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FIRAT EDUCATIONAL JOURNAL The New Educational Journal of Houston Sponsored by Firat Educational Solutions
Photos by Ibrahim Firat
College Counseling is one of the great services offered by Firat Educational Solutions, LLC. (FES). For this issue the President, founder and Chief Academic Coach of FES, Ibrahim Firat, made a special trip to California and visited the several prestigious universities in the area. Accompained by one of FES’s student and his parents, Firat assisted them in what to
look for in a college visit, what questions to ask, and how to rate each school. Now, you have a chance to see what the West Coast state has to offer just in case if you start to think about being a student outside of Texas. The first institution shown is University of San Diego (USD)*. Here you have pictures and information that might inspire you to take the next step.
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The University of San Diego was chartered in 1949 and is a Roman Catholic institution. At the present USD enrolls over 7,000 students and it is considered one of the main educational society committed to advancing academic excellence.
USD offers more than 60 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees and has around 2,000 employees.
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With one of the best athletic facilities on the West Coast, University of San Diego can offer a healthy lifestyle to its students. The service includes fitness center, weight room, softball complex, sports center pool, tennis courts, stadiums and much more.
USD is located on 180 acres overlooking the city of San Diego, Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
* The information from pages 1 to 3 is from USD and CA.gov websites
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“Saving money and applying for admissions earlier are very important. The Setting Up your Future high school student should start visiting the How to manage your financial worries colleges they want to pursue in the junior year. It can seem too early but it is not. At senior year there are so many things to think about”, By Ingrid Furtado Thomas says. In order to apply for financial aid a student must fill out the FAFSA (Free nce was the time when parents could Application for Federal Student Aid) on its send their kids to college without many financial website .“This application is used to apply for worries. Research has shown that the tuition has grants, work-study, and student increased every year in the USA loans. It is important for since the end of World War II. students to apply early in order But in the last 25 years, the result “ The high school to meet the priority deadline at of this growing payment is stark student should start the school in which the student according to report of the visiting the colleges they is applying”, she says. National Center for Public Policy want to pursue in the Thomas added that “At the and Higher Education: From University of Houston, for junior year” 1982 to 2007 the cost of Director of Financial Aid of University of instance, April 1 is our priority attending college has risen 439 Houston, Jessica Thomas deadline to receive priority percent, which means nearly grant funds. Each school may three times the rate of the cost of have a different deadline, so living. apply in February or early March is In comparison, according to the report, recommended. Also, every school has a median family income rose 147 percent. So, different level of grant funding, so what a what do you do in order to keep the kids in student receives at one school will be different college without losing comfort and steadiness? at another school.” The key answer for this is planning, as If eligible, students can receive grants, the associate Director of Financial Aid of work-study, or loans. University of Houston, Jessica Thomas explains.
O
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However, if a student can’t pay the She has no doubt about what is the tuition fully what kind of programs do the easiest way to get a scholarship. She universities have to assist in this payment? In powerfully suggests kids to apply as early as general, Thomas says, payment plans are possible. “Many deadlines are in October thru available at most universities. December, so paying close attention to “But it is ultimately up to the student to deadlines is the key. Apply for everything, the pay the tuition in full in order to continue in more scholarships a student applies for, the their academic program. Federal student loans higher the chance of actually receiving are the best way to pay for tuition differences in one. Work hard in high school to keep grades the case when grants do not up and participate in cover the cost of extracurricular activities”. tuition. Financial Aid is During a recession, economists “ Many deadlines are in intended to assist students already know that in time of crises October thru December, with their education costs.” education is the best investment, In addition, Thomas so paying close attention not stocks, lands, or houses. also encourages students to Knowing that, Thomas reinforces to deadlines is the key.” find other ways to get Director of Financial Aid of University of that since the recession student’s Houston, Jessica Thomas additional loans. “Beyond available funds to pay out of what the FAFSA application pocket decreases. “So, it is normal can offer (Direct Subsidized, to see an increase in financial aid Unsubsidized, or PLUS loans), then there are applications and more students tend to borrow private loans that the student and parent can where they may not have before”, she apply for thru the lender of their choice. These concludes. are credit based loans”. For those who have more than one child at the same institution there is another way to get loans. “Usually, the universities can calculate the expected family contribution and then, based on the results, the family is eligible for some grants or loan”, Thomas says.
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Plan it yourself ! What kind of payments plans exist: Short term loan = can cover tuition and on-campus living.
Installment plan = 3 payments throughout the semester
Emergency tuition plan (90 days)
How can the students apply for a scholarship? Or where they can get it? University scholarships Departmental scholarships External/private donor scholarships
at least half-time and must not exceed federal aggregate limits to be eligible. There are Federal Direct Subsidized and Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans available to students. No credit check is required; these loans a r e a w a r d e d b a s e d t h e F AF S A pplication. Students must complete an entrance exam and sign a master promissory note by logging into www.studentloans.gov. There are also Federal Direct PLUS loans that parents or graduate students can apply for, in addition to the subsidized or unsubsidized loans. Service: www.fafsa.ed.gov. Source: Director of Financial Aid of University of Houston, Jessica Thomas
What is.... GRANTS These are federal, state or institutional funds awarded based on need. Most of these funds are limited and are awarded on a first-come, firstserve basis. These funds are considered “free money” and do not need to be repaid. WORK-STUDY This is a need-based type of financial aid. Both Federal and Texas college work-study require that the student apply for a job on campus to earn the funds awarded. LOANS These funds are awarded based on need, grade level and academic career. You must be enrolled
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Resilience: a way to succeed By Roberto Noce
This month I chose the topic of resilience because of its relevance to Pivotal Changes' mission of coaching into action individuals for whom "the status quo is not an option". With this newsletter, I share some of the details and outcome of meetings with professionals who sought help in their career transition after a layoff. The meetings revolved around the topic of personal strengths in general and the subject of resilience in particular. When I broached the topic of resilience, the engineers in the group immediately recanted the definition of resilience, which focuses on the ability of a material to retain its original shape under different stresses. However, for the purpose of our discussions, we worked with a more personal definition: “an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change". With this as our guide, we agreed that our goal would be to improve resilience. I encouraged the group to contribute comments, success stories, and action items. Those who "displayed the greatest
resilience indicated a wide range of goals and interests. On the other hand, those who had challenge with resilience had primarily workrelated goals, and stated that they had greater difficulty adjusting to and/or dealing with problems as they arose. The former group shared that during challenging times of transition, they: Stay grounded by: Exercising regularly; Engaging in relaxing activities; Some maintaining an active spiritual life; Commit to meaningful, measurable and attainable goals Focus on problem-solving: Taking action steps from the start, even if an ultimate outcome cannot be envisioned; Keep a realistic sense of control; Engage with supportive people: Problems come and go. Roberto Noce is recognized as an accomplished and respected executive with nearly two decades of marketing and management experience spanning the globe. Born in Italy, Roberto holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M University, and a Master in Business Administration degree from the University of Houston. He has also completed extensive continuing education on coaching and executive development. He can be contact at roberto.noce@pivotalchanges.com
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Educational Headlines
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The following are headlines found in international, national, and local newspapers and magazines concerning education in today’s world.
4,100 Students Prove „Small Is Better‟ Rule Wrong s Private Tutoring Booms, by The New York Times University College London agrees to pay „living by BBC
One of Our Best Education Resources by U.S Department of Education
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