Take The Mystery Out Of Applying For Financial Aid

Take The Mystery Out Of Applying For Financial Aid

By:


Knowing how to get the financial assistance you need doesn't have to be a big secret.

A lot of parents are concerned about the cost of college. Can colleges work harder at making college affordable for the average American? If both parents work and earn a pretty good income, can you still apply for and qualify for financial aid?

The answer to both questions is a resounding, "Yes!"

Not many families can easily afford to pay the full cost of tuition, fees, room and board, textbooks and spending money. If, like most families, you and your parents would struggle to come up with the necessary funds then you should apply for financial aid immediately. There are lots of scholarships available. Investigate them all and apply to every one that you might be eligible for.

You don't have to meet low income guidelines to qualify for every grant and scholarship. Many are based on your academic performance and your community service activities, without regard to family income. If you are having trouble coming up with the money for college, then you should apply for every program that provides college assistance. Fill out every form and application to the best of your ability and be totally honest. The worst that can happen is they say "No". But enough may say "yes" to make the difference between going and staying at home.

Definitely start with the FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid. (Explain FAFSA) Then complete the application forms for institutional funds from private colleges and universities. That usually means completing the CSS Profile and the forms required by each individual college you apply to. Don't assume you won't get financial aid.

Your next step is to apply for institutional funds from private colleges or universities. You do this normally by completing the CSS Profile (College Scholarship Service Financial Aid) forms as required by each college's program. Again, don't deny the application yourself! You have very little to lose - except for the application fee for the CSS Profile - and a lot to gain.

It might surprise you how much you can qualify for. Higher education costs have risen so much that people who would never have qualified previously are now eligible, including two-income families. The best colleges and universities in particular are providing more assistance than ever because the economy has caused a lot more families to struggle to pay for their children's education. They are trying to hold down their costs and not price people out of the education market with ever-higher tuition and fee increases.

Many factors affect aid eligibility calculations. *Number of children in college *Number of dependents *Extenuating circumstances *Equity in the parents' home *Other assets *Savings and investments

Apply to colleges that award 100% financial need. Apply to colleges that have a "no loan policy". Many of the highly selective colleges and universities have "no loan" policies.

Some of the most exclusive and prestigious colleges and universities have a "no loan" policy. Princeton University was one of the pioneers of this policy and other high-profile institutions have decided to follow the same policy. Competition to get into these learning centers is ferocious, but if you have excellent grades and SAT scores and follow the advice of a good college admissions consultant, you should not hesitate to apply. The value of such an education will benefit you the rest of your life.

So work hard in school. Even if you don't ultimately attend an Ivy, many colleges and universities are offering tons of merit-based aid in an attempt to lure brilliant students to them They are covering the entire cost of attendance for the outstanding students. So, that's another option for you.

About the Author:
Angela Arnold, a college counselor who has helped many students get into college, has prepared 7 free videos about the college application process Download your copies today.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


Tags: , , , , , , ,

|

Loading...
Related....
Videos...

Recent College-University Articles

Comments

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!

Loading

Site Navigation:

Copyright 2005-2011 ArticleSnatch, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service.