Need-Based College Aid is a simple mathematical formula: The amount it costs to go to a particular college MINUS your Estimated Family Contribution or EFC. Simple enough, but somewhat more complex when you get into the details.  Let’s start with EFC.

 To determine your EFC, you have to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA.  The window to file this starts January 1 prior to the Fall semester you expect to get funding based on that particular application.  This means that if you plan to start college in the fall of 2010, the FAFSA submission window starts January 1, 2010 and goes, theoretically, to the 30^th of June, 2011 — to accommodate the entire school year.  It is theoretically possible to apply for aid based on the FAFSA into the second semester of the initial year.  I don’t suggest you push the theoretical bounds.

 Based on the FAFSA data — which most of which is extracted from your previous year’s tax return — you get a dollar figure for the EFC.  This figure is what the FAFSA people compute to be what the family should be able to “contribute” towards the cost of education based on some secret government formula.  Now, I don’t anybody who ever agreed with the EFC they received, but that’s irrelevant to this discussion. 

 Now, each college has a “cost” figure computed for it.  This figure includes tuition, fees, books, room & board and other living expenses.  A separate figure is used for those on campus and those not, based on what you submitted on the FAFSA. 

 You take this cost figure and subtract the EFC and you get the “Need,” the amount of money you “need” to attend that particular college.  This “need” figure will vary from college to college based on the established cost for that college. 

 Examples:  If your EFC is $6,000 and the cost of the college is $12,000, your “need” is $6,000.  If the cost of the college is $25,000, your “need” is $19,000.

At this point the Finical Aid office at the college assembles a “need” package of financial aid consisting of a possible mixture of grants (you don’t have to pay back), loans (you have to pay back, maybe), and/or Student Work/Study where you work and get paid while going to college.  The actual composition of the package is based on a whole different set of criteria, where there is some wiggle room you can work with the folks at the college financial aid office.

 Regardless of you financial situation, you need to file a FAFSA and see what you might be able to get.  Far too many people feel that they won’t qualify, so the simply bypass the FAFSA and probably pay a lot more than they should have.  FAFSA information is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Is your child’s computer used mainly for “surfing” the Web, Facebook and the occasional paper?

Take their computer proficiency past the latest You Tube videos.

At The New College Preparatory Academy, a student’s laptop is their key to unlocking an entire world of knowledge.

Virtually all of our students’ lessons are done on the computer. Their progress is monitored using the computer. Their computer becomes their “virtual” classroom.

That means not only are they learning their lessons and the material they need to move forward with their education, but they are also learning how to use the computer.

They already know how to use the computer? Sure, but while many teens are already proficient with technology, our students learn to use the computer as a resource in ways that go beyond the normal teen computer use. They become very skilled on the computer very quickly.

And, when they get to college, what do you think they will be using to do their research and complete their assignments? Not an encyclopedia and notepad, that’s for sure.

You’ve spent all that money on new technology for your student. Why not put it to good use? Give them a password to higher learning: New College Preparatory Academy.

There’s no job more important than being a mom. And, when if you are a mom who also decided to home school your child, you took on the second most important job affecting their lives: their teacher.

Overwhelming at times, isn’t it? That’s a lot of pressure!

What if there was a program that allowed you to continue to manage your child’s schoolwork and maintain the “home school feel,” but also gave you time to be a mom again?

Through The New College Preparatory Academy program, your child will be able to follow a proven and effective learning program that will give them more ownership over their schoolwork, with lesson plans and benchmarks allowing them (and you) to monitor their progress.

No more researching lessons plans.

No more grading.

No more wondering whether your child is getting the best education they can.

We have done all the research; we’ll take care of all the grading; and our program has been proven to be among the best in preparing students for college and beyond.

Your student will still have you as their main coach for learning, but they will learn now to be self-motivated and progress according to their needs and desires. We will be there for additional mentoring and support.

Go team!

The NEW American School’s corporate staff recently completed their week long strategic planning retreat in San Antonio, Texas. It was an incredible opportunity for discussion and decision making. The goal of excellence in education prevailed throughout the week. The belief in our system and its ability to provide each of our students with the academic support they need to be successful was the driving factor for all of our planning. New and innovative ways to accomodate students of all learning styles and abilities were discussed and new strategies have been implemented.

The NEW Learning Edge

If you are looking to give your child the very best academic education available, then you need to know about the NEW American School. Don’t make your decision about your child’s education for your 6th – 12th grader without first attending these FREE seminars. The NEW Learning Edge is available for you to use in your home if you choose to homeschool. Or if you prefer, we have schools set up that are accepting students for fall enrollment.

How would you like our help in getting your child into such prestigious colleges as – Texas A&M, Baylor, Pepperdine, US Air Force Academy, UT, SMU and many other excellent institutions? NEW graduates have been offered scholarships and received honors at these and other fine colleges and universities.

These seminars are free, but in order to arrange seating, please RSVP. Check our Calendar of Events for a seminar near you.

If you would like to host a seminar in your area please contact Debbie Elder at info@newcollegeprep.com or by calling toll free 1-866-429-5951 .

The NEW American School provides full service distance education for grades 6-12.

NEW provides:

• Curriculum
• Administration
• Grading
• Tutoring
• Acceleration
• College Prep

Curriculum Overview:

• Junior High and High School

We Do the Grading and Grunt Work

Students e-mail homework and our mentors provide comments and corrections, and the opportunity to improve. We tutor online and by telephone, and work individually, one-on-one with students who require additional attention. We track and provide records.

We Test – Parents Proctor – We Grade. The curriculum is cyber-based using the World Book Encyclopedia. Courses and lessons are structured, simple, flexible, and customized for student needs. Using computers, students have rapid access to knowledge.

The NEW American School is a real school, not an “Umbrella.” We are recognized by the College Board, listed on the National Roster of Secondary Schools by the Education Testing Service, and NEW is chartered by the State of Texas as a Non-Profit Educational Corporation.

NEW has a flexible year round program with a streamlined curriculum and integrates the accelerated learning skills found in the NEW Learning Edge. We feature Block Schedules, College Internet Format, College Prep Modules, SAT/ACT Prep, and College Counseling.

Our educational work at the NEW American School breaks down into 6 major categories.

1. Home School Curriculum - Quality home school curriculum for grades 6-12. We offer hassle free curriculum in your home and we handle the lesson plans, paper and test grading, record keeping and provide student tutoring, too.  Junior High – High School
2. Private School Curriculum - Quality curriculum for existing private schools that are looking to extend the services they presently offer to their students. We can assist in the addition of a junior and/or high school to the present campus and we can augment the existing curriculum with our NEW Learning Edge.
3. NEW American Private Schools - Quality Private schools operated locally to serve the community and students who value a superior education in a flexible, child centered environment.
4. The Learning Edge - Key tools to increase learning efficiency and retention. Based on the Accelerated Learning DVD set “Read-Study-Test-Write”. Includes the complete Speed Reading Program developed by Howard Berg “The World’s Fastest Reader”, as well as study strategies, test-taking techniques and guidelines for effective writing. This comprehensive learning program is easy, fast — and it works! This is included with your NEW registration. This program is also available to public and private school students.
5. The SAT/ACT Edge - These may be the single most important tests you take in your life. Our SAT/ACT Prep DVDs show you how to derive the highest possible score on these tests! This is included with your NEW registration. This program is also available to public and private school students.
6. College Prep - Our motto is “Get ready. Get in. Get money. Go!” We provide detailed expert assistance with college selection, application, funding, and enrollment. We help you achieve maximum eligibility for funding aid and scholarships. This is included with your NEW registration. This program is also available to public and private school students.

The NEW American School formally called the Gateway Preparatory School started in 1996, as the Gateway Institute in Duncanville, Texas, over 1,000 students have attended resident courses at locations throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area and Waco. In 2002, Gateway shifted its focus to distance education. Gateway has distance education students throughout the US and Canada who take courses via the Internet. In 2007 Gateway Preparatory School changed it’s name to The NEW American School using the Gateway Programme.

Parents of Junior and Senior High School Students

We have an array of programs and services to help your junior high or high school student Advance and Improve their school performance and better prepare them for college:

Help your student make better grades with our Ultimate Learning Program.

College Bound Student – START NOW! – Even if your student is in Junior High.  Find out what you need to do in Junior High and High School.

Need help with Student Motivation, Parenting Teenagers, Getting College Preparation Advice, or Academic Coaching check out our Mentoring-Advising-Coaching.

Have you considered:

• Your Public or Private School adopting one of our programs for the whole school.  Contact us for Free Programs for Public Schools.
• Have you considered Homeschooling your student??  We have a program through Texas Tech University to provide public school courses with our Ultimate Learning and College Bound Programs.

Please contact us at DElder@newcollegeprep.com for more information.

Programs for Your School

We have Institutional versions of our Ultimate Learning Program and our College Bound Programs available for Public and Private Schools:

Ultimate Learning Program – We have institutional versions of the Ultimate Learning Basic Program (four programs on READ-STUDY-TEST-WRITE) and the Enhanced Program (40+ additional application lessons) available in multiple delivery modes.

College Bound Programs – We have institutional versions of the SAT, ACT, and PSAT Basic Programs (2-4 hours programs on each test) and Enhanced Programs (6-12 follow-on in-depth application lessons on each test) available.  In addition, we can provide College Advisory and Planning Services on a contractual basis with our staff College Advisors.

We can provide these program in any combination of delivery modes:

• Live programs for students conducted by our staff on site
• Live and recorded programs conducted by our staff via internet link
• Providing students individual access to online video training
• Providing classroom modules for teacher facilitated training
• School packages with DVD videos and reproducible material for local administration
• Providing training and certification for teachers to conduct our programs

Institutional pricing and licensing are available.  Please contact us at DElder@newcollegeprep.com for more information.

Also check out the Free Programs we provide to schools.

HOPE

Homeschool Options for Public Education

NEW American School has Special Project status with Texas Tech University High School.  Students enroll in both Texas Tech High School and NEW American School.  Curriculum is purchased from Texas Tech and the Mentoring and Learning Strategies are provided by NEW American School.

Texas Tech High School:  http://www.depts.ttu.edu/ode/

Please contact us at DElder@newcollegeprep.com for more information.