Basics of Financial Aid and the FAFSA Paying for College February 4, 2015

We will answer: What is financial aid? What are the basic eligibility requirements? How do I apply? Where can I get more info?

Handouts - Resources DO YOU NEED MONEY FOR COLLEGE? Federal Student Aid at a Glance English-Do You Need Money for College Spanish-Do You Need Money for College COLLEGE PREPARATION CHECKLIST (booklet) English-College Preparation Checklist Spanish-College Preparation Checklist

Money from a source other than the family to assist with the cost of attending college or career school. What is Financial Aid?

Paying for College Combination of resources FamilyFederal GovernmentStatesCollegesPrivate sources

Types of Financial Aid Scholarships Scholarships - gifts and awards based on: academic merit and other achievements interests and career plans ethnicity, family background and/or financial need, etc. Grants Grants - money awarded based on need Both are considered “free” money and do not have to be paid back.

Types of Financial Aid Loans borrowed money based on need and credit worthiness; must be paid backWork-Study part-time jobs for students with financial need; earn money to help pay educational expenses

What is federal student aid? What is federal student aid? U.S. Department of Education provides more than $150 billion in grants, loans and work-study funds. Overview of Financial Aid

Who can get federal student aid? Basic Eligibility Criteria U.S. citizen or permanent resident High school graduate Eligible degree or certificate program Valid Social Security number Males registered for Selective Service Satisfactory academic progress in college/career school

What is the FAFSA? Free Application for Federal Student Aid  A standard form that collects demographic and financial information about the student and family.  It is used to determine financial need.  Use it to apply for federal and state student grants, work-study, and loans.

How do I apply for federal student aid? How to Fill Out the FAFSA

STEP 1 Get a PIN at  Username  Password  Sign FAFSA electronically  May be used by students and parents throughout aid process, including subsequent school years

STEP 2 Gather the documents you need to apply.  What do I need to have before filling out the FAFSA? What do I need to have before filling out the FAFSA?  Optional: Use FAFSA on the Web Worksheet to prepare your answers. Get the Worksheet FAFSA Web Worksheet

STEP 3 Fill out your FAFSA at  Apply on or after January 1 but as early as possible to meet all deadlines.  Need help? Use the help functions within the FAFSA (including live chat) or call FED-AID.  Don’t forget: watch for the confirmation page that says your FAFSA has been submitted. THEN log out.

STEP 4 Watch for response by or by mail.  Double-check that your info is correct by logging on at the FAFSA site and reviewing your data.  Correct any mistakes and submit the corrected information.  Meet all deadlines or you could miss out on aid!

In general, depends on your financial need. For early estimate, For early estimate, use FAFSA4caster: use FAFSA4caster: Go to Enter some financial information Get an estimate How much federal student aid can I get?

What happens next?  Each school will tell you how much aid you can get at that school.  Once you decide which school to attend, keep in touch with the financial aid office to find out when and how you will get your aid.

What happens next? After the FAFSA: What Happens Next

Where can I get more info about federal financial aid? StudentAid.gov Info about aid programs Links to free scholarship and college searches FED-AID Info about aid programs Help with FAFSA Find the Federal Student Aid Information You Need

How can I get other kinds of financial aid? DO YOUR RESEARCH!  States, colleges, and private scholarships have their own eligibility criteria.  Be sure you know what you need to do to qualify.  Find and apply for as many scholarships as you can! Start researching early and meet deadlines.

Avoid Financial Aid Scams  Organizations that offer to locate more aid and then charge you a fee  Anyone who charges you a fee:  for information about financial aid  to complete the FAFSA  to apply/receive a scholarship  Organizations that guarantee you will get a scholarship or aid

Klein ISD E-Scholarships USA Go to web page Enter User Name & Password (Contact the counseling office)  List sorted by due date  Search for specific types  Titles directly link to scholarship site

 College for All Texans  Apply Texas applytexas.org is a one-stop shop for applying to a public university or community college in Texas applytexas.org  Compare Texas Colleges comparecollegetx.com comparecollegetx.com  Every Chance Every Texan Scholarships & Financial Aid Information Online Resources: Texas

       Information on the web

FINANCIAL AID TV Everything you need to know about financial aid provided in short, easy to understand videos. Provided by St. Thomas University, Houston

Upcoming Events Houston National College Fair February 12, 6-8 pm NRG Center Parents and students can meet one-on-one with representatives from colleges and universities to discuss admission and financial aid opportunities at their respective institutions. Check with the counseling office to learn about college preparation and planning events.

Thank you for your participation! Thank you for your participation!