Basically I have been an idiot and missed some specific financial aid form deadlines, some by days and some by a month. I'm debating what should I do now to minimize the damage. Should I apply anyways and hope for the best or just not apply? And does this affect my admissions chance? Please answer this question truthfully, because it is very important to me! Thanks in advance.

Technorati Tags: Financial Aid

I love my best friend and we have been together for almost 5 yrs we have two children together and we want to get married. My parents say to wait because I can't get financial aid if I am not a single mother is this true? We both want to go back to college but honestly being married to him is VERY important to me. I want to make it official and under God so that we can begin living the way that the Bible says we should -concerning a relationship. Is this financial aid thing really as big of a barrier as my parents are making it seem?

Technorati Tags: Financial Aid

i have filled out the FAFSA and recieved my EFC (0) and would like to know whats the most FAFSA has ever given to go towards college? my college will cost 23 thousand a year…has anyone ever heard of them giving that much???

Technorati Tags: Financial Aid

Get a Scholarship

You can get scholarships for many different things. Some scholarships are available through academic achievement. Other scholarships are available for sports. Some schools offer you scholarships simply for attending. Sometimes you have to search for scholarships. Talk to your guidance counselor, or your school’s department of awards and financial aid for information on how to find and apply for scholarships. (You can also check out The Guide to Student Loans–link below–for more information).

Get a Bursary

Bursaries are like scholarships, but they often require you to prove that you need financial aid. Sometimes it is simple to prove financial aid (by bringing in proof that your income doesn’t meet your needs to pay tuition and living expenses). Other times you have to go through a more strenuous application process where you have to have your parents’ financial information as well.

Unlike scholarships, which are sometimes offered without you even applying, you typically have to apply for any bursary that you want. You can find bursaries online at scholarship sites, or you can find them through your high school or college.

Get a Grant

Grants are typically given to upper year students or students who are writing a thesis or dissertation. Grants are not like scholarships. For scholarships, you send in your resume or curriculum vitae and you hope that an organization will give you money based on your previous success record. For grants, you have to send in your resume and CV as well, but you also have to write a proposal. In your proposal, you explain what work you intend to do. You might then get a grant based on your proposal. Grant-writing tends to be much more involved than scholarship applications. You can get grants from the government, from your school, and from third party organizations.

Get a Fellowship

Upper year students and graduate students can also often apply for a fellowship. A fellowship means that you will be filling a position at the school. This typically means that you deliver a lecture or two, or sometimes teach a course. Each fellowship position is different. Fellowships are competitive, but worth the application. They will in turn look good on your curriculum vitae.

Get a Job

If applying for grants, scholarships, and bursaries is not your cup of tea, consider going to school part time and working part time. You might also be able to fit a small part time job in on top of your full-time coursework.

You can often get a job on campus that will help you to better balance your work and school. Can you work in your department?

Not only can you work on campus, you could choose to work at a job that supports your studies. If you are a great student, consider tutoring. If you are studying theatre, get a job at the box office. If you are in sciences, see if there are any laboratory positions available. You can work as a research assistant in almost any department at a university. Will they pay you to co-ordinate student volunteer programs or to run the childcare center? Finding employment during college can be easy and fun.

Get a Loan

Anyone can successfully obtain a student loan. You just want to make sure that you get the loan that’s right for you. You want the best rates, the best package, and the best deal. To sort yourself through the maze of student loans (graduate student loans, parent loans for students, student loan consolidation, international student loans and much more) visit The Guide to Student Loans (link below).

With all of the options on how you can pay for your post-secondary education, it’s no wonder that more people are going to college and university now. It might seem daunting at first, but narrow your options and choices to find out the best way to pay for your university funding, and you will be one step closer to your degree!

About The Author

Morgan James is the editor of http://www.theguideto-studentloans.com/types_of_student_loans/. For more information on how to pay for your degree, check out The Guide to Student Loans’ information on types of loans, budgeting for school, and studying abroad.

Technorati Tags: Financial Aid

College is expensive – but money is available to help you pay the way! By doing a little research and filling out a few forms, you can find money through scholarships, grants, loans, and tuition assistance such as work study.

Scholarships

There are more than one million scholarships available each year to reward students who have distinguished themselves academically, athletically, musically, or in some other way. Scholarships pay for some or all of a student’s college costs through cash or tuition reimbursements.

The primary government counterpart for scholarships is the Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (ROTC) program. Through ROTC, military branches offer full scholarships to students who agree to serve in the military for a certain number of years after graduation. Religious groups, professional associations, and civic organizations are other sources of scholarships.

Grants

Grants are financial aid awards that do not need to be repaid. There are Federal, state, and private grants available.

Federal: There are two main types of Federal grants:

The Pell Grant is the largest federal grant program. It provides up to $3000 per year based on financial need

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant provides from $100-$4,000 per year, depending on when you apply, your level of need, the funding level of the school you’re attending, and the policies of the Financial Aid Office where you attend school

Special grant programs through the National Health Services Corps and the Armed Forces are available for students entering the health and medical field.

State: All states provide some type of grant, scholarship, or tuition assistance programs.

Your state’s higher education agency can give you information about state grants, including the State Student Incentive Grant (SSIG) Program. This program is funded jointly by individual states and the U.S. Department of Education.

Private: Many private grants are available. Your university may offer institutional grants from its own resources.

Loans

Once you have exhausted all the scholarships and grants available to you, it is time to look at loans. Federal loans are the largest source of financial aid available. Check the information below for information about the major types of Federal loans:

A Perkins Loan is need-based and you must be at least half-time student. The interest rate is fixed at 5 percent and you can borrow up to $3,000

A Subsidized Stafford Loan is need-based and you must be at least half-time student. The interest rate is variable with 8.25% cap. You can borrow up to $2,625 year 1, up to $3,500 year 2, and $5,500 for years 3-5

An Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is available for any student who is at least a half-time student. The interest rate is variable with 8.25% cap. You can borrow up to $2,625 year 1, up to $3,500 year 2, and $5,500 for years 3-5

A Parent PLUS Loan is for the parent of a dependent attending at least half-time. The interest rate is variable with 9% cap and it can cover the cost of attendance less total financial aid offered. It is available year round and can even pay for back expenses.

If you don’t qualify for Federal loans, private loans are also available through banks and credit unions.

Work Study

The Federal Work-Study Program provides jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses.

So how do I get all this financial aid?

Your first step in applying for any government money, whether federal or state, is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For more information about the FAFSA and how to apply, you can visit NextStudent’s “FAFSA On The Web” section located here: https://www.nextstudent.com/fafsa/fafsa.asp.

Other ways to find out about financial aid sources include:

Check with state agencies in both your home state and the state in which you will attend college to find out about grant opportunities
Check with your college Financial Aid Office about institutional grants and scholarships
Check with your high school career counselor about grants and scholarships you may be eligible for
Search the internet for student loans, scholarships, and other financial aid opportunities
Check with the your parents’ employers to see if they offer any scholarships
Check with the advisors of any clubs you belong to, about scholarships that might be available

As you can see there are many ways to get money for school. Make sure you cover all bases and try to get the free money first, and use student loans if the need arises, and you will end up paying for school in the most efficient manner possible.

This article is distributed by NextStudent. At NextStudent, we believe that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and we’re dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding as easy as possible. We invite you to learn more about how to get money for college at NexStudent.com.

About The Author

Vanessa McHooley from SanDiego California.

Technorati Tags: Financial Aid

Harvard’s 10% Financial Aid Policy Ain’t Necessarily So

On December 10th, 2007, Harvard President Drew Faust and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Michael D. Smith, announced their new, innovating financial aid program in an attempt to make Harvard more affordable for families of all incomes, but particularly for families of middle and upper middle incomes. Major improvements were made in awarding grants, eliminating student loans and removing home equity values from the financial aid calculations, as well as eliminating the contribution made by families with incomes less than $60,000: “Families with incomes above $120,000 and below $180,000 and with assets typical for these income levels,” Harvard announced, “will be asked to pay 10 percent of their incomes. For those with incomes below $120,000, the family contribution percentage will decline steadily from 10 percent, reaching zero for those with incomes at $60,000 and below.”

“We want all students who might dream of a Harvard education to know that it is a realistic and affordable option,” said President Faust. “Education is fundamental to the future of individuals and the nation, and we are determined to do our part to restore its place as an engine of opportunity, rather than a source of financial stress. With no loans, no consideration of home equity, and a dramatic increase in grant aid, we are not tinkering at the margins, we are rebuilding the engine…This is a huge investment for Harvard, but there is no more important commitment we could make. Excellence and opportunity must go hand in hand,” he said.

NOT SO FAST WITH YOUR APPLAUSE. Before you begin offering words of praise for Harvard’s proclaimed financial aid initiative, consider whether or not, as we’ve seen so many times before, all of those carefully chosen words are as empty as the pot at the end of a rainbow that nobody ever finds. Could it be that the Ivy League giant has already balked on their promise and that some of their groundbreaking financial assistance is nothing more than a lot of hype?

Two of the families I counseled are sending their kids off to join the Class of 2012 and have been gravely disappointed by the new Harvard financial aid program as promised in their earth shattering announcement. With a $35 billion endowment fund, one may wonder why Harvard would cheat a family with virtually no assets out of $750. It’s beyond comprehension, but that is exactly what they did to a New England family with a 2007 income far less than $150,000. And, despite my advice, they were petrified at the prospect of challenging Harvard’s initial offer, fearing they would jeopardize their student’s future at the prestigious school. Consequently, they didn’t. The second family let down by the announced financial aid enhancements is from the Midwest and had an income of just over the $180,000 threshold. There were some extenuating circumstances and, accordingly, I suggested an appeal. Lo and behold, Harvard sprung for an additional $6,000, but only after discounting numerous business expenses that the IRS had accepted! And if all of Harvard’s glitter is gold, why was the appeal necessary in the first place?

One thing is certain, if Harvard low balled their financial aid offers to these families, it is safe to assume there are others who have had the crimson pulled over their eyes. I welcome any Harvard family, and since we’re on the subject, any other college or college-bound family, to contact me for a FREE financial analysis to determine if they too were short changed and if there is any way to obtain additional financial aid. (There usually is.)

Over the past ten years, prompted by the leadership of former president, Neil L. Rudenstine, Harvard’s grant appropriations have increased 143 percent, and in 2008 and beyond, more than 90 percent of Harvard families will qualify for what appears, on the surface, to be a most generous financial aid program. Two-thirds of the students currently attending receive some form of financial aid and need-based scholarships are awarded to half of them. This brings Harvard’s total aid assistance for 2008 to more than $98 million – about ½ of 1% of the total funds they have available. Fact is, Harvard has so much money it could actually pay the tuition for the entire student body for the next 100 years and still have billions of dollars left over! So, let the borrower beware. Before you canonize America’s most sought after college for taking up the financial aid torch, remember that while the lyric may be new, we’ve all heard that tune before, and it ain’t necessarily so. Do the math. Appeal an unappealing award offer, and take no grant for granted. Trust should never be a gift – it should be earned, every year a student is in school…

By Reecy Aresty Published: 6/13/2008

Technorati Tags: Financial Aid

Im currently a freshman in college at an amazing school, and I've run into some financial difficulties. I am stuck trying to fund my own education and the two scholarships I have are not nearly enough. I need financial aid, but don't qualify for government aid because of how much money my dad makes. It isn't fair because he provides no financial support whatsoever and hasn't for a few years now…
I don't know how to get around this. I need to find financial aid that will take into consideration the fact that I have no parental financial support and am at this point financially independent and struggling.

Technorati Tags: Financial Aid

I'm currently receiving financial aid and am enrolled in 13 credit hours. There are two classes (5 credit hours total) that I would like to drop. That would make me have only 8 credit hours for this semester. Does this make ineligible for my financial aid?

Technorati Tags: Financial Aid

Westminster College Cost about 25,000 a year

Technorati Tags: student financial aid

Your question did not indicate if you're aware that your first loan option should be the federal government's Stafford lending program. If you are looking for any other type of student loan, the loans commonly called “private” or “alternative” loans, you are in for a very difficult challenge.

The attractiveness of the Federal government's Stafford loan program is that Stafford approval is not based on your creditworthiness. You will not need to answer any questions about income, credit history, or debt in order to apply. A Stafford borrower is never asked for a cosigner.

The interest rate on the Stafford loan is far lower than any other type of educational loan, and the rate is a fixed 6.8% for the life of the loan. Private educational loans all carry a higher, variable interest rate. The repayment period for a Stafford is 10 years, and the borrower's first payment is not due until 6 months after they leave school.

The maximum Stafford borrowing eligibility is tied to your grade level – freshmen can borrow $5500 a year, sophomores $6500, and juniors and seniors can borrow $7500 each year. If you are over 24, married, or a military veteran, or if you support dependents of your own, you may qualify to borrow more each year.

If the Stafford loan fits your needs, there is only one way to apply – and that's by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The US Department of Education administers the FAFSA, and their official website can be found at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ . Do not be fooled by look-alike websites that want you to pay for “assistance” with completing the form.

If you are looking for a non-Stafford loan, there are only a small handful of lenders making these kinds of loans right now. In theory, you can borrow up to the amount of your total educational expenses. In reality, a college student will find it nearly impossible to qualify for a private educational loan without a cosigner.

You may know people who have taken out liberal private loans in the past, but that was before the banking and lending crisis. Banks have responded to that crisis by abandoning all lending products that carry high risk, and the educational lending market is about as high a risk as lending comes. Student applicants have little or no income, no assets, and no credit history, and ask the banks to lend them tens of thousands of dollars in return for a promise that they'll try really hard to get a good job in a few years. Right now, lenders aren't taking those risks, and almost 99% of all educational loan applicants are being asked to provide a highly creditworthy cosigner to guarantee their loan.

I hope this information helps you – good luck!

Technorati Tags: student financial aid