Educational Opportunity Centers, Inc. - Talent Search - S.P.A.R.C.

Note: EOC and Talent Search/S.P.A.R.C. programs cannot provide you with the money, but we can provide you with assistance and information in completing the necessary forms to get you through financial aid process.

Overview of Financial Aid and Tips

Financial Aid Overview a Bridges.com article

College costs money -- there's no way around that. But the cost shouldn't stop you from getting an education. Each year, billions of dollars are made available to students who want to attend college. The trick to creating the right financial aid plan is knowing all your options.

The first step is the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. It's a standard federal application that's used to determine your eligibility for most forms of financial aid, including federal government-backed loans. You can get one from your school counseling office, or you can apply online.

You'll have to provide lots of information about both your and your parents' financial status. The FAFSA can only be filed after January 1, but don't wait to complete your taxes before completing the form -- you can check a box called estimated taxes. If you wait until tax time, the schools may have already given out all their available funds. It's important to note that you have to file a FAFSA every year you're in college.

Once you've submitted the FAFSA, the Department of Education will send you a Student Aid Report detailing the types of government aid you qualify for, if any. The Student Aid Report also indicates your Expected Family Contribution -- the amount you and your family are responsible for covering. This is based on income, assets and investments.

Keep in mind that colleges often use the information on the FAFSA to assess your financial need, so it's worth your while to fill out the form.

Financial aid packages offered by schools can include scholarships, grants, work-study programs and loans.

Scholarships and Grants: This is literally free money. There are thousands of scholarships and grants out there, offered by government, business, nonprofit organizations and colleges themselves. Some are based on academic achievement, financial need or special talents; others look at what you plan to do in your future career. To get one, you may have to write an essay or pass an exam. Many scholarships and grants come with restrictions on how the money can be used, and you'll likely be expected to maintain a certain grade point average in order to keep the funds coming.

Work Study: If you are an undergraduate student with demonstrated financial need, you may qualify for the Federal Work-Study Program. It allows you to work (either on campus for the school or off campus for a nonprofit organization or public agency) to earn money to help with your college costs. You're paid by the hour and your wage depends on both your level of need and the funding level of your school. You don't, however, get any money up front.

Student Loans: Unlike scholarships and grants, loans have to be repaid. However, unlike traditional loans, there may be a grace period before the loan has to be paid back. Student loans also tend to have lower interest rates than other loans. They're useful for those without any credit rating, as it is often easier to qualify for a student loan than a personal loan. If you pay back the loan according to the payment schedule, this can be a big help in establishing a good credit rating.

Money is a common concern, but it doesn't have to deter you from your dreams of a college education. In your search for financial aid, don't rule anything out: research the options available at different colleges, ask your parents, friends and other relatives if they know of any opportunities, and keep your eyes and ears open.

Top 10 Tips

File the Federal Aid application (FAFSA) as early and as accurately as possible. Filing is FREE. Go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov to file.
Contact the schools to which you have applied or plan to apply for their particular deadline information and other required forms.
If you have a change in your financial status due to unemployment, disability, or another reason, advise the financial aid administrator at your intended school.
Scholarship searches on the web are free. Contact financial aid offices and high school guidance counselors for recommended search sites. Many sites are direct links from the school's financial aid website. Also, check out the Scholarship Searches link above.
Photocopy and date everything before you mail it.
Keep everything relating to financial aid in one place. (An expandable file folder, a box, a paper bag or a drawer all work well.)
If you don't know, please ask! Financial aid information is FREE!
Students, keep your parents involved in the financial aid process. Parents, keep your son or daughter involved in the financial aid process. Remember, most correspondence will be addressed to the student, not to the parent.
Students must file for financial aid every year. When W-2 forms begin to arrive, start completing the financial aid application.
Educate yourself about financial aid programs and terms through free sources, such as high school guidance offices and college financial aid websites. Check the links below for great information.

Financial Aid: Tips For Success a Bridges.com article

When faced with the seemingly endless forms, essays and technicalities, the odds of winning scholarship or financial aid money can seem as improbable as winning the lottery. There are no guarantees, but take heart: You can boost your chances by following a few proven strategies.

Mark Kantrowitz is the publisher of a popular nonprofit financial aid website. To maximize your eligibility when filing for federal financial aid, he suggests using money in the bank to pay off credit card debt before filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

"Not only does this make good financial planning sense -- the money in the savings account is earning less than one percent while the credit card debt is costing 10 percent or more -- but it will improve eligibility," he says.

"Another good bit of advice is to make the school aware of any unusual financial circumstances, such as a change in income (e.g. an impending layoff) or high medical bills," says Kantrowitz.

"Through a process known as 'professional judgment,' college financial aid administrators have the authority to make adjustments to the inputs to the need analysis formula in cases involving unusual circumstances."

Kantrowitz adds that this process is often misinterpreted as "negotiation." The decision of the financial aid administrator is final, and there is no appeal.

Although there are many loopholes that allow financial aid filers to legally take advantage of federal laws, you should talk with someone who is familiar with the process and the laws before applying. And remember: honesty is always the best policy.

Kantrowitz suggests calling the U.S. Department of Education, which has a toll-free hotline for answering student and parent questions about the FAFSA. You could also consult college financial aid personnel or a high school guidance counselor.

"I do not recommend using a financial aid 'consultant,' as such services don't save the family time, often introduce mistakes or delays in the process, don't offer anything that isn't already available for free, and cost hefty fees that would be better saved to pay for the child's education," he says.

"The best tip I can give is to start searching for scholarships and learning about financial aid as soon as possible. The sooner you start, the better off you'll be."

Scholarships are another potentially lucrative source of financial aid. After doing your research and finding the perfect scholarships for you, the next step is catching the judges' attention. Kelly Tanabe is the author of eight books on college planning and co-founder of a college planning website.

"You have to remember that scholarship judges sometimes have as little as 60 seconds to look at an application," says Tanabe.

"One of the most important things that you can do is make them stop when they get to your application. You can do this by writing a powerful scholarship essay. Simply put, the best scholarship essays demonstrate to the judges why you deserve to win.

"If you are applying for a scholarship based on public service, don't waste your space writing about your athletic achievements or your travels. Focus on how you have volunteered and how you have served your school or community. Think about what the purpose of the award is, why the organization is giving away the scholarship, and then show the judges how you fit that purpose."

Tanabe also suggest simplifying the process when you are applying for multiple scholarships. "There are literally thousands and thousands of scholarships available, and your challenge is not going to be finding scholarships, but making the time to apply to all of the scholarships that you find. Applying for scholarships could become a full-time job.

"To keep applying under control, you need to recycle your essays. Figure out how you can use one essay that you've written to apply to a number of scholarships. Can you change the introduction or conclusion? Can you include different examples to illustrate your point? As you do this, though, be careful that you are still answering the question posed."

One of the biggest differences between a scholarship essay and any other essay, Tanabe says, is that more than anything else, you are trying to market your strengths and how they fit with what the scholarship organization is looking for.

"Put yourself in the shoes of the judges. What qualities will they want to see in your essay? If you are applying for an award for students who are both academically and athletically talented, think about how you can show both of those strengths."

"The bottom line is that the scholarship judges want to learn about you and why they should give their money to you."