Financial Aids Information – January 16, 2009

The 4 Rules of Paying for College in a Recession (U.S. News – Education)

1. Grades matter more than ever.

2. Early birds will get more scholarship worms.

3. Students should apply to at least a couple of affordable schools.

4. Students should apply to at least a couple of generous schools.

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• 49 States Flunk College Affordability Test (U.S. News – Education)
  California, the only state that passed in the study, scraped by with a C minus
• How to Maximize Your Student’s Chances for Merit Aid (U.S. News – Education)
• How Can I Improve My Chances of Getting Need-based Grants? (U.S. News – Education)

Last Updated: January 16, 2009

Technorati Tags: educaton,financial aid,college,grant

CHOICES OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS

By guiding students to adopt these principles and tools, you’ll empower them to become effective partners in their own education, giving them the outer behaviors and inner qualities to create greater success in college and in life.  Here are the eight On Course Success Principles:

SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS…	STRUGGLING STUDENTS…
1. …ACCEPT SELF-RESPONSIBILITY, seeing themselves as the primary cause of their outcomes and experiences.	1. …see themselves as Victims, believing that what happens to them is determined primarily by external forces such as fate, luck, and powerful others.
2. ……DISCOVER SELF-MOTIVATION, finding purpose in their lives by discovering personally meaningful goals and dreams.	2. …have difficulty sustaining motivation, often feeling depressed, frustrated, and/or resentful about a lack of direction in their lives.
3. …MASTER SELF-MANAGEMENT, consistently planning and taking purposeful actions in pursuit of their goals and dreams.	3. …seldom identify specific actions needed to accomplish a desired outcome. And when they do, they tend to procrastinate.
4. …EMPLOY INTERDEPENDENCE, building mutually supportive relationships that help them achieve their goals and dreams (while helping others to do the same).	4. …are solitary, seldom requesting, even rejecting offers of assistance from those who could help.
5. …GAIN SELF-AWARENESS, consciously employing behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes that keep them on course.	5. …make important choices unconsciously, being directed by self-sabotaging habits and outdated life scripts.
6. …ADOPT LIFE-LONG LEARNING, finding valuable lessons and wisdom in nearly every experience they have.	6. …resist learning new ideas and skills, viewing learning as fearful or boring rather than as mental play.
7. …DEVELOP EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, effectively managing their emotions in support  of their goals and dreams.	7. …live at the mercy of strong emotions such as anger, depression, anxiety, or a need for instant gratification.
8. …BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES, seeing themselves capable, lovable, and unconditionally worthy as human beings.	8. …doubt their competence and personal value, feeling inadequate to create their desired outcomes and experiences.

Technorati Tags: education,college,life,successful,student

Source: On Course Principles

Last Updated: January 16, 2009

A Guide to California’s School Finance System

California’s system for funding public schools has been in place for 35 years.

1968-78: California moves to a state-controlled finance system
1968 Serrano v. Priest
Lawsuit challenging the fairness of California’s system for funding K-12 education.

1972 SB 90
Established revenue limits, a ceiling on the amount of general purpose money each school district may receive.

1976 Serrano v. Priest
The California Supreme Court ruling that the school finance system was inequitable.

1978 Proposition 13
Constitutional amendment limiting property tax rates and increases.

Sources of Funding for Schools

• Federal government: about 11%
• State’s budget (business, corporate and personal income taxes, sales taxes, and some special taxes): about 61%
• Local property taxes: about 21%
• Miscellaneous local revenues (include such items as fees on commercial or residential construction; special elections for parcel taxes; contributions from parents, businesses and foundations; cafeteria sales; and interest on investments by local school districts): about 6%
• The smallest amount at the bottom is the California Lottery: 1.5% or about $125 per student annually

Public schools have no other revenue sources.

Distribution of the Money

• General purposes: two-thirds of total funding
• Special purposes or categories of students: other third

Each district’s income is based on:

• the average number of students attending school during the year (average daily attendance, or ADA)

• the general purpose (revenue limit) money the district receives based on ADA

• special support (categorical aid) from the state and federal governments, earmarked for particular purposes.

The California Legislature set revenue limits for each district in 1972.

The other large portion of a school district’s income is categorical aid from the state and federal governments. It is based on categories of children, such as students with disabilities; characteristics of the district, such as low-income families; or programs, such as class size reduction (CSR). The program can be voluntary, such as CSR for grades K-3, or required, such as Special Education.

Categorical aid can be a very small portion or more than one-third of a district’s budget, depending on the population of students served. The money must be spent according to the state or federal guidelines for the qualifying program.

Miscellaneous income is a small percentage of most districts’ budgets, but (with a few exceptions) districts have discretion over how to spend the money.

A State Centralized System

Proposition 13 (1978) effectively removed school districts’ ability to exert substantial control over their revenues.

Source:

• Guide to California’s School Finance System
• EdSource: Finance System
• School Finance Chronology
• EdSource: History
• School Finance Chronology
• An Introduction to Public School Financing in California

Last Updated: January 16, 2009

All You Want to Know About SAT / ACT TESTS

Image via Wikipedia

General Facts

• Most colleges accept either the SAT’s or the ACT’s.
• Juniors typically begin taking SAT’s or ACT’s during the second semester of their junior year.
• Students applying to the UC system and planning to take the ACT must sign up for the ACT with Writing because, unlike the SAT, students have a choice of taking it with or without Writing. The UC system includes the Writing test in their student application review process.
• Tests can be taken more than once.
• The UC and CSU systems will use the highest scores from either the ACT or SAT.
• There are strategies involved when taking these tests that students should explore, either with a prep class, resource book or on-line.
• Each testing company also offers free preparation booklets with sample questions and test content.
• The UC’s will accept college admission tests taken through December of the senior year.
• This is also true for the CSU system with the exception of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and San Diego State, who want them completed by October or November of the senior year.
• Students should check the testing requirements for private and out-of-state schools, as they may differ from the UC or CSU systems.

SAT

• Second semester SAT dates are in January, March, May and June.
• SAT Reasoning test includes Critical Reading, Math and Writing.

ACT

• Second semester dates are in February, April and June.
• ACT Assessment differs because it includes four sections: English, Math, Reading and Science Reasoning.

SAT Subject Tests

• UC’s and many private schools also require SAT subject tests.
• The UC’s require two subject tests in two different subject areas. The subject areas include history, literature, math, science and language.
• Students should take the subject tests in May or June when they have almost completed a school year of the subject.
• For example, students enrolled in AP US History who are preparing for the May AP test will find they are well prepared for the May or June US History subject test. The same goes for AP Biology, Chemistry, and Math, etc.
• If a student chooses to take Math as one of the two subject tests, the UC system wants Math Level 2.
• For the Chemistry test, students should at least have taken Honors Chemistry, as it is a “time intensive and difficult” test.
• If Language is used as one of the subject test, the Language with listening for native, fluent speakers is only given in November. Language without listening is given during the other test dates.
• AP European History does not necessarily prepare students for the World History subject test, because the subject test focuses on non-European cultures.
• The UC’s will use the two highest subject test scores in their admission reviews.
• The subject tests take one hour, and students can take up to three on a single test date, although that’s pretty tiring.
• The CSU system does not require the subject tests.

Source: Mary Church, DVHS Career Center, mchurch@calhigh.net
http://www.dvhigh.net/ptsa/DVHSSept08newsletterver2.2.pdf

Last Updated: October 27, 2008

Higher Education in California

Higher education is education that is provided by universities, vocational universities, community colleges, liberal arts colleges, technical colleges, and other collegial institutions that award academic degrees, such as career colleges.

The higher education in California consists of:

• University of California (UC)
• California State University (CSU)
• California Community Colleges system
• Private universities and colleges

UC

The UC system has 10 major campuses located in Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Diego, Davis, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Irvine, Riverside, Merced and San Francisco. The UC system is intended to accept students from the top 12.5% of college-bound students, and provide most graduate studies and research. It has a combined student body of more than 191,000 students.

CSU

The CSU system is composed of 23 campuses and has over 450,000 students supported by 47,000 faculty members and staff. It is intended to accept the top one-third (1/3) of high school students.

CCCS

The California Community Colleges System (CCCS) consists of 110 community colleges in 72 community college districts serving more than 2.5 million students.

AICCU

Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU)

Last Updated: October 27, 2008

Books – Prepare for College

What Colleges Don’t Tell You (And Other Parents Don’t Want You to Know): 272 Secrets for Getting Your Kid into the Top Schools

What High Schools Don’t Tell You: 300+ Secrets to Make Your Kid Irresistible to Colleges by Senior Year

From Here to Freshman Year: Tips, Timetables, and To Dos that Get You into College

The Ultimate College Acceptance System: Everything You Need to Know to Get into the Right College for You

Last Updated: September 19, 2008

Checklist for Seniors – Preparing for College

• Work with your school counselor to reviewyour senior transcripts to make sure that you are on track and/or has a plan for high school graduation.
• Check the college catalogues and /or the computers in the Career Center for information about the colleges that interest you. Ask to do a college search if you are undecided. Decide on 5-7 colleges as your goals. One should be a “sure shot,” one a “maybe” and one a “long shot”.
• Mark your calendar to attend any college night in your area.
• Invest in a calendar and mark the deadlines for college applications, tests, financial aid, housing, and recommendations.
• Complete a UC or CSU eligibility worksheet to see what you must do to be eligible for admission if you wish to attend a campus in either system.
• By December, preferably October, finish taking the necessary entrance exams for colleges. Register for SAT I and SAT II (subject tests) at www.collegeboard.com and for ACT at www.act.org.
• Seniors who plan to play Division I or Division II athletics must register with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at www.ncaa.org
• Begin planning for college expenses involving tuition, room, board, books, and travel.
• Begin looking into financial aid and scholarship opportunities by checking with the Career Center.
• For Seniors applying to private colleges and universities: Completely fill out the ‘Parent Brag Sheet’ and ‘Senior Resume.’ (Copies are available in the Career Center.) Secure your letters of recommendation. Ask individuals who know you well and give them at least 3 weeks notice to complete this for you.
• Begin your college application essay(s). College application tips are available at www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/essay-skills and tips for writing the UC Personal Statement can be found at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions. There are also several books available on this subject in the career center at SRV and your counselor is a great resource in this area too.
• Explore the COIN career guidance system and/or take the Major Interest Inventory Test for help in choosing a college major in the Career Center.
• Think seriously about college criteria (for example, do you want to attend a large or small school? Do you want a sports program or other special interest activities on the campus? How far away from home do you wish to be?)
• Attend college representative meetings in the Career Center to hear more about colleges you are considering.

Last Updated: September 10, 2008

Stress Relief for Parents and Kids

Competitive Pressures on Kids

Child researcher Wendy Grolnick says competitive anxiety can be channeled into positive parenting.

Almost all parents feel pressured to have their kids succeed.

Too often, the focus is on outcomes—such as getting a good grade on a test—rather than learning or development, Grolnick says. When the outcome is the focus, what leads up to it is seen as work, not fun. Intrinsic motivations—the true keys to success—are wiped out.

For the things that require excellence, the only thing that will ultimately get us there is that we are doing it because we love it.

1. Autonomy – This lets children feel they can solve their own problems. They feel in charge and not controlled.
2. Competence – By providing structure, parents give their children guidelines for how to act in the world, which instills them with a feeling of competence. Help them determine how to do well at something.
3. Connectedness – Support, in the form of time and other resources, provides children with a necessary feeling of connection.

Source:

• Pressured Parents, Stressed-Out Kids: Dealing With Competition While Raising a Successful Child

Stress Relief Solutions

• Talk to someone
• Get babysitting help when you need a break
• Reach out to other parents
• Call a help line
• Talk to your child’s school
• Take a class for parents

Hints to Help Reduce Homework Stress

Homework. Children and parents alike often dread the thought of it. Whether the trouble is a child’s lack of homework skills, unclear parental expectations, or simply too much homework, a variety of problems may result: family squabbles, poor grades, and the hindrance of academic progress. If you’re a parent whose evening stress level is directly related to how much homework “we” have tonight, there are a number of changes you can make so that homework is more manageable and productive.

• If your child has trouble completing homework without help, find out why.

Homework that cannot be done without help is not good homework.

• Talk with the teacher if you feel homework is excessive.
• Ask for individual adaptations for your child.
• Stop putting homework on your to-do list.
• Stand up for your right to a balanced family life.
  • Allow your child some downtime.
  • Consider limiting your child’s outside activities.
  • Make family time a priority.

Last Updated: June 4, 2008

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Is test score important?

No test score? No problem!

Currently, about 750 colleges and universities across the country are test optional, but Wake Forest is the most well known of the group.

Last Updated: June 3, 2008

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How are US schools compare to those in other countries?

U.S. Schools: Not That Bad

America’s educational system is easier than those in China and India—but it’s still teaching valuable life lessons

• Indian students in the same grade as his teenage daughters were two or three years ahead in math, physics, biology, and even subjects like world history and English literature.
• It can take longer for Indians and Chinese to develop crucial real-world skills that come more easily for some Americans. Yes, U.S. teens work part-time, socialize, and party. But the independence and social skills they develop give them a big advantage when they join the workforce. They learn to experiment, challenge norms, and take risks.
• There is no doubt that U.S. education can and should be improved. In the global economy, skills are going to provide the competitive edge. But it will take more than math and science. Our children also need to learn geography, literature, language, and culture. Creativity and innovation come from a broad education and independent thinking. We need sociologists and historians as well as mathematicians.
• we need to create the excitement and demand that makes our children want to become engineers and scientists (BusinessWeek.com, 10/26/07). There is no shortage of these skills in the U.S., but these professions just aren’t cool. In India and China, engineers and scientists are regarded highly; here they are called nerds or worse.
• Our competitors are working very hard to be innovative and entrepreneurial like us. There are many things we need to fix—not just math and science education. We need to compete on our strengths, not theirs.

The Science Education Myth

Last Updated: June 3, 2008

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