Keys to Financial Aid SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL AID

Key Things to Remember  Myths  My parents make too much money, so I’ll never qualify.  Only people with perfect GPAs get scholarships.  You can only get financial aid if you pay someone to help you find it.  Truths  Even a millionaire can receive financial aid.  Scholarships are not always awarded based solely on GPA.  You don’t need to pay anyone for help.

Services We Provide  Advising on student aid  Scholarships  Grants  Student Employment  Federal, State, Institutional & Alternative Loans  Short-term Loans  Money Management  24/7 access to financial aid information  Veteran Services

Financial Opportunities at Texas A&M  Texas A&M disburses $534 million in financial aid annually.  19% in Scholarships  15% in Grants  35% in Loans  20% in Student Employment  11% in Tuition Waivers

How to Apply  Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year!  Apply for a student and parent PIN at pin.ed.govpin.ed.gov  Apply online at fafsa.ed.govfafsa.ed.gov  The FAFSA is not a scholarship application.  Some scholarships require FAFSA information to determine financial need.  Parent PLUS Loan requires the FAFSA.

What is the FAFSA?  The key requirement for determining most federal and state aid eligibility.  The U.S. Department of Education determines the expected family contribution (EFC).  Parent and Student income and assets  Number of household members  Number in college

The FAFSA Online  What do you need when filling out the FAFSA?  Gather the documents you need. Start with your Social Security Number, driver’s license, income tax returns, bank statements, and investment records.documents  Print a FAFSA on the Web Worksheet. Write in your answers and gather your parents' information then transfer the data to FAFSA on the Web.FAFSA on the Web Worksheet  Check your eligibility for federal student aid.eligibility  Note important deadlines. You can start Jan 1. Schools and states have their own deadlines. Contact them for exact deadline dates. Texas A&M’s priority date is March 15.deadlines

How Do I Get Financial Aid?  Listed schools will receive the electronic Student Aid Report (SAR).  You can list up to 10 schools.  Schools use the information on the SAR to prepare a financial aid package to help meet your financial need.

How Is My Information Used?  Texas A&M will calculate your need based on the following formula: Cost of Attendance -Expected Family Contribution =Financial Need

Cost of Attendance Resident Resident At Home with Parents Non-Resident Tuition & Fees* $9,180 $26,356 Loan Fees62 Room & Board 9,5224,4009,522 Books & Supplies 1,000 Travel606 1,000 Personal Expenses 2,100 Total$22,470$17,348$40,040 *Based on 15 credit hours per semester at Texas A&M University, College Station.

Extenuating Circumstances  Loss of employment or reduction of income  Death or illness in family  Medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance  Any other circumstance that results in a change in the family’s financial status

Need Based Programs  Grant and Scholarship Programs  Federal Pell Grant  TEXAS Grant*  Supplemental Opportunity Grant (SEOG)  Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG)  Top 10% Scholarship  Loan and Employment Programs  Perkins Loan  Federal Direct Loan (subsidized)  B-On-Time Loan*  Work Study * Programs subject to availability of funds.

Non-Need Based Programs  Federal Direct Loan (unsubsidized)  Federal Direct Parent Loan  College Access Loan (CAL)  Alternative Private Loans  Student Employment

Aggie Assurance Program  Guaranteed Tuition Program  Eligibility Requirements Texas Resident and eligible to pay resident tuition Entering undergraduate student beginning in or after Summer 2008 Degree-seeking student Family adjusted gross income of $60,000 or less

Aggie Assurance Program*  Eligibility Requirements continued  Admitted and enrolled full-time at Texas A&M University at College Station  Maintain a 2.5 GPA and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements  Complete the FAFSA by March 15  Cannot have grants or scholarships totaling more than the cost of tuition *Program subject to availability of funds.

Scholarships  Scholarships may be awarded on the basis of:  Academic Merit  Financial Need  Talent  Member of a particular group or organization  Leadership and participation  All or any combination of the above

Scholarships  Texas A&M Scholarships:   Dec 1 deadline  Corps of Cadets (no deadline, contact the Corps)  Texas A&M Foundation  applytexas.org applytexas.org  giving.tamu.edu/fea  Colleges and Departments on Campus  Check with your department

Regents’ Scholarship*  First generation college students  Neither step or biological parent has a bachelor’s degree  Family income of $40,000 or less  Up to $5,000 per year for 4 years  Must maintain a 2.0 GPA and complete 75% of all attempted classes  Texas Resident *Program subject to availability of funds.

Scholarships  Outside Scholarships  Internet (search engines)  scholarships.tamu.edu  Local library resources  Local businesses and civic organizations  Parent’s place of employment  See your HS Counselor

Useful Websites  CollegeforAllTexans.com CollegeforAllTexans.com  Information on Exemptions and Waivers  AdventuresinEducation.org AdventuresinEducation.org  College and Career Planning  Student Loan Inquiry  FinAid.org FinAid.org  “SmartStudent” Guide to Financial Aid  Calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

Contact Us  Scholarships & Financial Aid Texas A&M University Second Floor, The Pavilion P.O. Box College Station, TX  (979)   Web: financialaid.tamu.edu  Counselors of the Day available from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday  FAFSA School Code: