Thequad spring 2015 final

2015

“Education means emancipation. It means light and liberty. It means the uplifting of the soul of man into the glorious light of truth, the light by which men can only be made free.�

- Frederick Douglass,

Blessings of Liberty and Education.

Speech. 1894

Inside:

Tips on Enrollment, Money and College Life!

Spring 2015

Table of Contents P4: Starting the Conversation P6: Young African- America males benefit from Madonna Universtity Program P7: Fianacial Aid Deadlines for 2015-2016

The Road to Success Begins With Preparation

By Hiram E. Jackson

P8: Prepare for Sucess and Start Planning College (cont. on page 10) P11: Your Counselor Can Help You Succeed

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here is growing evidence that Americans not only feel that higher education and advanced technical training is important, but that it is a prerequisite for success in today’s economy.

That’s why the Michigan Chronicle is proud to publish The QUAD, our ultimate insider’s guide to higher education.

We hope that readers will use The QUAD as a resource to crack the code on campus culture, curriculum and careers and to gain instant access to our educational experts.

Today’s hyper-competitive job market requires preparation and research.

The QUAD will help readers predict the skills and knowledge that will be in demand in the labor market over the next decade.

High growth careers in “hard-skilled” trade areas for electricians, plumbers and engineering technology robotics is up and candidates with advanced degrees in science, mathematics, finance and technology continue to remain in high demand.

Get connected. Grand Valley connects you to career-relevant programs, real-world research opportunities, outstanding campus facilities, and like-minded learners from across the state and around the world. You benefit from dedicated professors giving

Success is just steps away. Get a head start in The QUAD.

personalized instruction, as well as from hands-on experience in a strong West Michigan economy.

gvsu.edu/find Managing Editor: Tatiana S. Jackson Strategic Partners: U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Treasury Graphic Designer: Juan Sifuentes

2 • The Quad • Spring | 2015

The Advantages of Having a Counselor

Graduating the best and the brightest for our community.

LOW-COST TUITION OCC’s tuition is the lowest of all public Michigan colleges and universities.  College District Residents .......................................... $82.00/credit hr.  Non-Residents of College District ........................... $154.00/credit hr.

FINANCIAL AID Last year, over $80 million was provided to OCC students through federal, state, private and institutional awards.

TRANSFERABILITY OCC transfers more students to four-year schools than any community college in the state.

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES AND CONVENIENT LOCATIONS OCC offers day, night, weekend, traditional, short-term and online courses. With five campuses located in Auburn Hills, Farmington Hills, Royal Oak, Southfield and Waterford, OCC is conveniently located no matter where you are.

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our counselor is the one who sends important parts of your application, such as your high school transcript, to colleges. And that’s not the only role your counselor plays in the college application process. He or she can help you do all of the following things.

Find Colleges Your counselor can help you create a list of colleges to research that is based on your interests and on the characteristics of each college. He or she can also help you narrow down that list later on.

Understand Requirements Colleges have different application requirements. Most require applicants to submit an essay. Many ask applicants to send scores from an admission test, such as the SAT or the ACT. Your counselor can explain the requirements of each college and help you register for admission tests, if necessary.

Send Your Transcript Your counselor is responsible for sending your high school transcript to the colleges you apply to. Some college applications come with transcript request forms for you to give to your counselor, or you may have to ask your counselor to send your transcripts.

Get Recommendations Some colleges specifically ask for a recommendation letter from a high school counselor. Even if the college doesn’t speci-

fy, consider asking your counselor for a letter of recommendation, as long as he or she knows you well enough to speak about your strengths and character.

Make the Most of Your Time with Your Counselor College application season is an especially busy time for high school counselors.

You can help your counselor help you by staying on top of the application process.

Following is how o do that.

Be early.

If you start doing tasks — researching colleges, collecting ideas for application essays, making requests for recommendation letters — well ahead of time, you’ll make it easier for your counselor to give you timely answers when you need help.

www.oaklandcc.edu/apply

Go GREAT. ACADEMIC QUALITY

in the Great Lakes Bay Region

svsu.edu/visit

Be organized.

Figure out a system for keeping track of application components and deadlines.

Be responsible.

Your counselor can help in many ways, but this is your project and your responsibility. It’s up to you to ask your counselor for the help you need. Schedule appointments when you need to talk to him or her.

Be prepared. When you meet with your counselor, have a list of questions ready and know what you want to discuss.

Courtesy of bigfuture.collegeboard.org.

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Spring | 2015 •

The Quad • 3

Starting the Conversation

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our school counselor is one of your best resources as you plan for college. He or she has information about admission tests, college preparation, and your education and career options. Following are basic questions.

1) What courses do I need to take to be ready for college?

2) How should I plan my schedule so I’ll complete them?

3) Which elective courses do you recommend?

4) Which AP courses should I consider taking?

5) When is the PSAT/NMSQT going to be given?

6) How should I study for the SAT, and is it given at this high school or do I need to go somewhere nearby?

7) Do you have any college planning sessions scheduled?

14) Can you put me in touch with recent grads who are going to the colleges on my wish list?

15) Do you have any information to help me start exploring careers?

16) If my colleges need a recommendation from you, how can I help you know me better, so it can be more personal?

17) Are there any special scholarships or awards that I should know about now, so I can work toward them?

18) Can I see my transcript as it stands now, to see if everything is as I think it should be?

19) What forms do I use to apply for financial aid and where I can find them online?

20) How does our school compare to others, in terms of test scores and reputation?

Reality Check 8) Do you have college handbooks or other Your school counselor may be very accesguides that I can browse or borrow? sible or may be juggling hundreds of students 9) What activities can I do at home and and barely knows your name, so remember that over the summer to get ready for college? the person who has the biggest stake in your academics is you. It’s up to you to stay on top 10) What kinds of grades do different of opportunities and deadlines so you can take colleges require? control of your future.

11) Are there any college fairs at this school, or nearby?

Courtesy of bigfuture.collegeboard.org.

12) What colleges do other kids from our school go to?

13) What are the requirements or standards for the honor society?

4 • The Quad • Spring | 2015

Your Day. Your Future.

Explore academic programs and student services at Central Michigan University during our 2015 College Days.

Visit campus on one or more of these days: July 10: College of Health Professions

July 24: College of Education & Human Services

July 17: College of Business Administration

July 24: College of Humanities & Social & Behavioral Sciences

July 17: College of Communication & Fine Arts

July 31: Science, Technology, Engineering & Math

register today!

Online at: admissions.cmich.edu/collegedays Call 989-774-3076 For ADA accommodations, call 989-774-3076 at least one week in advance. CMU, an AA/EO institution, provides equal opportunity to all persons, including minorities, females, veterans and individuals with disabilities (see cmich.edu/ocrie). Produced by CMU University Communications UComm 9260 (2/15)

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MU Testimonial

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y name is Da’Chelle Burnett and I am Currently, I am a freshman at Western Michithe second oldest of five children. I am gan University majoring in social work and have the first to graduate from high school as the pleasure of working as a receptionist at the well as the first in my family to attend college.

School of Social Work on campus.

While my main goal is to have a successful I plan to double minor in psychology and career, I want to help the youth and others who criminal justice. I am interested in criminal jusare in need of help emotionally and/or financially. tice because I plan to work with sex offenders, juvenile delinquents and in other related areas of In 2012, I volunteered with a local organizathe court system. tion known as Good Jobs Now. It is comprised of people who are against local economical Psychology interests me because it is the struggles and other issues. My other volunteer study of the mind and behavior and I feel this will experiences include working with SEIU (Service Da’Chelle Burnett give me specific explanations regarding the way Employees International Union) which supports the brain functions and better understand behavhome health care and janitorial service. I also worked with the ioral reasoning.

Focus: HOPE/Comcast Digital Connectors I chose to attend Western Michigan University because afProgram in 2013 where I earned a certificate in computer ter conducting research, I found that it offers one of the best skills, financial literacy and social skills. social work programs. I want to work with mentally, emotionDuring my junior year in high school, I scored the highest ally and or financially unstable people and people who are on the writing portion of the ACT and graduated from Allen facing issues in general.

Academy High School with a 3.3 GPA in 2014.

I want to become one of the most successful mental health

professionals in the nation and someday hope to start my own practice. I want to show everyone (especially young people) that someone from an urban area can be successful, no matter what their family’s financial staus is or what others may think of them.

I want people to see that not all young people are disrespectful or immoral. We can achieve despite the odds that may be stacked against us. I want our society as a whole to make a change and to understand that change begins with us. I want to make a difference.

I saw a quote on a social network site that stated, “If you disagree with the system, then become the system, become involved in politics, become a judge, lawyer, police officer (or something else).”

I am working to become the person I know I need to be to make changes in my community. My first step was enrolling in one of the best colleges in the state, Western Michigan University.

wmich.edu/goWest Download the free Layar App Scan this page for interactive content

PeoPle come here because they’re looking for something. What they find is a challenge—something unexpected— that opens up new frontiers. Go West.

Discover. Explore. This is one of America’s great universities. A lot of people who have become successful—skilled, happy, wealthy and influential—started by heading West.

Western Michigan University.

GO WEST.

It’s your turn to grab the reins.

Spring | 2015 •

The Quad • 5

Young African-American males benefit from Madonna University program

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he Bridging Lost Gaps Program (BLG) provides experiences that prepare young African-American males from Detroit for college and life after graduation. At Madonna University, students accepted into the BLG program are offered opportunities to develop leadership skills and career goals. With encouragement from mentors and through community service activities, students are challenged to grow intellectually, spiritually and personally. The program offers many benefits and mentoring opportunities.

BLG benefits include: •community support network (academic and social) •access to university student resources •career development opportunities •Summer Bridge Program (July –August) •mentoring – peer and professional •financial aid resources •sense of belonging The Need Too many African-American males aged 15-24 are either unemployed, incarcerated or have been killed. BLG was created to save these young men from negative outcomes and provide them a bright future. Each year, Madonna University accepts 20 to 25 students to participate in the BLG program. The program achieved a 100 percent retention rate in its first two years, and multiple students made the dean’s list for their academic success in the classroom.

Mentoring BLG students enjoy a safe, learning-centered college community that contributes to their reaching their full potential. A support network of faculty, staff and students provides encouragement and mentoring for each student throughout their experience at Madonna University.

Connections Through partnerships with local and national companies, organizations and governmental groups, this unique program

6 • The Quad • Spring | 2015

offers meaningful opportunities to learn from industry and community leaders. Each student will complete an internship and can choose to be employed on campus.

BLG Student Expectations Students who are accepted into the BLG program can look forward to the following: • Weekly meeting • Access to tutoring and academic support •Time for integrated prayer and reflection •Taking part in service-learning and community projects • Attending university events The McGregor Fund awarded a grant of $150,000 for Madonna University to further develop and expand its Bridging Lost Gaps Initiative. The initiative is designed to equip African-American male students from Detroit with the skills, knowledge, motivation and dispositions needed to complete a university degree and enter the career field of their choice.

The project builds on the success of a pilot program begun during the 2011-2012 academic year to recruit, enroll and retain African-American male freshmen. The pilot is a partnership with Real Life 101 which provides mentoring through the four years of college and focuses on career planning and preparedness, internships and introductions to professionals in the students’ fields of interest.

During the first two years of the pilot, Madonna has offered students a comprehensive support system comprised of mentoring by faculty, academic and personal support services, career counseling with senior faculty and peer support.

With support from the McGregor Fund, Madonna will expand the pilot project, in terms of both the number of participants and the breadth of activities offered.

For each of the coming two academic years, Madonna will recruit 25 African-American male freshmen for the project and incorporate three new program elements.

• A new recruiting effort will target students at 10 Detroit Public Schools. Presentations will be made to students

and their parents followed by campus visits.

•In addition, a series of five college readiness sessions will be offered to prospective students on Saturdays in the second half of their senior year of high school.

The most substantial new element of the project will be a Summer Vestibule Program for the 25 selected students prior to the fall of their freshman year. The eight-week residential program will combine six hours per day of classes and four hours per week in a paid job on campus. The project will be coordinated by Bryant George, director of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs.

Bryant George founded this program at the age of 23, due to being the first in his family to attend and graduate college.

“My mother gave birth to me at the age of 17 and my father struggled off and on with an addiction to a drug,” he said.

“I was born and raised in the inner city of Detroit and many of my childhood peers are now incarcerated, deceased, and/or stuck in life,” George added.

George didn’t have many positive role models growing up and he created a project that is about unifying, inspiring and acting to make Detroit and the world better. The leading cause of death for African-American males between the ages of 14-34 is homicide, killed by other African-American males.

Black male students earn their four-year degree within six years throughout the four-year public universities and colleges in the state of Michigan at a rate of only 32.6 percent.

Failure is rampant for the African-American male. Eighty-one percent of low-income Black male students in Michigan are not reading proficiently by the 4th grade. Many Black male students don’t have the proper support to help ease their transition from high school into college or university. George says he carried a planner during each of his undergraduate years to document ways to be successful as a student. He wants all of the young men who come thru this program to be successful.

The following program (BLG) will illustrate the expectations that are set for students; the support that is offered so they can meet those expectations; the consistent feedback that every student is given; and the engagement opportunities that our students take part in.

Due to this structure, the BLG program currently carries a 78 percent student retention rate and has been recognized with awards on a local and national level. The program has saved the lives of 56 African-American males from incarceration, early death and opportunities to do harm.

Students within the BLG program are provided with a $24,000 scholarship ($6,000 per year, up to four years) and a residence hall room waiver. Each student will have two mentors on campus to help navigate life after high school. Many of the students took part in a Saturday Leadership Program during the month of April 2014 and have completed a Seven–Week Summer Bridge Program from July to August 2014.

For more information, contact the Bridging Lost Gaps Office at (734) 432-5672 or blgeorge@madonna.edu.

Financial Aid Deadlines for 2015-2016 Federal Deadline: Online applications must be submitted by midnight Central Time, June 30, 2016.

Any corrections or updates must be submitted by midnight Central Time, September 17, 2016.

State Deadline: Michigan - March 1, 2015 by midnight, Central Time.

College Deadline: Check with the college(s) you are interested in attending. You may also want to ask your college about its definition of an application deadline - whether it is the date the college receives your FAFSA, or the date your FAFSA is processed.

WHERE SMALL CLASSES OFFER

BIG OPPORTUNITIES Pursue any of 100 career-focused majors Thrive in small classes Pick the brains of expert professors Apply for generous scholarships and financial aid Compete on, or cheer for, 11 men’s and women’s teams

Courtesy of fafsa.ed.gov/deadlines Estimate Your Eligibility For Federal Student Aid Need to know how much financial aid you qualify for? Check out FAFSA4caster! A brand new tool provided by Federal Student Aid at www.fafsa.edu.gov FAFSA4caster will help you understand your options for paying for college.

Provide some basic information and it will estimate your eligibility for federal student aid.

Your estimate will be shown in the “College Cost Worksheet” where you can also provide estimated amounts of other student aid and savings that can go towards your college education.

Get started now! Visit www.fafsa.edu.gov for more information.

madonna.edu/visit

734-432-5339 • admissions@madonna.edu Schedule a visit • Apply online We know you by name at the M with the flame!

Spring | 2015 •

The Quad • 7

Prepare for Success and Start Planning for College

9th Grade • Take challenging classes in core academic subjects. Most colleges require four years of English, at least three years of social studies (history, civics, geography, economics, etc.), three years of mathematics, and three years of science, and many require two years of a foreign language.

Round out your course load with classes in computer science and the arts.

• Work with one of your parents to estimate your financial aid using FAFSA4caster and be sure to save for college.

• Get involved in school- or community-based activities that interest you or let you explore career interests. Consider working, volunteering, and/or participating in academic enrichment programs, summer workshops, and camps with specialty focuses such as music, arts, or science.

Remember—it’s quality (not quantity) that counts.

• Ask your guidance counselor or teachers what Advanced Placement courses are available, whether you are eligible, and how to enroll in them.

• Use the U.S. Department of Labor’s career search tool at

al Outlook Handbook. Or, for a fun interactive tool, try the U.S. Department of Labor’s career search.

10th Grade •Meet with your school counselor or mentor to discuss colleges and their requirements.

•Consider taking a practice Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) or the PLAN exam.

