College Bound SPRING 2017

COLLEGE

BOUND SPRING 2017

TOP STORIES A 2-YEAR COLLEGE MAY BE JUST RIGHT GETTING ALONG WITH ROOMATES FINANCIAL AID 1-2-3 STILL NOT SURE OF A MAJOR? YOU’RE NOT ALONE A S P E C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F P I O N E E R N E W S G R O U P

2 COLLEGE BOUND

SPRING 2017

Welcome . . . to the best value in Washington.

Welcome to Central.

Central Washington University ranks top in the state for increasing student’s potential. We’re also one of the most affordable. With more than $40 million annually in grant aid, the average annual out-of-pocket tuition for students is $3,000.

Find your niche in one of our exciting degree programs with award-winning faculty. Make a smart investment in your future. Apply to CWU today.

cwu.edu/welcome CWU is an AA/EEO/Title IX Institution. For accommodation e-mail: DS@cwu.edu

SPRING 2017

COLLEGE BOUND

TABLE OF CONTENTS TIME TO RE-EXAMINE 2-YEAR COLLEGE .............................. 4 COLLEGE DRINKING 101 ........................................................... 6 MAKE THE SUMMER BEFORE COLLEGE COUNT ................. 8 GETTING ALONG WITH THE ROOMIES ............................... 10 CHOOSING A COLLEGE WITH A FEW MONTHS LEFT ....... 12 FINANCIAL AID 1-2-3 .............................................................. 14 THE PATH FORWARD WHEN YOU’RE STUMPED FOR A MAJOR ........................................ 18 A PARENT’S ROLE: HELPING YOUR SENIOR ...................... 20

EDITOR & WRITER Lisa Reuter

LAYOUT & DESIGN Christine Dubbs

3

4 COLLEGE BOUND

SPRING 2017

TIME TO RE-EXAMINE 2-YEAR COLLEGE

A

cross the United States, 68 percent of high school graduates immediately head off to college, with 25 percent of them choosing a two-year community college.

Two-year colleges are the launching pads for diesel technicians and bookkeepers, auto and aviation technicians, nurses and other health care providers, computer technicians and web developers, business administrators and entrepreneurs, and many more professionals headed for good-paying jobs with great potential for career advancement.

Those fields are where the jobs are in the near future.

According to Forbes Magazine, the average growth rate of all jobs by 2020 will be 14 percent, but jobs requiring an associate’s degree will grow by 35 percent.

Community colleges are also the path ahead for students who didn’t succeed in high school. They offer smaller classes and greater personal access to instructors to help students succeed, said Jessie Dufner, vice president of enrollment and student success at Miles Community College in Miles City, Montana. “That’s the beauty of a community college. It’s for everybody, regardless of past school performance.”

More than 60 percent of the nearly 600 students at Miles are taking general education courses. About 30 percent of these students will transfer those courses to another college or university to complete a fouryear degree.

OPEN ACCESS Two-year colleges are also open to everyone who applies, said Dr. Roberto Gutierrez, president of Klamath Community College in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

About 5,000 students attend the college.

“Many people don’t know that the difference between a community college and a typical university is access,” he said. “You have to apply to a four-year university, and a committee somewhere makes the decision about your career.

“That’s the European model of education. It implies that higher education isn’t for everyone. In the United States, we determined that the education decision

needs to be made by the individual, not some committee. That open access of community colleges mirrors who we are as a nation. We take everybody. That’s part of our mission.”

Both models of advanced education are important, he added.

AFFORDABILITY & SUCCESS One of the great benefits of attending a two-year college is affordability, said Miles Community College President Dr. Stacy Klippenstein.

According to the nonprofit College Board, the average annual cost for tuition and fees is $9,410 at a fouryear public college, $32,410 at a private college. The average annual cost at a community college is $3,440, yet the general courses are as rigorous and transferable.

The government financial aid programs available at four-year universities are available at community colleges too, Klippenstein stressed. “Community colleges offer a quality education at a lower cost,” he said.

Nationwide, college debt is a big issue now, Klamath’s Gutierrez said. “Community colleges come in there too. We are very, very efficient and really stretch the student dollar.”

SPRING 2017

COLLEGE BOUND

5

FIRST STOP ON THE WAY TO THE PROS? Said Klippenstein, “Some students go off to a four-year school with stars in their eyes, thinking it will be a great experience. But for them it isn’t, and they’re back home in a year or two. If they’d come to a community college, they might be going home with a oneor two-year degree that’s very valuable in the workplace and in many trades where there are good-paying jobs and a high demand for workers. Those are great career beginnings.”

MORE EDUCATION A MUST “One point I want to underscore,” said Gutierrez, “is that recent research shows that if you don’t have some form of higher education after high school – a technical program, a trade certificate or a four-year college or university – you are going to be poor. That’s what’s happening across our nation now that the United States competes with the rest of the world.”

In past generations, high school graduates could find middle-class, good-wage jobs in mills and factories. Those jobs have moved on to other countries that pay lower wages, and American workers can’t compete with that.

Community colleges are providing the training for today’s middle-class wage jobs, Gutierrez said. “That’s why we’re more important than ever.”

NOT A LESSER CHOICE In some parts of the country, community colleges still battle outdated beliefs that their credits won’t transfer, or that they are simply vocational schools for students who aren’t college material. Neither idea is true, Klippenstein said.

Community colleges counter those false perceptions “with very successful programs,” Gutierrez said. “Our students who transfer to college and universities as juniors do better than students who started at those schools as freshmen. Our students who go on from our computer science programs do very well with established companies and start their own companies. You prove it with success.”

Well-known Americans in all kinds of careers attended community college, including artist, animator and businessman Walt Disney, former Speaker of the House Jim Wright, PBS journalist Jim Lehrer, “Star Wars” creator and director George Lucas, presidential candidate Ross Perot, Apple inventor and executive Steve Jobs, actor and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Sam Shepard and astronaut Eileen Collins.

More student athletes are beginning their college careers at community colleges, said Miles Community College President Dr. Stacy Klippenstein. About 100 students at that school are getting the athletic and academic training to help them catch the attention of bigger schools.

Super Bowl-winning Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers took this route. He wasn’t signed by any big colleges when he graduated from high school. He was still only 5-foot-10.

Instead, he went to California’s Butte Community College to play football. In his freshman year, he threw 26 touchdowns, grew four more inches and won the NorCal Conference Championship and a No. 2 national rating with his team. His sophomore year, he accepted an athletic scholarship to the University of California Berkeley, where he took his team to the Holiday Bowl before heading for the pros.

10 BEST-PAYING JOBS, MEDIAN SALARY FOR 2-YEAR COLLEGE GRADUATES: 1. Air traffic controller .....................................................$108,040 2. Construction manager ...................................................$83,860 3. Radiation therapists .......................................................$74,980 4. Nuclear medicine technologists .....................................$68,560

5. Dental hygienists ...........................................................$68,250 6. Nuclear technicians ........................................................$68,090 7. Registered nurses ...........................................................$64,690 8. Diagnostic medical sonographers ..................................$64,380 9. Aerospace engineering and operations technicians ........$58,080 10. Electrical and electronic engineering technicians ........$56,040

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6 COLLEGE BOUND

SPRING 2017

COLLEGE DRINKING 101 BE SMART ABOUT IT

Y

ou don’t have to drink in college. At least 40 percent of college students nationwide don’t.

If you’re going to, though, drink responsibly. Getting wasted is embarrassing. You look dumb. You could be taken advantage of. Each year, 696,000 college students are assaulted – 97,000 of them sexually – in drinking-related incidents. Another 1,825 die of alcohol-related injuries.

Definitely avoid binge drinking, which is defined as consuming four or more drinks in two hours if you’re female, five or more if you’re male. The body can metabolize only about one standard drink an hour until the alcohol is out of your system, and coffee won’t sober you up fast no matter how much of it you consume.

TIP FROM A STUDENT “Carry around a Red Solo cup with water or 7UP in it. No one will know it’s not alcohol. Or add a few drops of cola, and they’ll think it’s a 7 and 7.”

– Abby, MSU student

ADOPT A PARTY SMART ROUTINE: • Stick with friends and avoid secluded spaces.

• Always have a plan before you go out, covering how much you want to spend on alcohol, how much you want to drink and how you’re getting home. Then count your drinks and follow your plan.

