College Tuition Tips: Affordable City, State Schools Become More Popular In Gaining College Admission

College Tuition Tips: Affordable City, State Schools Become More Popular In Gaining College Admission
By Tara Lynn Wagner
New York 1 Living
With college tuition on the rise and the economy in a slump, many families are turning to public schools to give their children a more affordable higher education. NY1's Money Matter reporter Tara Lynn Wagner filed this fourth report in an eight-part series on paying for a college education.
Richard Alvarez says he has the greatest job in the world. As university director of the City University of New York (CUNY), he says he gets to say "yes" to everyone.
"Every student who graduates from high school, whether it's in New York State or anywhere else in the country, can enter the university," says Alvarez.
Lately, more and more students are knocking on CUNY's open door, beginning with their two-year programs. Applications are up more than 12 percent, in part because tuition is just $4,000 a year.
That means the neediest students who qualify for state and federal grants could feasibly get a CUNY education tuition free.
Since students can apply to six schools at once, college counselor Jackie Kucker of Benjamin Cardozo High School says she encourages all her students to apply.
"CUNY is a bargain, it's an absolute bargain. It's a wonderful education and it's very, very reasonable," says Kucker.
The State University of New York has also seen an application surge of almost 25 percent in the last five years, even despite an increase in tuition.
"The SUNY system tuition has been raised to $4,660, so we're still under the national average for state systems," says Jonathan White, the dean of admissions for SUNY Maritime College.
Growing interest in public schools is creating several changes on campus. One money-saving strategy saw students attending a state or city school for two years before transferring to a private school, but that trend is waning.
"There are more students who are opting to stay at CUNY to complete their education, and we're also seeing a growth in our graduate programs," says Alvarez.
Experts say some 80 percent of American college students are getting their education at a public school, and they say that education isn't all that different from what they'd get at a private school.
In fact, in some cases it's almost exactly the same.
"The same faculty that teach at four-year schools are actually teaching at these community colleges, so you're getting the same education," says White. "Once you get past the Ivies, English is English, business is business, psychology is psychology."
Of course, more applications mean tougher competition at more selective schools. Several CUNY schools have raised their admission standards and since out-of-state students pay nearly twice as much, they are casting a wider net when recruiting.
CUNY continues to accommodate everyone, but officials say they are keeping a watchful eye on student-faculty ratios.
"We are concerned that we are reaching a point where without additional assistance from the city and the state that we are going to reach enrollment cap. We're not there yet," says Alvarez.


College Tuition Tips: Affordable City, State Schools Become More Popular In Gaining College Admission

College Admission Help: Higher learning, higher earning

College Admission Help: Higher learning, higher earning
By Anna Troppens
High school counselors emphasize this formula to students: higher learning equals more earning. Those who go on to community college, a university or technical schools have higher salaries than those with a high school diploma alone.

“We try to preach that to the kids,” said counselor Mark Mattingly of Holly High School.

Fellow counselor Chris  Major-Talley said she believes it is very important for students to get some type of education after high school. In today’s job market, work isn’t there for a person who doesn’t have training or education for the job.

Everyone doesn’t have to attend a four-year college or university. Community college, or a technical certificate are other options, Mattingly said. “Even the military is an option.”

Young people learn a trade while in the military, and can  attend college after or during service. More education is a path to a higher military rank, and more pay. In addition, the military will help pay for higher education, he said.

Woodard said students from Lake Fenton, Fenton and  Linden high schools can obtain some training at the Genesee Area Skill Center. In most cases, they will need more education beyond high school. But they can explore careers at the skill center, such as auto mechanics, commercial foods, medical assistant, nurse’s aide and cosmetology.

The sooner students  begin planning for life after high school, the better, said Career Development Facilitator Karen Logan of Holly High School. If they know what they want to study after high school, they can plan what high school classes they take accordingly.

Some students know in elementary school what they want to  be when they grow up, but it’s pretty rare, said Woodard. Not everyone in high school knows what career they will pursue.

If they do, future nursing  students can take biology in high school, while those interested in engineering can choose Computer-Aided Design classes. Logan referred to a quote from Yogi Berra of the New York Yankees baseball team, “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up somewhere else.”

LFHS students have Educational  Development Plans (EDPs) they begin working on in seventh grade. They refine their career goals and record skills they are accumulating, and how these fit into their plans for the future. “Certainly middle school is not too soon,” Woodard said.

Holly High School’s career center reopened in December and  is available to students during the school day. Students can come in and use the computers, fill out college applications and work on their EDPs.

Other  tri-county area students can check their high school’s career center, or guidance counseling office, for assistance.

With the ACT and Michigan  Merit Exam tests now required of high school students, some students are thinking about college who previously wouldn’t have, Major-Talley said. “We tell them the ACT is a free college entrance test.”

Due to current economic  conditions, less students are going to universities, Mattingly said. More are attending community college for their first two years, to save money. After their sophomore year of college, they transfer to a four-year college or university. Even top students are doing this now. “We say it is an excellent option.”

What to study

The type of career  someone chooses can affect where he or she lives, how much money they have and what hours they work. It’s a big decision affecting many facets of life, but research helps young people know what to expect.

College isn’t only  about becoming a doctor, lawyer or high school teacher, said Tom Saelens, coordinator of outreach for Mott Community College (MCC).

Nursing, and  other jobs in the medical field, are No. 1 in terms of “hot” careers, Holly High School counselor Mark Mattingly said. There are predicted shortages in the future for workers in this field. Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth statistics, supplied by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, estimate there will be 3,132 annual job openings for registered nurses through 2012 (www.michigan.gov/lmi).

Mott Community College (MCC) has the largest  nursing program in the area, Saelens said. It graduates 160 to 180 nursing students each year. The job market also is strong for other health-related occupations, such as occupational therapy and dental hygiene. Other programs Mott offers include police officer training, welding, certified nursing assistants (CNAs), auto mechanics and furnace repair/HVAC.

Linden High  School guidance counselor Sue Hinton said counseling, and career counseling, are in demand. The first type of counselor helps those who are dissatisfied with their lives, and the second assists those who have lost their jobs.

Alternative energy, such as producing power from wind and solar  sources, is a good field to study, Major-Talley said. Other top picks are business, education and engineering. Several female Holly High School students plan to study engineering. “That’s awesome,” she said.

Careers in  forensic science also are hot, said Karen Logan, career development facilitator for HHS. With the current economic conditions, auto mechanics are in demand because people are keeping their vehicles longer. “They’re the people that are still working.”

And if there aren’t job openings for a certain type of  career in Michigan, grads can move out of state if they’re willing, said Saelens. For example, there aren’t many openings in Michigan right now for high school teachers. This isn’t to say there won’t be in three to four years, though.

The average college freshman changes majors three times, data  from colleges indicates. If students aren’t sure what they want to major in, they can mark “undecided.” “The largest major is undecided, one college rep said,” Major-Talley added. Taking various classes and talking to people can help with the decision, Mattingly said.



College Admission Help: Higher learning, higher earning

College Admissions Help: Four tips to prepare your teenager for college -- and the job market

College Admissions Help: Four tips to prepare your teenager for college -- and the job market
By Jennifer Openshaw
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- If your child were looking for a job right now, would she get hired?
Ask yourself, honestly: Would you hire him?
It's a rough job market out there, so if you've got children in high school or college, chances are you're worried about how prepared they'll be. A study by SuperFutures.org found that parents placed "preparing their teen for success in the 'real world'" above getting into college or even financing it.
There's good reason to worry. Today more students are facing stiffer competition as more people -- including more experienced workers -- look for jobs. And, as segments of the population return to college in a down economy, getting into college or finding first-time jobs can be even tougher.
"We know more than ever that this is a global world, and the students who are part of that are the ones who will be prepared to compete in a tough job climate," said Patrick Sciarratta, co-founder of the Youth Assembly at the United Nations which, along with SuperFutures.org, is holding a nine-day youth leadership and social entrepreneurship conference for teens this summer featuring Arun Gandhi, great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.
Listen to this: For every available job, according to the Labor Department, there are four unemployed people. And companies are receiving more resumes than ever before.
So what does this mean for your child? Here are four things children must know to be successful as they look ahead to transitioning to the real-world:
1. Stand out from the crowd
I've talked to a number of colleges and admissions coaches hired by parents for college applications and all stress the importance of "creating a story." That means being good or passionate about something, but having activities that support that passion.
Why is this so important? In college applications and even on the job front, you want to be able to tell a compelling story about your professional desires and commitment. For instance, a child planning to become a veterinarian might attend a summer camp or program to learn more about animals, start a charity to use animals in some positive way, or intern at a local vet's office.
2. Plan early
Too often, parents or students don't start thinking about the all-important extracurricular activities that are crucial to creating a story and discovering a child's true passions. And, unfortunately, many schools often have only one high-school counselor per 1,000 kids, meaning they're short-handed to provide personal guidance for college or career planning.
One 50-year-old investment banker told me how, looking back, he can now finally understand why he didn't get into medical school, even though he graduated 17th in his class of 1,400 and had a father who was a cardiologist.
"I didn't have anyone providing me guidance -- no one who told me how to network, how to get an internship, what extra curricular activities I should be doing, and why this was all so important," he said.
3. Demonstrate impact
Today more than ever, to get into college and to land a job, students need to show that they can lead and make things happen. After all, colleges are looking for students who can demonstrate their chance of being successful. More ability to succeed now equals a higher probability of succeeding later.
To help its students learn how to create change and operate in today's global world, SuperFutures.org has students develop their own social entrepreneurial ventures in small groups based on their personal interests. Students then create an action plan to move their project forward along with a video or essay -- which can be used in college or job applications -- describing the impact they have or hope to have. (Full disclosure: I am one of the conference leaders for the summer program).
4. Get experience
Internships are critical for real-world experience and for exploring a child's interests. But too often students don't do them until they're in college, even heading toward graduation. Internships even in high school can lead to great references that can help with college applications and help steer you toward the right college. The vet with whom your child interns, for instance, could educate her about the pros and cons of colleges in that space. At the same time, your child is forging an alliance with a successful alumnus, which might help her get into the school of choice.
Ultimately, with the cuts to support services in schools, it's up to parents and teenagers to start planning now for a successful transition to the working world.


College Admissions Help: Four tips to prepare your teenager for college -- and the job market

College Counselor Advice: Students need to consider what they want from life

College Counselor Advice: Students need to consider what they want from life
Special reports
Glasgow Daily Times
Dear Editor,
There is a subject on my mind that I would like to share with you and the students of this area.
Back when I was in school, there was only one guidance counselor, and she spent most of her time and efforts on the upper class and upper middle class students. A doctor’s, lawyer’s or businessman’s student got her attention; leaving the middle and lower class students on their own.
The students that got her services were pointed to the right classes and assisted in getting into college.
The less fortunate either struggled through school or dropped out to take a job. There were lots of jobs for a young man then. Service stations dotted the map. They all needed attendants. Grocery stores and even some retail stores had jobs available, as did Mallorys, Sorenson’s and Tysons. The problem here was that they had jobs. Jobs were subject to end at any time and that person had to start over somewhere. For most, it was an endless road. Girls usually dropped out to get married and start a family. Another hard road to hold. The problem was that the average person did not notice or care.
The better students usually headed off to college, or were drafted. Because most men were drafted, people leaving the military were shown respect and jobs were open for them. These men in college often were there just to dodge the draft; and didn’t really have a plan for their life. I worked with a man like that. He went off to school, was on his own for the first time and didn’t know what he wanted. He spent most of his time partying, cutting class and just being a flop until the school sent him home after a year with one credit and a ton of money spent. He has regretted those decisions since, but somehow managed to be fairly successful in life. He knows that less partying and more study could have made a world of difference in his life.
Today we have counselors, teachers, parents and peers to help, guide and point students in the right direction for college. I commend the schools for that; but schools do not seem to consider that college is not for everyone that may get in the front door. While it is generally considered a degree is needed to be a success isn’t necessarily so. Students need to seriously consider what they want from life and school. Once a decision is made, a plan should be drawn up on paper, and perhaps discussed with a counselor. Attorneys, teachers and several other careers require a degree, or maybe an advanced degree. That takes time, dedication and most of all “money.”
If you see on your plan that you aren’t going to be able to pay for college, even with student loans, consider what you will be happy and secure doing. There are numerous tech schools and trade schools across the country. Maybe you want a career in medicine. You can become a licensed practical nurse, or x-ray tech, or maybe in a blood lab, or physical therapy office. There are numerous jobs in medicine; or maybe auto mechanics or aircraft mechanics is more to your taste. There are paralegals, EMTs, music instructors, heavy machinery operators and of course semi drivers. All of the above are careers, a short time in school and you are on your way. Don’t be misled, college is not for everyone; but almost everyone needs a secure, well paying career. The key word here is career, not job. Jobs can be temporary, but careers seem to endure.
I hope that someone has seen a small glimmer of light from this and will discuss it with their parents, counselors and maybe businessmen and women in the area. One word of advice. Don’t drop out of school and somehow get that paper that recognizes you as being trained and qualified to fill a given position.
May success and happiness be that of every student in school today. That is my wish, even my prayer for you.
Joe Grimsley
Glasgow


