Government Sources of College Funding

“The future belongs to the nation that best educates its citizens.”

-          President Barack Obama’s speech on education, March 10, 2009

Since President Barack Obama spoke those words last year, the government has significantly ramped up its efforts to improve Americans’ access higher education. Uncle Sam is now offering a new array of grants and loans to worthy students.

If you want to learn about government sources of financial aid, here are some links to online sources of funding information:

• The U.S. Department of Education’s main Website gives an overview of all government sources of financial aid.
• EDPubs offers a list of downloadable application packages for a number of grant competitions.
• E-grants.ed.gov is a portal to the Department of Education’s online grant application system, with links to application packages for a number of programs.
• GovBenefits.gov lists more than 1,000 government assistance programs for education and other purposes.
• Grants.gov provides a directory of government grant competitions – both for education and other programs.
• The Department of Education’s Guide to Student Aid Programs is a free downloadable PDF guide to sources of funding.
• The Discretionary Grant Application Website lists Department of Education grant programs that are currently open, with links to application forms and information.
• The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a standardized financial aid application that is accepted by nearly every college and university in America.
• The IES Funding Opportunities Website provides information on research funding opportunities from the Institute for Education Sciences.

So, is Uncle Sam waiting to help you pay for your college education? If you spend a little time investigating the links provided above, you will learn that yes, he is!

What You Need to Know about Going to College in Canada

Considering that Canada is one of our closest neighbors, it’s surprising that so many myths and misconceptions surround Canadian colleges and universities. Let’s take a closer look.

Myth #1: Canadian Universities Are Incredible Bargains

The truth behind this depends on your definition of “incredible bargain.” Tuition and expenses for international undergraduate students at McGill University, the University of Toronto and other top Canadian schools run about $26,000–$35,000 (Canadian) yearly. Canadians pay less, and residents of the province where the university is located pay less still. No mistake about it, those costs undercut the cost of attending comparable American institutions.

Also: Be sure to scour the Websites of Canadian universities for hidden bargains. If you are an American student with dual French/American citizenship, for example, you will pay in-province tuition to attend McGill University: About $2,500/year. Now that’s a bargain.

Myth #2: All Canadian Universities Are Huge and Impersonal

The truth is that Canada is also home to dozens of smaller specialized colleges – art colleges, community colleges, liberal arts colleges, technical colleges, and many other varieties. You can find out about them on a helpful Website called SchoolsinCanada.com.

Myth #3: It Is Difficult to Get Information about Canadian Colleges and Universities

True, they are not adequately represented in the U.S. News college rankings, or in The Fiske Guide to Colleges, which lists only four Canadian institutions. But information about Canadian schools is easy to find, both on SchoolsinCanada.com and through MacLeans Magazine university rankings, which are available online through MacLeans On Campus.

Myth #4: McGill University is the “Harvard of the North”

McGill is a world-class research institution with a world-class reputation.  But it is a lot different from Harvard. For starters, it is a large, urban school. And a lot of instruction takes place in individual schools – the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Music, and so on.  A great university? Yes. Another Harvard? Not exactly. Think of it more as “The NYU of the north.”

Myth #5: I Will Get Free Health Care if I Go to College in Canada

True, health care is government-subsidized in our neighbor to the north.  Yet Canada is fiscally responsible, meaning that visiting students at most schools are required to pay a few hundred dollars every year for health insurance while they are studying in Canada. For details, visit the Websites of the Canadian colleges where you are applying.

Myth #6: If I Go to College in Canada, I Won’t Be Able to Work

The Canadian government recognizes the need for students to earn money, so holders of student visas are allowed to take work-study and other jobs on campus. To take regular jobs off-campus, however, is another matter. Consult with Citizenship and Immigration Canadian Canada.

Myth #7: I Have to Speak French to Attend a Canadian University

Not so. Canadian universities and colleges have official languages (either English or French) in which most of the instruction is conducted.  Some Canadian universities (such as Laval University in Quebec City and the University of Montreal) offer instruction exclusively in French. But McGill, the University of Toronto, Dalhousie and other top Canadian schools are English-speaking institutions.  Check out the information on individual university Websites.

