Ap(Parent)ly College Newsletter

apPARENTly

Community Parent & Student News You Can Use


February 1, 2014

http://www.wihi.org

*Added since last edition


 

Counseling News


Ann Arbor Public School Happenings   

Area Happenings


826Michigan


Neutral Zone


Join Together

Contact Us

Counseling News:

Seniors/Parents                                                                                                                             *1. College Goal Michigan is coming Sunday, February 9, 2-4 PM at Metro Place Mall in Wayne or Madonna University in Livonia. Get help with filling out the FAFA for FREE! More info? www.MICollegeGoal.org

All Parents

*1. Education Planning Resources is sponsoring a financial aid college workshop, Thursday, February 27th 7-8:30 at Wihi. Start your planning early and learn about the financial aid process for college. It’s free. Register at college@epr123.com

All Students

1. Visiting colleges or want to? Amtrak features 50% coupons for student and parents/guardians at: http://www.campusvisit.com/amtrak.htm

2. Greyhound offers 15% discount for students with their “Student Advantage Card.” Also gives up to 50% discount on stuff. http://www.studentadvantage.com/nextstep

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College Programs

College of Art & Design (SCAD) Days (Savannah), GA) 2/15, 4/5    scad.edu/scadday

*Roosevelt University (IL) Visit Day, 2/15/14  www.roosevelt.edu/visitday

*Lawrence Tech Open House  2/22  9:30-1:PM, Southfield www.ltu.edu

Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) Days (Atlanta, GA)  3/1, 4/12  scad.edu/scadday


College News

Note: It’s fitting that we feature two articles on paying for college, given this Sunday’s college Goal Day and next Wednesdays Financial Aid seminars.  –John*The Importance of Financial Planning for College from CollegeWeek.com Paying for college is one of the most important investments you can make. It can open doors to new career opportunities and help you increase your earning power. But a college education doesn't come cheap. Depending on the type of school you attend, it can cost tens of thousands of dollars a year.


The good news is that the earlier you start planning, the more money you'll have put aside to pay for college and the more financial aid 
opportunities you'll have available to you. The first step is to understand what college really costs.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, average tuition costs in the U.S. are:

$6,500 two-year public community college

$12,000 four-year public institution

$27,300 four-year private institution

There are also extraneous costs, such as:

$7,400 room and board

$1,100 books and supplies

$1,037 transportation

$2,000 personal expenses

The best thing to do is start planning today. Here are three easy ways to start:

1. Save, save, save.Financial aid usually only covers 20-40 percent of college costs so it's important to start saving now to cover additional expenses. Many people put money into a 529 education savings plan that offers tax benefits and other incentives to make it easier for families to put away money for college.

2. Educate yourself.Paying for college can be a complicated process. Take some time to learn about the different types of financial aid and how to qualify. Attend one of our free online events such as Paying for College or visit the U.S. Department of Education website so you know what to expect.

3. Apply for financial aid.More than 50 percent of students receive some type of financial aid. To find out if you quality, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.ed.gov. Tip: To learn how, attend the "Completing the FAFSA" presentation during our free Paying for College event.

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"Money Is a Terrible Way to Measure the Value of a College Major"  The Atlantic: Jordan Weissmann Jan 23 2014


Yes, students need to understand what skills are marketable. But they also need to study subjects that keep them engaged enough to graduate. 

The cliche about majoring in humanities is that it's a lovely way to spend four years of college and poor way to land a lucrative job. To some extent, that cliche may be true. On the whole, humanities grads earn less than students who study disciplines like business or engineering. So sayeth the statistics. 

But the Association of American Colleges and Universities would like you to know that getting a degree in English or History, while perhaps not the most financially rewarding choice, doesn't require an oath of poverty either. Over a lifetime, they note, typical humanities and social science majors earn similarly to graduates who study practical, pre-professional fields such as education or nursing. 

If you subtract out workers with graduate degrees, humanities and social science students fare a bit worse, but not by much.  

I'm sympathetic to this effort. It sort of misleadingly lumps humanities and social science grads together, but in general, the media Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. tends to overemphasize the Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. between college majors when it comes to career outcomes. That message needs more corrective.  

That said, I want to address an underlying problem with this whole debate. While it's important for college students to understand which majors are most marketable, this creeping notion that college majors should be valued mostly based on what the median or average graduate earns is very, very wrongheaded.

One reason English majors tend to earn less than business majors, for instance, is that many lit-loving 18 year olds  aren't particularly motivated by money, and want careers in, say, PR or journalism (or even teaching!) that are short on pay, but meet their interests. Saying business majors earn more only because of what they studied is like saying having lots of Nike running shoes in your closet makes you a faster runner. No. People who care about their mile times and love to run are more likely to have more running shoes, in the first place. Business majors tend to be more salary-focused than poetry majors. It's a classic self-selection bias.

