Financial Aid Night November 9th, 2017

Welcome & Agenda Welcome & Introductions Charles Hazelrigg; Interim Director of School Counseling Briana Muncey; School Counselor 6:30 Tanya Weigold; SC Commission on Higher Education 6:45 Kelvin Bonnette; College of Charleston 7:15 Q & A 7:45

Junior IGPs- Time slots emailed last night! Important Reminders! Senior IGPs are ending Junior IGPs- Time slots emailed last night! Check your student email!

Upcoming dates November 10th: College App Day- TOMORROW! February 9th: Scholarship App Day 1 March 9th: Scholarship App Day 2 March 23rd: Scholarship App Day 3 Graduation: June 1st

WWW.wANDOHIGH.COM WWW.NAVIANCE .COM Community Scholarships Nationwide Scholarships Important dates and deadlines Resources for financial aid Scholarship application criteria

Scholarship search made simple! www.wANDOHIGH.COM Scholarship search made simple!

WHERE TO FIND SCHOLARSHIPS Check back weekly for updates!

Speakers Tanya Weigold SC Commission on Higher Education Program Manager for Scholarships & Grants Kevin Bonnette College of Charleston Financial Aid Dept.

South Carolina Commission on Higher Education South Carolina State Scholarships and grant programs 2017

State Scholarship and Grant Programs SC Need-based Grant Lottery Tuition Assistance SC HOPE Scholarship LIFE Scholarship Palmetto Fellows Scholarship

General Eligibility Requirements SC HOPE, LIFE, Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, SC Need- based Grant, & Lottery Tuition Assistance** US Citizen/Legal Permanent Resident* SC Resident* No felony convictions** No second or subsequent alcohol/drug misdemeanors Not in default of any state or federal loans Enroll in a degree-seeking program at an eligible SC institution *This must be determined at the time of high school graduation & college enrollment. **Excluding Lottery Tuition Assistance

SC Need-based Grant Must complete the FAFSA application each year and be determined “needy” based on Title IV Can be used at any 2-year or 4-year public institution. Must be considered a degree seeking student. Up to $2,500 for full-time or $1,250 for part- time.

College Transition Program SC Need-based Grant Additional Programs Foster Care Youth Up to the maximum $2,500 SC NBG award/year, plus up to an additional $2,000 *Student needs to work with the Financial Aid office, DSS, and CHE College Transition Program Programs at 5 eligible SC institutions for intellectually disabled students. *Student needs to be determined needy by Title IV guidelines

Lottery Tuition Assistance $95*/Credit hour up to $1,140 for full time Complete the FAFSA application Enrolled as a degree seeking student at one of the: 16 technical schools, 2-year USC satellite campuses, or Spartanburg Methodist College * Award amount may vary each term depending on availability of funding.

SC HOPE Scholarship Eligibility: 3.0 Cumulative GPA (based on the SC UGP) upon high school graduation No application Process. Institution reviews final high school transcript. Must attend an eligible SC 4-year institution Up to $2,800 For the 1st academic year only (2 terms)

LIFE SC HOPE to LIFE SC HOPE After 1st academic year: Earn an average of 30 credit hours; and 3.0 LIFE GPA LIFE SC HOPE to LIFE Once students receive a SC HOPE Scholarship in the freshman year, they can earn a LIFE Scholarship for the sophomore year and thereafter. A student must earn a 3.0 LIFE GPA and 30 credit hours by the end of the freshmen year. If students meet these requirements, then they can be awarded the LIFE Scholarship for the sophomore year and continue in the LIFE Scholarship program.

LIFE Scholarship Eligibility at a 2-year institution 3.0 Cumulative GPA (based on the SC UGP) upon high school graduation Eligibility at a 2-year institution Earn 2 of the following 3 requirements: 1100/SAT or 24/ACT Rank in the top 30% of the graduating class (if applicable) Eligibility at a 4-year institution

LIFE Scholarship Terms of Eligibility Up to 4 consecutive semesters of eligibility at a 2-year institution Up to 8 consecutive semesters of eligibility at a 4-year institution Terms of Eligibility Not to exceed to the Cost of Attendance Must attend an eligible SC institution Up to $5,000 per academic year