• Carry condoms.

• Don’t drink with people who make you feel uncomfortable if you’re not drinking.

• Eat a full meal before you go out.

• Choose beverages with a lower alcohol content per volume, such as beer. Avoid shots.

• Drink a glass of water after every serving of alcohol. That slows how much you can drink, and cuts the likelihood of hangovers.

• Spread your drinking out over time.

• Watch as your drinks are poured or mixed. If you don’t watch, don’t drink them. And don’t let them out of your sight. Anyone can slip something into one.

• If you’re not sure your drink is safe, leave it or dump it in a bathroom.

• Be wary of places and parties that charge men but admit women free and let women drink for free. They are making women targets.

• Don’t mix alcohol with carbonated drinks, energy drinks, pot or drugs. The interactions can more quickly increase the harmful effects of all of them, mentally and physically incapacitating you before you realize it.

TIP FROM A FORMER BARTENDER “If someone wants to buy you a drink, make sure you take it directly from the bartender. No matter who buys your drink, don’t let it out of your sight.

Don’t put it down. If you put it down and lose track of it, even for a minute, don’t pick it back up.

Get another.”

– Lee, Bozeman Try keeping track of your total alcohol tab. The average student spends $900 a year on alcohol. Maybe you’d like to spend some of it on something else.

Finally, don’t let drinking end your college career.

Know your school’s policies about drinking and doing drugs, and state and local laws too.

SPRING 2017

HOW MUCH IS A DRINK?

COLLEGE BOUND

7

A STANDARD DRINK CONTAINS ABOUT 14 GRAMS OF PURE ALCOHOL THE EQUIVALENT OF:

1

12 ounces of beer with 5% alcohol content.

2

8.5 ounces of beer with 7% alcohol content.

3

5 ounces of wine with 12% alcohol content.

4

1.5 ounces of distilled spirits with 40% alcohol content.

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8 COLLEGE BOUND

SPRING 2017

MAKE THE SUMMER BEFORE COLLEGE COUNT

Y

ou’re accepted to the college of your choice.

You’re going to graduate high school. This summer you want to prepare for going away to college. Here’s what should be on that list.

GET A SUMMER JOB. This helps you two ways: You earn money you need for college. Just as important, you practice time management skills you must have in college as you fit in work, all the things to do to get ready for college and spending time with friends and family.

GET READY FOR THE MORE DEMANDING CLASSES OF COLLEGE. Read regularly, including any prereading list required for your first-semester college

courses. Brush up on the high school subjects you’ll see again in college.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR. Outline the dates for College Orientation and Course Registration. You don’t want to miss them.

KEEP UP WITH ALL EMAILS YOUR COLLEGE SENDS YOU. DEVELOP A TIME MANAGEMENT PLAN. During summer, practice it by setting aside blocks of study time to read, become familiar with your campus map and purchase or rent the textbooks you’ll need. Then just keep those blocks on your schedule when you head off to campus.

THINK ABOUT YOURSELF. What kind of person do

you want to be in college, and what does that require? What kind of friend do you want to be? What things are most important to you? How are you going to calm yourself down when you get upset? Do you know how to motivate yourself and buckle down

when you need to? What activities, beyond classes, do you not want to miss? What goals do you want to set for your first semester? Do you need to learn how to cook, clean, take care of your clothes and do laundry before you leave home? What do you want your parents, siblings and friends to know before you take off ?

MEET YOUR ROOMMATES. Send emails, make phone calls, look them up on Facebook, visit each other if you can. Ask them about their interests and majors, study habits, favorite things and pet peeves.

But don’t make up your mind about them. Keep an open mind. Because first impressions aren’t always accurate or lasting, and that’s a good thing.

LEARN HOW TO RELAX AND ENJOY THE MOMENT. Take some down time. Really. If you don’t know how to do this yet, you’re going to need to in college.

SPRING 2017

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COLLEGE BOUND

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A good set of food containers and lids A pop-up mesh laundry hamper A desk lamp A first-aid kit A tool kit Mark Bittman’s cookbook: “How to Cook Everything: The Basics” A bicycle and a good lock Logo gear and clothes for the school they’re bound for Towels, washcloths and a robe for the shower walk An external battery pack for a phone A gift card

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9

10 COLLEGE BOUND

SPRING 2017

GETTING ALONG WITH THE ROOMIES

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ou’re off to college, and moving in with total strangers – maybe for the first time in your life.

