Wat Buddhanusorn's College Day!

1. WatBuddhanusorn's College Day!

2. Overview • College as an investment • Collage basics • Lunch Break • Financial Aid • Speaker Panel • Career Advice

3. College as an investment Determining what you want out of higher education and getting the most out of it

4. College as an investment $$$ College ? Time Hard work

5. What do you want or expect out of your college investment? • Answer varies from person to person • Some common answers • Higher income • Better job opportunities • A fun time • Knowledge • Meet people with different views and backgrounds • Unfortunately, expectations and reality can be very different

6. Monetary return of the college investment • A lot of articles out there regarding monetary return • http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/09/09/megan-mcardle-on-the-coming-burst-of-the-college-bubble.html • http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/09/11/college-is-still-a-great-investment-but-its-getting-worse/ • http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2012/09/12/college-majors-with-the-best-return-on-investment • http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303877604577383871950746612.html • http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2012/07/more-americans-see-college-as-bad-investment/ • College on average is still a good investment • But with rising costs, it’s just not as good as an investment as it used to be

7. Growth in College tuition Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/09/11/college-is-still-a-great-investment-but-its-getting-worse/

8. Return on Investment on 4 year bachelors degree over high school degree Calculated as “degree value / degree cost” Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/09/11/college-is-still-a-great-investment-but-its-getting-worse/

9. What can you get out of college? (1/2) • Skills and opportunity • College degree does not guarantee higher income or a job • Specialized skills and knowledge for your major. For example: • Engineering • Education • Public Health • General skills • Independence • Growing up and being able to take care of yourself • Laundry, food, money management • Teamwork • Ability to learn newcomplex things and apply that knowledge • Organizational skills • Time management • A view of different perspectives

10. What can you get out of college? (2/2) • Networking • Friends • Professors • Alumni • Job fairs • Startups • Personal decision how much skills and opportunity is worth paying for when deciding on a college.

11. How to get the most out of college (1) • Initiative and directed effort • Seek out an internship or part-time job that complements your education • Stronger candidate for employers • Different perspective than academia, which could be useful for research in grad school • Many of them are paid • How to find an internship or part-time job • People you know • Career fairs at school. • Each school draws a different crowd of employers • Useful to go to learn how to present yourself to employers • Job search websites • monster.com, careerbuilder.com, glassdoor.com, linkedin.com, etc. • For non profits: http://www.idealist.org/ • Professors • Grader • Industry contacts

12. How to get the most out of college (2) • Join student orgs • Gain general skills • Networking • Research • Great on resume for grad school • Great on resume for internships/job search • If do well in class, ask professor. Professors love free labor.

13. College Life and Choosing a College Which college is best for me? What is college life?

14. Personal: -College life -Pick where you feel most comfortable. -Close to home/ Far from home. College Basics: Choose a college/university that best fits you: Academic/ Professional: -Major -Academic Programs -Opportunities for professional development Don’t forget! You will be living in this is place for 2+ years!

15. Choosing my college Kanit Therdsteerasukdi Falls Church, VA B.S. in Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) M.S. and PhD in Computer Science at UCLA Architect at Nvidia (design microprocessors for smartphones and tablets) • First person account addressing these two questions (4 sentences max):1) Why did you chose to go to the college you went to? • I wanted to go far away from home to grow up • I wanted to go to a really good engineering school. UIUC was #2, UCLA was #17 at the time. • For UCLA, I wanted to go to a big city that was warm, unlike UIUC. • 2) Why did you chose your particular degree program? (and if applicable, why did you change your major halfway though or if you went in undeclared, why did you end up picking the major you ended up?) • I taught myself how to code when I was 12 because my parents wouldn’t buy me video games. I ended up liking the process of creating the game more than playing it. I also enjoyed taking apart things, figuring out how they work, and putting them back together as a kid. In high school I took 3 years of electronics class. I knew I wanted to be in the field of computers.

16. Choosing my college Kai-Jye Lou El Cerrito / Albany UCLA Cybernetics, B.S. Biomedical Engineering, M.S. Staff Writer / Research Analyst at BioCentury Publications Inc. • Why did you chose to go to the college you went to? • Wanted to be far enough from the Bay Area so I could learn to live on my own • Wanted to go to a university with strong medicine- and science-related programs • Why did you chose your particular degree program? • Enjoyed learning about biology and how new technologies are being developed to affect it • Wanted a challenge

17. Choosing my college Dionne Jirachaikitti Union City UC Berkeley / GSPP & Berkeley SPH Public Health / MPH, MPH Consultant at Kaiser Permanente Healthcare Consulting at Accenture • Why did you chose to go to the college you went to? • Researched majors and programs • Wanted to go to a politically active campus and be involved in student life • Why did you chose your particular degree program? • Interested in health and medicine • Wanted to make a bigger impact • Interested in policy analysis, politics, and economics

18. Choosing my college Derek Jirachaikitti Union City UC San Diego B.A Political Science- International Relations Minor: History UC San Diego M.A International Relations and Pacific Studies International Affairs/ MPIA United Nations Trade and Investment Client Services Associate at IPSOS • Why did you chose to go to the college you went to? • Researched majors and programs • Wanted to experience a new setting yet still be in the UC System. • Why did you chose your particular degree program? • Interested in political science and International Relations/ history • Great IR Program.

19. Types of Colleges/ Higher Education: All are great opportunities! Choose which one best fits you!!

20. But how do I know which one is best for me? Do your homework! • Visit school website, contact school faculty and staff • Email school organizations you would be interested in • Use social media and see who attend that university. Helpful tips from NPR: http://www.npr.org/2010/12/08/7506102/how-to-choose-a-college-that-s-right-for-you College that changes lives: http://www.ctcl.org/ US News and World Report: http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/the-college-admissions-insider/2011/08/01/5-scenarios-to-avoid-when-choosing-a-college The temple has a large network of people who went to different colleges. Use it as a great source of information!

21. College Rankings, etc US News and World Report • http://www.usnews.com/rankings All other ranking listings: • http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_rankings/ Major specific: • http://www.collegeview.com/articles/article/create-a-college-ranking-by-major

22. College Life

23. First Time on Your Own: • First time on your own, you need to be a responsible adult. • Need to make sounds choices, • Use good judgment • Don’t forget, crazy things you do in college can sometimes bit you in the butt in the future! • Join Organizations • Cultural • Major • Etc, Study Abroad • Community Service • Making New Friends • Have Fun. • Get to meet new friends from different backgrounds, cities, religions, etc. • Keep an open mind. Have Fun! College is a great time in your life to develop lifelong skills and friendships…..

24. Checklist for Both Parents and Student • Parents: • Talk to your children about money management. About limiting spending. • Keep book/ reader receipts for tax reasons. • Students • Use proper judgment on money management. • Student loans are for school and general expenses. • Credit Cards: Friend and Foe • Checklist: • Bank account/ credit card • Health insurance • Emergency contact numbers. • Copies of important documents Be Prepared and Organized! Students and Parents, sit down with one another and organize your affairs before students leave for college or start school….

25. Additional Checklist for International Students • Obtain your travel documents and applicable immigration status • Passport • Appropriate visa • If you are already in the United States, you may still need to obtain an immigration status that allows you to study at an American university • If you are transferring from a high school in the United States, you may need to change your immigration status to one that will allow you to study at an American university • Complete health forms from your university • Make sure existing immunizations are current • May need to get additional immunizations • Provide school with accurate contact information (e-mail / phone / address) • If not already here, make travel arrangements for your move to the United States • Keep copies of all your legal documents in a safe place

26. Joining Student Organizations • “Student life” website and main campus • Great way to make friends, build community • Find a balance between school and activities • Examples: • Intramural sports • School newspaper • Major specific (e.g. business, engineering, etc.) • Sorority/Fraternity • Student Government • Political • Hobby (e.g. hiking, community service, etc.) • Make your own! 

27. Being on your own! • Responsibility!  • Be smart about your choices • safety • friends • balancing school and other things • Health insurance • Money management

28. Money Management • Budgeting • Bank account: choosing one near campus or one that has ATMs close to campus • Credit card: try opening one to start managing your expenses or in case of emergencies • Remember the more accounts, credit cards, etc. you have the harder it will be to manage, especially if this is your first time!

29. Scholarships • Many scholarships, BUT • You need to research them and • It takes work! • Resources • Fast Web: Fastweb.com • Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund: http://www.apiasf.org/#2 • College Board/Big Future: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/scholarships-grants • (For international students) International Education Financial Aid: http://www.iefa.org/ • (For international students) Internationalstudent.com:http://www.internationalstudent.com/scholarships/ • Individual schools will have specific scholarships that you can apply for when you apply to the school. Sometimes they have other merit and need-based scholarships that you can get when you get accepted.

