College Planning Bulletin
from EducationQuest
by Kathy Brzon
March 17, 2008
EducationQuest Foundation
College Planning Bulletin
A monthly college planning guide for Nebraska high school
students
April 2008
________________________________________________________________________
Seniors … it’s decision time!
Attention seniors: It’s time to make the big college decision and
determine where you’ll spend the next 4-5 years of your life!
As you make your decision, have a heart-to-heart talk with your parents to make sure you pick your college for the right reasons, not because it’s where your friends - or your girlfriend or boyfriend - are going. Talk about:
Location. Is the college too close? If you come home every weekend, you won’t experience true campus life. Is the college too far away? If travel costs are prohibitive, you may not make it home as often as you’d like.
Cost. Can your family afford the school? What can you expect for financial aid beyond the freshman year? Did you receive renewable scholarships?
Academic program. Does the college offer the program that interests you? What happens if you change majors—does the college offer other programs of interest?
Amount of loans required. If you borrow the maximum Stafford loan amount each year for four years, you’re looking at $19,000 in loans – and that means a future monthly payment of nearly $220 per month. You should also calculate how much your parents will need to borrow in PLUS loans. Use the Student Loan Repayment Calculator at www.educationquest.org to estimate future student loan payments.
The EducationQuest website features other tools that can help you make the final decision including the Award Letter Comparison Calculator and the College Comparison Calculator.
Juniors … start looking for scholarships
Thousands of scholarships are available to help students pay for
college. Students who earn the most scholarships complete at least
30-40 applications. Here’s how you can be one of those students
…
Start searching! In addition to your guidance office, check out free sites including ScholarshipQuest at www.educationquest.org. Note the awards current seniors are receiving - they're often listed in your local newspaper. Other sources might include your parent’s employer, your employer or local service organizations.
Create files and place scholarship applications in deadline order.
Get involved in extracurricular activities and community service. This is a critical component on most scholarship applications – and is the only criteria on some.
Earn the best possible grades and entrance exam scores. These factors are especially important for college-based scholarships.
Determine if you will qualify for need-based scholarships by completing the College Funding Estimator at www.educationquest.org.
Talk to colleges about specific scholarships they offer.
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Scholarship warning…
As a junior or senior, you’ll receive offers for scholarship and
financial aid services. If they charge a fee, investigate them
thoroughly. EducationQuest will help you complete financial aid
forms for free and will guide you to free scholarship search
resources. For more information, talk to you guidance counselor or
call EducationQuest at 800-666-3721.
April “To Do” List
Seniors
___ Expect your college financial aid award letters
___ Continue applying for scholarships
___ Start purchasing dorm essentials now to avoid sticker shock in
August
___ Start looking for a summer job
Juniors
___ Register by April 1 for the May 3 SAT
___ Register by May 6 for the June 7 SAT
___ Register by May 9 for the June 14 ACT
___ Schedule campus visits while schools are still in session
___ Start looking for scholarships
For free help with college planning, contact EducationQuest Foundation:
Kearney
308-234-6310
800-666-3721
Lincoln
402-475-5222
800-303-3745
Omaha
402-391-4033
888-357-6300
www.educationquest.org
College Planning Bulletin
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