1. Ways To Fund Your Future
Financial Aid Night 2018
Ways To Fund Your Future

2. FAFSA
FAFSA is an acronym that stands for “Free Application for Federal Student Aid.” It is the basic form that must be filled out for all students who wish to participate in Federal student aid programs. Use fafsa.ed.gov Do Not Use fafsa.com as this site will charge you for filing the FAFSA The FAFSA is available to be filled out starting on October 1, 2018

3. Federal Government Aid
Filling Out The FAFSA generates eligibility for:
Grants
Loans
Work Study
Parents can apply for PLUS Loans

4. FAFSA-What You Need To Know To Get Started
After the form is initially filed, it must be renewed for each school year.
The form can be filed starting October 1st and will be accepted until June 30th.
The deadline for Florida schools is May 15th.
Most public schools give aid first to those that have the FAFSA filed by their priority deadline (check with your school).
Changes can be made until September 14th.
The form can be filed online, downloaded as a PDF (which has to be mailed) or in paper form. The online form has major time advantages.

5. CREATING YOUR FSA ID
The FSA ID is the legal electronic signature required to complete the FAFSA online. 
Parent/Guardian and student both need a FSA ID to complete the FAFSA. Only create a FSA ID for yourself. Have the parent/guardian create their own FSA ID. It is illegal to create a FSA ID for someone other than yourself.
Go to: fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm
Fill in the required information.
Be sure to use a password and that you will remember as it will be needed to complete the FAFSA online.
You should receive an within 1 to 3 days confirming that the FSA ID has been established.
FSA ID needed to log into fafsa.gov, the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) at nsld.ed.gov, StudentLoans.gov, StudentAid.gov and Agreement to Serve (ATS) at teachats.ed.gov

6. Tips For Filling Out The FAFSA
Fill out and finalize the FAFSA as soon as possible. If scholarships are received before you file, they count against the FAFSA.
Ensure that the FAFSA is filled out correctly. If you are unsure, put down a zero and do not leave blank. Download the FAFSA On the Web worksheet and fill out first.
Ensure that the IRS Retrieval tool is used when filling in tax data. Failure to use the tool greatly increases the chance of the school auditing your FAFSA.
Several weeks after filing your FAFSA request a tax transcript from the IRS at to have on hand if you are audited.

7. Are You An Independent on the FAFSA?
Ten Individual Questions will be asked to determine if a student can file the FAFSA as an Independent.
If the student can answer yes to any of the question, they may then file as an independent.

8. What Happens After I File The FAFSA?
After you submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you will be sent a Student Aid Report (SAR).
You will be sent an within 3 to 5 days, with instruction on how to access on online copy of your SAR.
If there is not a valid on file, your SAR will be mailed to you via postal mail within 7 to 10 days.
The colleges that you listed on your FAFSA will have access to your information electronically one day after it is processed. If your application is complete, an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will display on your SAR. If you application is incomplete, your SAR will not include an EFC, but it will display text that specifies any issues that need to be resolved.

9. How Financial Need Is Determined
COA (Cost of Attendance) Minus EFC (Expected Family Contribution) Equals Financial Need

10. William D. Ford Direct Loan Program
Federal Student Loans
William D. Ford Direct Loan Program
U.S. Department of Education is the Lender
Direct Subsidized Loans- must demonstrate financial need.
Direct Unsubsidized Loans- does not have to demonstrate financial need.
Direct PLUS Loans- loans to graduate students and parents of undergraduates.
Direct Consolidation Loan- combine all eligible federal student loans into a single loan with a single loan servicer.
Federal Perkins Loans
The University or College was the Lender. These loans no longer exist as of June 30, 2018

11. Federal Grant Programs for Students
Federal Pell Grant
Awarded to undergraduate students who have exceptional financial need and who have not earned a bachelor’s or graduate degree; in some cases, however students enrolled in a post baccalaureate teacher certification program might receive a Federal Pell Grant.
Federal Pell Grant lifetime eligibility is limited to 12 semesters or the equivalent.
Award Amount: ( ) Up to $6,095
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Awarded to undergraduate students who have exceptional financial need and who have not earned a bachelor’s or graduate degree.
Federal Pell Grant recipients receive priority.
Not all colleges participate in the FSEOG program
Funds depend on availability at the college.
Award Amount: ( ) Up to $4,000

