1. What is Financial Aid? Financial aid is money from federal, state and private institutions that's used to pay educational costs. The two most prominent sources of aid are: The Government (Federal and State) Colleges and Universities Additionally don’t overlook: Community groups, including religious and civic organizations, professional associations and corporations Billions of dollars in outside scholarships go unclaimed because students don’t apply for them.

2. Show Me the Money! Need-Based Grants (FREE MONEY!) – FAFSA & CSS PROFILE Merit-Based Scholarships o Academic Achievement/Test Scores o Athletics o Talent and Service Loans – Subsidized and Unsubsidized Savings Work – Become a Resident Advisor! – Work Study (Financial Aid)

3. Financial Aid Worksheet Lingo COA: Cost of Attendance (Includes Tuition, Room & Board, Books and Fees, Transportation) Gap: The difference between how much you and your family can afford to pay and how much the college costs. EFC: Expected Family Contribution. This is determined based on the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

4. Local and National Scholarships Do well academically Pursue your passions Become civic-minded Maintain your resume Research! Research!

5. Where to Look! Aspen High School Counseling Site Individual College Financial Aid Offices Local Businesses Clubs and Churches The Web in General

6. Helpful Web Sites College in Colorado: www.collegeincolorado.comwww.collegeincolorado.com Scholarships360: www.scholarships360.orgwww.scholarships360.org Scholarship Search: www.fastweb.comwww.fastweb.com FAFSA: www.fafsa.ed.govwww.fafsa.ed.gov CSS Profile: https://student.collegeboard.org/css- financial-aid-profilehttps://student.collegeboard.org/css- financial-aid-profile PIN: www.pin.ed.govwww.pin.ed.gov MPN: www.studentloans.gov U.S. Department of Education: www.studentaid.ed.govwww.studentaid.ed.gov General financial aid information: www.finaid.orgwww.finaid.org

7. FAFSA The application and correction portions of the live FAFSA on the Web site will be available for applicants to use on Jan. 1st. www.fafsa.ed.gov Free A Free A pplication FSA for F ederal S tudent A id

8. Federal Student Aid Pin

9. Financial Aid Timeline Summer Months Research scholarships and work on rough draft essays September-December Complete FAFSA www.fafsa.ed.govwww.fafsa.ed.gov Complete scholarship applications If attending college in Colorado, complete COF at https://cof.college- assist.org/https://cof.college- assist.org/ January Complete and submit FAFSA

10. Cost of Attendance Billed Expenses College A College B Tuition $7,500 $38,500 Fees 668 1,200 Room 5,194 6,500 Board 3,450 Total Billed $16,812 $49,650 Unbilled Expenses Books & Supplies $1,698 Transportation 1,200 Personal Expenses 1,942 Total Cost of Attendance $21,652 $54,490

11. Student Debt Is Real So smart, so successful – so broke? Don’t become a statistic! For students ages 18-24, one-third of their income is spent on debt Average student loan debt is $29,000 Average student credit card debt is $5,400 at graduation More 21-to-24-year-olds are declaring bankruptcy than graduating from college

12. Remember! Prepare Look Apply Never Give Up Have a PLAN to move that mountain!