There's also something to be said for encouraging students to study something that they enjoy, or have a natural talent for. Namely, they're more likely to stick at it. When a bored or frustrated student switches majors, whether it's from engineering to biology or economics to sociology, it often increases their time to degree, which in turn makes it less likely they ever graduate.

You know what's worse than graduating with a hard-to-market art history degree? Not graduating at all. 

Again, don't get me wrong: I think it's important for college students to make economically informed decisions about their academic careers. And, if they're considering grad, they should absolutely, positively, without question think about the return on investment, given the additional time and tuition dollars it demands. 

But I fear that the more we accept the idea that the value of a particular college major can be summed up with a lifetime earnings estimate, the more likely policy makers are to come up with questionably designed schemes aimed at pushing students towards one field or another. Recent screeds aside, sometimes "do what you love" is perfectly good advice. 

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2013-14 Testing Dates and Deadlines


ACT
  The ACT Assessment Test assesses a high school student’s general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science. The Writing Test, which is optional, measures skill in planning and writing a short essay. The ACT is generally taken by 11th Graders in the spring/summer of their Junior year of high school and by seniors retaking them to improve their scores. The ACT is also included as part of the Michigan Merit Examination (MME) and will be administered in school in March, 2014.http://www.actstudent.org

2013-14 Test Dates

Test Date                     Registration Deadline              (Late Fee Required)

February 8, 2014         January 10, 2014                    January 11–24, 2014

April 12, 2014             March 7, 2014                         March 8–21, 2014

June 14, 2014              May 9, 2014                           May 10–23, 2014

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SAT
  The SAT Reasoning Test is a measure of the critical thinking skills students need for academic success in college. The SAT is usually taken by 11th Graders in the spring of their Junior year in high school and retaken by seniors to improve their scores. Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale of 200-800, with two writing subscores for multiple-choice and the essay. 

Test Dates                   Registration Deadlines         Regular Late (a fee applies)

March 8, 2014             February 7, 2014                     February 21, 2014

May 3, 2014                April 4, 2014                          April 18, 2014

June 7, 2014                May 9, 2014                            May 23, 2014

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*AAPS News

AAPS Schools of Choice Application Dates Announced                                             For students who live outside the AAPS boundaries but in Washtenaw County, a Schools of Choice window will be open for students in grades Kindergarten through 10th grade beginning March 3 – April 1, 2014. Information and applications will be available on the AAPS website beginning on March 3.

Kindergarten Round Ups Starting                                                                       Families of incoming Kindergartners are invited to attend a Kindergarten Round Up at any of our elementary schools. The complete list of schools and dates are available at this link. http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/parents/kindergarten_roundup

 AAPS Assessment Advisory Task Force - Applications Now Being Accepted  Superintendent Swift is pleased to announce the formation of an Ann Arbor Public Schools Assessment Advisory Task Force to be comprised of school leaders, teachers, parents, and community members. The purpose of this task force is to examine current assessment practices, understand state requirements, which are currently in transition, clarify core values around assessment and bring forward proposals to inform and advise an amended Assessment Plan for 2014-2015. Please submit your application by February 7 at this link:

http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/aaps/news&config=thKkxvobahffP0L4SL54mM&config=thKkxvobahffP0L4SL54mM&mode=single&recordID=555290&nextMode=list

Rec&Ed's After School Classes Offer Enrichment + Fun

Want your child to learn something new in a friendly after school environment? Rec&Ed's after school classes are developmentally appropriate for elementary age children and include creative, hands-on activities. New this winter are LEGO CAD, Basic Electronics, Hunger Games Live, Minecraft Live, Ancient Ireland Role-playing Adventures, Multiplying Madness, Junior Forensics Lab, and Gadgets and Gizmos. Other popular classes include LEGO Robotics, The Power of Drawing, Dance Pop, Break Dance, Drama and Little Bands, Chess, Languages, Hoops Basketball and Kicks Soccer.  

Find out what’s offered at your AAPS elementary school at our new webpage:  https://sites.google.com/a/aaps.k12.mi.us/after-school-classes-fair/

View Rec&Ed’s online catalog for other youth and adult classes at http://reced.aaps.k12.mi.us/reced.home/catalog__registration_form

Know what you want to register for already? Go directly to our easy registration site:  https://apm.activecommunities.com/aareced. 

Or call 734-994-2300 x 53275 to register by phone.

Pioneer News from PI High (Pioneer High, that is)

For more information about Ann Arbor Pioneer,  http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/pioneer.home

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The Rat Rap (Huron High, that is!)