It’s going to be a life-changing experience. But good or bad?

You are 50 percent responsible for the answer to that question. Embrace the opportunity. Learning to get along with others – to be considerate, responsible and kind – is one of life’s great lessons on the road to success, maybe even happiness.

• Have an open mind about how your roommates do things. They didn’t grow up with your family, they grew up with their own. You might learn something.

• No matter what anyone else told you, or you read in a book, or you absorbed from a John Wick movie – you might be wrong once in a while.

• At least half the time, make sure you initiate the compromise or solution to a problem.

• Within the first day or two of co-residing, make house rules together.

• Try to keep your things neat, and on your side of the room.

• Respect your roommates’ things. Ask before borrowing anything.

• Respect your roommates’ space. Ask before bringing others back to your room, or send an email with a head’s up.

• Talk about what bugs you while it’s still a little thing. But only to your roommate. Anyone else

• •

• • • •

on campus could become your roommate’s best friend.

Show courtesy and be kind.

When discussing issues, use “I feel” statements rather than blaming your roommates. Start with “I feel uncomfortable when . . . “ Be friendly, but don’t expect roommates to be your new best friends.

Agree to disagree when you have to.

Give the other person multiple chances. Make the Golden Rule your first rule.

BUT, if you constantly feel uncomfortable, threatened or afraid, talk with your parents, your Resident Assistant or your Housing Office. Some people have issues you don’t have to live with.

COLLEGE BOUND 11

SPRING 2017

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12 COLLEGE BOUND

SPRING 2017

CHOOSING A COLLEGE WITH A FEW MONTHS LEFT WRITTEN BY

STEVIE CROISANT

T

PHOTOGRAPHER ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ

he days are dwindling fast and the pressure is higher than ever. With only a few months left to choose a college, it’s easy to lose sight of your priorities. To help with the process, here are some tips for finding your dream school.

1

DON’T RUSH THE PROCESS While it may seem like you’re doing things at the last minute, you have until the end of the summer to make a final decision at most colleges. Just keep up with the necessary paperwork for each school so you don’t have to play catchup when you do make your decision.

SPRING 2017

2

3

4 5

STAY TRUE TO YOURSELF Don’t choose a school because it’s your dad’s alma mater or because your bf or gf goes there. Your future begins with you; this is your journey, so put your wants and needs first when choosing a school.

MAKE SURE THE SCHOOL CAN BENEFIT YOU You’ll be spending countless hours and dollars on your education. Make sure the school you want to attend can provide you with the exact education you want and provides opportunities for you to grow outside of the classroom (study abroad, extracurriculars). Think about why you’re going to school, and make the best decision for where you want to be in four years.

REVISIT EACH SCHOOL ON YOUR LIST Think back to why you applied to the school. Was it because you are a fan of their football team? Does an older friend go there?

Try to eliminate any biases you may have and visit the campus with a critical eye. Can you see yourself eating at the cafeteria, reading on the quad or sitting in the student section for basketball games?

MEET PROFESSORS IN YOUR INTENDED FIELD When you meet the Business professors for the first time, see if you really see yourself enjoying their classes or maybe they turn you off from the discipline entirely? Make sure the professors are people you think you can learn from and talk to. A good professor can make all the difference in your education.

6 7

COLLEGE BOUND 13

COMPARE FINANCIAL AID PACKAGES While money shouldn’t be the only factor you base your decision on, it can help narrow down your list. Sometimes, you simply cannot afford a school even with grants and scholarships.

TALK ABOUT WHAT’S HOLDING YOU BACK If you haven’t made a decision by now, something is holding you back. Are you not impressed with any of the schools you applied to? This school could be your home for the next four years, so it’s important to feel comfortable there. Figure out what’s holding you back from deciding. If you feel like you’re going to make a decision simply so you have somewhere to go, then take a step back and look at other options. Is it too late to apply elsewhere?

Is there a community college nearby you could attend until you find a school that fits your needs? Are you interested in working or traveling for a semester or two? Would you be happier learning a useful trade? You aren’t bound to choosing a school right now if it isn’t the best option for you.

