First in Your Family fosters higher education opportunities in the community through outreach programs.

College Prep Conference a success!

Families learned how to navigate the college planning process.
      First in Your Family recently partnered with Shepherd University to host the second College Prep Conference. The free, day-long conference covered a wide range of topics to help area students and parents plan and pay for college. Sessions included information on planning for college, ACT and SAT test preparation, choosing the right college, how to pay for college, living on campus, study abroad, and more.

Planning for College
      Dr. John Adams, Dean of Students at Shepherd University, led the Planning for College session at the College Prep Conference. He discussed today’s job markets and the importance of a college education in emerging industries.
     

Choosing the Right College and

How to Pay for College

      Two sessions at the College Prep Conference held at Shepherd University in October focused on specific questions each young person faces when considering college. How do I find the right school and how am I going to pay for college?

      Randall Friend, Associate Director of Admissions at Shepherd University, conducted the Choosing a College session. He discussed various criteria young people should consider when evaluating higher education institutions.

      Sandra Bennett, Director of Financial Aid at Shepherd University, presented the How to Pay for College session. She discussed various forms of federal and state financial aid and how individual costs are determined. Bennett reviewed the FAFSA form and explained its role in all forms of financial aid.

Ray Alvarez, Shepherd University alumnus and former executive of Honeywell International, encouraged students to pursue a college education.

Study Abroad
Ann Henricksson conducted the session about the benefits and opportunities to study in another country.

Living on Campus
Ellisa Woodbrey discussed the benefits and opportunities of living on campus.

SAT and ACT Test Tips
Terri Winn of Sylvan Learning Center conducted sessions with tips on the test formats and answer strategies.

Preparing for a Campus Visit
Shannon Zimmerman helped students understand the importance of a campus visit and criteria to compare different colleges.