High School Juniors and Seniors Can Discover Future Opportunities at College Night on October 4

Disponible en: Español

Students can meet with representatives from colleges, trade schools, and military academies; learn about financial aid.

Students and families are seen taking advantage of College Night in October 2019.

Hundreds of 11th- and 12th-grade students across Aldine ISD will have an opportunity to meet with representatives from post-high school options during College Night on October 4 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the M.O. Campbell Educational Center, 1865 Aldine Bender Rd. (Houston, TX 77032).

Students and their families can move from table to table, collecting brochures, college swag, and advice on application procedures and what post-high school could look like for them. In addition to the colleges and universities, there will be several scholarship organizations and business booths.

Image from 2019 College Night

Types of Postsecondary Options

Community Colleges/Junior Colleges are public institutions that offer programs that last two years. Community colleges are open to everyone with a high school diploma or GED. They can be a stepping stone to a four-year degree. Tuition rates are usually the lowest among all types of colleges/universities. These colleges typically do not offer the option to live on campus.

Public colleges or universities offer four-year programs. Entrance requirements include a high school diploma or GED or SAT/ACT scores (contact the school directly for specific admission requirements). Public universities offer in-state tuition, which means tuition rates are lower for residents of the state where the college is located.

Click on the Image

Private college or university offers four-year programs. Entrance requirements vary, with some colleges admitting most applicants and others only a small percentage of highly qualified students (contact the school directly for specific requirements). Tuition rates are usually higher than public institutions, but they may offer more generous financial aid packages.

Degrees Offered at Public and Private Colleges: Bachelor’s, Postbaccalaureate Certificate, Master’s, Doctoral, or Professional

Private institutions sometimes called a career, or technical college offers undergraduate and/or graduate programs of various lengths. Many have specialized programs such as culinary or cosmetology schools. Meanwhile, other schools may have programs completely online (also known as distance learning). These schools are for-profit businesses, meaning they are expected to make money for their owners or shareholders. Therefore, tuition rates are usually higher than other types of colleges.

Image from 2019 College Fair

Degrees Offered at Private Institutions: They may offer Certificates, Licenses, Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral, or Professional.

Joining the military is a big decision. Think carefully and talk with family and/or a trusted adult and representatives from the military as you consider your options.

Military Academies: Extremely elite and selective, students receive full four-year scholarships. Service after graduation is required.
ROTC: Train to be an officer while earning a Bachelor’s degree with Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). Scholarships are available.
Enlistment: Requires a high school diploma or GED. Upon completion of service, veterans are eligible for money for college.

Click on the image to read examples of trades jobs that pay more than $75,000 without a four-year degree.

Trade, Technical, and Vocational Schools training in specific careers, such as accountants, auto mechanics, computer programmers, chefs, electricians, elevator technicians, HVAC technicians, medical assistants, nurses, plumbers, and web developers. Many trade schools offer two-year programs to earn a certificate or license, although some offer associate’s and bachelor’s degrees.

Apprenticeships: Paid, on-the-job training and classroom instruction for learning a specific set of skills allowing employees to “earn and learn.” Apprenticeships connect to various career offerings from construction, manufacturing, and electrical to information technology and other STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) areas. The education requirements vary depending on the career field.

Paying for College

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) — This form can be prepared annually by current and prospective college students (undergraduate and graduate) to determine their eligibility for student financial aid.
Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) — This is used to collect information to help determine eligibility for state financial aid programs. These are administered by institutions of higher education in the state of Texas. Students classified as Texas Residents who cannot apply for federal financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are encouraged to complete the TASFA.
Choose an Affordable School — Paying for college will be exponentially more accessible if you choose a school that’s reasonably priced. To avoid straining your bank account, consider starting at a community college or technical school. If you opt for a traditional four-year university, look for one that is generous with aid. Focus on the net price of each school or the cost to you after grants and scholarships. Use each school’s net price calculator to estimate the amount you’ll have to pay out of pocket or borrow.
Use Grants If You Qualify — High school graduates who don’t complete the FAFSA leave billions of dollars in unclaimed federal Pell Grant money each year. Don’t make that mistake. As long as you submit the FAFSA and renew it each year you’re enrolled in school, you will receive Pell money if you’re eligible for it. In addition to the Pell program, the federal government offers several other types of grants, which don’t need to be paid back. Many states have grant programs, too. Use this map on the Education Department website to find the agencies in your state that administer college grants. Then look up and apply to state grant programs you may qualify for.
Get a Work-Study Job — A college job checks multiple boxes: It provides an income, work experience, and potentially valuable connections. The federal work-study program funds part-time jobs for college students in financial need at college. To apply for work-study, submit the FAFSA. If you qualify, you’ll see “work-study” listed on your financial aid award. However, just because you’re eligible for work-study doesn’t mean you automatically get that money. You have to find an eligible work-study job on your college campus and work enough hours to earn all of the aid you qualify for.

College Night is Ideal for First-Generation College Students

The evening will be valuable to help families with a student who would be the first to attend college. Additionally, English- and Spanish-speaking counselors will be hand to answer questions. The goal is to alleviate some stress for parents and students unfamiliar with college admission and paying for postsecondary education and training. Counselors will also share college preparation tools and programs available to Aldine ISD students.

Organizers are currently planning College Night 2021. In previous years, the event has attracted more than 100 representatives from different postsecondary options.