30. Additional Considerations for International Students (1/2) • Most colleges require financial documents to prove that you can cover the expenses from studying in the United States • International students may be required to take an English language proficiency exam (e.g. TOEFL) • International students often have additional health insurance requirements • If you want to work before you graduate, you must fill out the necessary paperwork to obtain work authorization (e.g. curricular practical training) • Unless there is economic hardship, the paid employment usually needs to be in an area related to your field of study (but this is loosely defined) • Certain visas that still allow you to study in the United States do not allow for paid employment under any circumstance

31. Additional Considerations for International Students (2/2) • If you plan to travel, it is a good idea to carry documents to prove your legal status • This is a must for BOTH domestic and international travel at airports (though they usually don’t check for domestic flights) • If you plan to travel internationally, you will need to get additional travel authorization documents filled out by your school’s international student office • If you don’t want to carry these documents when traveling with friends by car, at least MAKE SURE you have someone you can call who can scan/fax a copy of these documents in case you are stopped by authorities and they request the documentation • Do not be afraid to ask for help • Policies and regulations for international students can vary from school to school so contact the international student office / advisors at the school you attend if you have questions • Examples:http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/international/index.html (UC system)http://icenter.stanford.edu/ (Stanford)http://web.mit.edu/iso/ (MIT)

32. Financial Aid How to pay for College

33. Cost of College per year(tuition, fees, room/board, books and supplies, and other miscellaneous costs) Sticker price does not equal actual cost

34. Financial Aid Questions • What kind of aid is there? • How do I get financial aid? • How much will college end up costing me?

35. What kind of aid is there?

36. Scholarships • Many scholarships, BUT • You need to research them and • It takes work! • Resources • Fast Web: Fastweb.com • Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund: http://www.apiasf.org/#2 • College Board/Big Future: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/scholarships-grants • (For international students) International Education Financial Aid: http://www.iefa.org/ • (For international students) Internationalstudent.com:http://www.internationalstudent.com/scholarships/ • Individual schools will have specific scholarships that you can apply for when you apply to the school. Sometimes they have other merit and need-based scholarships that you can get when you get accepted.

37. Grants • If eligible for grants, it will be part of financial aid packet from school • Grants are need based • Free money. No need to pay back

38. Student Loans: Federal versus Private Source: http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans/federal-vs-private

39. Student Loans: Subsidized versus Unsubsidized (1) • Subsidized: government pays the interest on the loan while • In school at least half-time • For first 6 months after you leave school • During a period of deferment e.g. grad school • Unsubsidized: interest accrues while in school and is capitalized when done with school. • Capitalized means the interest is added to the principal. • Principal is the base amount of the loan from which interest is calculated. • Student should start paying off interest while in school to reduce capitalized interest

40. Student Loans: Subsidized versus Unsubsidized (2) $47,512 $38,499 23% Source: http://calculators.collegetoolkit.com/college-calculators/loancapitalization.aspx

41. Student Loans Summary • Type of Loans (in order from best to worst) • Subsidized federal loans • Unsubsidized federal loans • Private loans • For unsubsidized federal loans, pay off interest while in school to save $$$

42. Federal Work Study and Internships • Work study • Government subsidizes part-time job (government pays part of the wages) • Employers work with students’ schedules • Limited in total number of hours and wages earned • Paid Internships • Can be during just the summer or during the school year • Can receive college credit • Complements your education • Some schools require internships • In some cases, do not need to be a US citizen or permanent resident

43. How do I get Federal financial aid?Grants, Federal Loans, and Work Study • Federal aid for citizens and eligible non-citizens (e.g. permanent residents. For complete list: http://www.studentaid.ed.gov/glossary#Eligible_Noncitizen) • Tax return info needed for FAFSA • Free Application for Federal student Aid (FAFSA) at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ • You should not be charged to fill out the FAFSA – it’s FREE! • For males: Don’t forget to register for Selective Service • If cannot make priority deadline, still file FAFSA to receive reduced aid • Financial aid package • What aid eligible for, how much of each type eligible for, and forms to obtain it.

44. How much will college end up costing me? • Total cost of college depends on how much aid you get • Aid varies from school to school and person to person • Net price calculators for top 300 colleges in the USA – requires tax return information • http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/features/net-price-calculator

45. College Panel Introductions • Each panelist • Name • School/education background • What they are doing now • Additional fun fact

46. Questions • What is one piece of advice you wish you knew when applying/thinking about preparing for college or life after high school? • When did you know what you wanted to do/or major in? How did you deal with making decisions when you didn’t exactly know what you wanted? • How/where did you learn more about financial aid, scholarships, grants, etc? • What was the hardest part of applying and how did you deal with it? • Did you work while you were in school? If so, where, how many hours, how did you balance it with school, etc.? • General advice for staying in dorms (maybe with people you don’t know) or weighing pros/cons of living at home and commuting?

47. Thank You!!!!