UNH Upward Bound Parent/Guardian Newsletter

April, 2000
Volume 1, Issue 2

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to our second edition of College Bound, UB's newsletter for the parents and guardians of our wonderful UB kids.

This edition (which is brought to you by the hard work of Lisa D'Orsay and Jodi Tarantino) will focus on three issues of special interest to you. The first concerns financial aid for college bound seniors. The second discusses how we make decisions about which students are placed on probation or are asked to leave the program. The last is about that great American icon: the automobile and its huge impact on teens and their education.

Naturally, we are focusing on financial aid since now is the time to make decisions about college. Since most of our seniors have applied to and been accepted at more than one college (and in some cases four or five), the question of how to decide among them is looming. Certainly a student's dreams are paramount, but the reality of paying the bill can not be denied. Consequently, we need to compare and evaluate different financial aid packages so that you and your student will be able to factor in the extent of debt you both will be assuming.

Decisions about academic performance are also important since we are in the midst of deciding among many more new applicants than we have space for. (Approximately 2:1.) Therefore, we can only retain students who continue to prove their commitment to UB through their academic performance and willingness to participate in all aspects of the program.

Last but not least, the car. What can we say? They are necessary but hugely costly. Sometimes we only see the costs in dollars. In reality, though, cars can keep our kids from achieving in school and going on to college. And of course they can take their lives. Particularly when a group pile into one vehicle. We're not suggesting they shouldn't have them or use them, we're only pointing out some of the dangers and how to avoid them.

We hope this issue of College Bound is helpful and useful. Please send us your comments by snail mail or email or phone. As well as any suggestions for future articles. In the meantime, enjoy the return of warmer weather.

Best wishes from all of us at Upward Bound, Dan

UB Summer 2000 Dates: June 25 - August 5, 2000

Opening Ceremonies: Sunday, June 25
Parent Discussion/Visitor nights: Tuesdays 7/4, 7/11, 7/18, & 7/25
Family Picnic: Sunday, July 23 1:00-4:30
Closing Ceremonies: Saturday, Aug. 5

Please plan family vacations after August 5! Also, schedule appointments on Friday afternoons or Saturday to avoid pulling students from important UB classes or activities.

Important Financial Aid Information for Seniors

With all the different types of financial aid available, it is easy to get them confused. Here are some quick explanations of aid you may see listed in your financial aid award packages:

Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan--Funds to be paid back when the student is no longer enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Interest is deferred with a Subsidized Stafford Loan, meaning interest does not accrue until the student is no longer enrolled in college. The loan limit for first year students is $2,625, for second year students is $3,500, and $5,500 for the remainder of the student's college years to a maximum total of $23,000. Disbursements of the loan are sent directly to the school, usually at the beginning of each semester.

Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan--Similar to Subsidized Stafford Loan, but with one major exception: interest will accrue while the student is in school. Annual loan limits for first year students is $6,625, for second year students is $7,500, and $10,500 for the remainder of the student's college years to a maximum of $46,000. The interest rate is variable, but will not exceed 8.25%.

Federal Pell Grant--This type of aid does not have to be paid back. Grants are based on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), Cost of Attendance, and whether the student is a full-time or part-time student. The maximum Pell Grant award is $3300 for the 2000-2001 school year. Disbursements may be sent directly to the school or to the student, depending on the school's policy.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)--This type of aid does not have to be paid back. Grants are based on extreme financial need, and priority goes to students who have received a Federal Pell Grant. The maximum amount of this type of grant varies between schools, depending on funding.

Federal Work Study--This program provides jobs for students. Students are awarded a financial "ceiling" (usually $1,000-$2,000) which they can reach by working, usually 10-15 hours per week. Each college/university will have a list of work-study jobs, some on-campus, some off-campus. Students receive a check for the hours they worked (just like a regular job). The only difference is that a percentage of the money earned comes from the Federal government, and the remainder is paid by the student's employer. With the Federal Work Study program, employers are able to have students work for them while only paying half of what the student actually earns. The student earns money at an hourly rate until he/she reaches the financial ceiling set in the financial aid award package.

What You Should be Doing Now

Oftentimes a student's decision regarding which college to attend depends largely on the financial aid package you (the family) have been offered. As a P/G it is very important that you take time to help your child compare the awards offered by different colleges. Schools may have different formats or use different wording in their award letters which make comparing difficult. The worksheet below is an effective tool and may be used to help you decide which school is the most financially appropriate for you and your student.

Step 1: List the total cost (tuition, room and board, books, expenses, etc.) of each school. You often can get this information from the financial aid award letter or a college catalog or viewbook. If you are unclear about what the costs are or where they may be found on the award letter, call the financial aid office of that school.

Step 2: List the financial aid awards that are being offered by each school. Remember that there is a difference between grants/scholarships and loans--loans have to be paid back!

Step 3: What is your Expected Family Contribution (EFC)? This is the amount determined by the school that your family will be expected to pay toward costs beyond what is offered in the award letter. To find this figure, subtract the Total Financial Aid (Step 2) from the Total Cost of Attendance (Step 1).

It is almost the time of year when students are asked to choose their classes for the upcoming school year. It is important for students to push themselves and take classes that may challenge them academically. Upward Bound students should participate in college preparatory (CP) classes that will help them prepare for college. Many students sign up for classes to satisfy the requirements for high school graduation, but those classes are not enough for most colleges. Most colleges expect that applicants have a minimum of the following high school courses:

As the time quickly approaches for your student to choose classes for next year, please encourage him/her to take CP classes, not just those that sound easy. Earning a B in a difficult class rather than an A in an easy class is not only more gratifying for the student, but also shows colleges that the student is willing to push him/herself to learn more. Remember, Upward Bound is College Bound, and the courses your student chooses should represent and support his/her drive toward college.

The Upward Bound Junior Workshop will take place from Tuesday, 4/25 to Wednesday, 4/26 at the Catholic Student Center here at UNH. Juniors will prepare for the SAT and will learn about the college application process. This is an important workshop and is mandatory for all UB juniors (this is school vacation week for all NH schools).

ALL Juniors should register to take the SAT this spring. If your junior still hasn't registered, they should pick up a registration form in their school guidance office and get a fee waiver from their UB advisor if needed. The deadline to register for the June 3 SAT test is April 28.

Now that your students have completed two quarters at school, we thought it time to provide an update about UB's academic standards.

At the close of the first quarter, students with one or more failing grades or whose grade point average fell below a 2.0 received a warning letter from UB and met with their UB advisor to discuss possible reasons for their poor academic performance and to develop strategies to improve their grade(s).

When second quarter grades came out, the same procedure was followed. Students who had been sent warning letters previously and had not improved their grade(s) were sent a letter notifying them that they were being placed on academic probation. These letters were to be read and signed by P/Gs, and the student had to work with their UB advisor to develop a contract that described how his/her grades would be improved. In addition, the student did not receive their quarterly stipend, and if he/she shows no academic improvement by the end of the third quarter, UB must make a decision about whether the student can continue in the Upward Bound program. Keep in mind, grades are not the only basis for this decision, but are certainly an important factor.

For Upward Bound to have a meaningful impact on our students, that is, to make them college bound, everyone needs to be involved. Here are some ways you as a P/G can help if your student is struggling in school:

April 28: Registration deadline for June 3 SATs (fee waivers available through UB advisors)

We will be having Summer Orientation Day (S.O.D.) on Saturday, May 27 this year. P/Gs are invited to attend an informative orientation, which includes a discussion with some of this year's Bridge seniors and a chance for P/Gs to ask questions and discuss any concerns about the Summer Program. Students will spend the day doing a variety of activities and completing a series of assessments for summer class placements. P/Gs may leave after their orientation or stay to enjoy a picnic style lunch and UB will provide transportation home for the students. It is sure to be a fun and informative day.

The greater the number of passengers in a car driven by a 16- or 17-year-old, the higher the risk of a fatal car crash, a new study reports. The findings appear in The Journal of the American Medical Association, and the authors urge greater use of graduated licensing systems that restrict young drivers' ability to carry passengers.

The lead author, Li-Hui Chen of the School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins, said researchers could only speculate about explanations, but the study noted earlier research that linked reckless driving and peer pressure. Her study did not determine how many of the teenagers had been drinking or the precise role the passengers might have played in the crashes.

For a 16-year-old carrying one passenger, the risk of death per 10 million trips was 39 percent higher than for a 16-year-old driving alone. With two passengers, the fatality rate was 86 percent higher than with no passengers, and with three or more passengers, it was 28 percent higher than with no passengers. The figures were similar for 17-year-olds.

Car crashes are the leading cause of death among American teenagers. The increased risk of death reported in the study was significant across the board, regardless of time of day or the sex of the driver, although it was especially bad for male drivers and late at night.

The researchers reached their conclusions after reviewing federal statistics on road deaths.

Upward Bound is College Bound.