Understanding Financial Aid Award Letters

Representatives from HEC’s Educational Opportunity Centers and Upward Bound attended the Illinois Student Assistance Commission’s 2014-15 Annual Financial Aid Certification – Series 2 Training. While that sounds quite complicated, our ISAC trainer made all the discussion about financial aid and funding for higher education both accessible and literally tangible.

One of the hands on activities attendees practiced was decoding financial aid award letters. Someone may ask, “What’s to decipher?” Well, there is a lot to consider when looking at a financial aid award letter so families ultimately select the best deal. Below are some takeaways when breaking down award letters:

Be like this baby when it comes
to reading your award letters.

1. Total cost of attendance. Go in with your eyes wide open. Many folks stop at tuition and room & board, but the total cost of attendance encompasses much more, such as tuition, room & board, books, travel expenses, and miscellaneous expenses. 

2. Terms of scholarships and grants. Just because you get it one year, doesn’t mean you will automatically get it the next year. Some scholarships and grants are only for freshmen; if so, consider how those costs will be covered later. Some scholarships and grants are only renewable if you maintain a certain GPA. Also, check if you can keep your athletic scholarship in the event that you cannot play for a duration of time. It's all in the fine print; so read the whole page.

3. Use a comparison worksheet. It’s only the holy grail of financial aid land! This offers you a side-by-side comparison of how much each school is giving you and how much you’ll have to come out of pocket. Do the math for each school; the school with the highest cost of attendance, just may offer you more aid. So, use the worksheet below to do the math! To access it, visit www.isac.org and follow these links: Students & Parents → Before College → Making an Informed Choice → Financial Aid Comparison Worksheet

Mr. Armstrong on "Life after High School"

By: C. Lyles

After completing secondary education, students must be prepared for their various pathways in order to be successful. Youth also need not make every mistake their predecessors did when they can simply learn from our experiences. Yet, how can they avoid familiar pitfalls and be prepared for their futures if we fail to provide insight on the next phase(s) of life?

Following the Lieberman presentation.

With his presentation “Life after High School,” Mr. Armstrong is working to address this question by ensuring as many St. Louis area students are ready for what comes next regardless of what their respective nexts include. Juniors at Clyde C. Miller Career Academy and seniors at Lieberman Alternative School learned tips on developing goals and planning for life after high school graduation.

In addition to providing such insight, “I told them plain and simple,” Mr. Armstrong said, “If I can make it, then so can you!” Wise, inspiring words; for sure.  

During the Miller Career Academy talk.

Compton-Drew College Nite

By: C. Lyles

Mr. Bullard answering a parents questions about the program.
(Photo: C. Lyles)

Compton-Drew Investigative Learning Center Middle School hosted College Nite on March 12, 2015 and invited local colleges and college-preparatory community organizations. Of course, HEC Upward Bound was present and shared our mission with eager parents and students. Thanks for the opportunity to share Upward Bound, Compton-Drew!  

This Week in Saturday Academy: 3/14/15 aka Pi Day

By: C. Lyles

Saturday marked a fun day for math buffs; Pi Day, but here in St. Louis, we affectionately call it “3-1-4 day” after our area code. With St. Louis pride in the air and the beautiful change in weather, there was no better way for HEC Upward Bound to celebrate than meeting with our awesome students for a Saturday Academy.

One of our resident math teachers, Mrs. Turner, delighted in sharing the significance of this particular Pi Day 3/14/15. The real number pi is 3.1415..., and it will be another 100 years before the calendar hits 3/14/15 again (in the year 2115).

HEC Upward Bound focuses on scholastic achievement but also works to boost our students' self-esteem and self-awareness. So, after focusing on academics, young ladies attended “Just Us Girls: Sister Circle” session and young men attended “Man to Man” session where they discussed…well, we can’t say because it was something special just for our kids, but we can share some other highlights from this week’s session. Check them out below.  

There are only three months until seniors officially graduate
and venture into the world. So, they welcomed Mr. Bullard’s
presentation and interactive activities on college readiness
and career preparation.

Ms. Lyles used current events to segue way
into a discussion about the landmark
1896 Plessy vs. Ferguson Supreme Court decision.

Posing at the end of Saturday Academy.

Next Saturday Academy: March 28, 2015       

Upward Bound: A Family Affair

By: C. Lyles

(L to R) Asha and Binti
at a HEC Upward Bound field trip.

For Binti Abdalla and Asha Mohamed, learning is a family affair. Not only are they cousins but they are also both freshmen at the rigorous Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience. Accordingly, their interests include medicine, science, law, and of course spending time with each other. They girls shared, “We’re not just cousins; we’re best friends!” But, there is more to these cousins/schoolmates/best friends worth noting.

Beyond Binti and Asha’s contagious smiles and bubbly personalities are dedicated, young scholars. They are serious about their academics and can even be found receiving extra tutoring in Physics just to stay ahead of the curve. “We go just to make sure we keep doing well,” expressed Asha, “Just for extra support.”

This very focus places the best cousin schoolmates amongst the high caliber of students who will uphold Upward Bound’s mission of helping low-income, first generation students make it to college and graduate.  

It Takes a Team: Reflections

By: C. Lyles

Many folks see the final product: images of Ms. Lyles at a school speaking to students, but so much more goes into presentations and talks. I would be careless if I didn’t take time to thank the other folks that help make the presentations and talks happen.

Ms. Lyles speaking with Upward Bound
students (Photo: H. Armstrong).

Mr. Armstrong’s experience as a counselor and currently as a director gives him great insight on what students need to hear. He generates ideas for talks, including my most recent “If I Knew Then What I Know Now” presentation to Upward Bound students. He even challenges us to discover and deliver what our schools need; my Vashon High School talk “What to Do When You’re Waiting to Go to College” falls in that category. The leadership that occurs behind the scenes is a major factor in getting the job done.

Ms. Lyles with Vashon H.S. seniors.
(Photo: H. Armstrong)

Another behind the scenes yet crucial source of support is Mr. Bullard. If you’ve read about him in “New Kind of Jack of All Trades,” then you know he has no shortage of talents. His technical expertise helped me put on my previous talks. A laser pointer and clicker and back-up laptop alongside a projector are all in his technology arsenal. He also photographs, video records, and edits footage from events to add to the HEC Upward Bound archives. The old adage says, “If it’s not documented, it didn’t happen.” Mr. Bullard helps make sure the happening happens. 

Though a person sees a particular staff member in an image, video, or at a presentation, remember that it takes a team to get the job done well. I’m grateful for my team.

This Week in Saturday Academy 2/28/15

By: C. Lyles

Ms. Lyles addressing Upward Bound students.

Following our academic sessions this past Saturday, parents joined students for the monthly parent-student meeting where they learned what does and doesn’t work in college. Upward Bound’s very own Ms. Lyles was the speaker.  If you missed it, here are her top 5 takeaways:

5. “It’ll take more than what you did in high school to be successful in college.” Form study groups. Start assignments ahead of time. Visit the tutoring and writing centers on campus; they’re not just for those who need help but for those who want to stay ahead. Find an organization or club on campus where you can connect with others because you won’t make it on your own.

Will this be you when your
college tuition bill is due?

4. “Get your money right!” Get as many scholarships as possible; large and small because they add up, and if you must get loans, remember these two cardinal rules: 1) Only take what you need; nothing more. 2) Get SUBSIDIZED only!... Speaking of money, the next point is crucial.

3. “You can have a degree in a field that will pay a lot, but if you only did it for the money, you won’t stay happy.” So, figure out what you are naturally good at doing and what you’re interested in. Go in that direction because like Ms. Lyles said, “If you pursue passion, money will find you.”

2. “Study abroad will change your life.” If your college has a study abroad program, pick a place and go! The rich cultural experiences will single-handedly change the way your see the world and yourself for the better. And yes, financial aid helps cover many programs!   

1. “Know yourself.” Who are you? Know who you are and embrace it. Don’t join clubs and groups that fail to suite your interests or affirm and build you up. You’re still valuable, loved, and worthy if you don’t follow the crowd.

Next Saturday Academy: March 14, 2015

Celebrating Our 2015 Seniors

By: C. Lyles

L to R: Seniors Deja Jackson, Kaliyah Durham, Derek Dean, Deidre Joyner,
and Deja Gardener on a HEC UB field trip. (Photo: M. Bullard)

Standardized test after test. Balancing schoolwork with extra-curricular activities. Keeping up with course assignments. Part time jobs. Family life. It is easy to see that high school is no easy feat by far, and for high school seniors, the above demands are coupled with college applications, FAFSA and financial aid deadlines, and selecting a school.  

Demands and responsibilities increase for seniors and undeniably prep them for navigating college and careers after high school. So, here’s where we take a moment to celebrate some of HEC Upward Bound’s incredible high school seniors.

Renowned writer/author Pearl Cleage says, “Some things must be spoken out loud to get to where the magic is.” So, we take a note from her brilliance to “…speak your names.”

Te'Airra Blackmon -Soldan HS
Chuwn Curtis -Hazelwood Central
Derek Dean –Career Academy

Lizeth Delgado –Gateway HS

Aaliyah Durham –Vashon HS

Kaliyah Durham –Vashon HS

Kassia Felton –Gateway HS

India Fowler –Career Academy

Brianna Floyd-College Prep
Deja Gardner –McCluer HS

Alexandra Granberry –Sumner HS

Annika Jackson –Northwest Academy

Deja Jackson –Soldan HS

Shania Jackson –Vashon HS

Deidre Joyner –Career Academy

Celena Nguyen –Gateway HS

Taliba Strickland –Gateway HS

Alexandria Tullock –Gateway HS

Korey Watson –College Prep Academy

Class of 2015, we are proud of you. Thanks for letting us serve you. Congrats!

Want to Meet a Famous Hollywood Actor?

Calling all HEC Upward Bound students! 

Teens, are you looking for something exciting (and empowering) to do this month? Something free; something with a famous Hollywood actor; something with hit music station HOT 104.1? 

Check out the flyer below, visit stlyouthsummit.com to register, and bring a friend!

This Week in Saturday Academy 2/14/15

By: C. Lyles 

This week, HEC Upward Bound ventured into the neighborhood for our Saturday College Preparatory Academy. Students met at the Taylor Community Center, an extension of the St. Louis Science Center, and encountered fun, fire, and freestyles.

Icebreaker in action!

"It's getting hot in here!"

Fun and Fire. Science Center staff started our field trip off with fun icebreakers to engage the students. They ultimately showed our students just how fun science could be with some eye-opening, hot experiments.

Fun and Freestyles. Students and staff were in for a pleasant surprise as C-Sharp, the TMA 2014 Artist of the Year, shared words of encouragement. C-Sharp made students laugh as they listened to his message that reminded them to dream, realize their dreams, save and invest their money well, and express themselves.

During the Q &A portion of the talk, youth were eager to hear C-Sharp rap. “Do a freestyle!” the students urged. So, the rapper obliged my sharing some of his music. Click below to hear some of his words and his rhymes.   

Did you miss this Saturday Academy? Fret not! The fun will keep going next time with some spoken word poetry from an unexpected source.

Next Saturday Academy: Feb. 28, 2015