Entry bubble Federal Student Aid = Money For College

By: Editor | August 10, 2009 | Category: Money

bird in waterOur guest blogger today is Stephanie Kreusser, an intern in the Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid.   

This fall, millions of students across the country will enroll in colleges, universities, and trade schools to pursue their educational dreams.  The benefits of postsecondary education – enhanced earnings, greater career options – are undeniable, but sometimes the path to getting there can seem daunting.  If you or someone you know is having reservations, there’s no need to feel discouraged; there are resources available to help navigate the college process. 

Developed in collaboration with students, College.gov provides an instructional breakdown of why you should go to college, what steps need to be taken to get there, and how to pay for it. In addition, it highlights real stories about students who were able to overcome barriers to go to college.  Remember, it’s never too late to think about going.  If you’re worried your financial means may be insufficient, don’t be deterred.  Federal student aid is available to make your college goals a reality.

Last year, over $100 billion in federal aid was distributed to nearly 11 million students to help them pay for college or vocational school. There are three main types of federal student aid: grants, loans, and work-study.  Anyone who qualifies can have access to this aid and achieve his/her college ambitions as a result. 

How do you go about applying for federal assistance? Believe it or not, applying for federal student aid is FREE; a prospective college student simply completes and submits what’s known as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If that person is deemed eligible, the school(s) listed on his/her FAFSA will send an award letter that specifically breaks down what federal student aid he/she is eligible to receive.

For those who aren’t ready to attend college just yet but are curious if they’ll be eligible for federal student aid, FAFSA4caster is a valuable tool. It determines what type of federal aid you may be eligible to receive (grant, loan, etc.) and provides an estimated award amount for each.

Here are some additional resources to help prepare for applying for college and federal student aid:

- Student Aid on the Web provides in-depth information on how to prepare for, choose, and apply to college, as well as information on the federal financial aid programs – grant, loans, and work-study.

- Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid is an online comprehensive publication that includes an overview of federal student aid programs and the application process, as well as detailed steps for taking action during each phase.

- USA.gov provides links to help address your questions and concerns about college, including overseas study programs, educational tax benefits, and much more.

| View Comments [5] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: college   fafsa   federal_student_aid   financial_aid   money  

 

Entry bubble Student Financial Aid Gave Me an Opportunity

By: Ginger | April 10, 2009 | Category: General

A college student looking at a book in the libraryAs a sophomore starting high school, my mom and I met with a school guidance counselor as part of the standard routine required by my high school. The guidance counselor discussed some general school things and then she started talking to me about selecting courses. She told me to consider carefully which classes I selected. I should focus on classes that would help prepare me for college.

I thought to myself, “College? Is she nuts? My family can’t afford that.” I felt a flush of embarrassment and looked over at my mom. Mom had a surprised look on her face and blurted out, “Oh, Mary isn’t going to college.” There was an awkward silence. I don’t know how many shades of red there are, but I’m pretty sure my face must have blushed in every one of them. The counselor finally said, “But she scored in the 99th percentile for the state’s standardized testing, she has outstanding grades, and her teachers are recommending her for advanced classes. She should have a chance to go to college.” Mom told her that my family could not afford to send me to college.

That is when the counselor told my mom about financial aid. It may sound odd that my mom was not aware of such a thing, but in my mom’s background the only kids who went to college “came from money.” The guidance counselor told my mom that I could apply for scholarships, grants, and loans when I was a senior. She said that doing this could help defray the costs considerably. She went into some more detail about it all and told my mom to at least think about it. She recommended that I still take classes that would prepare me just in case I decided that I wanted to go.

I followed the counselor’s advice. At the appropriate time I applied for financial aid. I did go on to college with scholarships, grants, and loans. I earned a BS and later went back to school to earn 2 other degrees. If it hadn’t been for financial aid and the opportunity to go to college, my life would have taken a much different path. Heck, you wouldn’t be reading my blog now and THAT my friends would have been a real shame! LOL!

If you think you can’t afford to send your child to college, please check out these resources:

| View Comments [6] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: college   college_grants   fafsa   financial_aid   ginger   student_loans