First in my family to go to college... Ay yay yay.

College Search & Selection
21

<p>Some private colleges offer fly-in programs for minority, low income, and first generation students. You typically need to apply through the admissions department to be included in these programs, but if you are included, the schools will pay for all or most of your travel expenses. </p>

<p>I have a list of colleges that offer these programs, but unfortunately, I am not on my home computer right now. If you email me over the weekend (click on my name to the right), I will be happy to send you the list, along with some websites and special programs that are specifically geared towards giving college admissions information to first-generation students. I am a counselor who works with many low income, first generation students, so I'm happy to share the information I have and answer some questions as well.</p>

22

<p>You are so fortunate to live in California, which has some of the best public and private schools in the country. I suggest that you take a close look at your state universities -- particularly the public ones -- instead of looking farther afield, which likely would cost you more money. California public universities also are some of the cheapest public colleges in the country for in state residents. </p>

<p>If, for example, you go to out of state public, you'll have to pay higher tuition fees. In addition, for both public and private schools out of state, you'll likely have to pay higher transportation costs to get to and from college, and with gas prices skyrocketing, that adds up.</p>

<p>Most people in this country go to college within 200 miles of their homes. Even remaining in the same state, one still gets exposed to regional differences, and if one lives away from home, one gets to develop more independence.</p>

<p>I agree with the person who suggested waiting to visit colleges until after you've been accepted. The costs of visits add up. In addition, you can find lots of information -- pictures, blogs, and other things -- on the Internet that would help you learn about colleges you're considering.</p>

<p>Instead of visiting before applying, invest $15 to access the U.S. News Premium College on-line site. Do this in Aug. (check the date on the site) and you get access for a year. The site has detailed information about most of the colleges in the U.S. including info about admissions stats (SATs, gpas, etc. of freshmen, percentage of students who were accepted), financial aid (percentage of student who qualify for need based aid who get it, and what percentage of their financial need is covered), and other things to consider when choosing a college.</p>

<p>Make sure to pin down your parents to how much they are willing to pay each year for your college education. Don't accept something like, "Whatever it takes" because after you get your acceptances and financial aid packages, you may find that the college costs are far more than what your parents promised to pay.</p>

<p>And build your college list from the bottom up -- starting with a safety that you know you will gain acceptances to and can afford. For many people -- including some smart, solidly middle class students -- that is a community college within commuting distance from home. As long as you take the coursework to transfer to a four-year university, starting at a community college can be a good idea. Many successful people have done this.</p>

<p>And be pragmatic as you search for colleges to apply to. Most students have to keep in mind economic considerations, so don't feel that your low income is forcing you to choose colleges much differently than is the case for most students. What you'll see on CC's site -- students applying tocolleges 3,000 miles from home, spending thousands on college applications, and feeling they are failures if they don't get into Harvard -- does not reflect most American students' reality. Most students go to their state schools, and finances play a big part in where most students apply.</p>

<p>When checking out colleges, start with their financial aid pages and also look up their financial aid info on the U.S. News Premium College site. Many colleges are not able to meet 100% of students' documented financial need (and "documented financial need" means the amount of need the college calculates the student needs, not the amount the parents are willing to pay or easily can pay, which typically is less than students' documented need). If a college doesn't have good financial aid, look elsewhere. Don't waste your time on colleges that may accept you, but that you won't be able to afford.</p>

<p>Also to apply for financial aid, you or your parents will need to fill out detailed info about their finances -- info that will come from the tax forms that they will file concerning this year's income. Colleges typically want that paperwork by Feb., so let your parents know about this now so they can file their tax forms next Jan. instead of waiting until the last minute. If you get financial aid forms in late, that may cause you to get no aid even at colleges that are normally generous.</p>

<p>Also talk to your GC and use the college guides in your GC's office and in your public library. You'll find detailed info about how to apply to college.</p>

23

<p>Thanks, northstarmom. Actually, my parents are middle/upper middle class, so I'm not even sure that I'll qualify for much aid... It just so happens that neither of them is college educated... And neither of them seem too eager to learn about this process.</p>

<p>I will check out the website you recommended. Thanks so much!</p>

24

<p>I need to politely disagree with Northstarmom. Although there are certainly wonderful public institutions in California, I have found that many well-qualified students who qualify for financial aid will end up paying LESS to attend a private college, even if they have to travel to get to it. That includes some of the wonderful private colleges in California.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, while the published price of UCs and Cal States are indeed relatively low (although not as low as many other states), the UCs and Cal States tend to rely very heavily on loans in their financial aid packages. Cal Grants, if you are eligible for them, will cover the cost of fees for a UC or Cal STate, but it won't help with housing, books, food, etc. And, as I said, that's where the California publics tend to rely on loans to make up the difference. </p>

<p>If your family is not eligible for need-based aid, merit scholarships at privates can sometimes make attending one cheaper than attending a UC or Cal State. A recent study by the Project on Student Debt confirmed that students from middle and upper income families often pay less at a private than at a UC when all is said and done.</p>

<p>Therefore, I advise all of my students here in California to at least include some well-chosen private schools on their lists. You won't know the TRUE cost of what you'll pay until you get all of the financial aid offers on the table for comparison. Don't limit yourself right off the bat to the UCs and Cal States - some of them may be a perfect fit, but there are many other options - in California and elsewhere - to consider as well.</p>