College Explorations

Virginia Colleges earn Additional 'Best Value' Awards

2012-02-11T07:54:00.000-08:00

The Commonwealth continues on a roll! Last month, Virginia’s colleges and universities made an impressive showing on Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges for 2012, with 7 schools named among the top 100 in the nation.

This week, USA Today debuted the Princeton Review’s annual list of best value schools, and although UVa got knocked off the top spot by the University of North Carolina, Virginia’s flagship institution ranked number two in the nation among top-value public colleges.

UVa was joined on the public school list by Longwood University, the University of Mary Washington, Christopher Newport University, the College of William and Mary (# 6), James Madison University, and Virginia Tech.

Across the Potomac, St. Mary’s College of Maryland and the University of Maryland-College Park also found spots among top-value public colleges and universities.

Best values for area private institutions included Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, Randolph College, and the University of Richmond. Williams College topped the list, followed by Swarthmore, Princeton, Harvard, and Rice.

The Princeton Review selected its 150 best values—75 public and 75 private—based on data collected at 650 institutions identified as having “excellent academics.” Selection criteria covered academics, cost of attendance, and financial aid.

“We recommend these extraordinary colleges as our ‘best buys’ for 2012 and salute them for all they are doing to keep costs down and/or offer generous aid to applicants with financial need,” said Best Value Colleges lead author and publisher Robert Franek.

Average tuition and fees at public four-year colleges was $8,244 for in-state students in 2011-12—up from $7,613 in 2010-11, according to the College Board. For private four-year institutions, costs rose by 4.5 percent to $28,500 during the same period. But because virtually no one pays full sticker price, the Princeton Review took into account the availability of financial aid when determining best value.

“We’re very quick to say it can’t just be a low sticker price,” commented Franek. “The commitment has to be much deeper than that.”

3 Great Scholarship Programs for Hispanic Students

2012-02-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

Founded in 1993, the Hispanic College Fund (HCF) is a Washington-based national nonprofit organization with a mission to develop the next generation of Hispanic professionals by providing educational, scholarship, and mentoring programs to students throughout the US and Puerto Rico.

Key to the HCF mission is being able to find organizations willing to go the extra distance to support Hispanic students by offering scholarships and educational grants. To date, the HCF has awarded nearly $15 million in scholarships to more than 5,400 students.

Here are three terrific programs currently being offered in conjunction with the Hispanic College Fund:

Marriott Scholars Program
Applications are currently being accepted online through March 1, 2012, for the Marriott Scholars Program. High school seniors or first year college students pursuing careers in hospitality management, hotel management, culinary, or food and beverage fields are encouraged to apply. The program offers financial support of up to $9,000 per year for four years together with opportunities for ongoing career guidance and mentoring.

To qualify, students must be of Hispanic/Latino heritage and must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better. Requirements include a completed application form available online, an official transcript, an essay, one letter of recommendation and a resume.

McDonald’s Hispanic College Fund Scholarship Program
Since 2010, McDonald’s Family Restaurants of Greater Washington, DC has partnered with the HCF to expand the scholarship program, McDonald’s Educates, and provide additional scholarships for Hispanic students residing in the greater Washington DC area. To date, 14 scholarships have been awarded totaling $21,000.

Qualified students must reside in DC, Maryland, Virginia or West Virginia and must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. In addition to outstanding scholastic achievement, applicants must demonstrate “admirable qualities in leadership, character, and volunteerism. All applications must be received by March 1, 2012.

2012 Future Latino Leaders Law Camp—Washington, DC
This summer, 25 students from across the country will be chosen to participate in a free week-long intensive program designed to help students work on leadership and valuable life skills. Students will attend college preparatory workshops, participate in a “mock trial” experience, meet US senators and representatives and tour the White House, US Capitol, Department of Justice and the Supreme Court.

Applications must be completed on the Hispanic National Bar Foundation website and are due no later than March 1, 2012.

Report Questions Virginia Colleges and Universities

2012-02-08T03:14:00.000-08:00

The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) recently released a repor t analyzing Virginia colleges and universities in terms of affordability, core requirements, and graduation rates.

And the results were not encouraging. In fact, the Beazley Foundation, which commissioned the report and has donated more than $75 million in support of Virginia higher education, announced that it would suspend collegiate giving in light of ACTA’s findings.

A release from Richard Bray, chairman of the Beazley Foundation said the suspension is in response to “the departure of numerous institutions from the discipline of core curriculum fundamental to education in the liberal arts,” as the report shows the Commonwealth is “supporting rising costs, more administrators, and a diffuse and incoherent curriculum.”

The report, titled “The Diffusion of Light and Education,” takes its name from a Thomas Jefferson quote and takes aim at cost-effectiveness and student learning.

Among the report’s findings:

The cost of tuition and fees totals more than 40 percent of Virginia’s median household income at 17 private institutions.
Between 2004-05 and 2010-11, tuition and fees rose by 49 percent to $12,188 at the College of William & Mary, by 38 percent to $8,684 at George Mason University, and by 38 percent to $10,828.
Among private institutions, tuition and fees are up by 36 percent at Washington and Lee University and the University of Richmond, and up by 23 percent at Hampden-Sydney College.
Administrative expenses at Virginia colleges are rising faster than instructional expenses. For example JMU’s administrative expenses more than doubled between 2003 and 2009.
Despite the Governor’s emphasis on education in STEM fields, more than one-third of the 39 public and private institutions studied do not require students to take math.
Only two institutions require a basic course in American history or government, and not one requires the study of economics.
Fewer than half of the colleges studied equaled or exceeded the national graduation rate of 57.4 percent in six years.

The ACTA report also addresses the challenges facing colleges and universities and compares Virginia’s schools with other institutions.

“Our hope is that [the report] will give [families] a body of information that will help them make better choices between schools in Virginia,” said Michael Poliakoff, ACTA policy director and co-author of the report.

To download the complete report, visit the ACTA website.

Celebrate National School Counseling Week with a Hug

2012-02-06T06:11:00.000-08:00

The high school guidance counselors I know won’t have much time to celebrate National School Counseling Week (February 6-10) this year. They’re way too busy.

And here are a few reasons why:

National student-to-school counselor rates increased last year to 459-1—a far cry from the 250-1 ratio recommended by the American School Counselor Association.

Every nine seconds an American high school student becomes a dropout—that’s about one in four students who enter high school as freshmen fail to earn a diploma four years later.

Forty-five percent of teenagers, ages 13 to 17, have said have felt high stress at numerous times throughout the year—nearly one in three girls and one in four boys report being highly stressed.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year olds, and the sixth leading cause of death for 5- to 14-year olds.

For every adolescent who completes suicide, there are between 50 and 200 suicide attempts.

The current rate of marijuana and Ecstasy us e among 12- to 17-year olds is back on the rise.

As many as a quarter of high school students report being bullied during the most recent year studied by the NCES and about 7 percent were bullied online by other students.

Instead of going out for a celebration, school guidance counselors are helping kids address personal and social problems, substance abuse, attendance issues, and academics. They’re trying to keep kids from dropping out, doing dope, or causing harm to themselves or others—all within the context of caseloads that far exceed the wildest estimates of what anyone thinks is prudent or sane.

The American School Counselor Association recommends that parents “maintain an open dialogue with their child’s counselor and establish contact in-person, or via phone and email at least three times per school year.” Sounds good, but how often does it happen?

I work with local students and parents who have never met, nor think it’s particularly important to meet with their guidance counselor. In all fairness, the counselor may not have had time to reach out, and the system does seem to actively work to thwart the relationship. But still, the door is seldom entirely closed.

And yet when it comes time for applying to college, who do these same students and parents think organizes the school paperwork and writes recommendations? Who is currently in the process of gathering information for the all-important mid-year reports on which college candidacies may rise or fall? And how does anyone think these reports or recommendations can be anything but generic if there is no personal interaction at any time during the high school career?

So let’s begin breaking down barriers. Why not take a moment to make to start or renew a friendship in the guidance office? Take the occasion of National School Counseling Week to send an email, write a note, or stop by the office to thank the person behind the desk. Even better—drop by the principal’s office and tell the boss what a great job your counselor is doing.

And knowing many school counselors in every corner of the country, I’d say a hug would very likely be appreciated and warmly accepted.

A Makeover for the Common App

2012-02-04T07:38:00.000-08:00

Last fall, the Common Application announced that its online application system would be undergoing a major facelift. Dubbed Common App 4.0, the new electronic form is due to make its debut in August 2013 and will replace a system put in place six years ago—long before iPods and iPads revolutionized the way kids get information.

“The current online system is a very good one, but it was not designed to handle the volume we’re anticipating in the coming decade,” explained Martha Merrill, Common App board president and secretary in an open letter to the NACAC membership. “We will build a new system that can handle the anticipated volume, will add the simplest, most modern interface possible for applicants and members, and will incorporate many new features.”

And it can’t come soon enough.

While continuing to set all kinds of utilization records—561,048 applicants submitted 2,435,301 applications by mid-January—the application software continues to suffer from a series of problems most likely due to old age, which comes early in the technology business.

According to the New York Times, the Common Application will be investing $7 to $8 million in a project designed to result in a “smoother, faster, more intuitive application.” It promises to address the “vexing” truncation issue and improve interface with the iPad.

That’s good news for the high school class of 2014, but not so good for students applying during the 2012-13 application cycle. Hopefully, the Common App will continue to support the old software and the “band aids” they’ve already applied will hold for one more season.

In addition to attracting more applications and students using the system, the Common Application has worked hard to bring recommendations online and increase the number of member colleges using the service.

Locally, American University, George Washington, the College of William & Mary, Johns Hopkins, Randolph Macon College, Goucher, the University of Mary Washington, and the University of Richmond are long-time users of the Common App. New members include Christopher Newport University, Howard University, Saint Mary’s College of Maryland, Salisbury University, and Towson University.

It’s estimated that the number of applications filed through the Common Application system could exceed 10 million by the end of this decade, and officials hope the number of members will more than double from the current group of 456 colleges and universities.

“If we stick with the architecture of the current system through the end of the decade, with the growth we’re seeing, there would be delays during peak periods, for students and for our member colleges getting applications, said Rob Killion, executive director of Common Application Inc., in an interview with the New York Times. “This will all soon be groaning if we don’t do something now.”

One More Essay Contest

2012-02-04T06:31:00.000-08:00

Time is running out on the 16^th annual “Pasta Tales Essay Contest” sponsored by none other than your neighborhood Olive Garden restaurant.

And not much is required beyond some knowledge of educational programs in your local community and an essay of no more than 250 words answering the question, “If you were given $5,000 to support education in your local community, how would you use it and why?”

Entries may be submitted online and must be received by no later than Sunday, February 5, 2012. It’s just that easy.

The grand prize winner will receive a three-day trip to New York City that includes dinner at the Olive Garden in Times Square and a $2,500 savings bond. In addition, Olive Garden will provide a $5,000 grant to support education in the winner’s community, bringing the essay “to life.”

Twelve “first-place” prizes will also be awarded in each grade category and include a $500 savings bond as well as dinner for four at the Olive Garden restaurant nearest to home.

Essays will be judged on creativity, adherence to theme, organization,grammar, punctuation, and spelling by the Quill and Scroll Society of the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Iowa.

For seniors who have been cranking out essays on a variety of similarly challenging topics, this should be a piece of cake. And keep in mind that a win isn’t always about the money.

For more information or to enter the contest, visit the Olive Garden website.

Scholarship Money for Students Who Think ‘Big’

2012-02-03T07:13:00.000-08:00

Once again the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) has come up with a creative approach to attracting high school students to their profession.

Following up on last year's Clearly Pretty Awesome (CPA) competition, AICPA's "Project Innovation" is asking students for a little help finding "one creative, original, awesome idea" that could be implemented as a new feature on the StartHereGoPlaces.com website.

The goal is to make the website an even more helpful destination for students interested in exploring the "endless possibilities" of a career in accounting. And to sweeten the deal, three scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 are being offered to the team of students coming up with the best idea.

To enter, you'll need to form a team of two to four classmates and a faculty advisor willing to support the effort. Each student on the team must meet basic eligibility requirements like being the right age (someplace between 15 and 19) and agreeing to the terms of a basic release form.

Your team will need to come up with a brilliant idea, describe it in a short essay (no more than 500 words), and provide a visual aid which can be uploaded from your computer. And it all needs to be submitted by no later than February 6, 2012.

This is a great project for student members of local DECA high school chapters who already participate in team competitions and activities. And not only will scholarships be awarded to students, but the sponsoring school also wins funds!

But be warned: coming up with a new idea for StartHereGoPlaces.com is not going to be easy. The website already contains many useful tools for students interested in accounting careers, like a free magazine, a college application timeline, and a really comprehensive list of other scholarships available to future CPA's.

There's no question about it. You're going to have to be inventive and imagine what else could be included on the site. Entries will be judged on creativity, originality, and feasibility.

For more information on Project Innovation, visit the "Start Here Go Places" website. But hurry. The contest ends February 6.

125 Colleges cross the $50K Mark for 2011-12

2012-02-01T08:16:00.000-08:00

As recently as three years ago, only five colleges were priced over $50,000. This year, the number has grown to 125, including two public universities—the University of California at Santa Cruz and the University of California at Berkeley, which are charging out-of-state students $51,021 and $50,703 respectively.

Locally, the number of area colleges and universities appearing on the $50K list generated by The Chronicle of Higher Education remained unchanged from last year. These include Johns Hopkins ($55,742), Georgetown University ($54,936), George Washington ($54,473), St. Johns College ($53,990), Washington and Lee ($52,614), the University of Richmond ($52,420), American ($51,719), and Loyola of Maryland ($52,485).

While private colleges and universities continue to dominate the list of high-end institutions, dwindling state support for postsecondary education has resulted in steady increases in expenses at public institutions across the country.

In fact, for the fifth consecutive year, the percent increase in average published tuition and fees at public four-year colleges was higher than it was at private ones, according to the annual “Trends in College Pricing” report published by the College Board.

The average price for tuition and fees at public four-year colleges was $8,244 for in-state students in 2011-12, up from $7,613 in 2010-11, an 8.3 percent increase. At private four-year colleges, published tuition and fees went up to $28,500 from $27,265—a 4.5 percent increase.

But no one, or at least very few families, pays sticker price thanks to various forms of financial aid. In fact, the College Board estimates that the average “net price” (after grants and tax benefits are subtracted) for tuition and fees at private four-year colleges totaled $12,970. For public institutions, net price came to $2,490.

Still, it’s getting increasingly expensive for students to cross state lines to attend public institutions. Of 15 public universities charging out-of-state students $40,000 or higher in 2011-12, nine are campuses in the UC system as well as the College of William & Mary ($44,181) and the Universities of Colorado at Boulder ($41,608), Michigan at Ann Arbor ($48,040), Texas at Austin ($42,928), Vermont ($44,132) , and Virginia ($45,138).

Also appearing on The Chronicle's list of top 50 most expensive public institutions are a number of local colleges and universities, including Virginia Military Institute ($39,610), St. Mary’s College of Maryland ($37,422), the University of Maryland—College Park ($35,968) and George Mason University ($34,798).

For the complete list of colleges and universities crossing the $50K mark, visit The Chronicle of Higher Education website (a subscription may be required).

Local FAFSA Deadlines are Fast Approaching

2012-01-30T06:38:00.000-08:00

Nearly every college and university has a clearly posted priority financial aid deadline by which the FAFSA should be filed for students to have the best possible chance of receiving both institutional and federal aid.

Because most of these deadlines are either on or before March 1st, students and their parents must act early in the New Year—often before tax returns are filed with the federal government.

To underscore the importance of beginning the FAFSA sooner rather than later, even if it means estimating income and taxes to be paid, the following is a list of local priority financial aid (FA) deadlines:

American University: 2/15
Catholic University: 2/15
Christopher Newport University: 3/1
College of William & Mary: 3/1
George Mason University: 3/1
George Washington University: 2/1
Georgetown University: 2/1
Goucher College: 2/1
Hood College: 2/15
Howard University: 2/1
James Madison University: 3/1
Johns Hopkins University: 3/1
Loyola University of Maryland: 2/15
Marymount University: 3/1
Mount St. Mary's University: 2/15
Salisbury University: 2/1
St. Mary’s College of Maryland: 2/28
Towson University: 2/15
UMBC: 2/14
University of Mary Washington: 3/1
University of Maryland—College Park: 2/15
University of Richmond: 2/15
University of Virginia: 3/1
Virginia Commonwealth University: 3/1
Virginia Tech: 3/1

You can research individual deadlines by simply going to a college or university website and entering “FAFSA” or “FAFSA deadline” in the search function. Only the most poorly constructed websites will fail to pop up a link to either an admissions or a financial aid web page clearly stating the priority deadline by which you should file your FAFSA. Some will even give you a few good reasons why this is so important.

Many states also have FAFSA deadlines that are entirely separate from but usually after institutional dates. A handy tool for researching individual state deadlines is provided on the FAFSA website. Locally, the State of Maryland has posted March 1st as its deadline, and the District of Columbia uses June 30th. Virginia is noncommittal and refers applicants to individual financial aid administrators (Hint: you may notice a pattern of March 1st as a deadline for the Virginia public colleges and universities listed above).

Filing the FAFSA by the priority deadlines and promptly responding to any requests for additional documentation helps ensure you’ll receive your financial aid letters at about the same time you receive admissions decisions.

Note that it takes the FAFSA processor 1 to 2 weeks to get information to individual colleges and universities—if the FAFSA is filed electronically. If you use the paper application, the turnaround can take from 3 to 4 weeks. And delays could be longer if your application is randomly selected for a more in depth review.

Remember you do NOT have to be admitted to a college or university before submitting your FAFSA. You CAN file using last year’s tax return to estimate income and taxes. If you have any questions or need additional assistance, contact the FAFSA on the Web Consumer Service either online or by calling 1-800-433-3243 (1-800-4-FED-AID).

The Common Application announces 2012-13 Essay Topics

2012-01-28T06:17:00.000-08:00

In case you’re sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for notification of next year’s essay topics for Common Application member colleges and universities, I have great news—the topics will remain the same as they have been for the past several years.

For juniors who are waiting “on deck” to begin the college application process, this means you will be asked to write an essay (approximately 250-500 words) on one of several broad options, including:

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.
Topic of your choice.

Doesn’t sound too bad, does it? Not if it ends there. But unfortunately, many colleges aren’t content with the basic Common Application requirement. They ask for “supplements,” which can be devilishly time-consuming and tedious.

For example, this year George Washington University asked for an essay of approximately 500 words that responded to one of two topics (your choice):

The nineteenth-century philosopher John Stuart Mill once wrote that "one person with a belief is equal to a force of 99 who have only interests." Tell us about one of your beliefs - how you came to it, why you hold on to it, what has challenged it, and what you imagine its influence will be on your education or pursuits.
"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." - A. Einstein. Describe your most interesting mistake.

Obviously, the last option begs the question “Does this application count?”

Taking a more straightforward approach, Johns Hopkins asked applicants to discuss why they chose specific majors. American University wants to know why you’re a good fit for their community, and the University of Mary Washington zeroed in on the college honor system and asked related questions.

In their Common Application supplements, the College of William & Mary wanted to know (in 500 words or less) “what makes you unique and colorful,” and the University of Virginia asked applicants to UVa’s College of Arts & Sciences, “What work of art, music, science, mathematics, or literature has surprised, or challenged you, and in what way?”

If you were interested in the honors program at Christopher Newport University, you needed to think into the future and reflect on the “highlights” of your life in 250 words or less. And UMBC’s honors college wanted to know about “a problem you have studied or know about that needs an interdisciplinary solution.”

For the Johnson Scholarship at Washington & Lee University, applicants were asked to react to one of five complicated prompts including:

"'Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or to keep one.' (Robert E. Lee, President of then-Washington College, 1865-1870) Discuss a time when you were tempted to do a wrong thing or when you actually did a wrong thing. What was your motivation? What lessons did you draw from this experience? Do you believe that there is always dishonor in doing a wrong thing? Why or why not?"

While it’s reassuring to know that the Common App will stick with a group of essay topics that virtually covers the entire range of human experience, the bigger question remains as to what colleges will cook up in the way of supplementary essays for next year. I can hardly wait.

NIH Offers Amazing Summer Opportunities for High School Students

2012-01-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

Summer programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) offer hundreds of exciting opportunities for high school students to work side-by-side with some of the world's leading scientists in “an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research.”

As one of the premiere research facilities in the world, NIH consists of the 240-bed Hatfield Clinical Research Center and more than 1200 laboratories/research projects located on the main campus in Bethesda, as well as in Frederick and Baltimore, MD; Research Triangle Park, NC; Phoenix, AZ; Hamilton, MT; Framingham, MA; and Detroit, MI.

Program stipends cover a minimum of eight weeks, with students generally arriving at the NIH in May or June. And stipends are adjusted yearly with the amount depending on prior experience and educational level.

Note that this is not a commuter program; NIH does not provide housing to student interns. Every year, however, out-of-area students apply and make their own living arrangements for the summer. Nevertheless, students living in the DC metropolitan area or near one of the other locations have a clear advantage for many of the internships.

To support the program, the NIH Institutes and Office of Intramural Training & Education sponsor a wide range of summer activities including lectures featuring distinguished NIH investigators, career/professional development workshops, and Summer Poster Day. These are incomparable opportunities which can provide the basis for independent research and related science competitions such as the JSHS, Intel STS, Siemens, and ISEF.

Summer internships are available for students who will be 16 years of age or older at the time they begin the program and who are currently enrolled at least half-time in high school or an accredited US college or university. Students who have already been accepted to college may also apply.

Interested students must apply online by no later than March 1, 2012, and all letters of recommendation are due by March 15, 2012. The application requires

• a resume
• a list of coursework and grades
• a cover letter describing research interests and career goals, and
• the names and contact information for two references.

Candidates are welcome to specify the scientific methodologies or disease/organ systems that are of particular interest to them.

Because applications are reviewed on a rolling basis from November through April by NIH scientists, students are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible.

For more information as well as some tips on how to increase your chances of winning an internship, visit the NIH website.

Don't Fall Victim to Fear of FAFSA

2012-01-25T05:42:00.000-08:00

Fear of FAFSA is a known, but treatable disease. Often it begins with math phobia or chronic avoidance of anything related to personal finances. Individuals who have never balanced a checkbook or filed their own taxes are particularly susceptible.

But help is available! If you’re still procrastinating or have come up against the proverbial FAFSA “wall,” local associations of financial aid professionals are organizing a series of FREE FAFSA filing clinics scheduled to take place in virtually every corner of the country over the next two months.

In the DC metropolitan area, students and their families can choose among Super Saturday events, sponsored by the Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (VASFAA), College Access Fairfax, or College Goal Sunday, sponsored by independently-funded organizations in Maryland and DC.

There are no residency requirements for any of these programs. Maryland or DC students are welcome to attend Virginia events, and Virginians are welcome to cross the river to attend events in Maryland or the District. Just find a convenient date and location. But considering institutional “priority” FAFSA filing deadlines, you may want to target some of the earlier dates.

Super Saturday, Virginia
This year, the VASFAA will host more than 60 Super Saturday events across the Commonwealth on January 28, February 4, and February 11, 2012. Each Super Saturday site will offer two financial aid workshops designed to explain the federal financial aid process, followed by a Q & A period.

The host sites will have computers available for students/parents to begin or complete their FAFSA’s, with one-on-one assistance provided by volunteer financial aid experts. And to sweeten the deal, a $100 Book Scholarship will be awarded to one student at each Super Saturday site to be used at the winner’s college of choice during the 2012-13 academic year.

Participants should bring personal FAFSA PIN numbers (it's best to register in advance), Social Security numbers, driver’s license, income and tax records, bank and investment statements, and residency documents for noncitizens. More information is provided on the VASFAA website as well as on several location-specific web pages.

College Access Fairfax
College Access Fairfax, in conjunction with the Fairfax County Public Schools, scheduled 12 events in various locations around the county. All workshops are free and open to students and families from any high school, and most will provide on-site Spanish translation services.

College Goal Sundays, Maryland
In Maryland, nine College Goal Sundays, beginning on January 28 at Sojourner-Douglas College in Salisbury, have been scheduled in locations across the state. At each site, FREE professional assistance will be available to help students and their families begin and hopefully complete the FAFSA filing process. In addition, there will be information on state-wide student services, admission requirements, and other financial aid resources. Although not required, participants are strongly encouraged to register in advance as computers, translators, and volunteers are limited.

To complete the FAFSA process on-site, you will need to have your Social Security number, driver’s license, income and tax records, investment and bank statements, and your alien registration card if you are not a US citizen. Details are provided on the College Goal website.

DC College Goal Sunday
The DC College Goal Sunday program has scheduled an event scheduled for Sunday, January 29, at the Martin Luther King Jr Library. In addition to identification information such as Social Security numbers and driver’s license, parents and students should bring their latest tax information and/or last pay stub to complete the form.

If you’re suffering from Fear of FAFSA, you’re not alone. Get help. It’s FREE, professional, and confidential.

What Really Makes College So Expensive

2012-01-24T08:26:00.000-08:00

According to a report released by the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, tuition isn’t necessarily the culprit behind increases in the overall cost of attending college. In fact, the pain in the pocket may be attributable to an increase in the cost of non-tuition expenses such as textbooks and housing.

While costs associated with attending a four-year college rose about $3000 per student since the 1999-2000 school year, the report found that only about $1000 of that may blamed on increased net tuition. Financial aid has contributed to keeping the increase in per student net prices to about $1000, as sticker prices (published rates of tuition) went up by about $3000.

“To the extent that students and their families are concerned about what costs they will need to pay to cover tuition charges, the relevant measure is ‘net tuition,’ which is the ‘sticker price’ less any grant aid students receive.”

The report also points out that four-year colleges have increased per student revenues over the past 10 years. In other words, persistent arguments that tuition increases are more than offset by increases in financial aid don’t necessarily hold water.

“At the four-year level, the significant increase in tuition revenue undermines the common argument that colleges are pursuing a high-tuition/high-aid model,” the report states.

If you’re really interested in why college is so expensive, here is a list of some of the pricier room and board plans found by US News & World Report and Cappex.

Howard University, DC
Average room and board costs: $15,341
University of California-Berkeley, CA
Average room and board costs: $15,317
The New School, NY
Average room and board costs: $15,260
Dominican University of California
Average room and board costs: $14,460
Suffolk University, MA
Average room and board costs: $14,904
Ringling College of Art and Design, FL
Average room and board costs: $14,840
Fordham University, NY
Average room and board costs: $14,491
University of California-Santa Cruz, CA
Average room and board costs: $14,171
Manhattanville College, NY
Average room and board costs: $13,920
St. John’s University-New York
Average room and board costs: $13,900
University of California-Los Angeles, CA
Average room and board costs: $13,743
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, NY
Average room and board costs $13,700
New York University, NY
Average room and board costs: $13,510
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, MA
Average room and board costs: $13,500
American University, DC
Average room and board costs: $13,648

Maximize Aid by Avoiding Common FAFSA Mistakes

2012-01-23T09:37:00.001-08:00

Even with the new and improved FAFSA form, there’s no question that providing all the information required of financial aid applicants is challenging. But don’t let that stop you! Procrastination is a clear enemy in this process and may prevent you from taking full advantage of the government’s generosity.

The fact is that federal student financial assistance programs represent the nation’s largest single source of financial aid for postsecondary students. And families are finally getting the message. According to an annual study completed by Sallie Mae, FAFSA completion jumped from only 72 percent in 2010 to 80 percent in 2011, with middle-income families making up a substantial portion of the increase.

So what’s the best way to maximize your potential for federal aid?

Simply complete the FAFSA early and online.

But mistakes on the form can delay your application and possibly result in lost financial aid.

To combat frequently-made mistakes, online applicants are now given the option of retrieving IRS data to automatically populate the FAFSA. This option simplifies the application process, helps reduce errors, and may lower chances of being selected for verification. It’s great if you’ve already filed, but not so good if you haven’t and shouldn’t be used as a delaying tactic.

To help get you started, here a few costly FAFSA filing mistakes you can easily avoid:

Waiting to complete your taxes. Although it’s preferable to have completed tax returns available before starting, sometimes that’s just not possible especially if your employer is one of many who routinely ignore W-2 deadlines. Waiting for your employer’s bookkeeper can cause you to miss priority state and college filing deadlines, and these delays could cause you to lose aid. So go ahead and provide estimated information and plan to update once your taxes are done. (HINT: Use your last pay stub from 2011 to provide an income estimate).
Having the wrong parent complete the form. When parents are divorced or separated, you need to make sure the right one completes the form. The parent responsible for filling out the FAFSA will be the one with whom the student has lived for most of the year (more than 50 percent).
Leaving a blank field. The most frequent mistake made by applicants is leaving a field blank. If the answer is zero or the question does not apply to you, write in a “0.” If you leave a question blank, the processor assumes you forgot to answer, and too many blanks may cause miscalculation or an application rejection.
Entering the wrong legal name. Make sure that when you register for a PIN number, the name you provide matches what it says on your social security card. If you’re JoAnne for the Social Security Administration, don’t suddenly become Joann for FAFSA. The same goes for Bubba or Billy Bob. And don’t forget the hyphen or drop one of your last names just because your parents are no longer together. The FAFSA verifies this information with the Social Security Administration and if names do not match, there will be delays in processing.
Providing an incorrect Social Security number or Date of Birth. Check and double check every number you enter in these fields. Errors can be as simple as reversing digits or entering a parent’s SSN in place of the student’s. This REALLY slows down the process. No aid will be awarded until all numbers are correct and match what the feds already have in the system.
Failing to count yourself as a student. The student for whom the FAFSA is being completed must be counted as a member of the household attending college during the award year. Also keep in mind that the form is all about the student, and the words “you” and “your” always refer to the student—not the parents.
Leaving the question about drug-related offenses blank. If you’re unsure or embarrassed, contact the Information Center instead of leaving this field blank. A conviction doesn’t necessarily disqualify you from getting aid.
Entering the wrong tax amount paid. Use the 1040 federal tax return for reporting taxes paid. Do NOT use your W-2 form for this purpose. This is where the new IRS data retrieval tool may help you avoid errors.
Confusing Adjusted Gross Income with Gross Income. The FAFSA specifies the line on the 1040 that lists your AGI. If you use the gross income figure, you are over-reporting your income and could lose aid eligibility because of a high income. Again, the new partnership with the IRS should help, provided you file your return before you start completing the FAFSA.
Failing to sign the FAFSA form. This sounds like a “duh” moment, but you’d be surprised how many manage to screw this up. If you’re one of the 2 percent filling out the paper FAFSA, be sure to sign it. If you’re filing electronically, be sure to obtain your PIN before starting the FAFSA. Your PIN is your electronic signature, and both student and parent will need to have one to file online.
Forgetting to update tax information. If you submit the FAFSA before filing your taxes, you will have to estimate income and tax information. Once your taxes are complete (by April 15th), you must amend your Student Aid Report (SAR) by going to the corrections page on the FAFSA website. Do this as soon as possible, as over- and underestimating taxes can affect the amount of aid you receive, and colleges will not finalize your aid package until you’ve provided 2012 tax information.
Missing filing dates. Financial aid is given out on a first come first serve basis. Those who submit the FAFSA early and correctly are placed in the front of the line for aid. In the way of a reminder, the FAFSA website provides a list of known state filing deadlines. But since priority filing dates vary significantly by college, you’ll need to check with individual financial aid offices to get specific deadlines.
Listing only your top school on the FAFSA form. List all the schools to which you have applied. Gaming this question can lead to problems later. Yes, you’re showing your hand but sometimes that can work to your advantage particularly if you are applying to a list of schools that typically competes for the same students. You don’t want to miss a priority filing deadline because of a desire to maintain privacy about your college list.
Neglecting to coordinate related financial aid forms. These forms include CSS PROFILE, Institutional, or Verification forms. They ask for much of the same information as the FAFSA, but are filed separately. The key is to be consistent on all the forms. Colleges will compare answers and any discrepancies could result in lost aid.
Not filing the FAFSA because you think you don’t qualify. Way too many families make this mistake. Why? Sometimes families don’t realize that retirement and home equity are excluded. Or they think they simply make too much money. A little known fact is some colleges make scholarships available contingent on filing the FAFSA. And finally, stuff happens. Life can take unexpected turns, and you’re much better off having a FAFSA form on file in case an unexpected emergency changes your financial situation.

You can learn more about federal student aid by downloading Funding Education Beyond High School. If you have specific questions, check the FAQ section on the FAFSA website or contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center. Remember that delays and errors can be costly!

GMU’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program

2012-01-21T09:01:00.000-08:00

Established in 2007, the George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) is seeking high school students with a passion for science and a desire to gain practical scientific experience during the summer of 2012.

In addition to gaining hands-on lab experience, participants have the opportunity to work alongside scientists trying to solve some of the most vexing problems in proteomics, genomics, medicine, neuroscience, biodefense, bioinformatics, and bioengineering. As a bonus, many students have the opportunity to see their names included in articles published in scientific journals or their work presented at prestigious scientific conferences.

Nearly 150 students have participated in ASSIP, since 2007. Last year, 35 high school students from 12 local schools participated in the program.

And they worked on some exciting projects including creating software to merge face and speech recognition and investigating supermassive black holes.

ASSIP participants also explored a variety of career opportunities in the STEM fields and forged a strong network of professional contacts.

“America needs more scientists, and we are dedicated to inspire future scientific leaders,” said Dr. Lance Liotta, one of ASSIP’s founding faculty members. “Our mentors are enthusiastic about engaging students in scientific research, and community sponsors share our passion to provide such enlightening opportunities.”

Applicants must be 16 years old as of the first day of the program, which starts on June 21, 2012. Laboratories are located on GMU’s Prince William and Fairfax campuses, and students are responsible for their own housing and transportation.

ASSIP is a highly competitive program. Science courses completed, cumulative GPA, volunteer/work experience, personal statements, and a letter of recommendation will be considered. Interviews will be scheduled for highly qualified candidates.

An application form is currently available on the ASSIP website and must be submitted no later than February 15, 2012, by 5:00 pm. EST.

For more information as well as a list of mentors and departments participating in the 2012 program, visit the George Mason Website.

UVa Offers Admission to 3,187 Early Applicants

2012-01-20T11:41:00.000-08:00

UVa early action applicants will receive their admission decisions this evening at 5:00 p.m., well ahead of the projected January 31st scheduled release date. And for 3,187 high school students, the wait will be over.

Make no mistake, the competition for admission under UVa’s new early admission plan was intense, as the overall number of applications grew to record-breaking numbers. Including 11,753 early action candidates, the total UVa applicant pool stood at a record 28,239 as of yesterday—an impressive 18 percent increase over last year.

“We expected an increase, but the size was a surprise to us,” said Greg Robers, UVa’s dean of admission. He attributes the rise in applications to “strong recruitment efforts, the availability of the new early action plan, and an ongoing national trend of individual students applying to more colleges.

According to UVa, those offered early admission bids were exceptionally well qualified by any standard. The average SAT score was 1,413 on a 1,600 scale and 2,119 on a 2,400 scale, as compared to 1,380 and 2,066 respectively for last year’s admits.

“We’re pleased with the diversity, and we’re excited about the quality of the class,” Roberts said. “This is clearly a distinguished group of scholars.”

The breakdown of applications showed significant interest in the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), which lead the increase with 4,530 students applying for—a 23 percent jump over a year ago. The Curry School of Education’s new four-year undergraduate kinesiology major was also popular, attracting 474 applications for 26 places.

Those who receive admission offers will have until May to submit their deposits and secure places in the class of 2016. In the meantime, admissions officials will turn attention to the applications of students who applied by the regular January 1st deadline.

Not everyone will be receiving good news, however. Although 41 percent of the early applicants were admitted, another 3,150 were deferred to the regular cycle. And 4,909 applications were declined.

“We have always been very honest with applicants, even though there is bound to be some disappointment,” Roberts added.

