Financial Aid

Wen Juan Huang

Financial Aid Night - Reminders

Thank you, Jennifer for getting such a large crowd!  I was happy to see so many students participating.  Jennifer was the one person who helped me navigate the mysterious college applications and financial aid process.  She’s an excellent resource!

FAFSA
File the FAFSA as soon as you can.  First week of February is the best bet since many companies send out the W-2(s) at the end of January.  However, students need to check with each individual college for the financial aid deadlines.  Make sure the student and parent's SSN, name and date of birth are correct.  The student will need to request a PIN number, which is their electronic signature.  Parents can also request one if they want to sign the FAFSA electronically.  The other option for the parent is that the student can print out the signature page, have parent sign it and mail it in.

Federal Tax Return
File your taxes early this year so you can request your tax transcript.  If you are selected for verification, colleges are required to ask for a copy of your 2011 tax transcript.  You can request this directly from the IRS at www.irs.gov - the person who filed the tax return is the only one who can request the tax transcript.

Cost of Attendance (COA)
Available from each college, usually on their website.  You can use the current year as an estimate for next year.  The COA will include: (direct costs) tuition + fees, room +board, (indirect costs) books + supplies.

Working while in school
Federal workstudy and non-federal workstudy positions are available on most campuses.  Remember, working helps students with time management, provides work experience and the student benefits from having a mentor.  Many jobs require experience, not just a college degree.  Keep in mind that the student must pursue this option, not the parent. 

First Generation College Students
Last night, I didn’t mention anything regarding first-generation college students.  These students are often the first ones in their families to attend college.  Remember that Jennifer and the Financial Aid Offices are here to help you!  If you are unsure of anything, let Jennifer know and she can get you in contact with me.

Student Loan Debt
As I said last night, student loan debt surpasses credit card debt in this country.  Students are guaranteed student loans at the age of 17-18, when most don’t have credit cards and the student loan debt begins.  I have seen students who borrowed more than $120,000 in loans in order to pursue a bachelor’s degree.  I also had a student who defaulted on her loans and was unable to rent an apartment due to a failed credit check.  This is serious business that affects the student’s future opportunities to be able to rent an apartment, purchase a house or even a car!  I can write on and on about student loan debt, but it really begins with the family and choosing the college.  Engage the student in the financial discussions so s/he understands how much it REALLY cost to attend college. 

Financial Aid Office
Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and call Financial Aid.  Each college has a Financial Aid Office to answer all your questions or concerns.  I, personally do not enjoy parents or students who yell at me so be very nice and you will get all your questions answered.  It is highly recommended that your student call and ask any questions they have . . .it is always great to see students being actively involved in learning more about paying for college. 

And finally, the biggest hurdle will be deciding where to go to school.  The decision that the student and family make of where to attend college affects the whole family’s future.  Keep in mind that a college experience is what the student makes of it.  It can be a very rewarding or not so rewarding experience – all depending upon the student’s outlook!  Students . . . it will not be the end of the world if you cannot attend your dream school.  Make the most of your college experience and you will have lifelong friendships (no matter where you go).  This is the best time of your life so be sure to meet new people, but more importantly, study and work hard! 

Wen


A big Thank You Wen, from the ICE Community for your informative Financial Aid Presentation!

I.C.E. Financial Aid Night for 12th Grade Parents & Students

Wednesday, December 14th at
6pm in Room 518



Please come to have your Financial Aid questions answered by an expert----

                                                             Wen Juan Huang
 the Associate Director of Financial Aid at Hofstra University
She has also worked in  Financial Aid at both the Julliard School
and Tompkins Cortland Community College (SUNY)
but best of all, Wen Juan is a graduate of I.C.E.!

                                                                                                               
College is expensive learn how to apply for the financial aid
you need.  Don't miss this very important night!                            

SUNY Brockport

SUNY Brockport

Hello ICE Community!                              
I am back after being overwhelmed with college admissions!  I have missed
posting and sharing information.

This morning I went to a breakfast hosted by SUNY Brockport over at the
SUNY NYC Recruitment Center.  And I wanted to share a few things that I learned.

First of all, it was great seeing Justin Oliver again and I am sure he will be looking for those ICE applications.

Brockport is about a 6 to 7 hour drive from New York City.
By train, it will take 8 hours and by plane (Jet Blue to Rochester) only 45 minutes.
Brockport is a quaint college town on the Erie Canal, that sits between Rochester (20 minutes away) and Buffalo (just over an hour).

Even though the town has a lot to offer...shops and restaurants, the college
sponsors free shuttles to Wal-Mart, and a local grocery store.  Plus,
for $15 per hour students can rent a car and drive
to Niagara Falls, or anywhere else.  On college holidays buses
come to campus to drive students  home to New York City!
Yes, this could be the best of both worlds.

Brockport has an excellent reputation and is known for a number of majors, among them are Business....Brockport's School of Business is one of the few that has International Accreditation.  Brockport's Dance Department pulls students from across the country.  Other majors include:  Nursing, Communications, Education, English Literature, Health Sciences, Criminal Justice----just a sampling, check out the majors offered.

STATS for Regular Admission:
88-83 GPA
1030-1180 SAT

Harrison Dining Hall

22- 26 ACT                            

STATS for EOP:
78 GPA
800 SAT  (must have a minimum 400 in CR and Math)
17  ACT

STATS for Honors Program:
92 GPA
1150 SAT

Students may apply to Honors Program when submitting application to Brockport,
or students may go to the Brockport website and apply to the Honors Program.

Admission into the Honors Program offers students:
-Scholarship that covers tuition
-priority housing
-early registration
-early move in
-free iPad

Brockport has been named a Green Campus by Princeton Review. 

The campus is a smoke-free environment!!!!  

I applaud that!

I think SUNY Brockport offers an excellent opportunity for some of the ICE students.
I encourage you to check out www.brockport.edu/

A Great Brunch at Syracuse University-Lubin House

On October 5th I had brunch on East 61^st Street at Lubin House, a house owned and operated by Syracuse University right here in New York City.  Syracuse schedules events at Lubin House throughout the year.  The events are posted on the website--  lubinhouse.syr.edu

The Admission Director of the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics gave a terrific presentation. 

David B. Falk offers a number of cool majors that include:  Child & Family Studies, School of Social Work,  Food Studies, Nutrition, as well as Sports Management.

Students also have the ability to mix majors.   An example was given  of a student who is currently studying Sports Management and Communications.   Also,  students may apply to David B. Falk   undeclared.  I think that The David B. Falk College @ Syracuse University would appeal to many of the ICE students....so, take the 

time to look on the website, it might be your perfect option.  falk.syr.edu

 

HEOP and SSSP
These programs at Syracuse are so well run.....they offer students a great base of support; both economic and academic.   The staff is incredibly supportive of the students in this program.  If you qualify it is an exceptional opportunity.

Financial Aid

The Director of Financial Aid said (what many schools say).....don't let the price tag of a school keep you from applying.  Syracuse is working hard to provide money for accepted students to attend the University.  Remember, you want to apply to both public and private colleges.

Interviews 

You can schedule an interview at Lubin House for Syracuse University---
it's easy just call:  212-826-0335.  Once you have an interview date, let
me know--I'd like to talk to you about it before you go.  If you have trouble getting through on the phone line, let me know.

FYI
If you apply to Syracuse University be aware that each of the schools have different admission requirements.  It is important that you, as the applicant, know about these requirements.                   

Syracuse University allows prospective students to apply to 3 schools.  By all means if you are applying to Syracuse take advantage of this opportunity. 

Baruch College Update

Entrance to Baruch College

What's going on at Baruch College this fall?                  

Right now students can sign up for a scheduled tour of Baruch College.
This tour will give you a chance to see what Baruch has to offer.  To join a tour
you must RSVP @http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/undergrad/campus_tour.htm

To learn about the Admission Process, Financial Aid and to see the campus--
Sign up for an Information Session.  Sessions are scheduled for 10/9, 10/15,
11/20 & 12/3.  Again students and families must RSVP to attend.  http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/undergrad/visit.html

Then on Sunday, October 23 &  Saturday, November 12 Baruch is offering
Open House events.  The program will include a campus tour, an information
session, department fair, and a tour of a nearby dorm!!!!  The Open House
will certainly answer any questions that you have about attending this college.
I believe this event will fill up.......so register now at:  http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/undergrad/visit.html


The Essay
This year Baruch will be reviewing application essays, so that the Admission Team
can get to know you beyond test scores and grades.

Please write an essay on one of the three topics listed below.  Please indicate your topic by checking the appropriate box. The essay will supplement the application you have submitted to Baruch and will help us become acquainted with you as a person and student.  We will also use the essay to measure your ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself.

      Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical 

      dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

• If you could meet anyone in the world, from history or present day, who would it be and why?
  If you were stranded on a deserted island and could have three items with you, what would they be and why?
  
  
  
• Sign up!  Visit!  Write!
• Don't let this opportunity pass you by!

Thank you for visiting ICE!

Mount Holyoke students

In the past two weeks ICE had 3 great visits from: Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Skidmore College.

I thought that I would share just a few things that we learned in the Information Sessions.

All three of these colleges are private institutions, and although the price tags are large--each school stressed their commitment to financial aid.  These colleges are small, liberal arts colleges....boasting small classroom size......and many opportunities for students to follow their interests.

Both Mt. Holyoke and Hampshire do not require SAT or ACT scores and these 2 schools are part of the famous, 5 College Consortium in Western Massachusetts.

Hampshire College

Skidmore College does look for strong test scores, but that in the admission process there is flexibility.

Even though Mt. Holyoke is a woman's only college...there are men on campus.  Mt. Holyoke students definitely have access to a co-ed education.

That Hampshire has a working farm!

Skidmore College between classes

The Mt. Holyoke campus is diverse, 49% of the students are international or students of color.

A Skidmore student passionate about his cooking, created his own television show which was broadcast on campus.

ICE has 6 students attending Hampshire College, 1 student at Mount Holyoke (another just graduated last year), and we are waiting for a lucky someone to attend Skidmore.  You could be the first!
                                    

Updated Schedule of College Visits to ICE

12th Grade Students and 11th Grade Students may sign up to meet with a College Representative in the ICE College Office.  Students must sign up at least one day ahead of time.

Winter  @ SUNY Oneonta

Thursday, October 6                           10:40                SUNY Oneonta
                                                                                    www.oneonta.edu/

Tuesday, October 11                           10:40               Sarah Lawrence College
                                                                                     http://www.slc.edu/

new dorms @ Sarah Lawrence College

Thursday, October 13                           8:30                SUNY Brockport
                                                                                    www.brockport.edu/

College of Mount Saint Vincent                                                                                                        

Thursday, October 13                           3:00                College of Mount Saint Vincent                                                                                           
                                                                                     www.cmsv.edu


Wednesday, October 19                        8:15               The Evergreen State College
                                                                                     www.evergreen.edu/


Thursday, October 20                           1:00                Swarthmore College                                                                                            
                                                                                     www.swarthmore.edu

Union College

Tuesday, October 25                           10:40               Union College
                                                                                    www.union.edu/

Friday, November 4                            11:30               Lewis & Clark College
                                                                                    www.lclark.edu/

Stony Brook University

Stony Brook University

                    STUDENT INFORMATION SESSION 

A Student Preview of Stony Brook University

Stony Brook Manhattan  -  387 Park Avenue South  -  3rd floor

Stony Brook University

on----

Tuesday, October 4th  ---  3:30 pm

or

Thursday, November 3rd -- 3:30 pm

--  Come and meet the Admission Staff

--  Learn more about Stony Brook's outstanding academic programs and student life

-- Find out about scholarship opportunities and honors programs        

--  Questions about the Application Process answered!!

Students must RSVP at:  www.stonybrook.edu/admissions/info

New York Times Scholarship

The Scholarship Program is open to high school seniors in public, private or parochial 

schools in the five boroughs who have demonstrated superlative academic achievement 

despite significant obstacles - financial or otherwise. The articles on the New York Times 

website about previous winners describe the type of challenges our scholars have faced.

(You can find these articles on the link below.)

This year we intend to support eight scholars with awards. To receive a scholarship of 

up to $7,500 a year, students must enroll in a full-time course of study leading to a 

baccalaureate degree at an accredited college. Each scholarship will be renewable annually, 

as long as the student maintains a good academic record.

Applications must be received by Thursday, October 27, 2011. 

To download program information and application, 

please visit:   www.NYTimes.com/scholarship

This is a fantastic scholarship.  Download the application and check to

see if you are eligible, if so, take your time in creating a strong application.

Questions?  Stop by the College Office.  

Good Luck,

Jennifer

Schedule of College Representatives Visiting ICE

College Representatives are coming to ICE to meet students and to give an Information Session about their college.  These meetings are for 12th grade students, and if space is available for 11th grade students.

The procedure for attending a meeting:

Ask the teacher, whose class you will be missing, if you can have permission to attend the meeting.

The Evergreen State College

If the teacher agrees, then come and let me know, or send me an email telling me that you will be attending.  You must tell me one day in advance.  Students cannot ask to attend on the day of....


Also, I ask that all students be on time for these meetings.


Friday, Sept. 16                10 am                  Mt. Holyoke College - Catarina Costa

Tuesday, Sept. 20             10:40 am             Hampshire College - Laura Melbin-Diniz

Thursday, Sept. 22            10:30 am            Skidmore College - Teshika Hatch

Wednes., Oct. 19               8:15 am              The Evergreen State College - Julian Genette  
                                                               
Thursday, Oct. 20             1:00 pm               Swarthmore College - Joanna Weinland, Dean

Tuesday, Oct. 25               10:40 am             Union College - Aaron Ray

Friday, Nov. 4                   11:30 am             Lewis & Clark College - Peter McKay

Union College

Keep checking back for additional colleges that will be visiting.

SAT get ready!

Hello ICE Students and Welcome Back!!!  

Get Ready for the SAT!

I hope you each had a productive, restful, and fun summer.

This promises to be an exciting year......
Class of 2012, so let's get ready!

First things first, all seniors need to register for the October 1st SAT I.
The deadline is FRIDAY, this Friday, September 9th.

If you plan on applying to a competitive college, you will need to take some SAT II's on
November 5th, that deadline is October 7th.  

So, don't waste a second.... log onto sat.collegeboard.org and register for the SAT.

If you qualify for a fee waiver come and see me as soon as possible.

Tomorrow, I am going to post the list of colleges that will be visiting ICE this fall.

Can't wait to see all you this Thursday!
Jennifer

The Social Aspect of College

Sofia, Zach, and Claire @ Binghamton

by Claire Rachel Feuer    

Frats- Depending on where you go to school there might or might not be any fraternities and sororities. I can’t offer much advice on this but before you begin pledging make sure you check out all the options. Most frats/sororities don't allow you to pledge until second semester freshman year and if you plan to join you should plan your class schedule knowing that you will probably be up super late/super early in the morning- so early classes aren't the best idea.

Drinking/Smoking- Yes there is underage drinking and partying… but as usual safety comes first and being responsible. I don’t think I need to go into much detail about partying but I would like to stress that there are MANY people who do not. At Binghamton we have a program called “Late Night Binghamton” that offers events and cool things to do on the weekends. In addition, a lot of people who go to the frats and bars (like me) don’t drink, which is quite advantageous. And believe me, with late night fatigue, the packed frats/bars, loud music, and flashing lights, you might as well be! All in all, be careful, and remember that if you live on campus you will have an RA (residential adviser) that is there to make sure that everyone is safe.

College… it’s a huge sleepover  with tons of work … and a lot of fun. Take advantage of all of its resources because it goes by quickly.

Feel free to e-mail me with any remaining questions regarding ANYTHING about college (partying, getting involved, etc.).

Don't be shy, feel free to post questions for Claire!

Thanks so much Claire and we look forward to hearing from

you next year!

Tips To Succeeding In College

by Claire Rachel Feuer

Claire in front of her dorm

Major? Unless you are on the pre-med track or interested in majoring in bio, engineering, etc. EXPLORE classes in each department. As soon as you get to college the hot topic of SATs quickly turns into.... "what's your major?". Nonetheless, don't be afraid to say "I'm not sure yet".  Honestly, many freshman don't know what they plan to study.  In fact, I didn't even know what anthropology was until this semester (the study of humans- which is still a VERY broad study). 

Rainbow over Binghamton University

Workload- I have no doubt that you will be receiving A LOT of work. Everyone says that time management is crucial in college and I can’t agree more. With late night partying, practically no adult supervision, and hanging out with friends, to name a few, there are distractions everywhere! I've pulled multiple all nighters and have consequently missed a couple of classes. However, this stress could/can be prevented by using your time wisely, for example, choosing instead to party two days a week rather than three, or dedicating more time to one class rather than the class that you are already excelling in. But…BE REALISTIC- This is college and there will always be some type of work to do so you HAVE to take breaks and have fun in order to survive the work load. If you've kept up with the long term projects at ICE then college will be a breeze (because you already know about planning, creating outlines and drafts, and writing lab reports).

ASK FOR HELP!- At ICE you've been fortunate to have dedicated teachers who will often stay with you until the night to help you complete your work. Depending if you have large class sizes, the faculty-student relationship will probably be much different. In college student and faculty relationships are often different, in college, professors unlike ICE teachers have lives (haha kidding) and often teach other classes, are pursuing studies, and overall do not have time to meet with you after class. Luckily, all professors and teaching assistants have office hours.. so USE THEM! Office hours are a great way to clarify ideas gone over in class, ask further questions, and to make an impression on the professor and TA. Freshman should take advantage of office hours as much as possible because in large lecture classes it's easy to fall asleep, drift off, and more importantly feel overwhelmed and anonymous (especially coming from ICE where everyone receives personal attention). No matter what class you take, whether it is the easiest math class (I took Math in Action), if you are struggling you should ask for help immediately before it's too late (and don't worry office hours are utilized by many).  

Writing centers: Go, go, go, unfortunately I think that these are the one of the most underused resources at Binghamton. Even if you are confident in your writing skills there is no harm in going. The majority of jobs require that employees write well so you should improve your writing as much as possible (especially because there is a huge difference between writing expectations in high school and in college).

Thanks so much Claire for sharing your college experiences and observations with us!  I just want to echo you........Writing Centers!!  Writing Centers!!  The help you get here can definitely see you through difficult papers and assignments.

Look for Claire's 3rd posting in the next day or two where she will discuss some of the social aspects of college.

Jennifer

Summer.......use the time!

Dear Seniors,

It's soooo hot outside!!! Today the temperature promises to hit the mid 90s ----ugh.  This presents you, dear seniors, a perfect time to find air conditioning---the library, Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, etc. and get that SAT prep book and use part of the day to practice.  You will feel so good about yourself and next year if you push and practice the SATs on a regular basis.

I want to echo Claire (in the previous post) and say that the only time in your life that the SATs matter is next year when you are applying to college.  Be wise use these few months to prep and take the SATs......and then forget about them!

You will be taking the SAT I in October and if you are applying competitive you will take 2 SAT II's in November.  Please check your college website and see what is required for admission.

Stay tuned for part II of Claire's awesome post, I will be posting it tomorrow.

Stay inside and stay cool!

Jennifer

Today

        94 °F

Chance of T-storms

20% chance of precipitation

Claire a 2010 ICE grad blogs about the College Process

• 

Claire with her family, college ready....the car is packed!

Claire is our visiting blogger.....this is one of 3 posts from Claire, so check back and read what Claire has to say about frats, majors and workloads!!!  Thanks Claire for thinking of us!........your post is awesome.    I LOVE what you have to say about SATs and the College Essay. 

Dear future ICE graduates,

Congratulations on making it through another school year! I hope that everyone is enjoying their summer- whether you are interning, travelling, or kicking back and relaxing. I was extremely pleased to hear that Jennifer Wells had started a college blog and was looking for ICE graduates to share their college experiences. A little introduction is needed before I share with you my experiences, tips to succeeding in college, and my opinion about the college application process.

My name is Claire Feuer and I graduated ICE in 2010. I am a rising sophomore at Binghamton University and plan to double major in Spanish and Anthropology. Seth Newman and Sofia Goldberg (two of my closest friends also attend Binghamton).

Library @ Binghamton University  photo: Jonathan Cohen

Tips from  Freshman Perspective:

 College App process

SATs: The entire process is stressful but you have to remember that, like one of Imani's daunting long-term projects, it will soon be over! Sure, it might seem that conversations surrounding the SATs, have begun to dominate everyday conversations with friends, especially if you are in the 11th and 12th grade. However, don't worry, once you enter college EVERYONE (including parents, bragging students, and even colleges) has forgotten about SAT scores. My point is, don't let SAT scores bother you. While they are vital to many competitive colleges, they are also numbers that, when standing alone, do not offer much insight as to who you are, your values, and even your academic standing. On that note for those who are applying to colleges that require them, you should be practicing and getting acquainted with SAT- style questions. The SATs do a poor job at identifying what material you know but do an excellent job at seeing whether you know the necessary "tricks" that will save you time and frustration. 

ACTs: I never took these but you should explore these as an alternative if you are applying to schools that require either the SAT or the ACT.

Scholarship: College is expensive no matter where you attend. There are a ton of scholarships that are offered but require a lot of searching, dedication, and determination. One great website to find scholarships is www.fastweb.com. On this site, you fill out a profile and the site will automatically go through all of the scholarships posted on the web- plus it’s free to make an account! Scholarships range in money amounts. There are also more creative scholarships like making a prom dress out of duct tape.

Personal Essay: I would argue that the personal essay is by far the most difficult and most important piece of your college application. As JWells has told you numerous times, this is YOUR chance to connect with the reader on a personal level. College readers receive thousands of essays and you want to make sure that your essay stands out. 

Personal Obstacles: If you're like me, a perfectionist and someone who writes one sentence per hour, you should create a timeline. The last thing you want to do is to turn in a rushed personal essay. Set aside a good chunk of time designated to brainstorming  ideas, free writing, and editing. I wrote at least five drafts, each that focused on a different experience, and scratched them all. Of all the essays that I have read and written, the best ones are those that I/readers could relate to and could sense the writer's passion (which means that you should choose a topic that inspires you and that you enjoy writing about). I ended up writing my personal essay a week before it was due (cutting it a bit short) and it was ironically about my continual struggle with writing- so topics do vary! 

Tips: Have a few people read your essay. Of course submitting your work for peer review is always nerve racking (especially if it’s extremely personal), but this is not the time to be shy. Being open to critical feedback and acknowledging that great writing requires editing is a piece of knowledge that should be carried into college. Professors expect you to have edited your essays (more than once) before submitting work and often times what is clear to you might not be clear to anyone else. Have your friends read your essay and provide critical feedback (students at ICE are masters at providing this- since our curriculum emphasizes this). Ask reviewers if your writings is clear and, beyond that, if your writing reflects your personality? It also might be helpful to have a teacher that you are close to and a complete stranger read your essay. Once you receive your feedback don't feel pressured to make any changes- this is your personal essay.

If you are interested in reading my personal essay feel free to contact me through this College Blog and I'll email it to you.

Thanks again Claire!
Jennifer

WHERE THE ICE SENIORS ARE GOING!

                                         

           

That is one impressive door!

  The I.C.E. Class of  2011 will be attending the following Colleges:

                                                 

                                                                 Bard College
                                                                 Baruch College  
                                                                 Bennington College

                                                                 Binghamton University

                                                                 Borough of Manhattan Community College

                                                   

Brooklyn College

Brandeis University

Bronx Community College

Brooklyn College

City College

Clarkson University 

Cornish College

Hampshire College                                       

Cornish College of the Arts

Hunter College

John Cabot University  (Rome)

Johnson & Wales University

John Jay College for Criminal Justice
Kingsborough Community College

Library @ Mt. Holyoke

Mount Holyoke College

New York City Technical College

New York University

Ononadaga Community College

Pennsylvania State University

Purchase College

St. Francis College

SUNY Canton

SUNY New Paltz

SUNY Oneonta

SUNY Potsdam

Swarthmore College

Swarthmore College

Tulane University

University of Bridgeport                  
Wells College

Next year we hope that you all keep in touch.