Understanding the financial aid process can be hard and you may not know where to turn for answers. The financial aid officers at colleges and universities are there to help.
Following are some questions the Associated Colleges of the Midwest organization suggests families ask:

1. What kind of financial assistance does the college offer: need-based, merit-based or both?
2. Can the college provide an early estimate of what our financial aid award might be?
3. What forms are needed in order to apply?
4. When are financial aid applications due?
5. What costs for a student are taken into account by the financial aid office?
   Tuition, room, board, transportation? What about additional expenses such as books, fees, computers and personal expenses?
6. What is included in the comprehensive fee? For example, do students have to pay extra for computer time or to attend campus events (concerts, plays, films, lectures, athletic events, etc.)?
7. When will we be notified about the amount of assistance we can expect?
8. Does the institution have an appeal process to review special circumstances?
9. Is there a commitment for financial assistance beyond the first year?
10. How and when do we apply for financial assistance after the first year?
11. What if we do not qualify for need-based aid? Are there alternative financing options available?
12. What grants, loans and work-study opportunities does the college offer?
    Are there any we might be eligible for?
13. What is the average student loan indebtedness of the college's graduates?
14. Is there a restriction to the length of time that financial assistance will continue?
15. How long does it typically take a student to graduate from this college?
    Four years? Longer?
16. What impact do scholarships from outside sources have on other
    financial aid?
17. Can we apply financial aid toward an off-campus study program, either in the U.S. or another country?
18. What happens if our family's financial situation changes substantially during the school year?
19. Are there payment options available, such as monthly or quarterly?

FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOP

All aspects of financial aid will be discussed, and the FAFSA
Free Application for Federal Student Aid will be explained in detail. 

This is a very important program for anyone interested in financial assistance for college. 

For further information contact:  Dr. Ted Phillips, Director of School Counseling - 848-1285.

Download PowerPoint Presentation from Liz Hook

COLLEGE GOAL SUNDAY
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2008
http://www.collegegoalsundayct.org

College Goal Sunday (CGS) is a volunteer, charitable effort to assist low-income families and those who have no college-going tradition.

Specifically, CGS helps families complete the universal application Free Application for Federal Student Aid form (The FAFSA) required to qualify for college financial aid nationwide.

On Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008, the Connecticut Association of Professional Financial Aid Administrators (CAPFAA) and the Connecticut Association of Equal Opportunity Program (CAEOP) will sponsor CGS at five sties in Connecticut Between the hours of 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM, professional financial aid personnel will guide high school seniors and their family to complete and submit their FAFSA form online.

The sites are:

• Capital Community College, Hartford, CT
• Gateway Community College:
  • Long Wharf Campus, New Haven,
  • North Haven Campus, North Haven
• Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport, CT
• Norwalk Community College, Norwalk, CT
• Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
• The New London Science & Technology Magnet High School,
  New London, CT

For additional information, please contact:
Glenn A. Cassis, Executive Director,
African-American Affairs Commission,
State Capitol-Room 509, Hartford, CT 06106-1591,
1-888-277-2270 (Phone) glenn.cassis@cga.ct.gov | http://www.collegegoalsundayct.org

The CARE’s Scholarship of SE CT allows area high schools to nominate new students entering Mitchell College for merit – based scholarships. To obtain this scholarship, the student’s guidance counselor must send the form below to the Financial Aid Office stating that the high school wishes to nominate the student. Each high school may nominate up to three scholarships per academic year per high school. Incoming students selected for the CARES scholarship will receive an award in the amount of $3000. To maintain this scholarship, recipients must earn at least a 2.50 cumulative GPA (or greater) at the end of each academic year.

Mitchell College uses a model, referred to as “C.A.R.E.S.”, to expand student values inside and outside of the classroom. We believe, by enriching the life of a student with each of the five components listed below, an individual will leave Mitchell College with a more positive and more defined sense of self; thus a person of greater character.

