SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS POLICY to keep AID & SCHOLARSHIPS
APPLY ANNUALLY & CHECK YOUR COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID SITE!
Financial Aid Programs require that a recipient maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). This policy pertains to federal and state funds. Note: Some funds require full‐time enrollment and have higher academic requirements.
II. Satisfactory Academic Progress: financial aid applicants are required to make Satisfactory Academic Progress toward their degree in order to be considered for federal, state and school financial aid programs. The Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy requires a student to complete a certain number of units and maintain a certain grade point average at the end of each academic term and over their entire period of enrollment.
A. Quantitative Requirement (Unit requirements) The following federal and state requirements of Satisfactory Academic Progress represent the absolute minimum number of units a student must have successfully completed as of the end of each academic year of college enrollment: An “Academic Year” for purposes of measurement of progress is defined as enrollment during Summer session, Fall Semester, January Intersession and Spring semester. Some forms of financial aid can only be awarded to a full‐time student for a limited number of semesters of undergraduate study.
1. Undergraduate students will be eligible to receive federal and state aid through the semester in which they attempt their 186th credit hour (i.e., 150% of the number of units needed to complete a bachelor’s degree).
2. Graduate students will be eligible to receive federal and state aid through the semester in which they attempt credit hours equal to 200% of their program length. Credential‐only students are considered graduate students for purposes of determining Satisfactory Academic Progress.
3. Both undergraduates and graduates must successfully complete 67% of their hours attempted each academic year rounded down to the nearest unit.
4. “Attempted” is defined as the cumulative number of hours on record in the Registrar’s Office at the end of the “add” period for Fall, Spring and Summer terms, irrespective of receiving financial aid. Course repetitions* will count as hours attempted. The units for courses which a student drops, withdraws, takes an incomplete, or fails after the last day to enroll in a class will be included in the number of attempted units.
5. Successful “completion” will be measured by the cumulative number of units as recorded on the student’s academic transcript at the end of the academic year. An incomplete course will not be counted as completed units until and unless the student successfully completes the course requirements within the university time frame published in the University Bulletin.
6. When a student transfers, the total number of units accepted for transfer by the university will be included in the number of attempted and completed units. A student pursuing a second bachelor’s degree is considered a transfer student. Transfer students must meet the criteria indicated in 1 ‐ 3 above.
B. Qualitative Requirement (Grade Point Average Requirements): Satisfactory Academic Progress policy requires students to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
Financial Aid Probation Status
A student who does not meet A) unit or B) grade point average requirements as of the end of each academic year is not eligible to receive financial aid. Students may appeal this decision by downloading and submitting a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form to the Office of Financial Aid (OFA). This appeal must provide a detailed explanation of the extenuating circumstances that prevented the student from meeting the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. Examples of extenuating circumstances include, but are not limited to:
Unexpected death or major hospitalization of an immediate family member
Extended hospitalization or medical condition of student
Victimization of a violent crime or natural disaster
The Appeal must include an Academic Plan to resolve the deficiencies, list the steps to be taken to achieve a minimum 2.0 Grade Point Average, and progress toward degree completion within the required timeframe. If the Appeal is approved, the student is placed on Financial Aid Probation for one term. As long as a student continues to meet the terms of his/her Academic Plan, he/she will be eligible to continue to receive financial aid. Students who fail to meet the terms of their Academic Plan during the term following their Appeal will not be eligible for additional financial aid.
Regaining Financial Aid Eligibility
Students denied financial aid after completing the Appeal process or failing to meet their Academic Plan can regain full eligibility for financial aid by:
Successfully completing coursework that will raise their cumulative GPA to meet or exceed the
minimum required for their total attempted hours.
Raise their overall cumulative completion rate for all coursework attempted to the 67% level.
Students who have reached their maximum time frame are not able to regain eligibility.