“Facts of LIFE” Scholarship NO application process Not required to begin college immediately after high school Can earn LIFE Scholarship after 1st, 2nd, or 3rd academic year Student has until the end of an academic year to earn the GPA/Credit hours

Includes “F” and “D” Grades LIFE GPA Dual Enrollment and college enrollment while in high school and/or prior to enrolling in college Grades and credit hours earned at colleges and universities (in-state, out-of state, abroad) Includes “F” and “D” Grades Grades and credit hours earned while enrolled in college (including summer school)

Initial college enrollment The LIFE “clock” Initial college enrollment Term 1 1 8 2 7 3 6 4 5

A “Walk Through LIFE” End of 1st Academic Year Earn a 3.0 Cum LIFE GPA Earn at least 30 credit hours End of 2nd Academic Year Earn at least 60 credit hours End of 3rd Academic Year Earn at least 90 credit hours

Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Application Periods Any eligible student will need to be a part of the Early or Late Award application process during their year of graduation TWO opportunities to apply: Early Award: Mid-October - December 15th Late Award: Mid-April - June 15th *a student cannot use Early Award documentation for the Late Award* **a student cannot apply or earn the PFS once they have graduated high school** *** Late award is awarded LATE  usually after tuition bill is due. Please let students and parents know.

Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Eligibility Requirements For schools that have an official policy on rank that has been reviewed by Commission staff for compliance with the established Regulations: Rank in the top 6% at the end of the 10th, or the 11th , or the 12th grade academic year Earn a 1200 on the SAT/27 on the ACT (through the June test administration of the graduating year) Earn a 3.5 cumulative GPA (based on the SC UGP) OR Alternate Criteria (without regard to rank) Earn a 1400 on the SAT/32 on the ACT (through the June test administration of the graduating year) Earn a 4.0 Cumulative GPA (based on the SC UGP)

Student Notifications/ Designation Form Early Award: Mid-March Late Award: Mid-August Student tuition bill WILL be due prior to being awarded the Palmetto Fellow Scholarship. Students CAN accept the LIFE Scholarship and use it towards their bill. Deadline to submit Designation Form: August 31st

Designation Form In order for the student to receive scholarship funds they MUST complete the DESIGNATION FORM This is the SOLE responsibility of the student The student is provided this form via email to the email listed on the electronic application

Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Award Breakdown 1st Year Up to $6,700 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Years Up to $7,500

Important Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Points The student MUST attend an eligible 4-year institution the fall semester immediately following high school graduation Enrolling in a 2-year institution during a fall or spring semester forfeits the student’s PFS eligibility  This includes Bridge Programs. Not enrolling the fall semester upon high school graduation forfeits the student’s PFS eligibility A student who attends an out-of-state institution can use any remaining terms of the PFS should they transfer to an eligible SC institution and meet the PFS renewal requirements

How do I keep the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship? 3.0 cumulative institutional GPA (Cannot transfer grades from other colleges) Earn 30 credit hours each academic year Does NOT include AP, IB, Dual Enrollment, CLEP or exempted credit hours

LIFE & PFS Enhancements Up to an additional $2,500 Must Earn 14 credit hours of math and/or science by the end of the 1st academic year (AP, IB, Dual Enrollment, CLEP and Exempted courses) Must be enrolled in an eligible major at their home institution Starts the student’s 2nd academic year (6 semesters) at a 4-year institution only

Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancements Palmetto Fellows Scholarship LIFE Scholarship 1st Year Up to $5,000 2nd, 3rd, & 4th Years Up to $7,500 with Enhancement 1st Year Up to $6,700 2nd, 3rd, & 4th Years Up to $7,500 Up to $10,000 with Enhancement

Students with Disabilities Register with the Office of Disability Services May be eligible for accommodations May be eligible for Reduced Course load

General State Scholarship & Grant Information No State Scholarships or grants may be used at an out-of-state institution at any time Academic Common Market Allows for South Carolina residents who are enrolled in specific programs at out-of-state institutions to be charged only the applicable in- State tuition by the institution in which the student is enrolled http://www.che.sc.gov/Students,FamiliesMilitary/LearningAboutCollege/Academic CommonMarketInformation.aspx

