Muskegon

Opportunity

And College

Survival…

An Introduction

to the Toolbox!

Unemployment & Education

Level

14.1%

9.4%

6.8%

4.9%

0.0%

2.0%

4.0%

6.0%

8.0%

10.0%

12.0%

14.0%

16.0%

No HighSchool

Diploma

High SchoolDiploma

2-yearAssociate's

Degree

4-yearBachelor's

Degree

National Unemployment Rate (2011)

National UnemploymentRate (2011)

Salaries & Education Level

$23,760

$45,540

$55,270

$100,410

$0

$20,000

$40,000

$60,000

$80,000

$100,000

$120,000

Veterinary Assistant HVAC Mechanic Elementary Teacher Optometrist

Careers & Education Level Required

Veterinary Assistant

HVAC Mechanic

Elementary Teacher

Optometrist

Goals of the

College Survival Toolbox

• Demystify the college application process

• Provide general college information that everyone should know before making a decision

• Keep students and parents organized

• Provide resources to help students keep track of their personal college choices

• Accessible in a format friendly to parents, students and mentors (electronic flash drive and/or hard copy can be made available)

Inside the Survival Toolbox

General College Information How Big, How Far

Campus Visits & College Representatives

Application Process Common Application

Credentials

Financial Aid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Scholarships

Reach Schools

On-Target Schools Organize the Chaos

Likely Schools

More Details of What’s Inside

• General Information • College-Going Process Timelines for 9th – 12th Grade

• Map of Colleges in Michigan

• Michigan College Representative Contact Information

• Visiting a Campus Tips

• Campus Visit Report Worksheet

End of Junior Year Checklist

Evaluate your career choices after high school

Explore college and career websites

MichiganCAP.org

Headed2.com

Collegeboard.org

Begin your College Comparison Chart

Visit College Campuses over the summer & Complete a Campus Report

www.youniversitytv.com

Add comments after your campus visit to your College Comparison Chart

Begin your college application essay

Senior Year Checklist

August – September

Start Strong!

Sign up for ACT retake if necessary

Study for ACT retake if necessary

Meet with your school counselor to confirm you are on track to graduate and know what you need to do this year!

Visit with admissions representatives visiting your high school

Visit any additional colleges you are interested in

Continue to work on the College Comparison Chart

Decide where to apply (Include at least 1 Likely School)

Apply for Application Fee Waiver

Start Applications

How Big? How Far?

HOW BIG? HOW FAR? Looking at Michigan Colleges and Universities

College or University Location Approximate

Undergraduate

Enrollment

Approximate Driving Time

from Tri-Cities

Albion College Albion 1,860 1 ¼ hours

Alma College Alma 1,200 2 hours

Aquinas College Grand Rapids 1,480 45 minutes

Baker College of Muskegon Muskegon 3,200 20 minutes

Calvin College Grand Rapids 4,000 45 minutes

Central Michigan University Mt. Pleasant 27,350 2 hours

Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti 18,660 2 ¾ hours

Ferris State University Big Rapids 11,820 1 ½ hours

Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids & Holland 6,600 45 minutes or 25 minutes

Grand Valley State University Allendale 20,280 30 minutes

Hope College Holland 3,300 25 minutes

Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo 1,340 1 ½ hours

Lake Superior State University Sault Ste. Marie 3,370 5 hours

Michigan State University East Lansing 36,330 1 ¾ hours

Michigan Tech University Houghton 5,800 9 ½ hours

Muskegon Community College Muskegon 5,300 20 minutes

Northern Michigan University Marquette 9,200 7 ½ hours

Oakland University Rochester Hills 14,000 3 ¼ hours

Saginaw Valley State University University Center 10,000 3 hours

University of Michigan Ann Arbor 26,000 2 ¾ hours

University of Michigan Flint Flint 5,000 2 ½ hours

Wayne State Detroit 18,600 3 hours

Western Michigan University Kalamazoo 23,000 1 ½ hours

Points to Consider: Some students prefer urban campuses while others prefer rural. Some students want a school far from home while others want to stay close

by. Some students want the anonymity of a large campus while others prefer the personal attention offered at a small campus.

More Details of What’s Inside

• Application Process • Applying Tips

• Sample Common Application

• Credentials You Should Be Gathering

• Sample Resume

College Application Week

Sponsored by

November 4 - 8, 2013

Save the Date!

Admission Information

COLLEGE APPLICATION TRACKER

College/University App Fee Date Applied Accepted Student IDDecision Due

Date

Enrollment

DepositMajor Housing

More Details of What’s Inside

• Financial Aid

• All About Financial Aid

• Loans vs. Grants

• FAFSA Checklist

• How to Complete the FAFSA

• www.fafsa.gov (watch out for the .com scam!)

• Steps to Take After the FAFSA

• Financial Aid Scams

• Scholarship Process & Information (March 1st Deadline)

• Local Scholarship Information

• Scholarship Essay Tips & Sample

• Scholarship Tracker

Free FAFSA Assistance

COLLEGE GOAL SUNDAY

Sunday, February 10, 2013

More Details of What’s Inside

• Organize the Chaos…Save everything

and keep it organized!

• Reach Schools

• On-Target Schools

• Likely Schools

Organize the Chaos

• Student falls below or at the lower end of the middle 50% of admission criteria

• Student falls in the middle 50% and meets all admission criteria

• Student falls above the middle 50% range and meets all admission criteria

Helpful Websites

Career & Interest Exploration

www.headed2.com

College Application Process & General College Information

www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org

www.collegeboard.org

www.michiganCAP.org

www.knowhow2gomichigan.org

For more details or to order your toolbox,

please contact:

Megan Byard, College Access Specialist

Email: mbyard@muskegonisd.org

231-722-3134

31 East Clay Ave

Muskegon, MI 49442