Scholarships, Financial Aid, & College Planning
Overview of Financial Aid The FAFSA • Every student must complete: necessary for grants, loans, AND scholarships – Opens October 1 – It is always free to complete – Needed for college, technical school, trade school, community college – Scholarships • There are a lot of unused scholarship dollars every year in Collier County – Scholarships are available for a variety of different things- some are for – academic achievement, others are for sports, and you can even get scholarships for being affected by a medical condition or for being a certain height. Scholarships exist for just about anything –
Resources for Completing the FAFSA FSW holds a FREE FAFSA completion workshop the second Tuesday of every month from 2- 5pm in Building M at the Collier Campus. You do not have to be going to FSW next year to attend.
Resources for Completing the FAFSA We will be holding a FAFSA event during the school day in early February. See your counselor to sign up. FSW will be present at the workshop to answer all of your FAFSA questions. Parents are welcome to attend as well, if available!
What to Do Senior Year – Fill out the FAFSA ASAP! It is best to fill it out by October 31. – What types of colleges are affordable for you and your family? – Who is paying for college? How are you paying? Discuss with your family. – Pay attention to application deadlines and begin applying. – To request transcripts, fill out a form on the counter in the counseling department. – Request recommendation letters at least two weeks in advance (if needed). – Start applying for scholarships. Use sites such as https://www.swflscholarships.org/, www.raise.me, https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/life/college/100- college-scholarships/ and www.fastweb.com.
Senior Year Continued – Pay attention to deadlines. – Don’t slack off. Your transcripts get sent again at the end of your senior year, and you could lose acceptance to a college or have a scholarship retracted. – March/April- Look out for your acceptance letters and financial aid offers. Compare financial aid packages and visit your final choices. Bring your financial aid award letter to your counselor if you need help! – May 1: final date for commitment and deposit.
Grants, Scholarships, & Loans • Grants do not need to be paid back. Grants are often need-based. • Scholarships do not need to be paid back. Usually merit-based. Can be based on grades, extracurricular involvement, special talents, etc. • Loans do need to be paid back.
The FAFSA • Free Application for Federal Student Aid • Always complete the FAFSA! • A few colleges also require the College Scholarship Service Profile application, available through the College Board. • Notified during the spring of senior year. • Ask college financial aid offices for help.
Award Letters • Look carefully at award letters. • They may include grants, scholarships, and loans. Some students don’t realize that loans are listed. • Look beyond the sticker price. • Bring your award letter to your counselor if you need help figuring it out.
Myths About Paying for College • Students should find the college that most interests them before they think about financial aid. • Lots of scholarship money goes unused every year, but it is very difficult to find this money. • Only wealthy families can afford college. • There is enough financial aid that all qualified students can attend their college of choice. • The best colleges are the most expensive. • You can borrow an unlimited amount of money to use towards college tuition.
But I Want to Attend the Best School Possible… • It is possible to attend a great school that is a good fit financially, academically, and personally, without taking on unmanageable debt.
Affordability • More than 30% of students are borrowing well beyond the maximum amount offered through Direct Federal Loans ($27,000). • Based on a 6% interest rate and a ten-year monthly repayment plan: – $30,000 = $333 per month – $40,000 = $444 per month – $50,000 = $555 per month • Students with unreasonable debt may find themselves having to put off purchasing a home or car, or marrying.
Affordability • About 86% of college/university students commute to school; some live off campus, but many live at home. • 4/10 students begin their college education at a community college.
College Categories Flagship state schools (in state): University of FL • Participates in DI athletics. Greater enrollment, more stringent admission requirements. – Non-flagship state schools (in state): Florida Atlantic University, FGCU, Florida State, • etc. Many have admission requirements similar to flagship school, but some have lower – admission standards. Fewer students. Flagship state schools (out of state) • Non-flagship state schools (out of state) • Some attempt to attract students from out of state. – Highly selective private schools: Stanford, Yale, Harvard, Pepperdine, University of • Chicago Most don’t give much money in merit awards, but some a high amount of assistance for – families with need. Some attempt to meet 100% of assessed need. Midsize private schools: University of Tampa • Often offer excellent merit scholarships & need-based grants – Traditional private schools: Stetson, Florida Christian College • Known to offer excellent merit scholarships. – Community college and/or commuting options: FSW, Lorenzo •
Affordability • Determine which categories are affordable. • Use net price calculators to figure out an estimated net price of a college. • Don’t count a category out until you choose at least 2-3 schools from each category and use the schools’ net price calculators. • Once you figure out the categories that are not affordable, you can focus applying to your favorite schools in the more affordable categories.
How to Save Money in College • Apply for scholarships! • Graduate in 4 years. Or consider 3 years. • Take Dual Enrollment, AP, or AICE classes in High School if you meet eligibility requirements. • Become a Resident Assistant. • Rent or buy used textbooks. • Consider the cost of graduate school. • Think about post-graduation plans early on.
After Affordability is Assessed… • Find private scholarships. Database on the website: https://www.swflscholarships.org/ • On or after October 1 of senior year, file the FAFSA. • If there is a difference in the net price of two similar colleges, some schools can find additional scholarships to lower the net price. Show them the award letters you have received & ask if there are additional programs that you may have missed.
Scholarships • Your ACT/SAT score & GPA are factors for academic scholarships. • Athletic scholarships: Student must take specific classes in high school & have certain grades to be eligible to play at NCAA colleges. • Ask about requirements for renewal. • Search for private scholarships in this order: workplace, local, regional, national.
Why is it useful to apply for scholarships? Minimum wage in Florida is currently $8.25 per hour. If you work 15 hours per week, your paycheck may be around $123 before taxes & deductions are taken out. A $1,000 scholarship is worth more than 2 months of work if you work 15 hours a week at minimum wage!
Scholarships • Pay attention to scholarship deadlines. Make sure you complete the entire application and submit by the deadline. • The order of priorities in general during senior year is: Look at college applications and scholarships and see what is 1. required. Begin collecting required material. 2. Finish FAFSA by October 31. 3. Finish college applications in November. Pay attention to 4. application deadlines. Some are as early as November 1. Apply to scholarships throughout the year as they become due. 5.
Scholarships • Pay attention to scholarship deadlines. • Make sure you complete the ENTIRE application. • Most scholarship applications are due directly to the organization giving the scholarship. • Colleges have their own individual scholarships. Check your colleges’ financial aid websites to apply for their own scholarships. • If you have specific questions about your financial aid, contact your college.
The Scholarship Bulletin Board The counseling department has a scholarship board in the hallway. Check this for scholarship information and deadlines.
The Counter in the Counseling Lobby Check here for transcript request forms, community service preapproval forms, and SAT/ACT dates & information, etc….
The Scholarship Website/ Resources
The Scholarship Website/Financial Aid Resources
The Scholarship Website
Scholarship Website
Scholarships Available at FSW
Recommend
More recommend
