Illinois State University. Free Application For Federal Student Aid: Fill & Download for Free

College is probably much more affordable than you think. You can read someone like Thomas Walsh, but what he’s really saying is “I liked the old days”, when minority kids and poor white kids didn’t go to college (I’m not saying he’s racist, but those times certainly were). He’s also full of… misinformation. There are good and bad approaches.The first thing you need to know is that almost no one can afford college these days out of pocket or out of savings. If you have a low income, then the government and an appropriate school will likely pay for a good deal of your daughter’s education. The starting point in the US is always Pell grants, which are literally just cash from the government to go to school; they aren’t paid back. Some states (e.g., Illinois) have programs to give even more (in Illinois, the program is called the MAP grant). The school can give even more, and most do. None of this is a scholarship, in that it’s not based on grades or other “merit”.Oh, and low-income students often can get free SAT/ACT tests and college applications.Loans are debt, and by definition are something you can’t afford, and someone gives you to pay for something. Student loans are based on the idea that the student pays them back when they graduate and have a decent-paying job. The federal government has several student loan programs. The best program, Subsidized Stafford Loans, are awesome:The interest rate is really lowWhile you are in school, the government pays all interest (which is why they’re called subsidized)Students don’t start paying the loans until six months after leaving schoolSince I don’t know your daughter, I can’t say whether or not a four-year college or university is right for her. However, the scare tactics of people like Walsh and Matthew Moore play into confusion, fear, and a lack of knowledge. Once your daughter has been admitted to a college, the office of financial aid will put together a package, but that’s all based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.Last point: I teach at Blackburn College, one of the Work Colleges. At all of these schools, all students work as part of their academic life, and that offsets a large part of college costs, so students graduate with less debt. I’m at a work college because I believe in the model.

The Real Guide to Colleges and Universities.What does it mean to be deferred? What the Waitlist or a Deferral Means for Your College AcceptanceBy Peterson's Staff on Tuesday, May 10, 2016Waitlisted. Application deferred. You put in your college application and that's the response you got! Even after you spent hours filling out forms and laboring over the perfect essay!What does a deferral mean, and is it a good thing or a bad thing?Deferral from college acceptanceThe first thing you should know is that there is a difference between a deferral and being placed on a waitlist. If your application gets deferred, it means that you haven't been accepted yet…but you might be…later. Hmmm…what are you supposed to do with that?!Well, if you applied as an Early Action or Early Decision applicant, your application has basically been converted to a regular application. You'll be reviewed again during the normal admission season with all the other applicants. However, you've also been freed from any obligation to attend their school if accepted, and you can go ahead and apply to other schools as you wish.If you applied during the regular admission cycle and have been deferred, then the school probably wants more information before they make a final admissions decision — such as senior year final grades or additional test scores. The sooner you can get it to them, the more likely you'll get a final answer sooner rather than later.The waitlist admission decisionIf you've been placed on a waitlist, it means that the admission folks are done reviewing your file and that you are on their radar, but not their first option. The other applicants that have been accepted received college admission letters of acceptance, but you have to wait and see whether or not they are going to accept you.In academic terms, you're a backup. Waitlists are a safety net for colleges, allowing them to ensure that they have enough students to fill all of their vacancies, but it puts you in a spot where you may need to make some tough decisions. Sending in additional information isn't likely to change the situation, although you should certainly keep your application updated with anything that will enhance your student profile.Waiting for a college acceptanceIf you applied for Early Action or Early Decision and received news that you've been waitlisted, then your application will be reviewed again with the regular pool of applicants — just as if you had applied normally. However, if you applied during the regular admission cycle and you're placed on a waitlist, then you're in limbo until a spot comes open and your name is at the top of the list when it does.It's important to know that schools rank you, and all the other applicants from the regular admission cycle, in order of priority. Those at the top of the list will receive college admission letters first if spots do open up.Roughly 34 percent of colleges maintain waitlists and not surprisingly, they tend to be either highly selective colleges, or those with low yield rates (low numbers of accepted applicants that actually choose to enroll). The percentage of people accepted from the waitlist varies at each school depending on the number of spots the school has left to fill. Your waitlist letter should include details about the school's waitlist history. If it doesn't, then ask! Give the admission office a call and find out:How many students have been on the waitlist in the pastHow many were offered admissionWhere you are ranked on the listDetails on any major obstacle to your being acceptedWhat types of housing and financial aid may be available if you get inYou may want to ask your guidance counselor for help with gathering this admissions decision information and deciding what to do once you've gotten all the details. Even if you are granted admittance later, you may find that the best deals on aid and housing are gone. Holding your breath and hoping for the best probably won't work to your advantage so make sure you find out everything you can about that school's policies.Making your own admission decisionWhether you've been waitlisted or deferred, it's wise to assume that your chances of getting in are not great. Schools have to notify you of your admittance by August 1, but don't hold out that long to find out.You should do everything you can to get that college admission letter you want. Let the school know that you will definitely enroll if they accept you by writing a letter to the head honcho in the Admission Office. Also make sure you've submitted everything you were supposed to, including your financial aid paperwork. You don't want to give the school any reason to pass you over in case it comes down to drawing straws for that last coveted spot.Last but not least, if you didn't already do it when you originally applied, submit applications to your second-choice schools. If you're accepted at another school, make plans to go there — send in your enrollment forms and put down your deposit. If you find out later that you've gotten into your first choice, you can change your plans, but don't put yourself in the position of having nowhere to go at all.EXTRAS (UI)WAIT-LIST FAQBecause Illinois receives more applications from highly qualified students than there are available positions in the entering class, some students will receive an offer to join the wait list. Once we know how many students have accepted our initial offer of admission, we’ll use this list to fill the remaining spots in the class.The wait list isn’t ranked; our selection is based on a variety of factors and remaining needs for the class. Our commitment to holistic review will continue as we select students from the wait list in order to balance and complete our freshman class.How many people are on the wait list?Each year, around 1,500 students are placed on the wait list. Depending on space availability, we may offer wait-listed students admission. Some years we’re able to admit hundreds of students from the wait list, while some years we can’t admit any.Can I improve my chances if I send additional information to support my application or come to campus for an interview?No, additional materials such as letters of recommendation and senior year grades won’t be considered. Only the application materials that were reviewed initially will be used in any wait-list decisions. Interviews aren’t part of our admissions process.If I put my name on the wait list, when will I hear a final admission decision?If you wish to be on our wait list, you need to accept your wait-list offer within myIllini by May 1. We’ll notify you of your admission decision by early June. If you’re admitted, you’ll then be sent a complete admissions packet.What’s the process for selecting applicants from the wait list?If any openings become available for the college to which you applied, the admissions review committee will review your application. Applicants aren’t ranked within the wait list.Will housing still be available?Illinois values the residential college experience, and housing is guaranteed for all freshman students, including those selected for admission from the wait list. You’ll have a place to live in University Housing.Will I still be eligible for financial aid?You should go ahead and file financial aid paperwork for the school you expect to attend. If you’re selected for admission and didn’t initially list Illinois as one of the schools to receive your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) report, you can then have it transferred to Illinois.If I'm offered admission, will I be able to complete placement testing and attend Summer Registration?Yes, information about Summer Registration will be sent with your admissions packet, and information on placement testing will be available online.Should I accept admission at another school? What if I have to submit an enrollment deposit?Yes, you should accept admission to another institution by May 1, as we can’t guarantee that any students from the wait list will be offered admission. If this institution requires an enrollment deposit, you’ll also need to send it. If you’re offered admission and choose to attend Illinois, you may lose this enrollment deposit. Check with the other institution about its refund policy.If I’m not offered admission, can I apply again as a transfer student?Yes, applicants who aren’t offered admission are eligible to apply as transfer students in a future year. When reviewing applicants with only 1 year of college work, we focus primarily on high school grades, test scores, and activities. When you’ve attended college full-time for 2 years, the strength of the college program and your academic achievement at the college level are given primary consideration. Learn more about our transfer review process.What should I do now?First, focus on choosing the best fit for you of the universities that have offered you admission. Wait lists are uncertain, so it’s best to ensure your happiness no matter the outcome. If you’re on our wait list, that means we really like you and you don’t need to improve your application. You should, however, continue to get good grades your senior year. If you’re still interested in attending Illinois, be patient. It may take some time, but you’ll receive wait-list news after May 1.SearchSearch http://Admissions.eduUtility MenuContactFAQPolicies & ProceduresCounselorsRecord number of UI applicants will get admission news todayFri, 02/05/2016 - 7:00am | Julie WurthPhoto by: The News-GazetteA record number of students have applied to the University of Illinois for the fall semester.Other Related ContentApplication breakdownURBANA — More than 37,000 students applied to the University of Illinois' flagship campus this year — a new record — and about 22,000 of them will be very happy later today.Today is Decision Day, when applicants learn whether they've been admitted to the Urbana-Champaign campus.Students can check their status starting at 4 p.m. on the UI's admissions website, from their laptops, tablets or phones. Or not."There'll be kids who come to school on Monday without knowing, because they don't want to know," said Urbana High School admissions Counselor Sam Furrer.It can be a stressful thing."Decisions are coming Friday," the UI's admission's website proclaimed Thursday, advising students to relax in the meantime: "Take a walk, turn off your phone, play some music, hang with friends — whatever helps you unwind!"State financial woes and athletic scandals didn't deter this year's applicants, with 10 percent more students applying to the UI than in 2015.The numbers were up in every college, for in-state and out-of-state applicants and all ethnic groups, according to data requested by The News-Gazette. The number of Illinois applicants rose 9 percent, from 16,688 to 18,203.The highly ranked College of Engineering hit a new record of 12,900 applicants, though about 1,900 of those were redirected to other programs because they wouldn't meet the college's criteria. The average ACT of students accepted into engineering is 32, placing them in the top 2 percent nationally."The trend over the last six or so years has been just explosive growth overall in all science, math and engineering fields," not only at the UI but all universities, said Kevin Pitts, associate dean for undergraduate programs in the College of Engineering.The UI benefits more than many of its competitors because of its reputation, and because the state has a large population with lots of potential students and just one public Big Ten institution, he said.The college is also "very excited" about an uptick in applications from female students, he said.The number of applications to the campus overall has grown for many years, though it dipped last year, said Chuck Tucker, vice provost for undergraduate education and innovation.That was when the UI switched to a single application deadline (Dec. 1) and notification date for students. The campus eliminated its "priority notification" option to relieve some of the angst for high school seniors and to stem a decline in the number of Illinois applicants choosing the UI.Previously, students who applied by Nov. 1 were notified in December whether they were accepted or deferred for further consideration. Typically, several thousand were deferred and thrown in the pool with students who applied by the second deadline in early January. Students were then notified of their acceptance or denial in mid-February. High school guidance counselors complained that the system was confusing and prompted some students to choose other schools.Tucker said it may have taken a year for students, parents and counselors to get used to the new system.Counselors "like the simplicity," he said, "but when you've admitted people on one kind of calendar for a lot of years ... and you change it, it takes a little while for that knowledge to soak in."It seems pretty clear that the word has filtered out, especially to high schools in Illinois. So we're back on the upward slope," he said.'We're an instant society'The UI made a slight change in the schedule this year, moving up its Decision Day by a week or so to the first Friday in February. Last year, it was Feb. 13 — Friday the 13th.Tucker said UI deans had requested the change after getting feedback from unhappy parents. In some cases, they were UI alums distressed because their children ended up choosing other schools that notified applicants sooner.Furrer likes the change, as students hear from the UI ahead of some other schools, and it eases their anxiety."If they could find out 10 minutes after they submit (their application), they'd be happy with that. We're an instant society. These are kids who are not used to waiting for anything," Furrer said.The campus is studying other potential remedies for future years, such as an early notification for students with very strong academic credentials who are obviously qualified for admittance, Tucker said.Tucker wasn't sure how many students will be admitted today, but said it will likely be roughly the same as last year, or about 22,000. Today's count is not the last word. The UI has a late application appeal process and accepts some students later in the year, such as student-athletes.The size of next fall's freshman class won't be known until students let the UI know whether they're coming. They have to reply by May 1.Tucker said the goal is to have about the same number of freshmen as last fall — the second largest class in UI history, at 7,566.State budget problems have made the guessing game a bit tricker this year. The status of state financial aid grants for current students at the UI is unclear, even moreso for new freshman applicants, Tucker said."Sometimes it feels like roulette to me," Tucker said. "We put our bets on the wheel, we watch the wheel go this way and the ball go that way, and on the 10th day we'll see what happens."'International reputation'Last year, the UI made a concerted effort to accept more Illinois residents, as the percentage of in-state freshmen had fallen to just over 71 percent. That grew slightly to 73 percent last fall, and Tucker said the hope is that next year's class will be a similar split."I don't see it growing very much at this stage," he said.If enrollment expands greatly — an idea floated by President Tim Killeen to bolster the UI's resources — "then we'll be enrolling larger numbers of students from Illinois," Tucker said.The campus has also stepped up its recruitment of African-American students and others from underrepresented minorities. The numbers of Latino and African-American applicants were up by 18 percent to 19 percent this year, but "it's really the yield and who shows up in the end that makes the biggest difference," Tucker said.The number of international applicants also rose, though by a lesser percentage.Tucker said the international market is more volatile, fluctuating based on economic conditions and other factors in India, China and Korea."We put almost no effort into recruiting international students," he said. "That's driven almost completely by our institutional reputation around the world."The College of Engineering is hoping for 1,500 freshmen next fall, and that means it will admit approximately 4,500 students today, Pitts said. About one-third of all students accepted to the college wind up coming (although more than half of in-state applicants do), he said."We're working hard to get a higher fraction of Illinois residents," he said, projecting the percentage will be 55 percent to 60 percent.He said that percentage may seem small but the number of Illinois residents in the college is "as high as it's ever been." The college expanded enrollment in recent years by accepting more out-of-state and international students. In particular, it's seen increasing demand from students in California, where the university system doesn't have enough seats to satisfy demand, Pitts said.Up, up and (far) awayFreshman applications at the University of Illinois were up 10 percent overall and in every category this year — in-state, out-of-state and all demographic groups. Some key UI target areas:Black students: Up 384, or 18.8%, from 2,047 to 2,431Latino students: Up 609, or 19%, from 3,184 to 3,793Women engineers: up 438, or 21.4%, from 2,045 to 2,483International applicants: Up 1,247, or 13.8%, from 9,022 to 10,269

