College Planning How Do I Pay For It?

What is UCanGo2?  A college access program for high school and middle school students and parents  Provides information on how to plan, prepare and pay for college  Helps families create a college-going culture in the home  An initiative of the Oklahoma College Assistance Program and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education  Visit UCanGo2.org for college planning resources

High School Student Workbook  W W hy Go To College?  What Do I Want to Be?  How Do I Get There?  Where Do I Go?  H How Do I Pay for It?

What is Financial Aid  Money used to help you pay for college  Comes in the form of grants, scholarships, work-study programs and student loans  All students are eligible for some type of financial assistance for college  Apply for this money ASAP after January 1 of your senior year and each year you need money for college

Getting Financial Aid  Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to request financial aid FAFSA.gov  Find the FAFSA at FAFSA.gov  Online application preferred, but paper forms are available  Sign your FAFSA online with a Personal Identification Number or PIN  Never pay to complete this form; it’s a FREE application

Types of Financial Aid Free Money  Grants  Scholarships Earned Money  Work-Study Student Loans  Loans

Federal Grants not  Money that does not have to be paid back  Usually awarded on the basis of financial need  Apply for all federal grants through the FAFSA form  Types of grants: Pell Grant Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

Scholarships not  Money that does not have to be paid back  Awarded on merit, need, skills, hobbies, family history and athletics  Apply for as many scholarships as possible  Search scholarship websites, books, local organizations, churches, family employers, college financial aid offices  Contact your tribal office for assistance if you’re of Native American heritage

Scholarship Success Guide

College Work-Study  Provides part-time jobs for students with financial need  Jobs available on- or off-campus where you’ll perform duties related to a course of study or through involvement within the community  Types of jobs, pay rates and work schedules can vary greatly

Student Loans  Money students and parents borrow to help pay educational expenses must be repaid  Loans must be repaid and repayment usually begins after education is complete or you withdraw from college  Borrow only the amount you really need to cover school expenses  Look at loans as an investment in the future

Loan Types  Federal Direct Loan Subsidized Subsidized – Government pays the interest on your behalf while you’re in school Unsubsidized Unsubsidized – Student is solely responsible for the interest  PLUS Loan Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students  Perkins Loan

Oklahoma Financial Aid  Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant Apply through the FAFSA Deadline typically March 1  Oklahoma’s Promise Scholarship program for eligible Oklahoma students Apply in the 8 th, 9 th or 10 th grade  Academic Scholars Program Awarded to students who score in the 99.5 percentile on the ACT/SAT exams

 Relevant and timely posts about the FAFSA  A forum to submit questions about the FAFSA  Tutorial videos in English and Spanish  Links to information about financial aid, money management, income tax issues and FAFSA dependency status  Explanation of common errors  Answers to frequently asked questions

UCanGo2 Resources  Scholarship Success Guide  FAFSA Facts  College Fair Worksheet  College Terms Glossary  What Do I Want To Be? Worksheet  Campus Visit Checklist  Finish the FAFSA in Five Steps Brochure  College Planning Checklists  Transition to College Brochure  Tracking My Classes and Achievements Worksheet

Questions ?

Contact Us Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Oklahoma College Assistance Program Outreach Department (toll free)