12th Grade PEP

Academic Planning

Overview1. College Portal2. Registration & Orientation3. Placement Testing4. FAFSA Verification5. Financial Aid Award Letter6. Loan Types and Payment Options

7. Review curriculum from conference and dif b/w HS and college sheet

College Culture Shock/Transition video• http://

www.firstinthefamily.org/collegeyears/soundslides/AcademicCultureShock/index.html

PS Transition Checklist

Acceptance Letters

If you have not yet received an acceptance or rejection letter, call the college or university to make sure you submitted all the required application materials (e.g. transcripts, ACT test scores, letters of recommendation, etc.)

Web Portal

• The web portal will contain information such as your financial aid award package, important forms you need to complete, your student records, how to sign-up for classes, and your tuition bill, etc.

• Check your college email and web portal regularly!

• Visit your school’s website and try to find their web portal. It is most likely located under “Current Students.” Sometimes it’s called something else like UCD Access, Metro Connect, or CCD Connect, etc.

• Your acceptance letter should contain important information regarding your student ID and/or how to sign-in to your student web portal.

FAFSA Follow-up• http

://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k99tgfqzfuw&feature=relmfu

Financial Aid Awards• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE-qYhQEfqA&

feature=relmfu

Student Aid Report (SAR)

• To view your Student Aid Report, use your PIN to login at FAFSA.gov o Otherwise, you will receive instructions via email or postal mail

• Check your EFC (Expected Family Contribution)o Note: If your application is incomplete, your SAR will not include an EFC, but

will tell you what you need to do to resolve the issue

• The schools listed on your FAFSA will have access to your SAR and use this information to determine your eligibility for Financial Aid.

• Make sure the FAFSA data on your SAR is correct and complete. If you find a mistake, correct or update your FAFSA.

College Award Letter(s)

Please refer to your handouts

$23,300 $5,000$17,900

$2,300 $4,000 $2,500 $8,800 $2,400 $2,000 $4,200 $6,900

$17,400

$500 + $5,000 = $5,500

$17,900 - $17,400 = $500

College Comparison• Take 5 minutes to complete your College Comparison

Worksheet for Top Notch University

• Compare and contrast – Which college seems to offer the best package? (Remember: Gift Aid does not have to be paid back)

$23,300 $5,000$17,900

$8,800

$6,900$17,400

$500

$5,500

$37,100 $5,000$32,100

$27,300

$4,800$32,100

$0

$5,000

FAFSA Verification Process

• What is FAFSA Verification?o FAFSA verification is a process students need to complete to verify the accuracy

of information submitted on their FAFSA.

• Who is flagged for verification?o About 1/3 of FAFSA applicants are flagged for FAFSA verification.o You may be selected randomly or due to incomplete, estimated, or inconsistent

information reported on your FAFSA.

• How will I know if I’m selected for verification?o On your Student Aid Report, an asterisk (*) will appear after your EFC number,

along with instructions on what to do next.o In the financial aid portion on your college student portal, there should be

information regarding steps you need to take for FAFSA verification.

• What will I need to do?o Contact your college’s Financial Aid Office for directions. You will be asked to

submit some forms and Federal tax documents (e.g. IRS tax transcript, W-2s).

• How long will it take?o The verification process can take up to 30 days so begin the process right away.

Placement Tests• Students who have an ACT or SAT sub score at or

above the following are exempt from placement testing:

• Students who have lower ACT or SAT sub scores must take an Accuplacer Placement Test.

• The Accuplacer test is used to determine if students are eligible for college-level, credit granting courses vs. remedial courses.

ACT SAT

Reading 17 430

English 18 440

Math 19 460

Accuplacer Cut Scores & Practice Test

Housing

Registration & Orientation

• Following up and enrolling - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k99tgfqzfuw&feature=relmfu

• Financial aid awards - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE-qYhQEfqA&feature=relmfu

CLEP Test• http://clep.collegeboard.org/started• Example:

Budgeting Tips for High Debt Students

• Review your spending to identify ways to save money and avoid defaulting on your loans

• Start with a descriptive budget, where you track and categorize all spending for a montho Distinguish mandatory spending (need) from discretionary spending

(want) and compare total mandatory spending with total incomeo Identify spending on food, clothing, shelter, health, transportation,

taxes, student loans, entertainmento Eliminate discretionary spending and substitute lower cost options

(e.g., live with parents to save on rent, cut gym membership, sell extra belongings on eBay)

Talk to the Lender Before You Default

• You lose options if you default on your loanso Defaulted borrowers are ineligible for deferments and forbearances

• There are many options that may help prevent you from getting into default

• Ignoring the problem will not make it go away; it just digs you into a deeper hole as interest continues to accrue

Penalties for Defaulting on Your

Loans• Garnishment of up to 15% of wages and Social

Security benefits• Income tax refunds may be intercepted (offset)• Collection charges of up to 25% deducted from

each payment, slowing repayment trajectory• Can’t renew professional licenses• The default will prevent you from getting credit

cards, auto loans and mortgages and may make it harder to rent an apartment or get a job

• You will be ineligible for more federal student aid