Official Site http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/huron.
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SkyHI (Skyline High, that is)

Official Site: http://www.a2skyline.org/skyline.home/home

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*The Dawn Farm Education series will present two exciting programs in February 2014. You’re invited!

“Trauma and Chemical Use and Addiction” will be presented on Tuesday February 18, 2014;7:30 pm to 9:00 pm; by Tana Bridge, Ph.D., LMSW; MSW Program Director, School of Social Work, Eastern Michigan University. Current research highlights the relationship between chemical use, addition and trauma. This presentation by an award-winning trauma expert will review events involved with trauma exposure, trauma specific symptomology, the impact trauma has on the brain and on coping and subsequent substance use, and how to aid individuals struggling with trauma and addiction.

“Collegiate Recovery Programs: Supporting Second Chances” will be presented on Tuesday February 25, 2014; 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm; by Mary Jo Desprez, MA; Director, Wolverine Wellness, University of Michigan Health Service; and Matthew Statman, LMSW, CAADC; University of Michigan Collegiate Recovery Program Manager. The transition to a college environment can pose significant risk to a recovering student. Many colleges/universities – including University of Michigan - have developed programs to help recovering students maintain their recovery, excel academically and have a normative college experience apart from the culture of drinking/drug use. This presentation will provide an overview of the national and local efforts to build recovery support programs on college campuses, and provide information about what parents and students should look for as they explore their options for pursuing a degree of higher education.  

All programs are presented in the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Education Center auditorium at 5305 Elliott Drive, Ypsilanti.  All programs are FREE and open to all. No registration is required. Each program provides 1.5 free CE hours for addiction professionals approved by MCBAP and NAADAC. A certificate to document attendance for CE or other purposes is provided on request.

http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series. You can also contact us at the Farm:

 
The "Teens Using Drugs:  What To Know and What To Do" free, two-part workshop series will be presented from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm by Vince Swain, CADC; Recovery Support Specialist, Dawn Farm Youth and Family Services on Tuesday February 4, 2014 (part one) and Tuesday February 11, 2014 (part two.) The programs will be held in the “Exhibition Room” at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Education Center at 5305 Elliott Drive, Ypsilanti. This program is targeted primarily to parents/caretakers of teens and young adults but is inclusive of other family members, teens, professionals, students, people who sponsor or support teens, and others interested. Please note that this program does not provide approved CE. Please contact734/485-8725 or info@dawnfarm.org or see http://www.teensusingdrugs.org for information.

 
Selective Service Information: For 17 and 18 year old men, federal law requires that you register with Selective Service within 30 days of your 18th birthday. When register, you stay eligible for federal student loans, federal job training and jobs. You may register athttp://www.sss.gov or at the post office.

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826 Michigan

TUTORING Drop-in tutoring does not need to be registered for, you just drop-in. Free tutoring is offered Mon. - Thurs. from 3:30 - 5:30 at 826's location of E. Liberty, behind the Robot Store. Student 8 - 18 may drop in any time to get help with any subject. Students must show up to drop-in tutoring with homework or other assignments in hand. Drop-in tutoring encourages smiling, feeling good about oneself, grades going up, enthusiasm toward learning, and positivity. The intention of drop-in tutoring is to mentor, listen to, and help students with their homework needs.
Contact  amy@826michigan.org
phone: 734.761.3463
http://www.826michigan.org

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The Neutral Zone                                                                                      

The Neutral Zone is a diverse, youth-driven teen center dedicated to promoting personal growth through artistic expression, community leadership and the exchange of ideas. Why would 3500 teens visit Neutral Zone in a month? Programs, programs, programs (and sometimes pizza – you just can’t go wrong with pizza!)

NZ Program Areas include:

Music & Technology
NZ holds weekend concerts and events for teens most Saturdaynights. Teens also create, record and promote their own musical projects using NZ’s equipment and expertise.

Education
 Neutral Zone works hard to level the playing field for all teens through free drop-in tutoring, one-on-one mentoring, and a college prep program featuring college visits, ACT/SAT preparation, coaching on applications, essay writing, and financial aid, and opportunities for scholarships.
Literary & Visual Arts.
Creative writers turn up the volume by writing original poetry and short stories, while photographers and videographers discover and explore their talents using state-of-the-art equipment in digital art classes.



Leadership
The Teen Advisory Council runs the show at Neutral Zone, while several different discussion groups offer young people an open, positive space to explore sensitive issues and just plain have fun together.
Drop-in
teens come to NZ daily to shoot pool, play ping pong, use the internet, do homework, grab something to eat, or just hang out with friends in a safe, supervised space. For gfrom Terreneral questions Contact, Lori Roddy, lori@neutral-zone.org, 734-214-9995




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Submissions:
Please submit your articles, news, or announcements  toboshoven@aaps.k12.mi.us. John B. Boshoven, Editor.