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Scholorships tips for Counselors

February 13th, 2010 Education, Scholarships and Grants

Several years ago, I attended for the first time the brief ceremonial "capping" of the seniors and the awards ceremony held at our local high school the night before graduation exercises.  This event showcased the scholarships and awards earned by the graduating seniors.  I was struck by the fact that, while our small island community was very generous, the money seemed to be parceled out to a chosen few.  Most of the students sitting in the gym looked bored and certainly showed that they expected to receive nothing that evening.  When one of the most outstanding graduates from our community, the valedictorian, received neither recognition nor financial assistance, I was deeply upset.  That night, something seemed terribly wrong to


me.  I believe that we must encourage our best and brightest to go out into the world with our blessings and with at least some show of financial support.

Later I discovered there was only one counselor at the school and that counselor was burdened with too much paperwork and school-wide testing responsibilities.  This left no time for the all-important, one-on-one counseling that is significant in helping students focus on goals, and choose a college that best fits their needs.  It was at that time I volunteered to help advise students.  Two years later, with a new, proactive guidance counselor in charge, I was offered a part-time job as a CAP (College Advisement Program) Counselor.  I accepted with relish the challenge of working with an interesting and eclectic group of students. 

My primary goal was to make sure I counseled all seniors individually, regardless of parentage or income level, mentored them through the college application process, and helped them target financial aid sources.  Four years later and into the program as full-time College and Career Counselor, I have realized that being a college advisor is one of the most personally rewarding jobs I have held.  Every day presents new opportunities to make a difference in the lives of a diverse group of deserving young men and women.  However, the job turned out to be more complicated than I thought.  Little did I know what a broadened view of college counseling would develop during my tenure as College Advisor at our small rural school.

My first step, as a new college counselor, was to look at my role as an advisor in the college selection process.  So I set out on a tour, visiting our state universities.  I was immediately struck by the fact that each university had a program (GAMMA, BACCHUS, etc.) to help students who came to college already addicted to drugs and alcohol.  I remember when I was in college, our parents worried that we would be corrupted by college fraternity parties, too-liberal professors and ideas, sexual temptations, etc.  Now it appears that we are sending our kids off to college already indulging in many of these behaviors. 

I introduced myself to the admissions officers at each college, and walked the campuses asking questions of all I met.  By the time school started in the fall, I felt I at least had a feeling for our state schools and would be better able to advise our students in their choices.  In addition, I read everything I could get my hands on in an effort to understand just exactly what I could hope to achieve.  Since my school had no real college advisement program, it was up to me to develop a program that would be effective.

The Changing Role of the High School College Advisor:

The role of college advisor to secondary school students has changed dramatically in the past few years.  We've all heard stories of parents who hire expensive consultants to coach their student through the testing process, shepherd him or her through college visits, and negotiate the most favorable financial treatment.  This worried other parents that they were not doing enough to help their child obtain the best education possible at a price they can truly afford.

When the role of the counselor is "gate-keeping" with minimal student contact, the result is often unequal treatment of students.  Those who badger the office for help or whose parents are significantly involved have better opportunities than those who have no clear ambition to attend college or who perhaps are not encouraged to believe that college is a possible choice for them.  The modern role for the counselor is that of advocate.  The modern counselor is one who mentors, fosters, encourages, and facilitates while preparing the student for college acceptance and ultimately, the world of work.  The key is to reach all students in this process.  Beginning as early as their freshman year, the process should include involving the student in the responsibility for his or her education, enlisting the help of teachers to devote classroom time reinforcing college and/or technical school preparedness issues, and soliciting help from the community in the form of mentors, internships, and scholarships.

    Lois Tip:  Recruit local businesses to sponsor scholarship money for students specifically attending your school.

If it is not already apparent to you, businesses have keen interest in our students.  First, they are the future work force and secondly, they are their future customers.  Businesses want to help.  Many of them also want exposure.  Selling a local (or national) business on the idea of offering scholarships to students attending your school helps the business, the school, and most of the all - the student.  Everyone is happy.  You might consider offering a scholarship donation section in the yearbook or athletic brochure.  For every business that donates to the scholarship fund, a specific size advertisement can be placed in these publications.

Resource Room:

    Lois Tip:  Create and promote a college resource room (or career center).

More and more high schools have jumped on this bandwagon.  If your school hasn't, now is the time.  The resource room (or career center) is an area designated to house information on college selection, college funding, career paths, transitional information, etc.  Your resource room should provide volumes on how students can succeed before, during, and after high school.  Resources should include magazines, periodicals, newspapers, Internet access, software programs, books, college brochures, calendars listing important dates, etc.

If you already have a resource room, promote it.  So many times parents are unaware that the school is offering these services.  Make it known through letters, school bulletins, and announcements at various school activities when parents are present such as sporting events, band concerts, and PTA  meetings.

The Scholarship Scoop:

There is a lot of publicity each year about the millions of unclaimed scholarship dollars.  Every source I have found dispels that myth.  Much of that publicized money is in the form of corporate scholarships set aside for employees' children, and since there may be periods when no offspring are eligible, or there is a lack of applicants, the money does indeed sit unclaimed.  In the past, unclaimed scholarship money was indeed a problem.  However, the advent of the Internet, software programs, and databases, has made finding scholarships easier than ever.   What used to take literally weeks of research, now only takes an hour or two.  Today, little money remains unclaimed if there are eligible applicants.   Call it a blessing and a curse of technology.

