Cappex College Blog

We have selected the winners of the November deadline Cappex scholarships and want to notify the winners individually before we announce them on the blog. So, we will let you know who won in the next few days. Until then, hold on to your caps!

We’ll be giving away more scholarships in the new year. Jan. 31 is the deadline for these scholarships: education, English, political science, Cappex College Scholarship, Promoter Scholarship, Hardship and two College Tour Travel scholarships.

We’ve passed out lots of deadline reminders this year, but perhaps none is as fun as this one. Time is running out on 2007. If you need to make some resolutions, you better move quickly.

This year was huge for Cappex. Thousands of students from across the country connected with colleges on Cappex. Many students were introduced to schools they otherwise might not have known about. Cappex has also given away thousands of dollars in scholarships. And for students still trying to decide where to apply, the Cappex “What Are My Chances?” Calculator told thousands of students their chances of being admitted to almost any college in the country.

That’s a lot in one year, and we’re just getting started. To all the high school seniors with applications out, good luck. Stay in touch. To juniors and sophomores, the dawning of a new year means it’s time to step up and take charge of your college search. Let Cappex help. Let the colleges come to you.

Have a great holiday season and new year, and don’t forget:

• The first Cappex college scholarship deadline comes quickly in 2008. Applications for English, education and political science scholarships is Jan. 31.
• Keep us posted on your college apps. Tell us which colleges you found on Cappex that earned your application.

Jan. 1, 2008 is the first day high school seniors can file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), and the government recommends that students file as close to the first as possible.

The FAFSA is extremely important. FAFSA opens the doors to a variety of financial aid options. You need this form if you want to receive a Pell grant or apply for student loans. Many colleges and states use a student’s FAFSA information to award their own grants and scholarships. In fact, many schools require the FAFSA as part of their scholarship application.

If you’re a senior and haven’t yet filled out a FAFSA, don’t worry. The deadline to file is July 30, 2008. But, like we said, they recommend you get it in earlier. Some states have earlier deadlines, and a college may require you to have it submitted earlier to be eligible for their financial aid programs.

If you do have application work to do, get started as soon as you can. FAFSA requires a host of forms and information including driver’s license, your family’s tax returns, bank statements and Social Security numbers.

You can fill out the FAFSA online. First, get the FAFSA on the Web form which clearly outlines everything you need to file. Don’t dive in without looking at what information you need first; the form is eight pages long!

But the effort required is a small price to pay. FAFSA opens up all the financial aid available to college students. Ignoring this form could cost you thousands of dollars.

For more information, to apply, to download all FAFSA forms necessary, and for a full list of deadlines, visit www.fafsa.ed.gov/.

We will be announcing the winners of the November Cappex scholarships at the end of the month. We had a great response to the awards, and are nearly through reviewing all of the applicants. Thanks to everyone who applied.

We’ll be giving away more scholarships in the new year. Jan. 31 is the deadline for these scholarships: education, English, political science, Cappex College Scholarship, Promoter Scholarship, Hardship and two College Tour Travel scholarships.

Applications are flying through the mail this time of year. Deadlines loom, and with a little time off from school many seniors are getting their applications out.

So we want to know: Where are you applying? Are you applying to colleges you found on Cappex? How many colleges are you applying to?

Tell us your Cappex college application story! Has anyone had any deadline nightmares? Computer glitches before you could save your files? Late-night stamp runs?

Tell us which colleges you found on Cappex that you are applying to in the comments section below or send us an email at students@cappex.com.

Q. I’m currently a sophomore in high school right now and I was wondering if I should do dual-enrollment during my junior and senior years? I’m applying to competitive colleges and not sure if my top schools will accept joint-enrollment credits. So my question is which looks better, dual-enrollment or AP classes? Matt C.

A. Competitive colleges will look to see if the student has pursued a challenging curriculum in high school. Students are encouraged to take AP or IB courses in high school if they are offered.

Don’t let this dissuade you from dual-enrollment, or taking a course at a local college at the same time. Earning college credit before you enroll can help ensure you graduate from college in four years. This, in turn, helps keep those ever-rising college costs in check.

Students, though, need to be careful about dual enrollment depending on how they are planning to use the credits earned. If a student is hoping to receive college credit for these college courses then the student needs to know the policy at their intended college. Too many credits could make the student a transfer applicant instead of a freshman applicant. Also, a college may not accept the credits you earn.

If you earn credit at a community college and plan to enroll at a college in the same state, your credits should be good, but don’t count on it.

The bottom line is you need to check with the colleges first about their policies.

Got a question for the experts? Email us at experts@cappex.com.

Q: I’m looking at the long list of ways that you can get financial help for college, and one of the options is a work-study program. I know that the money earned goes towards paying your tuition, but do these programs pay any sort of stipend so that you won’t have to get another job for living expenses? Allyson B.

A. Money earned under the work-study programs is typically given directly to the student for living expenses. Programs can vary from college to college, but the cash is usually not applied to tuition, room or meals. Most colleges tailor the work-study program to be used by the student for spending money. Students can usually do what they want with cash earned through work-study.

Will your school’s program be enough that you won’t need another job? Well, that all depends on your personal spending habits. But for many students this is their only job during the school-year.

Work-study programs also have a great deal of variety in terms of work offered. Jobs may include work in a cafeteria, library or even an admissions office. Many students use the campus contacts formed during work-study programs to get full-time work after graduation.

Students are encouraged to ask each school about their work study policy after acceptance and financial aid award letters are received. Each college’s program will be different so be sure to get all the details before signing up.

Got a question for the experts? Email us at experts@cappex.com.

Q: What should juniors be doing now in the beginning stages of their search for the right college fit? Daniel, Charlotte, N.C.

A: Gearing up to apply to college next fall takes time and focus. Juniors should be developing concrete lists of criteria and putting their criteria in priority order.

What is important and what is really important? Could you deal with colder weather if a school in the North has a strong program for your major? Could you handle a college that is not connected to a big city if the special support you need is visible and available?

There are many ways to navigate the search and selection process and no one will use the exact same route. However, there are some basic strategies that will provide a direct route to gathering the need to know information.

High School

• Stay focused on academics
• Do not lighten academic load for senior year
• Meet with high school counselor
• Stay involved in school activities

Standardized Testing

• Register for PSAT
• Prepare for ACT/SAT tests
• Register for ACT/SAT
• Register for AP tests
• Register for SAT Subject Tests if appropriate

Exploration

• Take a self assessment
• Take a career search
• Use the web to search college websites
• Explore college admission requirements
• Meet with college representatives

College Fairs

• Develop questions to ask college reps at a college fair
• Explore different types of college fairs like general college fairs, performing arts, special needs, student athletes, Historically Black College fairs, religious organizations, etc.

Campus visits

• Drive by local colleges and get a sense of the different types of colleges
• Make appointments to go on campus tours to colleges of interest
• Schedule to attend a class on campus
• Eat on campus
• Visit a residence hall
• Meet with admission staff

Interviews

• Develop a list of questions to ask
• Review a list of questions colleges may ask
• Take a practice interview
• Find a list of tips and strategies on interviewing

Do not:

• Let this search consume every dinner conversation at home.
• Bow out of the conversation and let others take over the driver’s seat.
• Forget to recognize that cost is a factor .
• Forget that this search must, must, must include some colleges to which you are admissible. You need to have a safety school, a school to which your chances of admission is very high, and you need to love it.

Get ready to start the engine and survey the scene. Get set to make some major life decisions. Go head long into this search, keeping in mind that there are many colleges that can make that glove fit.

Special thanks to counselor Mary Beth Kravetz.