YOUR COLLEGE CHECKLISTS MARCH-MAY

» Apply for student housing

» Make a final decision

» Apply for a campus job

» Verify your financial aid

» Verify your schedule

» Send your final transcripts to your college

» Choose a meal plan

» Prepare for your AP exams and complete your AP tests before summer

» Make a budget for the school year

SUMMER

» Work a summer job to accrue spending money » Attend your college’s summer orientation

» Purchase textbooks

» Contact roommate to see who is bringing larger items like TV, microwave, fridge » Work on memorizing your Social Security number » Talk with parents about how your health insurance works

14 COLLEGE BOUND

SPRING 2017

FINANCIAL AID 1-2-3 FILL OUT THE FAFSA (FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID) FORM • This form is a must. All federal government-awarded college aid – including merit-based scholarships, need-based grants, loans and work study – is based on this form.

• Both student and parents must fill it out. There is no cost to file. Find good information about FAFSA and the College Board’s CSS Financial Aid Profile (required by about 300 private universities that award financial aid outside the federal government) from adviser Troy Onink at www.forbes. com/sites/troyonink/2017/ • Students starting college this fall who haven’t yet filed FAFSA should do so immediately, using information from 2015 if you must.

• Students starting college in fall 2018 can file FAFSA as early as Oct. 1, 2017, using information from 2016. Students who submit the form before March of the year they will begin college tend to receive more aid.

FAFS A

DEADLINES

PARENTS WHO CAN’T HELP PROVIDE FINANCIAL AID SHOULD STILL FILL OUT FAFSA • Doing so helps self-supporting students qualify for need-based aid on their own. It does not obligate parents to anything.

• The form asks parents for their Social Security number, but not for citizenship status.

• Parental and student privacy is protected by FERPA, and schools will not disclose information submitted by the parent to the student or an ex-spouse.

SCHOLARSHIPS • Thousands of scholarships are also awarded by national and local organizations. Students can get one for being left-handed, for example. And parents’ employers unions and civic groups they belong to award them.

• Search engines include CollegeBoard.com, CollegeNet.com, FastWeb.com, Scholarships.com and myScholly.com.

• Warning signs that a scholarship service/offer is a scam include: asking for money upfront; required attendance at a “free” seminar; notification of winning a scholarship without applying; talk of “time-sensitive” scholarships; and sweeping claims such as, “Money Back Guarantee,” or “To Hold This Scholarship We Need” followed by anything that sounds like money.

WHEN STUDENT IS ATTENDING COLLEGE (SCHOOL YEAR)

WHEN TO SUBMIT FAFSA

INCOME INFO REQUIRED FROM YEAR

July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018

NOW

2015

July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019

Oct. 1, 2017

2016

July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020

Oct. 1, 2018

2017

SPRING 2017

COLLEGE BOUND 15

THE BIG COSTS TO FACTOR IN WHEN BUILDING YOUR BUDGET ARE: • Tuition and Fees: The price you pay for taking classes. But don’t go solely by published rates.

Private colleges especially may lower this sum when they award your financial aid package.

Don’t rule out a school until you get this information.

• Room and Board: Skimping here – meaning starving – may affect your GPA. • Books and Supplies: National annual average is $1,298. Look into used or rental books to cut costs here.

• Personal Expenses, including cell phone bills, laundry, eating out and personal items.

• Transportation, either a car and its costs or public transportation. Don’t forget trips home.

TYPICAL TUITION & FEES RATES BY COLLEGE TYPE OF COLLEGE Public Two-Year College (in-district students) Public Four-Year College (in-state students) Public Four-Year College (out-of-state students) Private Four-Year College

HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU NEED FOR COLLEGE?

AVERAGE PUBLISHED YEARLY TUITION & FEES $3,440 $9,410 $23,890 $32,410

But you should know that half of all full-time undergraduate students at public and private nonprofit four-year colleges attend institutions that charge tuition and fees of $11,814 or less.

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16 COLLEGE BOUND

SPRING 2017

HABTAM ASMECHE BIOLOGY: PRE-MED MAJOR CLASS OF 2013

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HABTAM ASMECHE BIOLOGY: PRE-MED MAJOR CLASS OF 2013

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BIOLOGY: PRE-MED MAJOR CLASS OF 2013

SPRING 2017

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COLLEGE BOUND 17

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18 COLLEGE BOUND

SPRING 2017

THE PATH FORWARD WHEN YOU’RE STUMPED FOR A MAJOR

W

Because of the cost of college, advisers have an obhy do we expect 18- or study,” said White, whose university offers more than ligation to help students understand how many years 135 majors.

19-year-old students Some students come to college with very little ex- of study some majors or multiple majors require, he to know what they perience of how many possible career choices there added. Other majors, such as pre-med or engineering, want to do when they grow up? are, and exploring that is a crucial part of the college have strict sequential course tracks that begin in the experience, he added. The general education courses first semester of college. Undecided students considerSurveys suggest 20 percent to 50 that most colleges require give students the opportu- ing them need an adviser’s help to make early course percent of college freshmen don’t nity to do some of that exploring and discover new decisions so they can graduate in a timely manner no matter what the eventual career decision is. know, 75 percent change their ma- areas of interest.

“I’m not a believer in making them choose right away. jor at least once and some students We need to allow them to get their feet wet in an area AIDS TO DECIDING EARLY change majors at least three times they’re interested in, and to confirm all along the way In many areas of study, internships available in before graduation (Penn State Uni- that they’ve found the right process and the right fit,” the second year of college can help students confirm they’ve made sound career choices, and advisers can he said. versity Division of Undergraduate help arrange them. White encourages undecided Studies).

START WITH freshmen to shadow or interview working profession“Developmentally, we shouldn’t expect them to know,” said C. Jason White, director of Academic Advising at Central Washington University, a public university with 11,000 students in Ellensburg, WA. Brain research supports his statement. According to the National Institutes of Health, young people’s brains don’t take on all appearances of a fully developed adult brain, especially in terms of brain matter volume, until they reach their early 20s. Among the last parts of the brain to mature are those that govern the ability to plan ahead and control impulses.

Add to that the increasing cost of higher education and the vast number of career choices available, and it’s wise for all students to check in at least once with high school and college academic advisers to review their possibilities or confirm their choices.

A TIME FOR EXPLORING College freshmen “should be coming in exploring, learning to be curious and trying to figure out what they are passionate about and what they want to

OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS

At CWU, advisers ask open-ended questions about students’ interests, passions and skill sets as soon as they arrive for orientation. They expose them to interest assessment tools if students haven’t taken them in high school. Those assessments can uncover important information to help students make more enlightened decisions.

When students' interests range widely – music, physics and English, for example – advisers may expose them to the complete courses of study in each field.

Often, White said, students then realize they don’t like some of the subjects they will have to study, and that can narrow choices. If students’ interests are exceptionally wide-ranging, the first exercise is lining up a full list of majors offered and asking students to eliminate the ones they know they’re not interested in.

“It can be tedious, and it’s a lot to do at the beginning, but for some students it’s just the place they need to begin.” Making those simple cuts, students have begun making positive career decisions and the process proceeds, he said.

als to be sure they have realistic career expectations.

High school students can benefit from job shadowing too, and from doing volunteer work in fields they’re interested in. White recommended researching basic information about possible career interests, including salaries.

Another aid to making career choices – and being successful in college – is helping students understand what motivates them, including what has motivated them to attend college. Some students are there because they believe they can’t succeed without a college degree. Others are there because of parental pressure.

“If it’s all external forces motivating a student to be in college, and nothing internal, the likelihood that they are going to stay in college is not good. Those are the students who stop going to class and don’t achieve,” White said.

For some students, a gap year or two is a good idea.

“Parents need to understand that students have to figure out on their own what motivates them and what they want to do before we push them to make decisions that sometimes they’re just not ready for.”

SPRING 2017

WHAT SHOULD YOU MAJOR IN?

STUDENTS

SUCCEED WHEN THEY

ASK FOR HELP

MONEY OR PASSION? DO YOU ENJOY PUBLIC SPEAKING?

DO YOU ENJOY

YES

BEING ALONE OR BE WITH OTHERS?

IN YOUR FREE TIME, COULD WE FIND YOU IN THE

LIBRARY OR COMPUTER LAB?

NO

THERE IS A HOUSE FIRE AND YOU CAN ONLY SAVE ONE ITEM.

DO YOU ENJOY CURRENT EVENTS?

PIRATES OR ZOMBIES?

NUMBERS OR MEETINGS? DO YOU WANT TO OWN YOUR OWN BUSINESS?

NO

YES

PHOTOALBUM OR JOURNAL? WHICH INTERESTS YOU MORE:

ARE YOU A BIT OF A DIVA?

NO

YES

NO

YES

DO YOU ENJOY WORKING ON

J. LAW OR T. SWIFT?

GROUP PROJECTS OR BY YOURSELF? ARE YOU A

PEOPLE PERSON OR AN ANIMAL LOVER?

NO

DO YOU ENJOY DAILY WRITING ASSIGNMENTS?

DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD?

YES PREMED BUSINESS

VETERINARY SCIENCES

ENGLISH MATH OR PHYSICS

PSYCHOLOGY OR SOCIOLOGY ACCOUNTING THEATER

MUSIC

COLLEGE BOUND 19

ART

POLITICAL SCIENCE

YES

NO COMMUNICATION STUDIES HISTORY JOURNALISM

“The No. 1 advice I give entering students is that the most successful students are the ones who have developed help-seeking behaviors,” said C. Jason White, Director of Academic Advising at Central Washington University. “Often students come in thinking they can’t look stupid, or they can’t look like they don’t belong here. One of the first things those students think is that they can’t ask for help, and that’s the biggest mistake they can make.

“They should be actively seeking out their advisers, faculty members and all the other resources available on campus. If they make those connections early, it can save them a lot of time toward their degree and also help them connect with opportunities on campus –an internship or a research project with a faculty member – that will help them make their career decision.

“It would be wonderful for future college students to know that it’s not just struggling students who seek help. The successful ones do too. It’s what makes them successful.”

20 COLLEGE BOUND

SPRING 2017

A PARENT’S ROLE: HELPING YOUR SENIOR

BY STEVIE CROISANT

I

t’s crunch time. Soon your son or daughter will be walking across the stage receiving their high school diploma. Where has the time gone?

Even though you’ve been helping them fill out college applications and taking them on college visits, it’s hard to believe their high school journey is really drawing to an end. As a parent, you can take many roles in helping your child prepare for college, and these are tips for what you can do to make your senior’s transition as smooth as possible.

Ask your student why he wants to attend college.

Help figure out goals and aspirations and make sure they are taking this step for themselves and not for you.

If you haven’t already, work together to apply for financial aid. Whether or not you’re helping your child pay for college, the financial aid process can be frustrating and confusing for both of you.

Make sure you meet any necessary deadlines and call the financial aid office at the school when you run into problems or have questions.

If your child still hasn’t picked a school, take them on a final round of college visits. Tag along, because you’ll be sure to ask questions they won’t think of.

Help your child with the school selection process.

They may be at a loss choosing the right school and practical advice from a parent never hurts-just don’t be upset if their first choice is different than yours.

Complete paperwork together. Once he or she has accepted a college, there will be tuition deposits, medical records to send and other necessary paperwork to complete and mail back.

If they don’t know already, now is the time to make sure your high schooler can cook, do laundry, take care of themselves when sick and manage money.

Talk to your teen realistically about drinking, drugs and sex. It won’t be an easy conversation, but your honesty will go a long way. Telling them to avoid it altogether or to do what they want won’t influence them. Instead talk to them about the dangers of drinking and driving, binge drinking, the physical and mental effects of partaking in illegal drugs, the dangers of STDs and what to do if they are ever in a situation where they feel sexually abused or harassed.

Offer support. While this is an exciting time for your senior, it can also be stressful. They’re entering unknown territory, and the best way to calm their fears is to let them know you support their aspirations.

It’s okay to not know the answer, and if you feel like you can’t help your steens, then teach them how to get help. Whether it’s a high school guidance counselor or an adviser at their future school, help lead them in the right direction when you no longer know how to help.

SPRING 2017

COLLEGE BOUND 21

outside of expected AFFORDABLE Tuition.

EXCEPTIONAL Faculty.

VIBRANT Student Life.

WELCOMING Housing.

cocc.edu • 541.383.7700 2600 NW College Way Bend, OR 97703 COCC is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution.

