Surviving my First Year After High School Life After High School Transition Worksheet
Dr. Chrishon Blackwell
-Studying Abroad from George Mason University
"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change."
- Charles Darwin
Dr. Chrishon has spent the past 16 years in international education with a special focus on developing global strategies that support research, teaching, and engagement across faculty, staff, and students.
A CD account allows you to save money at a set interest rate, for a specific amount of time While a CD is also designed for saving, it’s different than a savings account
With a CD you don’t have access to the money you’re saving throughout the life of the certificate Because of this, the interest that accrues on a CD is usually higher than a savings account
A traditional IRA is tax deductible and allows deposits of up to $4k per year (or more if you’re over 50 years old) You contribute to this account through your yearly income With a Roth IRA, the taxes are deducted when the funds are deposited, so you don’t owe taxes when you withdraw your funds However, there are certain requirements and contribution limits for both types, so talk to your employer or provider to get more information
It’s all in the name A savings account is designed to save you money Money you put into a savings account will actually grow over time by accruing interest Interest is, essentially, the money you charge the bank for letting them store your money This value is expressed in a percentage called the interest rate If you put $100 in a savings account that pays an interest rate of 1%, at the end of the year, you’re savings account would have $101 You earned interest!
Check out the application requirements for the schools you’ll apply to Make a list of everything you need, from the application itself to essays, supplements, test scores, and recommendation letters Don’t let pieces of your application slip through the cracks!
2.) REVIEW BEFORE STARTING 3.) TAKE YOUR TIME
Get a feel for each section of the application so that you know what information you’ll need to be ready to provide
Silly mistakes reflect poorly on you as an applicant, so don’t rush through seemingly simple application components You don’t want to be the person who misspells their own name!
4.) DO YOUR WRITING IN ADVANCE
Don’t try to write things in the Common App platform. It doesn’t have spellcheck and you also risk losing your work if a glitch happens It’s also harder to see the bigger picture when each piece of writing is in a different part of the application.
The Common App allows you to view your entire application as a PDF Print it out and carefully review each and every field. Look out for typos, formatting issues in the essay, cut-off descriptions in activities, or anything else that doesn’t seem right
PRINT THE PDF 6.) SUBMIT AHEAD OF THE DEADLINE
Don’t get caught off-guard by possible technical problems submit your applications several days ahead of deadlines so that you have time to troubleshoot any last-minute problems.
DAY 2
LISTO RAPIDO
JULY 16, 2024
FAFSA
Application required by all schools in awarding federal student aid to those who qualify. The FAFSA form helps you get access to get:
Federal grants
Federal student loans
Federal work-study
State loans
State grants and scholarships
Filling out the FAFSA form is the first step to getting financial aid.
Grants and scholarships from other organizations
To make it easier, there are two ways designed to help you complete your FAFSA form:
1. Download the myStudentAid app (available on iOS and Android) and conveniently fill it out on a mobile device
2. Or visit fafsa.gov to complete the FAFSA form on your mobile device or laptop
FAFSA AND SCHOLARSHIPS
WORK - STUDY
The Federal Work-Study Program emphasizes employment in civic education and work related to your course of study whenever possible.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Some scholarships for college are merit-based. Merit scholarships might be awarded based on academic achievement or on a combination of academics and a special talent, trait, or interest. Other scholarships are based on financial need.
WHAT IS FAFSA? GRANTS LOANS
The federal government provides grants for students attending college or career school Most types of grants, unlike loans, are sources of financial aid that generally do not have to be repaid.
The primary purpose of the FAFSA is to determine how much financial aid a student qualifies for, including both need-based and non-needbased aid
A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest. Student loans can come from the federal government, from private sources such as a bank or financial institution, or from other organizations Federal student loans usually have more benefits than private loans
Acad colleges and graduate schools undergraduate majors
master's and doctoral majors
student-factuly ratio
ranked school in the nation
14 75 230 12:1 67th
Graduation rate is 82% 10,800 undergraduates and 14,100 graduate students
Admissions
Application deadline is Jan. 5 GW is test-optional meaning you can choose to submit your SAT scores
Average high school GPA of admitted students is 3.86
Location: Washington, DC
Faculty: 11,500
Enrollment: 26,000+
In-state and out-of-state
$67,420 Room and Board
Institution: Private Tuition
$20,500
DAY 3
LISTO RAPIDO
JULY 17, 2024
Christine Butler
-Associate Director
GW University Admissions lexicon
Fun Facts
B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Virginia and an M.Ed. in Higher Education from the University of Vermont.
Has lived in DC for over 20 years
Raised four children in London and here in the District.
“I began my career in higher education as a Student Affairs professional, developing community in residence halls; I have also worked in new student orientation, alumni relations and fundraising/development.”
UNDERSTANDING ADMISSIONS TIMELINE
1.). ANALYZE THE ACADEMICS
First, do you know what you want to study?
Lots of students enter college without a declared major What’s more important is coming up with a few ideas and choosing a school that has a good representation of your interests, making it easier for you to decide later If you’re truly unsure, you should avoid small, specialized colleges that way you won’t limit your future decisions to a small selection of programs.
3). MAKE A LIST
Next, begin to look at specific colleges
There are plenty of guidebooks and online resources (check out insidecollegecom to start!).
Be open to schools you haven’t heard of before. Use your parents, guidance counselor, and friends as a sounding board for your ideas, and look into any of their suggestions.
They are the ones who know you best!
2). EXPLORE LOCATIONS
Second, do you know where you want to study? For some students, it’s important to stay close to home or to get as far away as possible!
Perhaps you are the adventurous type, interested in finding the perfect school, regardless of location Or is there a specific city you love?
Large cities like New York, Chicago, and Boston boast dozens of schools to choose from, but settling on a general area will instantly narrow down your options.
4). VISIT CAMPUSES
Finally, the time has come to embark on the illustrious campus visit.
Make a real effort to see every school of interest to you, up close and personal Often, you’ll know instinctively how you feel about a campus within moments of setting foot on the quad. If you hate it, note the things that really turn you off you’ll know what to look for at the next school
Take a guided tour and ask questions! You have the opportunity to get first-hand commentary, and it would be a shame to waste it.
LINKS TO RESOURCES
FINANCIAL LITERACY 101
4.) TRACK YOUR ACCOUNTS
5.) MAKE YOUR BANK YOUR PARTNER 1.) BE PROACTIVE 3.) BUDGET
The first step to understanding anything is to start learning. Begin by educating yourself about your finances and mapping out your financial situation. Seeking advice from professionals at your local bank can provide valuable tools and services to help you take proactive steps.
2.) KNOW THE PLAYING FIELD
Finances or how they impact you don’t always seem like the most exciting topic; just as often, finances can be intimidating or uncomfortable to talk about. Luckily, there are plenty of apps, blogs and online resources you can look to for a sense of awareness about the economy and find approachable tips on managing your own funds.
Budget! BUDGET! Budgeting is crucial to maximizing your money and helps you distinguish between wants and needs. With needs budgeted and out of the way, you’re left with an understanding of exactly how much you have to spend on things you want. Equally important, you realize how much you must work or save for these things.
It’s essential to check your accounts and bank statements often and diligently; a budget only works if the funds are really there.
But don’t worry—this previously tedious task is made simple thanks to new technology available to you as a customer
You don’t have to feel like you’re on your own in working through your financial literacy efforts: make your bank your partner. If you’re an account holder, then you already have access to some great tools and resources like online and mobile banking.
LINKTORESOURCES
Five Finance Tips for College Students
COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAYS
1.) START WITH A HOOK
2.) TELL A TRUE STORY
3.) ANSWER THE QUESTION FULLY
4.) HEED THE WORK COUNT
5.) PROOFREAD AND SHARE
Draw in the reader with strong and memorable words from the very first sentence.
Share personal details and write in the form of a story. Endear yourself to the reader.
Is the prompt a one or two part question? Address all portions and give complete answers.
Do no exceed the specified word count Use all available space to impress the judges.
Carefully read over the essay, then find two pairs of trusted eyes to proofread and critique.
LINKSTORESOURCES
College
Brainstorming Worksheet
How To
Manage Your Time
1.) ASESS YOUR CURRENT SITUATION
Over the next seven days, track and analyze how you spend your time. Identify where most of your time goes and pinpoint tasks that could be better used elsewhere.
Mastering Time Management for College Student Time Management Strategies and Study Tips
The 8 Hour Time Management Schedule
2.) ORGANIZE YOUR INBOX
Responding to emails immediately can disrupt your workflow. Schedule a specific time each day to handle emails, and organize your inbox using folders and labels for easier management.
3.) LEARN TO SAY NO
Managing expectations and understanding your own limits can prevent overloading. Learning to say 'no' when needed and mastering delegation can greatly boost your productivity.
4.) PLAN AHEAD FOR TOMORROW
Spend the last ten minutes of your day getting ready for tomorrow. Make your todo list, plan important meetings, and reflect on what you accomplished during the day.
- White house internship director
Accomplishments
Has over a decade of experience with HR and DEI
Worked with MTV to make mental health digital content to help uplift people
Founded Sazón y Corazón Productions
Mission
Creating Safe places for historically marginalized people to authentically themselves and heal.
Ayanna Kelly
LISTO RAPIDO
JULY 18, 2023
UNIVERSITY FIELD TRIP
"ALWAYS BELIEVE THAT THE IMPOSSIBLE IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE."
SELENA QUINTANILLA-PEREZ
Academics colleges and graduate schools
undergraduate majors
master's and doctoral majors
student-factuly ratio
ranked school in the nation
11 31 10 2:1 124th
Graduation rate is 66% 1,100 undergraduates and 900 graduate students
Admissions
Application deadline is Jan. 15 Goucher is test-optional meaning you can choose to submit your SAT scores
Average high school GPA of admitted students is 3.33
Location: Baltimore, MD
Faculty: 200
Enrollment: 2,000+
Institution: Private Tuition In-state and out-of-state
$53,100 Room and Board
$17,190
colleges and graduate schools
undergraduate majors
master's and doctoral majors
student-factuly ratio
ranked school in the nation
25 45 21 11:1 60th
Location: Baltimore, MD
Faculty: 330
Enrollment: 28,000+
Institution: Private
Graduation rate is 83% 3,977 undergraduates and 1,261 graduate students Admissions
Application deadline is Jan. 15 Loyola is test-optional meaning you can choose to submit your SAT scores
Average high school GPA of admitted students is 3.72
Capitol Hill Fun Facts
The statue of freedom is facing away from the national mall because it serves as an entrance to the monuments
Capitol hill is the home of the house of representatives, Senate, and the Supreme court
Began building in 1793 and “completed” several times. First in 1826, then revised in 2003
The estimated cost of the Capitol is $133 million
The statue of freedom is facing away from the national mall because it serves as an entrance to the monuments
SCHOLARSHIPS
"IT ALWAYS SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE, UNTIL IT'S DONE"
NELSON MANDELA
SCHOLARSHIPS
SCHOLARSHIPS IN THE DMV
LINK TO RESOURCES DCTAG SCHEV
FASTWEB
COLLEGENET
COLLEGE BOARD
SCHOLARSHIPS THAT DON'T REQUIRE PROOF OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP
scholarship tracking
DATE
Need-Blind private Colleges
NAME LOCATION
Amherst College Amherst, Massachusetts
Bates College Lewiston, Maine
Bowdoin College Brunswick, Maine
Brown University Providence, Rhode Island
Bryn Mawr College* Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Claremont McKenna College Claremont, California
Cornell University Ithaca, New York
Dartmouth College Hanover, New Hampshire
Duke University Durham, North Carolina
Emory University Atlanta, Georgia
Georgetown University Washington, DC
Grinnell College Grinnell, Iowa
Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts
Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Massachusetts
*Women's college; not fully need-blind but considers undocumented applicants as domestic and has multiple scholarships
Need-Blind Private Colleges
NAME LOCATION
Middlebury College Middlebury, Vermont
Lycoming College Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois
Pomona College Claremont, California
Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey
Rice University Houston, Texas
Stanford University Stanford, California
Swarthmore College Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Tufts University Medford, Massachusetts
University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana
University of Pennsylvania* Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
University of Southern California Los Angeles, California
