Stephanie Wismer
Andrews Osborne Academy Director of Residential Life
“My child cannot live with that student. They’re just too different.”
“My child needs a single room because having a roommate will be too much change for them.”
“My child needs to live in a specific building because I’ve heard students who live there are happier.”
“My child needs help waking up for class. Can you pop by their room every morning and make sure they don’t sleep through their alarm?”
OK, that last one was just once, but it was memorable! As a former college administrator, I received requests like these from parents of first-year students every year. You may say, “No way!” I can assure you, this is the reality. Others may think, “Helicopter parents! They need to back off!” The purpose of this post is not to shame these parents. I empathize deeply with parents of high school seniors and first-year college students because many of them have one thing in common: they are afraid. Truthfully, why wouldn’t they be? The transition from high school to college is one of the most difficult and all-encompassing transitions students will ever experience. Parents are worried about their child’s ability to manage, adapt, and ultimately, be successful. In my experience, students worry about these same things.
Over the last decade, I have worked in multiple areas of student affairs including admissions, career services, financial aid and university housing. Every year, I witnessed more students struggle with balance and mental health during their first year. In my most recent role supporting a residential campus of 6,000 students, it was evident how quickly transition anxiety can become debilitating. There is a lot of research that explains why the current generation of college applicants, referred to as “Generation Z”, is experiencing more anxiety around the college transition than any generation before them. I will summarize by saying this generation of students is stressed about things both within and outside their control, and experiencing what Psychology Today described as, “A narrowing definition of life success leading to destructive perfectionism and all-or-nothing thinking,” (Hibbs & Rostain, 2018). Although schools try to prepare their students for the next step academically, very few students are adequately prepared for life outside of the classroom.
Today, I serve as the Director of Residential Life for Andrews Osborne Academy, with oversight of 6th-12th grade boarding students from all over the world. Having seen where our students will end up, our Residential Curriculum has been designed to better prepare boarders for this transition and manage their anxiety whenever possible. Our students learn how to live in a community, develop healthy habits, act with greater independence, communicate across difference, and elevate their academic success. Our Houseparents, Faculty Fellows and Proctors all contribute to this mission by fostering meaningful relationships with students, facilitating activities with their houses, and serving as additional sources of support.
Whether or not you have access to a boarding and/or an international community before college, I have some advice for students and parents to ease the transition:
For Students:
Establish a routine now and take your self-care seriously. Most young adults do not know what to do with the excess time they have after high school. That lack of routine impacts their ability to focus, eating and sleeping schedules, and overall ability to function at their best in college. Schedule time for studying, exercising, relaxing, and yes, even sleep. Take those scheduled times as seriously as your school schedule and extracurricular activities. Students who take care of themselves will always outpace those without that same balance.
Ask questions and seek out resources upon arrival! The most successful college students advocate for themselves. Between time and financial management training, success coaching, study tips, and counseling sessions, there is so much available for free on college campuses and in the surrounding communities to support you.
Your college roommate does not need to be your best friend. In fact, in most cases, it is more beneficial if they are not. Your college roommate needs to be someone that you can live well with. Often, that has more to do with when they go to sleep and their noise level preferences than how much friendship boxes they check off.
Conflict is inevitable. Too many first-year students request room changes to avoid conflict and those students typically end up more unhappy than they were to begin with. Before the honeymoon period is over with your new roommate(s), have an honest conversation about how you plan to share space throughout the year. Although it may add to your anxiety in the short-term, this is a best practice that will make life much easier down the road!
Discomfort and personal growth often go together. Please do not measure your success in college (or high school) by how comfortable you can become. Students who only surround themselves with similar, like-minded people and only experience things they already know they like will not grow as much as those who challenge themselves to step outside their comfort zone. Your college may be the most diverse community you have ever lived in, and the more you expose yourself to different people and perspectives, the more you will transform yourself. This is not to take away from the importance of self-care or finding affinity space, but a reminder to embrace discomfort and be open to the wonderfully diverse world we live in!
For Parents and Advocates:
Ask questions and listen. I can understand wanting to solve problems for your child, but what they often need is to feel empowered to advocate for themselves and seek out their own solutions. College is about starting that transition to independence. If they tell you they are upset with how something is going, you can first support what they’ve said with a statement like, “I can see why you feel that way” and then ask a follow up question like, “Have you shared this with anyone at the school?”
Remind them they are not alone. It can take awhile to find true friends, and feeling lonely or homesick during these times is very normal. Sometimes the most helpful thing you can do is to remind your student that they are not alone, and that there is a long list of people at their school that are there to support them. This list may include their RA or another student leader, Hall Director, Advisor, or counselors on campus, depending upon what they need.
There is no “best” residence hall on campus and your student will learn to wake up on their own. For the record, no college I have worked for has ever had a “best” residence hall. In my experience, some of the happiest and most tight-knit communities were formed in older buildings with cinder block walls and community bathrooms. If your student has a good relationship with their roommate, the shape, size and age of their room will quickly become inconsequential to their happiness. Regarding my other note above, I promise you that no college administrator I’ve ever known would agree to wake your child up every morning. Just make sure they have a loud alarm and let them take it from there!
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
The Economics of Higher Education: When and How to Start Saving so it's Affordable
Melissa Nipper
Director of College Counseling at Andrews Osborne Academy
Director of College Counseling at Andrews Osborne Academy
HOW WILL I PAY FOR COLLEGE?
According to the Wall Street Journal, the average college graduate’s student loan debt is at a whopping $37,172 and that’s just the average! The most recent data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows the overall student loan debt in America hovering just over $1.3 trillion. Trillion!
We all want our kids to go to college debt free (for them AND for us!). But how can we make this possible? What are the ways to pay for college? Well, read on and find out.
First of all: KNOW WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD! No school, no matter how elite, is worth graduating with hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt! Parents and student NEED to have a conversation about paying for college well in advance of May 1st- the National college ‘commitment day’.
Is there a college fund? How much can parents pay per year...how much are parents willing to pay per year? Start the conversation with your high school student now!
Second, make sure to take care of yourself first- pay off debts, pay your mortgage, pay into your retirement fund. Don’t forget to take care of YOUR future and your own money goals before saving for college for your child.
Finally, know how much college may cost for your child. If you can estimate this, then you will have a better understanding of just how much you will need to save and can make a well thought out plan from there.
The first step toward getting a realistic understanding of how much a college or university will cost is to use the Net Price Calculator and Estimated Family Contribution Calculator. Many colleges and universities use the College Board’s Net Price Calculator and EFC calculator to estimate how much the student’s family will be expected to contribute for the year. Other colleges and universities have developed their own net price and estimated family contribution calculators.
The Net Price Calculator is a tool that helps you estimate your “net price” (net price= what you will be expected to pay at a specific college or university for one year minus any grants or scholarships for which you might be eligible). The EFC is the expected contribution each family is deemed able to provide each year towards the cost of college.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The Net Price Calculator looks at the “sticker price” of a college, uses your financial information (which you enter), and then estimates the amount of money your family would be expected to contribute to the cost of college. The Net Price Calculator also evaluates your eligibility for financial aid.
Remember—it is possible that a college with a high sticker price might end up costing less than a college with a low sticker price, and the Net Price Calculator can help you to estimate “financial fit” at a variety of colleges and universities.
Because it can be tricky to find the Net Price Calculator on each school’s website, I suggest you consult this list of schools with links to their Net Price Calculators, compiled by U.S. News & World Report.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID?
NEED BASED:
Loans: these have to be paid back to the lender
- Federal aid offers direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans. The difference between these two loans is that subsidized loans are based on financial need and the interest does not accrue while the student is in college, as the interest is paid by the federal government. Interest begins accruing for Direct Unsubsidized Loans as soon as the loan is taken out.
- PLUS Loans: This is a fixed rate federal loan for parents of dependent undergraduate students. Our advice is to look into other private lending options as well to make sure you are getting the best interest rate available.
Grants: A Grant is money the government provides for students who need it to pay for college. Grants, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid. Eligible students receive a specified amount each year under this program.
Work Study: Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student’s course of study.
MERIT BASED:
Scholarships are also money awarded that does not need to be repaid. Scholarships can be awarded based on academics, special talents, leadership, athletics, or other aspects that specific schools, companies, community agencies, and organizations would like to recognize and reward. Some scholarships at colleges are automatic while others must be applied for.
It is important that you check each school’s website for information about merit aid/scholarships. Some schools might require a separate application and also could require you to submit additional letters of recommendation and additional essays.
- FastWeb is a great scholarship search engine for outside scholarships opportunities. Also, check with any organizations or affiliation groups you or your family belong to. They may have scholarships available.
- RaiseMe enables students to earn micro scholarships throughout high school, starting as early as 9th grade, for doing all the things that best prepare them to succeed, whether that’s getting good grades, volunteering in the community or joining an extracurricular activity.
FORMS
The most common form for financial aid is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is required by every college and university if you apply for financial aid. There is no fee connected to the FAFSA and filing the FAFSA determines your eligibility for Federal financial aid funds, the backbone of most college financial aid programs.
* Note: Both students and parents will first need to register for their own individual FSA ID/PIN numbers. Registering for an FSA ID is the easiest way to make sure the financial aid process runs smoothly as it allows users to electronically access personal information on the FAFSA web site as well as electronically sign a FAFSA.
Prior-Prior Year (PPY) refers to a policy enabling students and families to file the FAFSA using tax information from two years ago. For example, a high school senior planning to enroll in college in Fall 2020 will file the FAFSA using tax information from 2018. The FAFSA opens up annually on October 1st. Students and parents should complete the FAFSA as close to October 1st as possible. Also, many colleges have financial aid deadlines- it is very important to know these!
**Please note: www.fafsa.com and www.fafsa.net are the Web sites of private companies who will try to charge you money to fill out your FREE Application for Federal Student Aid. Avoid these sites!
2. The second most common form needed for financial aid is the College Scholarship Service Financial Aid Profile (CSS Profile). The CSS Profile is what colleges and universities use to determine how much non-government financial aid they can award. Most often, private colleges and universities are the ones to require the CSS Profile, however it is your responsibility to check with your colleges and the official list of CSS Profile schools to determine if you need to file a CSS Profile. The CSS can be filled out beginning October 1st. Unlike the FAFSA, the CSS requirements can differ from school to school (deadline dates, whether it needs to be completed every year, which parent/s need to fill out, etc).
3. The third most common form needed for financial aid is individual college and university institutional forms. Many colleges have online financial aid applications. Make certain to check on the availability of these forms. If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact the college’s financial aid office for assistance and guidance during this process.
After they are submitted online, the FAFSA and CSS Profile are sent to central agencies to be processed and forwarded to the colleges to which you plan to apply. Families complete only one FAFSA and one CSS Profile. Institutional forms, on the other hand, are requested directly from each college and submitted to its financial aid office.
GATHER YOUR PAPERWORK AND INFORMATION
What you need varies by application, but a basic checklist includes:
- Your Social Security Number
- Your Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
- Your federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned. (Note: You may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.)
- Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
- Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
- A FSA ID to sign electronically.
- If you are a dependent student, then you will also need most of the above information for your parent(s)
- Here is a helpful link that will help explain the CSS Profile vs the FAFSA.
SAVING FOR COLLEGE:
Beyond financial aid, loans, and merit based awards and the ever elusive ‘full ride’, having a college fund is the optimal way to pay. But what is the best way and when should you start saving? Well, one answer would be to start saving the moment you find out you will have a child. We all know however that this isn’t always possible or probable. Let’s just say- it’s never too early, and if you can save anything, then it’s never too late to start!
529 PLAN:
There are 2 types:
Pre-Paid Tuition Plans: You lock in current tuition rates at in-state public institutions. If your child decides to go to a private or out-of-state institution, you might receive only a small return on your original investment.
Savings plans: You contribute regularly and rely on the account’s earnings to grow. You take on more investment risk but give your child the opportunity to use the funds at public and private schools nationwide.
- Note that you CAN shop around from state to state. You do not have to automatically get the 529 Plan offered in your home state. Check out this article to help you learn more about 529 plans and which may be the best for you.
EDUCATIONAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS or EDUCATIONAL IRA:
An ESA allows you to save $2,000 (after tax) per year, per child. It grows tax-free! If you start when your child is born and save $2,000 a year for 18 years, you would only invest $36,000. While the rate of growth will vary based on the investments in the account, you’ll likely earn a much higher rate of return with an ESA than you would in a regular savings account—and you won’t have to pay taxes when you withdraw the money to pay for education expenses.
UTMA or UGMA (Uniform Transfer/Gift to Minors Act):
An UTMA/UGMA differs from ESAs and 529 Plans in how they aren’t designed just for education savings. The account is in the child’s name but is controlled by a custodian (usually a parent or grandparent). This person manages the account until the child reaches age 21. At age 21 (age 18 for the UGMA), control of the account transfers to the child to use any way they choose.
WHAT ELSE?
- If a student is considering applying for a school as an early decision candidate BUT is hesitant to do so because of the cost, call the financial aid office and ask if they would be willing to do an early financial read and give you an estimate on what your estimated Family contribution would be.
- 10 Strategies to reduce your 'EFC'- I’m putting this here just in case you want to read it. Game the system? Nah, just an interesting article.
Once all the acceptances come in, award letters are sent and financial aid packages are finalized- that is when the determining factor of where to commit takes place. Make sure to sit down with your child and again, have the conversation about funds and paying for college. Review everything. Don’t’ be afraid to reach back out to a college’s financial aid office to see if they’d be willing to reexamine your aid package and merit awards. The worst they can say is no. But if there is a discrepancy between very similar colleges in what they are awarding you, it never hurts to ask. Also, if something changed affecting finances between the time your child applied to the college and when the award package came in, let them know this information as this could have an impact on the award/aid offered. Best of luck to you. The college search and application process can be really fun! The paying for it part-not so much. However, if you are well informed, then you can be well prepared and hopefully, get through this with minimal financial impact.
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Acting & the Art of Conversation
Darryl Lewis
Andrews Osborne Academy Performing Arts Instructor
As an aspiring young actor, my automatic “go to” audition piece was a song entitled “If I Loved You” from the musical, Carousel. I have always enjoy performing this song because it was light work for an accompanist to sight read, it was lyrical, it was well suited by bass-baritone and I could pop off a solid G4 on any day of the week. When I was asked to perform a song for an acting class as part of a training exercise, I went with my “go to” piece. The performance went well. While the other acting students in the class stood and applauded, the acting instructor placed a bench next to the piano and selected a young co-ed to be seated. The young student was instructed to stare down at the ground. I was then asked to sing the song again while seated on the bench next to her. I was asked to have a simple conversation with her. I was asked not to perform the song for an audience, but simply remove the audience from the equation and have a conversation with another human being. Everything changed.
“If I loved you, time and again I would try to say, all I’d want you to know...Longing to tell you but afraid and shy. I’d let my golden chances pass me by. Soon you’d leave me, off you would go in the midst of day. Never, never to know, how I loved you. If I loved you.” - Billy Budd from Carousel
My usual, powerful high G was now barely audible as words became more difficult to sing. Now that I was focused on conversation rather than performance, the weight and meaning of what I was saying became profound. Many of the performance tricks I used were gone and simple words, melody and two people remained. At the end there was no applause from my fellow students. There was no ovation, only silence. For me, it was a quiet moment that resulted in a powerful acting lesson and an important life lesson.
“Face to face conversation is the most human and humanizing thing we do,” says Sherry Turkie in her book Reclaiming Conversation - The Power of Talk in a Digital Age. “Fully present to one another, we learn to listen. It is where we develop the capacity for empathy. It’s where we experience the joy of being heard and of being understood. Conversation advances self-reflection, the conversations with ourselves that are the cornerstone of early development and continues throughout life.”
We are immersed in technology today. Most have experienced the text message or email that was misunderstood by the person on the receiving end. These technological advances are taking away important skills from our students that only come from face to face interactions. Conversation without the presence of facial or physical expression, inflection or spatial relationships can misrepresent intent. That is why a balance is so important. I have yet to experience a stage play or musical that takes place online as an instant message, (but I’m sure some Millennial is working on it). So, for the meanwhile, onstage we are met with the challenge of looking another human being in the eyeballs and expressing ourselves.
This school year at Andrews Osborne Academy, students have an opportunity to explore this idea in all of our productions: Duets, A concert featuring the music of Jason Robert Brown, Mamma Mia, Barefoot in the Park, Disney’s Frozen Jr. and A Raisin in the Sun. This year also brings back the Phoenix Guest Artist Series with Actors Equity Association’s songstress Colleen Longshaw and Maestro Malik Khalfani.
The idea of how we communicate to our family, our friends, neighbors and our acquaintances is paramount in all of these productions. Through this year of theater, I want to give our young performers an opportunity to share in the same experiences I remember. I want them to understand that everything we do as a performing artist is a duet, a conversation. When we sing, dance or perform a monologue, there is another person engaged in the exchange, whether they are present or implied. The beauty of acting and the beauty of conversation is the verbal and physical exchange of thoughts, ideas, dialogue and approval between two or more people. Disappointingly this beautiful culture of dialogue between people is no longer existentially as strong as it used to be. People seem to not have time these days to engage in a head-to-head, or better yet, a heart-to-heart conversation. Hence failing to realize the importance of acknowledgement of another person. If this season be nothing more than an exercise, then I hope it will prove to be a beneficial life lesson for our young performers. I hope to see you at a show or two. It all begins Thursday, October 10th at 7 p.m.
Andrews Osborne Academy Performing Arts Instructor
As an aspiring young actor, my automatic “go to” audition piece was a song entitled “If I Loved You” from the musical, Carousel. I have always enjoy performing this song because it was light work for an accompanist to sight read, it was lyrical, it was well suited by bass-baritone and I could pop off a solid G4 on any day of the week. When I was asked to perform a song for an acting class as part of a training exercise, I went with my “go to” piece. The performance went well. While the other acting students in the class stood and applauded, the acting instructor placed a bench next to the piano and selected a young co-ed to be seated. The young student was instructed to stare down at the ground. I was then asked to sing the song again while seated on the bench next to her. I was asked to have a simple conversation with her. I was asked not to perform the song for an audience, but simply remove the audience from the equation and have a conversation with another human being. Everything changed.
“If I loved you, time and again I would try to say, all I’d want you to know...Longing to tell you but afraid and shy. I’d let my golden chances pass me by. Soon you’d leave me, off you would go in the midst of day. Never, never to know, how I loved you. If I loved you.” - Billy Budd from Carousel
My usual, powerful high G was now barely audible as words became more difficult to sing. Now that I was focused on conversation rather than performance, the weight and meaning of what I was saying became profound. Many of the performance tricks I used were gone and simple words, melody and two people remained. At the end there was no applause from my fellow students. There was no ovation, only silence. For me, it was a quiet moment that resulted in a powerful acting lesson and an important life lesson.
“Face to face conversation is the most human and humanizing thing we do,” says Sherry Turkie in her book Reclaiming Conversation - The Power of Talk in a Digital Age. “Fully present to one another, we learn to listen. It is where we develop the capacity for empathy. It’s where we experience the joy of being heard and of being understood. Conversation advances self-reflection, the conversations with ourselves that are the cornerstone of early development and continues throughout life.”
We are immersed in technology today. Most have experienced the text message or email that was misunderstood by the person on the receiving end. These technological advances are taking away important skills from our students that only come from face to face interactions. Conversation without the presence of facial or physical expression, inflection or spatial relationships can misrepresent intent. That is why a balance is so important. I have yet to experience a stage play or musical that takes place online as an instant message, (but I’m sure some Millennial is working on it). So, for the meanwhile, onstage we are met with the challenge of looking another human being in the eyeballs and expressing ourselves.
This school year at Andrews Osborne Academy, students have an opportunity to explore this idea in all of our productions: Duets, A concert featuring the music of Jason Robert Brown, Mamma Mia, Barefoot in the Park, Disney’s Frozen Jr. and A Raisin in the Sun. This year also brings back the Phoenix Guest Artist Series with Actors Equity Association’s songstress Colleen Longshaw and Maestro Malik Khalfani.
The idea of how we communicate to our family, our friends, neighbors and our acquaintances is paramount in all of these productions. Through this year of theater, I want to give our young performers an opportunity to share in the same experiences I remember. I want them to understand that everything we do as a performing artist is a duet, a conversation. When we sing, dance or perform a monologue, there is another person engaged in the exchange, whether they are present or implied. The beauty of acting and the beauty of conversation is the verbal and physical exchange of thoughts, ideas, dialogue and approval between two or more people. Disappointingly this beautiful culture of dialogue between people is no longer existentially as strong as it used to be. People seem to not have time these days to engage in a head-to-head, or better yet, a heart-to-heart conversation. Hence failing to realize the importance of acknowledgement of another person. If this season be nothing more than an exercise, then I hope it will prove to be a beneficial life lesson for our young performers. I hope to see you at a show or two. It all begins Thursday, October 10th at 7 p.m.
Monday, September 9, 2019
Why Choose an Independent School?
Larry Goodman, Ph.D.
Andrews Osborne Academy Head of School
Generally speaking, schools in the United States are either “public” - funded through taxes and public funds - or “private” - funded through tuition and donations - (excluding those parents who choose to home-school their children). And within the category of “private” schools, there are two major clusters of schools - religious/parochial schools and independent schools. The religious/parochial schools are owned by, or beholden to, a religious organization or creed. The independent schools, on the other hand, are beholden only to their stated mission and their independent board of directors. Statistically, many more families choose public schools (90%) over private schools (10%);1 and within the private school group, many more families choose the religious/parochial schools (87%) over independent schools (11%).2 This effectively means that only 1% of Americans students attend an “independent school.” Given that they are in such a large minority, why DO the families who choose to send their children to an independent school make that choice?
College admission and college-readiness
Graduates from independent schools enjoy a strong edge in college admissions. In “Is there a Private School Advantage in College Admissions,” Dave Bergman notes: “Roughly 95% of non-parochial private high school grads go on to four-year postsecondary institutions compared with 49% of public school grads. And it’s also worth keeping in mind that only 10% of children in the U.S. attend private school, yet make up a disproportionately high percentage of accepted students at elite colleges.”3 Said differently, students who attend an independent (non-parochial private) school are twice as likely to attend a 4-year college/university as public school students - and more likely to do so than parochial/religious school students. Moreover, independent school students have a significant edge in admission to competitive colleges and universities over both public school students and parochial/religious school students.
And because of the small class size and high-caliber academic programs at independent schools, students who go to college from these schools also perform better once they get into college. This can be seen in the time it takes students entering college to graduate with a bachelor’s degree; over a 6-year period, 60% MORE independent school students will have completed their bachelor’s degree than their public school counterparts.4
Student-focused model
Independent schools are able to operate in a student-centered way, while public schools are often limited in their ability to do this due to government oversight and class size. When No Child Left Behind became the law of the land in 2001, one of the unintended consequences was that the educators in public schools were forced to focus on the metrics by which students are evaluated - not on the students themselves. In pursuit of more academically successful groups of students, individual students' needs became increasingly overlooked.
Because independent schools do not receive federal funding (for the most part), they were not impacted by NCLB - and while the public schools were moving away from a student-centered classroom, there was a trend in independent schools (aided by the burgeoning digital revolution) to try and tailor the educational formats and programs to the individual students’ needs. An old term - “differentiated instruction” - was being resuscitated and practiced in the classroom.
Average class size amplifies this difference. According to one writer, public school classrooms in urban areas are 2 or more times larger than independent schools in those same areas.5 So not only were the classrooms in the independent schools unimpacted by the federal mandates from NCLB, the student-to-teacher ratios were significantly smaller, which further enabled “differentiated instruction.”
More Opportunity Outside of the Classroom
The size of the overall student body in independent schools also creates an important advantage. As a rule, independent high schools are significantly smaller than their parochial and public counterparts - often 2 to 3 times smaller. This means that a student’s chances of making the soccer team, or getting a role in the school play, or being a part of the yearbook staff are 2 to 3 times better at an independent school.
This naturally creates a very different culture at independent schools versus public schools. At public schools, the shear size of the student body tends to segregate by interests and talents (the athletes are in one group, the artsy people are in another group, the bookworms are in a different group, and so on). At independent schools, however, the reverse is true. Because the schools tend to be significantly smaller, many students are part of multiple groups. The star of the basketball team can also be in the school play and be part of the school’s Mock Trial team; in fact, the small numbers almost require this kind of participation across groups. And so the culture that develops is one of shared experiences and closeness.