COLLEGE

BOUND FALL 2017

LOOK FOR THE FALL ISSUE

COMING OCTOBER 2017

22 COLLEGE BOUND

SPRING 2017

A CHECKLIST FOR COLLEGE VISITS 1. Once you’re in high school, ask your parents if your family vacations can’t take in a college town or two, especially if you think you want to attend a school out-of-state. Explore the campuses at your leisure or call ahead to the admissions office to schedule a guided tour.

2. Check out the buildings associated with the degree or major you’re interested in. Are the facilities current and top-notch?

3. Ask for a tour of college unions, dorms, cafeterias, recreation facilities, the library and any student support centers.

4. Take time away from any guided tour to explore the bookstores and areas around campus.

5. Ask to attend a lecture or two in your area of interest, and meet professors if you can.

6. Talk to students around campus to ask what they are studying, and what they like and don’t like about the school.

7. Notice the posters around campus for upcoming concerts, films, lectures, arts presentations, student groups and other activities. Are there many?

Are you interested in them? These experiences can add a lot to your overall education.

8. Take notes. Have a list of questions for each campus you visit.

COMPARING SCHOOLS 1. Know the costs.

2. Know the programs, majors and degrees offered.

3. Know the job placement rate for graduates, especially in your interest area.

4. Check out the student support services.

5. Collect a folder of information – on all aspects of the school, campus life and the opportunities available beyond the campus. (International studies?

Externships and internships?)

WHEN YOU GET HOME 1. Ask yourself which colleges stood out and why.

2. Review the information you’ve collected and the answers to your questions.

3. Narrow your choices and do more research on the schools you are interested in.

A brand new chapter is beginning. It’s exciting. And a little scary.

We’re a community credit union and we’re here to support our new college students, members and non-members alike.

Members – existing and new: • Help with all things financial at our Ellensburg branch • 24/7 ATM access Non-member services: • Shared Branching (with participating CO-OP® credit union partners) • 24/7 ATM access If you don’t see what you need on the list, just ask and we’ll do our best to help. That’s what friends are for.

You’ll find us in Munson Hall at 604 E University Way.

wsecu.org | 800.562.0999 1527899

SPRING 2017

COLLEGE BOUND 23

• Don’t skip class. You’re wasting your money.

• Talk to your professors after or outside of class.

• Know who your adviser is, and check in regularly to make sure you are taking all the courses you have to.

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Take advantage of tutoring opportunities and student success centers.

• Find a study space outside your dorm or apartment where you know you can concentrate and get things done.

• Keep up with the reading.

• It’s OK to change your major, and your school.

• Think seriously about studying abroad. Take an internship.

• Exercise, and get enough sleep.

• Save your course materials, especially semester to semester and year to year while you’re still in school.

• Take notes in class, and save them too.

• Attend extracurricular lectures and seminars. Check out your school’s calendar of upcoming events and plan to attend some of them. But not too many.

• Join clubs or an intramural team to meet new people.

• Keep an open mind about new things.

GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE

TAKE YOUR FUTURE

HIGHER 24 ONLINE DEGREe PROGRAMS

240 in 20 DISCIPLINES

ONLINE CLASsES

2017 Fall Freshman Orientations June 8-9 June 22-23 July 13-14 August 3-4

APpLY TODAY!

Discover the MSUB Advantage!

• More job opportunities • More internships • More online classes • More athletic programs

406-657-2888 • 800-565-MSUB ext. 2888 msubillings.edu/future • admissions@msubillings.edu

YOU’RE HOME

When you become part of Southern Oregon University, you become part of our home. You are home. Our inclusive, supportive campus environment will provide you with limitless opportunities to reach your highest potential as you pursue your passions in stunningly beautiful Ashland, Oregon.

With 35 majors, exceptional faculty with the highest degrees in their fields, and a vibrant campus setting—as a student, associate, or alumni, once you’re a Southern Oregon Raider: you’re home.

Western Undergraduate Student Exchange Residents of California will automatically receive the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) tuition rate upon admission to SOU—an estimated $11,000 annual savings.

WUE applies to all majors at Southern Oregon University!

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800-482-7672

Where you can be you

1569469

SOU.EDU