1. MAC College Money Program makes sure that finding money for college is easy for anyone in McLennan County who wants to get a degree.

2. How do I get money for college and where do I start?
Financial Aid and the FAFSA
How do I get money for college and where do I start?

3. Financial Aid Reality Check
College costs are up and financial aid is down:
Dependent Student
Independent Student
Maximum Pell Grant
$5,775
Maximum Loans (for an incoming Freshman)
$5,500
$9,500
Total
$11,275
$15,275
Reality Check:
Without other funds what colleges can you afford?

4. How do I pay for College?
CollegeforAllTexans.com

5. Research Scholarships
Check on scholarship through employers, banks and other businesses.
Scholarship search engines
Scholarships.com
College Board
Cappex
Zinch
Fastweb
CollegeNet
Read over financial aid info on the websites of the colleges you are considering. Check out scholarship opportunities and deadlines.
Apply for Scholarships at all colleges to which you apply for admissions.

6. Four Types of Scholarships
College/University Specific
Criteria Based
Academic
Athletic
Financial
Participation/Talents/Characteristics
Community Service/Clubs
Contest
Military – ROTC Scholarships

7. Ways to Pay! Free Money Student Loans/Parent Loans Wages
Grants
Scholarships
Student Loans/Parent Loans
Federal Subsidized or Unsubsidized
Conditional Loans
Wages
Work Study on Campus
Job off Campus
College Savings
Traditional Savings Account
College Savings Plans - 529

8. The FAFSA Complete at FAFSA.gov or make an appointment with us.
The FAFSA is released Jan 1st
The earlier the better, but most colleges request it by at least March 1st
State of Texas priority deadline is March 15th
If your college is out of state their priority deadline may be even earlier
Submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as you can after January 1st
Use estimates if necessary and update your FAFSA later

9. The FAFSA: How It Works fafsa.gov
The EFC number determines your need and the college uses it to award Federal, State and Campus Based Aid.
A FAFSA must be submitted every year you’re in college to receive federal aid.
fafsa.gov
Can be completed after January 1
Deadline for State Funding: March 15

10. SAR: Student Aid Report
FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid EFC: Expected Family Contribution
SAR: Student Aid Report
FAFSA
EFC
SAR
Your Schools
Up to Ten!

11. The FAFSA: Dependency You must have supporting documents
You are married
You are pursuing a graduate degree
You are or have been on active duty
You have children or dependents you support
Your parents are both deceased
You are or were a ward of the court, in foster care, or an emancipated minor
You are under a legal guardianship, as determined by the court
You are homeless or at risk of being homeless
There are special circumstances
The FAFSA: Dependency
If you are under the age of 24 when you submit your FAFSA, you will need to report parents’ financial information unless any of these apply to you.
You must have supporting documents

12. Federal Student Aid ID fsaid.gov
A FSA ID gives you access to Federal Student Aid’s online systems and can serve as your legal signature. Student and Parent must each create an FSA ID

13. The FAFSA: Parent Information
You will need to report the tax information of your biological, adopted or step parents.
No one else can be reported as a parent.
If your parents are divorced, choose the parent you are living with or stayed with the most over the last year.
If you don’t live with a parent you will report information on the last parent you lived with.
It does not matter who claims you on their tax return or pays child support for you.

14. The FAFSA: Your Financial Info
You will need to report your own income information from any W-2 you receive even if you don’t file a tax return.

15. The FAFSA: Your Assets
You will have to report any money in accounts under your name
Your assets will count against you more than your parents’ assets
Since you report current assets, you want your bank accounts at their lowest when you submit your FAFSA.

17. The Award Package will cover up to your Student Need
Cost of Attendance*
Less EFC
Student Need
*Total cost including tuition, fees, books and living expenses

18. Student Loans: The basics
Go into repayment 6 months after you stop attending college
Student is responsible!
Amount limited by year and lifetime limits
Low Interest Rate
Some are interest free while in college (Subsidized Loans)
Federal and State loan programs
There are also parent loans available

19. Federal TEACH Grant Not Need Based
You must sign a contract to teach for 4 years
If you do not teach after graduating, this grant becomes a loan you must pay back

20. Always Check Your Financial Aid
Never assume your college has all the paperwork they need from you:
Read your Student Aid Report
Check for s from you college
Contact financial aid at your college
Your college’s Financial Aid department is separate from their Admissions department

21. Need Help with the FAFSA?
The MAC College Money Program offers free assistance to anyone needing help with the FAFSA and have done so for 20 years.
We help complete around 2,000 FAFSAs per year!

22. MAC College Money Program
Every high school senior in McLennan County may apply to the MAC College Money Program before May 1st
We offer a MAC Grant and a MAC Scholarship
You can apply online at WacoFoundation.org
A few of our recipients

23. MAC College Money Program
MAC Grant Eligibility Criteria
Student graduated from a McLennan County High School or GED Program
Student’s family earns less than $50,000 or has special circumstances
Student submits a MAC College Money Program Application by May 1st of his or her high school senior year

24. MAC College Money Program
MAC Grant
Covers the tuition left over from other scholarships and grants up to $1,000 per semester for two years
The MAC Grant may only be used at MCC or TSTC, unlike the MAC Scholarship

25. Why Submit A MAC College Money Program Application?
No cost to you, we only require that you submit a FAFSA and MAC Application by May 1st
Even if you are not planning to attend MCC or TSTC, the MAC Scholarship for your 3rd and 4th year still requires an application your senior year of high school.
Even if your family currently makes more than $50,000, if your situation changes you can be reconsidered in the future but you must have initially applied in high school.

26. MAC College Money Program
MAC Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
Student has earned 60 college credit hours and has a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
Student has been accepted into the MAC College Money Program
Student submitted a MAC Scholarship Application by December 1st of his or her college sophomore year

27. MAC College Money Program
MAC Scholarship
$5,000 scholarship ($1,250 per semester) for two years or until you receive your Bachelor's degree at any college or university whichever comes first
Of the MAC Scholarship applicants who plan on transferring to Baylor University for their last two years, the applicants with the top three GPAs will receive a full scholarship
To receive the MAC Scholarship, a student must have submitted their MAC College Money Program application by the end of their high school senior year, so apply now even if you aren’t going to MCC or TSTC!

28. Questions

29. Need More Help? Give Us A Call and Make An Appointment!
Robbie Stabeno, MAC and Scholarships Director
Jessica McAdoo, MAC Program Coordinator
Look for us online:
WacoMAC
wacomac.wordpress.com
Find us at the Waco Foundation:
WacoFoundation.org
1227 N Valley Mills, Ste 235
Waco, TX 76710
Phone:
Fax: