College 101 Brianna Kamphuis Illinois Valley Community College
College 101 Brianna Kamphuis Illinois Valley Community College District Illinois Student Assistance Commission
Who We Are “Making college accessible and affordable for all Illinois students. ” - Mission Statement The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is the financial aid agency in the state of Illinois. We are a mission-driven, non-profit, state agency that administers nearly $400 million in scholarships and grants. Illinois has set a goal to increase the proportion of adults in Illinois with high-quality degrees and credentials to 60% by the year 2025.
Illinois Student Assistance Corps o Approximately 80 Corps members from diverse backgrounds o Every community in Illinois o Changing the conversation about higher education
Overview Here are some things we will talk about today…… ▫ Post-secondary options �Types of degrees and colleges �Apprenticeships �Military ▫ Determining your “best fit” college(s) ▫ Researching colleges
Monthly Expenses 1 Adult • • • Food $242 Medical $141 Housing $679 Transportation $306 Other $76 Required annual income $20090 2 Adults, 2 Children • • • Food $713 Medical $379 Housing $895 Transportation $736 Other $185 Required annual income $40445
Putting Things into Perspective Cost to Support a Family 50000 40000 30000 20000 10000 0 Family of 1 Family of 4
Average Earnings by Degree
Types of degrees Type Certificate Associate’s Bachelor’s Master’s Professional Doctorate Approx. time 10 -16 months 2 years 4 years 2 years (after a bachelor’s) 3 -6 years (after a bachelor’s) 5 -7 years (after a bachelor’s)
Types of colleges Type Degrees Examples Public universities Bachelor’s, Master’s, Illinois State Professional, Doctorate Private colleges Bachelor’s, Master’s, Bradley and universities Professional, Doctorate Community Certificate, Associate’s colleges Trade/Vocational Certificate schools IVCC MTI
2014 -15 Average Illinois Tuition and Fees • Public universities $11, 880 • Private colleges and universities $27, 490 • Community colleges $3, 731 Source: http: //www. isac. org/students/during-college/applying-for-financial-aid/college-costs. html.
Deciding on a Major o o Your interests Debt you are willing to assume Average salary Job prospects
Certificate Programs • Community Colleges • Certificate programs: Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Billing and Coding, Welding, etc. • Assoc. Applied Science programs: Sonographer, Industrial Maintenance Tech. , Dental Hygiene. • Vocational, trade, technical, and career colleges • Trade-specific schools • Apprenticeships: provided by employers or local unions
Apprenticeships • Run by an employer or union • Teach skills for a specific trade • Combines on-the-job training and classroom instruction • Apprentice usually pays only for tools/supplies • Apprentice agrees to work for a minimum time after completing apprenticeship
Popular Apprenticeship Programs • • Electricians Plumbers Steel workers Pipefitters Boilermaker Masons Carpenters
Associate’s Degree Careers • • • Childcare worker Dental hygienist Mechanic Paralegal Physical therapist assistant Nurse
Bachelor’s Degree Careers • • • Accountant Computer programmer High School coach/teacher Nurse Journalist Pilot
Post-Bachelor’s Examples Master’s • Social worker Professional • Lawyer, medical doctor Doctorate • Psychology professor, economics researcher
Military • Initial commitment is typically 4 years active duty and 2 years inactive • Branches include ▫ ▫ ▫ Army Navy Air Force Marine Corps Coast Guard National Guard • Long-term career vs. continued training/education
Determining your “best fit” college
Should you pick a college because…? • Your boyfriend/girlfriend/best friend is going there. • You recognize its name. • They sent you a brochure in the mail.
Determining your “best fit” college academic social financial
Academic: The basics • • Available majors Internship opportunities Career/graduate school placement rates Graduation and retention rates
Academic: Admissions SAFETY your academic record is stronger than most students it’s basically guaranteed you’ll get in MATCH your academic record is similar to most students you have a very good chance of getting in REACH most students have a better academic record than you have a chance of getting in Plan on applying to at least two of each, for a total of six.
ACT Standardized test used to measure college readiness Colleges use as an admissions criteria Usually taken in spring of junior year Can be taken up to 12 times Most colleges take highest overall score 5 test sections: English, Math, Science, Reading, Writing • ACT may not be offered at LP, depends on state budget • National test dates at IVCC • www. actstudent. org to register; photo ID required; $56. 50 • • •
How Can I Improve My ACT Score? • ACT Prep Classes • Free website help at www. actstudent. org • Check out ACT review books from the library for additional practice questions and tips • Information on the LP Counseling Website
College Match tool https: //isacportal. isac. org/en/collegematch
Social • • • Religious affiliation Extracurricular activities Athletics Theater/musical performances Greek life Average class size Campus size Commute vs. On-campus vs. Off-campus Location
Financial cost of attendance expected family contribution • Sticker price vs. Net price • Types of financial aid available ▫ Gift (scholarships, grants) ▫ Self-help (loans, work study) financial need
Financial Maximum Award Amounts for 2015 - 2016 Up to $4, 720* — State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) — Federal Pell Grant Up to $5, 775 Total = $14, 495 Up to $4, 000 * Based on funding as of publication date. Announced grant awards could increase or decrease throughout the academic year. — Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Picking a College is A Lot Like Dating… • Do you want to be with this college for possibly the next 4 years? • Does the college match your wants? • Does the college better prepare you for your future? • Do you and the college have the same values? • Does the college just look good online? • Are you going to this college just because your friends want you to?
How to Find Colleges Studentportal. isac. org ISAC’s College Match tool College Scorecard Ask teachers, counselors, and other adults • Choose 3 -4 schools you’ve never heard of to research. • Don’t rule out any schools based on cost. • And remember, aim to apply to at least 2 safety, 2 match, and 2 reach schools • •
College visits • It is going to be your home for the next 4 years. • Every school looks good on a brochure or website. • Get a sense of the on-campus experience.
College visits: Be proactive • Ask intelligent, prepared questions. • Schedule a one-on-one appointment with an admissions representative. • Talk to students who attend that school. • Consider an overnight stay. • Attend a class.
Your Support Network Involve others in your decisionmaking process Ask questions!
College Checklist for Juniors Meet with your counselor about college plans Compile your initial list of colleges Study and prepare for the ACT Visit college campuses on days you don’t have school Visit college reps who come to LP Start thinking about who to ask for letters of recommendation • Plan your senior schedule based on plans for after high school • Begin preparing an activities resume • Review college application deadlines • • •
FREE Online Resources
College Scorecard Search for colleges by… • Programs or Majors • Location • Enrollment size whitehouse. gov/issues/education/higher-education/college-score-card
studentportal. isac. org
Review • Types of colleges and degrees • Identify your interests and goals • Determine “best fit” college(s) based on academic, social, and financial factors • Find your support network • Ask Questions!
Additional resources www. studentportal. isac. org www. Student. Aid. gov
Contact Information Brianna Kamphuis Brianna. Kamphuis@isac. illinois. gov 815 -202 -0660
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