• Plan to use your summer wisely: Work, volunteer, or take a summer course (away or at a local college).

• Go to career information events to get a more detailed look at career options.

• Research majors that might be a good fit with your interests and goals based on your results from the U.S. Department of Labor’s career search at www.mynextmove.org.

Go to college fairs and college-preparation presentations by college representatives.

www.mynextmove.org, to research your career options.

11th Grade All Year Explore careers and their earning potential in the Occupation-

Fall Take the Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/ NMSQT). You must take the test in 11th grade to qualify for scholarships and programs associated with the National Merit Scholarship Program.

See Preparing for Success, Page 10

Live Where You Learn

Not University owned or operated.

• Top Ranked Michigan Public University • 100 degree programs • Over 700 co-op and internship placements • 180 student organizations 8 • The Quad • Spring | 2015

37 million in scholarship offers

•

$

•

Housing option

for UM-Dearborn students

• For priority scholarship consideration, apply by December 15 Apply online! $30 application fee is waived.

Spring Open House April 11 • Noon - 3:30pm

umdearborn.edu

University of Michigan-Dearborn 4901 Evergreen Road, Dearborn, MI 48128-2406 313-593-5100

Lawrence Tech’s new Detroit Center for Design + Technology at the corner of Willis and Woodward will increase the university’s involvement in the city.

LTU, a Learning Institution with Much to Offer Possible is everything

The earning power of a Lawrence Technological University bachelor’s degree ranks among the top 100 of all U.S. universities and is number one in southeastern Michigan. Lawrence Tech provides a rigorous, high-quality education – an education that pays off. Some 80 percent of students are employed by their graduation day, nearly double the national average.

The University

Southfield-based LTU is a private, 4,500-student university that offers more than 100 innovative programs in Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management.

As a student, you’ll benefit from small class sizes, with classes, studios, and labs taught by faculty with current industry experience. Courses are available days, evenings, and online. Lawrence Tech is ranked among the nation’s best universities by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review.

Leading-edge Facilities

Lawrence Tech provides the tools you will need to compete and succeed in a technology-driven world. You’ll receive a high-end personal computer customized with all the professional software needed through Lawrence Tech’s LTuZone program. This benefit, valued up to $15,000, is the only one of its kind in the nation.

You can also benefit from co-ops, internships, projects, competitions, and applied research partnerships that offer remarkable hands-on experience.

Student Life

More than 60 student clubs and organizations, including fraternities, sororities, honor societies, and student chapters of professional groups, sponsor a variety of activities.

Men’s and women’s athletics includes basketball, soccer, lacrosse, bowling, golf, tennis, and cross country, as well as women’s volleyball, and men’s ice hockey. You can also show your Blue Devil spirit as a member of the pep band or dance team.

Financial Aid

Nearly 85 percent of Lawrence Tech students receive financial aid – more than $40 million annually. Federal, state, and institutional grants; loans; academic and need-based scholarships; and work-study programs can make college more affordable. Competitive scholarships, based on merit, are available to all freshmen and transfer students.

Engagement in Detroit

WANTED:

ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS, SCIENTISTS, AND DREAMERS.

Lawrence Tech’s history of student engagement in Detroit-based projects goes back nearly 40 years. Frequently, students help community groups, businesses, residents, and civic leaders evaluate and develop new ideas and solutions.

Lawrence Technological University isn’t for just anyone.

In March, Lawrence Tech will open its new Detroit Center for Design + Technology in a new building at the corner of Willis and Woodward.

It will be the new home of the detroitSHOP, the Detroit Studio, Studio Couture and Ponyride, four LTU programs long active in the city.

LTU alumni salaries rank in the top 100 of all universities in the U.S. So if you believe that everything is possible and that possible is everything, we want you at LTU.

Having all of LTU’s Detroit projects and academic programming under one roof generates synergies and makes each program stronger. The Center will house additional academic programs in the future.

-For more information, contact Lawrence Tech’s Office of Admissions at 800.225.5588 or admissions@ltu.edu, watch the “Students’ View of LTU” video at www.ltu.edu/svv, or visit www.ltu.edu.

Ready to apply now?

Go to www.ltu.edu/applyfree.

We want the future designers, engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs who will create the innovations of tomorrow.

