Workshops Help Students & Parents Prepare for College

Fort Bend County Libraries will host a variety of workshops in August to help college-bound students and their parents prepare for college. These workshops provide helpful information on application essays, financial assistance and the FAFSA, and other preparations to help pave the way to a successful college experience.


The programs are free and open to the public. The schedule is as follows:

 

  • College Applications with Less Stress” -- Monday, July 29, 7:00 pm, Sienna Branch Library, Meeting Room. Kathy Rose, Executive Director of the CollegeCommunityCareer nonprofit organization in Sugar Land, will provide an overview of the college-application process, including how to apply and what to expect when applying. Learn about the eight parts of a college application, what is needed to get into the college of one’s choice, and preparations one can make for the college-application season. Get tips on how to prepare a competitive college application that will reflect the student’s achievements and make their submission truly stand out.

 

  • Free SAT Practice-Test Session” -- Saturday, August 3, 10:30 am-3:00 pm, Cinco Ranch Branch Library, Meeting Room. A representative from Princeton Review will administer a practice test to college-bound students in grades 9 through 12. The full-length practice-test sessions help students to gain experience and become better prepared for the actual test. The scores on this practice test will only be shared with the student; they will not be sent to any educational institutions. Bring two #2 pencils, and a non-graphing calculator if available. Registration is required; click here to register.

 

  • College-Planning Strategies” -- Thursday, August 8, 6:30-8:00 pm, Sugar Land Branch Library, Meeting Room. Brannon Lloyd, a college financial-planning educator, will provide an overview of the costs associated with attending college and will discuss ways of qualifying for different types of financial aid without getting trapped in a financial nightmare of high rate, high payment, and expensive debt. Learn how to avoid loans, maximize merit-aid, uncover untapped sources of money, and avoid pitfalls that may hurt a student’s eligibility for financial aid. Get tips on things to do to increase a student’s chances of obtaining scholarships and grants.

 

  • Paying for College without Going Broke” -- Saturday, August 10, 10:30 am-12:00 noon, Cinco Ranch Branch Library, Meeting Room. Brannon Lloyd, a college financial-planning educator, will provide an overview of the costs associated with attending college. He will discuss ways of qualifying for different types of financial aid without getting trapped in a financial nightmare of high rate, high payment, and expensive debt. Learn how to avoid loans, maximize merit-aid, and avoid pitfalls that may hurt a student’s eligibility for financial aid. Get tips on things to do to increase a student’s chances of obtaining scholarships and grants, regardless of a family’s income or a student’s grades.

 

  • College Financial Aid & the FAFSA Form” -- Saturday, August 24, 1:00 pm, George Memorial Library, Computer Lab. Completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the first step toward receiving federal or state financial aid for college. College-bound high-school students and their parents are encouraged to attend this informative presentation on completing the FAFSA form. Lori Blust, Financial Aid Coordinator with Wharton County Junior College’s campus in Sugar Land, will provide an overview of the FAFSA-application process, including how to apply and what to expect when applying. Learn about what types of information will be needed to complete the form, and how to avoid common mistakes. Blust will also discuss the various types of financial aid, such as grants, loans, scholarships, employment, Veterans’ benefits, and state exemptions. Worksheets can be downloaded from FAFSA’s webpage, http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Registration is required; click here to register.

 

  • College Financial Aid: Filling Out the FAFSA” -- Monday, August 26, 7:00 pm, Sienna Branch Library, Multi-purpose Room. Completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the first step toward receiving federal or state financial aid for college. Kathy Rose, Executive Director of the CollegeCommunityCareer nonprofit organization in Sugar Land, will provide an overview of the FAFSA-application process, including how to apply and what to expect when applying. Learn about what types of information will be needed to complete the application, and how to avoid common mistakes. She will also discuss the TASFA (Texas Application for State Financial Aid), and the process to go about applying for this financial aid. Worksheets for the FAFSA can be downloaded from FAFSA’s webpage, http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. College-bound high-school students and their parents are encouraged to attend this informative presentation on completing the FAFSA application.

 

  • Paying for College without Going Broke” -- Wednesday, August 28, 7:00 pm, University Branch Library, Meeting Room 2. Brannon Lloyd, a college financial-planning educator, will provide an overview of the costs associated with attending college. He will discuss ways of qualifying for different types of financial aid without getting trapped in a financial nightmare of high rate, high payment, and expensive debt. Learn how to avoid loans, maximize merit-aid, and avoid pitfalls that may hurt a student’s eligibility for financial aid. Get tips on things to do to increase a student’s chances of obtaining scholarships and grants, regardless of a family’s income or a student’s grades.

 

  • Free ACT Practice-Test Session” -- Saturday, August 31, 10:30 am-3:00 pm.
    •     Sienna Branch Library, Meeting Room.
    •     Sugar Land Branch Library, Meeting Room.

A representative from Princeton Review will administer a practice test to college-bound students in grades 9 through 12. The full-length practice-test sessions help students to gain experience and become better prepared for the actual test. The scores on this practice test will only be shared with the student; they will not be sent to any educational institutions. Bring two #2 pencils, and a non-graphing calculator if available. Registration is required; click here to register for the Sienna Branch Library, or here to register for the Sugar Land Branch Library.