College Counselor Advice: Students need to consider what they want from life

What College Counselors Are Telling Class of 2009 Grads About Careers

What College Counselors Are Telling Class of 2009 Grads About Careers
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. -- With the highest national unemployment rate since 1983 and a record six million unemployed, the Class of 2009 is facing a huge but not impossible job search challenge.
Merrimack College Director of Career Services and Cooperative Education, James Greeley, tells soon-to-be graduates that the keys to finding employment are: Preparation, Perseverance, Flexibility, and very importantly, Networking.
Preparation
• Every graduate must have a professional looking resume highlighting accomplishments, not merely responsibilities. Working with a career counselor is essential in producing resumes that result in job interviews. Also, an articulate and concise cover letter outlining strengths and emphasizing how one can contribute to the company is both valuable and necessary. Finally, utilize Web sites specific to career goals - almost every profession has a variety of sites available.
Perseverance
• The meek may one day inherit the Earth, but they may not get a job in 2009. It’s natural at times to get discouraged, but the most motivated, aggressive, enthusiastic job seekers who utilize the various avenues available (career centers, on-line recruitment tools, Career Builder, Monster, Craigslist, LinkedIn, etc., and placement agencies) will ultimately find a job.
Flexibility
• 2009 is not a time to be especially picky. If a position isn’t a “dream job” or ideal starting salary or even a second or third choice, pursue it anyway. At the very least, it will provide “real job” experience to strengthen the resume and assist in applying for more attractive and challenging positions once the economy improves.
Networking
• 80% of all jobs attained are the result of some form of networking. In this economy, the percentage is closer to 90%. Professionals in career centers have extensive communication with hiring managers; alumni offices have large databases of alumni working at numerous companies; your family, neighbors, former supervisors, etc. Networking possibilities are extensive.


What College Counselors Are Telling Class of 2009 Grads About Careers

Types of college financial aid and college grants and college scholarships

Types of college financial aid and college grants and college scholarships
Grants: Grants are what some in the financial-aid industry call "free money."
They don't need to be repaid. Some are given by universities, but most come from federal and state governments.
There are several types of grants, including grants for academic achievement, Pell Grants for students who meet need requirements, and federal work-study programs, which find students jobs to offset college costs.
Pell Grants are given to low-income graduates. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the total amount of money available to students from the Pell Grant in 2010 is $5,500. That's up from $4,860 in 2009.
Scholarships: Scholarships are available to students for a number of reasons.They can range from full scholarships based on athletics or academics to small ones available for many reasons.
There are several Web sites that list available scholarships. Financial-aid experts warn that parents and students should not pay for the information because it is readily available.
Experts also say that parents should look at their companies as a source for possible scholarships, as well as businesses with strong community ties.
Loans: Student loans are a major way to pay for college. Too often parents and students look at student loans as separate from financial aid, but it's actually an integral part.
The loans, for the most part, are low interest and subsidized by the federal government.
Loans that go directly to students aren't due to be paid back until after graduation.
The federal government backs Stafford Loans, Parent PLUS loans, and Perkins loans. Each has a different qualifying standard, but students can get the loans even if their parents do not qualify for them.


