page6qxd

Students Learned How to Choose
the Right College and 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.



		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 a CollegePrep Conference in conjunction with the annual College Fair. 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 today’s job markets and the skills needed for emerging industries, options in higher education institutions, ACT and SAT test preparation, choosing the right college, the college application process, where to find scholarships and grants, and an overview of the financial aid process.

Families Learned How to Plan for College and Higher Education Options Dr. Richard Stevens 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. After his remarks, representatives from Shepherd University, Mountain State University, Blue Ridge Community & Technical College, and American Public University discussed their academic programs and the many ways to obtain a college degree. Attendees also learned about college majors, campus environments, and college costs. The final part of the program included a panel discussion with Henry Thomas (guidance counselor), Amy Kinard (parent), and Robert McDonough (college student). Each provided a unique perspective and answered many questions about planning for college.
			Students Learned How to Choose the Right College and 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.