VALUABLE RESOURCES TO GUIDE YOU TO A SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE EXPERIENCE

THE COLLEGE BOARD
The College Board: Connecting Students to College Success. The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the association is composed of more than 4,500 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves over three million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools, and 3.500 colleges through major programs and services in college admission, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning. Among its best-known programs are the SAT, the PSAT/NMSQT, and the Advanced Placement Program (AP).

The College Board is committed to the principles of excellence and equity, and that commitment is embodied in all of its programs, services, activities, and concerns.

Visit us at http://www.collegeboard.com/splash

Register as a user and get regular updates to give you the competitive edge to fulfill your college-going dreams!

What is ACT?
Raise your test scores for college admission and boost your chances of being accepted. The ACT tests you over what you’ve learned in school. Nearly all colleges and universities, including UC, CSU and historically Black colleges, accept it. Students say they feel comfortable taking the ACT because the content is familiar. Visit ACT’s website: www.act.org for information about the test, online registration, sample test questions, early scores, and a full range of college and career planning services.

College Placement Test Preparation
In order to get ready to reach your highest score on the SAT
– you want high scores both the English and the Math portions.
– it is a good idea to take the PSAT as early as your high school freshman year (9th grade).

By taking the PSAT not only are you able to practice for the SAT; but you can also try out for scholarships, let universities know that you are interested in attending and discover skill areas you may need to work on. You should also check with your school counselor about Advanced Placement Examinations, which offer high school juniors and seniors college-level course work for a chance to earn college credit while still in high school.

California Student Aid Commission
www.csac.ca.gov

This site if for you the student, parent or school staff member, to assist your search for State, Federal and institutional financial aid information funding post-high school education.

Black College Tours
www.blackcollegetours.com

Southern California – Educational Student Tours
Northern California – Young Scholars Programs

College Funding Solutions
www.CFSadvisor.com

CFS is the largest and most respected company in the college funding industry. By bringing professional management to the financial aid process, we are increasing families’ financial aid awards, as well as showing them time and providing them with “peace of mind”. We are changing lives by opening up education possibilities that families never dreamed would be available to them.

Don’t let the perceived high cost of college prevent your child from obtaining one of the most important credentials in the life: A college education!

William Jordan, President and Founder, CFS
http://www.preparingforcollege.com/

Building Blocks for Success Countdown to College
The following building blocks will assist you in preparing for success. We have 12th Grade, 11th Grade, 10th Grade, 9th Grade, 8th Grade, and 7th Grade ready for you to review.

Please take note and follow the guidelines closely so that you will be prepared for college. Make sure you share this information with relatives and friends so that they will be well prepared as well. This will allow you to qualify for available scholarships and get the best test scores.

12th Grade
Keep going for A’s and continue to take challenging courses. Keep attending college fairs in your area. These events are the next best thing to actually visiting universities. Narrow the application process to a minimum of three colleges. Watch the deadlines! Finish the financial aid application process. Watch the deadlines! In October re-take the SAT if you weren’t please with your score and want to do better. You should find out what colleges or universities have accepted you from March to April. If you have not heard from a college that you really like by May, contact the schools admissions office to help expedite a decision.

Your financial aid award letters should begin arriving in the spring. Respond to the letters immediately! When your student aid report (SAR) comes in, make sure all information is correct. Send the SAR to all universities that have accepted you. By the end of May you should have finalized your decision on the college or university you will attend. Reply immediately to any questions or requests that it may have. Take Advance Placement Examinations in May if they are offered in your area. Consider taking the College Level Entry Program (CLEP) in an area of study that you are particularly advanced. If you are able to graduate early (at the end of the 1st semester of your senior year in high school), work through the winter and spring, perhaps at an area department store, to put away money for your college needs. Assemble everything you will need for going to college from your study gear to your wardrobe. Don’t stop your community and volunteer work. Consult and update your daily planner at least twice a day. One evening in late July, sharpen your culinary kills and fix a dinner (it can be simple) for your family. This will be your way of saying thanks for all of their help and support before you go to college. Plan to take a summer orientation session at your university if it is offered. It will help you prepare in numerous ways for your freshman year.

11th Grade
Continue to take challenging college preparatory courses. Work toward getting as many A’s as possible. Visit college fairs in your area. Narrow your choice of universities to an average of five. Begin applying to universities. Make plans to visit universities you are considering. Begin filling out financial aid applications. Start putting your bio together. Begin asking for letters of reference. Take the SAT in the spring (if you haven’t done so already, take the PSAT in October). Continue to broaden your spectrum of community and other positive extracurricular activities and volunteer work. Keep making use of your daily planner. Become a pro at taking thorough notes. You’ll need this skill every day in college. Apply early to summer programs at colleges and universities.