Check out our Students’ View of LTU video at www.ltu.edu/svv Ready to apply now? Visit www.ltu.edu/applyfree POSSIBLE IS EVERYTHING. Architecture and Design | Arts and Sciences | Engineering | Management

Lawrence Technological University 21000 West Ten Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48075-1058 800.225.5588 | admissions@ltu.edu | www.ltu.edu

Spring | 2015 •

The Quad • 9

Preparing for Success from Page 8 Spring • Register for and take exams for college admission. The standardized tests that many colleges require are the SAT, the SAT Subject Tests, and the ACT. Check with the colleges you are interested in to see what tests they require.

• Use the U.S. Department of Labor’s scholarship search at careerinfonet.org to find scholarships for which you might want to apply.

• Some deadlines fall as early as the summer between 11th and 12th grades, so prepare now to submit applications soon.

Summer Before 12th Grade • Narrow down the list of colleges you are considering attending. If you can, visit the schools that interest you.

• Contact colleges to request information and applications for admission. Ask about financial aid, admission requirements, and deadlines.

• Decide whether you are going to apply under a particular college’s early decision or early action program. Be sure to learn about the program deadlines and requirements.

• Use the FAFSA4caster financial aid estimator at fafsa. ed.gov, and compare the results to the actual costs at the colleges to which you will apply. To supplement any aid FAFSA4caster estimates you might receive, be sure to apply for scholarships. The goal is to minimize the amount of loan funds you borrow.

12th Grade All Year Work hard all year—second-semester grades can affect schol-

10 • The Quad • Spring | 2015

arship eligibility.

Stay involved in after-school activities, and seek leadership roles if possible.

Fall • Meet with your school counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill college admission requirements.

• If you haven’t done so already, register for and take the standardized tests required for college admission. Check with the colleges you are interested in to see what tests they require.

• Apply to the colleges you have chosen. Prepare your applications carefully. Follow the instructions, and PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO DEADLINES! Well before your application deadlines, ask your counselor and teachers to submit required documents (e.g., transcript, letters of recommendation) to the colleges to which you’re applying.

Winter • Encourage your parent(s) to complete income tax forms early. If your parent(s) has (have) not completed tax forms, you can provide estimated information on your federal student aid application, but remember to make any necessary changes later.

• After January 1, complete and submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Complete the FAFSA online or on paper. Completing the application online is faster and easier. You should submit your FAFSA by the earliest financial aid deadline of the schools to which you are applying, usually by early February.

• After submitting the FAFSA, you will receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within three days to three weeks. Quickly

make any necessary corrections and submit them to the FAFSA processor.

• Complete any last scholarship applications.

Spring •Visit colleges that have invited you to enroll.

• Review your college acceptances and compare the colleges’ financial aid offers.

• Contact a school’s financial aid office if you have questions about the aid that school has offered you. In fact, getting to know your financial aid staff early is a good idea no matter what—they can tell you about deadlines, other aid for which you might wish to apply, and important paperwork you might need to submit.

• When you decide which school you want to attend, notify that school of your commitment and submit any required financial deposit. Many schools require this notification and deposit by May 1.

Parent’s Corner Here are a few things to ensure your students get a good head start • Talk to your child about college plans as if he or she will definitely go to college.

• Keep an eye on your child’s study habits and grades—stay involved.

• Encourage your child to take advanced placement or other challenging classes.

• Add to your child’s college savings account regularly; and make sure you are fully aware of the provisions of the account.

The Quad spoke with Dr. Derschuan Harris Sharpley, College Transition Advisor at Ben Carson High School of Science and Medicine about questions students should inquire about when transitioning into higher education.

Dr. Derschuan Harris Sharpley The Quad: When applying to college, what is usually required to submit an application?

Dr. Derschuan Sharpley: To submit an application, most colleges will need your current GPA, ACT/SAT score, which some will ask that it come from the testing company. They’ll also request a recommendation from your counselor or teacher, a transcript and some colleges ask for an essay. They also want to know about your extracurricular/volunteer activities and your class rank. More sophisticated colleges will ask for an evaluation chart along with the counselor report. They not only want an academically sound student, but one who is well rounded socially. Some ask for an application fee, but your counselor may provide a fee waiver if you meet certain criteria.

