It's My Life > Education & Scholarships
Education & Scholarships
What is your plan for your education? When deciding your future plans, it's important to consider your education level, your goals for your career and your commitment to a certain kind of life. Education is very important.
Completing High School
It's only four years! You can do it!
Getting Your High School Diploma or GED
The easiest way to receive your high school education is to stay enrolled in school and to complete all of your requirements. If you are too far behind to catch up, then you can get your GED. A GED is a General Education Diploma, which signifies you have passed 5 exams that test your basic knowledge for subjects like Math or Language Arts. Most employers like to see a high school diploma, however, if you're not going to get your high school diploma, a GED will help you in the future. A GED allows you to enter a community college, and may increase your chances at getting a job.
Seattle Rotary Education Center
The Seattle Rotary Education Center, located at the Downtown YMCA at 4th and Marion Streets, provides educational options for at-risk young adults. They provide multiple options for education. A student can choose a program aimed at public school re-entry where they catch up on credits and then return to complete their schooling at their regular high school. Or if the student would rather get a GED, then the program provides tutors and testing booklets.
Spots are limited as the school only serves about 150-160 students per year. It is "open entry/open exit", meaning you stay as long as you need. For more information, contact:
Director: Mary Sims
Metrocenter YMCA
909 4th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
(206)382-5339
srec@mc.seattleymca.org
Youth Education Program
YEP (Youth Education Program) is a GED preparation program focusing on youth who have dropped out of school or who have too few credits to graduate with a diploma. YEP works with the Seattle School District and the City of Seattle to provide small tutored classes in reading, writing, math, social studies, and science to prepare students for their GED. YEP also provides pre-employment classes in resume writing, job search, job retention, and career exploration. Orientation is held one day each week. Call for an appointment at 206.386.1042.
Eligibility Requirements
- Have not graduated from high school
- Are between the ages of 16-21
- Live in the Seattle School District
Other Places to Get Your GED
You can also get your GED at community colleges. Call or go down to the community college nearest you for information on their programs. To find a nearby community college see University, trade school or community college below.
Cost of Getting a GED
The following information is general. Fees may be waived or decreased depending on the program and your personal situation. Talk to a program director for more information. The GED test is $50.00 ($10.00 for each test) and must be paid before testing begins. Retest fees are also $10.00 for each test.
Getting Ready for the GED Test
These two Web sites can help you out. You can also just go to a search engine, keyword: GED or go to Ace Net or GED Practice.
SAT & ACT Tests
The SAT and ACT test results are one of the key factors in the college and university admission process. They are designed to help colleges and universities assess your ability to begin college-level work.
SAT Test
The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) takes about three hours to complete and test verbal (vocabulary, reading comprehension and other English language-related skills) and math problem solving abilities. There are also SAT subject tests which are only about an hour long and test a specific subject area. Depending on the college program you want to enroll in, a subject test may also be required for admission. Tests are usually given in your high school on Saturdays in the autumn and spring. Go to College Board for registration and additional information or call 800.728.7267.
ACT Test
The American College Testing (ACT) Program also takes about three hours to complete and tests skills in English, Reading, Math and Science. Tests are given in the autumn and spring with a basic registration fee ranging from $25-$50. Fee waivers are available in certain circumstances. Go to ACT for registration and additional information or call 319.337.1270.
Test Scores
It is not possible to fail either of these tests. A higher score is certainly better but each college has a different scale for assessing the test results. For example, one school may see a total score of 1000 as adequate for acceptance, yet another school's admissions office may not.
Test Practice
There are online resources available at College Board and ACT to practice the tests. There are also books and classes available on how to take these tests and how to better prepare for them. You can take both tests or the same test over again. Colleges and universities will usually consider the highest score of the two. Many high school students take one test in their junior year and then again in the fall of their senior year.
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After High School
Will you choose to continue your education after high school? If so, how? Will you want to go to a trade school or to college? What should you consider? A great resource for discussing this issue is your school guidance counselor. She or he can help you think about your interests and abilities. Counselors can also help you with scholarship information. However, many will not be aware of specific information for foster children. If you run into that situation, print off the information below to share with your school counselor.
University, Trade School or Community College
To locate community colleges and trade schools in Washington, go to the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. For links to these as well as Washington state universities go to Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board.
University
Universities provide training for people interested in professional careers. The focus is on student creativity, insight, and individual opinions/ideas. Universities offer classes for a diverse range of professions such as medicine, computer technology, and communications. An undergraduate degree is usually obtained in four years although often it takes longer. Also, graduate, masters and doctorate programs are offered through universities and those can add many years to the college experience.
Trade School
Trade Schools provide education and instruction for people preparing to enter the labor industry or who need training in techniques for a specific profession. An example is a cosmetology college or learning to be an electrician. School can last only ten weeks or as much as two or three years depending on classes.
Community College
Community Colleges offer the first two years of general undergraduate education. They offer adult education programs, technical classes, and vocational education. Community college is typically cheaper than a University. Credits can be transferred from Washington state community colleges to universities.
General College Information
Check out the following links for more general information on college...learn about how to apply to SATs, get financial aid, and more.
