a guide to applying paying for college 101 packet - updated 2-3-20.pdfrecommendation letter school...

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College 101 A GUIDE TO APPLYING &

PAYING FOR COLLEGE

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PASSWORDS WORKSHEET

STUDENT NAME: _______________________________________

GPA: _______ SAT (CR): _______ SAT (Math): _______ SAT Total: _____ / 1600 ACT: _________

School Email Address

Username: @LehmanHS.com

Password: (Default PW is 123456789)

Naviance

Username: @LehmanHS.com

Password:

CUNY

Username:

Password:

SUNY

Username:

Password:

College Board

Username:

Password:

Common App

Username:

Password:

FAFSA

Student: PW:

Parent: PW:

TAP (HESC)

Username:

Password:

MY INFORMATION My Mailing Address: DOB: ___ /____ /____ _______________________________

_______________________________ OSIS: _____-_____-_____

_______________________________ Social Security #: ___-____-______

MY SCHOOL INFORMATION

School CEEB Code: 330533

School Address: Herbert H. Lehman High School

3000 E Tremont Ave Bronx, NY, 10461

College Counselor Information: _________________ Guidance Counselor

Phone: 718-904-4200 ext._____ Email: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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JUNIOR YEAR TIMELINE

January/February

Memorize your Social Security Number

Research summer programs at colleges, summer jobs, and/or summer internships

SAT prep – Khan Academy March/April

SAT School Date: Wednesday, March 4th, 2020

Saturday, March 14th – SAT EXAM (Deadline is Feb. 25th)

Individual meeting with counselor

Research colleges by location and by major (on college’s website or Naviance)

Prepare a challenging schedule for 12th grade (Colleges may request senior year grades)

Apply for summer jobs/internships (Use your Lehman Gmail for EVERYTHING!) May/June

May 2nd – SAT Exam (Deadline is April 14th)

Start working on first draft of your college essay

Identify majors/program of study which you are interested

Plan with your family a summer college visit schedule

Schedule appointments and/or visits with colleges of interest through their website

Study for regents exams

June 6th – SAT EXAM (Deadline is May 19th) Summer

Request letters of recommendation from at least two teachers in person – then request in Naviance

Start to narrow down your college list

Visit colleges

Work on your college essay/brag sheets

August 29th - SAT Exam (Deadline is August 19th)

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SENIOR YEAR TIMELINE SEPTEMBER

Prepare tax documents for FAFSA

Determine eligibility for Opportunity Programs (SEEK/CD/HEOP/EOP)

o Request parents income to determine eligibility for Opportunity Programs

Follow up with Teachers and Counselors regarding letters of recommendation

Provide Counselor with an updated list of Colleges

Register for the November SAT Exam

Schedule meetings with your counselor

Take the September ACT (optional)

Finalize your college essay & activity resume

OCTOBER Complete FAFSA (Available on October 1st) (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) www.fafsa.ed.gov

Complete TAP (Tuition Assistant Program) Application for New York State Schools. You must complete the FAFSA first.

Participate in college visits at high school

Research/Apply for scholarships (Petersons.com, CollegeBoard.org)

Complete the SUNY Application ($50 for each school unless you receive free lunch – can waive fee for up to 7 schools)

Participate and network during college visits and rep visits

Attend College Open Houses – Look on their websites for dates and RSVP

Take the October SAT, SAT II or ACT exam

NOVEMBER Complete CUNY Application - $65 for application up to 6 schools - See College Counselor for CUNY Fee-Waiver Codes

Follow up with teachers/counselors regarding recommendation letters

Take the November SAT, SAT II or ACT exam (optional)

All components of the applications including: Letters of Recommendation, Resume, Supplements and Essays should be

completed by before Thanksgiving break

DECEMBER Complete Common App or SUNY Application for SUNY and Private school applications

Letters of recommendation due to most colleges (January 1st)

Take the December SAT, SAT II or ACT exam (optional)

JANUARY/FEBRUARY Mid-Year Transcripts will be submitted to your colleges as requested

Share any information received from colleges with your college counselor

o Acceptance letters, scholarship awards, financial aid packages, etc.

February 1st – CUNY Application is Due

MARCH/APRIL Please inform your counselor of all contacts with the potential schools

Submit all college decisions to your counselor

Submit all financial aid packages & scholarship information to your counselor

MAY MAY 1ST is the deadline for students to inform four-year colleges of your decision to attend

Follow up on any financial aid document requests

Submit immunization/health records to your college

Take CUNY Placement tests (if applicable) or inquire about SUNY and private school placement tests

JUNE Graduate!!!

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

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APPLICATION OVERVIEW

Components of the College Application

Must Send to All Four-Year Colleges Not Required at All Colleges Application

- (CUNY, SUNY, CommonApp, Coalition, etc.) College Essay (personal statement) High School transcript Test scores (SAT, ACT) Recommendation letters List of activities / resume

Test scores - Only at test optional schools (see page 15)

Interview - Phone, In person

Portfolio - Art/Music

Audition - Art/Music

SAT II (Subject test) AP Exams

Who Submits What?

Student Counselor Teacher Application

Essay / Personal statement

Test scores (SAT, ACT)

List of activities / resume

AP exams scores

SAT II (Subject test)

Portfolio

High School transcript

Recommendation letter

School profile

Recommendation letter

Application Deadline Terms

Early Decision (earliest deadline) o Binding agreement to attend that school (only one selection) o Shows extreme interest in school

Early Action (next deadline) o Receive earlier decisions o Shows high level of interest in school

Regular Decision

Rolling Admission o No deadline, application closes once determined number of students have been accepted

*Please note that deadlines are not universal they are different at every single college!

Letters of Recommendation

At least two (2) teachers

Academic teachers preferred o Better if it’s in a related subject area to what you want to study in college

Ask them in person first

Distribute brag sheet

Request them in Naviance

A teacher you have a good relationship with, not just the popular teacher

Before the end of June

Follow up with them in September o One (1) Counselor Recommendation

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COLLEGE TYPE DEFINITIONS & HOW TO APPLY

Type of college

Definition Examples How will I apply?

Private

Mostly funded by tuition dollars and alumni donations. Costs the same regardless of state residency. Admission requirements

and financial aid varies a lot, but this is the type of school that generally offers the

most $$ if you match carefully.

Pace, Mercy, Manhattan College, NYU, Columbia, Syracuse, Rochester, MIT, St.

Lawrence, Ithaca, Eugene Lang New School, Connecticut College

Common Application,

Coalition Application, OR

Their website

Ivy League

A group of eight of the oldest private colleges in America, they are some of the most prestigious in the world. They offer

amazing programs and have the money for full financial aid. Very selective, all accept fewer than 10% of applicants. They are all

in the same sports conference.

Harvard, Brown, Princeton, Dartmouth, Yale, Columbia, Cornell, University of

Pennsylvania

Common Application or Coalition Application

CUNY

Public university system located only in NYC’s 5 boroughs. Cheapest option. Some

have housing. Can be most frustrating (very bureaucratic). Funded mostly by NY State $

Lehman, Hunter, City College, Brooklyn, John Jay, Baruch, York College, LaGuardia CC, BMCC, City Tech, Queens, Guttman,

Bronx CC

CUNY Application or Common Application

SUNY

Public university system located throughout NY State. Funded mostly by NY

State $. Broad range of schools – lots of options. Average total cost for 4-yr SUNY is

$21,000 per year.

Binghamton, Albany, Stony Brook, Purchase, Morrisville, Oswego, Tompkins

Cortland CC, Canton

SUNY Application

OR

Common Application

Out of State Public

Every state has public colleges and universities that are funded by those states

(similar to SUNYs). Tuition is always cheaper for in-state students with public

colleges. You are only in-state for NY unless your legal guardian(s) live in

another state.

Temple, University of Virginia, Rutgers, University of Connecticut, University of

Maryland, Penn State

Their website

OR

Common Application

For Profit/ Proprietary

These are businesses that have been accredited to operate as schools. They offer degrees, but for more than you would pay at most of the above schools. Transferring credits from a for-profit school to a non-

profit can also be an issue. Consider these schools only for programs you can’t get

elsewhere.

College of Westchester, Berkeley, DeVry, ASA, Monroe, University of Phoenix, ITT Tech, Art Institutes, Wood-Tobe Coburn

Their website

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THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PYRAMID

This is the information they will look at/require when deciding whether to accept you, organized by the amount of work you will need to put in (least work is at the top).

Community Colleges High school graduation

CUNY Senior (4 yr) Colleges SAT Scores and GPA

(Except Macaulay Honors)

Public 4-year non- CUNY Colleges SAT Scores, GPA, list of activities, 1-2

recommendations, college essay / personal statement

NY State Opportunity Programs (EOP, HEOP) SAT scores, GPA, list of activities, 2+ recommendations, college essay, proof of family income

(copy of taxes, statements showing Social Security, income worksheets), sometimes interview. Bonus points: showing interest

Less Selective Private Colleges and Universities (accept 50% or more of applicants)

SAT scores, GPA, list of activities, 1-2 recommendations, college essay. Bonus points: interview, communication, visiting

Highly Selective Private Colleges and Universities (accept fewer than 50% of applicants) SAT scores or (if test optional) one or more written & graded research papers, GPA, class rank, list of activities, 2+

recommendations, college essay, supplemental essay. Bonus points: interviewing, communication, high scores on AP exams and SAT subject tests.

This type of school usually offers the most financial aid in comparison to their cost.

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Naviance Website: student.naviance.com/lehmanhs

This is a website that allows you to search for colleges, request letters of recommendation from your teachers, and

explore different career options. It is a very useful website and it is free to every single Lehman High School student!

The login page looks like this:

Your login email is your full Lehman High School email.

Your password is your OSIS number.

Lehman Email Address Information:

Your school email address is the first letter of your first name, followed by the first three letters of your last name,

followed by the last four numbers of your OSIS number, and it ends it @LehmanHS.com.

Sample Lehman High School Email Address:

Sample Student Name: Johnny Student

Then your email would be: [email protected]

If you have trouble logging in to Naviance, please reach out to Mr. Bonacorsi at [email protected]

If you are having trouble with your school email address, speak to Mr. Bland or email him at [email protected]

https://student.naviance.com/lehmanhs




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MAP OF CUNY CAMPUS LOCATIONS

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CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK COLLEGES (CUNY)

The scores listed above are for the average accepted student. The minimum SAT score required for admission is

estimated to be below the average accepted student score by about 100 points. The minimum GPA required for

admission is about 5 points below the average accepted student score, if not more. Community colleges will only

require you to have graduated with a high school diploma or a GED. If you have questions regarding admissions

requirements, speak to your counselor.

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STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK (SUNY)

MAP OF SUNY CAMPUS LOCATIONS

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PRIVATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN NEW YORK

AVERAGE ACADEMIC PROFILES

* Indicates an HEOP program

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SAT/ACT OPTIONAL COLLEGES *UPDATED DECEMBER 2019

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APPLICATION HELPLINES AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT CUNY Phone Number: 212-997-2869 Email: [email protected] Website: www.cuny.edu/apply SUNY Phone Number: 800-342-3811 Email: [email protected] Website: www.suny.edu/applysuny Common Application Website: www.commonapp.org Technical Support: appsupport.commonapp.org College Board Phone Number: 866-756-7346 Website: www.collegeboard.org Naviance www.succeed.naviance.com/collegebound Phone Number: 866-337-0080

Coalition Application Application: http://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/

Support: http://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/faq.html


http://www.cuny.edu/apply


http://www.suny.edu/applysuny

http://www.commonapp.org/

http://appsupport.commonapp.org/

http://www.collegeboard.org/

http://www.succeed.naviance.com/collegebound

http://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/

http://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/faq.html

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FINANCIAL AID TIMELINE

SUMMER BETWEEN 11TH AND 12TH GRADE Organize family income documents (1040’s, W2’s, SSI, SNAP, or income estimates for non-tax filers) Determine your immigration status (if applicable); locate your documentation Determine your financial eligibility for Opportunity Programs (SEEK/EOP/HEOP) Edit your college list to academically and financially balanced list of schools Determine whether your schools require the CSS Profile Determine school priority filing deadlines for CSS Profile

FALL 12TH GRADE

Create an FSA ID for yourself. Write down in your password worksheet, and give a copy to your college counselor (fsaid.ed.gov)

Create an FSA ID for one of your parents. Write down in your password worksheet. Check with older sibling if they created an account for your parents. Can’t create a new one.

October 1st - Complete your FAFSA (with tax information) on fafsa.ed.gov (earlier is better) File TAP Application in the same sitting (Do this right after your FAFSA) Website: tap.hesc.ny.gov Review submitted FAFSA and TAP applications to make sure they were processed Check email for FAFSA confirmations and Estimated Family Contribution (EFC)

WINTER 12TH GRADE

Register, fill out, and complete CSS Profile (if applicable) Encourage your parents/guardians to file taxes in order to be considered for SEEK, EOP and HEOP

programs Send copies of tax forms and income documents promptly to colleges and SEEK, EOP and HEOP

programs (if applicable) Confirm each college’s Financial Aid Office has all your required documents

SPRING 12TH GRADE Look in the mail for financial aid award letters from individual colleges Evaluate all award letters carefully with your counselor Send acceptance letter and deposit to the school that you choose to attend by May 1st Accept the financial aid with the school you choose to attend – sometimes on the school’s website

If you are taking out loans to pay for college, complete loan counseling and sign a promissory note

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Financial AID FAQ

Q: Whose financial documents must I provide?

Always the student’s

Always the biological parent/parents that the student lives with

Sometimes the biological parent that the student does not live with (if applicable) o Unless extreme circumstance prevents this.

Q: Who qualifies as a parent?

Biological Parent(s)

Adoptive Parent(s)

Step-parent (if married to your custodial parent) Q: Who does NOT qualify as a parent?

Grandparent, uncle, aunt, or any family member, even if you live with them! Q: I live with a legal guardian, but not adoptive or biological parents. What do we provide? Colleges will only need the legal court document proving that the courts awarded custody to your legal guardian. This allows the college to count you independent, and the schools will only consider your income information. Q: Does it matter who claims the student? YES! Financial aid offices are required to ask parents to follow all IRS tax rules. If someone claims the child, but the child does not live with this person, the financial aid office may decide to not provide financial aid until the taxes are re-filed. PLEASE TALK TO YOUR COUNSELOR NOW ABOUT ANY ANTICIPATED ISSUES! Q: Does my household list have to match the names on my lease? No. This doesn’t have an impact; in fact, you could hurt your financial aid if you don’t list people who live in your household. The more mouths to feed, the more aid you could be eligible for. Q: What if there was a major change between last year and this year? (Lost a job, got a job, lost a family member, birth, marriage, divorce)

Update your counselor if this happens.

If this happens after financial aid is submitted, you need to contact all schools and be prepared with documents (lay-off notice, divorce decree, etc).

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FINANCIAL AID GLOSSARY OF TERMS DIRECT COSTS The amount you owe the school in order to register and stay enrolled.

COST OF ATTENDANCE

(COA) The amount it will cost to attend a college in a year. The total cost includes both direct and indirect costs.

EXPECTED FAMILY

CONTRIBUTIONS (EFC) The amount of money the federal government determines that you or your family can pay based on the information you submit in the FAFSA.

FINANCIAL

RESPONSIBILITY

You need to know how much it will cost you to attend each college – whether now or later via loan repayment. When you subtract all grants and scholarships from the total cost of attendance you calculate your financial responsibility. Some of this may be managed through loans, work-study or family contributions.

GAP The part of total cost of attendance that is not covered by your family’s EFC or by financial aid.

GRANTS/SCHOLARSHIPS Money awarded that does not have to be paid back.

INDIRECT COSTS The amount you will have to spend on your own to make it through college. These costs include books, school supplies, transportation, snacks, entertainment, and housing and food if you are living at home or on your own.

LOANS Money awarded that does have to be paid back, most often with interest.

NEED Your official financial need at each school is the total cost of attendance minus your EFC.

WORK-STUDY

Federal money awarded to you that you can earn toward your education. Work- study is not guaranteed money, and it is not available up front to pay college bursar bills. It is best considered as potential spending money for personal expenses along the course of the school year.

Federal Pell Grant (FAFSA) New York State TAP Grant (HESC)

Application Website: fafsa.ed.gov Application Website: tap.hesc.ny.gov

Pell Grants are based on financial need as demonstrated on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), New York's largest grant program, helps eligible New York residents attending in-state postsecondary institutions pay for tuition.

The maximum Federal Pell Grant award is $6,195 for the 2021–22 award year

(July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020). TAP awards range from $500 to $5,165 per year.

Excelsior Scholarship (HESC) Application Website: tap.hesc.ny.gov

Maximum scholarship is $5,500

Combined federal adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less

Is a last dollar scholarship; it covers remaining balance AFTER Pell Grant and TAP Grants Lots of fine print; please go to tap.hesc.ny.gov to find out more about this scholarship Only available at SUNY/CUNY colleges, select Cornell schools and Alfred University

Enhanced TAP Grant (HESC) Maximum scholarship is $6,000

Parent income is less than $125,000

Only at select private schools

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FINANCIAL AID WEBSITES & PHONE NUMBERS

Federal Financial Aid

1-800-4-FED-AID (800-433-3243) o Call this number for advice on federal financial aid issues and filling out the FAFSA o Open Monday-Friday 8am-midnight M-F; Saturday 9am-6pm

https://fsaid.ed.gov o Go here first. o You must have an FSAID (Federal Student Aid ID) or electronic signature for you and a parent to

complete the FAFSA. Go to this website to sign up for an FSAID.

www.fafsa.ed.gov o Go to this website to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which must be

completed to access financial aid.

http://www.ed.gov o A site run by the Department of Education that explains Federal Aid Programs

New York State Financial Aid (HESC)

1-888-697-4372 o New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) o Open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm

www.hesc.ny.gov o This website is run by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation and offers one of the

most comprehensive collections of information about New York state aid

www.tapweb.org o Go to this website to complete the application for the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP),

New York’s grant aid program

CSS/Financial Aid Profile

305-829-9793 General questions about the Profile

http://www.collegeboard.com o To fill out the CSS profile (you will need a credit card).

Other Financial Aid Website

www.finaid.com o This website has good explanations of financial aid terms and the financial aid application process

http://www.ssa.gov o Social Security Administration. Here you can request for a duplicate Social Security card or request for

SS-5 form to report a name change. 1-800-722-1213.

Recommended Scholarship Search Engines

Peterson’s - www.petersons.com o Organizes scholarships very well

CollegeBoard Scholarship Search - https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search

Fastweb - http://www.fastweb.com/

Scholarship Monkey - http://www.scholarshipmonkey.com/keyword

https://fsaid.ed.gov/

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

http://www.ed.gov/

http://www.hesc.org/

http://www.tapweb.org/

http://www.collegeboard.com/

http://www.finaid.com/

http://www.ssa.gov/

http://www.petersons.com/

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search

http://www.fastweb.com/

a guide to applying paying for college 101 packet - updated 2-3-20.pdfrecommendation letter school...

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