More and more schools are going to the Common Application for their main application route. There are a number of schools in both Maryland and Virginia that use the Common App, and if you are applying to 2 or more that do, it will save you time to use it rather than the other online options.
It is located at www.commonapp.org. You create an account, gather your information, and start working on it. Like most online apps, you don't need to fill it all out in one sitting; you can save what you have done and come back to it later. Read the buttons carefully, though--don't choose submit until everything is completed and double checked! It is also a good idea, once you have submitted, to print a copy for your records.
Some schools also have extra pages for you to fill out, so be sure to check if there are supplements for the schools you are applying to. Make sure you submit the supplements to the schools that require them, as your application won't be considered until it is finished.
I really like the common app for my end, as I can upload my counselor recommendation and the transcript easily--it just requires you to know my name (correct spelling) and my work email address (on the card in your senior packet). Once you submit your form, they will email me to let me know I have to fill out my part of your form, and, once I get that done, I don't have to do anything except update it at midyear and for the final transcript. It also has a place to enter names and emails for your teacher recommendations, as well. Just make sure you ask the teacher before putting their name down, as it is not very polite to just assume that they are willing to write a letter for you. They are also able to complete the process online, so make sure you get their email address to use on the form.
There you have it--one easy process to finish off 2 or more college applications. What could be better?
Colleges in Maryland using the Common App are
College of Notre Dame of Maryland
Goucher College
Hood College
Johns Hopkins University
Loyola University
McDaniel College
Salisbury University
St. John's College
St. Mary's of Maryland
Stevenson University
Towson University
UMBC
Washington College
Colleges in Virginia using the Common App:
Christopher Newport University
College of William and Mary
Hampden Sydney College
Hollins University
Randolph College
Randolph Macon College
Sweetbrier College
University of Mary Washington
University of Richmond
University of Virginia
Washington and Lee University
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
The "F" word
How's that for an attention grabbing title! But the F word of the day is FAFSA.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a rite of passage for seniors and their families. If you want need based aid, you will have to go through filing your FAFSA. So what is the process?
First, you have to get a PIN that will allow you and your parent to electronically "sign" your FAFSA application. You will both need to get one, as both will need to sign. Go to www.pin.ed.gov and fill out the application; your PIN will be sent to you. As with any PIN, you want to keep it safe; you fill out a lot of financial information on the form and you will not want anyone else to access that information.
You can also begin to prepare beforehand by downloading a FAFSA worksheet at http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/fafsaworksheet.jsp. Although the FAFSA can't be filed until after the first of the year, you can often organize a lot of the information beforehand, especially if your income is pretty regular from year to year. Having the worksheet filled out before starting on the actual online application can save a lot of time.
Although you don't have to fill out the FAFSA early, it is good to get it finished before mid-February, as some state aid and college based aid is determined before the due date indicated on the FAFSA. Wor Wic usually sponsors a FAFSA help day in February, where they will put you in front of a computer and help you navigate the form. I will email senior families when I know the dates.
Once you finally finish the FAFSA and submit it, you will eventually receive the EFC--the expected family contribution. This number is what the government thinks you can afford to pay for college, and it may make you faint, so make sure you're sitting down when you read it! But keep in mind that, while this determines federal and some state aid, there are other sources of funds out there: scholarships, special grants for specific types of people, and other assorted money available for college., such as in-house college scholarships.
Financing a college education in today's economic climate is tricky, but there is money out there to help you; you just need to go after it.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a rite of passage for seniors and their families. If you want need based aid, you will have to go through filing your FAFSA. So what is the process?
First, you have to get a PIN that will allow you and your parent to electronically "sign" your FAFSA application. You will both need to get one, as both will need to sign. Go to www.pin.ed.gov and fill out the application; your PIN will be sent to you. As with any PIN, you want to keep it safe; you fill out a lot of financial information on the form and you will not want anyone else to access that information.
You can also begin to prepare beforehand by downloading a FAFSA worksheet at http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/fafsaworksheet.jsp. Although the FAFSA can't be filed until after the first of the year, you can often organize a lot of the information beforehand, especially if your income is pretty regular from year to year. Having the worksheet filled out before starting on the actual online application can save a lot of time.
Although you don't have to fill out the FAFSA early, it is good to get it finished before mid-February, as some state aid and college based aid is determined before the due date indicated on the FAFSA. Wor Wic usually sponsors a FAFSA help day in February, where they will put you in front of a computer and help you navigate the form. I will email senior families when I know the dates.
Once you finally finish the FAFSA and submit it, you will eventually receive the EFC--the expected family contribution. This number is what the government thinks you can afford to pay for college, and it may make you faint, so make sure you're sitting down when you read it! But keep in mind that, while this determines federal and some state aid, there are other sources of funds out there: scholarships, special grants for specific types of people, and other assorted money available for college., such as in-house college scholarships.
Financing a college education in today's economic climate is tricky, but there is money out there to help you; you just need to go after it.
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