1. Beyond The FAFSA Jodi Then, Sr. Education Advisor
March 2017
Beyond The FAFSA
Jodi Then, Sr. Education Advisor
American Student Assistance
Patricia Briggs, Associate Director, Dartmouth College

2. About Us
ASA College Planning Center

3. Multilingual Advisors
What we do
Free Services
Walk-in only, no appointment necessary!
One-on-one Advising
Assistance completing applications and forms
Resources on education, financial aid and loan counseling
Multilingual Advisors
English, Spanish, Chinese, French, and Haitian-Creole
@ASAPlan4College
ASA College Planning Center

4. About Dartmouth College
Widely recognized for the extraordinary quality of its undergraduate teaching, Dartmouth offers a liberal arts education for the 21st century: education in and beyond the classroom plus the preparation to go out and change the world.
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5. Student Debt Remains a Growing, Critical National Problem

6. Getting in is not enough!
Why you must consider affordability in your college selection process
Likely, Target and Reach Schools
“Financial Safety Schools”
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7. Cost of Attendance (COA) (The Whole Kit & Caboodle)
Direct Costs
(AKA “The BILL”)
Fees
Room & board
Tuition
You will be BILLED for Tuition/Fees and Room and Board if you live on campus. This is what is known as a TERM Bill.
A school cannot bill you for the other “Stuff” – fast food, laundry, phone calls, school supplies, dorm decorations, etc. However, you will need to purchase or acquire many of these items. So the total cost for a student to attend a college for one year will include what is on the bill, PLUS whatever extras (necessity or luxury) you need to purchase.
For those looking to cut costs, the extras are where you can save some money. Think about buying dorm decorations and other supplies from a thrift store or dollar store. Stock up on snacks from COSTCO to bring with you so you don’t’ have to spend a fortune at the vending machine. Also, ask your school if there are lower-cost residence halls or meal options available. +
Indirect Costs
(Everything Else)

8. COA-EFC = Financial Aid Need
Some more key terms
Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
Determines how much need-based aid you are eligible to receive.
NOT necessarily the amount you will pay!
COA-EFC = Financial Aid Need
ASA College Planning Center

9. Net Price vs. Sticker Price
Each school has a price tag, but few will pay that price
You won’t know how much each school will cost for YOU until after you apply
Sticker Price
Gift Aid
Net Price
ASA College Planning Center

10. EFC = $2000
Eligible for 66350

11. $19,350

12. EFC = $2000
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13. EFC = $2000
$5,452
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14. Colleges that meet 90-100% of need
Amherst College (MA) Barnard College (NY) Bates College (ME) Boston College (MA) Brown University (RI) Bryn Mawr College (PA) Bowdoin College (ME) Bucknell University (PA) California Institute of Technology Carleton College (MN) Claremont McKenna College (CA) Clark University (MA) Colby College (ME) Colgate University (NY) College of the Holy Cross (MA) College of Wooster (OH) Colorado College (CO) Columbia University (NY) Connecticut College (CT) Cornell University (NY) Davidson College (NC) Denison University (OH) Dickinson College (PA) Duke University (NC) Dartmouth College (NH) Emory University (GA) Franklin and Marshall College (PA) Franklin W. Olin College (MA) Georgetown University (DC) Gettysburg College (PA) Grinnell College (IA) Hamilton College (NY) Harvey Mudd College (CA) Haverford College (PA) Harvard University (MA) Johns Hopkins University (MD) Kenyon College (OH) Lafayette College (PA) Lehigh University (PA) Macalester College (MN) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA) Middlebury College (VT) Mount Holyoke College (MA) Northwestern University (IL) Oberlin College (OH) Occidental College (CA) Pitzer College (CA) Pomona College (CA) Princeton University (NJ) Reed College (OR) Rice University (TX) Saint John’s College (NM) Saint Olaf College (MN) Scripps College (CA) Sewanee: The University of the South (TN) Smith College (MA) Stanford University (CA) Swarthmore College (PA) Thomas Aquinas College (CA) Trinity College (CT) Tufts University (MA) Tulane University (LA) Union College (NY) University of Chicago (IL) University of Notre Dame (IN) University of Pennsylvania (PA) University of Richmond (VA) University of Rochester (NY) University of Southern California Vanderbilt University (TN) Vassar College (NY) Wabash College (IN) Wake Forest University (NC) Washington and Lee University (VA) Washington University, St. Louis, (MO) Wellesley College (MA) Wesleyan University (CT) Williams College (MA) Wheaton College (MA) Yale University (CT)
ASA College Planning Center

15. Massachusetts Colleges that meet 90-100% of need
Amherst College
Boston College
Clark University
College of the Holy Cross
Harvard University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mount Holyoke College
Smith College
Tufts University
Wellesley College
Williams College
Wheaton College
ASA College Planning Center

16. These Amounts Vary at each school!
NYU= $71,750
Unmet Need $37,750
Federal Work-Study $3,500
Student Loan $5,500
These Amounts Vary at each school!
Grant $13,500
Colleges use the EFC to determine eligibility for financial aid, then try to meet the eligibility (or fill the barrel) with financial aid from all resources
Most colleges are not going to be able to fill the barrel
The EFC always goes into the barrel first
Unmet need is more common than not
Explain what happens to EFC when there is unmet need. In this example, if the student decides to attend this institution, the family will need to contribute the EFC plus unmet need ($ $3000 = $8000) for the student to attend
Use this as an example to demonstrate how the EFC is often the MINIMUM contribution for a family, not necessarily a MAXIMUM
Explain the difference between direct and indirect costs in the COA and that even though the college won’t bill the student for indirect costs, the family still needs to determine how they will be met
Explain ways that students can reduce indirect costs, such as used books and cheaper travel
Explain how outside scholarships may affect the financial aid
The $5,500 student loan might actually be $5,500 of Direct Loans, which will include at least $2,000 in Unsubsidized Loans. Unsubsidized Loans don’t technically fill in financial need, though when students don’t have their entire financial need met with other aid, the Unsubsidized Loan does help to fill that need
Scholarship $9,500
EFC $2,000

17. Grade Point Average (GPA) SAT or ACT scores Leadership Need
Tough Decisions
Grade Point Average (GPA)
SAT or ACT scores
Leadership
Need
Future donor status
Residency Status
Athletics
Legacy Status
Incoming Freshman
ASA College Planning Center

18. Finding a College That’s Right for THE STUDENT
Location
Major
Size
Part-time or full-time
Affordability **
** Affordability is a major factor in the college admissions process, primarily because it is a 4-year journey and you must consider being able to pay for 4 years. It does no good to the student to attend for one year and then withdraw b/c of lack of finances.

19. Can impact institutional aid
Outside Scholarships
Read the fine print
Not always renewable
Can impact institutional aid
ASA College Planning Center

20. What makes a successful scholarship application?
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21. Provide specific examples…DETAILS!!!
What’s in an essay?
SHOW your vision of where you want to be and your understanding of the world around you.
Provide specific examples…DETAILS!!!
Show impact of activity on you AND those around you. SHOW RESULTS!!!
Show WHY you are doing_____________ and HOW __________________________ it helps to transform others.
ASA College Planning Center

22. Turn your obstacles into achievements. Make the most of what you have.
What’s in a leader?
Turn your obstacles into achievements.
Make the most of what you have.
Do not assume the reader “gets” your experience…Provide detail!!
What you think is boring is NOT!
ASA College Planning Center

23. Traditional Leadership
Captain of the basketball team.
President of the debate club.
Member of the track team for 4 years.
Co-founder of new school activity.
Mentor to younger kids.
Youth program participant.
ASA College Planning Center

24. Non-Traditional Leadership
Translator for family.
Help elderly neighbor with groceries.
Care for younger siblings.
Care for special-needs family member.
Work to help pay bills and support the family.
Do household chores.
ASA College Planning Center

25. For Massachusetts residents only
Red Pine Scholarship
For Massachusetts residents only
Adjusted gross family income of <$80K
At least $5000 of unmet need.
Maximum award is $20,000
Must be enrolled in and pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree
ASA College Planning Center

26. For Massachusetts residents only
Yawkey Scholarship
For Massachusetts residents only
Adjusted gross family income of <$65K OR EFC < $5000
Maximum award is $25,000
Must be enrolled in and pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree at a PRIVATE College!!!
ASA College Planning Center

27. Financial barriers to completing financial aid
Submit EVERYTHING ON TIME!!
Do NOT ignore your !!!
Call/ the Financial Aid office of each school you are applying.
ASA College Planning Center

28. Main location: Boston Public Library, Copley Square
Come visit us!
Main location: Boston Public Library, Copley Square
700 Boylston St. Boston, MA 02116
(617) or Toll-free: (877)
Mon-Thurs. 9AM-7:30PM Friday-Saturday 9AM-5PM
ASA College Planning Center

29. Resources
College Navigator: Search for and compare colleges on criteria including costs, majors offered, size of school, campus safety, and graduation rates.
College Scorecard: The College Scorecard helps you find out more about affordability and value so you can make more informed decisions about which college to attend.
Net Price Calculator: Net Price Calculators help you estimate how much colleges cost after scholarships and grants.
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30. Thank you