Going Merry: Making College Scholarships Easier

A big part of the college process for most families is finding a way to pay for the cost of tuition, room and board, meals, books, travel, and other expenses. If the total cost of college isn't terrifying enough, the search and application process for scholarships certainly is daunting, to say the least. Most colleges will offer merit scholarships to students just for applying to college and getting accepted, but for the majority of students, there is still a gap that needs to be met, and financial aid does not usually cover all of that. So because of that, most students are forced to sift through hundreds of outside scholarships, find out which ones they are eligible for and then spend hours completing the scholarship application, often requiring a ton of personal information and writing samples.

This hard work often can result in receiving free money to use toward's college expenses, but in general, the entire process is arduous, time consuming, and students often give-up before they really even begin. I hear about this frustration all of the time, that is why I was excited to have the opportunity to talk with Charlie Maynard, the co-founder of Going Merry , which is an online platform that makes it extremely easy to search and apply for scholarships, all in one place, basically making it the CommonApp of scholarship hunting.

So what makes Going Merry so useful? When it comes down to it, it just makes everything so much easier...and here is why:

• Students make a profile once, and then the platform will auto fill the student's information for any future scholarship applications
• Students can apply directly to multiple scholarships, never leaving the main Going Merry website
• Every application has an estimated completion time and difficulty level, which helps students prioritize them
• Scholarships are grouped by essay to help minimize the amount of essays students need to write
• Going Merry will help match scholarships to students they are right for
• It is all free!

Going Merry is a very new organization, but they already have reviewed and approved close to a thousand scholarships, which can now be found (and applied to) on their website. I hope this can help and best of luck with the search!

Joseph D. Korfmacher

It's FAFSA Time

Here we are...October 4th, and the applications are flying and the pressure is intense. With so many different college deadlines, application types, writing supplements, and forms that need to be completed, I'd imagine students and parents are already wishing the college application process was over!

Well, while the college process will not be official over until May 1st, I do have some good news. For the first time, the FAFSA is now open well before January 1. You may be wondering why this is a good thing...just more paperwork right? Well that is true, but in the long run, this should be a benefit to students and families...hopefully.

For the 2017-2018 college academic year, families can now complete the FAFSA using their 2015 tax return. In the past, families would need to wait until after January 1st, file their taxes, then use that year's information to complete the FAFSA. This would only give school's a month or so to receive the information and send families a financial package...then rushing families to make a compare financial aid packages and make a decision.

The HOPE is that by opening the FAFSA sooner, families will receive their financial aid packages sooner, giving them much more time to make an informed decision.

If you're like me, just talking about the FAFSA makes my head hurt a little bit, but check out these few pieces of information on the FAFSA, and a USA Today article on the new FAFSA.

• The FAFSA is free...do not pay for it! There are scams out there...here is the actual website: https://fafsa.ed.gov/
• The FAFSA is for financial aid, while the CSS Profile (which many colleges use) will help families receive institutional aid
• You will need to complete a FAFSA each year, so if your financial situation greatly changes from year to year, so will the financial aid you receive
• Complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile as soon as you feel comfortable. 

To find out more about the new FAFSA, take a look at this article from USA Today.

Best of luck!!

Joseph D. Korfmacher

The Real Reason College Tuition Costs So Much

The New York Times Opinion section recently featured an article on the (astronomically) rising costs of college tuition. Entitled, "The Real Reason College Tuition Costs So Much," you'll discover that cuts to public funding for higher education are NOT to blame. One culprit cited in the article: "constant expansion of university administration. According to the Department of Education data, administrative positions at colleges and universities grew by 60 percent between 1993 and 2009, which Bloomberg reported was 10 times the rate of growth of tenured faculty positions."

It's an interesting read and I hope you enjoy.

College Spotlight: The University of Miami

At the end of January, I was lucky enough to attend a counselor-fly-in to the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida for three days. I have never visited this school and I was impressed with the high level of academics and the beautiful community of students, faculty, and surrounding environment that makes up 'The U". Miami is a research university and has just over 11,000 undergraduates, which makes it a very accessible campus, and allows for students to get to know their faculty and administration and establish relationships to help with their academics and career search. As you can see by the pictures below, the University of Miami is situated on an absolutely beautiful campus surrounding a small lake with water fountains in the middle. Right next to the lake is an outdoor swimming pool with Olympic style diving boards. The University is about 25 minutes outside of Miami, and is in the suburbs of Coral Gables, which is an absolutely pristine town.

Academically, the university has pretty much any type of major students are looking for, including architecture, marine biology, engineering, and business. Miami is a school that continues to grow in popularity, and is a school that's academics, culture, and environment, makes it a place where many students should look. For everyone who has had enough with this year's winter, when I was down there, it was a bit chilly to the locals at about 72 degrees every day! Check out some facts about the school below, and you would be smart to put this school on your map!

