The Project Lives Here
How to use this Resource
The Student Planner — a personalized graphic organizer for every student going on this journey. It’s complete with links to credible resources, tables, and editable space to organize your thoughts. Make it your own. Click the link below.
The links (below, left) take you to the digital chapters of The College Project. Updated for 2019 - 2020, it’s a journey to discover why, where, and how you can gain lifetime benefits from attending college. Set aside the rumors and take control of your learning.
The videos (below, right) are included to support your experience. They engage you with real students, college advisors, and experts who know about opportunities and challenges related to college and financial aid. For more videos and playlists specific to applying for colleges and financial aid, please visit: College Admissions from Khan Academy
As high school comes to an end, it’s time to start thinking about how you’d like to spend your days as an adult. Keep in mind:
If you plan to live independently, it’s going to cost you money whether you’re going to college, or not.
In many ways, college is different than high school.
Statistically, college provides people with access to more jobs with higher average pay.
You can attend college, no matter your financial situation.
Insights into the benefits of college. Visit https://www.khanacademy.org/college-admissions or use the playlist button at the top right corner for more videos.
Before you start comparing college prices, fully consider the educational experience you want and need. Whether you go to college or not, attend a 2-year or 4-year, public or private school, this is a decision that will impact the rest of your life in some way. What are your goals? There are likely many different paths to get there, so which one appeals to you most?
Searching for the college that best suits you.
The cost of college is often terribly overestimated. Think you can get it right? Write down your guess, then find the actual average cost for students from a similar family income range at collegescorecard.ed.gov.
Cost isn’t just about tuition either. Paying $10 is a lot if you get nothing in return. Paying $15,000 may be considered “cheap” if, in return, you get access to a job that starts at $60,000 per year. The bottom line is that you need to consider how likely it is you’ll receive the benefit you’re paying for: your diploma.
What’s your mindset looking at the cost of college?
In the world of financial aid, there’s money you don’t have to pay back. This chapter will help you qualify for some of the billions given out each year.
Being proactive: searching for additional financial aid.
By now you know what Google says college costs; you know what students, on average, actually pay (via College Scorecard); now it’s time to find the best estimate for what each college will cost you.
What’s the average cost students pay to attend college?
You’d think this topic was banned from being covered on high school campuses. Every student should have a good understanding of how student loans work.
Debt can be complicated, especially with all the fear from one side, and encouragement from the other. You should fully understand the benefits and costs to borrowing in any situation.
This chapter helps you consider the facts of student loans, and what you need to do if you decide to borrow.
Consider whether or not college loans are right for you.
Learn the details about the important online forms (FAFSA, CSS Profile) you’ll need to complete to receive financial aid (grants, work-study, loans) from the government and/or your university.
If you’re a dreamer in California, you’re still able to receive financial aid through the state and/or your university. The process and paperwork looks a little different since you won’t be completing the FAFSA, but stay the course — the CA Dream Act Application is what you’ll need!
This is a brief tutorial (from UCSB, 2014) to help students file the California Dream Act Application.
Get ready for the next steps — completing applications for college and financial aid. Use your research, ask questions, find people who will support you along the way. You got this!
A playlist interviewing real college students and advisors about real challenges and how to overcome them.
How to Succeed in College; Online vs. Classroom learning, Majors and Careers; Avoiding For-Profit Colleges; More Resources for Undocumented Students. Bonus features here!
If you’re an educator and you’d like access to the rubric, this project’s alignment to Common Core standards, a teacher’s guide, or have any questions or comments related to this project, please contact me at: tyler@thefinancelab.co