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College Expenses
How much does college cost? You can go to any specific school's Web site to get the latest figures in tuition but here is a general breakdown to give you an idea of what lies ahead for a full-time enrollment schedule. For more information about the cost of college in Washington State, visit The Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Tuition Costs
In Washington State, costs will range according to the type of school in which you enroll. For a community college, one year will cost $2,000 to $2,500. For a four-year public college, tuition costs for residents average more in the range of $4,000 to $6,000 for one year. Vocational school tuitions vary by the skill and expertise studied.
Additional Costs
Besides tuition, there are a number of costs you will need to consider for any kind of school. Room and board provides for housing and meals. Depending on where you live (dorm room or apartment), costs can be in the range of $6,000 to $12,000 per year. Books and other supplies run up to $1,000. You may also want to consider transportation costs if you choose to live off campus.
Lowering the Cost of School
There are a number of options available to you. Find out what schools offer credits for life or work experience. If you are in good academic standing, you may be able to take either the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) test or Proficiency Examination Program (PEP) tests and gain college credit for high scores. Some schools also give Resident Assistants in on-campus housing facilities free room and board.
Work Programs to Lower the Cost of School
Some employers help pay for college tuition but you can also get assistance through enrollment in the military, through some employers or by joining Americorps, and getting funds through community service.
Residency Requirements
Going to school in Washington is cheaper for youth who live in this state. Non-residents pay higher costs. Under Washington State residency laws, you can become a resident by living in Washington for at least twelve consecutive months before the quarter of application. You should also obtain a Washington driver's license, establish a local bank account, and be financially independent so that no one can claim you as a dependent on any income tax returns.
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Financial Aid
Without financial aid, college would not be possible for many students. The purpose of financial aid is to make it possible for students of all incomes to attend school. Traditionally, students apply for aid in their senior year of high school, between January 1 and June 30, and reapply each year once in college. It's important to apply as early as possible as some colleges have very early deadlines. Check with your school counselor for more information. Aid can be used to cover costs such as tuition and fees, room and board, transportation, books and supplies.
Types of Financial Aid
There are four main forms of aid: grants, scholarships, loans and work-study. Grants and scholarships are free and do not have to be paid back. Loans must be repaid, but usually not until after graduation or the student leaves the program or school. Work-study provides income in the form of a part-time job, usually located on campus.
Getting Financial Aid
Financial aid is awarded based on skills, good grades or your need for help. First, you must fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This form is available online at FAFSA or you can obtain a paper copy at colleges, the library or by calling 800.433.3243. If you are hearing impaired, call TTY 800.730.8913. There is no charge to submit this form.
Approximately 4-6 weeks after your form is received, a student aid report will be sent to you and the schools you want to attend. Once you are accepted to a school, the school's financial aid office will determine your eligibility for financial aid. It is generally used to make up the difference between what you and your family can afford and what school costs.
Scholarships
Scholarships are the best way to get funding for your education. They are awarded based on individual characteristics of the recipients and they are given out throughout the year by many types of organizations. You do not have to repay scholarship awards and they can help you promote yourself to college admission offices and even employers.
Foster Youth Scholarships
There are scholarships awarded specifically to youth connected with the foster care system.
Orphan Foundation of America & Casey Family Programs provide scholarships of up to $10,000 to young people, under the age of 25, who have spent at least 12 months in foster care and were not subsequently adopted. For application information, e-mail scholarships@orphan.org or call 800.950.4673.
Treehouse offers awards to youth who have been in the King County foster care system at least one night since turning 16 years-old. Recipients must apply by their 22nd birthday and may be eligible to get funding each year in school up to age 30. Scholarships can pay for tuition, books and supplies, instructional fees and bus passes. You must complete high school or the equivalent, get accepted to an accredited school or program of study and provide some financial information. Referrals through your caseworker are preferred. Go to the Coaching to College Program at Treehouse or call 206.767.7000
The Washington State Governor's Scholarship is for dependent youth who are high school seniors and plan to attend any eligible public or private nonprofit college or university full-time in Washington State. Scholarships are expected to range between $1,000 and $5,000 per year. Candidates must demonstrate financial need and have a minimum of a 2.5 grade point average. For more information, go to the Washington Education Foundation or call 877.655.4097.
Finding Scholarships
Your Scholarship Application
Research information for scholarships well. Make sure you meet all deadlines and give all the information required for the application or you can be quickly disqualified. Give any essays to someone else to look at to ensure there are no misspellings. Type it or write as neatly as possible. Follow-up with the funder after your application is submitted to ensure they received your application.
Student Loans
Loans are available to help pay for education costs from a variety of sources. There are some offered through the federal financial aid program by completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form. There are also private loans available through local banks, credit unions and other financial institutions. A very common one is Sallie Mae.
Subsidized or Unsubsidized
A subsidized loan is better as you do not have to pay any interest on your loan amount. The federal government pays it for you. If you receive an unsubsidized loan, you may defer payment of the interest until you start paying the loan back but you are still responsible for paying the interest your loan earned while you were in school.
Paying Back Your Loans
Most loans do not have to be repaid until after you've finished your education. In addition, there is often a grace period granted which is designed to allow sufficient time for graduates to find a job in their desired profession and get a little settled into their new career before having to pay it back. When the grace period ends, you may be able to get an extension if you have difficulty finding a job. If you don't, you must then start making monthly payments. Most loans take years to finally pay off.
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