While this is good news for students who know they want to participate in a specific program area, it provides a second benefit. Yes, my volleyball-playing girl will be able to play on the volleyball team at a smaller independent school, whereas she might not make the cut at the large public school, but she will also be stretched by the experience of attending an independent school in a way that she would not be at a public school.
The smaller independent schools provide their students with more options for co-curricular experiences because they have fewer students competing for the same number of positions. The need for student participation across program areas and the culture of “joining” that evolves stimulates a broader co-curricular experience for the students. And, as a result, the students that attend these schools tend to expand their “comfort zones” into areas they may not have otherwise considered.
If you would like to learn more about independent schools, a great place to start is the website for the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).
___________________
Andrews Osborne Academy Head of School
Generally speaking, schools in the United States are either “public” - funded through taxes and public funds - or “private” - funded through tuition and donations - (excluding those parents who choose to home-school their children). And within the category of “private” schools, there are two major clusters of schools - religious/parochial schools and independent schools. The religious/parochial schools are owned by, or beholden to, a religious organization or creed. The independent schools, on the other hand, are beholden only to their stated mission and their independent board of directors. Statistically, many more families choose public schools (90%) over private schools (10%);1 and within the private school group, many more families choose the religious/parochial schools (87%) over independent schools (11%).2 This effectively means that only 1% of Americans students attend an “independent school.” Given that they are in such a large minority, why DO the families who choose to send their children to an independent school make that choice?
College admission and college-readiness
Graduates from independent schools enjoy a strong edge in college admissions. In “Is there a Private School Advantage in College Admissions,” Dave Bergman notes: “Roughly 95% of non-parochial private high school grads go on to four-year postsecondary institutions compared with 49% of public school grads. And it’s also worth keeping in mind that only 10% of children in the U.S. attend private school, yet make up a disproportionately high percentage of accepted students at elite colleges.”3 Said differently, students who attend an independent (non-parochial private) school are twice as likely to attend a 4-year college/university as public school students - and more likely to do so than parochial/religious school students. Moreover, independent school students have a significant edge in admission to competitive colleges and universities over both public school students and parochial/religious school students.
And because of the small class size and high-caliber academic programs at independent schools, students who go to college from these schools also perform better once they get into college. This can be seen in the time it takes students entering college to graduate with a bachelor’s degree; over a 6-year period, 60% MORE independent school students will have completed their bachelor’s degree than their public school counterparts.4
Student-focused model
Independent schools are able to operate in a student-centered way, while public schools are often limited in their ability to do this due to government oversight and class size. When No Child Left Behind became the law of the land in 2001, one of the unintended consequences was that the educators in public schools were forced to focus on the metrics by which students are evaluated - not on the students themselves. In pursuit of more academically successful groups of students, individual students' needs became increasingly overlooked.
Because independent schools do not receive federal funding (for the most part), they were not impacted by NCLB - and while the public schools were moving away from a student-centered classroom, there was a trend in independent schools (aided by the burgeoning digital revolution) to try and tailor the educational formats and programs to the individual students’ needs. An old term - “differentiated instruction” - was being resuscitated and practiced in the classroom.
Average class size amplifies this difference. According to one writer, public school classrooms in urban areas are 2 or more times larger than independent schools in those same areas.5 So not only were the classrooms in the independent schools unimpacted by the federal mandates from NCLB, the student-to-teacher ratios were significantly smaller, which further enabled “differentiated instruction.”
More Opportunity Outside of the Classroom
The size of the overall student body in independent schools also creates an important advantage. As a rule, independent high schools are significantly smaller than their parochial and public counterparts - often 2 to 3 times smaller. This means that a student’s chances of making the soccer team, or getting a role in the school play, or being a part of the yearbook staff are 2 to 3 times better at an independent school.
This naturally creates a very different culture at independent schools versus public schools. At public schools, the shear size of the student body tends to segregate by interests and talents (the athletes are in one group, the artsy people are in another group, the bookworms are in a different group, and so on). At independent schools, however, the reverse is true. Because the schools tend to be significantly smaller, many students are part of multiple groups. The star of the basketball team can also be in the school play and be part of the school’s Mock Trial team; in fact, the small numbers almost require this kind of participation across groups. And so the culture that develops is one of shared experiences and closeness.
While this is good news for students who know they want to participate in a specific program area, it provides a second benefit. Yes, my volleyball-playing girl will be able to play on the volleyball team at a smaller independent school, whereas she might not make the cut at the large public school, but she will also be stretched by the experience of attending an independent school in a way that she would not be at a public school.
The smaller independent schools provide their students with more options for co-curricular experiences because they have fewer students competing for the same number of positions. The need for student participation across program areas and the culture of “joining” that evolves stimulates a broader co-curricular experience for the students. And, as a result, the students that attend these schools tend to expand their “comfort zones” into areas they may not have otherwise considered.
If you would like to learn more about independent schools, a great place to start is the website for the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).
___________________
1Huffpost.com. N. p., 2019. Web. 26 June 2019. Jack Jennings, Former President/CEO Center on Education Policy.
2"CAPE | Private School Facts." Capenet.org. N. p., 2019. Web. 27 June 2019.
3Bergman, Dave. "Is There A Private School Advantage In College Admissions?." College Transitions. N. p., 2017. Web. 27 June 2019.
4Capenet.org. N. p., 2019. Web. 27 June 2019
5"Public Vs. Private Schools: 5 Major Differences." ThoughtCo. N. p., 2019. Web. 27 June 2019.
5"Public Vs. Private Schools: 5 Major Differences." ThoughtCo. N. p., 2019. Web. 27 June 2019.
Monday, July 1, 2019
Making Andrews Osborne Academy Affordable
Rachelle Sundberg
Director of Admission and Financial Aid
Andrews Osborne Academy is committed to making our school affordable to families who qualify. We promote our core value of diversity by awarding $1.4 million in financial assistance to 36% of students who represent a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds. The financial assistance program allows families to apply for a reduction in tuition making an Andrews Osborne Academy education affordable to many qualified students who could not otherwise join our school community.
I will share the most frequently asked questions in addition to the top 10 tips for completing a financial assistance application. I encourage all families to apply as everyone’s financial situation is unique.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Andrews Osborne Academy calculate financial assistance awards?
Andrews Osborne Academy partners with School and Student Services (SSS) in our financial aid process which is available to qualifying students in grades 1-12. Families must complete the SSS Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS). The PFS is a comprehensive application that takes some time to complete. Give yourself the time you need by not waiting until our deadline approaches. The school communicates the financial award decision to you. To make the decision, the school uses the information from the PFS as a starting point and considers the school’s policies, practices, and available budget.
When do I apply for financial assistance during the admission process?
Students must first complete the admission process and receive an offer of admission before financial assistance is determined.
How do I know if my family qualifies?
The basic formula that guides a financial assistance award is:
Tuition - Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = Financial Assistance Award
How is an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculated?
The EFC takes into consideration a family’s unique financial situation which includes these major components:
· Income
· Assets – savings
· Taxes paid
· Family Size
· Number of Students attending a tuition-charging institution
· Cost of Living
· Unusual Expenses
What are the considerations for special situations?
If parents are separated or divorced, both parents must complete the PFS and submit all required documentation to SSS. If a parent files as a single parent and the whereabouts of the non-custodial parent are unknown, a written statement from an attorney, pastor/minister, or other appropriate third party official is needed stating that the child has had no contact with the non-custodial parent for a minimum of two years. The statement must be submitted to the Office of Admission at Andrews Osborne Academy.
Does Andrews Osborne Academy have a loan program?
Yes, Andrews Osborne Academy works with Tuition Solution, an education loan company which offers convenient financing for your child’s education. To apply or calculate payments, please visit tuition solution. You can also call (800) 920-9777 or email info@yourtuitionsolution.com.
What can a family expect from year to year?
Assistance is awarded annually and for one year at a time. All recipients must repeat the full application process each year beginning in October. If a family does not meet the deadlines or follow all the steps correctly, they may not be funded.
How does a family complete the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) Online?
· Go to the SSS Family Portal at https://sss.secure.force.com/familyportal.
· Create your Family Portal account with your email address and a password. If you applied for financial aid last year, login to the Family Portal as a Returning Family using the same email address and password.
· Complete a PFS for Academic Year 2019-2020. You can log out of the portal at any time and return later to finish it.
· Once all PFS sections are complete with green checks, the “Submit & Pay” button activates. Follow the prompts to the payment screen. The fee of $51 is nonrefundable. Once your PFS is submitted, it cannot be withdrawn from the SSS system.
· After you pay for and submit your PFS, you have access to the Family Portal’s “My Documents” tab to upload required documents by their deadlines as part of your application process.
· Need help completing the PFS? Contact the SSS Parent Support Team at (800) 344-8328 or sss@communitybrands.com
What is Andrews Osborne Academy’s SSS school code?
· 1292
What documents are required in addition to the PFS?
· 2017 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ with all schedules and worksheets
· 2017 W2 Form
· 2017 1099 Form (if applicable)
· Schedule C (if applicable)
· Self-Employed Parents: Include all related business forms with your 1040 (Schedule C, Schedule E, 1120, 1065, and K-1)
How are the required tax documents submitted?
· Prepare your documents to be uploaded. Make sure the documents are on your computer and each specific form is saved as a separate file. Remove any security or password protection from your document files.
· Return to the Family Portal and log into your account.
· Select the Academic Year 2019-2020 button.
· Open the “My Documents” tab on the Dashboard.
· On “My Documents,” use the Upload button or hyperlink associated with the specific document name in the "Required Documents" section. Clicking the Upload button or hyperlink leads you through the steps to locate, select, and confirm your file to upload.
· Click “Submit” to complete your file upload. After you do, the date will appear in the “Date Uploaded” column within minutes of the upload. Repeat this process until all required documents are submitted by their deadlines.
Where can you find additional resources?
Families can also visit the school’s website for additional resources:
· Financial Aid Instructions
· NAIS Family Guide to Financial Aid
· NAIS PFS Workbook
· NAIS Financial Aid Resources
Top 10 Tips for Completing Your Financial Assistance Application
1. Complete only one PFS per household. You can apply for aid to any number of schools for any number of children using just one PFS for the same flat fee.
2. Use your legal name. Make sure your name on your Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) appears exactly the way your name appears on your tax documents.
3. Enter whole numbers. When entering numbers, do not enter decimals or cents—simply round to the nearest whole number. Understand that all monetary values must be in US Dollars.
4. Differentiate applicants from dependents. Questions about “student applicants” refer to your children who are applying for financial aid via the PFS. Questions about “other dependents” refer to the children (or adults) for whom you provide support but ARE NOT applying for financial aid.
5. Separate salary from profit. If you are a business owner or farm owner, you will be asked about your salary in the Family Income section. Enter only the amount you actually draw as salary (as reported on your W-2). You will provide information about profit/loss elsewhere in the PFS.
6. Estimate your taxes. We realize most tax forms are not available until late January. If you don’t have your current year’s taxes available, it’s okay to estimate your answers based on your prior year’s tax return.
7. Upload or mail your documents. You’re strongly encouraged to upload tax documents via the Family Portal. If you need to mail documents, you must include the cover sheet also found in the Portal. Once your PFS is paid for, just login and click on the “My Documents” tab in the upper right corner. Mail your documents at least 10 days before your school’s deadline.
8. Tell your story. Offer explanations when requested, so your story or situation is clear and understandable to those reviewing your application.
9. Calculate debt and unusual expenses. When asked to report your credit card debt, enter your total outstanding balances and use the Notes section to specify the types of purchases you used these cards for. When asked to total your “unusual expenses,” you’ll find a list of the types of expenses you should and should not include.
10. Be honest. Take time to carefully consider how much you think you can pay towards tuition on your own. Make a budget of income and expenses and see how much you can include for school costs.
Questions about Andrews Osborne Academy’s Financial Assistance Program?
Rachelle Sundberg, Director of Admission & Financial Aid at (440) 942-3600 ext. 114 or RSundberg@AndrewsOsborne.org
Director of Admission and Financial Aid
Andrews Osborne Academy is committed to making our school affordable to families who qualify. We promote our core value of diversity by awarding $1.4 million in financial assistance to 36% of students who represent a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds. The financial assistance program allows families to apply for a reduction in tuition making an Andrews Osborne Academy education affordable to many qualified students who could not otherwise join our school community.
I will share the most frequently asked questions in addition to the top 10 tips for completing a financial assistance application. I encourage all families to apply as everyone’s financial situation is unique.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Andrews Osborne Academy calculate financial assistance awards?
Andrews Osborne Academy partners with School and Student Services (SSS) in our financial aid process which is available to qualifying students in grades 1-12. Families must complete the SSS Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS). The PFS is a comprehensive application that takes some time to complete. Give yourself the time you need by not waiting until our deadline approaches. The school communicates the financial award decision to you. To make the decision, the school uses the information from the PFS as a starting point and considers the school’s policies, practices, and available budget.
When do I apply for financial assistance during the admission process?
Students must first complete the admission process and receive an offer of admission before financial assistance is determined.
How do I know if my family qualifies?
The basic formula that guides a financial assistance award is:
Tuition - Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = Financial Assistance Award
How is an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculated?
The EFC takes into consideration a family’s unique financial situation which includes these major components:
· Income
· Assets – savings
· Taxes paid
· Family Size
· Number of Students attending a tuition-charging institution
· Cost of Living
· Unusual Expenses
What are the considerations for special situations?
If parents are separated or divorced, both parents must complete the PFS and submit all required documentation to SSS. If a parent files as a single parent and the whereabouts of the non-custodial parent are unknown, a written statement from an attorney, pastor/minister, or other appropriate third party official is needed stating that the child has had no contact with the non-custodial parent for a minimum of two years. The statement must be submitted to the Office of Admission at Andrews Osborne Academy.
Does Andrews Osborne Academy have a loan program?
Yes, Andrews Osborne Academy works with Tuition Solution, an education loan company which offers convenient financing for your child’s education. To apply or calculate payments, please visit tuition solution. You can also call (800) 920-9777 or email info@yourtuitionsolution.com.
What can a family expect from year to year?
Assistance is awarded annually and for one year at a time. All recipients must repeat the full application process each year beginning in October. If a family does not meet the deadlines or follow all the steps correctly, they may not be funded.
How does a family complete the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) Online?
· Go to the SSS Family Portal at https://sss.secure.force.com/familyportal.
· Create your Family Portal account with your email address and a password. If you applied for financial aid last year, login to the Family Portal as a Returning Family using the same email address and password.
· Complete a PFS for Academic Year 2019-2020. You can log out of the portal at any time and return later to finish it.
· Once all PFS sections are complete with green checks, the “Submit & Pay” button activates. Follow the prompts to the payment screen. The fee of $51 is nonrefundable. Once your PFS is submitted, it cannot be withdrawn from the SSS system.
· After you pay for and submit your PFS, you have access to the Family Portal’s “My Documents” tab to upload required documents by their deadlines as part of your application process.
· Need help completing the PFS? Contact the SSS Parent Support Team at (800) 344-8328 or sss@communitybrands.com
What is Andrews Osborne Academy’s SSS school code?
· 1292
What documents are required in addition to the PFS?
· 2017 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ with all schedules and worksheets
· 2017 W2 Form
· 2017 1099 Form (if applicable)
· Schedule C (if applicable)
· Self-Employed Parents: Include all related business forms with your 1040 (Schedule C, Schedule E, 1120, 1065, and K-1)
How are the required tax documents submitted?
· Prepare your documents to be uploaded. Make sure the documents are on your computer and each specific form is saved as a separate file. Remove any security or password protection from your document files.
· Return to the Family Portal and log into your account.
· Select the Academic Year 2019-2020 button.
· Open the “My Documents” tab on the Dashboard.
· On “My Documents,” use the Upload button or hyperlink associated with the specific document name in the "Required Documents" section. Clicking the Upload button or hyperlink leads you through the steps to locate, select, and confirm your file to upload.
· Click “Submit” to complete your file upload. After you do, the date will appear in the “Date Uploaded” column within minutes of the upload. Repeat this process until all required documents are submitted by their deadlines.
Where can you find additional resources?
Families can also visit the school’s website for additional resources:
· Financial Aid Instructions
· NAIS Family Guide to Financial Aid
· NAIS PFS Workbook
· NAIS Financial Aid Resources
Top 10 Tips for Completing Your Financial Assistance Application
1. Complete only one PFS per household. You can apply for aid to any number of schools for any number of children using just one PFS for the same flat fee.
2. Use your legal name. Make sure your name on your Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) appears exactly the way your name appears on your tax documents.
3. Enter whole numbers. When entering numbers, do not enter decimals or cents—simply round to the nearest whole number. Understand that all monetary values must be in US Dollars.
4. Differentiate applicants from dependents. Questions about “student applicants” refer to your children who are applying for financial aid via the PFS. Questions about “other dependents” refer to the children (or adults) for whom you provide support but ARE NOT applying for financial aid.
5. Separate salary from profit. If you are a business owner or farm owner, you will be asked about your salary in the Family Income section. Enter only the amount you actually draw as salary (as reported on your W-2). You will provide information about profit/loss elsewhere in the PFS.
6. Estimate your taxes. We realize most tax forms are not available until late January. If you don’t have your current year’s taxes available, it’s okay to estimate your answers based on your prior year’s tax return.
7. Upload or mail your documents. You’re strongly encouraged to upload tax documents via the Family Portal. If you need to mail documents, you must include the cover sheet also found in the Portal. Once your PFS is paid for, just login and click on the “My Documents” tab in the upper right corner. Mail your documents at least 10 days before your school’s deadline.
8. Tell your story. Offer explanations when requested, so your story or situation is clear and understandable to those reviewing your application.
9. Calculate debt and unusual expenses. When asked to report your credit card debt, enter your total outstanding balances and use the Notes section to specify the types of purchases you used these cards for. When asked to total your “unusual expenses,” you’ll find a list of the types of expenses you should and should not include.
10. Be honest. Take time to carefully consider how much you think you can pay towards tuition on your own. Make a budget of income and expenses and see how much you can include for school costs.
Questions about Andrews Osborne Academy’s Financial Assistance Program?
Rachelle Sundberg, Director of Admission & Financial Aid at (440) 942-3600 ext. 114 or RSundberg@AndrewsOsborne.org
Friday, May 17, 2019
The Economics of Higher Education: When and How to Start Saving So It's Affordable
Melissa Nipper
Director of College Counseling
HOW WILL I PAY FOR COLLEGE?
According to the Wall Street Journal, the average college graduate’s student loan debt is at a whopping $37,172 and that’s just the average! The most recent data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows the overall student loan debt in America hovering just over $1.3 trillion. Trillion!
We all want our kids to go to college debt free (for them AND for us!). But how can we make this possible? What are the ways to pay for college? Well, read on and find out.
First of all: KNOW WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD! No school, no matter how elite, is worth graduating with hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt! Parents and students NEED to have a conversation about paying for college well in advance of May 1st- the National college ‘commitment day’.
Is there a college fund? How much can parents pay per year...how much are parents willing to pay per year? Start the conversation with your high school student now!
Second, make sure to take care of yourself first- pay off debts, pay your mortgage, pay into your retirement fund. Don’t forget to take care of YOUR future and your own money goals before saving for college for your child.
Finally, know how much college may cost for your child. If you can estimate this, then you will have a better understanding of just how much you will need to save and can make a well thought out plan from there.
The first step toward getting a realistic understanding of how much a college or university will cost is to use the Net Price Calculator and Estimated Family Contribution Calculator. Many colleges and universities use the College Board’s Net Price Calculator and EFC calculator to estimate how much the student’s family will be expected to contribute for the year. Other colleges and universities have developed their own net price and estimated family contribution calculators.
The Net Price Calculator is a tool that helps you estimate your “net price” (net price = what you will be expected to pay at a specific college or university for one year minus any grants or scholarships for which you might be eligible). The EFC is the expected contribution each family is deemed able to provide each year towards the cost of college.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The Net Price Calculator looks at the “sticker price” of a college, uses your financial information (which you enter), and then estimates the amount of money your family would be expected to contribute to the cost of college. The Net Price Calculator also evaluates your eligibility for financial aid.
Remember - it is possible that a college with a high sticker price might end up costing less than a college with a low sticker price, and the Net Price Calculator can help you to estimate “financial fit” at a variety of colleges and universities.
Because it can be tricky to find the Net Price Calculator on each school’s website, I suggest you consult this list of schools with links to their Net Price Calculators, compiled by U.S. News & World Report.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID?
NEED BASED:
Loans: these have to be paid back to the lender
Federal aid offers Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans. The difference between these two loans is that subsidized loans are based on financial need and the interest does not accrue while the student is in college, as the interest is paid by the federal government. Interest begins accruing for Direct Unsubsidized Loans as soon as the loan is taken out.
PLUS Loans: This is a fixed rate federal loan for parents of dependent undergraduate students. Our advice is to look into other private lending options as well to make sure you are getting the best interest rate available.
Grants: A Grant is money the government provides for students who need it to pay for college. Grants, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid. Eligible students receive a specified amount each year under this program.
Work Study: Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student’s course of study.
MERIT BASED:
Scholarships are also money awarded that does not need to be repaid. Scholarships can be awarded based on academics, special talents, leadership, athletics, or other aspects that specific schools, companies, community agencies, and organizations would like to recognize and reward. Some scholarships at colleges are automatic while others must be applied for.
It is important that you check each school’s website for information about merit aid/scholarships. Some schools might require a separate application and also could require you to submit additional letters of recommendation and additional essays.
FastWeb is a great scholarship search engine for outside scholarship opportunities. Also, check with any organizations or affiliation groups you or your family belong to. They may have scholarships available.
RaiseMe enables students to earn micro scholarships throughout high school, starting as early as 9th grade, for doing all the things that best prepare them to succeed, whether that’s getting good grades, volunteering in the community or joining an extracurricular activity.
FORMS
The most common form for financial aid is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is required by every college and university if you apply for financial aid. There is no fee connected to the FAFSA and filing the FAFSA determines your eligibility for Federal financial aid funds, the backbone of most college financial aid programs.
* Note: Both students and parents will first need to register for their own individual FSA ID/PIN numbers. Registering for an FSA ID is the easiest way to make sure the financial aid process runs smoothly as it allows users to electronically access personal information on the FAFSA web site as well as electronically sign a FAFSA.
Prior-Prior Year (PPY) refers to a policy enabling students and families to file the FAFSA using tax information from two years ago. For example, a high school senior planning to enroll in college in Fall 2020 will file the FAFSA using tax information from 2018. The FAFSA opens up annually on October 1st. Students and parents should complete the FAFSA as close to October 1st as possible. Also, many colleges have financial aid deadlines- it is very important to know these!
**Please note: www.fafsa.com and www.fafsa.net are the Web sites of private companies who will try to charge you money to fill out your FREE Application for Federal Student Aid. Avoid these sites!
2. The second most common form needed for financial aid is the College Scholarship Service Financial Aid Profile (CSS Profile). The CSS Profile is what colleges and universities use to determine how much non-government financial aid they can award. Most often, private colleges and universities are the ones to require the CSS Profile, however it is your responsibility to check with your colleges and the official list of CSS Profile schools to determine if you need to file a CSS Profile. The CSS can be filled out beginning October 1st. Unlike the FAFSA, the CSS requirements can differ from school to school (deadline dates, whether it needs to be completed every year, which parent/s need to fill out, etc.).
3. The third most common form needed for financial aid is individual college and university institutional forms. Many colleges have online financial aid applications. Make certain to check on the availability of these forms. If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact the college’s financial aid office for assistance and guidance during this process.
After they are submitted online, the FAFSA and CSS Profile are sent to central agencies to be processed and forwarded to the colleges to which you plan to apply. Families complete only one FAFSA and one CSS Profile. Institutional forms, on the other hand, are requested directly from each college and submitted to its financial aid office.
GATHER YOUR PAPERWORK AND INFORMATION
What you need varies by application, but a basic checklist includes:
SAVING FOR COLLEGE
Beyond financial aid, loans, and merit based awards and the ever elusive ‘full ride’, having a college fund is the optimal way to pay. But what is the best way and when should you start saving? Well, one answer would be to start saving the moment you find out you will have a child. We all know however that this isn’t always possible or probable. Let’s just say- it’s never too early, and if you can save anything, then it’s never too late to start!
529 PLAN:
There are 2 types:
Pre-Paid Tuition Plans: You lock in current tuition rates at in-state public institutions. If your child decides to go to a private or out-of-state institution, you might receive only a small return on your original investment.
Savings plans: You contribute regularly and rely on the account’s earnings to grow. You take on more investment risk but give your child the opportunity to use the funds at public and private schools nationwide.
Note that you CAN shop around from state to state. You do not have to automatically get the 529 Plan offered in your home state. Check out this article to help you learn more about 529 plans and which may be the best for you.
EDUCATIONAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS or EDUCATIONAL IRA:
An ESA allows you to save $2,000 (after tax) per year, per child. It grows tax-free! If you start when your child is born and save $2,000 a year for 18 years, you would only invest $36,000. While the rate of growth will vary based on the investments in the account, you’ll likely earn a much higher rate of return with an ESA than you would in a regular savings account—and you won’t have to pay taxes when you withdraw the money to pay for education expenses.
UTMA or UGMA (Uniform Transfer/Gift to Minors Act):
An UTMA/UGMA differs from ESAs and 529 Plans in how they aren’t designed just for education savings. The account is in the child’s name but is controlled by a custodian (usually a parent or grandparent). This person manages the account until the child reaches age 21. At age 21 (age 18 for the UGMA), control of the account transfers to the child to use any way they choose.
WHAT ELSE?
If a student is considering applying for a school as an early decision candidate BUT is hesitant to do so because of the cost, call the financial aid office and ask if they would be willing to do an early financial read and give you an estimate on what your estimated family contribution would be.
10 Strategies to reduce your "EFC"- I’m putting this here just in case you want to read it. Game the system? Nah, just an interesting article.
Once all the acceptances come in, award letters are sent and financial aid packages are finalized- that is when the determining factor of where to commit takes place. Make sure to sit down with your child and again, have the conversation about funds and paying for college. Review everything. Don’t be afraid to reach back out to a college’s financial aid office to see if they’d be willing to reexamine your aid package and merit awards. The worst they can say is no. But if there is a discrepancy between very similar colleges in what they are awarding you, it never hurts to ask. Also, if something changed affecting finances between the time your child applied to the college and when the award package came in, let them know this information as this could have an impact on the award/aid offered. Best of luck to you. The college search and application process can be really fun! The paying for it part-not so much. However, if you are well informed, then you can be well prepared and hopefully, get through this with minimal financial impact.
Director of College Counseling
HOW WILL I PAY FOR COLLEGE?
According to the Wall Street Journal, the average college graduate’s student loan debt is at a whopping $37,172 and that’s just the average! The most recent data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows the overall student loan debt in America hovering just over $1.3 trillion. Trillion!
We all want our kids to go to college debt free (for them AND for us!). But how can we make this possible? What are the ways to pay for college? Well, read on and find out.
First of all: KNOW WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD! No school, no matter how elite, is worth graduating with hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt! Parents and students NEED to have a conversation about paying for college well in advance of May 1st- the National college ‘commitment day’.
Is there a college fund? How much can parents pay per year...how much are parents willing to pay per year? Start the conversation with your high school student now!
Second, make sure to take care of yourself first- pay off debts, pay your mortgage, pay into your retirement fund. Don’t forget to take care of YOUR future and your own money goals before saving for college for your child.
Finally, know how much college may cost for your child. If you can estimate this, then you will have a better understanding of just how much you will need to save and can make a well thought out plan from there.
The first step toward getting a realistic understanding of how much a college or university will cost is to use the Net Price Calculator and Estimated Family Contribution Calculator. Many colleges and universities use the College Board’s Net Price Calculator and EFC calculator to estimate how much the student’s family will be expected to contribute for the year. Other colleges and universities have developed their own net price and estimated family contribution calculators.
The Net Price Calculator is a tool that helps you estimate your “net price” (net price = what you will be expected to pay at a specific college or university for one year minus any grants or scholarships for which you might be eligible). The EFC is the expected contribution each family is deemed able to provide each year towards the cost of college.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The Net Price Calculator looks at the “sticker price” of a college, uses your financial information (which you enter), and then estimates the amount of money your family would be expected to contribute to the cost of college. The Net Price Calculator also evaluates your eligibility for financial aid.
Remember - it is possible that a college with a high sticker price might end up costing less than a college with a low sticker price, and the Net Price Calculator can help you to estimate “financial fit” at a variety of colleges and universities.
Because it can be tricky to find the Net Price Calculator on each school’s website, I suggest you consult this list of schools with links to their Net Price Calculators, compiled by U.S. News & World Report.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID?
NEED BASED:
Loans: these have to be paid back to the lender
Federal aid offers Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans. The difference between these two loans is that subsidized loans are based on financial need and the interest does not accrue while the student is in college, as the interest is paid by the federal government. Interest begins accruing for Direct Unsubsidized Loans as soon as the loan is taken out.
PLUS Loans: This is a fixed rate federal loan for parents of dependent undergraduate students. Our advice is to look into other private lending options as well to make sure you are getting the best interest rate available.
Grants: A Grant is money the government provides for students who need it to pay for college. Grants, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid. Eligible students receive a specified amount each year under this program.
Work Study: Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student’s course of study.
MERIT BASED:
Scholarships are also money awarded that does not need to be repaid. Scholarships can be awarded based on academics, special talents, leadership, athletics, or other aspects that specific schools, companies, community agencies, and organizations would like to recognize and reward. Some scholarships at colleges are automatic while others must be applied for.
It is important that you check each school’s website for information about merit aid/scholarships. Some schools might require a separate application and also could require you to submit additional letters of recommendation and additional essays.
FastWeb is a great scholarship search engine for outside scholarship opportunities. Also, check with any organizations or affiliation groups you or your family belong to. They may have scholarships available.
RaiseMe enables students to earn micro scholarships throughout high school, starting as early as 9th grade, for doing all the things that best prepare them to succeed, whether that’s getting good grades, volunteering in the community or joining an extracurricular activity.
FORMS
The most common form for financial aid is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is required by every college and university if you apply for financial aid. There is no fee connected to the FAFSA and filing the FAFSA determines your eligibility for Federal financial aid funds, the backbone of most college financial aid programs.
* Note: Both students and parents will first need to register for their own individual FSA ID/PIN numbers. Registering for an FSA ID is the easiest way to make sure the financial aid process runs smoothly as it allows users to electronically access personal information on the FAFSA web site as well as electronically sign a FAFSA.
Prior-Prior Year (PPY) refers to a policy enabling students and families to file the FAFSA using tax information from two years ago. For example, a high school senior planning to enroll in college in Fall 2020 will file the FAFSA using tax information from 2018. The FAFSA opens up annually on October 1st. Students and parents should complete the FAFSA as close to October 1st as possible. Also, many colleges have financial aid deadlines- it is very important to know these!
**Please note: www.fafsa.com and www.fafsa.net are the Web sites of private companies who will try to charge you money to fill out your FREE Application for Federal Student Aid. Avoid these sites!
2. The second most common form needed for financial aid is the College Scholarship Service Financial Aid Profile (CSS Profile). The CSS Profile is what colleges and universities use to determine how much non-government financial aid they can award. Most often, private colleges and universities are the ones to require the CSS Profile, however it is your responsibility to check with your colleges and the official list of CSS Profile schools to determine if you need to file a CSS Profile. The CSS can be filled out beginning October 1st. Unlike the FAFSA, the CSS requirements can differ from school to school (deadline dates, whether it needs to be completed every year, which parent/s need to fill out, etc.).
3. The third most common form needed for financial aid is individual college and university institutional forms. Many colleges have online financial aid applications. Make certain to check on the availability of these forms. If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact the college’s financial aid office for assistance and guidance during this process.
After they are submitted online, the FAFSA and CSS Profile are sent to central agencies to be processed and forwarded to the colleges to which you plan to apply. Families complete only one FAFSA and one CSS Profile. Institutional forms, on the other hand, are requested directly from each college and submitted to its financial aid office.
GATHER YOUR PAPERWORK AND INFORMATION
What you need varies by application, but a basic checklist includes:
- Your Social Security Number
- Your Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
- Your federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned. (Note: You may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.)
- Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
- Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
- A FSA ID to sign electronically
- If you are a dependent student, then you will also need most of the above information for your parent(s)
- Here is a helpful link that will help explain the CSS Profile vs the FAFSA.
SAVING FOR COLLEGE
Beyond financial aid, loans, and merit based awards and the ever elusive ‘full ride’, having a college fund is the optimal way to pay. But what is the best way and when should you start saving? Well, one answer would be to start saving the moment you find out you will have a child. We all know however that this isn’t always possible or probable. Let’s just say- it’s never too early, and if you can save anything, then it’s never too late to start!
529 PLAN:
There are 2 types:
Pre-Paid Tuition Plans: You lock in current tuition rates at in-state public institutions. If your child decides to go to a private or out-of-state institution, you might receive only a small return on your original investment.
Savings plans: You contribute regularly and rely on the account’s earnings to grow. You take on more investment risk but give your child the opportunity to use the funds at public and private schools nationwide.
Note that you CAN shop around from state to state. You do not have to automatically get the 529 Plan offered in your home state. Check out this article to help you learn more about 529 plans and which may be the best for you.
EDUCATIONAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS or EDUCATIONAL IRA:
An ESA allows you to save $2,000 (after tax) per year, per child. It grows tax-free! If you start when your child is born and save $2,000 a year for 18 years, you would only invest $36,000. While the rate of growth will vary based on the investments in the account, you’ll likely earn a much higher rate of return with an ESA than you would in a regular savings account—and you won’t have to pay taxes when you withdraw the money to pay for education expenses.
UTMA or UGMA (Uniform Transfer/Gift to Minors Act):
An UTMA/UGMA differs from ESAs and 529 Plans in how they aren’t designed just for education savings. The account is in the child’s name but is controlled by a custodian (usually a parent or grandparent). This person manages the account until the child reaches age 21. At age 21 (age 18 for the UGMA), control of the account transfers to the child to use any way they choose.
WHAT ELSE?
If a student is considering applying for a school as an early decision candidate BUT is hesitant to do so because of the cost, call the financial aid office and ask if they would be willing to do an early financial read and give you an estimate on what your estimated family contribution would be.
10 Strategies to reduce your "EFC"- I’m putting this here just in case you want to read it. Game the system? Nah, just an interesting article.
Once all the acceptances come in, award letters are sent and financial aid packages are finalized- that is when the determining factor of where to commit takes place. Make sure to sit down with your child and again, have the conversation about funds and paying for college. Review everything. Don’t be afraid to reach back out to a college’s financial aid office to see if they’d be willing to reexamine your aid package and merit awards. The worst they can say is no. But if there is a discrepancy between very similar colleges in what they are awarding you, it never hurts to ask. Also, if something changed affecting finances between the time your child applied to the college and when the award package came in, let them know this information as this could have an impact on the award/aid offered. Best of luck to you. The college search and application process can be really fun! The paying for it part-not so much. However, if you are well informed, then you can be well prepared and hopefully, get through this with minimal financial impact.
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Flight Plan - Be Known at AOA
Faith Bordonaro
Upper School Dean of Student Life and Flight Plan Coordinator
Shirley Petersheim
Lower School Teacher
School, by definition, is a place where students come to learn. For earlier generations, the experience may have been almost entirely focused on academics. A swirl of formulas, tenses, rules, and dates reeled off by the teacher resulted in the students’ accumulation of knowledge. However, school and education have evolved and as educators, we must evolve as well. Rather than seeing a classroom full of students, we should see each student as an individual and remain vision-oriented, focusing on the who rather than the what.
As we designed the Flight Plan program, our goal was to streamline what we were already doing well, such as differentiation and goal setting, and delve even deeper by getting to truly know our students on a personal level. We also needed to have the ability to share their goals and intentions with the students’ classroom teachers and their families. As a pre-K through grade 12 school, we have a special opportunity to observe student growth across many years.
The mission of the Flight Plan program is to ensure that every student is treated like a VIP, a very INDIVIDUAL person. We focus on understanding who the student is, based on interviews and observations, in addition to their academic work and activities. Students are active contributors in creating their Flight Plans through one-on-one goal setting meetings and follow up conversations. During these meetings, guiding questions are used to lead the student to create his/her own goals and intentions. We focus on the whole child, so the areas of emphasis include individual, academic, social, and extracurricular. The intended result of this program is the development of well-rounded global citizens who reflect the core values of AOA.
By creating individualized Flight Plans for each student (beginning in third grade), we can help each child navigate his/her journey, rather than just focusing on the destination. We also have the ability to monitor personal growth throughout the course of his/her experience at Andrews Osborne Academy and provide guidance to each student based on his/her needs. Teachers and advisors will have knowledge of each student’s interests and needs on day one by looking at his/her Flight Plans on PhoenixNet. With documentation, comes the ability to grow from past experiences and/or challenges in order to make well-informed decisions in the future. Once the Flight Plans are created, students will have the opportunity to contemplate their goals and reflect on their progress.
During the pilot, a committee of teachers from each division met with their students (lower school) or advisees (middle and upper school) to develop goals and intentions for each of the areas of focus. Throughout this time, we were excited to share with each other the benefits of the conversations. The teachers/ advisors found great value in taking time to talk to each student in a one-on-one setting and the students felt heard and were more excited and open to sharing. This format also helped to further build and strengthen trusted relationships between students and their teachers/ advisors. Students became active contributors rather than passive recipients and were much more prepared to set meaningful goals or intentions based on their discussions. We as teachers have been impressed by the amount of thought the students put into this experience.
What do these one-on-one meetings look like?
Two times per year, teachers meet one-on-one with each of their students/ advisees for Flight Plan development. In the fall, students create their Individual and Academic Flight Plans which they will work on for the next 12 months. After returning from winter break, they create their Social and Extracurricular Flight Plans and again work on these for the next 12 months. As one can see, this is a continual process that is not defined by the school calendar. The conversation begins with the teacher/ advisor asking guiding questions in each area. These questions are designed to help the student reflect and create a meaningful goal or intention, accompanied with action steps to achieve the goal, challenges they may face along the way, and expected outcomes. Check-in meetings are held throughout the year to assess progress, make changes, and continue the journey working towards meeting their objectives.
The Individual Flight Plan focuses on areas such as character development, self-esteem, and balance. An example of a guiding question is, “How do you overcome obstacles or tackle a challenge?”. One lower school student’s response was, “I try to read through the problem and ask questions, but if I still don’t understand I get frustrated.” As a result, she decided her individual intention would be less frustration when she hits an obstacle. Her action steps toward this goal were to give herself more “think time” in order to calm down and figure out why she was so frustrated, and ask for help when needed. She expressed a challenge to meeting her goal would be feeling overwhelmed, but if that happened she could take a break and come back to the problem later. Her expected outcome was to work through problems and challenges without giving up. During a check-in conversation with her teacher, they were both pleased with the progress she had made in this area.
The Academic Flight Plan focuses on areas such as self-assessment, academic effort, and executive functioning. In the fall, one upper school student chose a goal of balancing classes appropriately. This was a direct result of her experience with AP classes the previous year. She found that she would complete her AP work first, leaving little or no time to work on other assignments even though they could be completed quickly. The resulting action steps towards this goal were to complete shorter, non-AP assignments first and utilize free periods effectively. By managing her time deliberately, she would be able to stay on top of all required work.
The Social Flight Plan focuses on areas such as exposure to new ideas, participation, and empathy and respect. Regarding her social intentions, one middle-school student replied that she would like to work more on her friendships at school. She expressed that she understands that her friends don't all live in the same neighborhood and that new friends are being added to her class each year. She established her personal intention to reach out and learn more about her friends and make new friends at school. Action steps included being friendly and open to others, collaborating with new students in the classroom, and learning more from peers on athletic teams. One challenge was finding time to hang out with her friends outside of school.
The Extracurricular Flight Plan focuses on activities that take place outside of school hours such as athletics, community service, and the arts. After a conversation about finding passion in daily life and pursuits, another upper school student decided to focus on developing skills and interests in two select activities (tennis and programming) after exploring a variety of interests as an underclassman. His expectation is to have meaningful experiences to write about as he begins the college application process this fall.
After this year-long pilot program, it is exciting to see how much better the students are able to articulate their goals and intentions. Ownership in an idea or plan is essential to making it a reality. Once the Flight Plans are created, students will work with their teachers/ advisors to navigate their action plans in order to accomplish their goals, adjusting as necessary. We are thrilled to be launching this program in the 2019-20 school year for all students in grades 3-12 and seeing the students soar.
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