NEWS FROM UC RIVERSIDE The University of California, Riverside (UCR) introduces an exciting new admissions program for home scholars ("homeschooled" students). Numerous faculty recognize the benefits of the education received by home scholars, including depth of learning, socialization, maturity, creativity, and vision, which provide excellent foundations for careers and leadership in the 21st century. Home scholar applicants will supplement their standard UC application by sending to UCR an academic portfolio, to be reviewed by a committee of faculty and staff having homeschooling awareness. Admitted home scholars may have opportunities to network with one another and with homeschooling faculty at UCR. The new admissions program also encourages students from other non-traditional educational backgrounds to apply. The website: http://futurestudents.ucr.edu/homeschool provides further information and application instructions. As a campus of the University of California system, UCR is a major research and teaching institution that offers its 17,104 students bachelors, masters, and Ph.D. degrees in more than 100 majors and programs. UCR is known for combining big school recognition and resources with small school student-faculty interaction. UCR faculty, coming from top universities nationwide, conduct internationally-recognized research that attracts tens of millions of dollars of grants annually, with numerous opportunities for undergraduate research involvement. Many UCR students have gone on to attend top graduate programs, work at major corporations, or create their own successful companies. Located in the center of Southern California, the campus provides students a tight-knit community with an active student life, local shopping and entertainment opportunities, as well as convenient access to the beach, mountains, and events in nearby metropolitan areas. Extensive on-campus and near-campus housing is available. See http://www.futurestudents.ucr.edu for more information. |
Financial Aid for College Most colleges and universities accept federal financial aid and tie all of their in-house financial aid to the award, or lack of award, a student receives from the federal government. Even if you know your student does not qualify for any federal aid, you must send in a FAFSA on time if you want ANY scholarships from the school you plan to attend. Those who are planning to attend a four-year institution that accepts federal financial aid in the fall of 2006 must file a Free Application for Financial Student Aid (FAFSA) with the government by March 2 of this year. California students must also file a GPA (Grade Point Average) verification form in order to be eligible for the Cal Grant (California’s version of federal student aid). You can obtain a FAFSA worksheet at EIE or any college Financial Aid Office. The GPA verification form can also be obtained at any college financial aid office, however, homeschool students cannot use the GPA from EIE or any other non- accredited school. They must instead attach to the form a copy of their SAT, ACT or GED score. That will be converted to a GPA by the feds. Do not try to send a transcript from EIE or ask us to fill out the form. You will be denied. If your student has not taken one of the above tests it is too late to apply this year. If you have attended your local junior college, you may have enough units to have them fill out the form for you. You will have to ask at the Financial Aid Office. If you send in your FAFSA and GPA Verification Form by mail (the preferred method is online), be sure to make photocopies and obtain proof of mailing from the Post Office. This is imperative! We have had experience with lost forms. One more detail that you should know: put the most expensive school you are thinking of attending at the top of your list on the FAFSA form. You are not obligated to attend any of the schools you name, but your aid will be calculated partially on the basis of the top school on your list. |
UC RIVERSIDE HOMESCHOOL DAY WAS HELD ON SATURDAY 11-12-05 |
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We are hearing good things about the homeschool orientation meeting that was held at UC Riverside on the 12th of November. One of the more interesting comments made was in reference to the fact that Riverside is recognizing the fact that homeschoolers are better socialized, therefore better students. We are encouraged on the fact that the UC system is finally recognizing the success potential of homeschool students in the University system. This is extremely good news for all homeschoolers |