October/November 2007

Bimonthly newsletter of College Assistance Plus

Set yourself up for success

If you're like many students, the switch from high school to college courses can catch you off guard. You slack off on your homework because it doesn't seem to be a requirement, then you call home in tears when you fail the first exam. Your mom suggests dropping the class and taking it next semester, but the add/drop deadline has passed and you've already paid for the credits.

Developing good study habits in high school can help you prevent this kind of situation. You will be able to apply your study skills to college courses and avoid the difficult transition time.

Homework in college is different than it is in high school. Professors often don't collect assignments or give quizzes on reading; homework is simply used as a means to understanding the material. When you are in high school, start learning how to take initiative for your own education. Your mom won't be with you in college, so don't wait for her to tell you to do your homework.

Studying is also different in college. You can start learning how to study in high school by finding or creating a study group to study with before exams. In college you will have TAs who have been through courses already, so they can show you how to study for different professors' exams. Learning how to study for each professor could make the difference between passing and failing.

College freshmen will soon learn that their professors don't take an interest in their grades in the same way as high school teachers. Students can always go to their professors and ask for help, but the professors don't usually seek out students who aren't doing very well.

The most important way to ease the transition from high school to college is to learn to take initiative for your own education. Don't rely on anyone else to help you or make you do your work, because in college it will only be up to you. Learning to be responsible with your studies will help you learn to be responsible throughout the rest of your life.

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Interview with a Graduate - Nathan David

Nathan David
Editor's Note: Nathan David is a history and Bible teacher at a private high school. He is currently completing his master's degree online in Christian apologetics.

CAPlus: Do you have debt from college?

ND: No, I don't.

CAPlus: Did you purposely try to make it through college without debt? What difference did that make in your education?

ND: It made a big difference. I was thinking about going to another school. When they didn't come through with the financial aid they said they were going to, I convinced myself to go with a cheaper option and see where it went from there.

CAPlus: So you didn't go to your first choice. Was that a hard decision?

ND: Yeah, the college I ended up with was my second choice. I wasn't excited about it, but the money didn't come through. I was able to be mature enough to be like, "I can start at this school and transfer if it doesn't work out. " It turned out that my experience there was just as good as it could have been at the other school. Colleges are all the same after a point. You want to go somewhere because you get excited about the dorms or the food or the fitness facility, and then you move off campus or don't join the sports team. After a year, all cafeteria food is the same, anyway.

CAPlus: What did you do to save money?

ND: I made sure I had a full load every semester, because I was paying for up to 18 credits. Why take 12 when you're paying for 18? I tried to use my summers to the best of my ability. I figured out what classes weren't great through my college and took them at community colleges. That way, I wasn't missing the good stuff at my college, but I was getting the credits I needed. Also, I found a scholarship that was offered every single year that didn't have anything to do with my GPA or anything. I learned I could survive without a car and a credit card, and that kept costs down. Most students kind of dove into both in their freshman year.

CAPlus: Did you work?

ND: I worked one year as an RA. I played basketball for two years, and during those years, I didn't work.

CAPlus: Do you feel like not having loans has impacted your life?

ND: I would not be able to be doing what I'm doing today if I had college loans. I feel blessed compared to one of my best friends who had $64,000 in college loans, and he wanted to go to the mission field and can't. He's had to do a job he didn't like for four years, and because I didn't have loans, I've been able to do a job I love.

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High school freshmen & sophomores

• At this point in their high school career, students should be participating in career profiles and college searches to begin getting an idea of what is available.

Community service

• Keep doing volunteer and community service work to increase your chances of receiving college grants and scholarships.

• Parents should look into moving assets to shield them from the FAFSA. If your assets are exposed to either the federal or institutional methodology, you may be able to reduce the amount you have to pay by moving those assets into non-qualified accounts.

• Look into taking AP courses so you can make a good impression on college admission officers and get some college credits out of the way. Talk to your guidance counselor about this when it's time to choose courses for next semester.

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High school juniors

• Work hard in your junior year, because your junior year grades are very important on your high school transcript. By keeping your grades up, you might be rewarded with college grants, free scholarships, and other educational grants.

Study hard!

• Check with your guidance counselor to see when the PSAT will be given; it is usually offered sometime in the middle of October. If you start preparing for the SAT now, you will have a better chance of doing well on the PSAT and the actual SAT exam.

• Study for the ACT and SAT exams! The next ACT test date is October 27; registration is due by October 1. The next SAT test is November 3; regular registration is due by October 2 and late registration is due October 11. Visit www.actstudent.org and www.collegeboard.com for more information and to find testing sites. There is also an SAT prep center at the website. Better scores can mean better financial aid!

• Keep refining your list of possible college choices. Check out the websites and start comparing schools by factors that you think are most important.

• Look into taking AP courses so you can make a good impression on college admission officers and get some college credits out of the way. Talk to your guidance counselor about this when it's time to choose courses for next semester.

• Save papers, projects, or any other good work that you are doing in school. Having these things on hand will be helpful during the admissions process (and can serve as portfolios or references later!).

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High school seniors

• If you are an athlete who plans on playing in college, contact coaches at the schools you are interested. Ask about intercollegiate and intramural programs and athletic scholarships. If you want to play Division I or II sports, you also need to complete the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse form.

Call college coaches

• If you aren't happy with your SAT/ACT scores, retake the tests. The highest combination of scores is always used, so taking the tests again won't hurt you.

• Check the application and financial aid deadlines for any colleges you want to apply to. This is very important! Make a list so you don't miss any deadlines.

• Plan visits to any colleges and set up interviews if you didn't get to them during the summer (or if you want to visit again). Read bulletin boards and the college paper, talk to students and professors, and try to spend a night in the dorms. Ask your CAPlus advisor for a college visit packet before you go!

• Take advanced placement (AP) courses if you can. It will help boost your admission standing, and you might be able to test out of required courses when you get to college.

• Due dates for recommendation letters are approaching, so figure out who you want recommendations from. Make sure you tell them exactly when the letters will be due, and don't hesitate to remind them! It's an important part of your application process.

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College freshmen, sophomores, & juniors

• Beware of credit card companies! You'll receive dozens of credit card offers in your college mailbox, some of which will offer you free t-shirts, iPods, and other gadgets. Don't sign up for a card unless you are going to pay it off each month. Credit cards do not give you "free money" that you can spend whenever you want.

Beware of credit card offers!

• Don't spend loan money on pizza and CDs. You may not realize it now, but you will be paying for that pizza for the next 30 years...with interest! It may cost $15 now, but add the interest and it will really cost you $65!

• Students with cars should look into getting AAA in case something goes wrong while traveling home for Thanksgiving break. You can also get roadside/towing service through your insurance carrier.

• Develop good study habits now at the beginning of your college career, and it will affect your grades for the next four years.

• Don't buy new books from your campus bookstore! You can buy used or new books online for a fraction of the cost. We recommend several sites on our website.

• When students meet with academic advisors to discuss plans for the next semester, talk about whether you are on track to finish your degree in four years. If you have not declared a major yet, determine which general classes you can get out of the way now. Don't get trapped into an extra semester!

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College seniors

• Don't buy new books from your campus bookstore! You can buy used or new books online for a fraction of the cost. We recommend several sites on our website.

Finding a job

• If you have any special family circumstances, such as the recent discovery of an immediate family member with a serious illness or a sudden death in the family that is causing extreme hardship, write a letter to the college asking for a one-time gift in some form. Colleges may honor these kinds of requests if they have the funds to do so.

• Plan how you will find a job once you graduate. Finding a job by graduation depends on strategizing and marketing yourself well. Begin searching now and network with others. Don't wait until two weeks before graduation...it will be too late!

• Write letters to people you know in your field to help you find a job. Try to meet with anyone who might be able to help when you go home for Thanksgiving break. Remember that most jobs aren't posted on the Web or in the newspaper. Networking is the best way to find a job!

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