Navigating the College Financial Aid Maze

Learn the Secrets to Getting the Most in

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Presented By: MoreThanGrades.com

Disclaimer:
The information provided about financial aid and scholarships is intended for
general guidance. If specific information is needed, the opinion of a qualified
specialist should be sought. MoreThanGrades.com has made every attempt to
provide timely information and links to reputable sites. MoreThanGrades.com is
not responsible for information provided for any by any third party links or for any
omissions or errors contained in this publication either directly or indirectly.

Published by:
MoreThanGrades.com
Copyright 2009 CHRios. All rights are reserved. No part of this ebook may

be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of

the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

Where do I begin?
The process of applying for financial aid is trying to say the least, and like paying
taxes unavoidable, for most people. So before beginning what will be a very
arduous task, pour a cup of Chamomile tea, turn off the phone, and find a
comfortable seat. It is going to be a long evening.
Why do I need to fill out all these papers?
The short answer: to get money. But prior to any money being given to anyone ,
colleges and universities must determine an applicants financial need. This is
where the process truly begins.

Determining Eligibility
To begin with, anyone can apply for financial aid. In fact, it is a good idea
regardless of your current financial status. It is important to keep in mind that
education is one of the most important investments that can be made. Most
people, over the course of their lives, will recoup the cost of their education ten
fold. Education is an investment in the future.

With the economy in a constant state of flux, family circumstances can rapidly
change. That is why everyone is encouraged to apply for financial aid.
There are many factors that go in to determining a familys financial need: annual
income, expenses, cost of living, and many other unforeseen expenses. In order
to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of money, colleges and universities
turned to a standardized form. This form is known as FAFSA, which stands for
the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

To begin the FAFSA form, the following items will be needed:

1- The social security number of the applicant and the applicants parents.
2-The applicants drivers license number if available.
3-An alien registration card if the applicant is not a U.S. citizen.
4-The most recent federal tax return for the applicant and his or her parents.
5-Information on savings, investments, and other assets.
Once these documents are gathered, it is time to begin.

The worksheet provided below is from the web site www.fafsa.ed.gov and is
provided only for reference.

DO NOT MAIL THIS WORKSHEET.

You must complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA) to apply for federal student aid and to apply for most state and
college aid. Applying online with FAFSA on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov is
faster and easier than using a paper FAFSA.

STATE AID DEADLINES

Check with your financial aid administrator for these
states and territories:
AL, *AS, CO, *FM, GA, *GU, *HI, *MH, *MP, NE, *NM,
*NV, OR, PR, *PW, *SD, *TX, UT, *VA, *VI, *VT, WA, WI and *WY.

AK
AR

For state or college aid, the deadline may be as early as January 2009.
See the table to the right for state deadlines. Check with your high school
counselor or your college's financial aid administrator about other deadlines.
This Worksheet is optional and should only be completed if you plan to
use FAFSA on the Web.
Sections in purple are for parent information.
In parentheses after each question is the number that is used on FAFSA on
the Web and the paper FAFSA. However, not all of the questions appear on
this worksheet.
Submit your FAFSA early, but not before January 1, 2009.
Apply FasterSign your FAFSA with a Federal Student Aid PIN.
If you do not have a PIN, you can apply for one at www.pin.ed.gov. Your PIN
allows you to electronically sign when you submit your FAFSA. If you are
providing parent information, one parent must also sign your FAFSA. To sign
electronically, your parent should also apply for a PIN.

You will need the following information to complete this

Worksheet:
!"Your Social Security Number and your parents Social Security Numbers if
you are providing parental information."
!"Your drivers license number if you have one. "
!"Your Alien Registration Number if you are not a U.S. citizen. "
!"2008 federal tax information or tax returns (including IRS W-2
information) for yourself (and spouse if you are married) and for your
parents if you are providing parental information. If you have not yet filed a
2008 income tax return, you can still submit your FAFSA but you must
provide income and tax information. "
!"Information on savings, investments, and business and farm assets for
yourself and your parents if you are providing parental information.
WARNING!
Be wary of organizations that
charge a fee to submit your
application or to find you money
for college. In general, the help
you pay for can be obtained for
free from your college or from
Federal Student Aid.
WWW.FAFSA.ED.GOV

NOTE:
If you or your family have unusual
circumstances (such as loss of
employment), complete FAFSA on
the Web to the extent you can, then
submit the application and consult
the financial aid office at the
college you plan to attend.

