs. regular admissions.