Preparing for the College Application & Financial Aid Process

BREAKTHROUGH SENIOR ADVISING PHILOSOPHY All students should have the opportunity to access and capitalize on the life-changing power of a college education. College is defined as pursuing a postsecondary education that allows a student to attain a bachelor’s degree, associate degree, or credential/certificate while pursuing their passions and preparing for their career. At Breakthrough, the terms ‘college,’ ‘higher education,’ and ‘postsecondary’ are used interchangeably, which reflects the reality that many options are available to students and all add value to an individual's aspirations for themselves and their communities.

Breakthrough Central Texas supports students pursuing each of these options after high school graduation.

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE & CAREER SUCCESS At Breakthrough we recognize that a college education, among other lifelong benefits, dramatically increases earning potential, employment opportunities, and career choices. We know you have many choices available to you when considering your plans after high school, and your Breakthrough advisers are here to help you navigate your way through this process.

We're here to listen to you and to share resources connected to your unique interests and skills.

COLLEGE & CAREER PREP RESOURCES TO EXPLORE CAREERS & MAJORS Occupational Outlook Handbook Focus 2 Career Assessment

RESOURCES FOR COLLEGE RESEARCH College List Brainstorm Big Future CollegeBoard Naviance- through your school portal Get Schooled: Building your College List

EVERYTHING IT TAKES TO GRADUATE BREAKTHROUGH IS A COLLEGE DEGREE COMPLETION PROGRAM, AND ALSO AN ASPIRATION, ACHIEVEMENT AND DREAM REALIZATION PROGRAM.

COLLEGE FIT GUIDE Breakthrough is in the process of revising its College Fit Guide with the latest data and information about which colleges are best serving first-generation college students. Using publicly available information on school costs, graduation rates for different student groups, and what we are hearing from our students and advisors themselves, the below-listed four-year Texas colleges rose to the top. We encourage you to consider adding them to your college lists depending on the type of school you are looking for! To learn more about how we identified these schools, talk with your advisor. (Advisors can access information about the methodology for these analyses in the College Fit Data Analysis 2022 document).

SELECTIVITY

NAME

TYPE

DISTANCE FROM AUSTIN

Highly Selective

University of Texas at Austin

Public

In Austin

Highly Selective

Rice University

Private

167m/~2.75hrs

Selective

Texas A&M University at College Station

Public

106m/~2hrs

Selective

Austin College

Private

261m/~4hrs

Moderately Selective

St. Edward's University

Private

In Austin

Moderately Selective

Texas Tech University

Public

375mi/~6hrs

Moderately Selective

St. Mary’s University

Private

80mi/~1.5hrs

Moderately Selective

University of Texas Arlington

Public

200mi/~3hrs

Somewhat Selective

Sam Houston State

Public

150mi/~3hrs

Somewhat Selective

Texas State University

Public

30mi/~35m

Somewhat Selective

University of Houston Clear Lake

Public

190mi/~3.25hrs

Somewhat Selective

Stephen F Austin State University

Public

228mi/~4 hrs

Somewhat Selective

Texas Lutheran University

Private

57mi/~1 hr

Somewhat Selective

Tarleton State University

Public

155mi/2.5 hrs

Less Selective

Texas A&M International University

Public

230mi/~3.75hrs

Less Selective

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Public

302mi/~4.5 hrs

Less Selective

University of Texas Permian Basin

Public

334mi/~5.25 hrs

Less Selective

Southwestern Adventist University

Private

171mi/~2.5 hrs

Less Selective

Midwestern State University

Public

284mi/~4.5 hrs

Less Selective

Our Lady of the Lake University

Private

82mi/~1.5 hrs

Less Selective

Prairie View A&M University

Public

116mi/~2 hrs

Less Selective

University of North Texas at Dallas

Public

187mi/~2.75 hrs

TESTING WHY DO THESE TESTS MATTER? They are considered "college-entrance" exams Shows you are ready to take college-level classes Some are required for specific majors (ex. engineering) Scholarship consideration

WHAT TEST DO YOU NEED TO BE COLLEGE-READY? PASSING SCORES. SAT Score Range 400-1600 Benchmark Score for College Readiness Math 530 Reading 480

ACT Score Range 1-36 Benchmark Score for College Readiness 19

TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE (TSI) Math- 350 Reading- 351 Writing- 4 on essay & 340 on multiple-choice questions; 5 or above on essay

TEST-OPTIONAL SCHOOLS During COVID-19, some colleges and universities decided to become testoptional or test blind. Applying to a test-optional school meant that it was up to the student whether or not they wanted to send in their SAT/ACT scores to be considered for admissions. If you were able to go out and take the test and had a great score, it would benefit you to send it to the schools. This could improve your chances of being admitted and also open scholarship opportunities. However, if you were unable to take the test and/or had a lower score, then you could choose not to send the scores and still have the opportunity of being admitted based on a holistic review. Applying to a test blind school meant that even if scores were sent the schools would not consider them for admissions For the class of 2023- a lot of schools are going back to normal, meaning scores will be a part of your application requirements. This is why it’s important to study and do the best you can on the SAT and ACT. However, there might still be some schools that are test-optional. As you are researching your dream schools make sure to be aware of this detail.

TEST PREP RESOURCE Khan Academy

TO ME BREAKTHROUGH MEANS HOPE Breakthrough helped me apply to rigorous high schools and guided me through the college application and financial aid process. Since my parents did not go to college it was a learning experience for all of us.

JABRELL SCOTT BREAKTHROUGH COLLEGE GRADUATE

FINANCIAL AID OVERVIEW WHAT IS FINANCIAL AID? Funds provided by the Federal Government- specifically from the Department of Education or a University- there are different types of financial aid

Grants: This money will NOT be paid back.

The federal (US) and state (Texas) government provides grants after students complete their financial aid application (see next page). This includes the Pell Grant and Texas Equalization Grant.

Scholarships: This money will NOT be paid back.

See below for the different types of scholarships.

Need-based Hobbies/extracurricular Identity Employer/Military

Academic Athletic Community service

Find more scholarships through different search engines such as: Your school portal (ex: naviance) College Greenlight Scholly Breakthrough will send scholarship opportunities via text throughout your senior year.

Federal Loans: Federal loans must be paid back.

Subsidized Loan a loan in which the government pays (subsidizes) the interest while the student is in school Unsubsidized Loan interest accrues normally with this loan PLUS Loan is taken out in the name of the parent and NOT the student. These are based on parent credit scores. Interest accrues normally and is typically higher than student loans.

Other Work: Study is money earned by a student working at a job on campus.

FAFSA OR TASFA WHICH ONE DO YOU COMPLETE? You will only complete one, either 2023-2024 FAFSA or 2023-2024 TASFA and it depends on your citizenship status.

Mistakes are easy to make and very common, and your Breakthrough adviser is here to help! Please review with your adviser before submission.

- Your Breakthrough Adviser

FAFSA & TASFA open October 1st & are due January 15th Completing FAFSA/TASFA is a graduation requirement!

What will you need to complete the application?

FAFSA & TASFA CHECKLIST

OTHER THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND TAXES - WHY IS FILING 2021 TAXES SO IMPORTANT? To be eligible for financial aid Your parents need to file and you do too if you worked in 2021 You will need them for 2023-24 FAFSA The deadline to file 2021 taxes is APRIL 18th- but you can still complete after the date!

Resources to file 2021 Taxes Foundation Communities Ask your BT Adviser for other options.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FILE YOUR TAXES, PLEASE REACH OUT TO YOUR BREAKTHROUGH ADVISER!

COLLEGE APPLICATION PREP Some things that you can start doing as an 11th grader, to prepare for college applications are...

RESUME Start working on your resume, think back to all the community service you have done during senior year, and what clubs or sports have you been involved in.

Start writing everything down if you haven’t already.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION Who are the people in your life that have made an impact on you and who might be able to write you a recommendation letter?

Do not include people in your family- like your mom (of course she thinks you're great!)

Think about your teachers, counselors, coaches, community leaders, and/or employers!

APPLICATION PORTALS These are the two most common application portals Apply Texas The Common Application COLLEGE ESSAYS So many students will be applying to college next year, how can you make yourself stand out? Write an essay.

Some schools will require you to write about a certain topic.

Here are the most common essay topics: Apply Texas Essays Common Application Essays

REMEMBER THE ACRONYM FASTER SO THAT YOU KNOW THE APPLICATION COMPONENTS + PROCESS. Financial Aid/Application Fee Waivers Application itself Test Scores Transcripts (Grades) Essay(s) & Short Answers Resume + Recommendation Letters

SENIOR INSTITUTE As a Breakthrough student, you will have our support throughout this application process. We want you to start thinking about your application and its components as early as possible so that we can be prepared.

Breakthrough will host workshops during the summer to help you get started!

BREAKTHROUGH IS A 12 YEAR EXPERIENCE

WE WILL BREAKTHROUGH THIS TOGETHER!