Unsure about what percentage of students will accept the early offer of admission, UVa officials will proceed cautiously in filling a projected class of 3,360 students—down from last year’s slightly overenrolled class that class, which unexpectedly grew to 3,450 students.

How to Write a High School Resume that Works

2012-01-18T04:25:00.000-08:00

Although they bear similarities in purpose, a high school resume is quite unlike a document a job seeker might use to impress a Fortune 500 company. For one thing, there’s usually less content. For another, the audience is entirely different and doesn’t care much about the bells and whistles professionally-prepared resumes frequently feature.

In other words, if you want a resume that “works” for college admissions, forget the shadowing effects, the funky typeface, and the overuse of the bold function. Instead, put most of your effort into listing your accomplishments in a clear, concise, and easy to read document.

It’s really not all that hard. Begin the process of developing content for your resume by brainstorming your high school career. This may require help from your immediate support team like parents, mentors, or friends. Keep in mind that mom and dad tend to have a particular focus on you and everything you’ve done since you first toddled across the living room. They can be great resources for this project.

Start with the 9th grade and make note of all activities, honors, memberships, and enrichment programs by quarter. Don’t leave off summers especially if you did something other than sleep or sit in front of a computer for 3 months.

Next begin to organize the information into major categories: honors, extracurricular activities, community service, sports, enrichment, special skills, work experience. Use whatever categories work best for the information you’ve collected, but keep in mind the general blocks of information requested on college applications.

Then organize individual entries by category and date. Be specific about positions, titles, organizations and locations. For example, if you were a “pitcher” for the JV baseball team at Oakton High School in Vienna, VA, say so. If you were a “pitcher” for the FPYC, forget the acronym and say Fairfax Youth Police Club, Fairfax, VA. Acronyms can be really annoying.

Similarly, if you manned the cash register at the Clock Tower Thrift Shop in Centreville, you might want to list it as Volunteer Cashier, Clock Tower Thrift Shop, Northern Virginia Family Service, Centreville, VA.

Don’t overlook special skills and certifications. They not only show accomplishment but also suggest more than a passing interest in an activity. If you’re on the computer team, you may want to list under skills that you can program in Java, C++, Pearl, and HTML. If you are a swim instructor for the Oak Mar Adaptive Aquatics program, you may want to list your Red Cross Lifeguard certification.

In these cases, the activity, skill or certification show deeper interest—passion even—to use a trendy term. Also note that there’s no place on the Common Application to show these kinds of skills and certifications, yet they could be key to making your case about depth of involvement.

When you’re ready to transfer your raw data to a document, use a format you think accommodates your information well and looks attractive. At the top, establish a “letterhead” by listing your name, address, phone number (home and cell), and email address.

By the way, if you’ve been “BuggerPicker333” or “FoxyLady” since middle school, preparing your resume might be a good excuse to go to something a little more professional. And if you’ve been calling yourself “SoccerStar” and you don’t play soccer or you’ve been “HarvardMan2017” since your parents bought you the sweatshirt, you might want to rethink the handles.

The body of your resume should be grouped by category, and entries should be listed chronologically. Usually most recent to oldest is best. Feel free to use bullets or other tools to streamline your descriptions, particularly for employment or volunteer entries.

If space permits at the end, you may want to include a list of hobbies or special interests—like historic reenactments, guppy breeding, exotic bird watching, or fantasy football. Use your discretion and don’t include hobbies that make you seem strange—well not too strange. But if your interests paint a fuller portrait of who you are, go for it.

And finally, never ever go over two pages. Usually, one page will suffice. Students who have been heavily involved in competitions, sporting events, or performances may need extra space. But definitely keep it to two pages.

A resume is a marketing piece. It won’t work if there are spelling errors, the format is messy, and you’ve otherwise not taken care in the preparation of the document. Ask your parents, your counselor, or someone you trust to proofread and go over your content for accuracy and completeness.

Once you’ve finished, you may want to turn your resume into a PDF to attach to emails. But be sure to keep the original file for future editing and expansion.

Your resume should be a living document. Don’t just leave it as a dust-collecting file on your computer. Tweak it regularly by adding entries or updates. It should be ready for printing or email at a moment’s notice.

And now and again take a moment to appreciate all you've accomplished!

10 Very Good Reasons to Add a Resume to Your College Application Toolbox

2012-01-17T09:17:00.000-08:00

Getting into college is a little like applying for a job: you need to persuade an organization that you possess sought-after skills and that you’re a great fit for their community.

It sounds a little like marketing. And yes, you are marketing. Only instead of years of progressive work experience, you’re mostly marketing academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, community service, and special skills.

So you need a tool that summarizes those accomplishments in a clear and concise format. That’s where a resume comes in.

There’s debate among counselors about the use and usefulness of a high school resume. Some ruin the effect by referring to it to as a CV (curriculum vitae) which is Latin for pretentious and others persist in calling the document a “brag sheet,” which sounds…well, a little icky.

Whatever you want to call it, here are 10 very good reasons to add a resume to your college application tool box:

Historical record. A resume helps you keep track of your accomplishments. It’s easier to remember you won Most Valuable Player for the field hockey team in the 9^th grade if you’ve been documenting activities since you walked through the door of your high school.
Gaps. A properly constructed resume that follows along the lines of what college applications request (honors, extracurricular activities, work experience) will show you where gaps exist in your portfolio. If you’ve never volunteered or don’t belong to any clubs, those gaps will quickly become evident as you put together your resume. And the sooner you act on the gaps, the better.
Special skills. A resume may be structured to highlight special skills in the arts, sports, or in academics. If you’re a dancer, your resume can provide a foundation for an arts supplement that tracks where you’ve studied, under whom, and where you’ve danced.
Applications. It’s easier to tackle the task of completing a college or scholarship application if you already have a single document summarizing all of your high school achievements and activities. Having a printout of your resume sitting beside your computer as you fill in blanks not only saves time but also increases the likelihood that you’ll get it right the first time.
Color. Most electronic college applications are fairly cut and dry. They ask only for facts. A resume gives you the opportunity to color in between the lines and provide additional information that makes you come alive or stand out as a candidate. If you have specific computer skills, language fluency, or certifications, a resume is a great vehicle for presenting them. If you’ve conducted research, given presentations or participated in enrichment activities, you can add titles, summaries, or the names of your mentors.
Upload. The Common Application recently combined and condensed the number of lines available to list both extracurricular activities and employment. It also has a small truncating problem which essentially cuts answers off mid-stream. If you have more than 10 entries (substantive entries) or if the truncating demon steals half your descriptions, you should consider uploading a copy of your resume as “additional information.” In fact, some colleges specifically ask for resumes, so it’s good to have one on hand. But remember that a resume should “inform” your application not “duplicate” it. If it doesn’t add anything, don’t include it unless specifically requested.
Recommendations. An up-to-date resume should be provided to anyone you ask to write a recommendation on your behalf—high school guidance counselor, teachers, or even the classmate who's agreed to write a peer recommendation. It helps them get to know you better and to remember all the details of your amazing high school career.
Interviews. A resume is a great conversation starter for an interview. It puts you and the interviewer on the same page—literally. It also helps an interviewer remember specifics about you after the conversation ends. NOTE: You should always have a resume available for an interview, but ask first before handing it over. Some college interviewers have rules to follow concerning the use of background materials.
Employment. Having a resume to attach to an application for a job, internship, or mentorship makes you look that much more professional and job ready. It can answer questions employers haven’t even thought to ask of high school students and will make your credentials stand out from the crowd.
Self-confidence. At the end of the day, it’s sometimes easy to lose sight of all you’ve accomplished. Maintaining a resume and looking at it once in a while will help you remember the highlights of your high school career. And that’s a good thing.

A Day ‘On’—the MLK Day of Service

2012-01-16T07:10:00.000-08:00

“Make it a day on, not a day off” is the motto of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service website. And what better time to begin a lifetime habit of service or rededicate a commitment to volunteerism beginning in the high school years.

Today, millions of volunteers of all backgrounds, ages, and ethnicity will come together to support a movement that has already had a profound impact on our nation.

And you can help by looking around your community for easy projects or kick up your service a notch by joining larger scale projects sponsored by area nonprofits.

Here are a few ideas:

Volunteer at a donation center like the NVFS Clock Tower Thrift Shop in Centreville VA, and gather some gently-used clothes and jackets to donate when you go.
Put together a group of friends and volunteer to clean up a park or common space like the Difficult Run watershed in Fairfax County. Or volunteer for one of many educational programs concerned with watershed stewardship.
Offer to help a new mom or dad with errands or simply volunteer of few hours of babysitting. Better yet, form a group of experienced babysitters and organize a volunteer service targeted to military families in your community.
Assemble a group of friends to write holiday cards and notes for seniors enrolled in local Meals on Wheels programs.
Collect gently-used children’s books and donate them to inner-city schools for distribution to families and children who otherwise can’t afford to have books in their homes. Or host a Books for America book drive.
Help elderly or disabled neighbors by raking leaves, shoveling snow, or weeding. Again a volunteer corps of high school students on call to provide these services would be a welcome addition to your community.
Support your local animal shelter by organizing a pet food drive. Or bring donations to the Humane Society of Fairfax County’s “ani-meals” pet food pantry which offers pet food and related pet car items to low-income residents of the county.
Form a weekly knitting or crochet circle of high school friends and create tiny hats for pre-mature infants in area hospitals or make scarves and shawls for patients at veterans hospitals.
Head over to a homeless shelter or volunteer for a shift at a local soup kitchen, like Our Daily Bread in Fairfax. Bring along canned food donations you’ve collected in your neighborhood.
If you speak a second language, offer translation assistance or volunteer tutoring services to limited English speaking residents of your community. Locally, there is a particular need for volunteers with knowledge of Spanish, Korean, and Vietnamese.
Collect donations and assemble “care packages” for members of the military assigned overseas. Or gather a group of friends and write letters to service personnel.
Organize a school supply drive and donate these materials to organizations serving children and families like the Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health.

For lists of MLK Day of Service projects, you can check with local organizations such as Volunteer Fairfax or the Montgomery County Volunteer Center. A more centralized listing of service projects may be found on the mlkday.org website maintained by the Corporation for National Community Service.

“Everybody can be great because anyone can serve.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

One ‘Out of This World’ Internship Opportunity

2012-01-14T06:57:00.000-08:00

The DEVELOP program, part of NASA’s applied sciences training and development operation, offers high school students exciting opportunities to work with science advisors and partner agencies on down-to-earth projects in local communities throughout the U.S.

With feet firmly planted on the ground, students research topics in areas ranging from agriculture to weather and make important contributions in support of NASA’s broad-ranging earth science mission.

Since 1999, the DEVELOP program has administered over 2,200 internships in locations across the country. The Langley-based National Program Office oversees twelve DEVELOP team locations in North America—six at NASA Centers in Maryland, Virginia, California, Alabama, and Mississippi as well as four regional locations in Virginia, Colorado, Illinois, and Alabama.

During the summer term, high school students work 30-35 hour per week for 8 weeks, starting this year on June 18, 2012. Some internships are paid, while others are offered on a volunteer basis.

As part of a DEVELOP team, students conduct research in areas that examine how NASA technology can benefit partner organizations and construct projects that focus on practical applications of NASA’s research results. These projects oftenprovide the basis for continued independent research and can easily evolve into national science competition entries. And it’s no secret that colleges are looking for students with proven interest or expertise in STEM-related fields.

High school students with a strong interest in environmental science, earth science, technology, computer science, environmental policy are invited to apply. Thousands of students have already graduated from the program, and many discovered career paths along the way.

To qualify, students must be enrolled in high school, college or graduate school and must be at least 16 years of age. Students must also have a 3.0 GPA and submit an application that includes two letters of recommendation as well as an essay, a resume, and an unofficial academic transcript.

For this year’s summer term, all applications must be sent to the National Program Office in Hampton, Virginia, and postmarked by January 30, 2012.

Housing is not provided and students are responsible for living expenses. But for the student with interest in applied sciences who wants to get a head start on research, the cost may be worth it.

For more information on all the NASA programs for high school students or to download a DEVELOP application, visit NASA’s science education webpages.