E ach year families ask me if they can back out of an Early Decision acceptance if they aren’t offered enough financial aid. Yes and No. Families need to understand that Early Decision is binding. If a student is admitted ED, they have committed to attend that institution and withdraw any other outstanding applications. Many students decide to apply Early Decision to a college based on higher acceptance rates of students applying ED and the general understanding that if they aren’t offered enough aid, they can back out. To make matters worse, many colleges and universities now report that they will meet 100% of students’ need. This is the sticking point… families need to determine whether they can afford to send their son or daughter to an institution based on each college’s net price calculator and other calculators to determine what their expected family contribution would be. A student can walk away from an admittance if they cannot afford to accept the financial package offered, but everyone loses in this situation. The student will understandably be disappointed at wherever he ends up attending. The college loses the chance of admitting a student who could afford to accept an ED offer. Do your homework before you apply Early Decision. User each college’s net price calculator and if the price is too high, apply Regular Decision. Also consider applying to schools where you are very competitive. Often schools sweeten the pot for students who will enhance their admitted student profile. For more information read the article “Early Decision Isn’t Binding. Let Us Explain.” By Ron Lieber in the New York Times.

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Y ou don’t have to wait until college to start earning college credit. With the cost of college going through the roof some high school students are earning college credit while in high school. Not every high school offers every one of these programs but college credits can be earned by taking Advanced Placement classes, participating in dual enrollment classes, taking College Level Exams or participating in summer school programs. Many colleges and universities will give students college level credit if they earn a high score on an Advanced Placement exams. Earning a 4 or 5 (1 – 5 range) often is enough for a student to skip an introductory level college course and earn college credit. Summer School programs at some colleges and universities offer specific credit earning courses to high school students. Taking Dual Enrollment courses in high school is another way to earn credit. Many high schools participate in a partnership with community colleges or local colleges and universities. These college level courses are taught by professors on high school campuses, at the college or even online. Some 2,900 colleges and universities participate in these programs. Check out if your school participates in one. If none of these are available to you and but have taken college level courses consider taking College Level Exams in the CLEP program offered by College Board. The $89 cost of the exam ( plus test center fee) is significantly less than the price of a college course and will save you hundreds of hours.

Until recently, underserved students of California’s community college system have not been able to achieve a bachelor’s degree in many technical programs. Typically, only associate’s degrees have been offered. However, as of October, the Assembly Bill 927 allows CA’s community college system to expand the bachelor’s degree programs in technical fields like dental hygiene. Industrial automation and bio-manufacturing. Currently, only 15 of the state’s 116 community colleges offer bachelor’s degrees. Under this roll out up to 30 new bachelor degree programs can be added annually. The program requires that community colleges demonstrate that the degree satisfies an unmet need in an industry and that the program is not offered by local universities. Students need such low cost bachelor’s degree programs. Community colleges can offer a baccalaureate for $10,500, while the Cal State University costs approximately $6,000 annually and the UCs more than $13,000 per year. Community colleges enable underserved populations who are eager to get into the workforce and begin earning.

Cal Grant is the foundation for state financial aid for low to moderate income families who attend college in the state. Cal Grants can be used to cover the cost of attending in-state community college, Cal State University or the University of California. Some private institutions in California are also eligible for Cal State grants. Cal Grants are provided for 4 years only unless the student is enrolled in a 5 year undergraduate program like nursing. Over 400,000 students received grants in past years. Cal Grant are packaged with aid from federal Pell Grants, grants from the school and loans. Unlike loans, Cal Grants are grants and do not need to be repaid. Grant award vary based on the students’ GPA, income, size and cost of the school. Students do not need to fill out a separate application for Cal Grants. By filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Aid) California students are automatically considered for Cal Grant eligibility. However, students need to submit FAFSA for each of the four years of college. Undocumented students do not qualify for FAFSA however are eligible through a separate California Dream Act application. To qualify for the most common grant for UC applicants, the student need at least a 3.0, or B, GPA from high school. The minimum grade required for a Cal State or community college grant is 2.0 or C. To apply for a Cal Grant, students must complete and submit two forms: the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form between October 1st and March 2nd* of the year immediately before the fall term in which they would like to use their Cal Grant.

Outgoing President Philip Hanlon announced that effective June 23, 2022, all federal and institutional loans will be removed from undergraduate financial aid packages. Expanded scholarship grants will replace such loans. At an alumni reunion Hanlon attributed this change ”… Thanks to this extraordinary investment by our community, students can prepare for lives of impact with fewer constraints.”