College Accreditation:The BasicsBY JONATHAN WLODARSKIPublished on June 18, 2019SHARE ON SOCIALIt's no secret the cost of college tuition continues to rise, and given the expense, it's important to ensure that the education you receive is worth the money you pay. One basic way to investigate the quality of a school's course offerings is to research the institution's accreditation status.What Is Accreditation?College accreditation is imparted by a group of evaluative bodies called accrediting agencies. They periodically examine each school's curricular offerings to confirm that each institution provides students with a quality education.Legitimate accrediting agencies are recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and/or the U.S. Department of Education (ED), which certify that schools meet certain standards of academic excellence. A full list of accrediting bodies can be found on the ED Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs or the CHEA website.Why Does Accreditation Exist?In the United States, there is no federal regulation of higher education as it concerns academic quality and standards; instead, each state maintains their own policies. Since state governments provide loose oversight, some institutions engage in dishonest practices and deliver low-quality education. Thus, independent accreditation bodies are the only way for prospective students to verify an institution's educational merits.Regional vs. National AccreditationThere are three types of accrediting bodies: regional, national, and programmatic. Public and private four-year institutions are accredited by seven regional bodies, each of which maintains standards for a specific geographical area. Note that two college accrediting agencies are affiliated with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Below is a list of regional accrediting bodies along with the states and territories in their purview.Higher Learning Commission (HLC): Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and federally authorized sovereign nations.Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE): Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and some geographical areas outside the United States.New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE): Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and some programs offered internationally.Northwest Commission on College and Universities (NWCCU): Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and some programs offered internationally, along with the accreditation of programs offered via distance education within these institutions.Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC): Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Latin America, and other Commission approved international sites, including the accreditation of programs offered via distance and correspondence education within these institutions.Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC): Institutions offering baccalaureate degrees or higher in California, Hawaii, and the Pacific Basin (along with some institutions that offer programs outside the United States) are accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Institutions granting associate degrees in these same regions are accredited by the WASC Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC).Source: CHEANational organizations accredit trade schools and vocational colleges, including Bible schools. Many for-profit institutions are accredited nationally, while nonprofit schools are accredited regionally. The majority of schools in the United States have regional accreditation.Programmatic AccreditationProgrammatic accrediting bodies -- like the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or Council on Chiropractic Education -- audit specific departments to determine whether their programs adequately prepare graduates for careers in the field. CHEA maintains a directory of these groups, some of which are certified by CHEA, some by the ED, while others are certified by both. Programmatic accreditation doesn't exist in every field and is supplementary to regional or national accreditation.Why Should I Check for Accreditation?Transferring Credits and Graduate SchoolFor students entering careers that require graduate study, for example, many of these programs are regionally accredited and only accept students with degrees from other programs with regional accreditation. This holds true for transfer students as well: Regionally accredited institutions typically only accept credits from other accredited schools. Because both institutions have been audited by a regulatory body, the rigor of their coursework can be verified, allowing easy transfer of course credit.Accreditation and EmploymentMany employers, such as the federal government, may require applicants to have degrees from regionally or nationally accredited schools. In fields like education and nursing, students must pursue certification or licensure to find employment; in these cases, students may be required to hold a programmatically accredited degree to be eligible for these qualifications.Accreditation and Financial AidStudents interested in receiving federal financial aid -- including loans, grants, scholarships, and work-study awards -- must attend regionally or nationally accredited schools. Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will determine your eligibility for receiving federal financial aid. Even many state-level and private forms of financial aid require filling out the FAFSA, and thus require regional or national accreditation.The Basics of College Accreditation.