In order to qualify for this scholarship student must exhibit 3 of 5 following criteria:

C = Citizenship Student understands the dynamics of citizenship and participates in their community
A = Achievement Student sets realistic goals and actively works to reach them
R = Respect Student celebrates the differences in one another
E = Engagement Student embraces the high school experience as more than just classroom learning and text
S = Service Student actively gives of themselves to genuinely assist others

See your counselor if you are interested in being nominated.

Links for Financial Aid Web Sites

Academic competitiveness Grant (AC Grant)
State of Connecticut Department of Education

Congress has funded a new studnet grant program, the Academic Competitiveness Grant (AC Grant), to recognize students who complete a rigorous secondary school program. The purpose of this grant is to provide low-income college students with additional financial aid in their first and second year of college.

These grants will be available to any Pell-Grant eligible student who:

• is enrolled full-time in a degree program;
• is a Federal Pell-Grant recipient;
• is a citizen of the United States
• is enrolled in a two - or - four - year degree-granting institution of higher education;
• has completed a regirous secondary school program os study, graduating after January 1st of their senior year; and
• is a first-year student who has not been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program.

If you should have questions, please contact Ann R. Gaulin, High School Program Manager, by e-mail at ann.gaulin@ct.gov or by phone at 860-713-6769. Information in Adobe PDF on Connecticut Requirements.

Adventures in Education

Adventures In Education (AIE) is a nonprofit, public benefit program developed by TG that helps students plan and complete their journey through higher education. By providing a Web site and other free resources to students, parents, counselors, and educators, AIE encourages individuals to discover and pursue educational opportunities. AIE promotes a better tomorrow by preparing students and families for the adventure today. www.aie.org

• College Budget Planner
• Parent Resources
• Plus Loans
• Federal Stafford Loans
• Scholarship Search

Bowling for Bucks
Young American Bowling Alliance

If you are planning on attending college, the information you will gain from Locate Bowling Scholarship & College Teams and Scholarships is a must see item! You are never to young to start planning on college and the sooner you start collecting this information, the quicker you will be able to take advantage of the over $5 million in scholarship funds available each year throughout the country. By surfing this site, you will be able to locate scholarship tournaments, leagues and bowling scholarship applications. You will also be able to locate colleges offering bowling scholarships and, better yet, colleges which have bowling teams.

ConnecticutMentor
CTMentor is a student services website representing the statewide and independent colleges and universities of Connecticut.   http://www.ctmentor.org/
Four Steps to Financial Aid - http://www.ctmentor.org/FinAid/Steps/step1.asp
Additional Resources - http://www.ctmentor.org/AboutMentor/resources.asp

Students who complete a profile on Cappex.com may be invited to apply to certain colleges based on the college's interest in their specific qualifications, and may also hear about other schools meeting their needs. Because all messages are received via our private messages center, personal contact information about the student will only be released to an institution after the student indicates they'd like to hear more from that institution. In essence, the student will know which colleges want them before they apply.

http://www.cappex.com/

• Publications
• Funding Education Beyond High School - Guide to Federal Student Aid

Free Application for Federal Aid
www.fafsa.ed.gov
FAFSA opens the door to the federal aid process. Every step you can take gets you closer to achieving your education goals.

• Apply for a Pin
• Federal School Code Search - (FAFSA)
• Dependency Status
• Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
• Student Aid Report (SAR)

College / Scholarship Search Engine

• About FastWeb.com
• Scholarship Search Engine - www.fastweb.com
• Understanding your Financial Aid Award Letter - PDF Document
• FAFSA Guide - PDF Doucment
• FAFSA on the Web: Q & A - PDF Document
• College Prep for High School Students - PDF Document

U.S. Department of Education, PIN Registration

The PIN serves as your identifier to let you access your personal information in various U.S. Department of Education systems. It's like the Personal Identification Number that you get from your bank that enables you to access your account. Because your PIN serves as your electronic signature, you should not give it to anyone.

Once you successfully complete a request, we will e-mail or mail your PIN. It will take approximately 1-3 business days after you request your PIN for you to receive an e-mail notification with instructions on how to retrieve it electronically, or 7-10 days to receive it in the mail via the U.S. Postal Service.

When you use your PIN, you must type the PIN exactly as it appears.

• Financial Aid for Students With Disabilities
• Opening Doors to Postsecondary Education & Training
  Planning for Life After High School

Helping Hands Book Scholarship Program

This program is administered by the Helping Hands Foundation, a national non-profit, student-aid organization. Every complete application received by the required deadline will be given a fair and careful evaluation. Awards are given without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, disability or national origin.

The Helping Hands Book Scholarship Program was created to assist students with the high cost of textbooks & study materials. Awards are open to individuals ages 16 & over who are planning to attend or are currently attending a 2-year or 4-year college or university, or a technical/vocational institution. Up to 50 awards are made annually. Students may reapply each semester.

There is a $5 application fee (check or money order) [Note: This scholarship is not a “scam.” All of our fundraising goes toward scholarship awards. We do have a nominal fee to assist with administrative support, marketing, website maintenance and processing. If there are surplus funds at the end of the scholarship period, they are funneled directly into the awards bank. Thank you in advance for understanding.]

Applications must be received by the following schedule:
Fall : Application must be postmarked July 15th for the upcoming fall semester.
Spring: Application must be postmarked by December 15th for the upcoming winter semester.

Send Application To: Scholarship Director, Helping Hands, P.O. Box 720379, Atlanta, GA 30358
Download application by visiting: http://www.helpinghandsbookscholarship.com/pages/405814/index.htm

• Notice 97-60 Hope Scholarship Credit: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96271,00.html
  • "The Hope Scholarship Credit may be claimed for the qualified tuition and related expenses of each student in the taxpayer's family (i.e., the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or an eligible dependent) who is enrolled at least half-time in one of the first two years of postsecondary education and who is enrolled in a program leading to a degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential. The amount that may be claimed as a credit is generally equal to: (1) 100 percent of the first $1,000 of the taxpayer's out-of-pocket expenses for each student's qualified tuition and related expenses, plus (2) 50 percent of the next $1,000 of the taxpayer's out-of-pocket expenses for each student's qualified tuition and related expenses. Thus, the maximum credit a taxpayer may claim for a taxable year is $1,500 multiplied by the number of students in the family who meet the enrollment criteria described above. "
  • For detailed information visit: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96271,00.html

• Child Care Credit/Other Credits : Hope & Life Time Learning Educational Credits http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq-kw163.html

• Notice 97-60 Lifetime Learning Credit
  • The Lifetime Learning Credit may be claimed for the qualified tuition and related expenses of the students in the taxpayer's family (i.e., the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or an eligible dependent) who are enrolled in eligible educational institutions. Through 2002, the amount that may be claimed as a credit is equal to 20 percent of the taxpayer's first $5,000 of out-of-pocket qualified tuition and related expenses for all the students in the family. After 2002, the credit amount is equal to 20 percent of the taxpayer's first $10,000 of out-of-pocket qualified tuition and related expenses. Thus, the maximum credit a taxpayer may claim for a taxable year is $1,000 through 2002 and $2,000 thereafter. These amounts are not indexed for inflation.
  • For detailed information visit: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96273,00.html

International Education Financial Aid

International Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search:
IEFA is the premier resource for financial aid, college scholarship and grant information for US and international students wishing to study abroad. At this site, you will find the most comprehensive college scholarship search and grant listings plus international student loan programs and other information to promote study abroad. http://www.iefa.org/

Job Corps: http://jobcorps.doleta.gov/

Job Corps is a no-cost education and vocational training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor that helps young people ages 16 through 24 get a better job, make more money and take control of their lives.

Loan Dependency
Cut this, Cut that. With all the recent changes in fincial aid, you may bind yourself relying on school loans come enrollment. If Uncle Sam can't help you, help yourself to these student loan links.

• www.studentloanconsolidator.com
• www.consolidation.nelnet.net
• www.studentloansolutions.com
• www.collegiatefunding.com

Student Athletes
Fall is time to register with NCAA

If you are a senior who is planning to participate in Division I or II sports as a college freshman, now is the time to register and be certified by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. You must do this in order to qualify for college athletics. Check out the student information page at https://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net/ncaa/NCAA/student/index_student.html. You also can request “The Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete” by calling 1-800-638-3731. The guide provides a summary of the rules and regulations in an easy-to-read form. Guidelines relate to recruiting, eligibility, financial aid and college freshman eligibility requirements for Divisions I and II.

Planning on playing Division 1 or Division 2 sports in college?
Don't forget that you have to register with the NCAA Clearing house!
See your counselor for additional information and materials.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a voluntary association of about 1,200 colleges and universities, athletic conferences and sports organizations devoted to the sound administration of intercollegiate athletics. www.ncaa.org

From the NCAA Clearinghouse website, prospective student-athletes are able to access information needed to understand the Division I and Division II eligibility requirements, register with the Clearinghouse and access individual Clearinghouse records. www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

By phone: 877-262-1492 or 317-917-6222

NAIA & NCAA Scholarship Information

The NCAA or the National Collegiate Athletic Association is the governing body of most College Sport. Your first step towards an Athletic Scholarship is registering with the Clearinghouse.

• If you intend to participate in Division I or II athletics as a freshman, you must register and be certified by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. Refer to the NCAA Academic Eligibility section to determine the initial-eligibility standards that apply to you. If you don't register you will not be eligible to play or practice during your freshman year.

• The athletic scholarship information and resources on this web site are free.
• What does it take to play college sports and be in the running for athletic scholarships? Consider the following......
• Athletic Scholarship Timeline
  • The first thing that most athletes and parents want to know is " when do I start " and " what do I do first ". What's the first thing I need to do if I want to play sport at college level and get an athletic scholarship?
  NAIA & NCAA Recruiting and Scholarship Resource Sites
• NAIA & NCAA Recruiting and Scholarship Resource Sites
  • Listed on this page are links to important scholarship web sites that will help you when applying for college athletic scholarships.

National Association for College Admission Counseling
is an organization dedicated to serving students as they make choices about pursuing postsecondary education.

FOR STUDENTS:
The transition from high school to college is filled with challenge, opportunity and decision making. Throughout the college admission process, one of your best resources is your school counselor. Your counselor can help you better understand yourself, your interests and your needs so you can make the decision that's right for you.

• Protect Yourself from Scholarship Scams
  • College Scholarship Fraud (Word Doc.)
  • Project Scholarscam
  • Ouch! Students Getting Stung Trying to Find $$$ for College (PDF)
  • Parents Need Not Pay Out for College Aid Help
  • PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGES FROM THE FTC (Word Doc.)
• Prep for College Calendar
• Publications for Students
• Web Resources for the College-Bound
• Free Paying for College Seminar from The Sallie Mae Fund
• Statement of Students' Rights and Responsibilities (12K)
• and Transfer Students' Rights and Responsibilities (12K) in
• the College Admission Process.

Please also see NACAC's collection of resources especially for international students.

For more information, email info@nacac.com.

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators: provides information on the financial aid
process and directs you to some of the more important and helpful financial aid guidance on the Web.

• Parents and Students Section:
  • http://www.studentaid.org/
• Parent and Student Guide to Federal Tax Benefits for Tuition and Fees
  Guide includes basic information about the Hope Scholarship tax credit, the Lifetime Learning tax credit,
  and the Tuition and Fees Tax Deduction.
  • http://www.nasfaa.org/annualpubs/taxbenefitsguideintrops.html
• Financial Aid Consultants and Scholarship Search Services Fact Sheet
  • http://www.nasfaa.org/subhomes/financialaidnight/consultants_services.pdf
    

• The Annual Catalog of the Regional Student Program
  The Apple Book is the annual catalog of the New England Regional Student Program and lists all eligible degree programs, the institutions that offer them and residents of which New England states may enroll as RSP students.
• Search The Apple Book Online
  The Apple Book is available at high school guidance offices and public libraries throughout New England, as well as admissions and career planning offices at New England public colleges and universities. The Apple Book can also be ordered from the New England Board of Higher Education.
• Download the Apple Book:
  For Connecticut Residents | For Maine Residents | For Massachusetts Residents
  For New Hampshire Residents | For Rhode Island Residents | For Vermont Residents
• To Order the Apple Book By Mail:
  Send your request for the Apple Book to the New England Board of Higher Education, 45 Temple Place, Boston, MA, 02111. Please indicate that you would like to receive the current Apple Book, and include your name and mailing address, including zip code. You may also email your request to rsp@nebhe.org.

Pell Grants - What is a Federal Pell Grant?

• A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Generally, Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or professional degree. (A professional degree is usually obtained after a bachelor’s degree in a field such as medicine, law, or dentistry.) In some cases, you might receive a Pell Grant for attending a post-baccalaureate teacher certificate program.
• Pell Grants are usually a foundation of financial aid, to which aid from other federal and nonfederal sources might be added.
• Federal Student Aid At a Glance PDF
• Be an Informed Consumer PDF

Resources for Blind and Visually Impaired Students
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/bvinotice.jsp

Student Aid Audio Guide
http://www.studentaid.ed.gov/audioguide

Students wondering where to go to college and how to get there, or parents trying to unravel the mystery of the college and the financial aid application process, College Answer (formerly known as Wiredscholar) is the site for you.

You'll find pointers on the entire "Going-to-College" process from preparation to getting loans. College Answer also has interactive tools that enable you to analyze the affordability of schools, compare financial aid award letters, and search for scholarships. www.collegeanswer.com

Salliemae.com - http://www.salliemae.com/index.html
Sallie Mae helps students achieve their dreams of higher education by providing funds for educational loans, primarily federally guaranteed student loans originated under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP).

• Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP): The Federal Stafford, Federal PLUS, Federal SLS, and Federal Consolidation Loan programs. These programs offer loans that are funded by private lenders, guaranteed by guarantors, and reinsured by the federal government.
• Glossary of Terms- http://www.salliemae.com/service/gloss_af.html#ffelp
• SallieMae Fund - http://www.thesalliemaefund.org/
  (The Sallie Mae Fund is the philanthropic arm of Sallie Mae.)

ScholarshipHelp.org

The goal of this website is to educate students about scholarship access and the necessary requirements for achieving maximum financial aid. In addition, we provide our information free of charge to help students avoid scholarship scam artists and misleading authors who promise "secrets" to what is essentially publicly available information.

Visit the web site at: http://www.scholarshiphelp.org/index.htm

Scholarship Scams
Some students would do almost anything for a shot at a great scholarship. Unfortunately, people try to take advantage of students in search of scholarship cash. Learn to spot scholarship scams with tips from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

For more information: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/scholarship/

Students, watch out for this scam!
Someone claiming to work at the U.S. Department of Education (ED) is calling students, offering them grants or scholarships, and asking for their bank account numbers so a processing fee can be charged. Sometimes the caller tells the student he (or she) understands the student has federal student loans and offers to replace the loans with an $8,000 grant. The caller explains that a processing fee must be charged and asks for the student's checking account information.

There is no ED program to replace loans with grants. There is no processing fee to obtain grants from ED. Also, you should never provide your bank account or credit card information over the phone unless you made the call and trust the company you are calling.

"The Scholarship is guaranteed or your money back."
"You can't get his information anywhere else."
"May I have your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship?"
"We'll do all the work."
"The scholarship will cost some money."
"You've been selected by a 'national foundation' to receive a scholarship," or in a contest you never entered.

NEED MONEY FOR COLLEGE? Check with your school guidance counselor or local librarian for free information about current scholarships before you pay someone for the same -- or similar -- scholarship lists.

• Important Terms
• Funding your education
• Applying for Financial Aid

U.S. Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/

Career Clusters HomePage - http://www.ed.gov/offices/OVAE/clusters/ -
cluster includes both the academic and technical skills and knowledge needed for further education and careers

• Education Resources
• Financial Aid
• Finding out About Financial Aid
• Funding Education Beyond High School - The Guide to Federal Studetn Aid
• Looking for Student Aid
• Mission - http://www.ed.gov/about/mission.jsp
• Other Federal Sources of Student Aid

CollegeSTEPS Program
Scholarship Sweepstakes

High school students can join the CollegeSTEPS Program to take a definite step in the right direction.
This year's program offers:

• $100,000 in college tuition prizes. High school seniors are eligible for a chance to win one of 100 $1,000 tuition prizes.
• Valuable information on scholarships, financial aid, testing, and college preparation in the form of electronic postcards.
  • Tools
    • Prep Guide for Parents
    • How much aid to expect
    • Student Loan Selector
    • Stafford Loan Payments
    • Private Loan Payments
    • Student Loans Glossary

1-888-511-7302 | wellsfargo.com/collegesteps

Articles of Interest

Four myths about college costs
The true price of that B.A. may not be as high as you think.
By Penelope Wang, Money Magazine

NEW YORK (Money Magazine) - The cost of a college degree continues to climb seemingly beyond the means of many families, rising far faster than incomes or inflation.

Total expenses for the 2004-05 academic year shot up 7.8 percent to $11,354 at the average public college, while costs jumped 5.6 percent to $27,516 at private institutions. But numbers can sometimes be deceiving.

While paying for college is undeniably a challenge, the true cost may not be nearly as daunting as you've been led to believe.

Myth 1
Tuition alone will set you back more than $100,000. Those $25,000-a-year tuition costs are the exception, not the rule.

Three out of four undergraduates attend schools where tuition and fees run less than $12,000 a year, and just over half pay less than $6,000. Of course, many of those students attend public colleges, where the average tuition this year is $5,132.

But even at private universities, four-year tuition bills typically fall well below the six-figure mark -- and there's plenty of financial help available. (Keep reading for more on financial aid.)

Myth 2
The more you save, the less aid you get. Actually the more you save, the less you'll likely need to borrow, since a big chunk of financial assistance comes in the form of loans.

But as long as you save wisely, you can minimize any reduction in your total aid package. The key is to save in your name, not your child's, because aid formulas count only 5.6 percent of parental assets vs. as much as 35 percent of money saved in the student's name.

This makes tax-advantaged Coverdell ESA and 529 college savings plans especially helpful, since those accounts are regarded as parental assets under federal aid rules. If you already have a college account set up in Junior's name, consider spending the money on your child's behalf well before college -- think SAT prep or music lessons -- while stashing away a comparable amount in your name.

Myth 3
You make too much money to qualify for aid. Contrary to popular belief, the amount of financial assistance available for higher education is going up, not down, for most families.

Total aid climbed to $122 billion in the 2003-04 academic year, up 13.4 percent from $107.6 billion the previous year, and has more than doubled over the past decade. Nearly half of families earning over $80,000 qualify for assistance.

The more expensive the college your child attends, the more likely you are to get help and the greater the amount you'll probably receive, particularly if you have more than one child in college at the same time.

Overall, 76 percent of students at private colleges qualified for assistance (total aid package, including loans: $11,600; average grant: $7,000), as did 62 percent of students at public schools (typical aid package: $6,200).

Myth 4
The payoff isn't what it used to be. True, your child may not have two nickels to rub together for a few years while paying back those hefty student loans.

But the money you both spend on a college degree still yields a sizable return on your investment. Over a working lifetime, the typical college graduate earns about 75 percent more than a high school grad does.

On average, that difference totals $1 million more -- easily enough to repay those student loans and then some. The payoff from graduate school is even bigger: People with advanced degrees earn two to three times as much over their lifetimes as those without a college degree and increase their average total earnings by as much as $2 million.

Hey, maybe you should think about saving for graduate school for yourself too.