Rising College Costs and more on Financial Aid

For anyone who's been looking into colleges, it will come as no surprise that college costs are rising... and rising, and rising some more, to somewhat shocking levels.  In light of this fact, I'd like to take this opportunity to add to the information and suggestions from past posts regarding financial aid.

If you've read my previous posts, you might have noticed that I strongly advocate looking beyond California (or whatever your home state is), and beyond public institutions to expand your choices.  There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States, and each one has a unique way of calculating costs and financial aid awards.  The most important consideration in choosing a college is not the location, the degree programs they offer, the cost.... all of those things are important, but the most important consideration is the fit - how well does the college fit the needs, interests, and unique talents of the student.  Cost is, of course, one factor in that fit, and in many cases a major factor.  You don't want to get through your dream education just to find yourself shackled to crippling debt for a major portion of the rest of your life.  In some cases, it might make financial sense to stay in your home state, in other cases, it might be more affordable to go out of state.  A lot of this depends on the aid offered by your state, and whether or not you qualify for that aid.

But first, a note on community colleges.  I work with high school students, and often hear "I have to go to a community college because I can't afford to go to a 4-year university."  I want to start by saying there is nothing wrong with beginning your education at a community college - it is a great choice for many students.  However, it breaks my heart when a student is choosing this option even though it is clearly not their preference, simply because they feel they have no choice.  Especially when the student is not planning to live at home, in which case (depending on the family's financial situation) it might not be any less expensive to attend a community college.

OK, enough intro - now let's get down to how to keep college costs under control. Most of the rest of this is focused on California residents - if you are not a resident of California, or choose to attend a school outside of California, skip to "Non-California Residents or attending school out of state" below.

California residents

If you are a California resident, and your family income falls in the low to moderate range, you may be eligible for a Cal Grant that will pay tuition and fees at any California public college or university, and some private schools as well (up to certain limits).  There are three types of Cal Grants:

• Cal Grant A: Covers tuition and fees at CSU (up to $5970) and UC (up to $12,192) schools.  This means you could go to Humboldt State or UC Santa Cruz, and not have to worry about tuition and fees.  You still will need to come up with money to cover living expenses, books, transportation, and personal expenses.  
• Cal Grant B: For very low-income students, will provide up to $1,473 for books and living expenses.  After Freshman year, it also covers tuition and fees at the same levels as Cal Grant A.
• Cal Grant C: Pays tuition and training costs at occupational and career-technical schools

More information on Cal Grants can be found on the Cal Grants website.  

What if you want to start at a community college?  How does that affect your Cal Grant?

• Cal Grant A: Your award will be held in reserve for up to two years until you transfer to a 4-year college.  As a Cal Grant recipient, community college fees will be waived.  Be warned, though, many students take more than 2 years to transfer from a community college - make sure to speak with a counselor early and often at your community college to make sure you are on track to transfer within two years.
• Cal Grant B: You can use the $1,473 living allowance to pay for books and other expenses at the community college, but you will use up some of your Cal Grant eligibility.  You are probably better off deferring your Cal Grant until you transfer to a 4-year university
• Cal Grant C: will pay for expenses for technical, career-training programs at some community colleges.
• If you do not initially receive a Cal Grant, or if it takes more than 2 years to transfer, you can also apply for the Cal Grant again when you transfer to a 4-year university.

To apply for the Cal Grant, complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) before the March 2 deadline.

In addition to the Cal Grant, some schools have developed their own ways to make college affordable for California residents.  For example, the Blue and Gold program at UC Davis guarantees gift aid to cover tuition and fees for all California residents with a family income under $80,000, assuming they have financial need (based on the FAFSA, which will generally be the case as long as the family does not have an exorbitant amount of assets). To qualify, you need to complete the FAFSA by the March 2 deadline.

