I have been working on a certificate in college counseling with the probable intention of volunteering my services. I recently became affiliated with a local non profit with a wonderful model of inviting students to apply to its program as early as 8th grade. It provides tutoring services, leadership opportunities and general support up to and including college advising and SAT prep starting the summer before senior year. The students are all low income and are the first in their families to attend college. GPAs average in the 2.8-3.2 for the most part. The plan was for me to shadow one of the seasoned college advisors this summer and fall with her 6 assigned seniors but she’s had a family emergency and needs to be out of the area for the foreseeable future. So, rather unexpectedly, I will be the advisor for these 6 students. I do have some support and am working on a team with 2 writing/essay coaches so will not be actively involved with that aspect. I have been through the process with my 3 Ds and additionally feel bolstered by the program that I’m wrapping up.
I’m posting because there is a wealth of knowledge here and I am wondering if people can recommend colleges in California that are known for wanting and supporting first gen students. We are located in California and most of the students want to stay in the state but there is also a requirement that students apply to 2-3 out of state schools. So, while i do plan to comb through the posts for the ‘colleges for the 3.0-3.3 student’, etc., I’d be most appreciative if people in the know could share schools that tend to be good with need-based aid for students with these more moderate GPAs. Just about everyone will have a low EFC but, for those who have EFCs above zero, their families may not be able to contribute. The organization strongly advises taking out loans of no more than $10,000 per year (less or taking out no loans at all is preferred, of course).
The organization works on a shoe string and, while they intend to start tracking their students, they don’t, at this time, have a list of colleges their students have been accepted to over the past 10+ years they’ve been around. Based on results from this past year, University of Redlands and Whittier College seem to be schools that look favorably upon our students, along with several CSUs. If anyone can add to the list (both within California and outside), I’d be most appreciative. I’m meeting with my student just a few days from now and this turn of events (being the advisor rather than shadowing the advisor) has come on rather suddenly.
California participates in WICHE/WUE, so check that list for participating schools in neighboring states. There will be some low tuition schools, but I don’t know how you’d beat California schools with the Cal grants. I think you should also make yourself familiar with all the military programs available. Will any of the students be eligible for Questbridge or one of the other programs that helps place students and get the aid needed?
Thanks for the responses. No, the students will not be participating in other programs like Questbridge. I know some programs like mine reach top students; ours do not fall in that category.
Will look at WICHE/WUE schools – know about it but haven’t had a chance to research. Thanks for the reminder, twoinanddone.
Emeraldkity, Im not familiar with TRIO but will check it out. Thank you.
Justonedad, our organization hopes to do outreach in the future but does not at this time. Most of the kids go to large public schools with hugely under-resourced guidance/college counselor staff and I believe our students do not benefit from whatever outreach they do. I suspect, when outreach is done from these schools, it’s targeted towards the high end students.
I work with a similar program but on the east coast, so can’t give you Cali specific advice,
For general advice…
1- try to get the FAFSA done early and encourage your students to bring in their parents financial info. Make sure the FAFSA (and their taxes) are done correctly (ie: Head of Household, child support) so that they can get the max aid and work study. I am still doing FAFSAs now (July).
2- Use national clearing house data to track your students. The subscription fee is low.
3- We find that community college is the most economical, although not a favorite choice, for many of our students -YMMV
Mount Saint Mary’s in Los Angeles looks good on paper, it is single sex and reports 50% first generation but maybe others have more experience with this school.
Second, check out Montana State (Bozeman) and University of Montana (Missoula). These are WUE campuses. Both tend to be generous to OOS students with decent grades/stats. A good ACT score alone can give them aid. Both are lovely campuses in a beautiful state. Montana State tends to be better in the sciences; U of M in the humanities.
Another state to consider: Wyoming. Again, can be generous for OOS kids. Several CC parents report that this option worked for them well, financially and academically.
Thank you, flyaround. Throughout each year, the students meet monthly concerning specific topics and the meetings are monthly. Senior year the meetings include learning about and, in group format, completing the fafsa and Cal Grant applications so, fortunately, at least this year, I won’t be involved with that. My job is to help establish the college list, help identify scholarships, help keep students on track with regard to deadlines, etc. I’m also responsible for helping them with various processes such as working with their HS guidance counselors to obtain waivers, signing up for standardized tests, requesting/following up on recommendations, etc.
I will check out Mount Saint Mary’s. Very curious about the national clearing house database. Can you provide me with a link or a more formal name?
And, flyaround, can you share with me a few schools that you’ve found are good fits for your students? I know you’re on the other coast but, apparently, we did have a student attend Emory a number of years ago so, you never know.
justonedad, I may have misread your question. Ours is a stand alone program and students apply during 8th, 9th or 10th grade. I don’t know what % are accepted or what the criteria are but I believe they can accept only a certain number due to financial constraints. Students and parents must agree to participate in all aspects of the program. For example, the monthly grade-level meetings I mentioned above are mandatory. Another monthly meeting, which includes parents, is also mandatory for both students and parents. The organization does not recruit but it does publicize.
You can find out if your student, enrolled, continued and eventually graduated.
Only a small fraction go to a 4 year college, Most of our students score low on their SATs and need to stay in state to take advantage of the state aid . You would not have heard of these schools because they are regional and not high profile.
Each year a couple of really good students will go to Columbia or Harvard but those are the ones that have beat the odds and I have not worked with these students.
Some of the more nationally known schools include our state flagship, Syracuse, George Mason and Temple.
I am happily surprised that your require, and get, parent participation. We find that first generation parents are not an active part of the process. One reason is that they do not speak English, are physically unavailable, and students are living with other relatives who are not as invested.
Perhaps the AVID programs are similar to your program? They are popular here for 7th-12th grade. You might look at what they do.
Our nearby CC, CSU, and UC have various outreach programs intended for 1st generation college students. You could try to connect your students with the CSU programs, if you think their GPAs/scores will not be high enough for your nearest UC.
I have heard that a fair number of our local 1st generation students are resistant to applying out of town. This is particularly true for females, because their culture says they should stay near their parents. So, it can be difficult to get them to apply to anything other than our local UC. The nearest CSU is about 50 miles away and is not very residential as far as dorms. I don’t know what success people have at getting 1st generation students to apply there.
Yes, thank you for doing this! I was going to suggest the University of Redlands but then saw it in your message. The school was generous to my daughter (out of state), who graduated from there two years ago.
Just want to say that I am sure you are going to do a really great job and are just nervous- who wouldn’t be, if thrown into something unexpectedly. But it is clear to anyone reading your post that you are caring and competent and will really help these kids.
I also wanted to ask if this organization really allows loans up to $10k/year. That sounds awfully high. I would hope any student facing loans of that level would try a CC or state college/university or private that gives more aid w/out loans or very low loans. I would balk at even $3k/year myself.
All great information, thank you. Feel free to keep it coming!
CSUs will be a great option for the students. I will see if our local CSUs have outreach programs for first gen students – I’d love to find out they do and that our organization is already plugged in but I haven’t heard anything about it to date. This past year, not one was admitted to a UC so, while, of course, some will apply, we don’t see them as a sure thing by any stretch. The culture of the program is such that a community college is more of a last resort. Not that anything’s wrong with attending one but the goal is to attend a 4 year college.
I do feel like I have a fairly strong skill set going in…I do not have experience, however, with knowing what schools are appropriate for kids with this background and academic mix and feel pressured to get up to speed more quickly than I would like.
Finally, regarding loans, the organization only advises and the advice is, in order of preference to (1) not take out loans, (2) take out minimal loans and (3) absolutely borrow no more than $10,000 per year. Sometimes EFC comes up at a level that parents can’t actually pay and this is a situation under which, up to a max of $10,000, the organization would suggest that, after a school has met full need, the student consider such a loan.
One thing you may have to do is inform them about the mechanics of applying to colleges, so that they do not miss deadlines or have incomplete applications.
CSUs and UCs have relatively early application windows (November). Their application processes do not require waiting for high school support (transcripts, recommendations), but the student should still prepare for the application beforehand:
Have a complete record of high school courses and grades (and college courses and grades if any were taken while in high school). Middle school records for high school level math and foreign language taken in middle school may also be needed.
Verify that the a-g subject requirements for CSUs and UCs will be fulfilled; if not, change the senior year schedule to ensure their completion.
Take SAT and/or ACT if not already done, or the student is not satisfied with the score. (Check fee waivers.) Students with a 3.0 HS GPA (calculated by the CSU method) applying only to non-impacted majors at non-impacted CSUs are not required to take the SAT or ACT, but most CSU campuses are now impacted.
Check into CSU and UC application fee waivers.
Have parents gather information needed to do the FAFSA to apply for financial aid. A college in California should be listed first in the list for state financial aid (Cal grants).
Other schools may have other application requirements:
If recommendations are needed, ask teachers and counselor early, not just before the deadline.
If transcripts are needed, be sure to have the high school send them. Do this early, not just before the deadline.
If CSS Profile is needed to apply for financial aid, have parents gather information needed for that. If the parents are divorced, the student needs the non-custodial parent to be cooperative as well.
If SAT subject tests are needed, these need to be scheduled.
