ACT Parent : November 2007


November 2007 : Volume 2, Issue 8

Welcome to ACT Parent, a monthly newsletter to help you guide your kids through middle school and high school toward college and a career. We know that sometimes you feel like you're in survival mode. We'll try to make the process a little less stressful.

If you have comments or suggestions, we'd like to hear from you. Contact us at actparent@act.org.

Get the facts about paying for college

One of the most challenging and frightening parts of planning for college is paying for it. But it doesn't have to be.

According to a study by the National Center for Education Statistics, 91 percent of students and their families don't accurately estimate the cost of college. Families tend to overestimate the cost, especially when it comes to public colleges and universities.

The best way to make something less frightening is to gather information from a reputable source. The federal Department of Education's website, Student Aid on the Web, can be that source. At www.studentaid.ed.gov, students can find information on the entire federal student aid process, including information on federal aid programs, tax credits, student and parent repayment options and links to private scholarship sites—as well as the online free application for federal student aid (the FAFSA). The website also provides other general college planning information.

The Department of Education has a variety of resources and programs to help you plan for college. If you don't have access to the Internet, call the Federal Student Aid Center (1-800-433-3243) to find out about the free booklets and brochures for students. Your counselor or public library may also have these publications available.

Top 10 College Application Mistakes

Following are some of the top responses from counselors and admissions staff who shared the most common mistakes on college applications.

Misspellings and grammatical errors
Applying online, but forgetting to submit the application
Forgotten signatures on the application
Not reading carefully and therefore answering incorrectly
Listing extracurricular activities that aren't extracurricular activities
Not telling the school counselor which schools have been sent applications
Writing illegibly
Using an e-mail address that friends might laugh about, but colleges won't
Not checking e-mail regularly for responses from colleges
Letting Mom or Dad fill out the application

Financial aid terms

Following are some key financial aid terms:

Aid package—A combination of aid (possibly including a scholarship, grant, loan and work) determined by a college financial aid office.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)—An amount a student and his or her family are expected to contribute toward the student's education. It is used in determining eligibility for federal student aid.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)—The application required for students to be considered for federal student financial aid. Obtain a FAFSA form or electronic filing information from a high school or college for the appropriate year (usually available in November). The FAFSA is processed free of charge and used by most state agencies and colleges.

Grants—Awards, usually based on financial need, that do not require repayment. Grants are available through the federal government, state agencies and educational institutions.

Scholarships—Awards to students based on merit or merit plus need that do not have to be repaid.

Student Aid Report (SAR)—The information a student will receive approximately two to four weeks after his or her FAFSA has been processed. It will report the information from the application, and if there are no questions or problems with the application, the SAR will report the student's Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Myth of the month

In this and following issues, we'll dispel some common college planning myths students, and maybe some parents, believe.

If your teen says, "There's one perfect college for me and I'll find it."

Here's information you can share:

You may be looking for one perfect school, but there are more than 3,000 two- and four-year institutions in the U.S. You could find more than one that would fit your needs. With so many variables associated with college, it pays to work with a list of schools you like and decide what you can and can't live with. What may seem perfect at the beginning of senior year may not seem so by spring. Visit the schools, research them and make notes of the features you like at each school. Think about how comfortable you feel at each. Keep an open mind and see which school, or schools, reach the top of your list. Make the best choice you can by matching each college's attributes with your interests, abilities and goals. Chances are, you'll be pleased with your choice.

ACT test date reminder

The next national ACT test date is Dec. 8, 2007. The regular registration deadline has passed, but the late registration deadline is Nov. 15. The next opportunity to take the ACT after December will be Feb. 9, 2008. The regular registration deadline is Jan. 4 and the late registration deadline is Jan. 18. Create an account for online registration and test date information. Students registering online should register early to avoid heavy Web traffic and delays.

ACT offers an optional Writing Test. Find out about the Writing Test on the ACT student website, including which colleges require or recommend the test.

The website also provides test prep aids, including free sample test questions, and ACT Online Prep™, an online ACT test prep program. You'll also find test day tips, a list of items to bring to the test, and details on what types of calculators are allowed on the Math Test.