12. State Government Student Aid
Scholarships
Grants

13. Bright Futures Scholarship Initial Eligibility Requirements for Year 2018 and Beyond High School Graduates
Type of Scholarship
18 High School Course Credits
High School Weighted GPA
College Entrance Exams
(ACT/SAT)
Service Hours
Florida Academic Scholar (FAS)
4-English (three must include substantial writing)
4- Math (at or above Algebra 1 level)
3-Natural Science (two must have substantial labs)
3.50
29/1290
100 Hours
Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS)
3-Social Science
2-World Language (sequential, in same language)
3.00
26/1170
75 Hours

14. Bright Futures Scholarship Award Amounts
Florida Academic Scholars (FAS)
100% Tuition and Applicable Fees:
Applicable fees include: activity and service fees, health fee, athletic fee, campus access/transportation fee, technology fee and tuition differential fee. In addition students will receive $300 for fall and spring semester to help cover textbooks and other education expenses.
Funded for summer semester ($300 additional funds not available for the summer term).
Students attending a nonpublic institution will receive a comparable amount as noted in the Private Award Chart.

15. Bright Futures Scholarship Award Amounts
Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS)
75% Tuition and Applicable Fees:
Applicable fees include: activity and service fees, health fee, athletic fee, campus access/transportation fee, technology fee and tuition differential fee
Students can receive an award during the summer sessions to cover tuition and applicable fees, beginning with the summer term.
Students attending a nonpublic institution will receive a comparable amount as noted in the Private Award Chart.

16. Bright Futures Scholarship Initial Eligibility Requirements for Year 2018 and Beyond High School Graduates
Gold Seal Vocational Scholar
Achieve the required weighted minimum 3.0 GPA in non- elective high school courses.
Take at least 3 full credits in a single Career and Technical Education program.
Achieve the required 3.5 unweighted GPA in the career education courses.
Complete 30 service hours
Achieve the required minimum score on the ACT, SAT, or the Florida Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (P.E.R.T.) exams (see Table on the next page).

17. Bright Futures Scholarship Initial Eligibility Requirements for Year 2018 and Beyond High School Graduates Gold Seal Vocational Scholars
Exam Type
Sub-Test
Required Score
English 19
ACT
Reading 17
Math
SAT
Critical Reading
440
106
P.E.R.T.
Writing
103
114

18. Bright Futures Scholarship Award Amounts
Gold Seal Vocation Scholars (GSV)
Credit Hour Award (Semester)
Credit Hour Award (Quarter)
Clock Hour Award
Career Certificate Program (PSAV)
$39
$26
$1.30
Applied Technology Diploma Program (ATD)
Technical Degree Education Program (AS,AAS,CCC)
$48
$32
$1.60

19. Other State of Florida Scholarship Programs
Students will be made aware of other scholarship programs and grants when they register for Bight Futures.

20. Non Profit, Private Organizations and Other Sources of Student Financial Aid
Many employers have scholarship programs designed for employees and the children of employees.
Service organizations are a good source for scholarships.
College have scholarships available beyond initial aid offers.
There are several websites that contain a good listing of scholarships and help to match students a to the appropriate scholarship. (
Local scholarships at the high school that are awarded Honors Night.
Going to college while in the military.

21. Local Scholarships and Colleges
Check your school website for scholarships offered to students at your high school.
Search the website of the college you are going to attend. Many scholarships are offered by individuals and groups that are not awarded by the college.

22. Helpful Financial Aid Websites
fafsa.ed.gov: FAFSA site
studentaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm : FAFSA ID to sign FAFSA
–Transcript: IRS transcript if audited

23. Helpful Financial Aid Websites
Studentaid.ed.gov/sa/: federal government information site for financial aid
Floridastudentfinacialaid.com: Florida student financial aid site
Floridashines.org: site to track Bright Futures eligibility
Scholarships.com: scholarship database that matches students with scholarships.

24. College Information and Testing Sites
College Navigator: nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
College Search: bigfuture.collegeboard.org
College Information: floridashines.org
ACT Testing: actstudent.org
SAT Testing: collegeboard.org
SAT Prep:

25. Important Dates
Oct 1st- First day that FAFSA for is available.
Oct 18th-FAFSA Night, 6:00 PM
May 14th- Honors Night, 6:00 PM
May ? – Graduation Rehearsal, TBD
May ? – Graduation, TBD

26. For questions or to make an appointment to further discuss colleges or financial aid, please contact me at: