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| American College Testing Program (ACT) |
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| The ACT is a requirement for admission to many West Virginia colleges and may be used for advanced placement in some courses. The ACT Assessment is a comprehensive program for those planning to enter post secondary education. The ACT Assessment consists of an Interest Inventory and Student Profile Section, which students complete when they register for the Assessment, and four academic tests, English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science, written during a timed test session. |
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| Registration materials can be obtained from high school counselors, Educational Awareness Talent Search Counselors, college admissions offices, testing centers or by writing: ACT Registration, Post Office Box 414, Iowa City, Iowa 52443-0414. |
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| Scholastic Aptitude (Assessment) Tests and Achievement Tests |
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| The SAT Program consists primarily of the SAT 1: Reasoning Tests and the SAT II: Subject Tests. Together they are known as the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT). The SAT I is a multiple choice test that measures developed verbal and mathematical reasoning abilities. The SAT II subject test(s) are designed to measure knowledge in specific areas. |
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| Registration materials and additional information can be obtained from high school counselors, Educational Awareness Talent Search Counselors, college admissions offices or the test center. For further information write: College Board, Suite 401, 180 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201-3715 |
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| Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) |
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| The GMAT is usually required for students applying to graduate business schools or programs of management. The GMAT tests individual general verbal and mathematics skills. |
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| Registration forms can be obtained from undergraduate or graduate schools. For further information write: Graduate Management Admissions Test, Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ 08540. |
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| Graduate Record Examination (GRE) |
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| The GRE test is for most students who are applying for admission to graduate programs in the arts and sciences. There are two sections: aptitude (general) and advanced (specific subject areas). |
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| Registration forms are available from the College Testing Center or by writing: Educational Testing Source, Rosedale Road, Princeton, NJ 08544-6001. |
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| Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) |
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| The LSAT is usually required of all applicants for law school. The test is designed to measure writing, verbal and quantitative abilities. |
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| Registration materials are available through the College Testing Office or by writing: Law School Admissions Council, P. 0. Box 40, Newton, PA 18940. |
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| Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) |
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| The MCAT is required of students seeking admission to Association of American Medical College approved medical schools. The MCAT must be taken within two years of applying to medical school. |
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| Registration materials are available through the College Testing office or by writing: MCAT Registration, The American Testing Program, Post Office Box 414, Iowa City, Iowa 52243-0414. |
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| National Teacher's Examination (NTE) |
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| The NTE is typically given to prospective teachers upon completion of the education degree and in most cases is a requirement for certification. |
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| For further information write: National Teacher's Examination Testing Service, Rosedale Road, Princeton, NJ 08541-0001. |
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| College Level Examination Program (CLEP) |
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| The CLEP test is designed so that a student who achieves an advanced score on specific examination(s) will be granted college credit by participating institutions. There are two types of CLEP Exams: general and subject. The subject exams are given in nearly 50 areas. The CLEP test is designed so that a student who achieves an advanced score on specific examination(s) will be granted college credit by participating institutions. There are two types of CLEP Exams: general and subject. The subject exams are given in nearly 50 areas. |
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Admissions Policies and Procedures
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| Post secondary educational institutions require students to complete an application for admission and submit certain other materials prior to admission (high school transcript or GED scores, standardized test results, etc.). Many institutions operate on a "rolling admissions" plan wherein a decision is made about each application as it is received. Other institutions may notify all applicants at a single time of the year about their decision to admit students. In certain situations, a student must meet basic standards for regular admission to the institution, and then have to meet additional criteria to be admitted to a limited enrollment program. |
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| Students will normally apply for admission well in advance of the term when they expect to enroll. This is especially important for students seeking financial assistance and/or admission into limited enrollment academic programs. In most cases, students may not be considered for financial assistance until they have been accepted for admission. Students seeking financial assistance will probably want to apply for admission by December or January of the year preceding anticipated enrollment. |
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| Admissions standards vary by type of institution and the number of students to be admitted. Many certificate and associate degree programs are open to all students who have a high school diploma or GED. Four-year colleges, universities and specialized institutions often set additional standards. By action of the State College and University Systems of West Virginia, students seeking admission to four-year programs in public college.glunoversities in the State must take specified high school unit requirements prior to admission. Under this policy, students enrolling in a public institution will be required to complete the following high school units: English - 4 units, Social Studies - 3 units, Mathematics - 2 units, and Laboratory Science - 2 units. In addition, it is strongly recommended that two units of Foreign Language be taken. Additional unit requirements, minimum grade point average, specified standardized test scores, etc. may also apply at certain institutions. |
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| Students are encouraged to contact the director of admissions at the institution in which they have an interest for more detailed information on admissions standards and procedures. |
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Financial Aid
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| The purpose of financial aid programs is to help students who could not further their education without financial assistance. Each year the federal government and state and local agencies provide funds to help students meet the costs of education and training. The family and student are expected to meet as much of the cost of the student's education as is possible using available resources. The financial aid officer at the college will work to meet the remaining financial need. |
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| The majority of student awards are based on demonstrated student need. Need is defined as the difference between the cost of attending the institution (tuition and fees, room and board, personal expenses, transportation and other allowable costs) and the amount of money the student and family can be expected to pay. If a student is eligible for aid, (s)he is often given a combination of aid programs including loans, grants, scholarships and work-study. |
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Financial Statements
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| In order to calculate for need on an equal basis, each student and family must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The form requests information from the family regarding family size, number in college, income, assets, etc. Unusual financial conditions may also be considered. The completed form should be mailed as soon as possible after January 1, and well before March 1. On the FAFSA, the student indicates which schools and financial aid agencies should receive the analyzed financial information. When the analyzed information is received at the school, the financial aid officer can offer assistance on the basis of the determined need. |
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| The FAFSA may be obtained from high school counselors, financial aid offices, public libraries, Educational Talent Search Counselors or the West Virginia Higher Education Grant Program. |
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Financial Aid Eligibility
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| Costs vary from one institution to another; however, the expected family contribution remains constant. Students should not be discouraged by the higher cost of one institution as opposed to another. One of the intents of student financial aid is to provide access to educational opportunities for all students. |
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Types of Student Aid
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| Grants: are awards that you don't have to pay back.
Loans: are borrowed money that you must repay with interest.
Work-Study: gives you the chance to work and earn money to help pay for school.
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| Students may receive aid from all three types of programs. Not all schools take part in all the programs. To find out which ones are available at a school, contact the school's financial aid office. |
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| Federal Pell Grant: The Federal Pell Grant Program provides direct federal grants to undergraduate students who require financial assistance to meet educational expenses. The non-repayable awards are available to eligible students attending approved colleges and universities, vocational technical centers, hospital schools of nursing and other approved post secondary educational institutions. Awards to full-time students for 1997-98 academic year will range from $400 to $2,700. |
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| To apply for a Federal Pell Grant, the student and/or parents should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In a few weeks, the student will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) which will indicate whether or not the student is eligible for a Federal Pell Grant. The student should forward the SAR to the post secondary institution to be attended where the exact award will be determined. |
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| West Virginia Higher Education Grant: Through this program grants are awarded (within limits of available funds) to qualified West Virginia undergraduate students who require financial assistance to attend approved public and private institutions of higher education. The amount of these grants fluctuates according to college choice. During 1997-98, the grant award at in-state public colleges and universities ranged from $350 to $1,660; awards at out-of-state colleges and universities are limited to $600, while the awards at in-state private educational institutions are $2,348. Awards cannot exceed tuition and fee charges at institutions selected by recipients nor can they exceed demonstrated financial need. |
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| Students seeking grant assistance must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To ensure full consideration, the FASFA must be received by March 1. |
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| Federal College Work-Study Program: The Federal College Work-Study Program provides jobs for undergraduate and graduate students who need financial aid. It gives students a chance to earn a part of their educational expenses. The institutional aid office may assign recipients to employment on campus or with non-profit public and private agencies. Eligibility for work-study assistance and the amount each student may earn under this program is determined by the aid officer. A participant will be paid at least the current Federal minimum wage. |
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| Federal Perkins Loan Program: This program provides students with five percent loans for educational expenses. Students who qualify may borrow $3,000 for each year of undergraduate study. Graduate and professional students can accumulate loan amounts up to $30,000. The financial aid officer is responsible for determining which students demonstrate need and the amount of the loan. Repayment begins nine months after leaving college and may extend over a ten-year period. To qualify for a loan, a student must demonstrate exceptional financial need and be enrolled on at least a half-time basis. |
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| Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants: Eligible students may qualify for up to $4,000 per year in non-repayable grant assistance through the SEOG program. SEOG awards must be directed toward students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. Graduate students are not eligible. The institutional financial aid officer determines those students who demonstrate the necessary eligibility requirements and identifies the amount each recipient will receive. |
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| Federal Family Education Loan/Federal Direct Loan Program: Eligible students may obtain these loans at a variable rate of interest not to exceed 8.25 percent from participating lending institutions such as banks, credit unions and savings and loan associations or directly through the college/university they attend. In West Virginia, the Federal Family Education Loan Program is administered by the West Virginia Education Loan Services, Inc. The Federal Direct Student Loan Program is administered by the college/university the student attends. For both programs the maximum for a dependent undergraduate is: $2,625 for entering freshmen, $3,500 for sophomores, and $5,500 for juniors and seniors. The total FFEL/FDSL debt a borrower can have outstanding as a dependent undergraduate is $23,000. The Federal Family Education Loari/Federal Direct Loan limits are $18,500 per year for graduate students. At least $10,000 of the amount must be in an unsubsidized loan. The cumulative subsidized ceiling is $65,000, including any loans made at the undergraduate level. |
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| Students filing for the loan through their college/university must submit the FAFSA. Students applying for the loan through a lending agency must complete the FAFSA and the FFEL application. |
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Institutional Aid
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| Most colleges and universities will have a program of various institutional scholarships, grants-in-aid, loan programs, tuition waivers and employment. These resources can be added to major sources of aid to complete the total financial aid package. Students should contact their financial aid officer to obtain further information on what each school offers. |
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Other Sources of Aid
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There are other sources of financial assistance. Local and many private sources also have money available to help students. Below are listed several areas that should be looked into:
1) Community organizations, clubs, lodges, unions, credit unions
2) Church or religious organizations
3) Parent's or student's employer
4) Ethnic organizations
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