WAY Academy of Flint

College Readiness

So you have decided to prepare yourself - or help someone to prepare! - for college. That is a great idea!

WAY Academy of Flint has organized this College Readiness page to help you get ready for college. Here, you will find resources that will help you think about the skills, knowledge, behaviours you should develop to help you graduate and find your way from high school to higher education!

Are you ready?

Virtual College Office

Welcome to the virtual College & Career office! Many of the items in this office have links that will take you to more information about those specific schools or topics. Click on the flags for the schools or items throughout the room!


Resources

First page of the PDF file: FamilyChecklist-SupportingYourStudent

College s about defying expectations, breaking the mold, and finding yourself. You have an important role to play in your student's journey to college whether or not you've been to college yourself. Use this timeline to empower your student as they take this important step and reach higher.

First page of the PDF file: CollegePlanningGuide

Effective planning and preparation are both key to college success. Even if you're not yet sure about attending college, making the right choices now will keep college attendance available as an option for you. Use this Guide to start planning your way!

The Sallie Mae Paying for College Resource is a new, go-to destination to help students and families make a plan to pay for college. The resource is free, easy-to-use, and includes great information on all the important paying for college topics.

The featured video series takes families through the paying for college process. Over the course of eight short videos, learn not only what resources are available to help pay for college, but also the basics of financial aid and the questions to consider before choosing a college. Watch by topic or the entire series.

Watch the videos here.

First page of the PDF file: GuidetoAwardLetters

Figuring out financial aid award letters isn’t always a walk in the park, so let our furry friends explain what you need to know.

First page of the PDF file: UnderstandingAwardsLetter
After you’ve filed the FAFSA—that’s the Free Application for Federal Student Aid—any colleges that you included on your FAFSA and have accepted you will use your information to calculate your financial aid. They’ll follow up with a financial aid award letter. This letter covers only one year, which means you’ll need to complete the FAFSA every year to apply for financial aid. Schools may have different names for the letters—award letters, merit letters, or financial aid packages—but they all include the same basic information.
First page of the PDF file: CompareAwardLetters
After you’ve filed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), any colleges that you included on your infomation and have accepted you will use your FAFSA to calculate your financial aid. They’ll follow up with a financial aid award letter that includes the financial aid that’s being offered to you. This can help you get an idea what each college may cost you—and start the discussion of how you’ll pay any remaining costs.

HIGHER EDUCATION AFTER INCARCERATION

According to a 2018 Prison Policy Initiative report, 25% of formerly incarcerated people don’t have a high school diploma or equivalency — this is nearly twice as high as the rate for the general public. Also, only 4% of formerly incarcerated folks have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, while 25% of the general public has reached this level of education. Additionally, people with conviction records have an exceptionally high unemployment rate of 27%... Click here for more

Written by: Intelligent.com Higher Education Team - Published on July 25, 2022