Miami's Mascot is the Ibis, which is a type of bird, known to be the last to leave before a storm hits and the first to come back when the storm is over, so just like their students and faculty, the Ibis is known for its resiliency.

There are 11 schools and colleges, including the Miller School of Medicine and the School of Law. The other nine undergraduate colleges are: 

• School of Architecture
• College of Arts and Science
• School of Business Administration
• School of Communication
• School of Education and Human Development
• College of Engineering
• School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
• Frost School of Music
• School of Nursing and Health Studies 

For admissions, they offer Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision, with an RD deadline of January 1st. This past year, UMiami had about 700 students apply through ED, and they accepted about 180 students, they had about 15,000 applications through EA and accepted about 6,500 students, and through regular decision they had about 17,000 applications, and most likely will accept about 5-6 thousand students. Their middle 50% for the SAT for acceptance is 1900-2100 and the ACT is 28-32. They offer a ton of big time merit scholarships including the Stamps Foundation Scholarship which is a full ride (applicants usually have a 1500 SAT or 35 ACT) and they offer 70 full tuition scholarships each year.

UMiami has a fantastic career development center, called the  Toppel Career Center. This is a 12,000 square feet building dedicated to career counseling, which is a big deal on their campus. Here they offer 1-on-1 career advising and interview labs which are focused on the student's industry they are going for, and they have cameras and microphones to record practice interviews. The career center also offers "meet-ups" with employers for their students to network. Finally, UMiami gives 1 free academic credit for an internship. Check out  www.hireacane.com for more information.

Othere highlights:
Architecture has 3 semesters focused on the art and drawing aspects of this field, they are very big on urban design and living, and students complete one semester studying in Rome.

College of Engineering offers a 6-year BS/MS Program Partnership with the University of Bologna in Italy (which is a top 10 school for civil engineering in world). This is for civil engineers only, where they do 3 1/2 years in Miami and 3 1/2 years in Italy. Students graduate with BS and MS from UMiami and a MS from U of Bologna.

The Nursing program usually has about 25-35 students per class and students do not have to apply directly to the program. If they are accepted to the University, they can be a nursing major if they want.

The Frost School of Music has about 450 undergraduates, and all students  must audition.

They also offer a music engineering major, where students get a BS in music, and take lots of math and engineering courses. Other unique majors include music therapy, music education, and music business. Although it is not mandatory, it helps to audition on campus, as this could help with potential scholarships.

The School of Communication offers five main areas including Interactive media, journalism, advertising, PR, and motion pictures. LinkedIn has named UMiami the #17 school in the country for media preparation.

Hopefully this information was helpful, and I urge you all to look more closely into The University of Miami as a potential destination! Enjoy the pictures, and as always, happy searching!

-Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA

Introducing Micro-Scholarships for College from Raise.me

We are all familiar with the high costs associated with pursuing a college education. But remember, there are many options out there to collect scholarships and financial aid. And some are more out-of-the-box than you may expect.

Take Raise.me, for example. I recently had the opportunity to meet with folks from Raise.me, a new organization that is partnering with colleges across the country to help families rack up "micro-scholarships" against the astronomical costs of higher education. Starting in 9th grade, students can accrue these small, conditional scholarships from colleges for accomplishments such as getting an 'A' in science class, making the Varsity swim team, being involved in community service, partaking in various extracurricular activities, and much more. If you wind up attending a school you've selected through Raise.me, the micro scholarships you've built up will be applied to your tuition.

The process is very simple; go to their website, create a free account (Name, DOB, High School, and graduation year), select any or all of the schools they partner with, input your accomplishments, and watch the scholarships grow. The Raise.me platform is retroactive, meaning even juniors and seniors can enter any high school accomplishments to count toward Raise.me scholarship money (as long as the college's submission deadline has not passed).

Currently, this organization is partnered with 65 colleges, including Tulane and Temple, but will be adding an average of one new school per week. Students may choose to connect to as many colleges on Raise.me as they want, and are under no commitment to attend those schools. However, if they do choose to attend a college selected through Raise.me, the school is bound to give them the amount in their account. The scholarships range in amounts, and can be small, but receiving any scholarship money for your accomplishments is a great way to offset college costs. Parents, this is also a great motivator for high school students to become more involved in school activities, sports, or even work harder in the classroom. Of course, getting that 'A' in Calculus is a win on transcripts, as well, but it won't hurt to also get $500 from a college for receiving that grade!

Raise.me launched for student-use 6 months ago, and has grant funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Facebook, and UPenn. So students, check out the website, connect with colleges, begin listing your accomplishments, and watch the potential scholarships accrue in your account! If you haven't had motivation yet to get involved in the classroom, on the field, or in extracurriculars, maybe a little money towards your college education will help.

Best of luck with this experience, and as always, happy searching!

Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA

College Spotlight: Saint Anselm College

Today, I had the pleasure of meeting with two admissions representatives from Saint Anselm College for a presentation about their school. Saint Anselm College is located Manchester, New Hampshire, only about 4 hours from Manhattan. Saint Anselm, also referred to as Saint A's is a Catholic Benedictine Liberal Arts College with about 1,900 underclassmen. I will admit that I did not know as much about St. A's as I do with other schools, but after learning more today, this is a school I am eager to visit, and will recommend to many students in the future.

Saint Anselm is situated in the beautiful city of Manchester, on a picturesque campus in New Hampshire. The school is only one hour from Boston and the ocean, and only 10 minutes from the nearest airport. This is a place that embodies what a true college community is all about. It attracts students who are eager to participate in a liberal arts education where they will be challenged, but supported by peers, professors, and administrators during their time there. Professors know their students very well and are always there to make sure they get the most out of their education. Below are a few facts about the school and the students that make up the Saint Anselm community.

• There is a 90% retention rate from freshmen to sophomore year.
• 92% of students live on campus all four years.
• 86% of students stay on the weekends.
• St. A's has a 75% acceptance rate and the average GPA for accepted students is 3.2. Average accepted SAT scores are 1080-1220 and the average accepted ACT score is 25.
• Test scores are not required to be submitted with application, unless the applicant is applying for nursing.
• St. A's is a top 20 liberal arts school in the nation for return on your investment.
• Although the sticker price is a little under $50,000, the average net price for families is only $23,000, signaling that merit scholarships and  financial aid are readily available for all students.
• One of St. A's most competitive programs is nursing, which has roughly a 35% acceptance rate. Unlike at some colleges, students will begin taking nursing classes freshmen year and will begin clinical work sophomore year.
• They have a 3-2 engineering program with multiple other colleges, including Notre Dame.

Finally, one very special aspect of Saint Anselm is their connection to the New Hampshire Institute of Politics (NHIOP). In New Hampshire, Saint Anselm is the premier resource for individuals interested in contemporary political issues. As found in their literature, Saint A's was founded "on the premise that an educated citizenry is vital for a healthy democracy...and they created the New Hampshire Institute of Politics to provide a vibrant, innovative and non-partisan forum where men and women can explore, debate, and participate in all aspects of the American political process"

Almost every major national political race goes through the campus of Saint Anselm, where candidates will present and debate, giving their students VIP access to major players in politics. Interestingly, every president since JFK has spoken or has been involved in a debate at Saint Anselm. Finally, the college has recently established a partnership with Bloomberg to create nationwide polling systems.

All in all, this is a small school in a beautiful setting, full of students and faculty who truly care about one another and of improving themselves and the world around them. I personally highly recommend it as a school that students need on their radar! I hope this information was helpful, and as always, happy searching!

-Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA

 

Best Colleges for Your Money

What many people want from college isn't too complicated. They desire a good education, a safe and comfortable environment, to be prepared for the workforce, and to not break the bank to attend the school. With soaring college costs and a competitive job landscape, it is more important than ever to find that perfect fit, where students will be challenged, graduate with marketable skills, and will not have loans to pay for the next 20 years. The website 'Money' recently came out with a list for colleges that are the best bang-for-your-buck. As you will see, many of them are some of the most selective schools in the country, but it is certainly worth a look. You can view the list here on their site. As always, happy searching!

-Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA

The Richmond Guarantee Program

The University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia has started a new initiative that will certainly help students during their summer breaks. Richmond is now guaranteeing all students will be given $4,000 for a summer research or internship experience. This is called the Richmond Guarantee, which will help all students have the “opportunity to pursue the internship, research experience, creative project, or service learning opportunity that best complements their academic pursuits - in any field of endeavor, and in any part of the world.” Richmond is a terrific school with great academics, and is often in the top lists for most beautiful college campuses. Only 5 ½ hours away from New York City, it is a perfect distance for students who want to get away, but not be too far from home. With just under 3,000 students, the school offers an abundance of majors, with business related degrees being their most popular. Richmond has always been a school worth considering, but the Richmond Guarantee makes it even more of a must-see college!

-Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA

Tips for Early Decision & Early Action Results

As seniors are waiting for and receiving decisions for their Early Action (EA) and Early Decision (ED) applications for colleges, I wanted to share some tips on next steps once you've heard from your schools.

• If you have been accepted to a school through Early Decision, congrats! After celebrating, the first thing you should do is withdraw your applications from the other schools you have applied to or were planning on applying to. Remember, with Early Decision, you, your parent, and school counselor all signed an agreement that, if accepted, this would be the school you would attend.
• If you have been deferred from Early Decision or Early Action to regular decision, don't worry - there is still a chance you will be accepted in the spring. For ED, you are no longer committed to attending the school, even if you are accepted through regular decision, so more options have just opened up! To be deferred means the college liked what they saw in your application, but they need a little more information and time before making a final decision. As such, you should be proactive in updating the school with additional information about yourself and your commitment to attending if accepted. You may send updated senior grades, new standardized test scores, a revised résumé and continue to demonstrate your interest with the school - perhaps take a visit and introduce yourself at the Admissions office. Most schools will note that you applied ED/EA when they review you again for regular decision, but it will also help your cause to continue to show how much you want to attend their school.
• If you have been accepted to any schools through Early Action, congrats! Lucky for you, you're not obligated to tell them whether or not you're planning to attend until May 1st. 
• If you were denied through Early Action or Early Decision, unfortunately you cannot apply again for regular decision. But take heart - there are over 3,000 colleges in the United States alone and there are likely many options where you can be happy and thrive! If your heart is set on the school you were denied by, you can wait until the following school year to apply again. 
• Make plans to visit the schools you have been accepted to, especially the ones you have yet to see in person!
• Keep track of the scholarships offered by each school you have been accepted to. It may be helpful to create an Excel document to compare the cost of each school after scholarships and eventually financial aid are factored in.
• If your college requires the CSS Profile, make sure you are getting that done as soon as possible. Also, remember the FAFSA is available on January 1, and complete that within the first few weeks of January if possible.
• Most of all, keep calm while decisions are coming out. You most likely will not be accepted to every school, and that's OK! You will end up where you belong and at the school that is a great match for you.

Have a fabulous and relaxing break, and Happy Holidays!

Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA

College Quick-Hitters

Hofstra University (Hempstead, NY)

Total undergraduates: 6,900 students

Middle 50% for acceptance SATs: 1640-1890, ACT: 23-27, Acceptance Rate: 59%

This is a medium sized private school located on a suburban campus in Long Island, 25 miles outside of New York City. Campus is divided in two with the north side housing the residential halls (38 of them and 87% of students live on campus) and the south side housing all of the academic buildings. Hofstra has 143 different majors, with biology being their top major and business being one of their most popular. They have a state-of-the-art trading room, and internships are very big across all majors. They also offer a 5-year Journalism Master’s program. Class sizes are small with an average of only 21 students per class. 2014 will be the first year that Hofstra is going test optional in their admissions process. As long as the student has a good GPA, they are advised to not submit SAT scores below 1080 (Math and Critical Reading).

University of New Haven (West Haven, CT)

Total undergraduates: 4,700

Middle 50% for acceptance SATs: 1445-1715, ACT: 20-25, Acceptance Rate: 74%

New Haven is an up-and-coming university about 90 minutes outside of New York City. It is a residential campus, near the water, with about 25% of students participating in Greek life. They have Division 2 in sports and have over 170 clubs and organizations on campus. They have a focus on connecting students to careers, and all business students are required to do at least one internship. A recent survey of 2013 graduates showed 91% of them had a job or were in graduate school. Forensic science is their top major and most competitive one to get into. They are also very popular for their music industry major. Other top majors include engineering, music & sound recording, and marine biology. Finally, about 35% of their students reside in living-learning communities on campus.

Johnson and Wales University (Providence, RI)

Total undergraduates: 9,500

Acceptance Rate: 72%

This is a unique institution in the heart of Providence, RI. Once you are accepted, you are accepted to all four campuses across the county including Providence, Miami, Denver, and Charlotte. Students are encouraged to study at one of the alternate campuses at least once during their time at school, but it is not mandatory. Their top majors are culinary education, hospitality and management, and business. They offer a 5-year MBA/accounting program, which allows the students to quickly sit for the CPA exam. They also offer a sports and entertainment business major on all four campuses, which is very popular. They are very much a hands-on-learning institution, and résumé building is extremely important to the school. On day one of freshmen year, they start students with career advising, and work with them through graduation. Students that have a GPA of 84 and above and/or SATs of 1200 and above will receive a substantial scholarship. There are no classes on Friday for anyone, which helps students who have internships or need to travel, which is a great idea on their part.

Adelphi University (Garden City, NY)

Total undergraduates: 5,050

Middle 50% for acceptance SATs: 1520-1840, Acceptance Rate: 68%

Adelphi is a school with a ton of promise. Right now, only 60% of students live on campus, so there are a lot of commuters, but the school is working on improving their residential life. They are offering a new nursing program, and it is not a direct-admit program, meaning if you are accepted to Adelphi, then you can become a nursing major if desired. They offer a joint law program with the University of Albany, where they are given early assurance to the program. They also offer a highly ranked (#5 in the country) social work major, with an optional 5-year Master’s program. Finally, they offer a 4-2 program with Columbia, where the student would graduate with a BS in environmental studies from Adelphi, and a Masters in Science in a specific engineering degree from Columbia.

Feel free to email me with any questions, and as always, happy searching!

-Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA