2005

Resources for Students with Disabilities

The colleges may have an office with a name such as "Disability Services." The services this office will offer to qualifying students may include:

• Accessible classroom space
• Oral or taped assignments and exams
• Note-taking help
• Counseling
• Tutoring
• Scheduling assistance
• Textbooks on tape
• Assistive learning devices
• More

On the other hand, as you apply for financial aid, make sure not to ignore all the normal routes in hopes of obtaining funding specially designed for students with disabilities, as such funding can be difficult to obtain. Research scholarships with the help of your high school counselor and free sites such as www.fastweb.com , complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and complete all paperwork supplied by the college financial aid office.

Completing the FAFSA

• Sign up for a PIN at http://www.pin.ed.gov. Have at least one parent do the same. Urge your parents to complete their taxes as soon as possible. Gather the necessary documents, both yours and your parents':
  • Social Security Card Driver's license 2005 W-2 forms and other records of income Tax returns Bank statements, business and investment information
  • Alien registration or permanent resident card, if you are not a U.S. citizen
• Complete the FAFSA on the Web Preapplication Worksheet (available from your counselor).

Parents: It's Time to Let Go!

An involved parent is important as your child chooses a college, applies for financial aid, and moves into the dorm. But when it comes to contacting your child's professors, advisor, or cafeteria worker - that may be crossing the line. Before you step in, take a moment to stop and think about it. Are you taking away from your child the opportunity to learn how to solve problems for him or herself? Is your child learning to become responsible, self-sufficient, capable? Help your child help himself.

Job Shadowing

Job shadowing involves finding someone working in a field that interests you and following them for a day or part of a day to observe what it's really like to do that job. As you observe their work, think about whether you would enjoy those tasks and if you have the skills needed to do the job well. Also, take the time to ask the person you are shadowing questions such as:

• What education or training is required? What is his or her favorite/least favorite part of the job? What kind of hours are required? Are there many openings for new jobs in the field? Is there a lot of turnover (do people leave this career field often)?
• Anything else that interests you.

Ask your high school counselor if he or she can help you set up a job shadowing opportunity. It's worth your time!

ACT vs. SAT

ACT
The ACT exam is widely used here in the Midwest, and every high school student should take this test, even if you aren't sure whether you'll go on to college or not. To learn more about the ACT and find out when the test dates are, visit www.actstudent.org.

SAT
Take the SAT if you're considering a college outside of the Midwest, or just to give colleges and scholarship committees another source of information about you. More information is available at www.collegeboard.com.

Tips

• Take these exams during the spring of your junior year, so that you have a score available when you apply for scholarships and so that you have plenty of time to retake it if you want to try for a better score. As you register for classes in high school, remember that advanced classes in math, science, and English will give you the knowledge you need to do well on the ACT and SAT. Free test preparation guides are available at:
  • www.actstudent.org/testprep/
  • www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/newsat/prep/prep.html
• Get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast before heading off to the exam.

Watching Your Money at College

Books
Books can be a very expensive part of college. How can you make sure you're getting the best deal? Check to make sure you know exactly which books you need - some have several editions. Go by the "ISBN," usually found on the back of the book. Visit web sites specializing in selling books, look into the prices offered on used books at the campus bookstore, and see if another student might be selling a text he or she used last semester. It's definitely worth your time to shop around!

Phones
If you'll be calling home a lot, look for an inexpensive cell phone plan with free long distance, or, if you can't skip the landline, plan to use phone cards for your long distance.

Credit
Do you really need a credit card? You can save a lot of money by not getting one at all. If you want to get one just for emergencies, make sure you are clear what is an emergency (stranded on the highway with a flat tire) and what isn't (pizza craving). Or maybe you want to build a good credit history. In that case, pay your credit balance in full every month.

Housing
While the thought of sharing a dorm room with a stranger sounds scary, it's a lot cheaper than going solo - and more fun too! Who knows? You may be meeting your new best friend.

Everything Else
When it comes to money and college, it pays to not spend. Clothes, concerts, spring break, or even the small things like coffee and toiletries really add to the cost of college. The more you limit these expenses - live with the clothes you have, go to free concerts on campus, spend spring break working - the better life you will be able to afford after you're out of college.

Stay Safe Online

To stay safe while surfing the web, follow these easy rules:

• Never use your real name or give out your phone number, address, or school name or location. Never give out your Social Security Number. Stay away from strangers. People can use the Internet to lie about who they are. Never meet with or send anything to someone you don't know. If anything makes you uncomfortable, log off immediately and tell your parents. Talk to your parents about rules you should follow when using the Internet.
• Never sign up for anything without asking your parents' permission first.

Why Should You Take the PSAT?

First of all, it's also the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The National Merit Scholarship Program recognizes the top scorers with scholarships (also known as free money) for college. The PSAT also gives you a great idea of what to expect when it comes time for you to take the ACT and/or SAT. Pay attention to what works or doesn't work for you, and where you may need to concentrate your studying. That information will be a great help later. You can take the PSAT in October of your junior year. Ask your high school counselor, or visit www.collegeboard.com for more information.

Money: It's the Small Things

When it comes to money management, the small things really add up. Think it's no big deal to treat yourself to a cup of fancy coffee every weekday? Do you hit a burger joint for lunch three times a week? What would happen if you rented videos instead of hitting the theater every Friday?

With just those small changes, you could save $1,430 in a year that could be used to pay for college. Put that in the bank and accrue some interest, and that's even more! Or, think of it as money you don't have to borrow in student loans. $1,430 per year x 4 years of college x 6.8% interest x 10 years of payments = $7898.91. Save yourself money, time, and trouble. Remember that those little things add up and save your money.

How Do I Contact the Financial Aid Office?

• Call the college and ask. Colleges usually have an information hotline you can call for phone numbers to any office on campus, including financial aid. Check out the web site. The college web site should list the financial aid office phone number, address, and in some cases, e-mail address. Read the mailings. Any brochures, view books, and letters from the college will list contact information to help you out.
• Let us help. If you still aren't sure, call EAC's FAS Team at 1-800-874-9033 and we'll get that contact info to you.

Avoid Over-Borrowing

It may seem like student loan repayment is a long way off, but it will be here before you know it. And then, when you can't buy as big of a house as you'd like, or as nice of a car as you want, you'll wish you hadn't borrowed so much. So what should you do? Give yourself a break. Borrow the smallest amount in student loans as possible. Do this by working hard to find other ways to pay for college:

• Get free money. Continue searching for scholarships throughout your college years. Check with your high school counselor, college financial aid office, and do free online searches like the ones at www.fastweb.com and www.srnexpress.com . Work for it. Whether you qualify for work study, find a job on your own, or both, it's well worth the effort.
• Ask for help. Ask Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, older brothers and sisters. Maybe they're looking for a birthday present for you anyway. Help getting through college would make the perfect gift.

Only borrow the amount in student loans you absolutely must - you'll be glad you did later!

Protect Your Identity at College

Follow these tips to make sure this doesn't happen to you:

• Shred, don't throw away, papers with any personal information on them. Never give out personal information over the phone, unless you already have a trusted relationship with a business. Whenever possible, use an account number, rather than a Social Security Number, when doing business. Never share your personal information with friends or roommates.
• If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

More information about identity theft and college students is available at www.ed.gov/misused.

Using Your Award Letter

1. Complete EAC's worksheet "How to Compare Award Letters" at /resources/awardcalc.pdf . Accept all scholarships, grants, and work-study funds you have been offered. Decline any loan money that you don't absolutely need. Follow the college's directions for returning the award letter to the financial aid office.
2. Share your decision with the colleges you have chosen not to attend.

Following these steps will help you along the way to the right college for you. If you have any questions about the financial aid process, contact your high school counselor, college financial aid office, or EAC's Financial Aid Services Team at 1-800-874-9033 or FAS@eac-easci.org.

Parents: Teaching Your Child about Credit Cards

Many students agree to these offers and end up graduating from college with so much debt they are unable to make the major life purchases that get them out of your house and onto a life of their own. So what can you do? Give your child this simple advice to keep him or her on the right track:

• Put off getting your first credit card as long as possible. Apply for one credit card only. Use the card only for emergencies (and discuss the meaning of "emergency"). Pay off the balance each month. That's the best way to build good credit. If that's not possible, always pay more than the required minimum. Ask the credit card company to keep the limit low to prevent problems.
• If you run into trouble, cut up the card and put together a payment plan.

Helping children understand credit cards is a great gift to them - and you.

Make It to College - Your Student Aid Report

You've taken the ACT, submitted the FAFSA, and have potential colleges in mind. So, what is the next step to take on your way to college? It's time to review your Student Aid Report (SAR).
What is a SAR?
Your SAR is the summary of the information you provided on your FAFSA.
How do I get my SAR?
If you provided your e-mail address when you completed the FAFSA, watch your e-mail inbox for notification that your SAR is ready. The e-mail will include instructions on how to retrieve the SAR electronically. If you did not include an e-mail address on your FAFSA, you will be mailed a paper SAR.
What do I do with my SAR?
Read through the SAR to look carefully for any incorrect information. If you find no mistakes, simply file the SAR away for your records. If you do find a mistake, you may correct it at www.fafsa.ed.gov by selecting "Make Corrections to a Processed FAFSA," through your college, or by writing your corrections on the paper SAR (if you received one). To make corrections electronically, you will need your Department of Education Personal Identification Number. If you do not have or have forgotten your PIN, request one at www.fafsa.ed.gov .

Make It to College - Visiting the Campus

• Dorms Cafeteria Classes Financial aid office Library Student center
• Activities (a game, concert, or play)

Parents: Preparing for an Empty Nest

• Check to see if your child's college or high school offers "Parent Orientation" to help you through the transition. Familiarize yourself with the college. The better understanding you have of the place your child is headed, the better you'll feel. Stay in touch with e-mail, phone calls, care packages, and weekend visits. Talk with friends who've been through the same thing for ideas on how to cope.
• Take up a hobby. Learn to knit, join a softball league, or do some volunteer work, and enjoy your newfound free time.

Sending your child off to college is a major transition, but with a little preparation and some time, this can be a great stage for both you and your child!

Thinking About Attending an Out of State College?

Reasons to Stay

• In state tuition is always a good deal.Leaving the state may make you ineligible for some scholarships. Check out these great scholarships in South Dakota :
• South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship
http://www.sdbor.edu/sdcollegeprep/financial/scholarships/
• Dakota Corps Scholarship
http://www.state.sd.us/dakotacorps/default.html
• Driving to college and back is a lot cheaper than flying.
• Some students prefer to be near home and may or may not transfer out of state at a later time.

If You Decide to Go

• Make sure you have a great reason, like a program that is superior to what is offered in state (not a bad reason, like that's where your best friend is going). Look at states that have reciprocity agreements with your home state, offering you a better deal than out of state tuition.
• Check to see that you've met admissions requirements (such as taking the right classes or the SAT) which may differ from what is required in state.

Make it To College - Complete the FAFSA

If you're a senior planning to attend college next year, now is the time to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The sooner you get this form submitted, the better chance you have at receiving the financial aid for which you may be eligible.Follow these steps for fast FAFSA results:

1. Bug your parents to get their taxes completed as soon as possible. (Estimated information can be used, but isn't ideal.)
   Go to www.pin.ed.gov and get your Personal Identification Number (PIN), and have a parent do the same. The PIN is an important tool you'll use throughout the financial aid process, so keep it somewhere safe and private (like your memory). Visit www.fafsa.ed.gov/preappwk56.pdf to print the Pre-Application Worksheet. Completing this with your parents puts all of the answers to the FAFSA at your fingertips, making online FAFSA completion extra quick and easy. Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov and complete your FAFSA online and sign it electronically using your PIN. Paper applications are available from your high school counselor, but can take weeks to process. FAFSAs completed online and signed electronically receive a response in as little as 24-36 hours.
2. Ask questions. EAC is here to help you through the financial aid process. Call our team of experts at 1-800-874-9033 or e-mail them at FAS@eac-easci.org .

2006

TOPICS:
Mapping Your Future's Top Ten Tips for Completing the FAFSA
Mapping Your Future's Top 10 Tips for Making College Admissions a positive Experience
Reminder: South Dakota Corps Scholarship Deadline Approaching
Get a PIN: Personal Identification Number
Saving for College
Juniors: Get Involved
Juniors: Scholarships - The Easy Way
Seniors: Visiting Colleges
Seniors: How Reciprocity Can Save You Money
Top 10 Money Management Tips

2004

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2002