1. “ACCESS TO SUCCESS” FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOP 2014

2. What is Financial Aid? ä Scholarships ä Grants ä Loans ä Employment opportunities 1

3. Two Categories of Aid/Scholarships ä Merit-based ä Need-based 2

4. PRINCIPLES OF MERIT- BASED AID/SCHOLARSHIPS ä Test Scores ä Class Rank/Grade Point Average ä Special Skills or Talents ä Other Factors

5. PRINCIPLES OF NEED- BASED AID/SCHOLARSHIPS ä Depends on family financial picture ä State/Federal aid may depend on the cost of the school the student attends. (higher the cost, the more financial need based aid the student may receive)

6. PRIMARY SOURCES OF AID ä Institutional ä Private ä State ä Federal

7. FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA) ä FAFSA is central element in federal student aid application process ä More to follow with PHEAA’s presentation ä FAFSA Completion Day February 6, 2013 6:30 pm at Neshannock High School at Neshannock High School

8. COMMON ERRORS ä Providing inaccurate or incomplete data on any application ä Not submitting required forms by priority filing deadlines ä Not submitting all required application documents

9. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES ä Student should contact financial aid administrator at the college if there is: ä A loss or reduction of family income ä A death or illness ä Unusual medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance ä Other unusual circumstances

10. Scholarships ä Local Scholarships ä Available through the guidance office and English 12 classes and guidance webpage ä www.ntsd.org(then the guidance link) ä Neshannock Scholarships ä Robert D. Stevenson Foundation ä Doug Case Scholarship ä Stanley B. Krause Scholarship (SRU) ä Gabriella Malizia Scholarship ä All are available on the table outside the guidance office

11. Other Scholarship Resources ä Places of Employment ä Websites ä www.collegeboard.com ä www.fastweb.com ä www.educationplanner.org ä www.comm-foundation.org ä Athletic organizations ä Local service groups

12. Other Reminders for Seniors ä Graduation Requirements ä Project- ä 2 Job Shadows were due September 2, 2014 and 12 Hrs Community Service were due November 25, 2014 ä Resume and Exit paper due in English classes ä All project components due January 16, 2015 ä Exit Interview scheduled for Thursday February 12, 2015 starting at 8:30 am. This is an Act 80 day- no school for students but Seniors are required to Interview. ä 23.5 credits

13. Conclusion ä Other Reminders ä Register with the Selective Service- (men) www.sss.gov ä Register to Vote- applications available in guidance office ä Questions? ä Contact Mrs. DeVincentis ä bdevincentis@ntsd.org ä Check the website often for important updates www.ntsd.org

14. Conclusion Con’t ä This powerpoint will be on the school website next week ä Contact Mrs. DeVincentis for questions ä bdevincentis@ntsd.org ä Check the website often for important updates www.ntsd.org ä FAFSA On the Web night- February 2015- details will follow