Planning & Paying for College Presented by Lisa Wilson Outreach Services Coordinator

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE Junior Year Take high school core classes Register & take the ACT, SAT or other admission exams Make sure A+ requirements are met Explore career options Research college options

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE Senior Year Register, take or retake the ACT, SAT or other admission exams Narrow down your college choices Watch for deadlines Missouri State Aid deadline is April 1, 2014 Make campus visits

PAYING FOR COLLEGE

Scholarships Financial assistance that is usually based on merit or ability and typically does not have to be repaid. Grants Need-based financial assistance that does not have to be repaid. Employment Jobs available to students as a way to earn money towards their educational expenses. Loans Federal & private loans available to students and parents to help pay for educational expenses. Types of Financial Aid

Sources of Financial Aid Federal Aid – Distributed nationally State Aid – Available to Missouri residents attending a Missouri institution Institutional Aid – Provided by your institution to its students Private Aid – Funded by corporations, community organizations, and individuals

Federal Student Aid Grants Federal Pell Grant Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) Iraq & Afghanistan Service Grant Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Employment Federal Work-Study Loans Federal Perkins Loans Federal Direct Subsidized & Unsubsidized Loans Federal Direct PLUS Loans Federal Direct Consolidation Loans

Missouri State Aid A+ Scholarship Program Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program Advanced Placement Incentive Grant “Bright Flight” Scholarship Kids’ Chance Scholarship Marguerite Ross Barnett Memorial Scholarship Minority and Underrepresented Environmental Literacy Program Minority Teaching Scholarship Public Safety Officer or Employee’s Child Survivor Grant Vietnam Veteran Survivor Grant Wartime Veteran’s Survivor Grant

Scholarship Resources MDHE’s Monthly Student Reminder – Sign up at Resources for Missouri Residents – Dept. of Economic Development – Dept. of Elementary & Secondary Education – Dept. of Health & Senior Services – Dept. of Social Services – Midwest Student Exchange Program – MOST-Missouri’s 529 College Savings Plan Scholarships for Military Families – U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs –

Institutional & Private Scholarships Institutional Awarded by an institution Institution determines eligibility requirements Check the school’s Website for more information Private Awarded by individuals or entities – Businesses – Churches – Civic Groups – Community organizations – Clubs Organization determines eligibility criteria and application procedures

Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Step Academic Year Federal Deadline – June 30, 2015 Missouri State Deadline – April 1, 2014 Institutional Deadline – Check with your institution’s financial aid office or website Check Deadlines

Step Academic Year Your Social Security number Your driver’s license Your alien registration or permanent resident card (if you are not a U.S. citizen) Your 2013 W-2 forms and other records of money earned Your 2013 Federal Income Tax Return (include spouse’s information, if you are married) Your parents’ 2013 Federal Income Tax Return (if you are a dependent student) Your 2013 untaxed income records Your current bank statements Your current business and investment records Gather Information

Using Estimated Taxes

IRS Data Retrieval Available for those who have filed their tax return Transfer tax information to FAFSA If not used, you are required to order a tax transcript from

Step 3 Obtain a PDF FAFSA

Step 4 Complete the FAFSA

Federal Student Aid PIN A four-digit electronic identifier Who needs a PIN? – Current & future college students – Parents (for dependent students)

Signing & Submitting the FAFSA

FAFSA Confirmation Page

Step 5 Student Aid Report (SAR) A report provided to students after completing the FAFSA. The SAR contains your EFC and results of federal financial aid database matches.

Step 6 Additional information may be required Financial records Educational benefits Adoption, foster care or ward of the court documentation Emancipated minor or legal guardianship documentation Homeless or at risk of being homeless documentation Dislocated worker documentation Supply Information

Step 7 Evaluate Your Aid

Questions P.O. Box 1469 Jefferson City, MO Info. Center: Phone: Fax: facebook.com/journeytocollege twitter.com/Journey2College