Rank & State Scholarship Eligibility For the purposes of the LIFE and Palmetto Fellows Scholarship (PFS) programs two students may not occupy the same rank. LIFE Scholarship: Top 30% of the graduating class (NOT rounded up to the next whole number) PFS: Top 6% (rounded up to the next whole number)

Student graduates mid-year Early Graduates Graduating Early: Student graduates academic year(s)early Early Graduate: Student graduates mid-year For scholarship eligibility the student can ONLY use SC UGP GPA CANNOT use rank SC HOPE/LIFE Scholarship Complete Early Graduate application at planned institution of attendance Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Only ONE opportunity to apply the Early Award application period of their senior year Can receive LIFE Scholarship during Spring semester*. Will receive the PFS the following terms of remaining eligibility. SC HOPE/LIFE Scholarship Eligibility is based on the end of the academic year with their “new” graduating class Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Can apply during the Early or Late Award application period Early Award Application period can only use end of the 10th grade GPA and rank Late Award application period can use the end of the 10th or 12th grade rank, must use end of the 12th grade GPA

Year Round Scholarships Eligible SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows recipients Earn continued eligibility by the end of the Spring term Eligible to use funds for a Summer term *Enrolled full-time *Uses a term of eligibility *Eligible for Fall if eligible at the end of Spring

UPDATES Class of 2018: New SAT Redesign only Can still “Super Score” highest Math section with highest Evidence-Based Reading & Writing Score

CHE Contact Information Dr. Karen Woodfaulk Director of Student Services (803) 737-2244 kwoodfaulk@che.sc.gov Mr. Gerrick Hampton Scholarships and Grants Program Manager (803) 734-4397 ghampton@che.sc.gov Ms. Tanya Weigold Scholarships and Grants Program Manager (803) 737-2262 tweigold@che.sc.gov Ms. Leslie Williams Program Assistant, Scholarships and Grants (803) 737-2290 lwilliams@che.sc.gov

Other Contact Information Academic Common Market Ms. Saundra Carr 803-737-2274 scarr@che.sc.gov SC College Access Programs Mr. Gerrick Hampton (803) 734-4397 ghampton@che.sc.gov Websites www.che.sc.gov www.sccango.org

FAFSA 101: A Quick Guide to the Application

Who should complete the FAFSA????

Financial Aid that is determined by the FAFSA Grants (Federal, State, and some Institutional) Employment Opportunities (Work Study) Federal Loans (both Parental and Student)

FAFSA Stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid Available for completion online beginning October 1st Using 2016 federal tax data to determine eligibility for 2018-2019 Used to determine grant and loan eligibility Must be completed every year Parents and students must have a FSA ID and password Can create those credentials now www.fsaid.ed.gov Check with the institutions that you are considering to determine their priority deadline March 1st = priority deadline for CofC

FAFSA Dependency FAFSA parent of record Professional Judgment How is it determined Extenuating circumstances FAFSA parent of record Divorced/separated Divorced but remarried Professional Judgment EFC (Expected Family Contribution) Can be viewed as your family’s financial strength in relation to other families that are applying for need based aid Based on a federal formula Why this number is important Should be the same at every institution (even though award amounts may vary at every institution)

Federal Award limits Base annual loan limits (combined subsidized and unsubsidized) Independent $5,500 for 1st year dependent undergraduates $9,500 for independent undergraduates $6,500 for 2nd year dependent undergraduates $10,500 for independent undergraduates $7,500 for each remaining dependent undergraduate year $12,500 for independent undergraduates $31,000 Lifetime limit for Dependent Undergraduate Student $57,500 for independent undergraduates The max amount of the Parent PLUS Loan varies: is calculated to be the cost of attendance minus what the student is eligible to receive on their own at an institution If PLUS denied, student can receive additional unsubsidized Maximum amount of Pell Grant: $5920 (2017-2018) Federal TEACH Grant: $3736 Federal Work Study: amount varies by institution Federal SEOG Grant: amount varies by institution

FAFSA Be sure to check Student Aid Report for errors Be sure that all signatures are present on the FAFSA Parent + student for dependent students Student only for independent students ***If you have questions about the FAFSA or issues with the FSA ID, you can contact Federal Student Aid at 1-800-4-FED-AID.***

Questions?

Thank You!