Types of college financial aid and college grants and college scholarships

College-bound students who rack up College Scholarships apply for funds early, experts say

College-bound students who rack up College Scholarships apply for funds early, experts say
By Gary Pettus
Mississippi clarionledger.com
Asked how much money she has received in college scholarships, Bailey Magnet High School's 2009 valedictorian said, "Wait, let me get my calculator."
The total, said Martha Taplin, 18, comes to more than $1.8 million - "so far."
Taplin, who boasts a grade-point average of 3.8 and a shining but not pristine ACT score of 24, has been offered more than 60 college scholarships.
Some of that money can be applied only to certain colleges, but wherever she decides to go - Jackson State University, Tougaloo College or Ole Miss - Taplin has more than enough to pay for her education.
Taplin got started early on the application process - as others should do, education experts say.
An alert, though, to those looking for help with tuition for the coming college year: most scholarship bucks have been taken. Some community college and private awards may still be untapped, but application deadlines for most scholarships have passed.
As for high school juniors and even students in eighth grade, they can, and should, be plotting ways to finance their college education now, experts say.
"When it comes to scholarships," said Mathew Cox, dean of enrollment management at Millsaps College, "the big take-away for parents and students is this: You don't have to be a National Merit Finalist or score 30 on the ACT to be highly sought after by colleges."
But it doesn't hurt.
Wesley Welch, 18, of Pearl is a National Merit Finalist who's going to Harvard University - a college he applied to "just because."
"I thought I would be going to Duke," said Welch, a Pearl High School senior. But I applied to Harvard anyway and found out I was accepted on April 1.
"I was incredibly happy."
Welch has received enough scholarships from various sources to pay for his education at the prestigious Ivy League school, where undergraduate tuition for the coming academic year is $33,696.
Welch's solid-gold resume sparkles with a list of activities featuring membership in 15 school clubs; participation in football, tennis and track; and at least three years of community service, including building houses with Habitat for Humanity.
It's Welch's connection with the community that is a lesson for scholarship-seekers who may not have those ginormous ACT scores.
"Students with leadership abilities and extensive service are also highly sought after," Cox said.
"Colleges pay attention to many things beyond an ACT score or a GPA."
Many top academic scholarships are reserved for the perfect 36 ACT scorers, said Paula Pratt, coordinator of counseling for Education Services Foundation, a Mississippi-based nonprofit corporation that offers college planning and other services.
"But there are leadership scholarships; often, students who receive them have found something they are really good in and stuck with it.
"Or they create something unique. Colleges love that."
For instance, she said, one student received a scholarship to Mississippi State University for her work with Hurricane Katrina survivors.
"She started a canned-food drive at her high school and took the food to the Gulf Coast, month after month.
"Student government, Beta Club, athletics - those are all good activities.
"But the students who are getting the scholarships are going a step further."
In the past, students with 20-something ACT scores didn't have the opportunities they have now, said Gina Morgigno, counselor at Pearl High, where a class of about 200 seniors nabbed more than $3 million in scholarship offers in 2008, the highest per-student average in recent memory for the school.
"We won't know the total for this year until May, but I'd be surprised if it isn't higher.
"Over the past few years, I've seen a greater effort by the universities to reach out to different types of students.
"Being a leader can really pay off."
But it doesn't pay to wait until your senior year to start leading, or studying.
"You start working toward scholarships when your GPA starts, and for some students that could be in the eighth grade," Morgigno said.
"That includes foreign language courses, pre-algebra and computer classes.
"It means taking some of the higher-level courses, even at that early stage.
"Also, you can't overestimate the importance of certain activities, including band and ROTC, which begin in the ninth grade. Scholarships are available for those students if they excel."
That was the case for Ameenah Abdur-Rashied, 19, a music-education major who entered Jackson State on a band scholarship.
"I did work hard on my grades, but I wasn't at the top of my class," said Abdur-Rashied, who graduated from Murrah High School with a 3.6 GPA and a 24 on her ACT.
"But I'm able to go to college with the band scholarship and other awards. There are plenty out there. People want to give you money to go to school."
Some will give you money after you're already in school.
This week, Abdur-Rashied received another music-related award, for $2,000.
"You can continue to get scholarships throughout your college career," said Maria Harvey, dean of JSU's W.E.B. Du Bois Honors College.
"So many students need them. The books here cost $700 a semester or more.
"Think of the average parents. They don't have that kind of money for books, tuition and everything else."


College-bound students who rack up College Scholarships apply for funds early, experts say