TQ: What should you do if you need help paying for college? DS: The first thing you should do is complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as quickly as possible beginning January 1st because as they say, “the early bird gets the worm”. FAFSA is the largest provider in the nation of student financial aid like grants, loans, and work-study funds. After the federal grant dollars are factored in you’ll have a better idea of what’s left to pay, if anything. Then to supplement financial aid a good site to check is www.finaid.com , which outlines a number of other options including the ones listed below. Also, look for schools that meet your profile that have merit-based scholarships, which are granted annually if you meet the requirements to maintain it.

A good site to visit is www.meritaid.com, which matches you with schools that have merit aid that fit your profile.

Hopefully, by your senior year you would have done a career assessment through sites like Career Cruising or Naviance, which are de-

signed to help you narrow your career choices based on your answers to a number of questions. After this has been determined and you feel it’s a match, there are a plethora of websites full of information to help you locate monies for college, but you must do the work. You should research and apply for scholarships that match your career choice. Example: If you want to become an engineer, research scholarships for engineers and those in the STEM fields. There are billions of scholarships and many for odd categories as well like ones for left-handed people, a person with a parent in the military, an only child and the list goes on and on. I strongly encourage students to sign up at www.zinch.com and www.fastweb.com to name a few sites and they will alert students when scholarships become available that they qualify for based on the information entered originally.

TQ: What do you do if you need help finding assistance? DS: If you need help finding assistance, your first point of contact should be your counselor. You can also check your local churches, colleges, and other youth serving organizations as they offer a lot of assistance around scholarships, financial aid, etc. Another thing to do is use Google because Google is your friend ☺ . The internet has a wealth of information around any question you may possibly have and if someone is not available right away to answer your questions, you can always research it. There are books out on every topic and this is an option as well. You have to be proactive in locating the information. You have to be your own advocate and step out there to locate the dollars that will get you to the next level.

TQ: Is financial aid only offered to those looking to go to a two or four year college? DS: Financial aid is not only offered for those interested in going to a two or four year college.

Many trade schools offer scholarships as well.

They may be in-house scholarships, but many understand the financial burden of higher education and want to do as much as possible to assist students with covering the tuition.

TQ: Why is it important to meet with a counselor at school? DS: It is important to meet with your counselor because they have the skills and knowledge to cut your time in half when it comes to your higher education and beyond.

They can provide guidance because their offices hold a wealth of information and they have trained to make the connection between your interest and career paths that will make the connections for the students. They have educated themselves and their mission is to make major things happen for the next generation

with them experiencing the greatest success in college and beyond. They work hard to reduce as much stress for the student.

They have relationships with college representative and are up-to-date on current trends . The time it would take you to research colleges that cater to students interested in nursing can be cut in half by asking your counselor who may know all colleges and the ones that you would best fit you. Just because your friend wants to attend a particular college doesn’t mean that it’s a fit for you. Do your research and ask questions. I also encourage students to take a trip to the colleges that they’re interested in. They have a number of college tours that visit multiple colleges/universities and attending may help you to weigh in or out a college.

TQ: How can your counselor provide guidance into what options are out there for students? DS: Counselors can provide guidance into what options are out there because they stay up-to-date ion current trends affecting students and their success in high-

er education. Your counselor can provide guidance on what’s out there based on your particulars i.e. GPA, ACT score, etc. We use a program at called College Match Magician which compiles your Reach, Match and Safety schools based on your GPA and ACT score. The schools generated are known for having high graduation rates, support on campus for students as well as financial support. Our main goal at Ben Carson is to not only get students accepted into college, but to make sure that they graduate. Also, making sure that they know what to expect in college and what they’re resources are while there to help retention.

Make an appointment with your school’s counselor, if you have not already and get on the right path to success!

Don’t forget: Include Macomb in your college search!

Come to

Discover Macomb

One-Day Event for Future Students and Their Parents

Saturday, March 7, 2015 • 10 am–1pm South Campus, K Building

Register toda y!

www.macomb.edu/discovermacomb For more information: 586.498.4008 QuadNewsAdFeb15.indd 1

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