FUNDING YOUR FUTURE CLASS OF 2015 PART I

 Over 75% of LC graduates from the class of 2015 went to college after high school. How did they afford to go?  Many people use financial aid, but what is that?  Who can name types of financial aid?  Where does the money come from? FUN FACT

TYPES AND SOURCES OF FINANCIAL AID

Gift Aid  Grants and scholarships don't have to be repaid!  Apply for scholarships! You may just earn “free” money!  Mrs. Mackleit has the current scholarship list posted at under “College & Career” tab, then click on the “Scholarships” link. Don’t forget to check out the scholarships on Naviance too! TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID

Loans  Any type of loan must be repaid.  Most loans that are awarded based on financial need are lower interest loans sponsored by the federal government.  Subsidized government loans do not accrue interest until you begin repayment after you graduate.  Unsubsidized means that interest accrues on your loan, even before you start repayment after you graduate. TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID

Work-Study  Work-study is a federal program that provides you with part-time employment to help meet your financial needs and gives you work experience while you serve your campus and the surrounding community.  You work for this money, so you do not repay the money you earn! TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID

 Be careful. Don’t borrow more loans than you need or can afford to pay back! That goes for credit cards too!  A 2008 study by the Project on Student Debt discovered 67% of students graduating from a four-year college had an average student loan debt of $23,200!²  SEE HANDOUT: “Will You Be Able to Repay Your Loans?” DON’T GO OVERBOARD

SAMPLE SPENDING PLAN DescriptionIncome (+)Expense (-)$ Available Part-time job$ Allowance from parents$20.00 $ College fund $25.00$ Cell phone bill $40.00$ Snack money $20.00$ Savings for a used car $50.00$ Entertainment $35.00$65.00

SAVINGS/SPENDING SUCCESS STRATEGIES Save 10% of every bit of money you get. What if you only saved the cost of one coffee or smoothie a week? Assume your coffee costs $3.00 each x 52 weeks in a year = $156 a year savings. What if you quit drinking coffee and saved that money each week? $3.00 x 5 days a week ($15) x 52 weeks = $780 a year in savings! Create a spending plan – Having a plan helps you avoid debt.

SO WHAT?  “Your money and how you manage it are some of the most important things in your life, since they influence where you live, what you drive, and almost everything you do. Therefore, it is very important that you manage your money properly.”  -Andy Hough, US News & World Report

NOW WHAT?  What can some next steps be for you?  Who in your Seminar class currently has a job?  Who has already started searching and applying for scholarships?  Who knows what kind of a part-time job they want to get?  Who has applied for their FSA ID in order to file their FAFSA in January? (Check out the next slide for a reminder of how to do this!)

SENIOR REMINDERS…

JANUARY COLLEGE APPLICATION DEADLINE REMINDERS…  The Student Office will CLOSE during winter break.  The Student Office will submit ALL transcripts and recommendation letters BEFORE the winter break.  If you have January application deadlines, BY FRIDAY DECEMBER 11, you MUST:  INDICATE in Naviance that you have applied  REQUEST your transcripts in Naviance  ENSURE that your teachers upload their recommendation letters

GENERAL COLLEGE APPLICATION REMINDERS…  Review your Naviance file with your counselor AT LEAST ONE WEEK before your admission deadline.  Provide an autobiography to your counselor and anyone writing a recommendation letter  Ask questions about ANYTHING you do not understand.  LCHS will NOT PROCESS Naviance documentation submissions during holiday breaks.  LCHS CANNOT guarantee it will submit your transcripts and recommendations on time if you do either of the following within 10 calendar days of your application deadline: 1.Add schools to your application list 2.Requests transcripts and recommendation letters

THE STUDENT OFFICE WILL ONLY SUBMIT YOUR TRANSCRIPTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS IF YOU:  Login to Naviance and tell us that you have applied to your chosen colleges.