The College Enrollment Process (A Simple Breakdown)
Excerpt from Jumpstart Meeting #18 c/o 2020
An overview of the 5-Steps of the College Admissions Process
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(1) Admission Acceptance
• Required by May 1st – We recommend April 15th for some schools; April 25th for all schools.
For many schools, it’s required in order to get housing information.
For nearly all schools, a deposit is also required by May 1st w/ NO EXCEPTIONS. Non-Refundable Deposits range from nothing to $900.
Some schools like Sonoma State require the HOUSING DEPOSIT at the same time – Makes the Total Deposit $850.
None of these deposits is covered by Financial Aid.
Other early enrollment requirements: New Student Orientation, Parent Orientations – Yes, there is usually a cost! Factor that in with travel to the college – also not covered by Financial Aid.
(2) Visit College
You visit colleges that you will not attend but.....
Please do not attend a college that you do not visit.
Visit colleges WHEN THEY ARE OPEN AND HAVE STUDENTS & STAFF PRESENT!
The need for EARLY narrowing down of choices since most students apply for MANY more colleges than they can visit.
See our college visits on www.westa-eep.org
Sonoma State – Feb 28th
Boise State – March 1st – 2nd
Seattle Pacific – Friday – March 20th
DC – Howard and GWU – April 4th-6th
(3) Receive FA Award
It’s received via email or a portal AFTER acceptance to the university or college.
For CSU, it’s in the STUDENT CENTER of the portal. CSU will tell you to look there.
Usually you will have to ACCEPT the FA Award also! (Done ONLINE also.)
Top reasons for the delay of the FA Award:
School not on the FAFSA (Review Student Aid Report)
FAFSA Verification Not Complete
School FA Office is SLOW
(4) What Will We Owe for College?
EXAMPLE 1:
EXAMPLE 2 — INCOME > $60K – 3 FAMILY MEMBERS
EXAMPLE 3 – INCOME = $55K – 3 FAMILY MEMBERS
Once You KNOW the Cost of the College... How Can You Pay for College?
LAST RESORT: PARENT LOAN FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS (PLUS)
Loan Approved/Disapprove via Commercial Credit Check
Current Interest Rate is 7.22%/ Apply for Loan EACH YEAR of Colleges – not just the first year
Payments can be deferred until after student leaves school/ 120 Months-10 Years of payments
Loan can be for up to the Net Direct Cost PLUS indirect costs/ Make Sure you get enough but not too much
Refund should be directed to come to the parent
Applied to ONLINE at www.studentloan.gov
Some college prefer you apply through their Federal LOAN OFFICER