Education Update

Trim Down College Costs!

By Frances Kweller, J.D. on October 18, 2010 1:33 PM | Comment |

Below are several important tips on how to plan ahead and cut college costs:

1. Start Planning Early

Earn college credits while you are still in high school and graduate on time! Graduating on time and earning credits for college will put you ahead of the game and help reduce tuition expenses. Make the most out of each semester by taking as many credits as possible and explore summer course options. AP (Advanced Placement) and CLEP (College Level Examination Program) are courses to explore for earning credits.

For more information on AP courses, click here.

For more information on CLEP, click here.

2. Economize

Consider housing and meal costs. If possible, go for less expensive living by choosing modest accommodations and cheaper meal plans. Also consider living off campus rather than "on", or start preparing your own meals or be a resident adviser (a volunteer position) and get free room and board. Also, a college closer to home will cut down on travel time and travel expenses.

3. Contact Financial Aid

If you and your family are having financial difficulties, then it is a good idea to meet with your financial aid advisor to explore options based on your eligibility. Payment deferment plans or monthly installment plans may be available at your college. Almost every college Web site has a "financial aid office" link. Use it! If not, then visit them in person.

4. Work While You Study = "Work Study"

Inquire at the student employment office about job opportunities both on and off campus. They should be able to find you part-time work. Worried that you won't have time to do everything? Studies show that students who work part-time do better academically in their college years than those who don't.

5. Scholarships

Winning scholarships is a great way to reduce college tuition costs. At Kweller Prep (www.KwellerPrep.com), we "handhold" our students though a customized and tedious scholarship search. But you can also conduct some of the search on your own. Stay aware of what scholarships may be available to you and make sure that you meet the deadlines. It is strongly recommended that you work with a college advisor or counselor who will be able to guide you through the application and writing process (or use Kweller Prep!) Having the help of someone who is experienced in helping students secure scholarships can help you get the most out of each application and fully show your potential as a candidate for admissions.

Use the Scholarship Search on College Board's Web site. Also, Fast web (www.Fastweb.com) and scholarships (www.scholarships.com) are excellent sources to start your scholarship research.

For those seeking a book filled with brief descriptions of some of the numerous scholarships available out there, you can order "The Scholarship Handbook," published by the College Board.

6. Get a Good Deal on Necessities

Be thrifty about school supply spending. Consider used books and discounted supplies to save money. There are numerous websites that offer textbooks at discounted rates. School suppliers have seasonal deals so it may be wise to stock up and plan ahead. Also consider auction sites for good deals. Also shop around for travel deals and special student rates.

For starters here are two Web sites that offer discounted textbooks: alibris.com and half.com.

Of course, there is also always ebay....

7. Start a Budget & Stick to It!

It's a good idea to begin keeping track of what you are spending money on. Keep a diary or create a spreadsheet to track your expenses and stay aware of how much you are spending.

The Microsoft Office Web site has a variety of templates to choose from for budgets and expense tracking.

8. Join the Army!

The Army offers a multitude of scholarships not only for those enlisted, but also for their families. They can even help you reduce grocery costs, travel more cheaply, and help you secure your first home with a lower mortgage rate! Visit their Web site for a glimpse of what more is offered. For those considering military service, contact the campus ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps).

For more information on receiving scholarships through the military, click here.

The Kweller Prep Staff wishes you lots of luck as you enter college and participate in this exciting endeavor! Have fun, but don't go broke!

All About Applying for the 'Hunter' High School Admissions Test

By Frances Kweller, J.D. on October 18, 2010 1:20 PM | Comments |

The Hunter College High School academic program is from grades 7-12. HCHS does not accept applicants who wish to enter any grade other than 7th. For example, a student who is already in high school may not transfer into the HCHS school.

Image via Wikipedia

In order to meet the qualifications to take the HCHS exam, students must

score according to the passing score designated for that test year. HCHS changes the passing score yearly. Students must submit an official copy of their scores along with their applications to take the exam for consideration.

For entrance to the January 7, 2011 exam students (6th-grade only) must have taken the New Your State exams and have the following scores: ELA (English Language Arts test) 700, and 724 on their 5th-grade exams. Lower scores will not be considered. For those who are taking the standardized tests of either parochial or independent schools, test scores must be in the 90th national percentile. If a student is attending home school, the principal of the home school will prove the student's eligibility for entrance to the exam by sending a letter to HCHS showing the student's academic achievements. These scores must be submitted directly to the HCHS administrative office. Any score below the minimum passing score will be rejected. HCHS only accepts official copies from a school administrator. Parents who wish to obtain a copy of their child's score may do so by contacting HCHSAdmit@hccs.hunter.cuny.edu.

If the student qualifies for the HCHS admissions test an application can be downloaded at the Hunter College High School Admissions Web site. Students should be aware that they should send in their application even if their school does not provide assistance with the HCHS enrollment process. The application fee is $65 and must be paid by money order only. Any other form of payment will be returned to the student.

A student who has not taken the New York standardized tests and does not have a 5th-grade score may apply to take the Qualifying Exam under recommendation of a school administrator. The fee for this exam is $65 and must be paid upon applying. If the student is denied, he or she will be refunded the fee. If approved, the student will pay $50 for math or $50 for reading separately, or $80 for both tests.

If a student cannot afford to pay the application fees, then a fee waiver can be submitted and will only be considered when accompanied by a 2009 1040 tax form (from both parents or guardians) to prove financial hardship. In addition families must submit any information regarding assets or savings accounts that could disqualify a fee waiver.

The deadline to submit the Hunter College High School Admissions Test application is November 1, 2010 at 4pm. No Exceptions; any application submitted after this time will be rejected. It is recommended that applications and supporting documents are sent using a return receipt or other USPS certification method to ensure that the application was received. HCHS assumes no responsibility for any lost documents. Students are advised to take extra precaution to make sure that their application reaches the HCHS office before the deadline.

HCHS has a waiting list of 25 to 30 students in the event that accepted students are unable to take the exam. This waiting list is for 7th-grade only.

If accepted, students will receive Entrance Exam tickets and exam location in early December. The test day is Friday, January 7, 2011 with a snow date scheduled for January 14, 2011. Students are allotted three hours to complete the exam. There are no make-up dates, and scheduling another date or time is not allowed. The Entrance Exam has two multiple-choice parts covering English, math and writing. Students who pass the exam are given one week to accept or decline. Upon acceptance, parents and students can participate in Hunter Day an orientation for new parents and students.

If a student requires special accommodation, a copy of the 504 or IEP (Individualized Education Program) must be submitted with his or her application and fee. If granted special accommodations, these arrangements will be discussed and planned prior to test day.

Applications, scores, fees and fee waiver forms must be submitted to:

HCHS Admissions

Hunter College High School

71 East 94th Street

New York, NY 10128

Office hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs 9:00am-4:00pm, Wednesday 9:00am-12:00pm. Closed Fridays.

NY State Scholarships For Smart Kids

By Frances Kweller, J.D. on September 9, 2010 5:06 PM | Comments |

In today's competitive job market, a college education is a must, but college is expensive and many families can't afford it. New York State scholarships are governed by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, or the HESC. This system runs all the state-funded scholarships and grants, and also overlooks federal funding, making sure it is properly disbursed. From Upstate to Long Island, and even in Manhattan, the HESC helps students all over the state achieve a higher education.

Thousands of academic scholarships are awarded to gifted students every year through the New York State Scholarships for Academic Excellence. This scholarship offers $1,500 to students as an incentive to study at in-state schools and is renewable for up to four years. The Scholarship for Academic Excellence is offered through high schools to teens who scored highly on their "regents exams."

The New York Lottery also funds a scholarship program for leadership and community involvement. The New York Lottery Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship is awarded to one graduating senior from each New York public school every year. This scholarship funds the student $1,000 for each year of study for up to four years at a state school.

Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships are also available for talented students, but they are not dependant on the student studying in state. Like the New York State Scholarship, the Byrd Scholars receive $1,500 that is renewable for up to four years. This scholarship is offered to students all over the country, and students are chosen based on their ACT/SAT scores, GPA, extracurricular interests, and class rank.

There are many other scholarships offered through the state of New York for academic achievement. The state offers State Aid for Native Americans, children of veterans and for gifted students with disabilities. There are many options for a smart student in New York State, and no child should be without a college education for lack of provision.

Despite the recent turn in the economy, there is still a plethora of available scholarships for all types of students from different backgrounds. Never automatically assume that you are not eligible for scholarship! Instead, take some time out and look at Web sites like www.fastweb.com, www.zinch.com, and http://www.collegescholarships.org/ to see what you are eligible for.

