Preview/Information Days for Northwest Schools

OREGON UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

Representatives from each of Oregon‘s  public colleges will be available to provide information. 

They are your first connection to a college’s ADMISSIONS OFFICE, so get a jump on things: Attend one of these evening sessions, and introduce yourself!

2011 TOUR, Corvallis/Willamette Valley

Monday 10/17/11

7:00 PM Yamhill County College Night

Co-Hosts: McMinnville & Newberg High Schools

Held at: Newberg High School,

2400 Douglas Ave, Newberg

(2011)Jan Davis: (503) 565-4314 jdavis@msd.k12.or.us

(2012)Kay Johnson: (503) 554-4413 johnsonk@newberg.k12.or.us

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CREATIVE ARTS STUDENTS: Portland Visual/Performing Arts College Fair will be held Oct. 25 at Portland State University.

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CONSIDERING COLLEGE IN WASHINGTON? Attend Fall Campus Day at University of Puget Sound in Tacoma on Sept. 24.

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PLAN YOUR VISIT TO OREGON UNIVERSITY SYSTEM CAMPUSES

Oct. 6          University of Oregon Connections event                                                        
Oct. 13        Roads to PSU event                                                                                     
Oct. 14        PSU Preview event                                                                                      
Oct. 15        WOU Fall Preview Day                                                         
Oct. 22        UofO Duck Preview Day                                                                                     
Oct. 27        UofO Connections event                                                                                   
Oct. 29       OSU Open House                                                                                              

Oct. 29        OIT Preview Day

OSAC Web Site Has Changed

To view the OSAC Update: http://www.oregonstudentaid.gov/scholarship-doc/OSAC-App-Update-2012-13.pdf

Please be sure to look it over as there are several changes we’ll need to point out to the students; These include the website changing to www.OregonStudentAid.gov (instead of GetCollegeFunds.org, which by the way is supposed to redirect to the new site.)

Paper OSAC applications are NO LONGER AVAILABLE. The good news is that the online application is already up and running NOW and JUNIORS can even begin their 2013-2014 application NOW!

2011-2012 Oregon Opportunity Grant

The Oregon Student Access Commission has published information about the 2011-2012 grant amounts.

The full press release is at http://www.oregonstudentaid.gov/news-item-9-19-11.aspx

For 2012-13, the Opportunity Grant award is a flat amount of $1950, regardless of the type of Oregon college or university the student attends. Both the minimum and maximum award amounts will be $1950. For half time students the award amount is half of the flat award.

Uncle Sam ranks college costs

For the first time ever, the government is ranking American colleges and universities by affordability.

Using a new interactive tool launched by the Department of Education, students and parents can search public and private colleges by not only their published tuition prices, but also by their "net price" -- the average costs after tuition, room and board, book fees and financial aid are all taken into consideration.

The tool, called the College Affordability and Transparency Center, was mandated by education reforms passed by Congress in 2008, and is meant to reveal the true costs of going to college.

Each individual college self reports its data and has had several opportunities to revise their numbers if needed.

This site, along with the linked College Search are great tools to help drill down to the true cost of attendance at a school.

Free Test Prep Guides Available Online

The McMinnville Library has Test Preparation Guides for a number of different tests, including the SAT, available online at no cost.

To access these materials:

• Go To www.maclibrary.org
• Click on Research
• Click on Test Preparation
• Click on Learning Express

YCHS Students Visit Chemeketa

On May 5th several YCHS students and ASPIRE Mentors visited the Chemeketa Community College Salem Campus and the new McMinnville Campus. 

The McMinnville campus is currently under construction so the tourists donned stylish hard hats and safety vests as seen below.

College Financial Aid Podcasts

ASPIRE staff has been busily producing new podcasts for your listening pleasure.

Visit www.osac.state.or.us/podcast.html to start listening now!

Topics include:

• The OSAC eApp Process & Interview
• Tips for High School Juniors
• A Testimonial of the OSAC eApp Experience
• Making the Most of a College Fair
• American Tax Credit
• The OSAC eApp scholarship application
• Avoiding Scholarship Scams
• Financial Aid for Former Foster Youth
• What do I do after I submit the eApp