What should you know going into your junior and senior year?
Financial Aid and Scholarships
A lot of confusion exists between students, their families, and the cost of college. The more information you are able to get about how to pay for college the better off you will be, but like anything dealing with money you want to make sure that the information you are getting is accurate and truthful.
Websites: Below are some useful websites for information on scholarships and financial aid
SCCANGO- This is a website that can help you with state scholarship information as well as lottery tuition information. This website tells you about colleges, how to write an academic resume, and much more!
http://sccango.org/lottery-tuition-assistance-program/#
South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (SC CHE) - This will take you to the "Parent & Students" section of the SC CHE website where you can find useful information about state scholarships and grants (like Life and Lottery Tuition Assistance) as well as general financial aid information. There is also information useful to helping families pick the "best fit" for college.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - This is the only website you should ever use to fill out the FAFSA. The FAFSA is a form used by the department of education to calculate how much federal aid a student is eligible for and how much their family is expected to contribute based on their unique financial status.
*The FAFSA must be completed each year a student is in school and requested financial aid
*Each year's FAFSA is unique and is not available until January 1st of each year.
Studentaid.ed.gov - Department of Education website that provides useful information to families about scholarships and financial aid. This website provides great information about the different types of financial aid available, how best to secure financial aid, how to make the best decisions regarding college choice based on finances.
FastWeb.com - a search engine for scholarships. Students can set up an account and search for eligible scholarships based on their criteria (i.e. major, gender, religious affiliation, GPA, test scores, etc.). Please be aware that much like search results from Google, Bing, and Yahoo you must be careful to ensure that the scholarships you find are legitimate and valid.
SCOIS- This is a website that can give you a lot of information concerning scholarships, how to compare colleges, how to make a resume, and much more.
Studentscholarships.org - a collective website with continuously updated scholarships, great resource for scholarships offered through organizations and companies.
MeritAid.com - a search engine for merit based (high academic standing) scholarships. This website shows you which scholarships are available from which colleges and how to apply to them.
Scholarships.com - a search engine for scholarships. Students can set up an account and search for eligible scholarships based on their criteria (i.e. major, gender, religious affiliation, GPA, test scores, etc.). Please be aware that much like search results from Google, Bing, and Yahoo you must be careful to ensure that the scholarships you find are legitimate and valid.
Big Future - This website, by College Board, provides additional information about the financial aid process and how to make the best decisions based on your situation.
ACT FinAid - This website, by ACT, also provides useful information about the financial aid process.
Handout Resources (Click on the link to download a pdf copy of the resource).
CERRA Financial Aid Newsletter - Informative handout from the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement, for all students, but especially for those thinking about pursuing a career in teaching.
Scholarship Scams Tip Sheet - Every student/parent should familiarize themselves with this information. It is a good resource for ensuring that you do not become a victim of fraud or a scam. Always remember, you are trying to get money for college not spend it, so be cautious of any website, scholarship, or organization that requests money of any kind!!
Quick Guide to Financial Aid Terms - Loans, Grants, Unsubsidized, FAFSA, if these words are unfamiliar get to know them better with this guide.
FastWeb Scholarship Search - This handout provides instructions for how best to search for scholarships based on your situation.
SC CHE Scholarship Brochure - Provides information for each state scholarship and the requirements for earning the scholarship.
Dollars and Sense Brochure - A great introductory resource for students needing more information about general banking information.
*********************************IMPORTANT ********************************************************Most colleges accept fee waivers. You will qualify for the fee waivers if you meet the federal guidelines required for free and reduced lunch at your high school and if you used a fee waiver to take the SAT/ACT.
The colleges usually post on there websites if they accept fee waivers. The admissions office of all colleges can also tell you if they accept them and/or where to go to find there waivers as well.
**************How to use The Common Application****************************************************For a list of schools that use the common application, students will need to invite me to complete a recommendation. Please be aware that the common app does not have to be used but with only certain schools. You will go directly to the college to apply, otherwise. Only colleges who request it for there application will be the time you will use the Common Application.
For a list of some of the schools that require additional information see the link below. Note: This list was from the 17-18 school year and schools may have changed their requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to find and give the counselor the correct forms required. https://www.commonapp.org/Login
A lot of confusion exists between students, their families, and the cost of college. The more information you are able to get about how to pay for college the better off you will be, but like anything dealing with money you want to make sure that the information you are getting is accurate and truthful.
Websites: Below are some useful websites for information on scholarships and financial aid
SCCANGO- This is a website that can help you with state scholarship information as well as lottery tuition information. This website tells you about colleges, how to write an academic resume, and much more!
http://sccango.org/lottery-tuition-assistance-program/#
South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (SC CHE) - This will take you to the "Parent & Students" section of the SC CHE website where you can find useful information about state scholarships and grants (like Life and Lottery Tuition Assistance) as well as general financial aid information. There is also information useful to helping families pick the "best fit" for college.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - This is the only website you should ever use to fill out the FAFSA. The FAFSA is a form used by the department of education to calculate how much federal aid a student is eligible for and how much their family is expected to contribute based on their unique financial status.
*The FAFSA must be completed each year a student is in school and requested financial aid
*Each year's FAFSA is unique and is not available until January 1st of each year.
Studentaid.ed.gov - Department of Education website that provides useful information to families about scholarships and financial aid. This website provides great information about the different types of financial aid available, how best to secure financial aid, how to make the best decisions regarding college choice based on finances.
FastWeb.com - a search engine for scholarships. Students can set up an account and search for eligible scholarships based on their criteria (i.e. major, gender, religious affiliation, GPA, test scores, etc.). Please be aware that much like search results from Google, Bing, and Yahoo you must be careful to ensure that the scholarships you find are legitimate and valid.
SCOIS- This is a website that can give you a lot of information concerning scholarships, how to compare colleges, how to make a resume, and much more.
Studentscholarships.org - a collective website with continuously updated scholarships, great resource for scholarships offered through organizations and companies.
MeritAid.com - a search engine for merit based (high academic standing) scholarships. This website shows you which scholarships are available from which colleges and how to apply to them.
Scholarships.com - a search engine for scholarships. Students can set up an account and search for eligible scholarships based on their criteria (i.e. major, gender, religious affiliation, GPA, test scores, etc.). Please be aware that much like search results from Google, Bing, and Yahoo you must be careful to ensure that the scholarships you find are legitimate and valid.
Big Future - This website, by College Board, provides additional information about the financial aid process and how to make the best decisions based on your situation.
ACT FinAid - This website, by ACT, also provides useful information about the financial aid process.
Handout Resources (Click on the link to download a pdf copy of the resource).
CERRA Financial Aid Newsletter - Informative handout from the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement, for all students, but especially for those thinking about pursuing a career in teaching.
Scholarship Scams Tip Sheet - Every student/parent should familiarize themselves with this information. It is a good resource for ensuring that you do not become a victim of fraud or a scam. Always remember, you are trying to get money for college not spend it, so be cautious of any website, scholarship, or organization that requests money of any kind!!
Quick Guide to Financial Aid Terms - Loans, Grants, Unsubsidized, FAFSA, if these words are unfamiliar get to know them better with this guide.
FastWeb Scholarship Search - This handout provides instructions for how best to search for scholarships based on your situation.
SC CHE Scholarship Brochure - Provides information for each state scholarship and the requirements for earning the scholarship.
Dollars and Sense Brochure - A great introductory resource for students needing more information about general banking information.
*********************************IMPORTANT ********************************************************Most colleges accept fee waivers. You will qualify for the fee waivers if you meet the federal guidelines required for free and reduced lunch at your high school and if you used a fee waiver to take the SAT/ACT.
The colleges usually post on there websites if they accept fee waivers. The admissions office of all colleges can also tell you if they accept them and/or where to go to find there waivers as well.
**************How to use The Common Application****************************************************For a list of schools that use the common application, students will need to invite me to complete a recommendation. Please be aware that the common app does not have to be used but with only certain schools. You will go directly to the college to apply, otherwise. Only colleges who request it for there application will be the time you will use the Common Application.
For a list of some of the schools that require additional information see the link below. Note: This list was from the 17-18 school year and schools may have changed their requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to find and give the counselor the correct forms required. https://www.commonapp.org/Login