Non-California residents or students attending schools out of state

This advice actually applies to all students, whether California residents or not:

• Complete the FAFSA early.  Some schools award available financial aid funds based on the date of application - first applied, first served.
• Apply for all scholarships and grants you are eligible for - some may be only for $500 or $1,000, but they can add up to a big chunk of aid, and help reduce the amount you need to borrow. Ask the guidance counselor at your school for suggestions on local scholarships.  The applicant pool is smaller and you may have a better chance at getting them.  If your counselor doesn't have a list, check out the websites of other high schools near you - many of the scholarships listed there are probably open to you as well.
• Look into inter-state agreements and tuition exchange programs (see my previous post on the Western Undergraduate Exchange).  If the cost of living is high where you live (e.g. California or New York), you may find it more affordable to attend an out-of-state school that participates in this sort of inter-state exchange program.
• Look at the financial aid/scholarship page for the schools you are applying to.  Many schools have their own in-house source of grants and scholarships.  Some require a separate application.  Check into school-based scholarships as soon as you decide you want to apply to the school - deadlines vary and some are fairly early.
• Don't discount private schools.  Many people panic when they see the advertised cost of some private schools.  In fact, you won't know what it will actually cost YOU until you complete the financial aid application process and see your award letter.  Because some private schools have more gift aid available, it may actually cost less out-of-pocket to go to that expensive private school than it would to go to the "cheaper" public university.
• If you are considering a career in the military, look into ROTC scholarships. The Army, Navy, and Air Force all offer ROTC scholarships in certain academic fields.  The scholarship requires participation in the school's ROTC program (so, of course, they are only available at schools with the appropriate ROTC program), and a commitment to active duty (usually 4 or 5 years) after graduation, followed by several years in the military reserve.  Only pursue this if you have a true interest in serving in the military - not just to get money for school.  By taking this scholarship, you are making a serious commitment to military service - make sure you are ready for that commitment before you apply.

If you do have to take out loans.....

Much of your financial aid offer will probably come in the form of loans.  If you are going to take out loans, be sure to take advantage of the subsidized loans first.  The main difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans:

• Subsidized loans generally have a lower interest rate, and do not start accruing interest until after you graduate.  You do not need to start paying back the loan until you are out of school - even if you go on to graduate school after you graduate.
• Unsubsidized loans generally have a higher interest rate.  Although you don't have to pay back the loan until after you are out of school, the interest DOES accrue during this deferment period, so you will find yourself owing a lot more than you borrowed.

Once you've exhausted your options with subsidized loans, I strongly suggest you look into other financing options before taking on an unsubsidized loan.  Generally speaking, the terms on unsubsidized loans aren't too great, and if you do have to borrow further, you may be able to find a better deal with sources of credit you already have available.

In conclusion....

I wish I could tell you that you will probably be able to find financial aid to fully fund your college education, but I would probably be lying.  A lucky few do get a full ride scholarship, or combination of gift aid that pays all expenses for college.  A lucky few more have enough income and assets that they can pay their own way without any financial aid.  Most students fall somewhere in the middle - they qualify for some gift aid, dip into some savings, and take out some loans.  By being pro-active in your search for financial aid, applying early, applying for all scholarships you even remotely qualify for, and considering all sources of aid available in your state and at the schools you apply for, you can put yourself in a better position to make college affordable.

Online learning - the future of education?

With tuition costs skyrocketing at many colleges and universities, and admission becoming more difficult at selective schools, debate is raging about a new (or perhaps not so new - depending on who you ask) development in higher education - Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). This month, I'm going to take a break from my normal focus on college admissions and financial aid advice and explore a developing trend in higher education.

MOOCs share some features with the old-time correspondence courses - flexibility, independent learning, the ability to access the course from anywhere, on your own terms.  With advancing technology, however, MOOCS add a lot more - video lectures, links to nearly unlimited online resources, including interactive learning tools, and the ability to easily reach many thousands of students.

Arguments rage over the benefits and drawbacks of MOOCs.  For a good overview of the debate, see the following articles:

Napster, Udacity, and the Academy
Venture Capital's Massive, Terrible Idea for the Future of College
The Crisis in Higher Education

For a brief synopsis of the arguments, obvious advantages to MOOCs include:

• They're free
• Timing is usually flexible; you can access and work your way through the material in a way that fits your schedule
• They give access to some great courses developed by outstanding professors at prestigious universities
• They can reach many, many students - sometimes over 100,000 students in a single course
• They provide unprecedented access to higher education, regardless of geography, socio-economic status, ability to pay, or any other demographic feature

Some disadvantages to MOOCs include:

• High dropout rate - in many cases less than 20% of students who enroll complete even the first assignment
• There is little or no connection between the professor and the student
• There are some things a course with a dynamic professor can offer that can never be replicated in online education
• The course relies heavily on student self-motivation to complete (see first bullet point above)
• Quality control can be a problem - some courses have the backing of prestigious universities and are probably a good bet, but there's no guarantee
• They currently offer little or no support for struggling students; resources that might be found in a traditional college class.
• With so many students, there is no way for the professor to give direct feedback to all the students; grading relies on computer-graded quizzes and sometimes peer feedback.

