College Planning 101

Regardless of how young your child is, lurking in the back of your mind are thoughts of college. How can I encourage my child to do well in school so he can go? How will our family pay for it? How will my child know which college to apply to? What major should he study?    
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In planning for college, there are many choices to make and timelines to operate within. Crystal Coast Parent magazine sets out to give you and your family some information to help in making the best choices now or in the future.
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Saving for College

According to a recent Forbes.com report, costs for a four-year private college now average more than $37,000 a year, including tuition, fees, room and board, with expenses at the most elite colleges topping $50,000. Public colleges with four year programs on average cost more than $18,000 per year.
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The cost of college expenses has risen nearly 51% in the past decade, notes the College Savings Plans Network (CollegesSavings.org), a national non-profit. Required college expenses include more than just tuition, fees and board. Opening up a 529 savings account is a consideration for college planning, even if your family is not able to contribute a large amount each month. These accounts can be opened when children are born (and make great gifts from grandparents and others who want to contribute). A family who contributes $15 a month would have $2,600 saved in ten years on a 529 plan. Each state has differences within 529 programs. To learn more about North Carolina’s 529 savings plan, visit www.CFNC.org.            
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Contact your personal bank or investor for additional avenues. For example, State Employees Credit Union (SECU) members can open a Coverdell Education Savings Account (CESA) as a way to save for expenses in elementary, middle, high school or college. These accounts can be opened by parents, grandparents or other individuals, and require as little as $25 to open the account. Contributions grow tax-deferred, and withdrawals for approved education expenses are tax-free.

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For a closer look at the costs associated with college, or to project the amount that many be needed in the future, visit the calculator section at www.finaid.org. Another helpful site for overall college planning is www.college.gov.
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Academic Planning           
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When should students begin academic preparations for college? The answer is now, no matter what the child’s age. Good foundations begin at an early age. Wendy Decker, counselor at West Carteret High School in Morehead City notes, “The College Foundation of North Carolina has wonderful resources including interest aptitude quizzes and other helpful planning tools for your child’s educational future.”
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Decker urges students in sixth grade and higher to go to www.CFNC.org and set up an account that will show them tools and resources that are appropriate for their grade or stage of life, and will provide for a lifelong portfolio to help with academic planning and future career transitions for all ages. Account holders may receive targeted mail or emails with scholarship and higher education information based on their interests, education and community involvement.            
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Summer reading for middle and high school students, along with volunteer work and community participation, are highly recommended activities. In high school, students should meet with their academic counselors who have specialized training for aiding students in planning for their future education and careers. High schools typically offer college expos where representatives from many different colleges and trade schools will share information on academic programs, average tuition cost, scholarship programs and more.
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PSATs, SATs and ACTs
During the sophomore year of high school, many students take the PSAT as a way to practice and prepare for the SAT. Contact your school for more information on this opportunity.            
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Students should take the SAT (or ACT) in the fall of their junior year, and again in the spring if they choose to retake the test. The bulk of high school work and preparations for college take place during the junior year. Prepare yourself as a parent to handle their increased bulk of assignments, complete with nights of homework, along with the increased stress that accompanies this. This marks a huge milestone in your child’s transition to handle adult responsibilities and stressors.            
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During the junior year of high school, students should focus on creating a competitive profile on CFNC.org and compile a resume that lists academic work, volunteer activities, awards and jobs. Summer is a great time to start working on essays and statements of intent for college applications. By the beginning of August before senior year begins, start completing college applications and submit them earlier than the due date.
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Choosing a School           
Despite what team your family pulls for in college football or basketball, it is important to choose a school that will give your child the best preparation for the future. Some of this is based on the personality of the child, as well as their proposed academic major.
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For example, if your child attended a small high school, enrolling in a large university may be overwhelming. Some families choose to look as smaller colleges, or students may choose to enroll at a community college before transferring to a larger university. This allows students to adapt to college expectations and transition successfully into early adulthood.  
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Tim Woodard, Director of Admissions at Mount Olive College, shares the following tips for preparing for college. First, research schools of interest. This can be done by visiting the college or university’s website, contacting the guidance office at your child’s high school, or by attending college fairs. A nationwide reference is www.collegeboard.com.
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As part of this research process, says Woodard, look into possible academic majors and focus on the majors that are of interest to your child. When looking into the majors, not only look at the courses that are involved with the major (to make sure the information taught matches up to your expectations), but take a closer look at the types of jobs that are available to graduates of that major.
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After narrowing down the schools of interest, make appointments to visit and tour the campus. This gives potential students an opportunity to experience the college environment and determine if they can see themselves in that setting. Take time to ask the admissions counselors questions and to tour the part of campus where their intended major is housed. 
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Try to meet with professors, student organizations from that major and others connected to that program. This initial visit offers students a chance to see what kind of assignments and projects are entailed in the academic programs of their liking.   
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Applying to College           
North Carolina has moved to a simple process over the past decade by housing information, applications for financial aid and colleges, along with other helpful facts all in one place: at www.CFNC.org. This comprehensive website enables applicants to apply to multiple colleges without having to re-enter the same information over and over.
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For private colleges, consult with each institution’s website for additional information on applying. A comprehensive guide can be found on CFNC.org that contains deadlines, websites and other helpful information compiled in one ready to use and easy-to-read chart.
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According to Rob Lange in the East Carolina University Admissions department, institutions follow some basic procedures in the admissions process (although individual schools may differ). For example, at ECU, 25% of applicants are admissible, and 25 to 50% are placed on a hold to see their first semester senior year grades. The third group is “waitlisted,” and their applications are reviewed again in February or March.  
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The initial decision on admission is based on the weighted class rank, SAT scores and the student’s unweighted GPA. Letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities and concurrent enrollment factors don’t play into that process in the way that most parents may think. In college, the shift from involvement in multiple extracurricular activities shifts towards focused leadership.
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Lange also notes that it is better for students to complete the interest profiles with selected colleges and to submit applications themselves, rather than letting parents play a hands-on role in that process.
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Getting Extra Assistance