* Repeat Coursework
Classes for failed courses that are repeated because they are required for graduation are eligible for financial aid. Repeated courses are included in the calculation of attempted and earned hours. A student may repeat a class for which they received passing grade only once and have that course count in determining enrollment for financial aid eligibility. Enrollment to repeat a previously
passed class a second time will not count toward enrollment requirements for financial aid. For example, student enrolls in 9 units and a 3 unit course that he previously passed. For financial aid purposes the student is enrolled full‐time in 12 units. The student successfully passes all units. The next semester the student enrolls in 9 units and also enrolls in the same 3 unit course that has
been previously passed twice. For financial aid purposes, the student is enrolled in only 9 units and eligible for financial aid as a three‐quarter time student.
________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright Notice
The contents of all material available on this Site are a compilation of
research & years of experience assisting students & owned and edited by
Lutitia Featherston and Lutitia Featherston only (no other individual, company,
non-profit, school, district or agency). All rights are reserved and content
may not be reproduced, downloaded, disseminated, or transferred, in any form or
by means, except with the prior agreement with Lutitia Featherston or as
indicated below. Users may download pages or other content for their own
personal use on a single computer, but no part of such content may be otherwise
or subsequently reproduced, downloaded, disseminated, or transferred, in any
form or by any means, except with prior written agreement by Lutitia
Featherston.
Disclaimer
Lutitia Featherston makes available this information and services contained
herein in furtherance of resource purposes. While Lutitia Featherston makes
every effort to present accurate and reliable information on this site, she
does not endorse, approve or certify such information, nor does it guarantee
the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, or timeliness of such information. Use of
such information is voluntary. At certain places on this site, live
"links" or names that lead to other Web sites can be accessed. Such
external sites contain information created, published maintained, or otherwise
posted by institutions or organizations independent of Lutitia Featherston does
not endorse, approve, certify, or control these external sites and does not
guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, or timeliness of information
located at such sites. Use of any information obtained from such sites is
voluntary. Lutitia Featherston& any of her associates,
family members, organizations or employers assume no responsibility for
consequences resulting from use of the information contained herein, or from
use of the information obtained at linked sites, or in any respect for the
content of such information. Lutitia Featherston & any of her associates,
family members, organizations or employers are not responsible for, and
expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use,
reference to, reliance on, or performance of such information.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Monday, April 14, 2014
Understanding GPA on 4.0 (unweighted) & 5.0 (weighted) Percentage/Ranking Scales
Percentage/Ranking 5.0 scale (weighted) - 97+ gives highest ranking possibilities. Each 3 points below drops you down a point. IB&Honors/AP courses provide the highest points available.
Official GPA is for ranking & on a 5.0 scale. 3.16-3.2 is required for Honor graduation (check with current school).
The grade point average is calculated several times during the year – the beginning of the fall semester/term, the end of the first semester/term, end of 2nd semester/term for all students, and the end of the fifth six weeks for graduating seniors only.
Copyright Notice
The contents of all material available on this Site are a compilation of research & years of experience assisting students & owned and edited by Lutitia Featherston and Lutitia Featherston only (no other individual, company, non-profit, school, district or agency). All rights are reserved and content may not be reproduced, downloaded, disseminated, or transferred, in any form or by means, except with the prior agreement with Lutitia Featherston or as indicated below. Users may download pages or other content for their own personal use on a single computer, but no part of such content may be otherwise or subsequently reproduced, downloaded, disseminated, or transferred, in any form or by any means, except with prior written agreement by Lutitia Featherston.
Disclaimer
Lutitia Featherston makes available this information and services contained herein in furtherance of resource purposes. While Lutitia Featherston makes every effort to present accurate and reliable information on this site, she does not endorse, approve or certify such information, nor does it guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, or timeliness of such information. Use of such information is voluntary. At certain places on this site, live "links" or names that lead to other Web sites can be accessed. Such external sites contain information created, published maintained, or otherwise posted by institutions or organizations independent of Lutitia Featherston does not endorse, approve, certify, or control these external sites and does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, or timeliness of information located at such sites. Use of any information obtained from such sites is voluntary. Lutitia Featherston& any of her associates, family members, organizations or employers assume no responsibility for consequences resulting from use of the information contained herein, or from use of the information obtained at linked sites, or in any respect for the content of such information. Lutitia Featherston & any of her associates, family members, organizations or employers are not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, reliance on, or performance of such information.
Official GPA is for ranking & on a 5.0 scale. 3.16-3.2 is required for Honor graduation (check with current school).
Grade Point Table
|
|||||
Number
Grades
|
Basic
|
Regular |
Dual
Credit
|
Honors/PreAP/AP |
IntH/IB
|
97-100
|
9
|
12
|
13.5
|
15
|
18
|
94-96
|
8
|
11
|
12.5
|
14
|
17
|
90-93
|
7
|
10
|
11.5
|
13
|
16
|
87-89
|
6
|
9
|
10.5
|
12
|
15
|
84-86
|
5
|
8
|
9.5
|
11
|
14
|
80-83
|
4
|
7
|
8.5
|
10
|
13
|
77-79
|
3
|
6
|
7.5
|
9
|
12
|
74-76
|
2
|
5
|
6.5
|
8
|
11
|
70-73
|
1
|
4
|
5.5
|
7
|
10
|
Below
70
|
No
grade points
|
||||
Grade Point Average (GPA) - (unweighted)
Calculation Procedure used in high-school and in college:
4.0 Scale is simple: A= 4.0; B = 3.0; C = 2.0; D = 1.0
Calculation Procedure used in high-school and in college:
4.0 Scale is simple: A= 4.0; B = 3.0; C = 2.0; D = 1.0
So, 4 As
& 4 Bs = 3.5
Most Universities want you to have a 3.0 or higher (check your colleges site or call their admissions office to ask)
Most Universities want you to have a 3.0 or higher (check your colleges site or call their admissions office to ask)
The grade point average is calculated several times during the year – the beginning of the fall semester/term, the end of the first semester/term, end of 2nd semester/term for all students, and the end of the fifth six weeks for graduating seniors only.
Example:
Sample Grades for Example GPA Calculation
|
|||||
Subject
|
1st
Semester Grade |
1st
Semester
Grade Points |
2nd
Semester
Grade |
2nd
Semester
Grade Points |
Total
for the Year
|
Math
(H/AP)
|
97
|
15
|
65
|
0
|
15
|
English
(DC)
|
97
|
13.5
|
97
|
13.5
|
27
|
Science
(R)
|
97
|
12
|
97
|
12
|
24
|
History
(R)
|
97
|
12
|
97
|
12
|
24
|
Health
(R)
|
75
|
5
|
5
|
||
PE
|
97
|
No
grade points
|
|||
Total
grade points
|
95
|
||||
Example Calculation
Total grade points
95; 95 divided by 3 = 31.666; 9 semester courses were attempted
31.66 divided by 9 equals 3.52 grade point average out of a possible 5.0.
31.66 divided by 9 equals 3.52 grade point average out of a possible 5.0.
_____________________________________________________________________
Copyright Notice
The contents of all material available on this Site are a compilation of research & years of experience assisting students & owned and edited by Lutitia Featherston and Lutitia Featherston only (no other individual, company, non-profit, school, district or agency). All rights are reserved and content may not be reproduced, downloaded, disseminated, or transferred, in any form or by means, except with the prior agreement with Lutitia Featherston or as indicated below. Users may download pages or other content for their own personal use on a single computer, but no part of such content may be otherwise or subsequently reproduced, downloaded, disseminated, or transferred, in any form or by any means, except with prior written agreement by Lutitia Featherston.
Disclaimer
Lutitia Featherston makes available this information and services contained herein in furtherance of resource purposes. While Lutitia Featherston makes every effort to present accurate and reliable information on this site, she does not endorse, approve or certify such information, nor does it guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, or timeliness of such information. Use of such information is voluntary. At certain places on this site, live "links" or names that lead to other Web sites can be accessed. Such external sites contain information created, published maintained, or otherwise posted by institutions or organizations independent of Lutitia Featherston does not endorse, approve, certify, or control these external sites and does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, or timeliness of information located at such sites. Use of any information obtained from such sites is voluntary. Lutitia Featherston& any of her associates, family members, organizations or employers assume no responsibility for consequences resulting from use of the information contained herein, or from use of the information obtained at linked sites, or in any respect for the content of such information. Lutitia Featherston & any of her associates, family members, organizations or employers are not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, reliance on, or performance of such information.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
COLLEGE – Reach for the Stars - Make Your Life AMAZING! No Excuses!
