Tuesday, October 23, 2012

College Search : Questions to Ask the Financial Aid Office



Questions to Ask the Financial Aid Office
 
 
 
What percent of my need does the college meet?
Some colleges will meet 100% of your need, some will meet less of your need. Again, your NEED is the amount that the FAFSA or CSS PROFILE form has determined that you will be expected to pay (EFC) subtracted from the total Cost of Attendance. (COA)
What is your Cost of Attendance (COA) for the current year?
If your child is a junior, colleges won't have the numbers for her freshman college year until May or June of her senior high school year, so you may have to estimate based on this year's numbers. There are six components to a college student's complete budget:
  • Tuition
  • Fees
  • Room and Board
  • Books and Supplies
  • Personal expenses
  • Transportation
Many budgets you will see include only Direct Costs including Tuition, Fees and Room and Board. However, the Department of Education requires that colleges fully inform you as to all of the above costs, so find out specifically what those amounts are.

What kind of Merit Based Aid do you offer?
What is the average amount of Merit Based Aid that students are offered? How many students receive Merit Based Aid? What are the qualifications based on? Are they based on grades or scores only?
 
How do you determine financial aid after the first year?
Some colleges will provide strong financial aid the first year and then reduce the aid. You should ask up front how they determine aid, and the average loans after the first year.

What is the average loan amount at graduation for students who have taken out loans?
This is crucial information that will give you a sense of what your child's debt load will look like after college.

Does the college use Need Blind or Need Aware Admissions and what does that mean for admissions decisions?
Some colleges will not look at financial need at all during the application process, and some might consider it slightly (or more). You should ask this question, or research it online to determine how you may tweak your aid requests, if you have that flexibility.

How does the College consider outside Scholarships?
Is outside scholarship money subtracted from loans or from merit aid? There is no benefit to an outside scholarship if the college reduces this amount from the merit aid they would offer.

What percentage of your college's aid is grant versus loans and work study?
Grants are money that does not need to be paid back. Loans will need to be repaid, and work study is work that is on campus. Obviously, the greater the amount of grants, the better!

What is the college's endowment per student?
Often there is a correlation between endowment and student aid. Some wealthy colleges will give more aid to students, making expensive colleges less expensive in terms of final cost, than some state schools.

What percentage of students graduate from this college within 4 years?
You can often find this information online. You will want to know how likely it will be that your son or daughter will need loans for any extended time on campus.

Does the College use the FAFSA form or CSS Profile in determining aid?
The CSS profile often asks for more in depth information, so your EFC may vary depending upon whether the federal vs. the institutional formula is used to determine need.
 
Deena Maerowitz, J.D.,M.S.W
Guiding Students Through Admissions
phone: 646-206-7128
Undergradadmit LLC
email: Deena@undergradadmit.com
www.undergradadmit.com

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

FREE SEMINAR : College Admissions and Financial Aid 101


College Admissions and Financial Aid 101: What you need to know about the college admissions and financial aid process including:
 
Old Stone House, 336 3rd Street
Park Slope, Brooklyn
 
-How should you create a balanced college list?
-What really happens in the admissions office?
-The lowdown on the differences between merit and need based aid
-What sources can you find online to assess your eligiblity?
-How can your son or daughter's application strength influence influence grant award?
 
Presenters:
Deena Maerowitz, former Assoc. Director of Admissions at Columbia Business School, attorney and social worker with background in adolescent education issues and Professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association.
 
Maura Griffin, mom to a 16-year-old high school junior, is founder of Blue Spark Capital Advisors and a certified college planning specialist. She has her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and her MBA from Columbia.
 
Deena Maerowitz, J.D.,M.S.W
Guiding Students Through Admissions
phone: 646-206-7128
Undergradadmit LLC

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Reach For The Starts Aspiring Filmmakers Contest


Reach For The Stars Film Contest

Prize Details
The top five finalists and their families will receive an all expense paid trip to NYC to walk the red carpet and premier their film at the 50th Anniversary New York Film Festival
Contest Instructions
  • The contest is open to all aspiring filmmakers, ages 13-17 in the US.
  • Videos must be three minutes or less and emotionally compelling ready to go viral to millions around the world through the NY Film Festival.
  • Entries need to be submitted by October 5th with the finalists announced on October 7th.
  • Five finalists and their parents will receive an all expense paid trip to NYC for the Red Carpet Awards Ceremony at Lincoln Center on Saturday, October 13th at 4:00 PM EDT.
  • Get your smartphone ready and film your own award-winning video. Just make sure it’s buzzworthy.
  • If you experience any problems entering the contest from your mobile phone please go towww.OnBuzz.com on the web to enter and upload your video.
Prize Eligibility
Only persons residing in United States who are between 13 and 17 years of age can enter.
Contest Starts
September 25, 2012 @ 12:01 am (CDT)
Contest Ends
October 06, 2012 @ 11:59 pm (CDT)
Need more Details?

Friday, September 21, 2012

High Schools Update


High Schools
High School Admissions Update
Citywide High School FairThe Citywide High School Fair will be held on Saturday, September 29th and Sunday, September 30th from 10 am to 3 pm at Brooklyn Technical High School. Come learn more about high school admissions and meet representatives from high schools across the city! Download the fair flyer here. For more information, including translated flyers, visit this page.

Borough High School FairsThe Borough High School Fairs will be held on Saturday, October 13th and Sunday, October 14th from 11 am to 3 pm. Download the fair flyer here. For more information, including translated flyers, visit this page.
Calendar and Events
September 29-30, 2012Citywide High School Fair

October 13-14, 2012 Borough High School Fairs
December 3, 2012 Deadline to submit Round 1 High School Application 

View all →
High School Publications
High school publications and handouts, including the Directory of New York City Public High Schools, High Schools at a Glance, the Specialized High Schools Handbook, and summer workshop materials, are available on our Publications page. Translations are coming soon!

Download the High School Enrollment overview (translations available here ) to learn more about high school admissions. You can also review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), read about your choices and how the admissions process works , and consult our Guide for Students Receiving Special Education Services .

Friday, September 7, 2012

Increase your SAT/ACT test score with MindFlow™


Increase your SAT/ACT test score with MindFlow™

Speed Reading + Test Strategy + Positive Mindset = Test Success

SAT season is gearing up!! Time to get your score up, Seniors, and Juniors, get ready for the PSATs!

MindFlow™ , created by Test Prep New York / TPNY, MindFlow™ is a blend of modern speed-reading techniques, SAT/ACT strategy and valuable confidence building exercises.

MindFlow™ students learn how to double, even quadruple their reading speed without sacrificing comprehension. With proven results, past students have improved their Reading Comprehension/Critical Reading performance an average of 13%
  
This one-day/5-hour class is a great jump-start to one’s study–and score– and provides an extra edge for students who have been studying independently or with another SAT/ACT prep program.

Next SAT/ACT Class: 
    Saturday, September 8th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. OR
    Sunday, September 23, 2012     (Taught at a convenient NYC location)

For more information call 646-290-7440 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting   or go to www.mindflowclass.com/mindflow  

There are only a few seats left. For this Saturday’s class you must enroll directly through the TPNY office: call 646-290-7440 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting
                                                                              

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

FREE TEEN NIGHT at the New Museum!


FREE TEEN NIGHT 
at the New Museum!
Teens! On Friday June 15, take a break from Regents week at the New Museum. Grab your friends and come for an evening of live music, gallery conversations, button-making, and other hands-on activities during the first ever Teen Night at the New Museum. Explore exhibitions by Phyllida Barlow, Klara Lidén, and Carlos Motta and discuss your ideas in conversations led by and for teens. Design unique buttons and then head up to the 7th floor Sky Room to experience the wild world of performance artist, poet, and hip-hop musician Mykki Blanco accompanied by DJ Physical Therapy.

Teen Night is free and open to teens aged 14–19 with high school or government ID. No preregistration is required.

Teen Night at the New Museum is a G:Class program developed in collaboration with the NYC Museum Teen Summit.

G:Class is the New Museum’s interdisciplinary art education program. G:Class empowers youth to think critically about global cultural issues and develop their own cultural perspectives and provides resources for professional educators to carry this forward. For more information visitgclass.org.

The NYC Museum Teen Summit is a collective of youth leaders representing different museums in NYC dedicated to improving and promoting the role of youth in museums. For more information visit museumteensummit.blogspot.com.

Fri., Jun 15 @ 6:30 PM 
New Museum
235 Bowery at Prince St., Manhattan 
F to 2nd Avenue

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Japanese Language in Action: Theater Performance


Japanese Language in Action: Theater Performance
STUDENT PROGRAM

Japanese Language in Action: Theater Performance

Monday, August 6 — Saturday, August 18
© George Hirose.
Workshop:
Monday-Friday, August 6-10 & 13-17, 2012 from 10 am-3:30 pm

Theater Performance & Reception:

Saturday, August 18, 12-5 pm (for students)/2-4 pm (for guests)

Priority Registration Deadline:
Friday, June 15

Interested in kicking your Japanese up a notch? Always wanted to learn but never had the opportunity? High school students are invited to learn Japanese through fun, interactive classes and theater workshops during this two-week summer program. Led by expert high school Japanese teacher, Mami Fujisaki, with mini-sessions by actors, directors and others in the theater world, participants will enhance and deepen both their Japanese language and theater performance knowledge and skills. The workshop culminates in a performance for family and friends.

Open to students entering 9th-12th grade in Fall 2012. Recommended for beginner through intermediate Japanese language students; advanced students also welcome. No prior theater experience necessary.

TUITION
$450, tuition waivers available

Application (PDF) 
Tuition Waiver (PDF)

For more information, call (212) 715-1275 or email jseducation@japansociety.org.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Turbo Charge your SAT test prep just before the big test with: MindFlow

Turbo Charge your SAT test prep just before the big test with: MindFlow
 
MindFlow is a one-day/five hour class devoted exclusively to improving students’ performance on the Critical Reading portion of the SAT (and all standardized tests). Through speed-reading techniques, test strategy specific to these tests and valuable confidence building exercises, students comprehend more in less time, and perform their best.
 
This course is the brainchild of Bara Sapir, the founder and executive director of Test Prep New York, the boutique test preparation and educational coaching company based in Manhattan.
 
Students at any level will benefit from this class, whether they are just starting to prepare for a big test or have been studying diligently with (or without the assistance of another test prep company). Past MindFlow students increased their reading score an average of 13% (or 100 points on this section) and reading speed 400%.
 
MindFlow, will be offered in MANHATTAN, on Sunday May 20th, 10 - 3 pm.
Spots are limited and Advanced registration is required
mindflowclass.com or call Test Prep New York @ 646-290-7440
 
For more information visit mindflowclass.com

  
 Alan Brown
VP Business Development
Test Prep New York / TPNY
646-290-7440

Thursday, April 26, 2012

A TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP FOR TEENS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS


Pace University Tech Institute

A TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP FOR TEENS
WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Tech Workshop Ages 14-18
Week One: July 23 – 27
Week Two: July 30 – August 3
 
Students will use technology to get exposed to new skill sets such as programming,
creating online games and more.
Camp will include: guest lectures by computer scientists, people in the tech industry, field trips,
free time to experiment with computers, socialization and other activities!
10A.M. - 4P.M.
At Pace University 163 | William St. Second Floor
$450 for the week. For more information on the program and to
register, please contact Beth Rosenberg at bbethr@gmail.com.
Checks should be made payable to: Pace University Seidenberg
Mail To:
Seidenberg School of CSIS
163 William St.
New York, NY 10038
Attn: Jonathan Hill

NYC Rock Camp


NYC Rock Camp


Scholarships | Be A Volunteer! | Adopt-A-Camper | Donate Gear
We are a summer day camp for girls and boys ages 9-17. NYCRC’s mission is to support a culture of positive self-esteem and collaboration among young people while building community through music. NYCRC recognizes the potential of every young person to be a strong, talented, creative and empowered individual while providing a safe space where everyone rocks.
At NYCRC campers can choose from instrument lessons in guitar, bass, vocals, drums, or keyboards, and can take workshops in song-writing, recording, photography, arts and crafts, or music history. Campers will have the opportunity to form their own bands and perform for an audience of fans, family, and friends at the culiminating Saturday Night Showcase. Reserve your spot today and give your child the gift of collaboration, freedom of expression and empowerment through the power of rock and roll!

We will be offering one session of NYCRC for 2012;

TNTRC

NYCRC-Green Hills School
$300/camper

August 6-11, 2012
Greene Hill School
Mon-Friday 8:30am-5:30pm
Saturday Showcase: TBA

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Earlybird registration January 13-January 31, 2012: receive 15% off tuition during this time, an additional 5% discount (totalling 20%) will be added if you register more than one camper (sibling discount) during this time. We will offer a special 40% off tuition discount if you register between January 13 and 15, 2012. Just use NYCRC40 at checkout to save!
Open Registration: February 1-May 31, 2012: $300 (sibling discount of 15% is offered when more than one camper enrollment is purchased together).
Don’t forget to Like us on Facebook and Follow us on twitter (links on right sidebar) to receive notices of special offers and periodic discounts for camp.

Scholarships Opportunities

It is our mission at NYCRC never to turn away a willing participant for Rock Camp. With that in mind, we do offer scholarship opportunities to campers.
Apply for ScholarshipsThe tuition for NYCRC is $300. NYCRC operates with very limited resources and we rely heavily on donations and support from the community to sustain our programs. Therefore, we ask those who can afford to pay full tuition please to do so. This process is honor-based and confidential. We do not require supporting documents for financial aid consideration and expect complete honesty in your statement of need. We offer a limited number of scholarships to deserving campers.
Please submit an application by clicking on the Scholarships button. The deadline for submitting applications is May 1st. You will be notified if you have recieved a scholarship after this date.

Summer Youth Employment


Summer Youth Employment Program

Summer Youth Employment Program
The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) provides New York City youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with summer employment and educational opportunities. In 2011 DYCD employed 30,628 participants and placed them at 5,732 worksites.  Participants work in a variety of entry-level jobs at government agencies, hospitals, summer camps, nonprofits, small businesses, law firms, museums, sports enterprises, and retail organizations.
The Summer Youth Employment Program is designed to:
  • Emphasize real-world labor expectations
  • Increase awareness of services offered by local community-based organizations
  • Provide opportunities for career instruction, financial literacy training, academic improvement, and social growth
2012 SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM  

 Find a Program
Summer Help at No Cost to You!
Additional Information:
For more information on SYEP, please contact 1-800-246-4646.
The Department of Youth and Community Development is an equal opportunity employer/program.  Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.