10th Grade
Continue to take challenging college preparatory courses. Continue researching universities and scholarships. Now is the time to take the PSAT in October. Take the SAT in the summer for practice. Broaden your spectrum of community and other positive extracurricular activities. Get a daily planner to help you stay on track and organized with all of your activities. Make using the planner a habit that you continue to use through college. Form a study group of get a tutor if you get behind in any course. This self-help experience can also be used in college. Use the summer to hone your reading skills and experience. Get a suggested reading list for college-bound students from your English teacher.

9th Grade
Take challenging college preparatory courses. Begin researching universities that interest you. Begin researching scholarships, grants and other financial aid programs. Consider taking the PSAT for practice in October. Make community and other positive extracurricular activities a must on your schedule. Take a summer course that helps you prepare for college.

8th Grade
Continue to participate in EAOP, MESA or Puente academic enrichment programs at all grade levels. Continue to participate in study groups and read, read, read. Ask your counselor or program representative about Summer Academic Enrichment Programs. Take pre-algebra. Make sure you 9th grade schedule includes algebra or more advanced math and/or foreign language classes. Take the American College Test (ACT) – Explore preparation program or the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT) for practice. It is extremely important to work with your counselor or program representative so they can help interpret your scores.

7th Grade
Tell your parents and school guidance counselor that you plan on going to college. Ask them to help you prepare. Take challenging classes in English, Math, Science, History, etc. strive to maintain an “A” or “B” average all through school, especially the college prep courses. Get into the reading habit and ask your teachers to recommend books. Start to study with a group of friends (create a study group). Work with an Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP), Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA), or Puente program representative.

REFERENCES
100 Best Values in Public Colleges
http://www.kiplinger.com/tools/colleges/
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/rankindex_brief.php

You can sort the schools in our survey of public colleges by in-state and out-of-state overall rank, cost, quality measures or financial aid measures. Then select All States or any number of individual states (hold down the control key as you click to choose more than one), or select All Colleges or any number of individual colleges. Clicking on the college names in the table will take you to their Web sites. Most of our data comes from Petersons, a division of the Thomson Corp.

Scholarships, Grants, Financial Aid
The following resource list will assist in your financial needs.

Cal Student Aid Commission:
http://www.csa.ca.gov

FREE application for Federal Student Aid.
http://www.calteach.com

General information on financial aid and incentives specific to teaching.
http://www.scholarships.com

Los Angeles Cash for College
http://www.lacashforcollege.org/

Scholarship and financial aid information.
http://www.free-4u.com/minority.htm

Scholarship information for ethnic/minority students.
http://scholarships-ar-us.org/moresearches.htm

General financial aid and scholarship information.
http://www.loans4students.org/

United Negro College Fund information.
http://www.uncf.org

Korean American Scholarship Foundation
http://www.kasf.org

Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association Scholarship Committee
https://www.ksea.org

The National Urban League, Inc.
www.nul.org

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
www.naacp.org

National Association of Hispanic Publications, Inc.
www.nahponline.org

The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
www.jackierobinson.org

2003 Hispanic Scholarship Directory available under scholarship link.

College Planning on the Web. For more information on saving and investing for college education, check these websites:
www.collegeboard.com
www.ed.gov
www.savingforcollege.com

Law School Admissions Council
http://www.lsac.org

“Parents Points to Remember”
“Official transcripts” means a sealed envelope on that particular schools” stationary (DO NOT OPEN)

Stay in touch with the schools to make sure your child’s records are accurate

For seniors, start checking with their counselors in November to find out what schools they are eligible to attend, as a back up check with College Board also (www.collegeboard.com)

High school students 9th – 12th grade need to make sure they concentrate on their math, science, and English courses, this will assure them better college options

Make sure the Financial Aid (FAFSA-Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form is filled out right after January 1st.

Start checking for scholarships and applying in 11th grade. There are several scholarships to go unclaimed and money is available.

Start a history file, like a bio on your kids at 7th grade listing all their activities, volunteer work and accomplishments to submit with scholarship opportunities.

For seniors, write up a page, or one sheet on your accomplishments and achievements. Most all the scholarships you apply for will be asking the same questions and this will allow you to be prepared in advance.

Most Important Things Students Need to Know About
CAL GRANTS

1. Cal Grants are FREE money -you don’t have to pay back.
2. Must fill out and send a FAFSA
3. Must file a verified GPA.
4. Must meet the march 2, 2004 deadline
5. CAL Grants are good at all UC’s, CSU’s, private colleges and most vocational schools in California.
6. Must meet financial need to qualify.
7. Must be a California resident.
8. Must have a 2.0 GPA or better.
9. Cal Grants is guaranteed if you meet all the requirements.
10. Cal Grants are as much as $9700 of free money for college.

Source:
First Annual Black College Expo: Oakland, California: Oakland Marriott City Center Hotel: February 24, 2004.

Ninth Annual Black College Expo: Los Angeles, California: Los Angeles Convention Center: January 24, 2004.