I'm so pleased to welcome you here today and want to express my appreciation for your interest in college access for your student and for your willingness to explore the many opportunities that exist to make college a reality for your child. I'd like to share a bit of my background so you know where my passion comes from for assisting students as they consider college choices. I have been in education over 16 years working as a classroom teacher, a literacy expert, and an adjunct professor for college students interested in careers as teachers. I have recently added "counselor" to my background because I believe everyone has the responsibility to continue growing their interests and exploring new opportunities that bring them fulfillment. My goal is to assist your student in making the journey from high school to college as successfully as possible. I want to bring the wisdom I've gained in accessing higher education to those students who are starting to consider college and to those who feel a bit overwhelmed as they consider college requirements.

I am what you call a first generation college student - neither one of my parents was able to attend college. My dad was a machinist and made tools for the oilfield and my mom was a homemaker. They both valued education and wanted me to have as many opportunities as possible in life but when it came to helping me fill out college applications and apply for financial assistance, they just didn't know how to help because they had never been through the process themselves. What they could give was encouragement and moral support as I began trying to make sense of college applications, financial aid forms, and the decision of what college would be best for me. They let me know that I had the intelligence, the work ethic, and the gumption to make college a reality. Being a first generation student, I encountered some bumps as I made my way through the the often confusing maze of forms, challenging courses, homesickness, and feelings of insecurity. I didn't finish in four years - it was more like six for me. And I didn't start and end at the same college. I started and stopped and started and stopped again. I worked part-time and studied full-time but I finished! Eventually. And then I realized I loved learning so much, I went back for more! All of you here today want to see that your child has the opportunity to become a college success story, and the good news I have to share is that you need to know there is a way, a path, and with encouragement and commitment, your child can go, go, go all the way to a bachelor's degree or perhaps higher. It is a long journey but we can get started today!

One of the easiest ways to set your student up for success as they lay the groundwork for college is to steadily insist that he or she take more challenging courses whenever they can. In our district, starting in middle school, all students can select advanced classes. In the handouts available to you tonight is a sequencing chart showing the recommended path for math course selection in order for your student to be academically ready for college. Various options are presented and it is an excellent guide to follow as you sit and make decisions with your child at course selection time each year. Research suggests that if you will encourage your student to stretch themselves academically, your students will be much more likely to attempt rigorous high school course work and then enroll in college (Horn and Nunez, 2000 as cited in Engle, 2007). They really will listen to you!

One point that I will be stressing to your students is that college admission officers place great importance on a student's selection of advanced-level courses. The College Board, an organization that provides tools and information for students to use as they transition from high school to college, stresses that making straight A's in easy classes does not stand to impress admission officers as much as maintaining a balanced course load with evidence that the student studied and worked hard to achieve the best grade possible (https://professionals.collegeboard.org/guidance/prepare/honors-ap).
Evidence from the College Board (Balemian & Feng, 2013) further shows that students coming from households where the parents did not attend college - those termed first-generation students - often choose not to take Algebra in 8th grade. We want all students to reach and push themselves academically since other research indicates that when first-generation students choose more rigorous classes, specifically in math, it will double the chance that they will enroll in a four-year institution (Engle et al, 2006). I want to make sure all students understand that these classes are a critical first step in paving the path to college and they are accessible to everyone!

Presenter will switch presentation mode to document camera and run through a couple scenarios of how a student could use the chart to plan the next math course in desired sequence. Handouts with the math sequence chart will be given to parents along with other key documents as they arrive for presentation.

One of the biggest hurdles many families face as they begin planning for college is the realistic question of cost. There is a lack of information and a lot of misinformation about what type of aid is available and who qualifies for that assistance. Financial aid is the support given to make up the difference between what college costs and what a family or student can actually pay. Research suggests that if parents are informed of the wealth of resources available to help pay for college, their students are much more likely to go on to enroll in a four-year institution (Berkner & Chavez, 1997; Vargas, 2004 as cited in Engle et al, 2006) So I want to take some time now to explain the differences between the various forms of financial assistance available to students and their families. As we continue to partner together through your child's journey to college, I'll be offering more in-depth discussions and workshops related to the ins and outs of financial aid assistance since it is so important to college attendance. For today, I want to give you an overview and introduce some key components. The first item to consider in the pursuit of financial aid is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Let's watch this short video to get a better understanding of what FAFSA is all about.

FAFSA money comes form the federal level - U.S. Department of Education and can be used to cover tuition and fees, dorm costs, books, and transportation expenses.

Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUis5lityCQ

The key ways most students afford college is through financial aid - scholarships, grants, and, of course, student loans. All of these benefits are processed through the financial aid office of your student's college. For families who demonstrate a need, a portion of your student's aid package might include a grant. Grants are funds that do not have to be repaid. This is free money (often referred to as "gift aid"). There are various forms of grant money and some awards are reserved for specific types of students. At the workshops I mentioned earlier, I'll discuss the differences between the types but for now, let's focus on the Pell since it is one of the most common forms awarded. Pell Grants are given to undergraduate students, those who are working on a bachelor's or professional degree. The amount awarded varies but is based on a family's demonstrated need, the cost of attendance at the college of admission, and your student's status as full-time or part-time. (Retrieved from https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships#federal)

Scholarships are awarded to students for a variety of reasons and that money, like grants, does not have to be repaid. Many students mistakenly believe that since they are not a straight-A student, they will not be eligible for scholarships, or non federal sources of aid. It's true that many scholarships are given out based on merit from the colleges themselves - for superior academic or athletic efforts. But a great number of what are termed "outside" scholarships are awarded because of membership in certain organizations, or because of where a parent or the student may be employed, or because of volunteer affiliations, for example. These outside scholarships will require some legwork, research, and persistence to obtain. There are tools and sites to assist in finding these awards and I will offer assistance in helping students learn to use these search tools and will always be happy to field questions when it comes to the applications themselves. It is worth noting that searching and applying for scholarships should always be free. The College Board provides a tool - https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search
that is fairly straightforward to use if you'd like to start familiarizing yourself with some options.

Those of us who enjoy a game of Monopoly every now and then know you have to be mindful of the risk involved in taking out too many loans. Many parents hear the word, "loans," as it relates to college expense and get a bit nervous as well. College is expensive and costs continue to increase at many campuses while the availability of grant aid has steadily decreased and become stagnant in recent years (Engle et al, 2006). But there is often a belief with many families that assuming debt to attend college is to be avoided at all costs. While taking out loans without careful understanding of terms and responsibilities is a bad idea, families can feel confident that there are loan options that are safe investments in their child's future. As we work together over the next few months to explore all the resources available to your and your student, I want to help you understand the loan types and differences in the event this becomes a tool to secure the money you and your student will need to attain their education goals. Some loan options are subsidized by the federal government and the government will pay the interest on the loan amount while your student is enrolled and attending classes. Additionally, the interest rate on such loans is fixed and often much less than lending rates elsewhere. I hope to work with you to understand how much debt is realistic to assume in order for your child to attain a degree. (Retrieved from https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/loans/types-of-college-l...).

Studies of first generation students have found that working while attending college comes with some considerations. Due to the unmet need many families are left with after financial aid is awarded, students may need to work - this is just a practical reality for many. However, when students work full time and try to attend school, we see these students struggle to attain their graduation goals. They take fewer courses, spend less time studying (since they are physically at jobs performing duties there), and miss out on the interaction of being on campus, participating in study sessions or tutoring help, and talking with classmates and their professors. On the other hand, research indicates that when students work part-time (up to 20 hrs. per week) they actually have higher rates of finishing their schooling (Pascarella et al, 2004 as cited in Engle et al, 2008). The best scenario is when students who need to work in order to contribute to their education costs can work on campus, preferably at a job that aligns with their career goals. There are both federal and state-based work-study aid available. One key benefit of work-study is that it allows students and employers to create a schedule that complements the student's class schedule. The students can often be placed in a job that will provide future professional contacts, as well.

Most parents work very hard to ensure their children do not have to grapple with many of the struggles they dealt with in getting established as young adults. We want to pass on wisdom and support at as many turns in the journey as possible. One of the greatest messages we can send our children is the importance of aspiring to seek a college degree. Talk about this goal frequently with them -
start now. Evidence suggests that earning a four-year degree is the most reliable path to a better economic future and that higher levels of education relate directly to higher incomes and lower instances of unemployment (Institute for Higher Education Policy, 2005 as cited in Engle, 2007). Researchers point out glaring disparities between the earning potential among those holding a high school diploma and those who have obtained a college degree. Students who hold a bachelor's degree will earn right at $1 million more over the course of their careers than will individuals holding only a high school diploma (College Board, 2007 as cited in Engle et al, 2008). Over the next decade, "80 percent of the fastest growing occupations will will require at least an associate's degree; 50 percent will require a bachelor's degree or higher (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2005 as cited in Engle et al, 2008)."

Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvGLJfPV3-c

I'd like to play a short video where first generation students speak about what it means to them to be the first in their families to attend college. The work ethic these students have grown up with will only serve to benefit them as they strive to attain the lofty goals they have set for themselves.

Your college bound student is going to face some real challenges as they transition from high school to college. This is true for all first-year students. However, if your student is the first in your family to attend college, they may have to face additional struggles that is unique to this group of students. Depending on the number of rigorous classes taken in high school, they may feel less prepared and struggle academically (Engle, 2007) . Students who find the first semester very challenging must be encouraged to reach out and utilize the support available on their campus. Support services include writing labs where students can send a first draft of a paper and have revisions suggested and have it edited for grammatical correctness. There are often optional study and tutorial sessions that students can participate in. Professors will conduct office hours - times students can meet with teaching staff to get specific help understanding difficult concepts. As a parent, your encouragement during those moments of frustration will be the best gift you can give. Reminding students of the determination they have brought to other challenges in their life up until that point will help them see that the road is not bumpy forever.

As your student ventures into this new college landscape, they need to realize they are not alone! First generation students often report feeling isolated and feeling as if they do not really belong at the college level. Studies have shown that "First generation students have less confidence in their abilities to succeed in college, even when they have the same level of high school preparation and achievement as their peers..."(Engle, 2007). They may feel like they should get a handle on their academics so they often fail to participate in the extracurricular and more social aspects of college life (Engle, 2007). Students will have a greater chance of persisting in college to graduation when they find connection points on campus. Finding a group to connect to is so important for their surviving that critical first year. Fortunately, there are a variety of student groups to become involved with and there is a steady rise in the number of support networks for students who are the first to attend college in their family. Nudging, or perhaps insisting, that your student join a group to experience that sense of belonging is extremely important.

I want to thank you for attending today and I hope the information has helped you as you and your student begin laying the foundation for college enrollment and attendance. I hope to partner with you and help any way I can. At this time, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to discuss those with us-