UNH Upward Bound Parent/Guardian Newsletter

College Bound

The UNH Upward Bound Parent/Guardian Newsletter

November, 2000
Volume 2, Issue 1

Working Together to Improve our Students' Chances

Raising a young person is a huge challenge. We have immense respect for every family working hard to raise their kids to be successful and fair-minded people. That is one of the reasons UB is around. To help you with that process as it relates to education. Thus, College Bound, our newsletter for parents and guardians.

Our goals as educators are quite specific. (1) We want all UBers to do well in high school in order to prepare for college. This means that they should take college appropriate courses, study hard, do their homework and participate fully in their classes. (2) In addition, they should be mindful about their lives; they should realize how important it is to develop good habits and sound intentions. Thus, they should avoid working so many hours that they can not keep up with their classes. They should also beware of social commitments and situations that threaten their health and stability. (3) We ask them to take their college search seriously. We want them to research and apply to good, affordable schools that can prepare them for a host of careers in which they are interested. (4) And finally, we ask that they apply for federal and local financial aid in a timely and professional fashion.

College Bound is meant to provide you with timely information and college related ideas that will actually be of some use to you as you try to wend your way through the huge amount of noise that masquerades as useful information. Do let us know what kinds of things you as P/Gs are interested in learning and perhaps we can research it for you. In the meantime this is our link to you as we work with your UBer.

One of the issues we are working on in UB concerns the underachievement of young men in the educational system at all levels. Another concerns the failure of the academic achievement of females to translate into success in the marketplace. Both issues are of immense concern to us. Males are actually doing worse in terms of success in school and going on to college than women were doing 30 years ago and the trend will only continue unless we confront it in our schools, our homes and our programs. Young women, on the other hand, despite their continuing success in school at every level, and in every subject area, are still behind in the business world and marketplace in general. Nor will these conditions change without our seeking out and addressing their unmet needs.

We plan to have more information on these and other topics in future issues of College Bound. What it means in the meantime is that we are aware of some serious educational inequities and are doing our best to address them in our program and in our advising. Finally, sometimes UB asks a lot of you and your student. We see them in their schools twice a month to discuss course and college preparation, and we encourage them to attend their academic enrichment center (AEC) weekly. In addition, we offer college visits and cultural activities on weekends and school days. In all of these situations we ask for your understanding, cooperation and support so that we can work together to improve your studentÕs chances. After all, our success is your success; weÕre in it together.

-- Dan, Diane, MJ & Lisa

UB Financial Aid Assistance For Parents/Guardians

For those P/Gs who need help with their student's financial aid paperwork, UB advisors will be available in January to meet individually with P/Gs to answer questions and help fill out the necessary forms.

Please call the UB office at 862-1563 or 800/270-3848 (if out of calling area) to schedule an appointment with your student's advisor.

UB Summer 2001 Dates: June 24 - August 4, 2001

Steps for Financial Aid:

1. Complete the Admissions Application for each school. Financial Aid offices won't process your Aid application until your student has been accepted but you should apply for aid before they are accepted.

2. Complete an Institutional (college-based) Financial Aid form, if required, and send to the school.

3. Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as soon after January 1 as possible. This year fill out the green sections with student's information and the purple sections with parent's information. It is acceptable to estimate your income to meet the deadline.

4. Register for the CSS Profile (if required). NOTE: The cost for the Profile application is $16.00 for 2 schools. UB provides fee waivers for up to 2 schools. Complete the customized Profile form that is sent to you by the earliest deadline.

5. Wait and look for notification by mail from:

The U.S. Dept. of Education which will send your student the SAR, or Student Aid Report, showing your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is used to determine your student's eligibility for all federal student aid programs. Review the SAR to be sure the information on it is correct. If so, do nothing. If not, make changes and send to address instructed A.S.A.P.
Finally, the school's Financial Aid office which will send an award letter outlining your student's aid package, usually a mix of grant, loan, and work-study offerings. This comes after your student's acceptance to a school. 6. Respond to the financial aid award letter of the school your student plans to attend by the May 1 deadline.

Types of Financial Aid

Federal sources provide grants, loans, and work-study, based on financial need.
Colleges offer institutional aid in the form of academic and athletic scholarships.
Community, business, & civic group scholarships are available.
The state of NH awards grants to students based on need.

Use the Internet to connect to the UB web site at www.upwardbound.unh.edu, where you can access financial aid resources such as Embark.com.

What You Should Be Doing Now

Collect the following information and documents now in preparation for completing the FAFSA at the beginning of January:

Student's driver's license and social security card
Student's income tax returns, W-2 forms, and 1099 forms for previous year
Parents' income tax returns, W-2 forms, and 1099 forms for previous year
Current bank statements and mortgage information
Records relating to stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other investments
Documentation of non-taxable income, such as Social Security income, AFDC, and Veterans Benefits
Business and farm records
Records relating to any unusual family financial circumstances, such as medical and dental expenses not covered by health insurance, tuition expenses at elementary or secondary schools, unusually high child care costs, death, divorce, and loss of employment.

Scholarships

For a free scholarship search contact: NH Higher Education Resource Center P.O. Box 877 Concord, NH 03302-0877 (603)225-6612 or 1-800-525-2577, x143.

Ask to be sent a free profile to complete for a private scholarship search. (Check with your student. He or she may already have done this).

Private Aid

Investigate possible sources of aid, including churches, business groups, & civic organizations for scholarship opportunities. Any grants received can't be used to reduce your family contribution, yet many schools will reduce the amount of loan or work-study in your student's financial aid award. Information will be available in your local schools, so contact your student's school guidance office for postings and lists.

About the SATs

UB seniors should have taken the SAT in October, November, or December. Be looking for those scores. Verify that official scores were sent to each of your student's schools. UB juniors should have just taken the PSAT, and should be preparing to take the SAT in the spring. P/Gs of juniors, you should look for those scores. Juniors will be attending a mandatory UB Junior Workshop in the spring to help them prepare for the SAT and introduce them to the college application process.

The Bridge Program

Seven seniors completed the UB summer Bridge program here at UNH, where they got a jump start for college by:

Taking a freshman English class taught by a UNH professor. This was paid in full by UB, and the seniors earned 4 college credits for the course.
Working part-time on or near campus to save for college.
Their fundraising activities netted $250 each to use for school.
Leading community meetings, attending workshops, and traveling together on a four day Discovery trip to Montreal.

UB seniors need to apply to be part of the summer Bridge program, and because of space limitations, not all seniors who apply will necessarily be accepted. More information will be offered this spring.

What's on the UB Web site for Parent/Guardians

Calendar of Events : Where you can find out about academic year events including college visits and fairs, AEC activities and special events that your student can attend.

Family Support: Where you can find out what you can do to support your student's college goals and where to look for help.

UB Graduates: Read about where Upward Bound students went to college and what they're studying.

P/G Newsletter: Read UB's p/g newsletter online!

P/G Resources: Link to web sites to research careers, colleges or scholarships, and get help with SAT preparation.

Summer Program: Where you can find out about P/G workshops, Special Topics, Family Picnic, Discoveries, and Weekend Wilderness Trips.

Embark.com

UNH Upward Bound has access to an amazing resource on the Web called Embark.com. While using this web site, you can find out which careers and colleges suit your student's interests, needs and abilities. Your student can learn about hundreds of careers, majors and colleges. Embark.com is also a good place to search for scholarships and to learn about financial aid. This program will compare their grades, coursework and SAT scores with colleges' admissions criteria so that they see whether their college choices are reasonable for them. With a simple click of the mouse, they can access college web sites and e-mail colleges for information and applications.

Your student already has their own personal "locker" where they can save any information that they want. Most students began working on Embark.com with a college research counselor during this past UB summer. P/Gs, you can help your student by encouraging them to utilize this program, on their own or at their UB Academic Enrichment Center.

Embark.com can be reached as a link from the parent/guardian or student page on UB's web site (just click on name). P/Gs, you will need your student's password to access their "locker," which contains their information.

Don't miss out on this amazing resource for your college-bound student!

Attend Financial Aid Night at Your Student's School!!