YOU HAVE NO
EXCUSES
(not money, not
past, not mistakes, nothing!)
JUST HOPE!
If your household income is less than $50k a year
you can get up to $12k a year for college by simply applying for grants (money
from the government that does not have to be paid back) by the end of March your
senior year after you file your taxes at https://fafsa.ed.gov/. You
also get free SAT, ACT & college application fees if you are on free or
reduced lunch (information below).
Foster Care, Homeless, other special circumstances? Get with your school counselor & clearly tell them your situation. Get with your district homeless liaison or case manager. For foster care or shelters, go to http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/documents/child_protection/pdf/foster-care-handbook.pdf (P. 21=rights at 16; P. 19 PAL college help program; P. 24 FREE vouchers; P. 26 Scholarships & Grants - you can go to college COMPLETELY PAID FOR+extra spending money & a laptop).
Foster Care, Homeless, other special circumstances? Get with your school counselor & clearly tell them your situation. Get with your district homeless liaison or case manager. For foster care or shelters, go to http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/documents/child_protection/pdf/foster-care-handbook.pdf (P. 21=rights at 16; P. 19 PAL college help program; P. 24 FREE vouchers; P. 26 Scholarships & Grants - you can go to college COMPLETELY PAID FOR+extra spending money & a laptop).
Make between $40k-$200k perhaps? As a
teacher, I don’t qualify for most grants but I found something for my daughter
that made me cry tears of joy! I thought that, as a single mom, I cannot afford
the application fees & tests, much less college tuition & even less at
a private university. So me, the teacher that has helped hundreds go to college
for free, was depressed and looking for hope for my own daughter. Well, I found
it! You’ll need to pay for SAT & for most private universities, add on 2 SAT
subject tests = $130. There’s a voucher you can print & get signed by your
school counselor (below), Mail or fax it to university & it waives application
fee! MY DAUGHTER APPLIED at 17 SCHOOLS & DIDN’T PAY FOR A SINGLE
APPLICATION FEE!
****She was accepted into 9
& a FREE ride (tuition, housing, EVERYTHING!) to 4****
On to Tuition: Private schools such as
Harvard, UNC, Pepperdine, etc. use a completely different calculator for costs
for those that fall below a household income up to $200k. I did my research
& turns out that if applied by the deadline (Nov.1-Jan.1) with the required
essays & forms, my daughter can go for less than $5,000 A YEAR! Look for
yourself https://college.harvard.edu/financial-aid/net-price-calculator
Now for the plan
-Maintain
above a 3.0GPA (if not, you still have a chance at community colleges &
some smaller schools-try!)
-If on free
or reduced lunch get a fee waiver
from your counselor for SAT, ATC & college application fees.
-Take SAT
& 2 SAT subject tests before Oct. Sr year (if currently a Sr take Dec.
& Jan. tests to reach deadlines!) Make at least 1100 on reading + math
combined – shoot for 600+ on each section, if not, re-take! https://www.collegeboard.org/ is the site to sign up, study & check & send
scores for SAT. ACT is at http://www.actstudent.org/
-It would
help to take PSAT seriously & ACE IT- this gets you more scholarship
opportunities
-Make sure
you volunteer & keep a resume of each activity you get involved in – they
want well-rounded students | Keep note of all extra-curricular activities &
work experience
-Apply for
at least 10 schools (mix of private & other)
-Texas application
= https://www.applytexas.org/adappc/gen/c_start.WBX
| Out of Texas application = https://www.commonapp.org/Login
-Make sure
they get all required documents in by their deadlines
-Send the fee waiver form signed by your
counselor if not on free or reduced lunch with less than $100,000 household
income http://www.nacacnet.org/studentinfo/feewaiver/Documents/ApplicationFeeWaiver.pdf
-Do your
research, stay organized & keep in contact with the universities.
-Apply for
all scholarships you can get
*No matter what income you have you
must fill out the government aid site fafsa.ed.gov by the end of
March Senior year [you’ll need socials (if parents are divorced, widowed or
single, pick 1), birthdates, marriage/divorce dates & taxes (W2s &
1040s)].
- NOTE: If you or your parents do not have socials you will need to contact the college's financial aid office (they have special forms for you-do not give up, there is a way!). Most local colleges have aid workshops to help!
- For Texas with no social check out http://www.finaid.txstate.edu/more-info/TASFA.html
- For California check out http://www.csac.ca.gov/dream_act.asp
- For undocumented scholarships go to http://www.10000degrees.org/students/scholarships/undocumented-students/
*If going to a private school or Ivy
League fill out the CSS Profile
& apply to school by Nov. Senior Year & check emails in Jan-Feb to
complete the IDOC that goes with it
(undocumented may qualify)
Veterans or children or spouses of veterans: up to 150 hours of tuition exemption, including most fee charges, at public institutions of higher education in Texas- Go to http://www.tvc.texas.gov/Hazlewood-Act.aspx
SCHOLARSHIPS
& SCHOLARSHIP GUIDE:
Check out “Ms. F's Scholarships -
Apply Senior Year Starting in October-May” & “Terry Application - Use for
Other Scholarships”
& “More Scholarships with Amounts
& Dates “ at msfscholarships.blogspot.com - all links to the right
RESUME: Resume Template to Use - link on the right
_________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright Notice
The contents of all material available on this Site are a compilation of research & years of experience assisting students & owned and edited by Lutitia Featherston and Lutitia Featherston only (no other individual, company, non-profit, school, district or agency). All rights are reserved and content may not be reproduced, downloaded, disseminated, or transferred, in any form or by means, except with the prior agreement with Lutitia Featherston or as indicated below. Users may download pages or other content for their own personal use on a single computer, but no part of such content may be otherwise or subsequently reproduced, downloaded, disseminated, or transferred, in any form or by any means, except with prior written agreement by Lutitia Featherston.
Disclaimer
Lutitia Featherston makes available this information and services contained herein in furtherance of resource purposes. While Lutitia Featherston makes every effort to present accurate and reliable information on this site, she does not endorse, approve or certify such information, nor does it guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, or timeliness of such information. Use of such information is voluntary. At certain places on this site, live "links" or names that lead to other Web sites can be accessed. Such external sites contain information created, published maintained, or otherwise posted by institutions or organizations independent of Lutitia Featherston does not endorse, approve, certify, or control these external sites and does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, or timeliness of information located at such sites. Use of any information obtained from such sites is voluntary. Lutitia Featherston& any of her associates, family members, organizations or employers assume no responsibility for consequences resulting from use of the information contained herein, or from use of the information obtained at linked sites, or in any respect for the content of such information. Lutitia Featherston & any of her associates, family members, organizations or employers are not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, reliance on, or performance of such information.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright Notice
The contents of all material available on this Site are a compilation of research & years of experience assisting students & owned and edited by Lutitia Featherston and Lutitia Featherston only (no other individual, company, non-profit, school, district or agency). All rights are reserved and content may not be reproduced, downloaded, disseminated, or transferred, in any form or by means, except with the prior agreement with Lutitia Featherston or as indicated below. Users may download pages or other content for their own personal use on a single computer, but no part of such content may be otherwise or subsequently reproduced, downloaded, disseminated, or transferred, in any form or by any means, except with prior written agreement by Lutitia Featherston.
Disclaimer
Lutitia Featherston makes available this information and services contained herein in furtherance of resource purposes. While Lutitia Featherston makes every effort to present accurate and reliable information on this site, she does not endorse, approve or certify such information, nor does it guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, or timeliness of such information. Use of such information is voluntary. At certain places on this site, live "links" or names that lead to other Web sites can be accessed. Such external sites contain information created, published maintained, or otherwise posted by institutions or organizations independent of Lutitia Featherston does not endorse, approve, certify, or control these external sites and does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, or timeliness of information located at such sites. Use of any information obtained from such sites is voluntary. Lutitia Featherston& any of her associates, family members, organizations or employers assume no responsibility for consequences resulting from use of the information contained herein, or from use of the information obtained at linked sites, or in any respect for the content of such information. Lutitia Featherston & any of her associates, family members, organizations or employers are not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, reliance on, or performance of such information.
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