1. FINANCIAL AID What you should know!

2. 1) Find School 2) Admissions and Deadlines 3) Financial Aid Office

3. Student Loans Scholarship s Work Study Grants

4. FREE Application For Federal Student Aid ( FAFSA )

5. Are you Dependent or Independent?

6. Dependency Questions Are you 24 or older? Are you married? (Answer “Yes” if you are separated but not divorced.) Do you have children you support 50% or more? Are you currently serving in or a veteran of the Armed Forces?

7. Dependency Questions Cont. Were you emancipated as a minor? Were you a ward of the state after the age of 13? Do you support someone other than a spouse or child 50% or more? Were you ever declared an unaccompanied minor homeless or at risk of being homeless?

8. If you answered NO to all of these questions, you are likely a dependent student.

9. To complete the FAFSA, a dependent student must provide their parent’s information.

10. There are special circumstances. If you believe you have a special circumstance that would make you an independent student, please speak with your financial aid office.

11. Apply for Federal Pin Go to: www.pin.ed.gov

13. If you are a dependent student, your parent will also have to apply for a federal pin.

14. Complete the FAFSA Go to: www.fafsa.ed.gov

15. Though there are other websites that aid students in completing the FAFSA, it is usually best to use the free application site provided by the federal government. Ask your Financial Aid Office for help, if you need assistance.

17. Wait about 3-5 business days, then check with your Financial Aid Office.

18. After waiting the process time, check with the Financial Aid Office. There might be additional steps you must complete.

19. Scholarships! Check with your donor to find out how your scholarship will be given to the school of your choice. Talk to your Financial Aid Office to find out about scholarship opportunities.

20. Grants Federal & State

21. Federal Pell Grant

22. Please check with your financial aid department concerning state funding that might be available.

23. Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA)  If a student finds that he/she does not meet the citizenship requirements for the FAFSA, there might be state financial aid available.  Texas offers the TASFA.  Each institution requirements for processing the TASFA application is different. Please check with your financial aid department.

24. Student Loans Federal & Private Private

25. Work Study Usually a student works 19.5 hours a week.

26. Lone Star College Example:

27. What about books? Lone Star College Example:

29. Stop before you withdraw from that class!!!!

30. Standards of Academic Progress Lone Star College Example: Current processes are being revised.

31. Talk with your financial aid office to find out their policies.

32. Start the financial aid process a soon as possible.

33. “The early bird catches the worm!”