College Planning Seminar Scheduled

Planning for college used to be as simple as talking to a high school counselor during your senior year, picking a school and filling out some forms.

But with severe cutbacks in financial aid and high competition for admissions today, students interested in attending college need to be more thoroughly prepared.

“College: Making It Happen,” a seminar for middle and high school students and their parents, will be held at Cal State Northridge’s Student Union from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 22. The one-day program, which CSUN has sponsored for three years, features several workshops dealing with college financial planning, creating a productive home-learning environment, as well as information on college financial aid and admissions. Presentations will be in both English and Spanish.

“Going to college has to be a mutual goal not only for students but for their families as well,” said Fidel Ramirez, coordinator of CSUN’s Future Scholars Educational Enrichment Program. “Getting admitted and staying in college is much more difficult these days. We have an obligation as an university to get as much information as possible to potential students.”

During the seminar, representatives from CSUN, UCLA, Caltech, Mission College, Pierce College and Cal Lutheran will be at hand to answer questions.

The workshops are free to the public, but reservations are requested by Friday. Child care will be provided.

For more information and for reservations, call CSUN’s Office of Student Outreach and Recruitment Services at (818) 677-2967.