Covering the cost of education after high school Show Me The Money!! Covering the cost of education after high school

Conquering Your Fears! For Students, the scariest part of College Admissions is getting into the college of their choice. For their Parents, the scariest part is paying for it!!!

Cost of Education Includes: Tuition Fees Room Board Books Transportation Personal Expense

What can I do to get a head start and save money for college? Take all courses required for a high school diploma. Take Advanced Placement (AP) classes in high school Take Dual Credit courses or CLEP tests 5-D

What can I do to get a head start and save money for college? Choose your college classes and your major wisely. Begin your studies at a public two-year or technical college. 5-D

What is Financial Aid ? Grants -Free money based on need Scholarships -Free money usually based on talent and merit Loans -Money that must be paid back Work-Study -Money earned from a part-time job on campus or off campus

Myths About Financial Aid My parents make too much money, so I’ll never get help. Only people with perfect GPAs (grade point averages) get scholarships. You can only get financial aid if you pay someone to help you find it. 5-D

Myths About Financial Aid The truth about financial aid: It’s available for everyone, and it comes in all shapes and sizes. You don’t need to pay anyone for help. 5-D

Free Money!!

How Do You Find Scholarships? Use a free online scholarship match service like www.FastWeb.com. It takes about half an hour. Check with your school’s guidance counselor

Other Ways of Finding Scholarships Local public library Bookstore. MonsterCollege (www.college.monster.com) lists internships and part-time/entry-level jobs as another source of money for college.

Beware of Scholarship Scams Beware of scholarships that charge any kind of an application fee, even if it is just a few dollars. Don't invest more than a postage stamp for information or to apply for scholarships. If you have to pay money to get money it’s probably a scam.

Beware of Scholarship Scams Don’t give out your Social Security number, bank account number, credit card number or debit card number to any scholarship providers. Nobody can guarantee that you will win a scholarship.

Need Based Programs

How do I apply? Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and send it in. The form is available: From your high school counselor (paper) Online at www.fafsa.ed.gov (you must first request a personal identification number at www.pin.ed.gov) 5-D

Some things to remember….. Only US Citizens or Eligible Non-Citizens can receive Federal Financial Aid (Pell Grant, Federal Work Study or Federal Loans) Only Texas High School graduates may qualify for Texas State Financial Aid by completing the TASFA form

Some things to remember….. Males 18 & older must be registered with Selective Service in order to receive Financial Aid. Need is determined by using the most recent year’s Tax Form (1040, 1040A or 1040 EZ) along with W-2s and Schedules for both Student and Parents

The “MAGIC FORMULA” COA-EFC=FN COA (Cost of Attendance) Minus EFC (Expected Family Contribution) Equals FN (Demonstrated Financial Need) Note: EFC usually stays the same no matter how much the COA

Get in line early! Each college has its own priority deadline. Timing is very important! Each college has its own priority deadline. Fill out the FAFSA as early as possible, and mail it soon after January 1. 5-D

And the winner is . . . The financial aid offices of the colleges you picked on the FAFSA will determine your eligibility for different types of financial aid programs. In the spring of your senior year of high school, the colleges will notify you of the type of aid that they can offer you. 5-D

Be smart with your money! Make a budget. Be careful with your money. Don’t get in over your head. 5-D

Important Things To Remember As You Apply For Financial Aid Apply early Follow up Communicate Watch out for the scams

Remember! If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. The average college graduate will earn 1.5 million dollars more in a life time. Is education a good investment? You bet it is!

Financial Aid PSA Create a Public Service Announcement that can be read or said in under 60 seconds. Topic (choose one): Types of financial aid Money you do not have to repay Scholarships application tips. Importance of the FAFSA How to complete the FAFSA Key message for listeners to remember (in one sentence) Three talking points that create awareness, show importance or promote change What should the reader/viewer do as a result of the PSA and where can they go to learn more?