The last point, about peer feedback, is not necessarily a bad thing; it's the way things work for research in many disciplines - the problem is that at the MOOC level, there is no shared level of expertise among the peer reviewers.

For more information on how this process works, see the following video from TED about Massive Open Online Courses:

Recently, the discussion has escalated with the announcement that some courses offered through the online provider Coursera may be eligible for credit.  These include courses from University of California at Irvine, Duke University, and University of Pennsylvania.  Issues of verification of student identity and work completed (proctoring) are yet to be worked out, but this is a large step forward in MOOCs becoming part of the mainstream of higher education.

So, will students be abandoning traditional universities and flocking to MOOCs?  Probably not. However, these massive online courses are sure to leave a mark on the world of university education.  Some developments that are already having an impact on campuses around the country:

• The rapid proliferation of MOOCS is causing advances in the development and dissemination of technology that can be useful in traditional classes as well - incorporating more multi-media and interactive content into university courses
• The large enrollment (hundreds of thousands of students) provides a gold mine of data for research into online education.  In fact, one of the websites offering courses (EdX) was perhaps designed in order to conduct research on student learning as much as to educate the students enrolled in the courses.
• MOOCs give prospective students the chance to try out a course - with little financial or academic risk - before they commit to the school.  They may also provide a good opportunity for pre-college students to experience college level coursework and get a feel for the level of reading and critical thinking they will experience in college.  A word of caution however - not all MOOCs are created equal, and quality control is still something that's being worked out.

One ideal use of MOOCs is for continuing education for mid-career professionals.  Much of the above information was brought to my attention in a MOOC I am currently taking on E-learning and Digital Cultures. 

So, freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, you are not off the hook for college and financial aid applications.  But, if you're interested, you might want to check out some of the course offerings at the following sites providing access to MOOCs (descriptions taken from the websites of the various organizations).  And share this information with your parents - there might be something there for them, too.

Non-profit organizations offering MOOCs:

EdX is a not-for-profit enterprise of its founding partners Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that features learning designed specifically for interactive study via the web.

The Open Learning Initiative (OLI) is a grant-funded group at Carnegie Mellon University, offering innovative online courses to anyone who wants to learn or teach.  Our aim is to create high-quality courses and contribute original research to improve learning and transform higher education.

For-profit companies offering MOOCs:

Coursera: We are a social entrepreneurship company that partners with the top universities in the world to offer courses online for anyone to take, for free. We envision a future where the top universities are educating not only thousands of students, but millions.

Udacity was born out of a Stanford University experiment in which Sebastian Thrun and Peter Norvig offered their "Introduction to Artificial Intelligence" course online to anyone, for free.  Over 160,000 students in more than 190 countries enrolled and not much later, Udacity was born. Now wer'e a growing team of educators and engineers on a mission to change the future of education.

What do you think?  Please feel free to comment on how online education in general, and MOOCs in particular, are likely to affect the future of higher education.

Finding Money for College

Just the process of choosing and applying to colleges is complicated enough, before even beginning to think about how to pay for it.  To help navigate what can be a complicated and confusing process, be sure to familiarize yourself with all of the resources available to you, starting with the following financial aid overview:

There are four basic types of financial aid:

• grants
• scholarships
• work-study
• loans

The first two are basically free money that can be applied towards college, and don't need to be paid back.  Grants are generally based on financial need, possibly subject to certain academic requirements.  Scholarships are usually competitive, may be based on both financial need and academic achievement (measured by GPA and test scores), and may take into account other factors, including demographics, community involvement or student interests.  Work study is a program where the federal government pays part of a student's wages, providing the student a better chance at getting a job on campus to earn money while attending college.  Loans, as the name implies, are distributions of money that need to be paid back eventually.  Loans can be either subsidized or unsubsidized, greatly affecting the total amount that will need to be paid back.  Subsidized loans are a much better deal for students, since they do not start accumulating interest until after the student has graduated from college.  Furthermore, the interest rates are generally much lower than those for unsubsidized loans.

The starting point for all financial aid is the FAFSA - the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. If you are considering attending college, you should fill out the FAFSA form in January of your senior year, regardless of whether or not you think you will qualify for aid.  Although the FAFSA will ask for tax information, you do not need to wait until you file your taxes before completing the FAFSA - submit the FAFSA as soon as you are able in January.  After your taxes are filed, you can go back and make adjustments to your application.  Make sure you are on the correct website - fafsa.ed.gov - there are several look-alike sites that are not the official site.  Remember, this is the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid - if the site is trying to charge you for their services, you are on the wrong website! If you are not yet a senior, but are curious about what type of aid you might qualify for, you can estimate your financial aid using the FAFSA forecaster - fafsa4caster.ed.gov

Other sources to consider when searching for scholarships are the McConnell Foundation Scholarship (http://www.mcconnellfoundation.org/) and the Ford Family Foundation Scholarship (http://www.tfff.org/ScholarshipPrograms/SummaryofScholarshipPrograms/tabid/83/Default.aspx). These are the biggest scholarships in this region (Northern California), and provide up to 90% of unmet need - that is, the scholarships will pay up to 90% of college costs not covered by other grants and scholarships.  This includes not only tuition, but also books, housing and transportation expenses, and all other expenses related to attending college.  Finally, College Options (a community college counseling service located in Redding) offers a wealth of information on financial aid resources: http://www.collegeoptions.org/scholarships.html  Also be sure to contact your high school counselor for assistance with your scholarship search and financial aid application.  Think of researching and applying for scholarships as a job - if you spend 20 hours researching and completing scholarship applications, and you receive a $1,000 scholarship, that works out to $50 per hour!  

Application Season Now Open!

Here we are two months in to fall semester, and it's been awhile since I've posted here.  Things get crazy even up in rural Northern California at the beginning of the year.

If you're a senior (or the parent or guardian of a senior) in California, you're probably finding yourself in the middle of the application onslaught.  With UC and CSU applications due at the end of November, now is the time to get going on those applications.  For your UC applications, you'll need to write thoughtful, insightful essays, and these take some time, especially if you're applying to one of the more selective UC schools and need to make yourself stand out among the avalanche of applications they receive. Applications for the California State University are pretty straightforward, asking for just your high school coursework, GPA, test scores and a short section on extracurricular activities.  Even with the CSU applications, however, don't leave it until the last minute - there may be a glitch in the process, or you might find you need more information and you want to give yourself plenty of time to complete the application accurately.

Although many schools not in the California public university system have later deadlines (January or even beyond), it's good to get your application in as early as possible.  Even though procrastination may seem like a better option in the midst of all your homework and UC/CSU applications, there are several reasons to get your application in early, even if the deadline isn't for awhile.  Some schools in the Western Undergraduate Exchange program (see my former post on expanding your options) only offer the WUE tuition rate to a certain number of students, and once these spots are filled, the WUE rate is no longer available, forcing students to pay the much higher out-of-state tuition rate.  Many schools also offer their institutional financial aid on a first come, first served basis.  So putting off your application could quite literally cost you big.

Finally, if you are not yet a senior, this is a good time to start thinking about where you want to apply, so you can avoid all the craziness (Ok, Probably not all, but at least some of the craziness) of senior year.  Freshman and sophomores should continue working on their long list - all the colleges they are potentially interested in, while juniors should start narrowing down their list to the 5-10 schools they will apply to.  By determining a preliminary list now (though of course it will probably change at least a little), you can create a timeline when all applications are due, and when the application window opens.  Remember, applying early could result in greater scholarship and financial aid opportunities.  You can also start entering info for CSU on the csumentor website - then when it comes time to apply next year, you'll have a good part of the application already done.

So fire up those computers, and let the applications begin!

Campus Visits

If I could choose one piece of advice I could be sure students would follow, it would be to make sure to visit colleges you are interested in applying to.  Now this can be tricky, because I also advise students (especially in California) to look into out-of-state schools while building their college list, so I know the logistics can be difficult and the expenses not insignificant.  Even if you can't visit all the colleges on your list, though, try to make an effort at least to visit your top choices.

Of course, students these days are very savvy with the internet, and every college has information on their website; many even have virtual tours.  What you can't get from the internet, however, is the feel of the campus, the opportunity to see yourself in that setting and really imagine the experience of being there.  Campus tours also give tidbits of information which, while probably available on the website, might not necessarily be something you would find while browsing online.  For example, UC San Diego has the largest study abroad program in the UC system.  The University of Montana dining services runs a garden on campus and tries to source all or most of the food it uses locally.  The beautiful parklike campus of UC Irvine does not really come across in the pictures on their website. Whitworth University (in Spokane) has a program where students can take their professor to coffee (paid for by Associated Students) to help get to know them better.  Seniors at Whitman College (in Walla Walla, WA) get their own studio space to work on their senior project.  All of this information is probably available on the school websites, but I doubt I would have found it if I weren't specifically looking for it.  Many of these factors might be important for a student in choosing where they want to spend their undergraduate years.

Visiting campus usually gives you the opportunity to speak with an admissions officer as well.  For larger universities, this will generally be a large group presentation followed by Q&A; at smaller colleges it may be a more personal gathering, or even a 1-on-1 meeting.  In any case, this is an opportunity to find out what they are looking for in their applicants.  Knowing this can help you decide if the school is indeed a good fit for you, and if it is, it can help you make your application more competitive.

Finally, only an in-person campus tour gives you the opportunity to get a feel for the campus community.  A campus may look great on the internet, but when you get there, you just don't feel comfortable, or the students don't seem all that happy.  Alternatively, you might have a negative impression of a college for whatever reason, but once you get to campus and start talking to the students, your opinion changes.  Another great reason to do a campus visit is the opportunity to talk to current students.  Even if you can't arrange your visit at a time when school is open, most of the tour guides are students and you can ask them about the experience of going to school there.  Be sure to also ask why they chose that school.  I recently completed a tour of 10 colleges, and the students I spoke to who were the happiest almost all said their campus visit was a deciding factor in their choice of school: "Once I stepped on campus, I knew this was it."  So before you make your final decision on where you will spend the next 4 (or 5, or 6) years of your education, go visit - be sure it's a place you want to be.

SUMMER!!!!

Well, here we are at the end of another long year.  Summer is finally here, and the last thing most students want to think about is school.  For those students, I have a bit of advice: take a few weeks to relax and enjoy the freedom, but if you want to preserve some of that freedom and leisure later in life, spend some time this summer thinking about (and working towards) your college plans.

Before I jump in with suggestions on how to do that, let me re-iterate some arguments from my very first post on why you should give up some of your precious summer vacation time to explore college:

• College graduates, on average, earn about $20,000 more per year than students with only a high school diploma.  This is mostly due to a higher rate of pay (rather than working more hours), so you have to work less hours to maintain the standard of living you want => more free time.
• More importantly, you have more options for work - more possibilities available to you and possibly more variety in the places you can get a job => more freedom.

Furthermore, summer is a great time to explore some options because you probably have more time to look into different colleges (on the internet as well as through campus visits) without the stress of homework and tests to study for.  Of course, I am going to suggest you use some of this free time to prepare for the SAT or ACT, but that's different than studying for a chemistry midterm next week.

So, where do you go from here?  Below is my advice for how to spend your summer, year by year, to help minimize the stress of both students and parents (and your counselor!) when the time comes to apply to colleges:

FRESHMEN

If you've just finished your 9th grade year, congratulations!  Not only have you completed an important first step in your high school career, you're beginning to plan for your future.  This is an exciting time - you're in a place where almost infinite possibilities are in front of you.  Your biggest task is to start exploring those options and figuring out a direction for your life.  I don't expect you to decide exactly what you are going to do at this point, but a little direction is a good thing.  During this summer, I urge you to do the following:

• Create a "long list" of college choices.  This list should include any colleges and universities that look interesting to you.  This is like the pre-writing/brainstorming phase of writing a paper - anything goes.  Don't edit yourself.  Don't consider price, admission prospects, or anything besides "does this look like an interesting college?" You'll narrow your list down (way down) later; at this point you're just generating a list of possibilities
• Take some time to spy on yourself.  Notice what you like to do when you have a little free time.  When you're randomly surfing the web, what sorts of sites do you land on?  When you're flipping the channels on TV, where does it end up?  If you have a few minutes (or, now that it's summer, hours) with nothing to do, how do you fill it?  Noticing what you do when you don't have to is an excellent way to determine what your interests are.  Spend some time this summer exploring these interests.
• Try to find some work - either paid or volunteer.  If you're doing volunteer work, see the note above and notice what sorts of things you're inspired to volunteer for.  Make sure to take notes on  what hours and duties you have; your college and scholarship applications will ask for this information
• Begin working on figuring out how much college will cost and how you will meet those costs.  Most colleges have a net price calculator that will give you a general idea of the cost.  Go to Fafsa4caster.ed.gov to get an estimate of your family's expected contribution (what the government expects your family to pay before financial aid kicks in).

SOPHOMORES

You've just finished your 10th grade year and you're halfway through high school.  College admission time is coming closer and closer.  Your focus this summer should continue to be exploring your goals and aspirations, while starting to narrow down your college list (if you started one last year) and prepare for college admission tests.  In addition to the steps listed above for 9th graders, take some time this summer to do the following:

• Continue to add to your "long list" of colleges as you find new places of interest, but you might also start removing some that won't fit your long term goals.  How do you know?  Spend some time on the internet researching the schools on the list. 
• If you haven't already done so, explore some private as well as out of state schools.  Some students reject these out of hand based on financial considerations, but some private schools offer all aid in the form of grants (rather than loans), and some out of state schools participate in interstate tuition exchange programs and may be more affordable than you think (see my previous blog on the Western Undergraduate Exchange for more information).
• If you happen to be taking a trip near some of the colleges on your list - go visit!  Nothing will give you the feel of a college like being on campus.
• Get a job.  Paid or volunteer; either one will give you valuable experience, some good information to put on college and scholarship applications, and possibly some income.  Don't, however, volunteer simply to have something to put on your application - make sure to find something you care about and want to make a contribution to.  It's not just about the applications, your volunteer work should be personally fulfilling and make a contribution to your community.
• Prepare for college admission tests (SAT and/or ACT - if you don't know which to take, see my previous post on testing options).  A wealth of information can be found at collegeboard.org (for SAT) and actstudent.org (for ACT).  Plan to start taking these tests next year, and if you haven't already done so, ask your teacher or counselor if your school offers the PSAT or PLAN when you get back in the fall.

JUNIORS

Only one more year of high school to go!  In terms of college planning, you have the biggest job this summer.  Once fall rolls around, things will get busy with your final academic push of your high school career as well as college applications.  For your own benefit, please spend some time this summer on the following tasks:

• Narrow your long list down to 5-7 college you are planning to apply to.  I encourage you to put at least one private college and one out of state school on your list.  You should also have at least one school on the list you are fairly sure you will get into, along with one or more you consider a "stretch".
• Make a timeline of deadlines for admissions for the school you will be applying to and put these dates on your calendar.  This will make things much easier for you, your family, and your counselor once you get back into the craziness of school.  Once school starts, try to meet with your counselor and share this calendar with him or her.
• Start writing your admission essays, if required.
• Make a list of people you plan to ask for letters of recommendation, if you need them.  When school starts back up in the fall, ask them IMMEDIATELY, so they have time to think about it and write you a good letter.
• Get a job.  The advice I've given to the freshmen and sophomores applies to you as well - this could be either volunteer or paid.  
• Think about how you're going to pay for college.  For the schools on your short list, estimate the net cost of attendance and your expected family contribution (this can be done at fafsa4caster.ed.gov).  This is a really good time to begin planning how you are going to meet the financial demands of college.  Don't let the price of college scare you off though - remember the statistic above on earnings.  The total estimated cost of attendance at many public institutions is around $20,000 per year.  Chances are your cost will be a little less, as most students get some sort of financial aid.  Averaging an additional $20,000 per year in income, your education will pay for itself after a few years of working. 
• Decide if you need / want to take the SAT or ACT one more time.  If so, you'll want to do this early in your senior year so schools will receive your scores in time to consider them in their admissions decision.  If you will be taking the test, visit the college board website (for SAT - collegeboard.org) or the ACT website (actstudent.org) for resources to help you prepare.
• If possible, go visit the colleges on your short list.  Plan to attend an informational session with an admissions counselor as well as the general campus tour.
• Take a minute to congratulate yourself on the hard work you've done so far and experience the joy of the possibilities in front of you.

SENIORS

First of all, congratulations! You've graduated.  Take a moment to bask in the glory of your accomplishments.  Ok, now my advice for you depends on what you've done so far.  If you've followed the list of recommendations above and already been accepted to college, enjoy some time with your family and friends before you head out on your new adventure.  For those of you that don't have your plans laid out, consider the following:

• Some schools still have room for the fall.  To see where you could still apply for fall, check out the following space available list: NACAC Space Available List
• Consider starting at a community college.  California has an extensive community college system with some great schools and very affordable tuition.  Neighboring states have community colleges that participate in the Western Undergraduate Exchange Program, so you can attend at a reasonable cost.  Keep in mind, though, that if you are planning to attend a UC or CSU school, and if you take any community college classes after graduating high school, you will need to complete a full two years of lower division coursework before you can transfer.
• If you are planning to take a year off and apply to a 4-year school next admission cycle, think about what you are going to do with this year to improve your chances of admission.  Look into programs like Americorps that will give you valuable experience, contribute to your community, and provide some funding for your education in the future.

Wow, I think that's my longest post yet.  This is an exciting time for all of you, and I wish you the best of luck!  Finally, in spite of all the homework I've just given you, don't forget to enjoy your summer!

Expanding Your Options

Exploring your options; that's what the college search process is all about, right?  In terms of options, the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE) has some great news for students living in any of the states pictured above - over 100 schools in these states participate in the Western Undergraduate Exchange Program.  What that means for you is that you can study at any of these institutions at tuition rates significantly less than what you would normall pay as an out of state student.

Of course, as with many things, it's not quite that simple.  Not all public institutions in these states participate.  Some only participate on a limited basis (University of Oregon, for example, only takes very few WUE students, and currently doesn't accept WUE students from California).  Some institutions only accept WUE students to certain majors, so you have to look at the specifics for each school. 

If you look at the overall picture, however, there are approximately 150 schools that do participate, and most of them have few restrictions on WUE students.  Last year, approximately 29,000 students participated in this program, saving a combined total of about $223.8 million in tuition.  

At this point, you may be wondering what types of institutions participate in the WUE program.  Participating institutions include both 2-year and 4-year public colleges and universities, except in California and Hawaii, where community colleges do not participate.  Participating schools include:

• University of Alaska (Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kenai, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Mat-Su, Sitka, and Southeast)
• Arizona State University
• University of Arizona
• California State University, Chico
• Colorado State University, Pueblo
• University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
• University of Hawaii, Hilo and Manoa
• University of Montana
• University of Nevada, Reno
• University of North Dakota
• Western Oregon University
• Southern Utah University
• Western Washington University
• University of Wyoming

and many, many more.  To give you an idea of how this works financially, let's take Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington.

Normal out-of-state tuition: $16, 815

WUE tuition rate: $8,815

Including fees, housing, meals, books, etc; total estimated cost of attendance: $22, 793

Compare this to CSU Chico:

Tuition (CA resident): $6890

Total estimated cost of attendance: $23,444

In other words, for a California resident under the WUE program, the total cost of attending Western Washington (out of state) is about $700 less than attending CSU Chico (in state).

I'm not suggesting every California student rush to study at Western Washington University.  I am, however, encouraging you to expand your options, and not eliminate the possibility of out of state schools based solely on price.  

There is no centralized WUE application, students must ask for the WUE tuition reduction (sometimes referred to as a WUE scholarship) at each school they apply to.  For more information, visit the WICHE website: http://www.wiche.edu/wue.

Of course, I do realize I've just made the process of choosing a college that much more difficult by giving you about 150 more affordable options.  I'm OK with that.