Five Basic Steps

 Application  Verification  Awarding  Disbursement  Maintaining Eligibility

 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)  Good for one Academic Year (July 1 st -June 30 th )  New application available beginning January 1 st online at FAFSA.govFAFSA.gov ◦ PIN Personal Identification Number  Grants, Work Study, Loans, Scholarships  College Goal Sunday (And Saturday, Too!) - Feb. 8 & 9, 2014 ◦

 Carefully review your Student Aid Report (SAR). Student Aid Report (SAR)  The SAR is a summary of all of the information you put on the FAFSA.  Along with your data are comments about corrections, revisions or next steps  Tells you if you are eligible for PELL Grant & how much in loans ◦ These amounts are based on your full-time enrollment

 You can view your SAR on the FAFSA website ◦ You will receive an once it is available  If you do not provide an address, a copy of the SAR will be mailed to you ◦ You can make any corrections or revisions right on the SAR or you can make corrections online  A digital version of your SAR will be electronically sent to the colleges and universities you put on the FAFSA

1) Most if not all colleges or universities have an “Official” way to communicate with students 2) Usually students are given a student address 3) The college or university you are selecting to attend will begin to notify you electronically if they need additional information 4) Pay close attention to those messages and check for them frequently

 Additional Required Documents  Random selection or common mistakes

 A school must verify any application information that it has reason to believe is incorrect [34 CFR (a)(3)] or discrepant [34 CFR (f)] (Code of Federal Regulations).  IMPORTANT NOTE: An application that is selected for the verification process is not VALID: 1.The verification process must be complete. 2.The suggested award amount(s) mentioned on the FAFSA 3.Award amount may change upon completion of the verification process.  Sometimes during the verification process, the Office of Student Financial Assistance (SFA) will ask the student and/or their parent(s) for addition documentation. The need for these item(s) is not always known until the detailed verification process has begun.

 Award Notification- Electronic Letter notification from the Financial Aid Office  Most common - yearly award (Both fall & Spring)  Includes: PELL Grant, other grants, student loans, scholarships, work-study and third-party resources

Pell Grant  Only available to undergraduate students  Lifetime limit= 600% (equivalent to 6 years of full-time enrollment) Student Loans (undergraduate)  Dependent Students: ◦ Combined total= $31,000—No more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.  Independent Students: ◦ Combined total= $57,500—No more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.

 Students with financial need are eligible  The U.S. Department of Education pays the interest ◦ While you are in school at least half-time (6 credits) ◦ For the first six months after you leave school (grace period) *Note: If you receive a Direct Subsidized Loan that is first disbursed between July 1, 2012, and July 1, 2014, you will be responsible for paying any interest that accrues during your grace period. If you choose not to pay the interest that accrues during your grace period, the interest will be added to your principal balance. ◦ During a period of deferment (a postponement of payments)  Time limit for subsidy= 150% of program length (ex. A 2 yr program has a limit of 3 yrs) *Effective: July 1, 2013

 Financial need is not a requirement  You are responsible for paying the interest during all periods  If you choose not to pay the interest while you are in school and during grace periods and deferment or forbearance periods, your interest will accrue (accumulate) and be capitalized (that is, your interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan).

 Disbursements of your awards will pay toward tuition & fees first for each semester/term.  REFUND = Unused funds  Sent to you using one of three methods a check (via mail), debit card or directly deposited to bank account.  Reduction of enrollment can equal adjustments to student’s award, which would result in a debt

Standards of Academic Progress (SAP)  Completion Rate: Must complete 2/3 (cumulative)  GPA: Minimum GPA requirements (varies based on number of attempted credits)  Timeframe: earned less than 150% of required credit hours (ex. 150% of 60 credits is 90)  If one or more are not met, you have the right to appeal citing extenuating circumstances

 PVCC Financial Aid ◦  Federal Student Aid ◦ studentaid.ed.gov studentaid.ed.gov  Student Loans ◦ studentloans.gov studentloans.gov  Financial Aid Answer Center ◦

 Religion  GPA  Gender  Race  Nationality  Ethnicity  Parent’s profession  Volunteer history  Field of interest  Political party  First in family to attend college  Willingness to work in economically depressed areas  Whomever applies  *A combination of one or more of these factors

 Federal Government  State Government  Colleges & Universities ◦ (Private and Public)  Public & Private Sources ◦ (Cooperation, Charitable & Personal Foundations)  College or University Application

 Access to a computer  A little planning  A lot of research  A lot of common sense

 Financial Aid Offices  Academic Department’s website of any college or university  Local Libraries  High schools  Religious Organizations  Professional organizations

 Safe Scholarship Applications can be found on the scholarship websites of an accredited college or university  If you are not sure of the legitimacy of a scholarship, ask the financial aid department at any higher education institution.  Avoid going to a search engine and typing “scholarships”

 Scholarship Application  Personal Essay  Letters of Recommendation  Academic Transcripts ◦ (Official or unofficial – Plan ahead. Official require a fee and takes time)  Scholarship Interview

 Paper application (always type)  Web application  Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) *Some scholarships require that you complete a FAFSA along with the scholarship application.

 Read the application instructions carefully  If you have questions, contact the scholarship organization.  NOTE DEADLINE!!!  Before filling out any application forms, make extra copies in case you make mistakes.  Proofread your application and have at least two other people review your essays  Make a copy of the completed forms before mailing them  Consider sending your documents through certified mail or receipt return

 Who are you?  What are your life experiences?  Where do you want to go?  What are your goals?  What keeps you focused on your goals to attend a college or university?  Community Service involvement?

 Teachers/Faculty  Religious leaders  Political leaders  Leaders and/or members of Professional organizations  Should never come from friends or neighbors  Should always be on a letterhead  Be proactive, ask Early!  Inform them of your deadline and set a date

 Make the commitment to win a scholarship  If you missed deadlines, check next year for the scholarship posting  Develop the attributes to be the scholarship’s profile  Become the ( Coke, IBM, Maricopa, PVCC, Faculty, Dougherty, etc. ) scholarship winner  Be deliberate and intentional!