October is a big month in the college access world. It's College Application Month, and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens October 1. Our advisors are working tirelessly with students across Northeast Ohio to narrow down options and get college and financial aid applications completed!
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Financial aid season is ushered in October 1. Are you ready?
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For anyone thinking about enrolling in a postsecondary program for the 19-20 academic year - high school seniors, current college students, adults returning to school - Fall 2018 is an important time.
Beginning October 1, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens.
What is the FAFSA, and why is it a big deal?
While it may seem like the FAFSA is just another in an endless sea of forms one must fill out for college, it, along with the actual college application, is the most important. Why? Because it unlocks financial resources that help students pay for their education. Not only is it the gateway to federal dollars, colleges use the information on the FAFSA to determine the amount of institutional aid they award as well. It's also important to complete the FAFSA as early as you can, as financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
We cannot stress this enough: EVERYONE should complete a FAFSA - regardless of income level. Here's a FAFSA checklist for you:
- Obtain your FSA ID.
- Once you have your FSA ID, make an appointment with the College Now advisor in your school or with an advisor in the College Now Resource Center.
- Gather the materials you'll need.
There is a wealth of information on the
FAFSA web page, but the process can still be challenging. College Now is here to help. Our services are always free.
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YOU are needed to mentor the class of 2023
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YOU are needed to mentor a college student from Cleveland through the
College Now Greater Cleveland Mentoring Program
! Every year, College Now awards local students need-based college scholarships for the duration of their college career, and pairs these students with professionals in the Cleveland area who serve as a guide, sounding board and friend through his/her college journey. Mentors support their mentees throughout all four years of the students' college career by helping them navigate any obstacles they may face that will prevent them from graduating. Currently, there are over 1,000 mentors in the program representing more than 450 area employers, and you are needed to join them next year!
The online structure of the program is very simple and easy to fit into the busy schedules of both working professionals and college students. Pairs
exchange two messages a month through an online platform
and
meet at least three times a year
. Mentoring Program staff provide guidance and reminders for communication, and proactive support to both mentors and students. Mentoring is having a real impact for our students: 92% of mentored freshmen continued on to their sophomore year of college, and 72% of our pilot class has graduated on time from college! By comparison, Pell Grant recipients are only expected to graduate at a 42% rate. These amazing results are due to the added support our students receive from mentors and College Now through the Mentoring Program.
The time commitment is minimal (minimum of 2 hours per month), and the program is life-changing. In the words of a current mentor, "[the program] has allowed me to make a friend that I not only can talk to about the little day to day experiences, but also be a part of some of the most defining years of her life. I've also learned a lot about myself and my own personal growth in the process; I can't recommend being a mentor highly enough!" Become a mentor, and change a life!
To mentor, you must hold a college degree, pass a background check completed by College Now, and have reliable access to the Internet.
Sign up at
www.collegenowgc.org/become-a-mentor
.
If you are already a mentor and/or supporter
, you are one of our most effective recruitment tools! Please help spread the word to your network. If you would like help getting information to your friends or colleagues, contact Madeline Rife (
mrife@collegenowgc.org
or 216.635.0163) about scheduling an information session at your work place or community organization. You can also nominate someone to mentor – send them an e-card about getting involved – by clicking
here
.
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College Now recognizes Arconic for its longstanding support
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College Now is grateful to Arconic for its deepening support of our work providing STEM-based college and career access advising to students in more than 60 high school buildings across Cuyahoga County. This partnership has helped College Now further our efforts to engage with students first to identify and explore the universe of STEM and STEM-related careers. Then, we help students successfully access and complete the appropriate postsecondary degree or industry-recognized credential necessary to work in those fields.
A global enterprise, Arconic specializes in lightweight metals engineering and manufacturing. Arconic’s products, which include aluminum, titanium and nickel, are used in numerous industries, including aerospace, automotive, commercial transportation, building and construction, defense and consumer electronics. Arconic was created in November 2016 when its predecessor corporation, Alcoa, split into two, independent publicly traded companies.
With multiple locations across Northeast Ohio, Arconic – and previously Alcoa – has been one of College Now’s longest and most consistent corporate donors beginning in 1971.
College Now salutes Arconic for its deep commitment to postsecondary attainment!
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In late August, two College Now AmeriCorps members, Rebecca Haynik and Jacob Conley met with Sen. Sherrod Brown's state director John Ryan to share their experiences as a member AmeriCorps and answer the question:
why do I serve?
Rebecca is a second year AmeriCorps in the mentoring program and Jacob began his year of service with the mentoring program in August. During the course of the educational meeting, Rebecca and Jacob shared the individual paths that brought them to College Now and how their personal experiences in higher education led them to want to help others access and complete postsecondary. John left the meeting with a clear understanding of how College Now's AmeriCorps positively impact the region and how service prepares young adults for success in the workforce.
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Finishing your back-to-school shopping? Here's a great way to help College Now!
1) Type
https://smile.amazon.com into your browser before shopping.
2) Log in to your Amazon account.
3) Type College now Greater Cleveland into the charity/organization search bar.
4) 0.5% of your purchase amount will be donated to College Now!
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College Now Greater Cleveland
50 Public Square, Suite 1800
Cleveland, OH 44113
216.241.5587
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