106. MVCAP fyi

See free MVCAP e-books on college admissions and financial aid for sharing, printing, and downloading at this online resource library: http://fb.me/HOUIYNqq

1. Note to Applicants: Admissions Officers Read What Your Teachers Say About You#more-23693#more-23693 - http://nyti.ms/cJmqjW

‎"Most students want to know if the recommendations matter, if we even read them. At Connecticut College, we require two teacher recommendations, and yes, we read them.Whether or not they matter depends on the quality of the recommendation. A good recommendation — well written with strong praise for the student — will certainly help us make our decision. And, of course, we will take note if the writer has reservations about recommending the student. But if the recommendation is poorly written or clearly a form letter with the name of the student simply filling in a blank (you’d be surprised), we won’t include it in our review. In short, a good recommendation can help, but we don’t hold it against the applicant when we receive a poorly written one."

2. Misplaced From the Start - Inside Higher Ed: http://bit.ly/cwGnGr via @addthis

“In the national debates about improving college readiness and increasing college completion, student voices have largely been absent,” said Kathy Reeves Bracco, senior research associate at WestEd and report co-author, in a statement. “Our systems of K-12 education and postsecondary education are not connected and it’s students who pay the price by not being prepared for college.”

3. Calculating the Cost of Dropouts - Inside Higher Ed: http://bit.ly/cDEVph via @addthis

"In the report, published today by the American Institutes for Research, Mark D. Schneider, a vice president there and former commissioner of the Education Department's National Center for Education Statistics, cites data suggesting that 30 percent of first-year students at four-year colleges do not return to their original institution for a second year, and that states and the federal government provided more than $9 billion in aid to institutions and students to support those students. The critique of the report -- from another leading researcher with a background at the Education Department -- centers on its focus on students who return to their original institution, thus ignoring the many transfer students on whom that first year is not "wasted," as the report suggests."

4. http://huff.to/9EyOOO Huffpost - College Dropouts Cost Taxpayers Billions: Report

"States appropriated almost $6.2 billion for four-year colleges and universities between 2003 and 2008 to help pay for the education of students who did not return for year two, a report released Monday says. In addition, the federal government spent $1.5 billion and states spent $1.4 billion on grants for students who didn't start their sophomore years, according to "Finishing the First Lap: The Cost of First-Year Student Attrition in America's Four-Year Colleges and Universities.". . . The AIR report draws from Department of Education data, which Schneider concedes does not provide a full picture. The figures track whether new full-time students at 1,521 public and private colleges and universities return for year two at the same institution. It doesn't include part-timers, transfers or students who come back later and graduate."

5. http://huff.to/aTXrb8 Huffpost - How to Survive and Have Fun on a College Tour With Your Kid This Fall

‎"But it wasn't the choice of restaurant that was making me so happy this particular Saturday night. It was that we'd survived a day of college touring in Boston without a meltdown, without stalking off a campus, without tears and with everyone still speaking -- and even more surprising, smiling.Anyone who has ever toured colleges with a high school student -- and I was on my third round that Boston weekend -- knows that's no small feat. I've driven four hours to have my son refuse to get out of the car because he didn't like the look of the campus; I've flown halfway across the country to have my daughter bail out before the tour because she didn't like the looks of the other prospective students ("too intense") and because the campus was "too flat." (What did she expect in Chicago anyway?). I've gotten the evil eye from a child when I've asked a question on a tour. (Parents are supposed to be seen and not heard in these situations, I quickly learned.)"

6. 8 Things You Didn't Know About Final Exams http://t.co/5dzYZZA

"At Harvard, for instance, students in a mere 259 of the university’s 1,137 undergraduate courses had to take final exams during the spring semester, according to the Boston Globe. Professors across the country have also been putting less emphasis on finals. At the University of Arizona, about a third of the professors have reduced the value of final exams in students’

grades. Here are seven more things you probably didn’t know about final exams. . . ."

7. In Higher Education, a Focus on Technology: Gates and Hewlett Foundations Focus on Online Learning - http://nyti.ms/aXGT1k

"An initial $20 million round of money, from the Gates Foundation, will be for postsecondary online courses, particularly ones tailored for community colleges and low-income young people.

Another round of grants, for high school programs, is scheduled for next year.

Just how effective technology can be in improving education — by making students more effective, more engaged learners — is a subject of debate. To date, education research shows that good teachers matter a lot, class size may be less important than once thought and nothing improves student performance as much as one-on-one human tutoring."

105. MVCAP fyi

See free MVCAP e-books on college admissions and financial aid for sharing, printing, and downloading at our online resource library: http://fb.me/HOUIYNqq

1. Pay for 8 years of college on 1 salary http://t.co/iLu6eyd via @CNNMoney

‎"Spend the kids' assets first. Aid offices assess money in a student's name at 20%, vs. up to 6% for a parent's money. So Amy should spend her kids' savings accounts and bonds before the 529s--the latter is typically considered a parental asset."

2. Drafting a College List in a Tough Economy#more-23659#more-23659 - http://nyti.ms/aGdtcK

‎“When I started as a counselor in 1981, kids would apply to two reach colleges, two targets and two safeties,” said Eileen Connolly, who oversees guidance at John F. Kennedy High in Bellmore, on Long Island. Now she estimates that most of her students apply to 15, not including those who apply early to one and get in."

3. http://huff.to/cOMO6R Huffpost - Celebrating Community Colleges and Their Students

"But the American Dream is more than access to college. It's about a complete education and the better future that comes with it: a steady income, a rewarding career, a home in a nice neighborhood where you'd want to raise your family. Increasingly, to achieve those goals, students have to get a college degree or a professional certificate after high school. According to every measure -- employment rates, wage premiums, labor forecasts -- students who get those credentials can seize opportunities that those who stopped their education with high school can't. In 1973, only about one-quarter of the American workforce needed a postsecondary degree or credential in order to get or hold on to a job. In 2007, that figure hit 57 percent. New research predicts that, by 2018, 63 percent of jobs in America will require an education beyond high school. Unable to find enough skilled workers here, U.S. businesses are outsourcing millions of high-skill, high-wage jobs to Germany, Japan, Singapore, Korea."

4. http://huff.to/djphS8 Huffpost - College: It Pays

‎"According to a College Board report released earlier this month, college graduates on average earned about $22,000 more than those with just a high school diploma ($55,700 compared to $33,800) in 2008. What's more troubling is that the gulf between the two has increased by 13 percent since 2005. And with the economy in tatters, there's probably little doubt who's suffering more. Unemployment has jumped for both college graduates and for those with a high school diploma. However, the gap in the unemployment rate between the two groups has more than doubled in the last five years. The point is if you don't have a college degree you're far more likely to be unemployed."

5. http://huff.to/cja9EW Huffpost - College Squeezing Out the Middle Class

"The cost of higher education is spiraling out of control. It is squeezing middle class families out and making America less competitive. We pride ourselves on the best higher education in the world, but we're coasting on the reputation of three dozen selective institutions. Most students pay too much, get too little, and half drop out. For students being priced out of the market, there are a growing number of cheap or free alternatives and many are personal digital learning options."

6. At Rallies Across the US, Students Turn Out in Defense of Public Education http://chronicle.com/article/Students-Turn-Out-in-Defense/124853/

"Students are becoming the cash cow for the institution because the university is banking on whatever they can pay," Mr. Chapela said. "They're standing up for what they believe to be wrong budgetary policies in both the state and the nation."

104. MVCAP fyi

See free MVCAP e-books on college admissions and financial aid for sharing, printing, and downloading at this online resource library: http://fb.me/HOUIYNqq

1. When a College Visits Your High School#more-23569 - http://nyti.ms/dAVQym

"A few weeks ago, I joined a producer and crew from the “Today” Show on NBC as they shadowed Seth Allen, the dean of admission at Grinnell College in Iowa. We watched Mr. Allen as he visited two New York City public high schools, the Bronx High School of Science and DeWitt Clinton. The segment — which is something of a primer for students on such information sessions — was shown today on “Today,” and can be viewed above."

2. Hello Again: A Field Guide to Parents’ Weekend by Susan Stewart #more-23627 - http://nyti.ms/dhQIzp

"Blogger’s Note: Periodically on The Choice, we look past the college search to the college experience itself. No matter how old (or young) their children, I suspect many parents will relate to this essay. –Jacques Steinberg

Parents’ weekend at college is for parents to admire the ivy-covered fairyland where most of their income is going, and for their children to get away from it."

3. How Much Will Parents Pay for College? http://t.co/91ld49m

"Considering that college represents the second biggest expense for many families, parents and teenagers aren’t spending a lot of time talking about this milestone. According to the survey, only half of parents have had detailed discussions with their teenagers about college by the time their children are half way through their senior year in high school. Most of the rest of the families have had general conversations, while 3% haven’t discussed college at all."

4. Tracking Early Progress Could Boost College Completion http://t.co/CuH6UNG via @educationweek

"Solid indicators of success include completing 20 credits in a certain period, such as a year, and completing summer credits, says Jeremy Offenstein, a research specialist with the Institute for Higher Education Leadership & Policy, California State University, Sacramento, and co-author of the report. Also, making it through the first college level math and English courses is a good sign."

5. How to Help Students Complete a Degree on Time http://chronicle.com/article/How-to-Help-Students-Complete/124839/

"From the 1970s to the 1990s, the proportion of students who completed a bachelor's degree in four years shrank by 13 percentage points, said Sarah Turner, a professor of economics and education at the University of Virginia and the author of the research. These days earning a bachelor's degree takes at least five years, Ms. Turner said. The decline, however, was found mostly at public four-year universities that are not flagship institutions, she said. In fact, at highly selective private institutions, the number of students completing their degrees in four years increased by 8 percent between 1972 and 1992." This is very much a story of stratification," Ms. Turner said. One explanation for the decline at public colleges, Ms. Turner suggested, is that students today often find it hard to finance their educations and have to work during college. Work is crowding students' time to take courses."

103. MVCAP fyi

See free MVCAP e-books on college admissions and financial aid for sharing, printing, and downloading at this online resource library: http://fb.me/HOUIYNqq

1. Maybe Not the Cruelest Month on the Admissions Calendar, but a Hectic One - http://nyti.ms/aTepQr

‎"For many high school seniors, this describes a single month: October. This is the month of deadlines and dreams, late-night drafts and early-morning regrets, the month of essay revisions and – in some cases – SAT retakes. While observing a senior class to research a book on admissions, I was amazed by the confluence of pressures in October. Even as parents lament the increased stress, they ratchet up the stress by constantly nattering about it."

2. How 'Difficult' Parents Look from the Counselor's Side of the Desk - http://nyti.ms/aSNQhR

‎"The two counselors said they had identified four categories of involved mothers and fathers: Helicopter parents who hover around their children and offer too much help; Rolls-Royce parents who demand the absolute best for their children; Subway parents who lurk underground “and surface at the most awkward times, asking the most peculiar questions”; and Junker parents who let personal dramas subsume their child’s college quest."

3. A Daughter Relocates 2,500 Miles Away, and a Mother Flies Home, Alone - http://nyti.ms/9cp9q2

"There are few statistics on how often, or how many, students choose to go to school far from home. In a 2006 U.C.L.A. survey of college freshmen, 56 percent of the students said they were going to school within 100 miles of home."

4. Community Colleges' Day in the Sun - Inside Higher Ed: http://bit.ly/9IRwuy

“In just a decade, we’ve fallen from first to ninth in the proportion of young people with college degrees,” Obama said. “That not only represents a huge waste of potential in the global marketplace, it represents a threat to our position as the world’s leading economy. As far as I’m concerned, America does not play for second place, and we certainly don’t play for ninth. So I’ve set a goal: By 2020, America will once again lead the world in producing college graduates. And I believe community colleges will play a huge part in meeting this goal, by producing an additional 5 million degrees and certificates in the next 10 years.”

5. Praise But No Cash - Inside Higher Ed http://t.co/jYKHupx

"The administration has taken massive action for higher education, including more than doubling funding from $16 to $34 billion for Pell Grants, the major aid for students like those at community colleges. Attention is not funding, but I admit that the White House today sent word of what community colleges can do throughout the land. Jill Biden, professor at Northern Virginia Community College and wife of the vice president, said as she has before that community colleges are “the best-kept secret” in the United States. Introducing President Obama, Dr. Biden said, “With the President of the United States shining the light on community colleges, I think that secret is out.” I agree. . . . At the summit, no one I heard asked for the money back. That’s the $12 billion for community colleges that vaporized out of budget legislation this year, shortchanging the nation’s 1,200 community colleges and six million students, half the nation’s undergraduates."

6. The Worst U.S. College Crime Areas (INFOGRAPHIC) http://huff.to/9hkdu1 Huffpost -

Which Ohio universities are on this list?

7. San Francisco Creates College Accounts for Kindergartners http://t.co/pyEp7OM via @educationweek

‎"The city will automatically open a savings account for parents when their children start kindergarten and deposit $50 for most students and $100 for those from lower-income families. The families will be provided with the account number so they can also make deposits. The philanthropic community will help boost the college savings accounts by making deposits as the program rolls out. EARN, a local nonprofit, has committed to match the first $100 parents add to their child's account. Others will plan to make other matches and incentives available later. Citibank is helping the city launch the program, with 1,200 accounts to be opened for children this year. The program starts with the kindergarten classes of 18 schools this year and is expected to be in every San Francisco public school by 2012."

102. MVCAP fyi

See free MVCAP e-books on college admissions and financial aid for sharing, printing, and downloading at our online resource library: http://fb.me/HOUIYNqq

1. Community colleges are focus of White House summit - http://bit.ly/bR60I3 #cnn

‎"The goal is to ensure there are strong partnerships between growing industries and community college or training programs in every state in the country," Obama said. He called community colleges one of the nation's most under-valued assets, and repeated his goal of increasing the number of community college degrees and certificates by 5 million by the year 2020."

2. Retirement funds tapped for kids' tuition http://t.co/Qvf7UON

"The main problem with raiding retirement accounts for college is that it triggers big tax penalties compared to other types of investment plans. Even taking a loan out against a 401(k) can be dangerous, because it has to be paid back within 5 years, or immediately when the borrower changes jobs.Also, when retirement accounts are tapped for college, that money counts as adjusted gross income and will reduce the amount of financial aid a family qualifies for the following year by as much as 47%, according to Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of Fastweb.com and FinAid.org."

3. RT @USATODAY Obama seeks to partner businesses, 2-year colleges http://usat.me/40462546

"Over the next decade, nearly eight in 10 new jobs will require higher education and workforce training, economists project. As part of his goal for the USA to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020, Obama last year challenged the nation's 1,200 community colleges to produce an additional 5 million graduates. He also has acknowledged that many community colleges — and the more than 8 million students enrolled in them — face significant challenges. Just 25% of students at two-year schools earn a credential or transfer to a four-year college within three years."

4. RT @USATODAY Families can better afford college if they strategize early http://usat.me/40460924

"One key is applying to a variety of schools — public, private, in-state, and a local community college as a backup plan, recommends admissions consultant Katherine Cohen of ApplyWise.com. In an online survey of 137 families with college-bound students, ApplyWise and media partner NextStepU found that more than a third said it was likely that their child would go to community college for two years, then transfer to a four-year school. In 2008, only 13% said that was likely. Make sure every school you apply to is one you would be happy to attend, but also make sure you have one you can get into and afford, Cohen says. "You have to think about fit in so many ways."

5. Raining on the Parade - Inside Higher Ed: http://bit.ly/bQX7MQ

"In a report released Monday, a marketing firm working for the Coalition for Educational Success, an advocacy group for several privately held for-profit companies, argues that community colleges engage in “unsavory recruitment practices” and offer students “poorer-than-expected academic quality, course availability, class scheduling, job placement and personal attention.”

6. Support All College Options - Inside Higher Ed: http://bit.ly/c6berB

‎"These diverse options are unlike those offered by any other nation and include small liberal arts colleges, community colleges, large public universities, online universities, for-profit schools and research institutions. Each sector serves a slightly different niche of students and provides quality programs leading to degrees ranging from an associate to a doctorate. And each will contribute significantly to achieving President Obama’s goal."

7. Americans Support Community Colleges: AP Poll http://huff.to/cmoHi1 Huffpost

"Obama wants the United States to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. He's got his work cut out for him: Just 35 percent of community college students and 60 percent of students at four-year institutions graduate with diplomas each year."

8. Families are trimming plans to pay for college, survey finds: http://wapo.st/btrW5s

"On average, families have saved about $28,000 to pay for college. About 12 percent of that money is in 529 plans, while 14 percent comes from general savings accounts or certificates of deposit. Another 21 percent comes from investments, but the largest portion of that money - 23 percent - is in retirement savings."

9. The Most Expensive Colleges: Forbes List (PHOTOS) http://huff.to/9YgRyc Huffpost

‎"In compiling their list, Forbes evaluated the schools according to highest tuition, fees and room and board costs, using data collected by the Chronicle of Higher Education and Campus Grotto. This year, Sarah Lawrence College -- alma mater of newly-announced Chicago mayoral hopeful Rahm Emmanuel -- takes the first slot, at $57,556 per year."

10. 7 Ways to Succeed in Community College http://t.co/zH9zKe7

‎"Before selecting a community college, review how it fared in the Community College Survey of Student Engagement. The CCSSE, which is based at a nonprofit on the University of Texas, Austin campus, attempts to measure the academic excellence at community colleges. Students at participating community colleges fill out questionnaires on such topics as student and faculty interactions and academic rigor. You can find scores for individual schools at the CCSSE website."

101. MVCAP fyi

See free MVCAP e-books on college admissions and financial aid for sharing, printing, and downloading at our online resource library: http://fb.me/HOUIYNqq

1. Here's What Will Revolutionize Higher Education http://t.co/pghC9Ir

"What is this game changer? Here’s the short answer: a cost calculator that families will use to determine what the price of a particular college will be for a specific student. I know that hardly sounds sexy, but it will be revolutionary. I happen to believe this and it’s also the conclusion of a new white paper relea...sed by Maguire Associates, a higher-ed consulting firm."

2. RT @USATODAY Can an online degree help advance your career? http://usat.me/40410834

"Only about half of respondents to a Society for Human Resource Management survey this summer said online degrees are just as credible as traditional degrees. The human resource professionals also said online credentials were less acceptable for higher-level positions; just 15% said online degrees were acceptable for an executive position."

3. Peering Behind the Financial-Aid Curtain http://chronicle.com/blogPost/Peering-Behind-the/27367/

"A big part of the problem, Mr. Perez and his co-presenters agreed, is that colleges don't tell prospective families or counselors enough about how they distribute aid." I think most admissions officers, frankly, try to avoid or minimize talking about financial aid," said Mary Hill, co-director of college counseling at St. Paul Academy and Summit School, in Minnesota."

4. A College Turns to Tactics as Its Strategy Forms http://chronicle.com/blogPost/A-College-Turns-to-Tactics-as/27364/

‎"Drury, which is in Springfield, Mo., attracted prospective students from across the country. After traveling to the campus, their first stop at Drury would usually be the bathroom. And the bathrooms were not pretty, Ms. Hiles said. She had them refurbished. The admissions office was in a converted building, and was un...attractive. So Ms. Hiles had Drury build a welcome center."

100. Going To College: Step-by-Step

To access "Going To College: Step-by-Step" as a PDF (for printing), just click this link: http://www.mrexcel.com/mvcap/GoingToCollege.pdf

It's time for seniors in the Class of 2011 to think about college! Here to assist you is a step-by-step approach--developed over almost 10 years--by the Mahoning Valley College Access Program (MVCAP). Just do and/or consider items that follow during this year and you’ll be off to college after you graduate from high school!

1) Undertake a career exploration to identify matches between a student's strengths/interests and various fields/occupations, emphasizing preparation required and job-opportunities.

For a student to begin a career exploration, identify your many strengths and interests--then seek careers that would make use of those.

When a student does a career exploration, he or she should determine what preparation a certain field requires--and what job opportunities exist! To read a blog-post entitled “10 Hottest Careers in America,” just click this link: http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/college-solution/10-hottest-careers-in-america/2154/ For a pdf file of the actual report by the University of California, San Diego, click here: http://extension.ucsd.edu/about/images/careerReport.pdf

Perhaps the best question to ask yourself about careers is this: what job would you still love to do on a cold, dark, rainy Monday morning?

2) Begin a college search by determining which schools may best suit desired areas of study and academic programs as well as family finances. Once you've determined your career interest(s), seek schools that offer your desired area(s) of study.

For information on colleges in Northeast Ohio, click this link: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/03/41-colleges-in-northeast-ohio.html

You may be interested in reading the Huffington Post article by Steve Leveen, "College: It's not where you get in, but how you come out," at http://bit.ly/aP1M0x

To read the article "When Choosing A College, What Really Matters? click: http://www.unigo.com/articles/when_choosing_a_college,_what_really_matters%5E63/?taxonomyId=760028

To read the article "Price of education is likely debt," click on this link: http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-07-23-comcol-debt_N.htm?csp=usat.me

To see some hazards of taking on too much loan-debt for college, click: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/03/43-student-loan-debt-part-ii.html

To see all Ohio colleges and universities, use that link under "OBR" in the left margin of our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/

To see "Best Colleges 2010," use that link under "U.S. News & World Report" in the left margin of our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/

For "Historically Black Colleges & Universities," look under "U.S. News" in the left margin of our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/

For Part 2: "Answers on Historically Black Colleges and Universities," click this link: http://nyti.ms/bIpeWz

To read a summary of the various guides that "rank" colleges, click on the post "Which College Rankings Set Should You Use," by Danielle Wiener-Bronner on The Huffington Post of 9/14/10, at this link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danielle-wienerbronner/which-college-rankings-se_b_716526.html

To see "National University Rankings," look under "U.S. News & World Report" in the left margin of our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/

To see "Liberal Arts Rankings," look under "U.S.News & World Report" in the left margin of our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/

To explore "Colleges That Change Lives," hit the link "CTCL Members" in the left margin of our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/

To see "Christian Colleges & Universities," try the link "Member Schools" in the left margin of our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/

For "National Catholic College Admission Assoc.,"use "Search for a school" in the left margin of our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/

To continue your college search, think how close to home you want to stay; how large a school you'd like; & do you prefer public or private?

An important consideration in any college search is whether you can afford--with need-based & merit financial aid--a particular college.

One of the hazards in doing a college search today is neglecting to consider the "mountain of debt" you may be accumulating at some schools.

Maybe the key question to ask yourself about a college search is this one: in which school(s) can I not just survive--but really thrive!

Learn about your schools of interest at a free Virtual College Fair; register at http://www.collegeweeklive.com/

GoodSearch or Google the Common Data Set for schools you're interested in; pay attention to Part C and H. To find out more, click this link:http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/03/42-common-data-set-cds.html

If you are considering Ohio State, you can access its Common Data Set (CDS): http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/03/42-common-data-set-cds.html

If you are considering Miami (OH), you can access its Common Data Set (CDS): http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/03/42-common-data-set-cds.html

If you are considering Ohio U., you can print out its Common Data Set (CDS): http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/03/42-common-data-set-cds.html

3) Seek information about preparation, fee-waivers (if applicable), and registration, either online or mailing by deadlines, for the ACT.

Now is the time to register for the next ACT; you can do this online (http://www.act.org/)--if you have a valid credit card.

If you qualify for free- or reduced-price lunch at your school, you might get a fee-waiver to register for the ACT free; ask your counselor!

ACT score (0-36) is important--not just for admission to college but also to be awarded merit financial aid: the higher a score, the better!

The ACT is challenging because it's a power test--that is, one with time-limits for each section: students who don't finish may lose points.

Know the deadline to register for the ACT; you can do this online (http://www.act.org/)--if you have a valid credit card.

At 5 weeks before the ACT: To do well, prepare--by knowing the test format (i.e., "test-wiseness") as well as the four content areas.

According to ACT, answer the easy questions first, skipping harder ones; then, return to the more difficult questions--if you have time.

Per the ACT, "your score on the test will be based only on the number of questions you answer correctly"--therefore, answer every question.

ACT strategy: familiarize yourself with content of the 4 tests; refresh your knowledge and skills in each area; and know what you haven't had.

A key to doing well on the ACT is practice: do the 4 practice tests in the free booklet Preparing for the ACT--and use a timer on each one!

At 4 weeks before the ACT: begin your practice by taking the Reading test (p. 34 of Preparing for the ACT); use a timer/watch.

On the ACT Reading test, there are 40 questions to finish in 35 minutes, which means you have less than 60 seconds per answer--so work fast!

The ACT Reading test asks what is explicitly stated in several texts as well as implicit meanings; hence, refer back to the passages often.

The ACT Reading test is based on four types of reading selections: social studies, natural sciences, prose fiction, and the humanities.

There will be four passages in the ACT Reading test; scan the questions for each selection before reading so you'll know what's being asked.

At 3 weeks before the ACT: continue your practice by taking the English test (p. 14 of Preparing for the ACT); use a timer/watch.

On the ACT English test, there are 75 questions to finish in 45 minutes--which means, on average, 36 seconds per answer, so read/work fast!

The ACT English tests on punctuation, grammar/usage, sentence structure, strategy, organization, & style--but not on spelling & vocabulary.

The ACT English has five essays to read, followed by multiple choice questions--about an underlined portion, section, or the entire passage.

On ACT English, before you answer a question on an underlined portion, read what is underlined; if it is the best answer, mark "NO CHANGE."

At 2 weeks before the ACT: continue your practice by taking the Math test (p. 26 of Preparing for the ACT); use a timer/watch.

On the ACT Math test, there are 60 questions to finish in 60 minutes--which means, on average, 1 minute per answer, so read and work fast!

ACT Math tests on pre-algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, coordinate geometry, plane geometry, and trigonometry--so review!

All the ACT Math problems can be solved without using a calculator--in fact, some are best done without one; hence, choose when to use it!

On ACT Math, solve the problem, locate your solution among the answer choices, make sure your answer is reasonable--then, check your work!

At 5 days until the ACT: continue practicing by taking the Science test (p. 42 of Preparing for the ACT); use a timer/watch.

4 days until the ACT: the Science test is 40 questions in 35 minutes--which means less than 1 minute per answer: work fast!

3 days until the ACT: the ACT Science tests on biology, chemistry, physics, and the Earth/space sciences--so get set!

2 days until the ACT: the ACT Science test emphasizes scientific reasoning skills over recall of scientific content.

1 day until the ACT: remember to bring your admission ticket, acceptable ID, #2 pencils w/ erasers, watch, and basic calculator.

If you took the ACT, exhale; if you didn't, make certain you register by the next regular deadline.

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 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.

8) Select 3-6 colleges to apply to, based on the following student data:
a. strengths and interests;
b. desired career fields and corresponding academic programs;
c. high school curriculum completed;
d. grade-point average;
e. ACT/SAT scores; and
f. opportunity for financial aid, related to need (EFC) and merit (GPA, ACT/SAT score.)

Read blogs of 6 students on their college admission decisions at this link: http://bit.ly/xGU2J

Parents, Read This if Your Child Is Applying to College - Professors' Guide (usnews.com) http://bit.ly/5qwBPI

College Applications: 7 Things to Do Now - CBS MoneyWatch.com http://bit.ly/4uF9EB

College interview advice from an admissions director http://bit.ly/8lxtl5

AdmissionsAdvice.com: Seven Rules For College Admissions Success http://bit.ly/C1TEw

5 simple tips for writing your college application essay: http://bit.ly/5iCVm

How to get the best letters of reference - CharlotteObserver.com http://bit.ly/2nkg7V

Straightforward college admissions advice from Vanderbilt's dean http://bit.ly/3RFXEb

To see all Ohio colleges and universities, use that link under "OBR" in the left margin of our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/

9) Schedule a campus visit with your parent(s) or other supportive adult(s); evaluate your visit to consider “goodness of fit.”

10) Complete and submit online or paper applications for admission by deadlines.

You can use the link "Online Applications" in the left margin of our blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/

To apply to several colleges, use the link "The Common Application" in the left margin of our MVCAP blog at http://mvcap.blogspot.com/

11) Both student and parent undertake the online PIN application process, complete and submit, by priority deadlines for financial aid, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the web (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/).

To be considered for financial aid, including federal and state grants, you must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

To start your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), student and parent apply for a PIN at http://www.pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/pinindex.jsp

To see a Draft FAFSA for 2010-2011, click that link under FAFSA in the left margin of our MVCAP blog at http://mvcap.blogspot.com/

To see which documents students and parents will need to file the FAFSA, they can check out this link: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/before003.htm

If your goal is to file a FAFSA by 2/1/10 for priority consideration for financial aid, prepare your IRS Form 1040, 1040 EZ, or 1040 A now!

To view "The Five Minute FAFSA Video" for an introduction to completing that form, check out a link: http://www.finaid.org/fafsa/video.phtml

To search for a Federal School Code before filing your FAFSA online, check out this link: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/FSLookupServlet

Start completing a 2010-2011 FAFSA on the Web Worksheet from your guidance office--or download one at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/before012.htm

To learn more about financial aid, click this link to our blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2009/11/1-confused-about-college-financial-aid.html

To begin understanding the concept of "financial need," click this link to our blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2009/11/2-financial-need.html

To get an overview of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), click this link: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2009/11/3-fafsa.html

To learn about the Student Aid Report (SAR) you'll receive after filing the FAFSA, click here: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2009/11/4-sar.html

To learn about the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) you'll get from filing a FAFSA, click: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2009/11/5-efc.html

To learn about a Financial-Aid Package a college will award you, click here: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2009/11/6-financial-aid-package.html

To learn about Gift-Aid a college may put in your financial-aid package, click this link: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2009/11/7-gift-aid.html

To learn about Self-Help colleges may put in your financial-aid package, click this link: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2009/11/8-self-help.html

See how students with an EFC of $0 can go to college locally: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2009/11/21-efc-of-0-go-to-college-in-valley-for.html

To see an outline of common criteria for merit aid, click this link to our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2009/11/14-merit-aid.html

To read an explanation of need-based aid, click this link to our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2009/11/15-need-based-aid.html

To calculate how much a college may cost you, check out this link: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2009/11/16-how-much-will-college-cost-me.html

To read an update from Money on college costs, click this link: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2009/12/22-college-more-expensive-than-ever.html

To see a survey on how U.S. families pay for college, click: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2009/12/23-survey-finds-that-many-families-dont.html

To learn about saving for college with a 529 plan, click this link: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2009/12/24-529-savings-plan-for-college.html

To compare the tuition of 168 colleges in Ohio, click:
http://www.collegeview.com/SearchSchools.do?state=48&location=1500&referLocation=4860

To see tax credits for college in the stimulus bill, click: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2009/12/25-stimulus-bill-offers-tax-credit-for.html

Watch an ABC 20/20 video and decide "Is College Worth It?" here: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2009/12/26-john-stossel-is-college-worth-it.html

To read about students choosing colleges in this recession, click: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2009/12/28-college-applicants-forego-dream.html

See factors--including finances--that stress college dropouts: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2009/12/31-college-dropouts-cite-low-money-and.html

Read an article on the average loan-debt of college seniors: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2009/12/32-average-debt-for-graduating-college.html

To access the information on financial aid of FinAid! just click this link: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/02/38-financial-aid-websites.html

To find information on financial aid from the College Board, click here: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/02/38-financial-aid-websites.html

To find information on financial aid from Peterson's, access this site: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/02/38-financial-aid-websites.html

To see information on financial aid from the U.S. Dept. of Ed., click here: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/02/38-financial-aid-websites.html

For student accounts of loan-debt from college, hit this from HuffPost College: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/02/39-student-loan-debt.html

Lindsay Carroll, 21, Pitt, has $15,000 loan-debt; see why at HuffPost College: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/02/39-student-loan-debt.html

To seek scholarship opportunities that may fit you, investigate fastweb at http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/02/40-search-for-scholarships.html

12) Interpret the Student Aid Report (SAR), received after submitting the FAFSA, to determine EFC and financial need.

13) Interpret and compare Financial-Aid Award Offer letters from colleges to figure the “bottom line” (i.e., out-of-pocket expenses), monthly payments, and loan-debt.

With parents or other supportive adults, consider loans as well as grants, scholarships, & work-study programs.

With parents or other adults, learn more about tax credits, deductions, & other options to help pay for college.

14) If necessary, request “reconsiderations” of financial-aid packages.

15) Decide a college to attend and which financial-aid package component(s) to accept.

16) If eligible, complete and submit an MVCAP Last-Dollar Scholarship Application by June 1.

For a funny, informative, first-hand student view of college, access the new KnowHow2GOOhio blog at http://knowhow2goohio.wordpress.com/

There are lots of myths--that is, mistaken beliefs--about college; want the facts? Get some myth-busting information at KnowHow2GOOhio.org

Myth #1—It’s better to get good grades in easy courses than to get lower grades in hard ones. Tough courses prepare you well for college.

Myth #2—You need to decide on a career before you can choose a school. College is a time to explore; keep your options open. You have time.

Myth #3—You can’t get into college if you did poorly in ninth or tenth grade. Improvement indicates a student can and will do the work.

Become a follower of our new MVCAP blog--which contains information about college admissions & financial aid--at http://mvcap.blogspot.com/

Myth #4—If you haven’t heard of a school, it can’t be very good. Research colleges in your counselor’s office, online, or in the library.

Myth #5—Many extracurricular activities will make up for poor grades.Colleges assess academic performance first--so do your schoolwork well!

Myth #6—The time to visit colleges is after you're accepted. You may find none of your firstchoice schools “feel” right when you visit.

Myth #7—Only the very best students receive financial aid from colleges. Some grants--like the Federal Pell--are based on financial need.

Ways Adults Can Help--Recruit parents or other supportive adults to help you continue your education after high school. Together you can!

Ways Adults Can Help--Recruit your parents or other adults so you can make high school count by preparing academically for higher education.

Ways Adults Can Help—With your parents or other adults, discuss your skills, interests, & career options as well as colleges to consider.

Ways Adults Can Help--With your parents or other adults, meet w/ your guidance counselor to discuss which schools match your abilities.

Ways Adults Can Help—With your parents or other adults, get info about schools you’re interested in, including facts on financial aid.

Ways Adults Can Help—With your parents or other supportive adults, save money as early as possible to help pay for your college education.

You've taken the ACT, applied & been accepted, filed your FAFSA, you're getting your financial-aid award offer letters: now, what's next?

After you've applied & been accepted, filed your FAFSA, & gotten your financial-aid award offer letters, you must next decipher those letters.

To decipher your financial-aid award offer letters, read Part I of Lynn O'Shaughnessy's article at this link: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/03/44-understanding-financial-aid-award.html

To analyze your financial-aid award offer letters, read Part II: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/03/44-understanding-financial-aid-award.html

Now, calculate the "net price" of the college(s) you'd like to attend: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/03/45-calculating-net-price-of-college.html

Next, figure the up-front, out-of-pocket cost of your college(s): http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/03/45-calculating-net-price-of-college.html

An important question to ask, according to Penelope Wang in her article from the April 2010 Money magazine, is "Can we afford this college?" If you can't afford to attend the college of your choice, you can ask your financial-aid officer to "reconsider" your financial-aid award; click: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/50-ask-for-reconsideration.html

Still trying to decide which college to attend? Make a(nother) visit! Read #1: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/51-college-visits.html

If you're planning a visit to decide which college to attend, read #2 on our blog at this link: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/51-college-visits.html

You can access data on "for-profit" schools from the U.S. Dept of Ed at this link: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/53-proprietary-educational-institutions.html

If you were put on a college's or university's "wait-list," click this link to our blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/56-wait-list.html

Still seeking money for college? Read Lynn O'Shaughnessy's "4 Ways to Win A Scholarship": http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/54-college-scholarships.html

Still need money for college? See Lynn O'Shaughnessy's "The Best Places to Find College Cash": http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/54-college-scholarships.html

Got money for college? See Lynn O'Shaughnessy's "The Myth About College Scholarships": http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/54-college-scholarships.html

Advised by MVCAP, have an EFC <$4,000, & unmet need >$1,000? Apply: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/03/46-mvcap-last-dollar-scholarship.html

Private colleges or universities can discount tuition for students; click this link: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/62-discounts-for-college-tuition.html

If you're still seeking money for college, see some unusual scholarships: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/63-unusual-scholarships.html

Do Many Students Take Out College Loans? Link to our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/61-do-many-students-take-out-college.html

Shop around for college loans; check out the article on our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/58-shopping-for-student-loans.html

How much should you take out in college loans? Read our blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/59-how-much-should-student-borrow-for.html

How much should parents take out in college loans? See this link: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/60-how-much-should-parents-borrow-for.html

For a compilation of links about college loans, refer to this posting on our blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/57-college-loans.html

To review the statistics on student borrowing for college, click this posting on our blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/64-who-borrows-most.html

To read Lynn O'Shaughnessy's "12 Facts About Student Loan Borrowers," click this link to our blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/64-who-borrows-most.html

May 1 is the deadline to let a college or university know if you plan to enroll there; be sure to meet that deadline: act today, if you haven't already!

You go to college to graduate; for graduation rates of Ohio colleges & universities, click: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/65-graduation-rates-in-ohio.html

Who graduates in 4 years? See a study of MVCAP advisees on our blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/68-who-graduates-in-four-years.html

Need to borrow money to pay for college? Learn the differences between federal and private loans at http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/05/69-government-or-private-loans.html

Still looking for a college? See U.S. schools with space available for fall: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/05/70-space-availability-survey-2010.html

Still short of money to pay for college? See this link on our blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/05/71-still-need-money-for-college.html

Before focusing on college, finish senior year well: work hard through the last day of classes, turn in your assignments, & pass all tests and exams.

Before focusing on college, finish your senior year well: turn in all textbooks, pay any fines owed, & thank your teachers & administrators.

Your college will want a final transcript from your high school; therefore, make certain you have met all obligations--academic & financial.

If your 1st-choice college plan doesn't work out, have a Plan B; hit this link to our blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/05/73-plan-b.html

If you question whether you should go to college, others also wonder; click this article on our blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/05/75-is-college-degree-essential.html

You may have to take remedial coursework in college; for info, click our blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/05/74-remedial-coursework.html

Is college necessary? For some info, click this link to our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/05/77-do-you-need-to-go-to-college.html

If you must consider a private loan for college, shop around! Hit: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/05/78-interest-rates-vary-for-private.html

If you wonder what % of various groups goes to college & earns a degree, click this link to our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/05/76-higher-education-data.html

See a "to-do" list before starting college at this link on our blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/05/72-to-do-list-before-leaving-for.html

If you need more financial aid for college, link to our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/05/80-how-to-get-more-financial-aid.html

Once you know your financial-aid package, inquire what your first bill will be & when it's due; then, make sure you'll have money to pay it!

See what to take to college as a freshman at this link to our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/05/82-what-to-take-to-college.html

You may be able to save money on many items you'll need for your college dorm room by picking them up this summer at yard & garage sales!

Remember: the point of college isn't just going--it's to graduate. You can go to college--and graduate! Best of luck to you now & always.