Where do we (as counselors) find scholarship dollars for our students?  When you begin as a counselor, you will receive mail, addressed to the Guidance Counselor or the CAP counselor, which will include college bulletins, view books, posters, and application forms.  You will also begin receiving announcements of scholarships, essay competitions, and other contests for students.  As I receive these, I make a scholarship matrix, and print each new listing in a different color so that students know if they have picked up the most recent copy.  I also make sure that all students receive a copy.  I have received publicity for dramatically improving the amount of scholarship money our students receive, but the only secret to this success is communication.  I inform all students of every opportunity and exhort them to try, but place the decision to complete the application process squarely on the students' shoulders.  The counselor's role is to facilitate, to provide copies of applications, eligibility requirements, and instructions, and to answer questions when the students need additional help in preparing their packages to mail.

    Lois Tip:  As the college counselor, speaking at public meetings and speaking to individuals can increase community financial involvement.  These methods have nearly tripled our community commitment to our students.
Community scholarships are a great source of funding for the first year at college.  Many community scholarships are awarded at the end-of-the-year awards ceremonies, and can make a great difference to the recipients.  I particularly appreciate the value of public recognition.  Some very powerful moments occur when a student who is rarely recognized, receives a scholarship.  Parents and students will never forget the moment.  Additionally, the scholarship shows, in a tangible way, that the community believes in the future of that young graduate.  As the college counselor, you may take on a larger role in the community through speaking at meetings and talking to individuals.  You can increase community financial involvement with these year-end award ceremonies.  These methods have nearly tripled our community commitment to our students.

Specific State Awards

Check with your state for scholarships that specifically apply to your graduates.  (For example, Florida offers the Bright Futures Scholarships, Florida Academic Scholars for outstanding academic performance (including high SAT scores), Florida Merit Scholarships for good grades, and the Vocational Gold Seal for taking three or more courses in related vocational areas.  (Each scholarship covers about a third of the college costs in our state.) 

Other Areas with Scholarship Information:

Without sounding too commercial - look for scholarships in this site.  This Website offers information on more than 8,000 different funding sources.  Simply go to the scholarship search engine, enter a student's profile, and the search engine will select those sources matching that student's profile.

College-specific scholarships and institution-sponsored grants are nether sources of financial aid.  Many colleges and universities have large endowment funds, which provide scholarships.  As counselor, help your students to find out about these awards, and to fill out any applications by deadline dates.  Also, don't forget to check with students regarding affiliations (e.g., religious, ethnic, organizational, and corporate).

    Lois Tip:  If a scholarship search service "guarantees scholarships" or "guarantees the eligibility of scholarships," tell your students and parents NOT to participate.

Many of you are familiar with "Scholarship Search Services."  These are services which, for a fee, will process students' information and provide them with college funding opportunities.  I have had numerous parents ask me about the validity of these services.  My best advice to them is that if the service "guarantees college money" or "guarantees a student will be eligible for money," walk away.  Many have been investigated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and shut down due to unethical business practices.  In fairness, there are some reputable services, and parents should check out a possible service thoroughly before using it.

"Triage" Counseling

As a first-time counselor, it was a bit daunting when I faced a class of seniors who had not been advised.  I obtained a list of seniors and a rank order list covering Grades 9 through 11 (our school uses the six semester, un-weighted grade averages) from my school's registrar/records person.  I also looked over the SAT reports since many juniors take the SAT's in the spring.  Once I had this information, I began interviewing students.  It quickly became apparent to me that the job was much bigger than I originally thought.  I found it helpful to enlist the aid of teachers who would permit me classroom time to fill out forms.  These forms elicited information about a student's goals, preferences, and background.  Each spring, I work with juniors in the same fashion so that I am all ready to go in the fall with the new senior class.

    Lois Tip:  Communicate with your seniors on a one-to-one basis.  Let them know how you'll be helping them and what information for which they will be responsible.

Once I knew who the seniors were and where their interests lay, I began to see them on a one-to-one basis.  I distributed to each senior a CAPS Newsletter, and showed them the tracking sheet I developed to monitor their progress.  This made them familiar with all aspects of the college and regional scholarship searches.  I also showed them the forms that I would be using to collect data about them — transcript and recommendation request forms, college acceptance forms, and scholarship announcement forms.  I gave them a tour of the resource room to make them familiar with all the resources at their disposal.

While I interview all students, my first responsibility must be to those who have more urgent deadlines.  Students who apply for early decision will have earlier deadlines than the rest.  In most cases, early decision is a binding agreement that if accepted, the student will attend this college.  These cases usually require extra attention to see that all materials requested (application forms, teacher and counselor recommendations, transcripts, essays, other supporting documentation, etc.) are turned in on time.  Since college applications vary widely, it is important to impress upon students that they research application deadlines.

    Lois Tip:  Many younger students fail to recognize the importance of the PSAT.  It has a tremendous impact on merit scholarship funding.

Another immediate need is to publicize the SAT and ACT test dates.  I post big signs in several places in the school.  It is important to have an ample supply of application packets and sample test booklets for both tests.  Students will need their school code number.  Juniors and seniors are the primary target, but freshmen and sophomores may take the exams for practice.  It is also important to remind them that the PSAT serves as a practice test for the SAT.  Many younger students also do not realize how important the PSAT is for merit scholarship funding.  It provides an outstanding opportunity for students who score high enough to be named a National Merit Scholar (or National Hispanic or National Black Scholar).  Colleges and universities openly recruit these students with attractive offers.

College Visits

Click here for College Visits.

College Fairs

Each fall, a caravan of college admissions representatives arrives at area schools to showcase colleges, universities, and other specialty post-graduate institutions.  The first time I witnessed this procedure, I was stunned at how efficient the setup was.  Within a few minutes, almost fifty representatives had parked their cars, carried or pulled their supplies and materials inside our cafeteria, and set up professional displays that beckoned students to visit their booths.  The college fair is designed to give students a chance to ask questions and to pick up materials from various schools (state and regional).

    Lois Tip:  I like to give seniors the first shot at the college fairs, followed by the juniors.

Because materials are limited, I bring sophomores and freshmen in for an overview.  One year due to a shortened school day and a revised schedule, we let the freshmen go first.  Boy, was that a mistake!  They were like locusts, picking up brochures until there was nothing left for the older, college-bound students.  Since each high school has its own environment and facilities, the look of the college fair can be very different.  In our state, the choice of time and day is made for us.  We either accept or decline the visit.  Once I know these details, I request permission to enter the activity on the school calendar, and reserve space for the fair.  In our school, we use the cafeteria and/or the library in order to accommodate all attending schools.

    Lois Tip:  Create a checklist for College Fairs - then delegate responsibilities. 

I create a checklist of every step beginning with the letters of invitation to the colleges and ending with writing thank you notes to all those who helped. There are many small tasks involved in holding a successful fair.  A good checklist is a great way to divide responsibilities.  I make several copies and highlight each person's job for the fair.  I try to involve the students as much as possible.  Our National Honor Society students serve as hosts, parking lot attendants, and guides.  The football team and the carpentry students help move furniture, and the guidance aides make signs, run errands, and make photocopies as needed.  Each year we get high marks for our student assistance.  Our volunteer club even bakes breakfast muffins and rolls to serve with orange juice and coffee to the counselors who often have to drive from Miami very early in the morning to make our 8:00 A.M. timetable.  Additionally, parents can serve as chaperons, and are encouraged to visit the fair.
    Lois Tip:  Prepare a list of questions for students to ask each respective college.  Also, find something creative that encourages students to discuss college choices.  I use a colored button program.
While I spend a certain effort on preparing for the physical aspect of the fair, I also spend time preparing the students for the experience.  Each student is given a list of questions to ask the counselors, and discuss what it is that each student is looking for in a college.  I have made colored buttons for the teachers that proclaim the name of their alma maters.  Questions about the buttons help start a dialogue between faculty and students about college choices.

The last step at the fair is distribution of evaluation forms.  Evaluations by the college representatives are a big help to me in planning the next year's event.  At this time, many counselors drop off free materials for my use — catalogs, posters, videos, and view books to add to the Resource Room holdings.  I admit to total exhaustion when the fair is over each year, but the results make the effort worthwhile.  The college fair is a great way to get students motivated.  Plus, it provides access to representatives for those students who are unable to visit campuses.

    Lois Tip:  Promote your College Fair through the local media and school newsletters.

I've spoken with numerous parents who feel their son's or daughter's counselor isn't doing enough.  Many times we do a lot, but little gets noticed.  The purpose of this is not to bring self-praise but instead to educate the community.  When holding a College Fair, send notices to the local media (including all radio, television, and newspaper) and place announcements in the high school and middle school parent newsletters.  The media can also help your school gain additional support.  You'd be amazed at how many parents, organizations, and businesses are willing to lend a hand when they read about what you're doing for students at your school.  If no one knows, no one will participate - promote it!

The National College Fairs

    Lois Tip:  For National College Fairs, I send the students home with a permission slip along with a packet explaining the fair.  I also remind students to bring their list of questions for the colleges.

National College Fairs are scheduled during the year in key cities throughout the U.S.  We are lucky enough to be within an hour from Miami's program, which hosts many of the well-known colleges and universities that our students seldom have the opportunity to visit.  Since the fair occurs in the spring, I take the rising seniors (juniors).  Along with permission slips, I send home a packet explaining the fair.  The packet includes a listing of the colleges, and a note reminding students of questions they should ask the college counselors.  This trip is a great motivator for the juniors.  The trip back is always satisfying as I watch them read and share information on the colleges about which they have become excited.   Again, parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.

College Open House Nights

The Open House is another way for students to preview a college.  Notices will come to the counselor's office.  I routinely announce and post notices on the senior bulletin board.  As I counsel seniors and learn which schools they are interested in, I encourage them to attend at least one open house.  Parents usually drive the students to these events and take part in the discovery process.

Communication

Counselors need to be great communicators.  When I began my work, I thought I understood my obligations to communicate to parents and students.  I soon realized that more effort on my part was necessary to establish a relationship of trust and confidence.

Parents come in all attitudes ranging from the angry, chip-on-the-shoulder type to the timid hat-in-hand variety.  The most important advice I can give here is that you convey to the parent that you have their child's best interest at heart.  And, that you can work together (with the student) as a team to help achieve the family's goal of a college education. 

    Lois Tip:  Parents and students may need help filling out forms in a professional manner.  They may need reassurance that they are on the right track and that the goal they have set is achievable.

Students range from the aggressive to invisible.  I seem to spend the most contact hours with the upper 30% and the lower 25% for different reasons.  Academic achievers often have had college attendance as a goal since elementary or middle school.  The primary problem with them is the search itself.  They worry about whether they can afford college, what their major should be, and picking the right school.  Students who have had minimal academic success often need help in finding post-graduate options that will offer training and employment for them.  These students also request my help in filling out forms.  My first year, I was surprised to learn that many did not understand the community college option.  This works for so many of these students because they do not have to take SAT tests.

I have to work to get the middle 45% to take part in their own college search.  Communication that reaches beyond the student becomes very necessary to light the fires of interest.  While the CAPS newsletter is meant to be shared with parents, a general guidance newsletter including information on our full-service programs is also sent to parents with report cards and other general mailings.  Additionally, announcements of upcoming events, college fairs, national tests, evening workshops, and scholarships are routinely placed with the media.

    Lois Tip:  Provide an in-service workshop for your teachers.  After they realized the importance of my goals for our students and the tasks at hand, many were eager to help.  Plus, now they help me in my fight for technological dollars.

Teachers are an amazing resource.  Communication with teachers is vitally important.  My principal suggested I provide an in-service workshop for the faculty to share what I do with the students.  It was an eye-opening experience for me.  I learned that many teachers remembered their own counselors as someone they only saw once or twice during their entire school career. 

After sharing the scholarship results I had attained for our students, I showed them how the latest college admissions software worked, and gave them a copy of the handout (that I give all visitors) about what goes on in the Resource Room.  Once they realized the results of my efforts, I found I had strong advocates for this program.  Several of these teachers now help me in reaching students and identifying those who need extra help.  Their scope of understanding the program has also gained me allies in the fight for technological dollars.  They now realize I serve all four grade levels.

    Lois Tip:  The development aspect of counseling for the future, beginning with freshmen, makes a greater impact on senior options.

Nothing is sadder than when seniors come to me and say, "I can't do what I really want to do because my grades in the first few years of high school were really bad.  I wish I had listened."  My response to this sometimes tearful confession is, "Are you planning to graduate?  Are you willing to work to change your grades?  Let's look at community colleges.  They are an excellent place to get the basics for your first two years of college, and if you do well, you will be eligible for transfer to a four-year state school, and maybe even with scholarship dollars."  Students having this problem have made mistakes in the past.  Usually their level of sincerity is a direct correlation to their willingness to correct past mistakes.  Giving them, "I told you so's" doesn't help.  Students need encouragement.  Even if you've had problems in the past with a particular student, we as counselors are the adults and should rise above the pettiness.  Encouragement and offering options to a student who really wants to attend college is our responsibility.

Community colleges offer a wide variety of technical and college prep courses, and since they do not require SAT scores, many students who are unable to reach state qualifications for four-year college admissions, earn their way to a four-year school with good community college grades.  Some students insist on learning the hard way.  They work for a year or two after graduation, and then they come to me and ask for help to go to college.  They soon realize they need an education to reach their goals.  In some cases they may have needed the extra time to decide what those goals should be.  I help a lot of kids who were prior students.  It fills my heart with pride that they come to me for guidance and assistance.

    Lois Tip:  Keep the lines of communication open with former students.  They are great communicators to your current high school students.

Former students are a great resource.  It's one thing for a parent or counselor to advise students on college life, but when high school students hear from prior classmates, who are now in college, about the issues surrounding college, it seems to have a greater impact.  One program I adopted was the "Returning Graduate Program."  Once or twice a year, I invite our prior graduates, who are now in college, back to our school to talk with students about college life.  While it is important that parents also hear what these students say, I believe it's more important that the parents leave this dialogue between the students.  The whole purpose of this program is to reinforce what current high school students have already been told by their parents and counselors.  It offers our high school students insight from a peer group different from their parents or counselors.  Parents can attend, but I feel our high school students are more open in their discussions when parents are not present.

I hope this information will serve you, your school, and above all, your students as well as it has served ours.  I should close by stating that some counselors will say, "Oh, we can't do this," or "We don't have enough money budgeted for something like this."  When I started this program, I had an extremely small budget - virtually none.  My budget still is not large.  However, through perseverance, a commitment to our students, promotion of our efforts, community and business involvement, and teacher involvement, you too can make it happen.  These students are our future; view it as a long-term investment.

1) Middle School Years

During the elementary and middle school years, parents can begin preparing their child for college or career by fostering respect for learning, by maintaining high academic expectations, and by volunteering at the child's school.  When we show that education is important to us by our involvement at school, our children will accept its importance as well.  We also have the chance to see exactly what is going on at our children's schools and can learn what their peers think and how they act.

The transition from middle school to high school is an important one and should be facilitated by both schools.  In the old days, middle school records were sent to high schools and that was the extent of transition activities.  Today, the process is more student-oriented.  An articulation committee comprised of middle and high school teachers and counselors meet with the graduating middle school students, providing an in-depth explanation of life at high school from academics to sports and other extracurricular activities.  Scheduling is often conducted at this time with varying options laid out for students.  Parental involvement is encouraged in the planning process as well.

Some schools may have an orientation visit planned where high school students act as guides for the middle school visitors.  This serves to promote excitement about the coming school year and to make the incoming freshmen feel welcome at their new school.

My own first contact as a college counselor with these students comes at the end of their eighth grade year when I bring the graduating seniors who share their college plans, discuss their scholarships and talk about what it took to get to this point.  They always do a great job of motivating the younger students.

2) Freshman Year

    Lois Tip:  At a minimum, parents should start financially preparing for their student's college career no later than their child's freshman year in high school.

At our school, we have a freshman parent orientation meeting shortly after the school year begins.  The parents stay in the classrooms and each department team rotates for 15-minute introductions and explanations of activities.  Each year the two questions I am always asked by the parents of freshmen are, "How can we afford college?" and "What do I have to do to make sure my child gets accepted to college?"  As a note, if you haven't already begun saving for college, you should begin making regular savings at this time.  Colleges and universities will expect the family to contribute to college expenses and will probably offer student and parent loans as part of the financial aid offer.  My strongest advice to any student who needs financial assistance while attending college is to become the best student he can possibly be, beginning in the freshman year of high school.

    Lois Tip:  Scholarships go to well-rounded students.  Students should maintain good grades (3.2 GPA or higher), while at the same time participating in other productive activities.

Colleges also look for well-rounded students.  Get involved in extracurricular activities, by exploring a variety of activities from sports to theatre, volunteer groups, and academic honor societies, and develop your own leadership skills.  Does your school hold a volunteer fair aimed at student participation?  If not, find out if they can set up one.  Many times students are not given guidance on where to participate in volunteer activities.  Volunteer Fairs identify areas of "volunteerism" within the community.  They are usually set up between community organizations and the school to show students where and how they can volunteer.  If the school is unable to participate, seek out volunteer programs on your own.  Some good places to look for volunteer organizations and community involvement are at churches, hospitals, local government agencies (such as health and human services), etc.

    Lois Tip:  Students and their friends can form their own volunteer club to help out in the community.

I always encourage and expect leadership development skills from my students.  A program I've found that is very effective is one where students start their own volunteer program.  This is extremely simple.  Students simply gather a few friends and form their own volunteer club.  Once the club is formed, find a need in the community.  The group of students can assist in helping homeless shelters, assisting shut-ins, reading to under-privileged children, and participating in walk-a-thons to raise money for a worthy cause.  While students are positively contributing to the community, they are also demonstrating personal leadership initiatives by forming and/or participating within this club.  And the best part is that they are doing these activities with their friends.  These are exactly the types of leadership roles scholarship organizations seek in their recipients.  A note to parents - get involved with the club as well.  For example, help with rides to and from the community activity.

Working after school also helps develop responsibility and provides students with income, but leaves time for involvement in school-related activities in your schedule.  Remember that this is a balancing act.  Students must maintain balance in all activities - grades, jobs, extracurricular activities, and volunteerism.

    Lois Tip:  Take a Practice Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) in your freshman year of high school.

As a freshman, sign up to take the PSAT test for practice.  National Merit scholarships are awarded on the results of this test.  The actual test is taken in the student's junior year.  A high score will place you among the most sought after students in the country.  Plus, your opportunities for scholarships will increase dramatically.  I highly recommend purchasing PSAT practice-testing software.  Or check with your guidance counselor to see if your school has PSAT practice-testing software on campus that you can use.

    Lois Tip:  Parents - discuss career opportunities with your students.  Parents should advise, not judge.  Students should listen, not criticize.  Be open-minded about career choices.

Explore as many career avenues as possible.  Students' minds should be filled with every option available.  As a parent, I had a difficult time realizing that my children had different career goals than what I had for them.  Sometimes this is a difficult pill for parents to swallow.  Parents need to foster learning and encourage a student's chosen career path.  If parents feel their student is going down the wrong career path, discuss their career choice.  Parents should provide concrete examples of why a student's chosen career path might not be suitable.  Students should listen carefully to their parents.  Remember students, parents have the greatest teacher of all - experience.  Also, a student can research on virtually any job or job description on the Web.  Research it, then discuss it.

Our school offers excellent career classes for all freshmen.  These classes provide an in-depth look at interests and techniques for making it in the real world.  I like to visit the freshman careers class before school ends to give a pep talk on the future, and promote extracurricular activities, leadership development, and the possibilities of post-graduate education.

    Lois Tip:  Take your subjects seriously.  Aim for the hardest courses you can handle while achieving the highest grade.

Once in high school, a student's grades become part of his cumulative grade point average (GPA).  It is important for parents and students to carefully select course work.  Students should take classes that challenge them academically while at the same time provide them the opportunity to do well.  For example, if a student takes Honors English and scores a "C" (or 2.0 grade) and another student takes Advanced English and scores a "B" (or 3.0 grade), the student who took Advanced English will end up with a higher weighted GPA for that course.  Here's how it works.  Many classes are weighted.  If Honors English carries a weight of 6 and Advanced English carries a weight of 5, then the student who scored a "C" in Honors English received a weighted GPA of 12 (which is the course weight multiplied times the grade).  However, the student who received a "B" in Advanced English received a weighted GPA of 15 (which is the course weight multiplied times the grade).  For you students reading this, don't misunderstand me, I'm not telling you to choose blow-off courses so you can easily breeze through with "A's."  I'm advising you to take the hardest courses possible while still maintaining the highest weighted grade.  In essence, rise to your level of excellence.   Pay careful attention to GPA's - they do make a difference in college funding.

3) Sophomore Year

As sophomores, students should follow the same advice given to freshmen.  So let's review:

    For practice, take the PSAT test again.

    Stay (or get) involved in community and volunteer activities.

    Participate in school extracurricular activities.

    Take the hardest courses you can handle while achieving the highest grade.

    Challenge yourself to be your best.

    Review and re-evaluate career possibilities.

    Parents - continue to offer support in your student's educational endeavors.

    Parents - keep saving, a college education is expensive.

OK, parents and students - here it comes.  Your first real steps in college life begin now.  There are more than 7,200 post-secondary institutions in the U.S. alone.  They vary in cost, curriculums offered, size, geography, and a number of other areas that make each of them unique.  Now is the time to start narrowing down the list of potential schools.  Also, students should view listings of summer opportunities (some are paid for through scholarships) in the arts, sports or academics - or maybe even travel abroad.  Now is also the time to start researching scholarships for college.

    Lois Tip:  A student should start researching colleges and universities in the sophomore year of high school.

Researching college information can be somewhat daunting.  There are so many choices.  Do you want a small school with a more personalized atmosphere or a large school with big lecture halls?  Do you want to live close or far away from home?  Does the school you are looking at have the type of program you're seeking, and how much does it cost?  Do you want to attend a community college first then transfer to a university?  And if so, are the credits transferable?  Maybe you want to attend a college with a good sports or music program.  These and many other variables need to be considered when choosing a college or university. College Visits: Click here for College Visits.

    Lois Tip:  Research colleges and universities through your high school and the Internet.

I recommend starting your college search at your local high school.  Typically, high schools have  College Fair Days.  College Fair Days introduce actual college counselors to students.  College counselors inform students on what their campus has to offer.  Also, the high school counseling office has many resources such as college catalogs, videos, and brochures on various colleges and universities.

