Presented by Valencia Community College

Get ReadyRe-apply/ApplyReviewRespondReceiveRemain EligibleRepeat Every Year

Start Practicing your Junior or Senior year◦ Look over scholarships and free scholarship web

services and sites www.fastweb.com www.collegeanswer.com www.hsf.net/Scholarship.aspx

◦ Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 4Caster @ www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov

Social Security Number (make sure it’s correct) Your Drivers License (if any) Your Tax Returns Your Parents Tax Returns W-2 Forms Untaxed Income Records

◦ Social Security◦ Temporary Assistance for Needy families◦ Welfare◦ Veterans Benefits

Bank Statements Business and Investment Statements Alien Registration or Permanent Resident Card (non-

US Citizen)

Apply for a PIN (student and parent) @ www.pin.ed.gov

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) @ www.fafsa.ed.gov

On or After January 1st – Every Year Check Schools & State Priority Dates and

Application Requirements

Helpful Hint 1 – Complete the FAFSA by Valentines Day Every YearHelpful Hint 2 – Apply for Scholarships beginning in February

Who is eligible to receive Federal Student Aid?

◦ Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen ◦ Have a valid Social Security Number ◦ Register with Selective Service if you are male and

18 to 25 years of age (go to www.sss.gov for more information).

◦ Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) Certificate or pass an exam approved by the U.S. Department of Education.

Who is eligible to receive Federal Student Aid?

◦ Be enrolled or accepted in an eligible degree or certificate program

◦ Not have a drug conviction for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (such as grants, loans, or work-study)

Born before 1/1/1986 Married Graduate student Active duty military Veteran of the armed services Children who you support

If you answer yes to any of these questions you are considered independent

Other dependents who you support Foster care or orphan/ward of the court Emancipated minor In legal guardianship Unaccompanied youth who was also

homeless (58, 59 & 60)

If you answer yes to any of these questions you are considered independent

Married

Separated/Divorced

Divorced (Widowed) and Remarried

Use both Parents

Use Parent Student lived with the most in last 12 Months

Use Parent and Step-parent Student lived with the most in last 12 months

Legal Guardians Grandparents, Aunt, Cousins, Sibling, or

other relative Non-relative/friend of family Foster parents

Nicknames Divorced/remarried parents Income earned by mother and father Other untaxed income – must be

reported Household size Number in family attending college U.S. income taxes paid Real estate and investment net worth

Cost of Attendance (COA) (college) - Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

(FAFSA) =Need (Per Regulation)

COA- EFC= Need

Request a Dependency Override at the Institution

Not Considered a Reason◦ Parent’s income is too high◦ Parents refuse financial information for the FAFSA◦ Parents refuse to support student financially◦ Student supports self financially◦ Parent in another country

Considered a Reason◦ No contact with the parents and;◦ Unusual circumstances – abandonment or abuse

Note: New Special Circumstances on FAFSA

Loss of Income/Assets used in the formula Divorce or Loss of Parent Unusual Medical Expenses – only debt

considered in needs analysis PJ Daycare/Private School Cost Extenuating Financial Circumstances – does

not include any debt for needs analysis PJ

All circumstances must be documented

Components◦ Fixed or Estimated Cost (Check with your Institution on

the Specific Budget) Tuition and Fees Books and supplies Loan Fees Room and Board Personal Expenses Transportation Study Abroad Cost Dependent Care Expenses Disability Related Expenses

Room and Board $ 4,669 Transportation $ 2,546 Personal $ 424 Tuition and Fees $ 2,228 Books & Supplies $ 1,061 Total $10,928

COA 12000 12000EFC (-) 2000 15585Need 10000 -3585

Student A Student B

15000

12500

10000

3500 3500

11500

9000

6500

Cost of Attendance

Expected Family Contribution

NEED

(Variable) (Constant) (Variable)

Apply Every Year (best months between February – April)

Scholarships Criteria◦ Varies – Ethnicity, Gender, Merit, Talent,

Adversity, Community Service, Career Goals, etc. ◦ May not have to meet federal eligibility criteria◦ Don’t have to be straight A student

Scholarship Free Searches (many are FREE! – Don’t get scammed)◦www.fastweb.com◦www.collegeanswer.com◦www.hsf.net/Scholarships.aspx

Other places to look for Scholarships?◦ Foundations ◦ Community Organizations/Churches◦ National Organizations◦ Local/National Labor Unions◦ Colleges and Universities◦ Large Companies◦ Many Others

You will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) Review the SAR for accuracy Make any necessary corrections on the Web

@ www.fafsa.ed.gov (for faster results)

Your school may ask for additional documentation◦ Verification Worksheet◦ Copy of Taxes

Respond as soon as possible – this could get you more money!

You may just get awarded – Follow instructions carefully

Review your Award Notification Follow all instructions carefully – ask the

school for help if you need it Enroll in school Attend all classes You will then receive your financial aid to

pay for classes and books – check your schools disbursement policies

You must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Regardless of Receiving Aid or Not! At Valencia:

◦ Complete Successfully 67% of all attempted credit hours

◦ Maintain a 2.0 GPA (C Average)◦ Not attempted 150% of the length of your

program of study Check your Schools SAP Policy

Remember the HINT!

Apply for Federal Aid and Scholarships Every Year aroundFebruary 14th

Pell Grants $4731 maximum for 2008-2009

ACG & Smart Grants (variable based on Year in School)

Bright Futures (Florida Residents) FSAG (Florida Residents) SEOG Scholarships Subsidized Stafford/Perkins Loans Institutional Need and Merit-Based Aid

Pell grant awards are based on semester & enrollment

School defines fulltime – awards are prorated◦ 12+credit hours is equal to fulltime◦ 9+ but <12 is ¾ time◦ 6+ but < 9 is ½ time◦ <6 is equal to less than ½ time

Pell = 2 fulltime semesters or a combination. Example FA 9 hrs, SP 9 hrs, SUM 6 hours (24 hrs)

Pell $ amount is same regardless of Institution and costs in most cases

Florida Academic Scholar ◦ 100% Tuition and Fees – Public Institution/CC◦ Private School = 100% Average Public School Cost◦ College Related Expenses $375 per year (prorated)

Florida Medallion Scholar◦ 100% Tuition and Fees – Community College◦ 75% Tuition and Fees – Public Institution◦ Private School = 75% Average Public School Cost

Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar◦ 75% Tuition and Fees – Public Institution/CC◦ Private School = 75% Average Public School Cost

www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org

Unsubsidized Stafford Loans Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students

(PLUS) – up to cost of attendance – credit based

Private Education Loans – Alternative Loans* TEACH Grant – see institution for participation

◦ http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/TEACH.jsp

*Basic Rule – If attendance at a postsecondary institution is required for the loan, it must be counted as a resource for financial aid purposes.

Annual Max Sub MaxFreshman $5500 $3500Sophomore $6500 $4500Junior $7500 $5500Senior $7500 $5500

Note: Plus Denial/Additional Eligibility

Please note that the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) of 2007 cut the fixed interest rates on newly originated subsidized Stafford loans for undergraduate students to:◦ 6.0% (2008-09) ◦ 5.6% (2009-10)◦ 4.5% (2010-11) ◦ 3.4% (2011-12) ◦ Returns to 6.8% in 2012-13

Financial Aid Florida Pre-pay and 529 Plans Cash, check, money order, credit card Tuition Payment Plan

You must pay by the due date or the student will be dropped for non-payment

Getting classes – it’s a tough year in Florida

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Educational records become the students when they turn 18 or attend a postsecondary education institution at any age

Students may give parent permission to receive educational record information by completing a release at the college – see institution for office locations (Answer Center)

www.fafsa.ed.gov (Free application) www.fafsa.ed.gov/help.htm (Application help) www.pin.ed.gov (PIN-e-Signature application) http://www.valenciacc.edu/finaid (Resources) www.studentaid.ed.gov (All about fed. Aid) www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov (Juniors & Seniors) www.nslds.ed.gov (Track your aid)

COLLEGE GOAL SUNDAYSITE ADDRESS DATE TIME

University of Central Florida 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL Feb. 22, 2009

3pm-5pm

Valencia Community College

1800 South Kirkman Road, Orlando, FL Feb. 22, 2009

2pm-5pm

New Covenant Baptist Church

2210 S. Rio Grande Avenue, Orlando, FL Feb. 22, 2009

1pm-4pm

Jones High School (Concert Location)

801 South Rio Grande Avenue, Media Center, Orlando, FL

Feb. 21, 2009

10am-2pm

Oak Ridge High School 6000 Winegard Road, Orlando, FL Feb. 21, 2009

10am-2pm

Frontline Outreach 3000 C R Smith Street, Orlando, FL Feb. 22, 2009

2pm-5pm

TECO 501 Simpson Road, Kissimmee, FL Feb. 22, 2009

1pm-4pm

Chisholm Center 520 South Clara Avenue, Deland, FL Feb. 28, 2009

10am-2pm

Valencia Community College – Answer Center

Phone Number: 407-299-5000 Website: www.valenciacc.edu/finaid College Website: www.valenciacc.edu

High School Night Resource Website: www.valenciacc.edu/finaid/HSN.cfm