Myth #8: Canadian Deadlines and Acceptance Dates Are the Same as for American Universities

This is generally true, but some quirks exist. For example, American-style early admission is pretty much absent, and most schools post an application deadline of January15th. However, many schools (including McGill and Queens University in Ontario) use rolling admission, meaning that they need not wait until April to inform you of their decision. The University of Toronto, in contrast, informs students on April 1, just like American schools. Visit university Websites to be sure.

Myth #9:  They Love Curling and other Weird Games in Canada, and Moose and Beaver Roam the Streets

Well, could be! We don’t want to spoil all the fun for you. Why not get up there and find out for yourself!

 

The Only College List that Counts

People must really love lists of colleges, because they have been multiplying like mad over the last year.

In addition to the so-called “authoritative” college ratings from U.S. News, here’s a sampling of other lists that you can find online . . .

• List of colleges that offer the best value.
• List of America’s most expensive colleges.
• List of schools that are not worth the money.
• List of colleges with the most beautiful campuses.
• List of colleges with the ugliest campuses.
• List of colleges with the happiest students.
• List of colleges with the saddest students.
• List of colleges that offer the best financial aid.
• List of the preppiest colleges.
• List of top 10 party schools.

The lists go on and on. It seems like you can find one for just about anything.  There’s even a Wikipedia entry that lists all the college mascots in America. (Stevens Institute in Hoboken has Attila the Duck, in case you wanted to know.)

But of all the lists, what’s the most important for you as you navigate the college application process?

Simple answer. The only important list is your college list. As you start your senior hear in high school it will be the list of colleges where you might apply. And then sometime after Thanksgiving, that list will be winnowed down to a list of colleges where you definitely will apply.

How do you select the colleges that go on those lists? Simple answer again.

Fit is based on some or all of the following factors . . .

• The personality of the other students you meet on campus. (This is often translated as, “I can see myself there.”)
• The costs of the school and the availability of financial aid.
• The distance from home, the religious life and other value-related factors.
• The presence of values that match your own, usually embodied in clubs, associations, off-campus programs and other non-classroom activities.
• The strength of specific academic programs and majors that can lead to your chosen profession or career. (If you have one – don’t sweat it if you don’t.)
• Athletics – either interscholastic or intramural, depending on your desires.
• The comfort factor, as embodied in residences and residential life.

Remember that before you know it, you will have the shortest list of all – it will be the name of the school where you will go to college. If you keep that goal of “a great fit” in mind, that college will be the only one that counts – for you, the greatest school of all.

Should a State University or Community College Be Part of Your College Plans?

“President Barack Obama wants the U.S. to lead the world in awarding college degrees by 2020, and he’s counting on community colleges to help meet that goal.”

-  “White House Plans Community College Summit October Fifth”, Associated Press

The White House has just announced plans to convene a Community College Summit on October 5, to be hosted by Jill Biden. The event will be a forum for students, community college administrators and business leaders who believe that community colleges offer good educational value to American students.

If you’ve been following the news since the start of the current recession, you know that applications to state universities and community colleges have been surging. The cost per credit hour at community colleges in many states runs between $100 and $250. That’s an excellent value. And according to data from The College Board, tuition and fees at four-year state universities currently average $7,020 for students who live in state and $11,528 for students who live out of state. The College Board also reports that private four-year colleges and universities charge a lot more – an average of $26,273 per year in tuition and fees. And any tuition-paying parent knows that the real costs can amount to $50,000 or more annually.

Strategies, Strategies . . .

In the last five or six years, more students have reduced the cost of college by going to a public institution for a year or two, then transferring to the college or university of their choice.

As one student states, “If my degree is from Johns Hopkins, what difference will it make if I spent my first year at the University of New Hampshire?”

We spoke with another student recently who told us that he plans to attend a state school in Florida for two years, build a killer GPA, and then transfer to Columbia University in New York. “I’ll have a higher GPA than my classmates and that ought to give me an edge in law-school applications,” he says. Well maybe . . . and maybe not.

So should you make a public institution part of your long-term college plans? Perhaps, but be careful. A public school can save you money. But ask some smart questions first, like these . . .

• Will the courses that you take at a public institution fulfill the core curriculum requirements at the school where you really want to go? Or will you have to start all over again?

• How many students transfer each year into the college you really want to attend – and from where? Do your homework about this by talking to the admissions officers at the colleges where you hope to complete your degree. One sobering statistic? According to information we obtained, more than 600 students applied to transfer to Dartmouth for the 2010-2011 academic year – and only 20 were accepted.

• Should you simply plan to go to an excellent state university for four years? Here in New Jersey, we have some terrific state-funded schools, including Rutgers, The College of New Jersey, and others. If you’re eager to get an excellent education without going deep into debt, these schools can be great choices for all four college years.

How to Get the Most from College Visits

A Typical Campus Tour - Are YOU In the Picture?

Have you toured any colleges yet? If not, don’t worry.

After you take a tour or two, you’ll know what to expect – and know how to get the most value from every campus visit.

In a typical tour, you and your parents will follow a peppy tour guide around campus. Then you will go to an information session. Then you’ll get back in your car and drive away.

But wait a minute. As a student, you’re making a big decision here. This college could be the place where you spend the next four years of your life.

That’s why you need a game plan like this to get the most from your college tours . . .

Prepare by taking a test tour at a college that “doesn’t count.” Call a college near your home, sign up for an admissions tour, and then take it. The school doesn’t have to be on your college list. Your goal is simply to experience a college tour, so you can get more from the tours that really count.

Lay some groundwork for  visits to the colleges that really interest you. Before your tours, visit campus student blogs to learn about “hot” issues. Also read about the school in a college guide written by students, such as The Insider’s Guide to the Colleges, 2011: Students on Campus Tell You What You Really Want to Know, prepared by the editors of the Yale Daily News. In the information session that follows your tour, ask questions about the inside information that you discovered. Is it difficult to get into the school’s Spanish immersion program in Barcelona, for example? Your informed questions will attract notice from the admissions officers who are leading the session. Just be sure to introduce yourself to them after the session, so they will know who you are.

Be sure to register at the receptionist’s desk. (If you and your folks streak onto campus and join a tour that is already in progress, visit the admissions office afterwards and sign in.) Colleges track visits, and students who visit multiple times can reportedly get an “edge” in the application process. And if you visit the campus again, be sure to check in every time you’re there.

At the information session, ask, “Can you tell me about two admissions essays that you really liked?” The answer will tell you a lot about the school, what it takes to get in – and about whether you really want to go there.

Don’t disappear when the session ends. If the school looks good to you, introduce yourself to one of the presenters from the admissions office. Ask if you can sit down with him or her for a brief conversation, or with another member of the admissions staff. Since you’re there, why not maximize the value of your visit?  This is especially important if you have traveled a great distance to see the school.

If you are an athlete, call ahead to schedule a conversation with the coach of your sport. Do it, even if you are not getting recruited. Maybe the coach will take an interest in you after you meet. Plus, your session with the coach could give you an edge in the admissions process.

“Kick the tires” of the campus. Walk around the campus after the tour ends. Visit buildings that weren’t on the tour, just to be sure the school wasn’t hiding anything. Approach students, staff, and faculty members and ask questions. If the school looks like a good fit, visit the career center and find out what kind of resources the school offers to graduating students. And if the school really “speaks” to you, ask to attend a class. Admissions offices keep class schedules on hand, and they will suggest classes for you to visit.

Track your visits in a special notebook that you will take to all your college visits. Use two facing pages for each school you visit. On the left page, write facts about the school. On the right page, write your impressions and opinions. This two-stage approach will help cement each school in your memory – and the notebook will be a valuable resource as you decide which schools belong on your “list.”

If you’ll be applying for financial aid, encourage your parents to call ahead to schedule a conversation with a financial aid officer. While they’re having that talk, you can head out on your own to explore the campus by yourself.

Follow up promptly with a handwritten note to the admissions office. Okay, a thank-you note seems formal and old-fashioned. But send one anyway. It shows your interest. Plus, your note will go into your admissions folder, where it could give you an edge over applicants who didn’t follow up.  Also: If you met with a coach, send him or her a thank-you note too.

Eat the food in the dining hall. Hey, you’re probably going to be eating it in the years ahead – at least until you and your friends move off campus and fend for yourselves. (At that point, you can start eating all the Ramen you want.) But if the grub is sub-par, it’s best to know that ahead of time.

And one more idea . . .

Leave your parents and walk around the campus on your own. Get a feel for the place! Talk to people if you like, or watch a sports practice, or nurse a latte in the student center. Soak it all up. This place could be your life.

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