  Even if a scholarship deadline seems far away, be wary of how you spend your time. There are countless stories of how eligible students got locked out of scholarships because too many applicants applied for the same spots (causing the scholarship providers to push back the deadline or completely prevent any new students from applying). The faster you get organized and seek out opportunities, the faster you can win money and prepare for college in the months and weeks ahead.

College Scholarships for High School Tennis Players

By Frances Kweller, J.D. on August 30, 2010 5:33 PM | Comment |

College tuition costs have steadily risen over the past 10 years. Many students are going into debt just to put themselves through higher education. The good news is that there are options to help you afford expensive college costs. If you are an experienced high school tennis player, taking advantage of tennis scholarships is a great way to pay for higher education.

The level of play expected on the collegiate level is more advanced than the average high school skill level. A good way to test your skill level is to participate in college matches or play with friends who play tennis in college. If you think that you are an above average player, then you should begin applying for tennis scholarships. There are just under 2,000 scholarships for male tennis players and 4,000 scholarships for female players offered through the NCAA.

Division I colleges contain the fiercest competition and the most skilled players. If you are an average player, you should apply for Division II schools instead. Division I and II universities are allowed 4.5 scholarships each for men, while Division I are allowed 8 and Division II allowed 6 for women. This means that male tennis is classified as an "equivalence" sport. Scholarship money is often spread out evenly amongst team members, which makes getting a full ride scholarship nearly impossible. Women's tennis, however, is a "head count" sport, making full rides more likely by far.

Tennis is a sport that is steadily growing in popularity, and thus getting noticed by collegiate level teams is getting harder as the years go by. Start working on your college plans early on in your high school career. To increase your chances of getting noticed by colleges, have someone film your matches and send the best ones along with a short bio and essay to schools you are interested in. This increases the chance that schools will see your work and contact you if they are interested in getting you to attend their school. It is also a good idea to attend college tennis camps. This will help you get noticed by coaches and scouts and put your name on their radar, it is also a great thing to put on a resume when applying to college.

The key to being noticed by colleges is to learn how to market yourself. Students make the mistake of thinking that if they are great players, colleges will always seek them out first and make offers. This isn't the case. Even if you are a star athlete, it is a good idea to put yourself out there and be active in starting relationships with different colleges and coaches. Contact the schools you're interested in early and apply for their tennis program and scholarships as early as the fall of your senior year. Taking the initiative in this process will help you go further than just relying on skill alone. It looks great to college recruiters and coaches that you (the student) took the effort to contact personnel while also showing that you hold a strong interest in the school itself. It never hurts to try to take that *extra* step that will set you apart from the rest.

Don't Quit, and Don't Omit, on the New SAT!!!

By Frances Kweller, J.D. on August 19, 2010 9:02 PM | Comments |

What is the highest score possible you can earn on the SAT exam? A 2400. That means it's a perfect score, right? That means you answered every question correctly, right? No way! You can get as many as two questions wrong in every section of the SAT and still get a perfect score. Many students don't realize this and, sadly, do not achieve anywhere near a 2400 because they employed a testing "tip" that is lethal. The advice to which I refer is the suggestion to omit questions on the SAT. This decision, if followed, can kill your chances of getting into the school of your dreams.

Do you want a 2400? If so, you'll have to answer every single question. Don't be afraid of the "guessing penalty," which on the SAT means that for every wrong answer chosen, the test taker will lose a quarter point. I encourage you to answer every question. Remember that no one ever got a perfect score on the SAT by answering only 60 percent of the test. The more questions you answer, the higher your chances of hitting a perfect 800 in each section. If you only answer half the test, don't expect to do better than getting half the score. It's that simple; leaving questions out on the SAT will gravely endanger your chances of excelling on the SAT, and ultimately hurt your chances of getting into top colleges.

Search

Trim Down College Costs!

All About Applying for the 'Hunter' High School Admissions Test

NY State Scholarships For Smart Kids

College Scholarships for High School Tennis Players

Don't Quit, and Don't Omit, on the New SAT!!!

Recent Comments

About Me

Monthly Archives

Ed. Update Blogs

Links

Sign In

Search

Trim Down College Costs!

All About Applying for the 'Hunter' High School Admissions Test

NY State Scholarships For Smart Kids

College Scholarships for High School Tennis Players

Don't Quit, and Don't Omit, on the New SAT!!!

Recent Comments

Tag Cloud

About Me

Monthly Archives

Ed. Update Blogs

Links