College Bound The UNH Upward Bound Parent/Guardian Newsletter

We're Here for Our Parents/Guardians

Welcome to UNH Upward Bound's newsletter for the parents/guardians (P/G's) of our students. As most of you know, Upward Bound is here all year long to support your students' college goals. We have Academic Enrichment Centers open one night each week in Manchester, Gorham and Durham; UB advisors travel to students' schools to meeting with them twice each month; we have college trips, reunions and other activities that keep students involved as well. But we're also here to answer your questions or concerns. We can be reached during business hours at 800-270-3848 or by e-mail: just go to our web site www.upwardbound.unh.edu for links to e-mail addresses. Arrangements to talk at other times can be made upon request.

Some reasons why you might want to contact us:

• Your student is doing poorly in a subject, or in several subjects and you'd like to see how UB might be able to help
• You'd like to meet with a UB staff member to help you complete financial aid forms
• You have questions about how the college application process works
• You're wondering which courses your student should choose for the upcoming year
• You'd like information about Upward Bound events and opportunities
• There's something going on in your student's life that's affecting his or her academic performance: illness, death in the family, divorce, etc. and you'd like UB to be aware of this
• You have questions about majors and the offerings of different colleges
• You're wondering if your student is applying to the right colleges

Whatever your question, concern or suggestion, we look forward to hearing from you!

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. These forms can be confusing, so please don't hesitate to ask questions or give us a call.

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 23 - August 3, 2002

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 blue sections with student's information and the purple sections with parent's information. It is acceptable to estimate your income to meet the deadline. These will be available in school guidance offices in early December or on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

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 Profile registration and reporting for up to 2 schools. Complete the customized Profile form that is sent to you by the earliest deadline These are available now in school guidance offices or on-line at www.collegeboard.com.

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/ubresources.html where you can access financial aid resources such as Embark.com and Fastweb.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.
• Student's immigration and naturalization papers, if applicable.

Scholarships

For freeinformation on fainancial aid, contact: NH Higher Education Resource Center P.O. Box 877 Concord, NH 03302-0877 (603)225-6612 or 1-800-525-2577, x143, or check them out on-line at www.nhheaf.org.

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

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

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.

• 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 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.

North Country:
Berlin: Thu. 12/6 at 6:30 p.m. in lecture hall
Gorham: Tue. 12/11 at 7 p.m.

Manchester:
Central: Thu. 11/15 at 6:30 p.m. in library

Seacoast:
Dover: Tue. 11/27 at 7 p.m. in auditorium
Farmington: Thu. 1/3 at 6:30 p.m.
Portsmouth: Thu. 1/3 at 6:30 p.m.
Spaulding: Mon. 12/3 at 6:30 p.m.

If your school is not listed above, call the guidance office for dates and times.

Planning for College: Some Issues for Students and Parents to Consider

All too often, students reach their senior year of high school and discover that the choices they've made in school have effectively limited their post-secondary options. To go on to college, these individuals will need remedial coursework. Having to take remedial or additional preparatory courses usually does not appeal to recent high school graduates-in fact, it may discourage them from furthering their education.

If students want to keep their post-secondary options open, they must become familiar with the academic requirements of most colleges. Some colleges require coursework beyond the minimum requirements, however, so taking additional courses will make more options available to students. The minimum coursework required of high school students for admission to most colleges is as follows:

• Language Arts. Colleges require 4 years of English. Fortunately, this is also a requirement for high school graduation. If a student can do work in more challenging classes, such as an honors course or one specifically labeled college prep, he or she should be encouraged to do so.
• Mathematics. If ever there were a gatekeeper, mathematics is it! Students are often prevented from pursuing certain post-secondary options because they didn't take the appropriate math courses. The minimum requirement for most colleges is 3 years of math, including algebra I and II and geometry. Students should also take advanced algebra, trigonometry, pre-calculus and/or calculus, if these courses are offered and students are likely to do reasonably well in them.
• Science. Most colleges look for at least 3 years of science, including 2 years with laboratory experience. Once again, taking courses beyond the minimum requirements will give students more options. This is especially important for students who might want to pursue further study in the sciences.
• Social Science/History. A minimum of 2 years of study is expected in social science or history. As is the case with English, students will satisfy the minimum college requirements in this area by meeting high school graduation requirements. However, students with ability and interest should certainly be encouraged to take additional classes in this area.
• Foreign Languages. Most colleges expect a minimum of 2 years of study in a single foreign language and prefer more than 2 years of study. Some students, such as those with serious learning disabilities, may not be able to meet this requirement, but alternatives such as waivers exist for them. In most cases, students should study a particular foreign language for as long as their abilities and available courses will allow them; they shouldn't take 1 year of French and then 1 year of Spanish or German, for example. As is the case with math, insufficient foreign language preparation can limit students' choices. On the other hand, doing advanced work in a foreign language will enable a student to consider colleges that require more than the 2-year minimum in foreign language study. If an individual takes a third, fourth, or fifth year of foreign language study in high school, he or she might satisfy the college's language requirement for graduation even before enrollment. At the very least, a student taking additional foreign language courses might be placed in an advanced class in college, reducing the number of courses he or she will be required to take.
• Other Courses. Finally, colleges expect students to have some exposure to fine arts and performing arts as well as introduction to the world of computers. Once again, these courses may also be required for high school graduation.

Many students and parents wonder about how the level of high school coursework will affect college admission. In other words, is it better to have a B in an honors class or an A in a regular course? There is no exact answer, but usually a B in an honors course is preferable. However, the choice of whether to take an honors course should also be based on the studentÕs abilities. If a student is good in math or science, he or she should take some challenging courses in these areas. The same student, however, might be better off taking easier courses in subjects in which he or she isnÕt as strong.

In addition, students shouldn't take courses that are unreasonably difficult in which they have no chance of succeeding. Earning a D or an F in a challenging course won't improve a student's chance of admission to college, and the frustration of being in a course that is too difficult may discourage the student from considering study beyond high school.

Some parents and students may be concerned if their high school offers only limited courses. Most colleges evaluate each applicant's transcript according to the high school courses that were available to the applicant. High schools are encouraged to give colleges a profile describing their available courses and other data about the student body and the school. College admission officers can then evaluate an applicant's record in terms of factors that he or she couldn't control. For example, a small, rural high school might not be able to offer advanced courses in many subjects. Although colleges will take this into account during their admission process, students who have the opportunity to take more advanced courses do have an advantage: they will be better prepared for college work.

By: Jim Montague The ERIC Review, Volume 5-Issue 3, Fall 1997

Does your student have the "right stuff" for college?

Nowadays colleges are looking for more than good grades. College bound high school students should also participate in extra curricular activities such as:

School:
Student council, yearbook staff, school newspaper, sports activities, National Honor Society, or various clubs such as drama, art, french or spanish.

Community:
V olunteer work in their local community such as soup kitchens or hospitals. Often students can connect with community service projects through school.

Activities in and outside of school benefit the student and can give them the extra edge with college admissions offices as well as organizations offering scholarships to college.

2001-2002 UB Advisors

Jodi Tarantino (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!

Upcoming UB Events

January 12: Winter Reunion for UB students at Durham Community Church (students must provide their own transportation).

February 22 -23: National TRIO Day at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston. More information will be sent to students in December Pipeline.

Our 2001 Graduates Are Attending:

Craig Augustine: Univ. of New Hamphire
Patty Baxter: Warren Wilson College
Heather Bogardus: Keene State College
Rick Bozarth: Atlantic Culinary Institute
Steven Connelly: Syracuse University
Shannon Fournier: Keene State College
Matthew Frahm: Univ. of Southern Maine
Bridget Gagne: Univ. of New England
Robert Gatera: Univ. of New Hamphire
Wolker Georges: Long Isl. Univ. CW Post
Heather Higgins: Keene State College
Tri Le: UNH-Manchester
Melanie Lessard: Simmons College
Heather Mangold: UNH-Thompson School
Caitlin Mullaney: Univ. of New Hamphire
Angela Noyes: Univ. of New Hamphire
Tan Pham: UNH-Manchester
Leah Proulx: McIntosh College
Rebecca Shaw: Hesser College
Bryson Torr: McIntosh College
Vincent Wedge: Univ. of Southern Maine
Etta Yu: Southern NH Univ.
Jessica Zinn: Univ. of New Hamphire

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). We will begin our recruitment process in the late winter.

Upward Bound is College Bound.