Use the Internet.  In the Information Age, there's no better place to find the college of your choice than on the World Wide Web.  There are numerous sites that offer valuable information and links to specific college campuses.  Many allow you to search databases of up to 1,600 colleges and universities.  Simply enter the information you want in a college, and a search engine will display those colleges matching your criteria.  From there, many of these search engines will actually link you to those colleges' websites.  In each college's website, you'll find the answers to virtually any question you might have about that institution.  While the sophomore year is too early to start the actual college application process, many sites allow you to electronically apply (online) to your chosen college or university.

    Lois Tip:  Scholarship planning and application should start as early as possible in the high school years.  Early scholarship research can lead to more potential funding.

A Word of Warning:  Parents, have you heard of "Scholarship Search Services?"  These are services which, for a fee, will process a student's information and provide them with college funding opportunities.  I have had numerous parents ask me about the validity of these services.  While some are reputable, others are not.  The best way to check out one of these services is to call your local Better Business Bureau or talk to your school's guidance counselors.  My best advice to you is that if the service "guarantees college money" or "guarantees a student will be eligible for money", walk away.  Some of these services have been investigated by the Federal Trade Commission and have been shut down due to unethical business practices.

It is not too early to consider searching for scholarships and applying for college in the sophomore year.  For example, the Ayn Rand Institute sponsors an essay competition for high school freshmen and sophomores.  Also, the Hugh O'Brien Youth Award recognizes outstanding sophomores with a weekend retreat and leadership seminar experience.

Another key reason to run scholarship searches in the sophomore year is that by doing so, you will get a really good idea of just what is expected of a scholarship applicant.  This will also give you an idea of what awards will be available in your senior year.  If, for example, you are interested in electronics or broadcasting, the Amateur Radio Relay League offers several awards for holders of their ham radio license.  Obviously, by the time you are a senior, it is a little late to obtain your ham radio operator's license.  But, since you know about this award as a sophomore, there is certainly time to get your license before the scholarship application deadline in your senior year.

    Lois Tip:  Students should take their first SAT in the spring of their sophomore year.

Remember the PSAT practice tests you've been taking?  Guess what, it's time to take the real one.  By the spring of your sophomore year, you should take a real SAT exam for practice.  Do your best, but don't sweat it, you'll get another chance in your junior year.

The summer between the sophomore and junior year in high school is the perfect time to visit college campuses.  Remember the college research you've been doing?  Now it's time to visit them in the real world.  Parents and students should take advantage of summer vacations to visit nearby college campuses.  Just being on a college campus helps to pump up interest in the college experience.  And the fact that parents take time to visit these schools makes it obvious that college attendance is a family priority.  Over the high school years, families can tour a variety of public, private, large, and small colleges and universities.  While it's good to start in the sophomore year, students should focus their attention on the more likely colleges during the junior year and early in the senior year.

To make the most of a "college visit," make a checklist of questions you'll have.  At the sophomore level, students should gain the following information about each school visited:

    Size of student body (how many students are currently enrolled)

    Variety of courses offered

    Average class size

    Costs and financial aid information

    Location and layout of campus

    Dorm life

    Food service

    Transportation

    Sports (extramural and intramural)

    Activities available

    Career and internship opportunities

    How other students, attending that college, feel about their school

Most college campuses offer scheduled tours.  Call ahead to find out times and how to schedule a tour.  Parents are encouraged to attend campus visits. 4) Junior Year The junior year and the first part of the senior year are primarily about positioning the student for the broadest options in college choice and developing a sense of what is the best fit between college and student. College Visits

    Lois Tip:  Parents can learn a lot about college funding by helping out in the school's resource center.

If parents have not yet met the college counselor, this is the time to get acquainted.  Parents should familiarize themselves with the resources available at the school — college viewbooks and catalogs; college, scholarship and career search software and websites; videos; maps; etc.  If your school lacks any of these resources, volunteer to help "grow" the program by writing to colleges requesting information, cataloging materials, and filing smaller brochures and handouts from the colleges for easy retrieval by students.  Volunteering in the counseling center not only helps all students, but also forces you, as a parent, to become intimately familiar with all of the intricacies of your child's acceptance to and payment for college.  Whether you volunteer or just visit the counseling resource center, you will almost certainly find opportunities for funding and college for your child that you never knew existed.

    Lois Tip:  Students should take as many honors courses as possible while still maintaining a grade point average of 3.2 or higher.

Students should focus on solid courses and attempt to take honors (or advanced placement) courses when possible.  Also, check out any internship programs at your school.  They provide excellent opportunities for exploration in career fields and development of mentoring relationships.  Frequently, internship programs lead to full-time employment upon graduation from college.

Every junior, with even the slightest aspiration to attend college, should sign up for the PSAT test.  This is the year National Merit Scholars are chosen based on the test results.  After the PSAT test scores are in, juniors will begin receiving large volumes of college mail.  It is exciting and flattering; don't lose focus.  Now is the time to begin organizing this material.

    Lois Tip:  Students start receiving volumes of materials in their junior year.  Make sure all materials are filed and well-organized for future reference.

Colleges send recruitment representatives to conduct information sessions for juniors and seniors and their parents.  These college nights provide access to admissions counselors and information about the college.  Remember that you are interviewing the college as much as the college is interviewing you.  Attend the college fair at your school and ask questions!

    Lois Tip:  If a student is interested in military programs, they should get involved in Junior ROTC programs and/or Civil Air Patrol, and take the ASVAB test.  These activities are favorably looked upon by the military.

Some students may have an interest in a military or academy education.  Recruiters will come to the school to explain the various educational programs.  They will also schedule parent visits.  If your school has a Junior ROTC program, students should seriously consider participating as this can positively effect academy appointment and ROTC scholarship decisions.  Civil Air Patrol is also an excellent organization looked upon favorably by the military.  You should take the officers' qualifying test as early as possible with the intent of taking the final test in your senior year.  You may also wish to sign up for the ASVAB test which helps you chart your interests and skills, and provides the military with scores that help them in their recruitment decision.

