The economic downturn is effecting how all of us think about the future. For students the biggest financial question is, without a doubt, the rising cost of higher education. The first thing every student should know about paying for college is how much it will really cost.

The real cost of college is not the tuition. This is a dangerous misconception that keeps a lot of really smart, well-qualified students out of top schools. People tend to believe that going to Harvard or Stanford will be outside of their price-range because of tuition prices upwards of $40,000 per year. Many students see these kinds of expenses and experience what is called "sticker shock," a gut reaction to a high price, and decide that community college or a local state school is their only affordable option. What these students forget to consider, though, is how much financial aid will cover.

The real cost of college is tuition minus financial aid. Most people are surprised by how much financial aid will cover, especially those who come from low-income households. For example, if you get into a top tier school like Harvard of Stanford, and come from a household with an income of around $60,000 or less, there is a good chance your education will be completely free. That means that for some very good students, Harvard could actually be the same price as attending community college. Top public universities like the University of California have also made similar pledges to ensure that all admitted low-income students can afford a great education.

While all schools cannot offer large financial aid packages, there is a lot of money out there waiting for you if you take the right steps. The best place get a very clear picture of the process is a website called The College Board. Their "EasyPlanner" will walk you through each step: http://apps.collegeboard.com/fincalc/ep/wizard-home.jsp. For now, I'll just cover a few basic points.

The first step is to go online and fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), which is a document the government uses to determine the amount a student and their family can contribute to college. It needs to be filled out every year and is available beginning January 1st. Deadlines to apply for state grants are quickly approaching: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/before003a.htm#state_deadlines. Even if your state's deadline has passed, though, you can still file in time to be eligible for federal money, so get it in as soon as possible.

Your school will use the information you and your parents provide on the FAFSA to determine how much “demonstrated need” you will have as a student. Then they will offer you different kinds of aid (student loans included) in order to help you meet that need. In the mean time, you also have the opportunity to apply for scholarships and look for other ways to contribute. My next blog will talk about some creative ways of getting started.

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Carolina,

You make a very good point. Middle class students are often offered less need based aid then students whose families make less. I come from a middle class family and had to take out loans to graduate. However, I considered it a worthwhile investment. I believe that my education has enriched my life. It also makes sense financially, though. People with a college degree of any kind will on average make a lot more money per year than those with only a high school education, often $15-$20K more a year. Also, student loans are low-interest and can be paid off over a long period of time in affordable monthly installments. Even when you just consider the financial benefits, a college education still makes a lot of sense, no matter what your family's financial situation.

Lali,

Yes, I did mean to say ACCEPT. Thanks for the correction. To be clear, community colleges will accept students regardless of academic record. If you want to get a degree (like an Associate Degree) or professional certification there, you will need to take the classes they require. All you need to get in, though, is a completed application.

Dear Antonio,

The financial aid system is designed to give those with the least amount of money the most help. So, if you have a lot of need, you should be able to get a lot of aid. The most important factor in getting in to college is academic, not financial. Getting good grades, taking challenging classes, and doing extracurricular activities will get the good schools to take notice of you. Then they will do their best to make sure you can afford it.

Dear Carlos,

You should be commended on how hard you are working to support your family and take the time to give yourself a good education. What I wanted to make very clear in this post is that the more financial need that you have, the more financial aid you will be eligible for. Having two people who depend on your income will make more forms of aid available to you. Filling out the FAFSA should be your first step. Just go to FAFSA.gov

Dear Lali,

It's true that your grades are the most important factor in getting into selective schools. However, it should be said that you do not have to have straight A's to get into good schools. If your grades show steady improvement or you can give a good explanation for one or two bad grades, you still have a really good chance of getting into a great school.

Even so, ALL schools offer may different kinds of financial aid. Even community colleges, which will except any student regardless of grades, will offer tuition waivers and grants. Since these schools are cheaper, though, your need has to be greater in order to qualify for some need-based aid.

But again, ALL schools offer scholarships of some kind, and there are many private organizations who give out scholarships no matter what school you go to. A good start would be to look at our resources page and look up scholarships.

My mom keeps saying that our problem is that they make too much moeny for me to qualify for financial aid and not enough to pay for the kinds of school where I'd like to go. She believes that middle class families have it the worst in comparison and end up with the most debt. Is that so? can't I get financial aid like everyone else?

Sean, you said:"ALL schools offer may different kinds of financial aid. Even community colleges, which will except any student regardless of grades, will offer tuition waivers and grants."
I don't understand what this means... can you explain? Maybe you meant to say ACCEPT any student????

Who can help me fill the FAFSA?

I agree with Carolina, my parents are both engineers and they say the can't afford a private college, that I should look at going in state in Florida

Thank you for this information. It's very useful. My family can't afford an expensive college and I want to know what I need to do to go to a good school anyway.

Mariela came to our school to talk to us about going to college but I don't have time to make more money to pay for college becuase I work to support my mom and sister. What do you recommend?

If you don't have good grades you can't go to those schools that cost 40,000 so you end up going to cheap schools that don't have schoalrships, is that right?

Have you ever heard the phrase "It's not what you know, it's who you know?" I tend to picture a very talented loaner getting passed up for opportunities by well connected imbeciles. It's usually followed with a either a defeated shoulder shrug or a knowing wink, depending on how successfully the person telling you has followed this advice. However true this may be for business, I would put it a little differently when it comes to education: "It's who you know that will teach you what to know." Behind every success story, there is almost always a caring, knowledgeable mentor behind the scenes...and in most cases, there is more than one.

This is one of the reasons I believe that so many first generation college students end up having to drop out soon after achieving their dream of higher education. No team would want to show up at a game without a coach, and no student should start school without a mentor. Most of us wouldn't eat at a restaurant we had never heard of, but somehow we expect to be able to fill out a college application, register for classes, find a good instructor, and choose the right major without consulting someone who has been there before. Luckily, you don't have to. Nearly every college will have a student services or counseling office that offers help with these sorts of things. A lot of times you can also find programs that match you up with students who are further along than you in your field. But if they don't, you shouldn't hesitate to search out a mentor on your own. In my life I have found that one of the most successful thing a person can do is ask for help. There are so many people out there just willing to be asked. There is no better evidence of this than websites all over the Internet (this one included) that have their content contributed almost solely by volunteers. Wikipedia and Craig's List could not exist in a world where people did not care deeply about helping one another.

You all know the part of every college graduation speech where the valedictorian starts to clam up a little bit. It usually comes towards the end. It almost always sound like this: "I could not have done it without..." To do great things, we need to be inspired; and one of the greatest things we can do for another person is to inspire them to be great. Give someone the opportunity to do that for you, and you will see how truly who you know can teach you what to know.

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Dear Tomas,

Great question. I definitely agree that this is all way too much to take in on your own. No is successful all by themselves, especially not in college.

First, try to think of the closest person to you that has been successful in college. It may be a close friend, or maybe someone you are only distantly connected to. Let them know that you just wanted to tell them how you were doing and that you admire their success and see where it goes. If you do not know anyone from your personal network of family and friends who has the experience to help, there a lot of organizations and part time internships that include mentorship as a part of the experience.

Our forums and facebook fan page are a great place to get more ideas from people, or you could start by looking up "Mentors" on our Resources page on this website. Good luck!

Hi again, Alexis. You can read more about Mariela's ideas for paying for college on her personal blog. You can find a link to it on the LatinosInCollege Facebook fan page.

Some of my anglo friends have a lot of support from their family's friends in terms of college applications and such. I'm the firs in mine to go to college and I need someone to help me with it. It's too much for me alone. Any advice on how to develop a good network of advisers?

Great! I look forward to reading your next post.

I saw the author of Latinos in college in CNN yesterday and she was talking about alternative ways to pay for college. Could you or somebody else share more of those ideas? I thought they were different and pretty easy to implement, I mean i could get a party going or a concert with a bunch of my friends. I'd need some help with the logistics... Thanks! Great site!

Alexis,

I am writing my next post right now about some of Mariela's ideas on paying for college. It should be up later this week.

For now, know that the first step toward organizing this sort of thing is making people aware of your need. People need to understand an issue before they will help. "I'm organizing a concert to help me pay for my education" is a great conversation starter, not to mention a HUGE bright spot an a college or job application.

I could not have put it better. There are a few important organizations doing this kind of work that I am familiar with. One if very small, but growing quickly in the S.F. Bay Area and in L.A. called Spark (sparkprogram.org). The other is all over the country and is called CItizen Schools (citizenschools.org). Both are after school programs that offer professional apprenticeships for middle school students, and both are having a lot of success lowering high school drop out rates and supporting future college success.

Dear Juliana, and Oliver,

Your frustration with overburdened academic counselors is something I hear from students all the time. Most of them have HUGE caseloads and just do not have the time to follow up with specific concerns. This is one of the reasons why I suggest other ways to find mentorship. One place I found it was with my community college's associated student government often called AGS or AS or ASB). It was a place where I found people who knew the system intimately and who had a lot of ambition. Most schools also have honors societies that require only a few hours a week of volunteering and usually attract students and teachers who know how higher education works. A really good place to start is this web site. Go to our home page, click on the "resources" tab, then find the "mentoring programs" link in the list. These are more official programs that might be offered in your area. Remember it will take some time, but it will pay off.

Juan,

I agree, and It CAN be the case if we take it upon ourselves to do something about it. One important thing to understand is that people need to be asked. It is not an easy thing to ask for help, but it is the mark of successful and ambitious people everywhere. Yes, we have an unbalanced and unfair system, but we also have one another.

I always hear minority kids mention their parents but few of them have someone else in their lives to guide them through difficulties. I wish they had more people who are knowledgeable of the univeristy system to help them which is not always the case

Everyone talks about mentors but nobody has time!!! How do you actually get the right person to HELP YOU when they are overcomitted and overworked?

I agree with Juliana. Went to the careers office and didnt' get much help. Everyone seems to tell you to find someone but few volunteer the time. Who helped you?

Well said, Sean. It is so important to be mentored or guided in such important decision-making. It is unfortunate that the above seems to be especially true for first and second generation minorities. The lack of financial means is usually the first hurdle for these groups, but various government and academic programs have made great strides in assisting with this issue with grants and scholarships to supplement tuition costs. However, if the aspiring college student should be so lucky as to receive the financial aid that allows them to pursue their education, isn't it all for not if they are left without guidance on how best to take advantage of the great opportunity?

But I would argue that the first hurdle is actually one that comes even sooner, during the adolescent years. Because the segment I'm referring is predominately the children of immigrants, I argue that the college counseling program should be aggressively implemented earlier, in the formative high school years. Many immigrants are faced with the kind of financial hardships that force them to adopt work as the only important goal in life. Having a job (or multiple jobs) is the primary measure of success. That attitude will often trickle down to their children, as education doesn't pay the bills today and doesn't put food on the table now. The quest for college isn’t instilled in the children, simply because it wasn't instilled in their parents. Having myself grown up in a Hispanic household, I've seen my share of the obstacles that come in the pursuit of a higher education. Had it not been for the encouragement of my parents to seek something more for myself and the great example set by my older sister in her path towards education, I may not have had the drive or motivation to pursue college. Instead, I may have chosen to put money in my pocket rather than shelling it out in hopes of something greater later in life. My point is, the need for advocacy in this segment at this pivotal time is so important and is often times absent in the home.

I realize that most, if not all high schools already have counselors in place that tackle an array of issues facing students, including questions on how to prepare for college. But having myself experienced poor "guidance" from my own high school counselor, I feel that students can benefit immensely from a college prep counseling program that focuses solely on converting high school students into to college students. Then, once they get there, an ongoing counseling program will only help to further ensure success.

During a recent conversation on educational inequity, someone asked this question. Maybe you have heard it before, too. It usually comes with a raised eyebrow or two and a slightly cocked head, a look suggesting one should ponder over its many, far-reaching implications. Well, I thought I would. At first blush, it sounds like a pretty reasonable question to ask. Everybody is different, and if every student in the country were to graduate high school ready to attend college, there would not be nearly enough room to educate all of them. What about the janitors and the house cleaners of the world? They work hard and should be respected for it, shouldn't they? This is a question that has been discussed behind closed doors at every high school across this country. But I would be willing to bet it happens a lot more often at the bad ones. While this question could engender a fabulous discussion on all the different options that students can take toward success, all too often it is merely an excuse to let bad schools continue to be bad. "These students are just not the college type!" I imagine scores of tired and disappointed teachers saying this to themselves at the end of each day. Worse, I often hear this from students trying to find a way to justify dropping out. "I just wasn't meant for academics!" they say with frustration.

The question we should be asking is why the affluent students are always "the college type," and the poor kids always the hard-working (and only sometimes respected) non-skilled laborers. This is a complicated question, and a bigger problem than can be addressed in detail here. What we should never accept, though, is letting the first question cover up the importance of the second. The question “Should all students go to college?” is problematic enough all by itself.

First, the question assumes a much too limited view of what college can be. Any skilled profession requires experience or education beyond high school, and often the best way to get that experience is through education. For example, becoming an apprentice to a welder or electrician is unlikely to happen outside some kind of certification program, which almost always will happen at a junior college or trade school. This is not to say that you should not try for a bachelor's degree right away, though. Think of a degree as a doorway to the places you want to go. A bachelor's degree is a doorway to many places; a certification from a trade school or community college is a doorway to less opportunities. But if you know for sure that it is where you want to go, then may be a junior college is just the thing for you.

Second, college is more than a learning institution. It is also a place where life-long connections are made. This is one of the problems with so many students being directed toward classes offered online. You may get the degree, but what about the connections? Some of the places you may want to go are so desired and sought after, that it takes more than a degree to get in. You also need someone to introduce you to the gate keeper. A classroom is a perfect place to meet these people because everyone there is more or less looking for the same thing: to acquire knowledge in their field and to lean how to be successful in it. In fact, there is a good chance that the person sitting next to you in your classroom will turn out to be your colleague (or even your boss!) in a few years.

I hope the next time you hear this question, you will give a raised eyebrow or two of your own!

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I honestly don't agree with the fact that everyone is college material. Many of my high school classmates went into technical jobs and are doing fine and are happy. And then look at all those financial types who went to business school to make money and they are completely screwed now

And I'd like to add to Sean's great comments that even though you can be happy doing something like fixing cars if you don't get a college degree, it is more likely that you will limit your financial opportunities and your ability to move up socially in this country.

Yahaira, Great question. To use your examples, I think sports and fixing cars are two things that can, and often do, motivate people to seek out more education. I do not believe that the academic route (for example, a bachelor's degree) is for everyone. Skilled laborers like auto mechanics or electricians can be just as successful as someone who graduated from a top four year school. My problem is with the often unspoken assumption that entire communities, usually low-income or minority populations, are automatically the ones not considered "college material." I have seen so many people from all backgrounds waste considerable time and money trying to graduate from college who might have been better off following their interest in working on cars. At the same time, many fantastic students get pressured by racist assumptions and fear of the unknown to stay out of college. My hope is that people have to opportunity to pursue every opportunity to be successful.

When i see some of the kids I grew up with I realize they are not college material. No matter what color they are. They are not inclined to study, make an effort or learn. They only wnat to have fun and do things that come easy to them like sports of fixing cars. I'm not sure these people can be pushed towards college, what do you think is the best way to get them into a higher education path?

Dear Arturo,
Thank you for your comment. Yes, community colleges do allow you more time to work, but they also lack many of the resources that four year schools have to offer, like more access to internships, travel, fellowships, and other opportunities that will help you succeed further in your future. If you want to know more, you can read my blog on Extracurricular activities (part 2) which talks about my own community college experience and my thoughts on working while in school.

Omar,
I agree! Thanks for the comment.

A lot of people think not everyone is fit ofr college even if they are white. My thoughs are that we should give chances to everybody and let them decide.

I believe we all have the right to go to college but someone people around us think college is a luxury for a few selected students. As Latinos, we need to claim that right and use it.

Community colleges are great places to get a quick education if you want to work, aren't they? You can always get a Bachelor's later

Not all schools are created equal. In fact, the most recent studies suggest that a huge number of high schools across the country are failing to prepare their students for college. And, as is so often the case, the neediest students are getting the least help. In urban areas like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, half of Latino and African American students will not graduate high school; and the majority of those who do will not be ready to start taking college level courses. College advisers know this well, and that is why what kinds of classes you take is just as important as the grades you get in them.

While I was a community college student, many of my friends from high school were placed in what are called "basic skills" or "remedial" courses. These are classes that are offered at colleges but are technically below college level, and therefore, do not count for transferable credit. Some of them who did very badly on placement tests had to take three or four classes before moving up to courses that counted! As I moved on to transfer and eventually graduate, many of them remained, still frustrated with the long road of prerequisites ahead of them. How did this happen? We all went to the same high school, and we all got passing grades. That meant that we were all prepared for college, right? Not quite. Even though I did not get straight A´s, I still always challenged myself by taking classes that were more demanding. That helped to prepare me for what was coming a lot better than "easy A´s" would have.

Just because you go to a bad high school does not mean that you do not have a chance to succeed. No matter how bad a school is, it can never stop you from giving your education your best efforts. Here are a few things you can start doing right now to make that happen.

1) Take challenging classes and avoid "easy A´s".

I know this sounds backwards, but it works. Admissions advisers know that GPA does not tell the whole story. They are much more interested in your grades in specific classes like Science, Math, Social Studies, and English. Also, they look at what level you have reached in each subject. This does not mean that you should take classes that you are not ready for (a D or F is bad no matter what!), but rather that you should not decide to take classes just because it will be easier to get a good grade. Do well in the harder class, and I promise that you will be proud of your efforts and admissions advisers will notice.

2) Take AP Courses.

No matter what high school you take an AP course at, the test is standardized across the nation. These classes are all supposed to teach the same material no matter what high school that offers them, so there is a better chance that you will find higher standards and a strong teacher. Also, the class should be full of students who are just as serious as you about their education.


3) Make it better yourself!

If your high school does not have the resources that others do, create them yourself! Nothing says college material like applications that include the words "I founded..." Every time I ask people at Berkeley what they were involved with in High School, 9 times out of 10 they started something at their High School or in their community. Try these links to learn more about starting one of these organizations at your school: National Honor Society
Key Club

and most importantly,

4) FIND PEOPLE WHO CARE. Congratulations! You have already started to do that by coming to this web site. Keep it up by finding friends, teachers, counselors, or afterschool tutors who really care about your success. No matter where you live, they will be there, and they are always looking for students like you. Though there may be great There is no problem so great that a dedicated group of like minded people cannot overcome it.

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this is all very interesting! I remember having some of these very same discussions with you in high school surrounding a certain Mr. Biggs class!

Marta,

If your school does not offer any AP courses, you could also ask your school's academic counselor about the possibility of taking classes at your local community college that would count for both high school and college. If that is not an option, you can still take whatever high level or honors courses your school has to offer.

If you are interested in writing, you could try starting a creative writing or journalism club at your school. Report on the school's sports teams and academic events. If your school doesn't have a newsletter or newspaper, start an online blog! It is free and easy to use. you can use blogger.com or start a facebook page that your classmates can follow. Painting club would be something you could arrange with your school's art teacher. If you are interested in academic or service clubs, follow the links in the post above to the Key Club or the National Honor Society. The possibilities are endless!

Thanks for your comments, Pedro. Stay in touch, and let us know any more tips on how to be successful at your school.

I like your suggestions and they have given me a more clear idea of how to make the best out of the overcrowded high school I attend. Thanks!

My school doesn't have too many AP courses at all. Do you think I can take these courses somewhere else? Another high school maybe? I'm not sure they'll let me though... and also, what kind of clubs could I start? I'm interested in writing, singing, painting...

Extracurricular activities are not just important for admissions. They are also a huge part of your success once you arrive.

Like a lot of other students, when I transferred to a 4 year school, the first thing on my mind was money. Finding work in a college town can be tough; a lot of people with degrees end up taking jobs usually done by younger people. But financial aid wasn't giving me enough to make ends meet, and my parents were already helping as much as they could. I was able to find a restaurant that was hiring and ended up working nights and weekends. At the time I thought the arrangement was perfect. Now, I am not so sure. Here are a few things I was not doing while I was at work: applying for scholarships, doing undergraduate research, meeting regularly with professors, joining an academic or professional society, getting a summer internship, meeting people in my field of interest, and (most importantly) studying.
I use my own personal situation because I do not want to take anyone's financial situation for granted. In some cases, a part time job is unavoidable. What I do want to point out, though, is that when considering the decision to work (and this includes community college students), you should also consider what you are missing. This is not just a case of missing out on the "typical college experience." The best extracurricular activities create opportunities for your future. Being involved in a comparatively low paying (or no paying) extra-curricular activity might pay off a lot better in the long run than your job waiting tables (I have done both). Let me be clear, though: working is not bad. In fact, in my case I was able to find a work-study job with my school's community service center that have led to some amazing opportunities after graduating. The key is to find something that gives you more than just a paycheck.

The question is: does your job work for you as hard as you do for it?

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JR, Great question. You could start by making a list of EVERYTHING you do each day for a week. Then circle anything you do REGULARLY that could show you are PASSIONATE, RESPONSIBLE, or HARD-WORKING. Some examples: your part time job (any kind), helping your parents at work or at home, taking care of siblings, sports (especially if you are dedicated or are a leader), a hobby you are passionate about, helping friends with homework on a regular basis, anything you do in a group, anything you do to help your community...

Everyone, help me make this list bigger!

Sorry about that last post JR, that was for another person's question. Here's my advise for you (and anyone else with your question):

I know how hard it can be to go to college and work to try and make ends meet. It can be an impossible task. But, if working is holding you back academically, I would encourage you to look into getting financial aid. Talk to a financial aid counselor at your current or future school and be honest with them about your situation.

Borrowing money can be scary, but you have to consider any money you spend on your education as an investment in your future.

One tip: Just like any good investor, you should consider the quality of the place you are putting your money, in this case, the program you want to enroll in. If you have questions about the quality of specific programs, send me an email and we'll talk.

Sean
seanlucano@gmail.com

A lot of studnets dont take advantage of study abroad programs. I didn't learn about them until it was too late, but many of my buddies took advantage of them and had great experiences and they highly recommend them. Do you know if there are any of these programs for grad students?

Watson,

Definitely. For grad students they are usually called fellowships rather than study abroad programs. The best person to learn about that from would be your graduate adviser or the dean of your department. What school do you go to?

Great advice Sean, thanks for your comments and blogs!

Julieta,

I think travel is a fantastic extracurricular activity! Any time you learn more about yourself and what truly matters to you, you have made an important investment in your future. Don't regret that!

Claire,

You are right to observe that when trying to accomplish your goals, balance is very important. If you are having a hard time keeping balanced, I would encourage you to make a list of everything you do in a day. Keep it going for a week, and see what you learn. Then make a list of what you would like to be accomplishing each day. If you keep your priorities straight and be realistic about what you can actually get done, I think you will learn a lot about keeping things balanced.

You could also try talking to your school's guidance counselors about time management. Almost every school will put on a workshop or two each semester on this topic.

This would be a great conversation starter on one of our discussion boards...

It's good to hear your poitn of view beacause I've been working in a restaurant since I started college and i'm now behind in my studies. But I need the money so i'm not sure how to make things work

Sean, these are great issues you bring up. Students should seriously consider work-study programs that offers more opportunities and not just the paycheck. Or even year long paid internships that open possibilities for the future.

How do you balance work and school and all these other things? It's very stressful

My first job while I still was in college gave me the oportunity to save money and travel to Europe... but this trip changed me so much that when I came back I knew I didn't like what I had chosen to study anymore... maybe if I would have focused on extracurricular activities I could have figured out before the real opportunities for my future.

Are you involved in extracurricular activities that you can include on your application? Your answer might surprise you.

Just to be clear, the most important thing you can do to get into college is to take challenging courses and get good grades (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c5Du_Abzc0).
That being said, A's and B's are not the only thing that colleges are looking for.
When it comes to getting in, what you do outside the classroom is key. I'm sure that many of you have already heard a lot about the importance of highlighting extracurricular activities in your college applications. So at this point if you're thinking that you just do not have the time to join a club after school or volunteer on weekends, then you're not alone. For a lot of Latino students, working part-time, taking care of siblings, or helping parents around the house can be enough of a challenge. What every student should know, though, is that these things are extracurricular activities, too. Including your family obligations or job experience in a college application can show a school that you are just as responsible, hardworking, and committed as students who have more free time to beef up their resumes. If your experience as a Latino student makes you different than a more "traditional" college applicant, make sure that the school you apply to knows it. Admissions counselors have to read thousands of applications, and having a diverse student population is a major goal of almost every university. What they are looking for is a student who knows how to work hard, and who is confident in their unique ability to succeed.

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Luis, Great question. You could start by making a list of EVERYTHING you do each day for a week. Then circle anything you do REGULARLY that could show you are PASSIONATE, RESPONSIBLE, or HARD-WORKING. Some examples: your part time job (any kind), helping your parents at work or at home, taking care of siblings, sports (especially if you are dedicated or are a leader), a hobby you are passionate about, helping friends with homework on a regular basis, anything you do in a group, anything you do to help your community...

Everyone, help me make this list bigger!

Can you give examples of extra curricular activties that can be good?

Is there a way of using the time you spend taking care of your siblings and sick grandma as community service? How do you make it work in an application. I spent my entire high school baby sitting, cooking and cleaning after all my younger siblings. thanks for your help.

I didn't know that working in my family's business was considered extra curricular activity. How do I work this into my personal statement as that?

Nicadio and Maria,

These are perfect examples of activities that should be included in an application. I can't tell you exactly how you should do it (because every application is different) but the personal statement, in my opinion, is the place where it really counts. What is important is that you use your life experiences to show a school what you care about. Let your actions speak for you, then provide reflection on your experiences. How has taking care of your siblings or working for your family made you a caring and hardworking person? What has caring for your sick grandmother taught you about life? Then tell them how that relates to your ability to be a good student.

If that was confusing, keep asking questions. That way we can get everyone's input.

More than ever, Latinos are looking forward to going to college at an early age. However, the number of Latinos graduating high school prepared for college continues to be dramatically lower than their White peers. In a 2001 study by The Education Trust called Youth at the Crossroads, it is reported that only 50% Latino high school graduates enroll in college the following fall, only 30% complete some college, and only 10% complete Bachelor’s degrees.

With that in mind, I wanted to take the opportunity to clear up a few popular misconceptions about preparing for college:

1) I can’t afford it.

Many students and their parents decide where they are going to apply based on which schools they think they can afford. There are a few problems with this. First of all, many families sending their kids to college or the first time over-estimate the cost because of unfamiliarity with the financial aid system. Almost all students receive financial aid of some kind, and a lot of that money is given out based on need. In other words, even if you aren’t great at sports and don’t have a 4.0, if you need help paying for college you can still get grants (money you won’t have to pay back), student loans (money you’ll have to pay back, but with very little interest), and work-study (money that you can work for during the year).

2) It doesn’t matter what classes I take my senior year.

I hear people say this all the time, and it couldn’t be more untrue. First of all, if a college accepts you, then sees a “D” or “F” on your final transcript, they can revoke your admission. Not good. But there’s another more important reason to do well senior year: It’s the year right before you go to college! This is your last, best chance to prepare yourself for what’s coming when you get there, and to make sure you graduate college on time.

3) I can take whatever classes I want when I get to college.

First off, all colleges have requirements for giving out degrees or certificates (Associates, Bachelors, Registered Nurse etc.). Most colleges (especially community colleges) will have you take a test when you arrive that will determine whether or not you can start taking required classes right away (like writing and math), or if you will have to take what are called remedial or basic skills courses first (see #4 for more).

4) If I graduated high school, I’m prepared for college.

Well…you would think so; but as it turns out, in 2000 47% of Latinos were considered “unqualified or marginally qualified” for admission at 4 year schools after completing high school, according to the Department of Education. This is an incredible statistic considering that the same could be said of only around 30% of White and Asian students.

These are big, tough issues, and it’s going to take a lot more than a few bullet points to be successful in college. But if you’re reading this, you’ve taken the most important step toward your college dreams: believing that you can achieve them.

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Ignacio, Great question. Such a good question that I've decided to write my next blog about it. It should be up soon! For now, though, does your school offer AP courses? They are a great way to find good teachers and good students all together in one place. Also, college admissions counselors love to see them because they know it means a student is trying their best to be ready for college.

Lupita, Thanks for asking. As you have already figured out, an internship is a great way to get experience and meet people in your field of interest.

I heard about the New America internship through people I met at my college work-study job. My supervisor knew someone who knew the person hiring, she told me about it, and I applied. I think if you asked this question to others, 9 times out of 10 the answer will be the same. That is because when it comes to finding things like this, WHO you know is just as important as WHAT you know. This is why getting involved with people outside the classroom is so important. This website is a great place for working on the WHO (for example, now you know me). The WHAT depends on your interests. What do you like to do?

And on the subject of Internships, Lupita, I'd like to add that we have posted a few great internships under our Opportunities tab. Check them out!

Hi Sean, nice to meet you. Could you tell me a little bit about how you became an intern in New America Foundation? I'd like to do an internship and would like to find out more about this organization and others I might consider. Thanks!

I don't think I'm ready for college. My high school is very bad but it's the one in my district that I have to go to. What can I do to improve my preparation for college?

Dear Juana and Leila,

First of all, I can't see ANY benefit in not applying to your dream school if you meet their minimum qualifications for applying. It seems like what your counselors are trying to do is lower your expectations because not many people from your high schools have done what two you are trying so hard to do. I could not disagree more with them. If no one from your high school has ever gotten into an Ivy League school, then be the first! Although traditionally not very diverse, more and more these schools are seeing the value of having students from all backgrounds contribute to programs.

