Wow, January... really? Next Steps!

The admissions staff and I lately find ourselves saying to one another, "Wow, I can't believe we're in January already!"

A lot happens in an admissions office in January!  We are excited that so many high school seniors and transfer students are seeking admission to our one-of-a-kind university. There is no other place like Kettering-- where excellent academics, state-of-the-art laboratories and the co-op program join together to provide the best educational experience that a student can possibly have. No one else does STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) and business like we do!

• Students may still apply for admission to Kettering University, so if you know of any high school seniors who are still searching for that elusive college...  Kettering may be the one! And... academic scholarships are still available for those who qualify.

• In January you may begin filing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).  Remember that Kettering University offers a fixed tuition guarantee for all undergraduates! This is designed to assist you in planning the cost for your student's entire degree program at Kettering.  Learn more about fixed tuition here.  (The cost for new students who enroll in the summer and fall of 2013 will be set and announced by early March.)

• Students already accepted and who have chosen to attend Kettering may soon begin the next steps in the enrollment process. These steps include submitting a deposit, signing up for a residence hall room, and preparing a resume for that all-important co-op job search.

• Watch for mail that describes all of these steps (and more) in greater detail!

• We're offering an abundance of on-campus programs, including our next Dog Day campus open house and the Prep for Success programs for accepted students.  Take a tour, meet your co-op manager, meet some professors and students, see some cool labs!  Learn more about our programs at www.kettering.edu/visit

Is your student accepted to Kettering University? Congratulations! You may easily refer to our next steps page on our web site for more information.

A Scholarship Tip

Ready for another scholarship tip? I just noticed a blog called The Scholarship Coach on the U.S. News & World Report education web page.

This particular scholarship blog caught my eye because it currently features a story called "Buckle up for Auto Industry Scholarships", which is right up Kettering's alley, so to speak. Kettering University is a leading STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) school and offers much more than automotive engineering, including majors such as computer science, applied physics, chemistry, and business. But everyone knows about this institution's famous history as GMI (General Motors Institute). Kettering remains one of the best schools in the nation for automotive engineering. 

I can't guarantee that your child will receive or even qualify for the scholarships that we discover for you... my goal here is to provide you with powerful information that you can hopefully use.

Is your son or daughter activitely looking for scholarships? Don't forget Scholarships360.org and Zinch.com. We occasionally provide more scholarhip listings on our Office of Admissions Facebook page as well.

"Mathletes" and Gadget Kids also like Performing Arts

One of the students who writes for Kettering University's student newspaper The Technician recently submitted a story about performing arts opportunities on campus. She writes, "One of Kettering's best-kept secrets is its performing and fine arts programs. Check out what exciting opportunities Kettering has to offer, all free of charge!"  

Students and parents often ask me about this. Kettering University does not offer music or dance performance courses as a part of its curriculum, but some students do participate in after-school and evening activities that are provided through the Student Life office. 

For example, this term a director from the Flint Institute of Music leads the Kettering Choir in rehearsals on Thursday evenings. There is a Kettering Band that practices once a week and will perform a concert during 10th week. (At Kettering, events and activities are tracked by the week of the term during which they take place. "10th week" is classic Kettering verbiage.)
 

Students may sign up for piano lessons, or even a dance class. The class has apparently finished learning the tango this term and has now moved onto the waltz. I do hope to see some tango demonstrations in the Great Court of the Campus Center soon! 

Reprise: What is A Section? What is B Section?

Kettering University's uniquely structured professional cooperative education program divides the entire student body into A Section and B Section. Students alternate between classes and co-op jobs every other 11-week term. Kettering's academic calendar is unique and well-suited to students like ours--students who appreciate a hands-on environment that puts their education immediately into practice!

Read more about Kettering's award-winning co-op progam program here.

Click here for a glimpse of the current Kettering University calendar.

Kettering University has the professors, the labs and the experiences that bring knowledge and practice together better than any place else.

The Words of a Kettering University Freshman

Read Life as a (Working) College Engineer, a story by freshman Chaz Mancino from Fredonia, New York. A guest blogger on Kettering University's Life at Kettering blog site, Chaz describes his co-op work experiences at Tenneco with excitement and enthusiasm.  Already on his way to an exciting future!

And now, a word from our professors...

At Kettering University, we speak a great deal about cooperative education, our partnership with more than 500 companies, and the real, paid work experience that is a part of every Kettering student's education. Reason enough for your son our daughter to strongly consider enrolling here.

Let me also draw your attention to our professors.

When you visit Kettering University, you will meet some of the award-winning professors who teach the courses here. Professors, 90% of whom hold a Ph.D., teach all of the lectures and labs at Kettering. Professors who are committed to teaching, mentoring and working one-on-one with students. 

These are the folks with whom your student will spend a great deal of time at Kettering University, starting immediately in freshman year. I encourage you to read their words:  And now, a word from our Professors...

Financial Aid Discussions: It's Never to Early to Start!

Ah... October... the season of gorgeous Michigan fall colors, high school football, homecoming dances, and admissions applications from high school seniors!

October is also a very good time for you and your college-bound student to begin discussing how to pay for college. Don't limit your son or daughter's application choices if the published costs of certain colleges or universities look too high, but don't wait until spring rolls around before weighing the financing options. Through a combination of scholarships, grants and sensibly-managed student loans, your student may be able to afford the college of his or her choice.

Do some financial aid homeword now. The topic may seem daunting, but I've listed a few web sites below that may assist you.  These sites break down the information into easily digestible chunks.

studentaid.ed.gov  Provided by the office of Federal Student Student Aid and the U.S. Department of Education, this site describes the various types of financial aid, provides information on how to apply, and includes great info about student loans. It even includes a student loan repayment calculator that lets you plug in dollar amounts to determine what a loan repayment plan would look like.

bigfuture.collegeboard.org  Under the "Pay for College" tab, this site has a Financial Aid 101 segment complete with video discussions conducted by financial aid experts from around the country.

Kettering University's own scholarship page. Learn how your student may qualify for an
academic scholarship by using our calculator.

Did you know that the wages our students earn as a result of Kettering's co-op program can be used to off-set costs?  Click here to review Kettering's Co-op Wage and Benefits Survey

Look around your local community for scholarship opportunities from banks, foundations, or organizations such as Rotary or Kiwanis.  It takes a bit of time, and there are no guarantees, but it couldn't hurt to dig into some scholarship search engines as well. Here are a few:

www.scholarships360.org
www.scholarships.com
www.zinch.com
www.fastweb.com