    Lois Tip:  Pick a few school clubs that offer the types of activities in which you want to participate.

Continue to volunteer and, where possible, develop leadership roles in various clubs and committees.  Be sincere in your efforts.  Concerning college scholarships, some students worry that they have to join every club and organization in order to qualify.  Do not become one of those students who shows up for yearbook pictures but contributes little to on-going activities.  Pick a few clubs that offer the types of activities in which you want to participate.

    Lois Tip:  Parents and students are encouraged to arrange an in-depth junior conference with the guidance counselor.

Arrange an in-depth junior conference with your counselor and your parents.  This will provide an opportunity for all of you to get your hopes and plans out in the open and help you take a realistic look at your options.  Your counselor will also explain the financial aid process and what you and your family can expect in terms of assistance.  Your counselor may use a pre-counseling interview form.

Plan college visits during Spring Break and attend the National College Fair if it comes to a city near you.  This will enable you to talk to counselors from the colleges that may not come to your high school in person.  There are also fairs specific to performing arts, a Black College Fair and even National Portfolio Days, which provides assessment of student art by college experts.  Check with your counselor early in the year to see what this year's calendar offers you.

    Lois Tip:  Students should start aggressively seeking scholarship information in their high school junior year.

More scholarship opportunities open during the junior year.  The Discover Card Tribute award is an outstanding example.  Millions of dollars are awarded in several categories and at varying levels.  Students must fill out a formal application and write short essays on varying subject areas.  Top prizes are $20,000 scholarships.  There are also scholarships available for summer programs in all areas from the environment to music.  Visit your counselor to find out how to apply.  Take advantage of the scholarship search programs available in this site.  Students should start requesting scholarship information and application forms, over the summer, from any scholarship sources they wish to pursue.

Juniors should take the SAT I (and/or the ACT) in the spring of their junior year.  Professional test preparation courses are available for a fee.  SAT and ACT test preparation books and software are available in book and computer stores.  For the newest (and least expensive) way to prepare for these exams, check out the Internet for opportunities to take practice tests.

    Lois Tip:  I advise my students to take the SAT and ACT in the spring of their junior year and again in the fall of their senior year.  In most cases, they improve their scores.

Scheduling your senior classes at the end of the junior year is very important.  Colleges want to see continued academic development throughout your four years with evidence of commitment to excellence.  Challenge yourself by taking honors and AP classes where you can.  Also, check with your guidance office to make sure you are on track for your high school credits.  Students are required to have a certain number of high school credits to graduate.  If a student doesn't have sufficient credits for graduation, or he or she is not on schedule, summer school is a good time to make up these credits.

5) Senior Year

This is it!  You are finally seniors entering the busiest year of your high school career.  Your two burning questions are: "Will I be accepted by the school I really want to attend?" and "How will I ever afford to go there?"  It is important not to panic.  Remember that all seniors face these questions each year and somehow manage to survive the process of applying to college.  To begin, read your college advisement newsletters, and check out the bulletin boards that have college, scholarship, and test information.  Visit your counselor at the beginning of and throughout your senior year to keep up with current and changing information.

Scholarships

    Lois Tip:

    - Don't apply to sources whose eligibility requirements you do not meet. - Keep your "request for information letter" to one page. - Always include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. - Complete application as per their instructions. - Send a thank you card. - Call funding sources no more than one time.

When applying for scholarships there are few things you should know.  Don't send "request for information" letters to funding sources whose eligibility requirements you do not meet.  Funding sources can only award money to those students who meet their eligibility requirements.  If you request information from a source whose eligibility requirements you do not meet, you will be wasting your time.  Most of them will simply discard your request.  Second, for those sources whose eligibility requirements you meet, keep your "request for information" letters to one page.  Third, always include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE).  Some funding sources may give away $100,000.00 in college money; however, their annual operating budgets may only be $20,000.00.  Postage, envelopes, personnel - these items, while small in cost to you - can be quite expensive for them.  Plus, an SASE makes it easier for the agency to return information to you.  Fourth, when you receive the actual application, be thorough.  If they ask for a black and white picture, don't send them a color one.  Provide exactly what you're asked to provide - no more, no less.  Fifth, send a "thank-you" card to them for responding.  This keeps your name fresh in their mind.  Remember that some of these organizations can receive up to 140,000 applicants per year.  Lastly, don't call the funding sources repeatedly.  One phone call to a funding source should be sufficient.

In the world of scholarships, there are typically two waves of deadlines.  The first wave occurs in the early fall and runs through the end of November.  The second wave begins toward the end of January and runs through the end of May.  Seniors should apply early.  Many of the larger funds have fall deadlines.

Parents should look in every nook and cranny they can think of for scholarship opportunities.  In addition to searching for scholarship information electronically, parents need to ask if their employer(s) sponsors employee-related scholarships.  Check with local clubs and organizations at which parents belong.  Churches and civic groups typically sponsor small funds that sometimes get overlooked.  In essence - leave no stone unturned.

    Lois Tip:  In the fall of a student's senior year, sign up for the SAT and/or ACT exams.

Check with your guidance office to be sure that you are scheduled for all the courses you will need to graduate on time.  Sometimes, students incorrectly assume they have sufficient high school credits to graduate.  Don't make this mistake.  Confirm your credits well before the graduation ceremony.  Alternatives to make up missing credits include night courses at local community colleges, independent study, and distance learning classes.

Applying to College

College Visits

    Lois Tip:  Seniors need to narrow their college choices to three to six schools.  Make one your ideal school.  Second and third choices should be schools that will challenge you academically, and the remaining choices should be schools you know that will accept you.

By now you have developed a long list of colleges, made campus visits, used computer software and the Internet, read brochures, catalogs and viewbooks, watched videos, and solicited advice from family and friends.  It is time to narrow that list down to 3-6 schools to which you will apply.  Pick your dream school (if you do not apply, you will always wonder if you could have made it), two or three "reach" schools (these would demand your very best effort), and one or two safe schools that will accept you based on grades and scores. 

    Lois Tip:  A rule of thumb for acceptance and financial aid is to fit into the top 10-20% accepted at a particular school.  You will be recruited stronger.

To prepare the application, you will need a chronological list of club memberships, sports, and other activities in which you participated.  The list should also include honors and awards you have received, with the specific name of the honor or award, and the year you earned it.  Colleges also require transcripts in the fall, at midterm, and after graduation.  You will fill out a transcript request at your school, and your school will mail the transcript to the college for you.  Your application may come in several parts — one part that you fill out with background information, another part that your counselor fills out, listing your class rank, providing a school profile, a counselor recommendation, etc., and another part with recommendation forms for your teachers or community mentors.  You may also be asked to respond in essay form (yes, the dreaded ESSAY) to questions suggested by the college.  My best advice is to be sincere, speak from the heart and, yes, check it thoroughly for grammar and spelling errors.  Draft your essay as if you're telling a story.  Don't write what you think the college wants to read.  Be yourself.  The essay serves to show the real you who exists beyond the grades, test scores, and extracurricular participation.

    Lois Tip:  Ask individuals, who will be writing your recommendations, at least three to four weeks in advance of the school application's due date.

Recommendations are very important to your application.  Request them from teachers, employers, and community members who really know you and can share real insight into your character, determination, and skills.  Remember that since you have already submitted a resumé, the person recommending you should concentrate on sharing his or her view of who you are.

    Lois Tip:  Deadlines are deadlines - don't miss them.

Submit your applications in advance of the actual deadline.  Increasing numbers of students are applying for early decision.  The student makes a binding agreement, to attend that college if he or she is accepted for early decision, in the hope that applying early gives him or her an edge in the decision process.

Each fall, there are many newsmagazines and newspapers that devote entire editions to college entrance requirements and the best college choices and/or bargains.  In addition, check out your local bookstore.  Increasingly larger sections are dedicated to college preparedness issues, including the resumé and essay.  There are some great college-search sites available on the Internet.  The more you learn and the more varied your sources of information are, the more prepared you will be to make the best decision.

Attend the College Fair in the fall at your school as well as any open house opportunities offered.  As a senior, you may request leaves of absence from school to visit colleges.  Check with your guidance office for the procedure for these visits.  College representatives will also come to your school specifically to recruit seniors.  Pay attention to announcements for these visits and sign up for any that interest you.

The End is Near!

    Lois Tip:  The following is a special note to students.  Keep the grades up.  Don't let "senioritis" slow you down.  The last two terms of high school are the hardest.  It is an emotional time.  You are doing many things for the last time.  You grow tired of having to request passes to go to the bathroom.  In fact, all those high school rules seem so pointless.  Plus, you are scared and excited all at the same time about going off to college.  Take a step back and realize that this transition is difficult for your parents as well.  The senior year is busy (you are seldom home), expensive (yearbooks, ads, senior photos, prom, college application fees, testing fees, interview trips, etc.), and time seems to fly by because so much is going on.  Just like you, your parents are worried about acceptance and financial aid, and most of all they worry about your safety when you leave home.  Try to take some quality time to reassure them how much you love them and appreciate all their support given over the years.   You will still need that support while you are in college.

Consult your counselor as admissions offers come in.  Work with your parents to compare the offers and to come to a final decision.  Meet the Candidate's Reply Date deadline (usually May 1) to notify the college of your choice and write to inform the colleges you did not select that you will not be attending.  And remember to write thank you notes to those who wrote letters of recommendation for you.  Don't forget to share any good news with them.  It makes them feel included and validates their participation in the process.  They will be more willing to help the next student who needs it.

    Lois Tip:  Anyone attending college (or planning to attend college) needs to complete a FAFSA and SAR.

Make sure you complete your FAFSA and SAR as soon as possible.  FAFSA forms are available from the U.S. Department of Education, or your high school guidance office, beginning the first part of January.  Complete the FAFSA as soon as possible.  Any student who plans on attending college needs to complete a FAFSA form.  The FAFSA form is a federal government form (similar to a tax form).  The Department of Education uses this form to determine a student's (or family's) need status.  Regardless of a student's (or family's) ideas about their financial status - everyone should file their FAFSA.  I've seen more parents not complete a FAFSA form simply because they incorrectly assumed they made too much money.  These forms are also used in federal loan programs.  Not completing a FAFSA form can eliminate any chances of low-interest or no-interest loans from the federal government.  Additionally, many states use the FAFSA and SAR to determine eligibility for various state-funded programs.  In essence, anyone attending college needs to complete a FAFSA and SAR.

The last two things I do for my students are give a reception for the current class and hold an informational program on a variety of topics.  This program's topics usually include current information on alcohol and drugs at college, safety tips on living away from home, travel arrangements for those who go to school far from home, information on where to get legal help if necessary, and banking procedures.  If your school does not currently do this, volunteer to help set up one.  It is relatively easy to get community volunteers to prepare a talk and provide handouts for your benefit.

    Lois Tip:  Attend all college orientations.

After acceptance and graduation, you will be invited to an orientation at your college where you may fill out forms, complete your first semester course selection, and perhaps be tested.  Do attend orientation; it is an important introduction to your school.

Best of luck to you and all your educational endeavors - you did it!

Education, Scholarships and Grants
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