For some parents and students, planning and applying for college and financial aid seems like an overwhelming task. Across the country, more and more college planning consultants are popping up to provide dedicated services to parents who want higher education planning advice and assistance suited specifically to their child.
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Says Cheryl B. Smith of The Pathway to College, a college counseling and admissions advising firm in New Bern, “Ideally students begin working with a consultant early in their high school years in order to help the student make decisions regarding their curriculum, extracurricular activities, and summer opportunities that will enhance their high school experience. 

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“As the student moves into their junior year, the consultant helps the student in determining the best college ‘fit’ based upon their preferences and the way the student learns.

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“The consultant continues to work with the student throughout their junior and senior years to help the student develop a solid admissions strategy that includes: preparing for productive college visits; developing compelling applications that accentuate their strengths; formulating essays that help them stand out; preparing for college interviews; finding and applying for financial aid and/or scholarships; evaluating acceptance offers and preparing for the transition to college.”
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Financial Aid and Scholarships
In today’s economy, “full-ride” scholarships are hard to come by, with a possible 50 students out of an incoming freshman class of 4,500 receiving those prestigious awards. Most students use a combination of financial aid (grants and loans), savings, pay from part-time jobs and some partial scholarships to pay for college. Financial aid can be confusing, and often it can be difficult to talk to someone in the financial aid department at a university, particularly during the times when you need it the most, such as when tuition is due at the beginning of the semester. 
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Scholarships are funds that have been organized and contributed by individuals or groups, often geared towards a specific program of study. These funds are “stored” in interest-generating accounts to ensure that the scholarship can continue to perform for years to come.
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Due to the economic downturn, many of the scholarship funds are currently “underwater.” Some have been placed on hold in this current economic climate and will not be awarded until financial conditions improve. It is best for families to have a back-up plan and not rely on their student earning a scholarship, since they are more limited than ever before.            
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Apply early for scholarships. For high school seniors, don’t wait until the second semester of your senior year to apply. Also, research local scholarships from community and civic groups or those geared towards certain students and schools. Your high school guidance counselor will be able to alert you of these possibilities.
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Also, learn about scholarships that may kick in once you are a declared major. There are many partial scholarships available to students within specific programs. Visit websites like www.fastweb.com, www.fafsa.gov, www.collegescholarships.org and CFNC.org to learn more about scholarship offerings in your area and financial aid opportunities.
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The Adult Learner
Let’s not forget about those moms, dads and other adults who have been out in the real world but are considering a return to school to get a higher education degree, study in field which will benefit them professionally, or to further their education.        
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Says Vaughn Purnell, the Director of Mount Olive College in New Bern, “When working adults decide to go back to college, they have to deal with a hefty batch of questions and obstacles. They must make sure their work and class schedules don’t conflict.             
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“They have to figure out how to continue being a parent and get their own homework done. The laundry and shopping still need to be done. Other activities need to be included in the schedule as well, yet there are still only 24 hours in the day.”
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Demands for educational programs that offer a quick turnaround with alternatives to the typical campus life are the latest in adult education.  Mandy Lyman, Program Director at University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Jacksonville location, notes, “There are numerous degrees, teaching licenses and certificates that can now be obtained through distance learning. Nearly all community colleges, colleges and universities are offering programs for learners with a variety of educational needs.”             
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For those adults looking to change careers or educate themselves to stay competitive in today’s market, there are many new programs offered both online and on campus to help adults financially without taking too much time from life’s many obligations.

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Specific scholarships, and college counselors and advisers can also assist adults considering a return to school. To research scholarships that are age, career or lifestyle specific, a good starting point is collegescholarships.org. Military service members, their spouses and their children can also benefit from specified scholarships. To research this possibility, a comprehensive place to start is the education section of military.com.
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Says Vaughn Purnell, “It helps an adult student to remember that millions of students have already done this ‘going back to school’ thing, and have successfully earned a degree and gone on to better jobs and lives. 

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“It helps to remember that the faculty who teach adult learners are equipped to work with this particular population,” says Purnell. “They do it because they love teaching adult learners. The professor is a huge resource and partner for the adult learner because almost all of them were adult learners, too.
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“Every public and private college in Eastern North Carolina has staff dedicated to helping adult learners succeed.”
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Whether you’re searching for educational opportunities for yourself or your child, here’s to the many benefits of a good education. Crystal Coast Parent magazine wishes you much success.
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This article was compiled by Eastern Carolina Parent magazine Community Director, Tammy Whitten, and Crystal Coast Parent magazine Community Director, Pege Yates.
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A special thanks to the following individuals for sharing information about the college process: Tim Woodard, Director of Admissions at Mount Olive College; Rob Lange, ECU Admissions Office; Vaughn Purnell, Director of Mount Olive College in New Bern; Cheryl B. Smith, The Pathway to College, New Bern; Mandy Lyman, Program Director, UNC Wilmington’s Jacksonville location; Wendy Decker, Counselor, West Carteret High School.
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