North Country:
Berlin: Thu. 12/7 at 6:30 p.m. in lecture hall
Gorham: Tue. 12/12 at 7 p.m.

Manchester:
Central: Thu. 12/14 at 7 p.m. in library
West: Thu. 12/7 at 7 p.m. in cafeteria
Raymond: Wed. 12/13 at 6:30 p.m.

Seacoast:
Farmington: Tue. 12/5 at 6:30 p.m.
Nute: Mon. 12/4 at 6 p.m. in library
Portsmouth: Thu. 1/4 at 7 p.m.
Somersworth: Mon. 12/11 at 6:30 p.m. in vocational conference room
Spaulding: Mon. 12/4 at 7 p.m.

Our 2000 graduates are attending:

Louisiana: Louisiana College

Maine: UMaine at Farmington

Massachusetts: Amherst College, Northeastern University, UMass Amherst, and Western New England College

New Hampshire: Franklin Pierce College, Keene State College, Plymouth State College, Rivier College, and UNH

New York: College of New Rochelle and Rochester Institute of Technology

Ohio: Ohio Wesleyan University

South Carolina: University of S. Carolina

Attention Parents/Guardians: UB Needs Your Help with Fundraising

We're looking for P/G help to raise money for:

Our Bridge scholarship fund to benefit UB seniors who participate in the summer Bridge program;
Services and events to benefit UB participants.

Do you have a great fundraising idea? If so, contact your student's advisor or call Robinson House.

Do you know of a student who may be a good candidate for UB?

Let your student's advisor know or refer their P/G to our office at 862-1563 or 1-800/270-3848 (if out of calling area).

2000-2001 UB Advisors

Dan Gordon: Dover, Portsmouth & Somersworth

June Hampe: Raymond & West

Mary Jo Madden: Central & Memorial

Louise Morneau: Berlin, Gorham & Kennett

Diane Proulx: Farmington, Nute & Spaulding

Don't have the Internet at home? Don't worry!

Your local library should have computers with access to the Internet, and most even offer free classes on surfing the web.

Your student's school may have computers available at certain times; call the school office for information.

At the Durham & Gorham Academic Enrichment Centers, your student can show you the results of all their hard work on Embark.com.. The UB staff will be available also to show you what the AEC's have to offer to parent/guardians.

Upcoming UB Events

December 9: Holiday Reunion for UB students at Durham Community Church (students must provide their own transportation).

February 9 (Date tentative): Boston cultural trip to visit 2 colleges, have dinner & attend a theater performance. NOTE: UB students will need to miss school, but UB can provide a letter explaining the trip. Since this is a college visit, many schools will count it as an excused absence with a note of explanation from us.

Family Support Makes a Difference!

Encourage your student to achieve in school by:

Regularly asking them about school and listening to what they say

Providing them with a quiet place to study and do homework, and setting limits on extracurricular activities

Sharing stories of your positive school experiences, such as favorite subjects or outstanding teachers you remember

Limiting the number of hours your student works to 15 hours per week during the school year, with 10 of those hours on the weekend

Telling them that you are proud of their academic achievements

Encouraging your student's full participation in Upward Bound activities both during the summer and the academic year

Encouraging your student to ask questions. Be proactive (about classes, grades, schedules). Their education belongs to them, but they must claim it.

Who can help you:

School counselors can answer many of your questions about education and careers

Public libraries & community education agencies can provide information about colleges and financial aid

Admissions and financial aid offices at colleges in your community can give information and advice

And, of course, Upward Bound can assist you in getting answers to your questions.

PAYING FOR COLLEGE
Myths and Realities about Paying for College

Myth: College tuition costs more then $20,000 a year.
Reality: Of the 3,600 colleges and universities in America, 81 charged $20,000 or more for tuition and fees in 1997-1998. When on-campus room and board charges are added, about 300 institutions cost $20,000 or more before a student aid is deducted.

Myth: Private colleges are always more expensive than public colleges.
Reality: On average, private colleges usually cost more than public institutions, even after aid is deducted; however, there are instances in which a private college is less expensive, after student aid, than a public institution. For example, the cost of a private institution, less student aid, often is less than a public institution outside oneÕs home state.

Myth: Only the very rich can afford college.
Reality: About 20 percent of traditional-aged undergraduates come from families with income below $20,000 per year. The federal government, states, and institutions all offer financial aid to help low income students afford college.

Myth: The middle class gets socked by college costs Ð thereÕs no help for them.
Reality: A wide variety of aid programs are available to help middle-income families, including many grants and scholarships. At public colleges, about 30 percent of students with family income between $50,000 and $70,000 receive grants averaging $1,7000. At private institutions, almost 80 percent are awarded grants or scholarships that average $6,000.

Myth: It actually hurts you to save for college because you get less financial aid.
Reality: Those who save will be expected to contribute more toward their childrenÕs education that those who donÕt save. However, the formulas for determining the expected family contribution count income for more heavily than savings, so the difference is usually not substantial. Furthermore, a family that saves will have the funds necessary to meet their expected contribution, while a family that does not save may have to barrow Ð with interest charges more than making up for the smaller expected contribution.

Myth: You donÕt really need college to be successful Ð look at Bill Gates.
Reality: Bill GatesÕ story is exceptional. Today, the average annual income of male full-time workers with a bachelorÕs degree is almost 50 percent higher than for those with a high school diploma. Those with an associate degree earn 20 percent more than high school graduates. The earning differentials are just as large, if not larger for women. Today, some post secondary education or training is necessary for almost every good job.

Myth: Only big time athletes get scholarships.
Reality: in 1995-1996, only 1 percent of undergraduates received athletic scholarships. Most student aid is awarded on the basis of financial need Ð not athletic talent.

Myth: Only minorities get extra help.
Reality: The majority of student aid is awarded of the basis of financial need. Very little aid is awarded solely on the basis of a studentsÕ race or ethnicity. According to a recent survey of financial aid officers, less then 10 percent of institutionsÕ budgets for non-need scholarships go toward scholarships for members of specific minority groups. Generally, students from racial or ethnic minority groups are more likely to receive scholarships because they are more likely to have financial need.

Myth: Only white people know how to pull the strings for college.
Reality: Socio-economic status and precious experience with higher education are much more important in determining who goes to college than race or ethnicity. The admissions and financial aid process is daunting for many families, but especially for those having no previous college experience. Families can get help from a number of sources. This web-site is a great place to start. Libraries and high School guidance offices offer resources and assistance. In addition, many communities have a federal funded Educational Opportunity Center with trained counselors to help student and parents through the admissions and financial aid process.

Myth: ItÕs not what you know when it comes to college and financial aid -- itÕs who you know.
Reality: It is most important to forge relationships with people who can provide solid information and advice, such as high school guidance counselors and college admissions or financial aid personnel.

Myth: Community colleges offer only vocational education.
Reality: Community colleges provide a wide range of educational options, all at low cost to student. In addition to career and technical education, community colleges offer the first two years of academic course work to transfer to a four-year institution. They also help workers upgrade their skills and provide courses for lifelong learning and personal enrichment. Open admissions, nearby locations, a wide array of courses, flexible class schedule, and low tuition prices make community colleges readily accessible to everyone.

Myth: Colleges charge whatever they want Ð theyÕve got a monopoly.
Reality: Public and private colleges set their tuition in very different ways. Generally, state policy makers set tuition for public institutions. Tuition decisions are driven by the funding colleges receive from the state. When states cut their appropriations for colleges and universities, they have to raise tuition to make up at least part of the resulting budget shortfall. Private colleges set their own tuition, but they operate in a very competitive environment, They have to construct tuition and aid policies that allow them to fill their classes and offer the programs and facilities that keep them competitive.

Myth: There is no basis for the soaring increase in college prices.
Realities: Many factors influence college cost increases Ð technology and facility costs, faculty salaries, student aid expenditures, and cuts in state appropriations to name just a few. Since the early 1990Õs annual price increases have stabilized at 5 percent. Colleges are trying to do even better, searching for new and innovative ways to cut costs and minimize tuition increases.

Source: www.collegeispossible.com

Upward Bound is College Bound.