How to get more college aid money now amid the coronavirus pandemic

Now more than ever, it may pay for students to negotiate with colleges for more money towards tuition.

The coronavirus pandemic has left many American families facing financial hardship. However, colleges are also concerned about their fall enrollment, which is likely to drop. Most have already extended decision day for incoming freshmen to June 1 from May 1.

That means colleges may be more willing to say “yes” to appeals for more financial aid and scholarship money — for both new and returning students, said Shannon Vasconcelos, who works with incoming freshmen and their families as director of college finance at Bright Horizons College Coach. She is also the former assistant director of financial aid at Tufts University.

“I would recommend just about everybody go back to the colleges they may be interested in and ask for more money,” she said.

Read the full CNBC Article Here 

Financial Aid Resources for Students and Families

Please see the links below provided by Marcia E. Weston, Ph.D, Associate Director for Outreach

Grants, Training, and Outreach, NC State Education Assistance Authority. The six recordings focus on areas of

 concern regarding financial aid and the FAFSA  for parents and students. They are short, 3-5 minutes each,

and recorded by NC financial aid administrators. There are two choices for accessing, YouTube Channel or the

Mapping Your Future web site.  

.

Mapping Your Future

http://mappingyourfuture.org/downloads/WhatHappensAfterYourFileTheFAFSA.mp4

http://www.mappingyourfuture.org/downloads/StateGrantsandScholarships.mp4

http://mappingyourfuture.org/downloads/MakingChangestotheFAFSA.mp4

http://mappingyourfuture.org/downloads/WhatisProfessionalJudgment.mp4

http://mappingyourfuture.org/downloads/WhatIsVerificaiton.mp4

http://www.mappingyourfuture.org/downloads/StudentAidReport.mp4

YouTube Channel

1)           What Happens After the FAFSA is Filed? Link: https://youtu.be/3QOyZ1pAI30

2)           North Carolina State Grants: Link:  https://youtu.be/xXlMlpam21c

3)           Making Changes on the FAFSA; When to contact the financial aid office: Link: https://youtu.be/u53SbiHMkuo

4)           What to do when there is a change/loss of income: Link: https://youtu.be/6ZjJ7-sVDvw

5)           Verification: What to do if my FAFSA is chosen:  Link: https://youtu.be/1gNpa-Rs4HM

6)           Student Aid Report – How to Use it:  Link: https://youtu.be/Op5nKUVYTPI

Attachments area

Preview YouTube video Helping You Pay for College Webinar 1 - What Happens After You File the FAFSA?

Helping You Pay for College Webinar 1 - What Happens After You File the FAFSA?

Preview YouTube video Helping You Pay for College Webinar 5 - FAFSA Verification

Helping You Pay for College Webinar 5 - FAFSA Verification

COVID-19 related questions for college admissions & financial aid

Check out this great FAQ from Going Merry

With the current circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, we understand this is an uncertain time for students, parents and counselors alike. You may have more college admissions and financial aid questions now than ever. We’re here to answer these questions to the best of our abilities so you can decide what’s best for your academic future.

https://www.goingmerry.com/blog/covid-19-college-admissions-financial-aid-questions-/

Summer Employment Opportunity with Swim Club Management Group

 Swim Club Management Group is looking for potential employees for this upcoming Summer. Opportunities for are available throughout the Triangle in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Wake Forest and Selma areas. They specifically need lifeguards in Durham at Croasdaile Country Club and Hope Valley Country Club.

Follow the link above for more information and/or to apply. 

Free College Essay Boot Camp, June 1-5

For the past three months, "The College Essay Guy" has been working hard on a brand new tool to help students more effectively write beautiful college personal statements. It’s called the Choose Your Own Adventure Essay Tool.  The free virtual college essay boot camp for high schools will help students write a solid draft at the start of the summer. Here’s what it will cover: Day 1: Brainstorming + Picking a Topic (Other than Covid-19) Day 2: Homework: Write a first draft Day 3: Revising your first draft Day 4: Homework: Write a second draft Day 5: Upleveling your essay Students who can’t make the live sessions can watch recordings. This is all part of the updated College Essay Guy for Schools program, which includes: A live one-week workshop for students on June 1st - 5th Student access to the Choose Your Own Adventure Essay Revising Tool And yes, it’s all free this year.      Register below. Learn More & Register Here The first 25 high schools or CBOs to sign up this year will get access to College Essay Guy for Schools for free for two full years. All students who register will get it free this year (because coronavirus).

ACT Resources

Educational Resources During COVID-19

ACT is committed to serving community needs during this challenging time. That’s why we’re offering free digital learning resources to assist students, teachers, and schools impacted by COVID-19.

Check out act.org/covid19 to find resources to share with your students:

• Free Kaplan^® Live Online Test Prep
• ACT^® Academy™
• American College Application Campaign’s College Research Worksheet
• ACT Voice-Based Assistant
• Stress Management Video Series

Through June 30 we’re also giving educators free access to icurio, a classroom subscription providing access to more than 360,000 curated, vetted and maintained standards-aligned resources.

ACT’s SEL Curricula and Assessment (Mawi™ Learning and Tessera^®) can help parents and educators navigate everything from home learning to how to talk to students about COVID-19, and deal with challenges and questions that may come from that.

As always, we’re here to help you find success, no matter your circumstances.

Get Free Online Learning Resources

How the Coronavirus Affects College Admissions

               

Choosing a College Amid a Pandemic

The novel coronavirus has upended the current admissions cycle, forcing families and colleges alike to recalibrate. Some colleges are pushing back deposit deadlines from May to June. Experts say students should reach out to individual schools to see how they are approaching the issue. Keeping your teen on track in these challenging times can be difficult. With that in mind, we're here to provide you with tips on how to navigate the ever-changing college admissions process.

College Board Coronavirus Updates

As we monitor the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the health and safety of students and educators is our top priority.

Check This Page regularly for updates on all our programs and offerings, keeping in mind that information is changing rapidly. Please note, we have changed our phone support hours to 9 a.m.–6 p.m. EST for the duration of this crisis.

And above all, stay safe.

Remote Supports for AP Students and Teachers

We’re providing free resources to support remote learning, and we’re working on a plan for students to take AP Exams from home.

For Students

For Educators

The Chairish ‘Design Your Future’ Scholarship ($2,500

Each year, our Chairish Scholarship Program awards $5,000 in college scholarships to deserving students, and I’d love to share this opportunity with your students at Voyager Academy!

Our Design Your Future scholarship is open to high school seniors of any major. Do you have a list on your district’s website where we can share this with your students? We’d love to be able to award one of our scholarships to a senior at Voyager Academy. See below for some more information about this award:

The Chairish ‘Design Your Future’ Scholarship ($2,500)

• Open to graduating high school seniors of any major
• Students are asked to submit a 500-word essay designing their ideal future and their plans to achieve that dream
• Minimum 2.0/4.0 cumulative GPA required
• Students must be planning to enroll at an accredited 2-year, 4-year, or vocational/technical college or university in the U.S.

You can review full details on our site.

FAQ For VAHS Seniors

Dear Class of 2020 Students and Parents,

It is disappointing that  this pandemic has changed this senior year in so many ways! Traditions, fun events and ceremonies are now in limbo. I know this is painful. In an effort to keep you updated, we have put together the following FAQ for VAHS Seniors. I am proud of each and every one of you! I am so sorry that we are not able to enjoy this time together. The only things that we can do right now are to try to stay healthy, be flexible and move ahead as best that we can. I will continue to make plans for graduation and communicate through this blog and email. Please contact me if you have questions or need additional support.   

Warmest Regards,

Jill O'Kane
VAHS Guidance counselor
jokane@voyageracademy.net


VAHS Senior FAQ


State Board Of Education Bulletin


NCVPS Emergency Management Plan

The Parents’ Guide to Art Therapy Techniques & Projects

Art therapy is a powerful tool for building problem-solving and communication skills. Here, find projects that encourage meaningful art-making at home — and learn how to work side-by-side with your child to enhance his strengths and address his challenges.

Art therapy is a form of alternative treatment based on the premise that art helps express emotions – anxiety, sadness, or anger – that are sometimes difficult to put into words. Art therapy helps some children (and adults) who communicate their thoughts more easily though visual images and artistry – and who are more comfortable with pictures than they are with words.

“As a parent, you likely quickly recognize struggles in how your child approaches schoolwork. As an art therapist, I will notice the same attention difficulties in how a child approaches an art task,” says Stacey Nelson, LCPC, LCPAT, ATR-BC. “The process of making art can reveal problems with focus, motor control, memory, managing emotions, organization, sequencing and decision making. It also has the potential to improve emotional well-being, develop problem solving skills, and enhance social interaction.”

During a typical art therapy session, a child works on structured projects — a process that helps him work through feelings, resolve conflicts, and develop important skills. After school and during the summer, when routines and schedules allow for more flexibility, parents can carve out time to use the techniques of art therapy to build skills and encourage a child to express emotions.

Through art therapy, children with ADHD can build mental flexibility, problem-solving skills, and communication practice as they explain what they made to a parent or friend. Art also creates natural moments for positive social interactions, like sharing materials, sharing space, making compliments, or even making suggestions. 

Read More Here