If I'm right in assuming your counselors are trying to lower expectations because of your high school's bad reputation, then taking AP courses and doing really well on the tests is the best thing for you to do. Even if your dream school does not trust your high school to have been hard enough, every across the nation takes the same AP test, succeeding there will really show them that you are ready for the big leagues. The only thing to be careful of is taking so many hard classes that you end up doing poorly or losing your mind. I would also consider the benefits of being involved in some other non academic activities, especially ones that you really care about.

More coming on extra curricular activities next time.

Until then,

Sean

Juana, that's a typical answer from a counselor. if your dream school is Princeton youshould call them up and find out if you can even transfer from a cc. My counselor was great but a lot fo my friends got scrwed up when it comes to advice

I have a similar problem as Juana's. I have had a 4.67 GPA with mostly all AP/Honors classes throughout high school and yet my counselor discourages me from taking AP classes. She tells me to apply to Cal States when my dream has always been to go to a private 4-year university directly after high school. No one in my school goes to universities better than UCs. I know I can do it, but sometimes I feel like people don't believe in me because I'm Mexican.

I'm starting my senior year and I have a 4.5 GPA and my dream school is Princeton. My counselor has advised me to begin my education at a local community college and then transfer to Princeton or one of the other great schools. Is this a good strategy? I have a feeling this is not the best way to go even though it will save me money.

I'd like to go into a good engineering program. What are the best courses to take? The guidance counselors in my school are too busy to sit down with me.

Towards the end of my first year at community college, I found myself in a situation millions of other students face each day in this country: I was failing. It had been a rough year, and with only a few weeks to go I was on the verge of earning a pair of D’s. Not a great start to what I had hoped would be a successful college career.
As I sat outside my next class waiting for it to begin, I remember going over all of the reasons why I should drop out. The job I needed to afford school was keeping me behind, and since I didn’t do well on my school’s placement exam I still had to take a year of math that wouldn’t even count for college credit. I imagined how nice it would be to have no reading to do after getting off of work, or having Saturday’s free for the first time in a year. Anyway, with grades like the ones I was about to get, it would be almost impossible to transfer even if I somehow turned things around next year. As good as those reasons sounded to me then, as I look back on that day now, I think they were mostly empty excuses. The truth was, I was scared.
Since my junior year of year of High School I had known that what I really wanted was to go to college and study literature. It was something I loved to do, and I knew I was good at it. But somehow, whenever it came time to write that final paper, or do well on that big test, I would put it off until the last minute, and do terribly. In the end I could always say that I could have done well if I had tried harder, or had less responsibilities at home, or didn’t have to work so much; and that was a lot safer then trying my best and failing.
I decided to tell my instructor that day that I would be dropping the class and leaving school. He listened to me patiently, and when I finished, said, “Well, it sounds like you’ve made up your mind then.” A little startled, I said, “Well, I don’t think I really have a choice.” “You always have a choice,” he said. “It looks like a hard one, but it’s still yours.” Of course, he was right. Going to school an extra year to make up those classes would be hard. Working less and taking out a small loan would be difficult, but it was still my choice to make.
I know that many of you reading this may be in a similar position right now. And what I’d like to tell you is, that when I look back at that time of my life, I don’t think about failed tests or my GPA. In fact, after I repeated the courses and transferred, neither did anyone else. What I do remember is that I chose to give myself a second chance to pursue an education. If you give yourself that chance, no one will be able to hold you back.

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Alicia,

It is so great to hear that you have worked hard to rebound after a tough year, and admissions officers will definitely notice that. It is to their benefit to attract students like you who have shown that they can turn things around in hard times. Now that you've done that here are a few ways to make sure you get credit for that hard work:

(1) Address both your not-so-good grades and your improvement in your application.

If there are any things you can How and where you address it depends on your own personal story and the way the application is designed. But make sure and explain in writing somewhere about how you were able to improve and–most importantly–what you learned from it.

(2) Finish strong!

If you continue go down the road of improvement that you have started on, you will be showing the schools you are applying to that the difficulties you have faced have made you stronger, and that you will only get better and better as a student as time goes on.

All the best,

Sean

I go over the reasons why I should drop out every day and everyday I remind myself that I have to keep going but it's not easy. it's good to know you've persevered...

I didn't do that great my sophomore year in high school but last year I improved. Do you think admissions people pay attention to this? Or do they only look at your final GPA and if you don't have a 4.0 they don't care about you?

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