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Fall 2014
Google Programs For
Students Best Value Public and Private Colleges
Tips for APPLYING TO
COLLEGE Find a C o l lege t h at f it s you...
Financial AID
101
SCHOLARSHIPS
YOU MUST APPLY FOR! IN 2 COLLEGE MAGAZINE 1
FALL 2014
Making dream
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Your Education, Your Magazine
ms come true... Department of Education Established in 1867
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contents Fall 2014
FINANCIAL AID FOCUS Get money to pay for college!
WHAT IS FINANCIAL AID? [10] How and where to apply?
WHAT ARE GRANTS, LOANS AND SCHOLARSHIPS? [11] What is free and what you pay back?
FEDERAL STUDENT PIN# [11] Applying for a pin #
TYPES OF FUNDS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS [12] Are there funds for you?
ADMISSIONS ASSISTANCE
QUALIFING FOR FINANCIAL AID [14] Do you meet the requirments?
FINDING A COLLEGE THAT FITS YOU [29] Does a college reputation and location matter?
APPLYING TO COLLEGE [28] Applications, Essays and Exams
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WHAT IS NSLDS [15] Track your federal student loans and grants information
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SCHOLARSHIP CORNER GOOGLE SCHOLARSHIPS [16] Are you an artist, a computer wiz or somewhere in between? Google has many scholarhships for students like you
GOOGLE PROGRAMS [18] Intern at Google for a summer just like the movie “INTERNSHIP” with Vince Vaughn
SCHOLARSHIPS YOU MUST APPLY FOR [20-26] Big Companies, Bigger Scholarships. See who has them and apply now!
29
DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEGREES Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees [29]
TOP 1O BEST VALUED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLEGES IN AMERICA [31] See which university made the list
EDITOR’S NOTE During my first experience working at a university, I realized my purpose in life was to help students. Over fifteen years ago, as I sat in my office, it dawned on me that I did not have a job anymore, I had a career; a career of changing lives. I was both honored and humbled given the opportunity to add value to another person’s life. Since then, I held many executive level positions at various colleges and universities helping students and their families. My goal is to continue providing sound advice for students about college. - Michelle Boodoo IN 2 COLLEGE MAGAZINE 5
www.CollegeMoneyGroup.com 6 IN 2 COLLEGE MAGAZINE
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GET HELP PAYING FOR
COLLEGE
FAFSA is the application most colleges and universities use to determine eligibility for federal, state and college-funded financial aid. This includes grants, scholarships, student loans and work study programs. The application has to be prepared annually by current and prospective college students to determine their eligibility for Financial Aid. Submit a FREE Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov
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FALL 2014
WRITERS
MICHELLE BOODOO I enjoy working in a college enviornment. It is filled with energy, creativity, and the excitiment of thousands of students starting their journey into something amazing. This passion kept me working in the college enviornment for over 15 years and I love it!
VANESSA BONAMY
Editor-in-Chief - Michelle Boodoo Editor - Katherine Perez IT/Art Director - Santiago Perez Contributing Writer - Vanessa Bonamy
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One of my many passions in life is working with high school students. I currently counsel and tutor students in my community and the most amazing part of my work is seeing the sparkle in a student ‘s eye when they GET IT!
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FEDERAL STUDENT PIN # You need a PIN# to Complete a FAFSA
A Pin is a 4-digit number that is used each year to electronically apply for Federal Student Aid and access your information on the Federal Student Aid Web site. Your PIN is your electronic signature and is required to complete a FAFSA.
To Apply for a PIN Go to www.pin.ed.gov
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FINANCIAL AID FOCUS
WHAT IS FINANCIAL AID? FAFSA website www.fafsa.ed.gov
GET HELP PAYING FOR COLLEGE
Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) https://www.fafsa.ed.gov
Financial Aid is funding that is intended to help students and their families pay for college. This financial assistance covers educational expenses including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation at a college, university, or private school. There are several types of financial aid, including grants and scholarships, work study and loans. Financial aid packages may include a combination of the various types of aid. To apply for federal student aid, you need
01 PIN #
02 FAFSA
to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Completing and submitting the FAFSA is FREE and quick, and it gives you access to the largest source of financial aid to pay for college or career school. In addition, many states and colleges use your FAFSA data to determine your eligibility for state and school aid, and some private financial aid providers may use your FAFSA information to determine whether you qualify for their aid. Source: Department of Education
03 COLLEGE
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
You need to apply for a PIN#. The PIN is used to electronically sign the FAFSA. It serves as your electronic signature and should never be shared with anyone.
You need to complete the FAFSA (Free Applicaiton for Federal Student Aid) to determine how many types of funds you are eligible for.
Contact the college you applied to. The financial aid department at the college will determine the amount of financial aid you are eligible for.
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What are Grants, Scholarships and Loans?
GRANTS
SCHOLARSHIPS
LOANS
Most of the grant money that students receive is awarded through the U.S. government.
A scholarship is money for college that you do not repay. Scholarships are worth seeking.
The concept of a loan is simple: first you borrow money, and then you repay it.
A student grant is basically free money that is given to a student to help with college expenses. Grant awards range from a few hundred dollars to covering the entire cost of an education. Most of the grant money that students receive is awarded through the U.S. government.
A scholarship is a financial award given to a student to further his or her education on the basis of academic achievement and promise. Many scholarships are awarded based on merit, however, some also take into account financial need. Scholarships do not have to be repaid.
A student loan is designed to help pay for college tuition, books, and living expenses. These loans may differ from other types of loans in that the interest rate may be substantially lower and the repayment schedule may be deferred while the student is still in school.
FEDERAL STUDENT AID PIN # The PIN Application is for students and parents who want to apply for a Federal Student Aid PIN. Before you start the FAFSA, you need to apply for a PIN #. Your PIN # can be used each year to electronically apply for financial aid and to access your Federal Student Aid records online. If you receive a PIN #, you agree not to share it with anyone. Your PIN # serves as your electronic signature and provides access to your personal records, so you should
never give your PIN # to anyone, including commercial services that offer to help you complete your FAFSA. Be sure to keep your PIN # in a safe place. Source: Department of Education
“Life has no limitations, except the ones you make.� - Les Brown
PIN# website www.pin.ed.gov
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FINANCIAL AID FOCUS
TYPES OF FUNDS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS GRANTS Grants are free money that does not have to be repaid. Grants can be awarded from the federal government, your school, or a private organization. The U.S. Department of Education offers a variety of federal grants to students attending four-year colleges or universities, community colleges, and career schools such as the Federal Pell Grant and the Federal Supplement Educational Opportunity Grant.
SCHOLARSHIPS
FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN PROGRAMS The U.S. Department of Education has two federal student loan programs: Direct Loans and Perkins Loans. The Direct Loan Program consists of Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Plus Loans. The Perkins Loan Program is a school based loan program.
Subsidized Loans: Subsidized loans are available for eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need to help cover the costs at a college or career school.
Unsubsidized Loans: Unsubsidized loans are available for eligible undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. In this case, the student does not have to demonstrate financial need to be eligible for the loan.
Plus Loans: Scholarships are funds awarded to students based on academic or other achievements to help pay for education expenses. Scholarships do not have to be repaid. There are many of scholarships granted by different types of organizations, and they are not difficult to find. You might get a scholarship for having good grades, playing basketball, playing the cello or simply doing something you love. Do some research and start applying today! 12 IN 2 COLLEGE MAGAZINE
Plus loans are available to graduate students and parents of dependent undergraduate students in which the borrower is fully responsible. This is a credit based loan and the bank will evaluate your credit report.
Perkins Loans: Perkins loans are a school-based loan program for undergraduates and graduate students with exceptional financial need. Under this program, the school is the lender.
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VETERAN BENEFITS There are many education programs available to veterans, for example the Post-9-11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill. If you are eligible for benefits, your tuition, books and fees could be completely covered.
WORKSTUDY PROGRAM The Federal WorkStudy Program provides part-time jobs for students with financial needs, allowing them to earn money to help pay for college. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student’s course of study. Examples of Federal Work Study jobs are: working at a local library teaching kids how to read or working in the Financial Aid Department doing clerical duties.
The veteran’s educational benefits can be transferred to a dependent such as a spouse or a child. Children of a member of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001 may be eligible for Post-9-11 GI Bill benefits under the Marine Gunnery John David Fry Scholarship Program. For additional information go to www.va.gov
To be considered for Federal WorkStudy, be sure to indicate that you are interested in this program on your FAFSA. It is important to complete your FAFSA as soon as possible because funds for this program are limited. If you are eligible, your college will list the amount you can earn on your financial aid award letter. If you have been awarded Federal WorkStudy, you should receive information explaining how the program works. Different colleges may have different processes, so contact your Financial Aid Department if needed. To learn more about available Federal funds go to: www.studentaid.ed.gov
To learn more about Veteran Benefits go to: www.va.gov
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Qualifying for
FINANCIAL AID To qualify for financial aid you must meet the following requirments: 1. Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen 2. Have a valid Social Security number 3. Complete and sign a FAFSA 4. Be registered with Selective Service, if you are a male 5. Be enrolled or accepted into an eligible degree or certificate program 6. If currently enrolled, student must maintain satisfactory academic progress 7. Cannot be simultaneously enrolled in a postsecondary institution 8. Cannot be in default on a previous federal loan 9. Cannot have an over award of federal funds 10. Cannot have been convicted of a federal or state drug crime 11. Cannot be incarcerated at the time of disbursement
Some of these issues can be resolved. You can contact the following offices for assistance:
• The Department of Education at www.studentaid.ed.gov • Your Financial Aid Department • College Money Group at www.CollegeMoneyGroup.com
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NSLDS
National Student Loan Data System
Retrieve your loan information
v o g . d e . s d l s www.n The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) is the Department of Education’s central database for recording financial aid you receive. The NSLDS report is similar to a credit report; however, instead of car loans and credit cards, the NSLDS report lists student loans and grants awarded to you. With NSLDS, you can find out how many student loans you borrowed, the current balances and information about the lenders. The NSLDS system receives data from many agencies, including schools, banks and programs from the Department of Education. To log into the NSLDS, you will need your social security number, the first two letters of your last name, your date of birth and your Federal Student PIN #.
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google Scholarships At Google, they believe information should be accessible to everyone. Google education and scholarship programs inspires and help students become future leaders in computer and technology fields by breaking down the barriers that prevent them from entering these fields. Doodle 4 Google Scholarship
Google Lime Scholarship
Google invites students to create their own doodle based on the theme “If I Could Invent One Thing to Make the World a Better Place…” The winning doodle will be featured on the Google homepage for a day for millions to see, and the winner will receive a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 Google for Education technology grant for their school. Information is based on 2014 award year and may be subject to changes. For more information go to http:// www.google.com/doodle4google
As part of Google’s commitment, they’ve partnered with Lime Connect to help university students with disabilities work toward their academic goals in the field of computer science. Selected students will receive $10,000 USD (for those studying in the US) or $5,000 CAD (for those studying in Canada) for the school year and will be invited to attend the Google Scholars’ Retreat in the summer. Information is based on 2014-2015 award year and may be subject to changes. For more information go to https://www. google.com/edu/students/ the-google-lime-scholarship
Generation Google Scholarship The Generation Google Scholarship was established to help aspiring computer scientists excel in technology and become leaders in the field. Selected students will receive $10,000 USD (for those studying in the US) or $5,000 CAD (for those studying in Canada). As part of the scholarship, current high school seniors who are entering their first year of a university will be required to attend the Google Computer Science Summer Institute in the summer. Current undergraduate or graduate students will be invited to attend the Google Scholars’ Retreat in the summer. Information is based on 20142015 award year and may be subject to changes. For more information go to http://www.google.com/edu/students/ the-generation-google-scholarship 16 IN 2 COLLEGE MAGAZINE
Google SVA Scholarship As part of Google’s commitment to military veterans, Google has established the Google SVA Scholarship in partnership with Student Veterans of America. The scholarship provides assistance to student veterans who are pursuing university degrees in the field of computer science in the U.S. Selected students will receive $10,000 USD for the school year and will be invited to attend the Google Scholars’ Retreat in the summer. Information is based on 2014-2015 award year and may be subject to changes. For more information go to http://www.google.com/edu/ students/google-sva-scholarship
For detailed information on these scholarships go to: www.google.com/edu/programs
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$ $ “When LIFE gives you LEMONS +++++++++ Make GRAP E JUICE and watch the world wonder how you did it”
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PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS Are you looking to explore your passions and learn new ones by getting involved? Google has many programs for students to stretch their boundaries and discover new achievements. For information on all the programs and deadlines available at Google, go to: www.google.com/edu/programs
Google Code-In is a contest for pre-university students (e.g. high school and secondary school students ages 13-17) with the goal of encouraging young people to participate in open source. The Google Code-In contest continues to reach students from all around the globe; over the last four years there have been 1,575 students from 78 countries that completed tasks in the online contest. Information is based on 2014-2015 award year and may be subject to changes. For more information go to https://developers. google.com/open-source/gci/ Code-In
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FALL 2014 GOOGLE POLICY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM The Google Policy Fellowship Program was inspired by Google’s Summer of Code with a public policy twist. The Google Policy Fellowship Program offers undergraduate, graduate, and law students interested in internet and technology policy the opportunity to spend the summer contributing to the public dialogue on these issues and exploring future academic and professional interests.
Students will have the opportunity to work at public interest organizations at the forefront of debates on broadband and access policy, content regulation, copyright and creativity, consumer privacy, open government, government surveillance, data security, data innovation, free expression and more. For more information go to http://www.google.com/policyfellowship/
GOOGLE ONLINE
MARKETING CHALLENGE GOMC is a global competition that enables students to experience and create online marketing campaigns using Google AdWords and Google+ For more information go to http://studentcompetitions.com/competitions/google-online-marketing-challenge-2014
Maker Camp is a free online summer camp, that is open to everyone. Campers will gather on Google+ to tinker, build, create, and embark on epic virtual “field trips” with some of the world’s coolest makers. Last summer, more than a million campers came together to make everything from holograms and robots to banana pianos. They also ventured to exciting places like Pixar, Google[x], and NASA via live video Hangouts. The Maker Camp starts around July. Just follow MAKE on Google+ to get involved and for more information go to https:// www.googlesciencefair.com/en/participants/maker-camp Maker Camp
Google Summer of Code is a global program that offers student developers stipends to write code for various open source software projects. They work with many open source, free software, and technology-related groups to identify and fund projects over a three month period. Since 2005, the program has brought together nearly 6,000 successful student participants and over 3000 mentors from over 100 countries worldwide, all for the love of code. For more information go to www.google.com/edu/programs For information on all Google ‘s programs go to www.google.com/edu/programs
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Scholarships you must apply for
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$10,000
scho larsh ip is wa iting for y ou!
THE NORDSTROM SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM $10,000 scholarship can be yours to pay for tuition, books and fees. The 2015 application period opens January 30, 2015. Sign up for notification at https://nordstrom.scholarsapply.org
Requirements:
• Be a high school junior • Live and attend high school in one of the participating states designated by Nordstrom • Have participated in community or volunteer activities • Have and maintain a cumulative unweighted GPA of at least 2.7 (on a 4.0 scale) throughout your high school career • Plan to apply for financial assistance to attend college • Be eligible to attend a four-year college or university in the United States • If awarded, attend an accredited four-year college or university in the United States during all years of the scholarship • Not have been convicted of any crime IN 2 COLLEGE MAGAZINE 21
FALL 2014
The Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team FREE Mon e y $1,000 $1,500 Requirements: • Current high school (or home-schooled) seniors attending school in the United States • U.S. Citizens; U.S. Nationals; U.S. Permanent Residents; Refugees; Asylees; Cuban-Haitian Entrants; or Humanitarian Parolees • Anticipating completion of high school diploma at the time of application • Planning to pursue a degree at an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution • Carrying a minimum 3.00 GPA at the end of their junior year of high school • The application deadline is October 31 • For more information go to http://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org
s i e n i l d a e d n o i t a c i Appl ober 31. Oct For more information go to http:// www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org
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Good through graduation at any school of your choice! Requirements: • African American, American Indian/Alaska Native*, Asian & Pacific Islander American or Hispanic American • Citizen, national or legal permanent resident of the United States • Attained a cumulative high school GPA of 3.3 on an unweighted 4.0 scale or have earned a GED • Enroll for the first time at a U.S. located, accredited college or university • Demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular or other activities • Meet the Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria • Completed and submitted all three required forms: the student’s application, an evaluation of the student’s academic record and an evaluation of the student’s community service and leadership activities by the deadline The 2015 GMS Online Application will be available August 1, 2014. Go to http://www.gmsp.org/ for more information.
For more information Go to http://www.gmsp.org
IN 2 COLLEGE MAGAZINE 23
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IN 2 COLLEGE MAGAZINE 25
SCHOLARSHIPS
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You can win $30,000 College Scholarship $50,000 Education Technology Grant for your school
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Financial Aid Experts
We are a full service Financial Aid consulting company. We can help your school save time, reduce errors, streamline processes and increase your bottom-line. For more information email us at info@CollegeMoneyGroup.com
College Money Group
Helping Schools
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ADMISSIONS
Applying to College . . the next step. Applying to college takes thought, effort and organization and it does not begin or end with the college application. Searching and selecting the best college for you also involves obtaining letters of recommendations, writing essays, knowing when to apply, doing extracurricular activities, and preparing for interviews with admissions officials. Along with your college application, the main focus should be the three areas listed below. 1. Letters of Recommendation: When faced with several qualified applicants, admissions officers will look to these letters for information that sets you apart. 2. Essays: Students are asked to write about different topics, such as describing a significant experience or writing about someone they admire. 3. Extracurricular Activities: Students are asked about non-academic activities, including clubs, sports, community service and jobs. Grades and outside activities definitely make a difference in whether you get accepted to a particular school.
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FALL 2014 WHAT IS AN ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE An associate degree is an undergraduate degree awarded by a college or university upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years. When you have your associate degree, it typically means you have completed your freshman and sophomore years of college.
WHAT IS A BACHELOR’S DEGREE A bachelor’s degree is a four-year degree and it is the highest goal of undergraduate education. It typically takes four years of full-time study to earn a bachelor’s degree. During the four years, you will complete around 120 semester credits or about 40 college courses.
FINDING A COLLEGE THAT FITS YOU
WHAT IS A MASTER’S DEGREE A master’s degree is the first level of graduate study. To apply for a master’s degree you must already hold a bachelor’s degree. A master’s degree typically requires a year and one-half to two years of full-time study.
WHAT IS A PHD DEGREE A Doctor of Philosophy degree, abbreviated Ph.D., is the highest academic degree anyone can earn. The program requires extended study and intense intellectual effort and a person who holds a Ph.D. degree is address with the title ``Doctor’’.
ollege is where you will gain skills to use the rest C of your life; you meet new people, obtain new opportunities and explore new interests. Before randomly picking a college, there are three main areas to research before applying;
Academic Reputation
Does the college have the programs or major you want? Does the school have rigorous academics standings? What’s the overall academic atmosphere; is it a challenge or is it a “fun” school?
Physical Setting
Is the campus big or small, old or new? You will be there for the next four years, so finding a college with your preference is important!
Social/Cultural Environment
Is the college located in a rural area or in the city? Is it conservative or liberal? Is it religious? Will you be comfortable there? IN 2 COLLEGE MAGAZINE 29
Top 10 Best Value Public and Private Colleges in the US
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FALL 2014
P
rinceton Review has chosen the Best Value Colleges for 2014 based on extensive research from surveys and other types of data collected from the fall of 2012 through the fall of 2013. The information analyzed covered academics, costs and financial aid. Here are the lists of the Top 10 Public and Private Colleges in the United States. Source: http://www.princetonreview. com/best-value-colleges
http://www.princetonreview.com/best-value-colleges
Top 10 Public Colleges 1. The University of North Carolina at Chapel 2. New College of Florida 3. University of Virginia 4. North Carolina State University 5. University of Michigan Ann Arbor 6. University of California LA 7. University of Florida 8. College of William and Mary 9. Truman State University 10. State University of New York at Binghamton (Binghamton University)
Top 10 Private Colleges 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Williams College Harvard College Swarthmore College Yale University Princeton University The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 7. Vassar College 8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 9. Amherst College 10. Pomona College
IN 2 COLLEGE MAGAZINE 31
Financial Aid Experts
We are a full service Financial Aid consulting company. We can help you with your Financial Aid process, identify how much federal grants and loans you are eligible for and compare the cost for multiple schools. For more information email us at info@CollegeMoneyGroup.com
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Helping Students
www.CollegeMoneyGroup.com