AZ
*CA
#*CT
*DC
DE
FL
IA
#*ID
#IL
IN
#*KS
#KY
LA
#MA
MD
ME
MI
MN
MO
#MS
#MT
NC
ND
NH
NJ

*NY
OH
#OK
*PA

#RI
SC
#TN
*WV

April 15, 2009 (date received)

Academic Challenge - June 1, 2009
Workforce Grant - Contact your financial aid
administrator
Higher Education Opportunity Grant
- June 1, 2009 (fall term)
- November 1, 2009 (spring term)
(date received)
March 1, 2010 (date received)
Initial awards - March 2, 2009
Additional community college awards
- September 2, 2009 (date postmarked)
February 15, 2009 (date received)
June 30, 2009 (date received by state)
April 15, 2009 (date received)
May 15, 2009 (date processed)
July 1, 2009 (date received)
Opportunity Grant - March 1, 2009 (date received)
First-time applicants - September 30, 2009
Continuing applicants - August 15, 2009 (date received)
March 10, 2009 (date received)
April 1, 2009 (date received)
March 15, 2009 (date received)
July 1, 2009 (date received)
May 1, 2009 (date received)
March 1, 2009 (date received)
May 1, 2009 (date received)
March 1, 2009 (date received)
30 days after term starts (date received)
April 1, 2009 (date received)
MTAG and MESG Grants - September 15, 2009
HELP Scholarship - March 31, 2009 (date processed)
March 1, 2009 (date received)
March 15, 2009 (date received)
March 15, 2009 (date received)
May 1, 2009 (date received)
June 1, 2009, if you received a Tuition Aid Grant
in 2008 -2009
All other applicants
- October 1, 2009, fall & spring terms
- March 1, 2010, spring term only (date received)
May 1, 2010 (date received)
October 1, 2009 (date received)
April 15, 2009 (date received) for best consideration
All 2008 - 2009 State Grant recipients & all
non-2008 - 2009 State Grant recipients in degree
programs - May 1, 2009
All other applicants - August 1, 2009 (date received)
March 1, 2009 (date received)
Tuition Grants - June 30, 2009 (date received)
State Grant - March 1, 2009
State Lottery - September 1, 2009 (date received)
March 1, 2009 (date received)

# For priority consideration, submit application by date specified.

* Additional form may be required.

2009-2010 FAFSA ON THE WEB WORKSHEET PAGE 1

SECTION 1 STUDENT INFORMATION

Questions are ordered as they appear on FAFSA on the Web, but after you are online you may be able to skip some questions based
on your answers to earlier questions.
Your last name (Q1)
-

Your Social Security Number (Q8)

Your drivers license number (optional) (Q11)

Are you a U.S. citizen? (Q14)
If you are neither a citizen nor an eligible noncitizen, you are
not eligible for federal student aid. However, you should still
complete the application, because you may be eligible for state
or college aid.
If you are in the U.S. on an F1 or F2 student visa, or a J1 or J2
exchange visitor visa, or a G series visa (pertaining to
international organizations), you must answer Neither citizen
nor eligible noncitizen.

!"U.S. citizen (U.S. national)"

!"Eligible noncitizen"""Generally, you are an eligible noncitizen if you are:"
A permanent U.S. resident with a Permanent Resident Card (I-551);
A conditional permanent resident (I-551C); or
The holder of an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of"Homeland Security
showing any of the following designations: Refugee,"Asylum Granted, Parolee (I-94
confirms paroled for a minimum of"one year and status has not expired), Victim of human
trafficking, T-Visa"holder (T-1, T-2, T-3, etc.) or Cuban-Haitian Entrant.

!"Neither citizen nor eligible noncitizen

Your Alien Registration Number (Q15)

If you are an eligible noncitizen, enter your eight- or nine-digit Alien Registration Number.

What is your marital status as of today? (Q16)

As of today refers to the day that you sign your FAFSA.

Month and year you were married, separated, divorced or widowed (Q17)
(Example: Month and year: 05/1998)

A
!"Single, divorced or widowed""
!"Married or remarried """!"Separated
M

What is your state of legal residence? (Q18)

Enter the date you became a legal resident of your state if it was not before
January 1, 2004. (Q20) (Example: Month and year: 05/2005)
Most male students must register with Selective Service to get federal aid. If
you are male, age 18-25 and NOT registered, select Register me. (Q22)

!"Register me

Have you ever received federal student aid?

Answer No if you have never received federal student grants, federal student loans or federal work-study. You should also answer No
if you have never attended college. If you answer No to this question, skip question 23.

Have you been convicted for the possession or sale of illegal drugs for an offense that occurred while you
were receiving federal student aid (grants, loans or work-study)? (Q23)
Do not count convictions that have been removed from your record or that occurred before you turned age 18, unless you were tried as an
adult. If you answer Yes, you can use an interactive worksheet when completing the FAFSA online. Based on your answers to the
worksheet questions, you can determine if the conviction affects your eligibility for federal student aid. If the conviction does affect your
eligibility for federal aid, you should still submit your application because you may qualify for state or college aid.

Highest school your father completed (Q24)

Some states and colleges offer aid based on the level of schooling your parents completed.

Highest school your mother completed (Q25)

Some states and colleges offer aid based on the level of schooling your parents completed.

When you begin the 2009-2010

school year, what degree or
certificate will you be working
on? (Q29)

!"Yes "
!"No

!"Yes"
!"No

!"Middle school/Jr. high"" !"College or beyond""

!"High school"
!"Other/unknown
!"Middle school/Jr. high"" !"College or beyond""
!"High school"
!"Other/unknown

!"1st bachelors degree""

!"Certificate or diploma (occupational,
technical or educational program of two
!"2nd bachelors degree""
or more years)"
!"Associate degree (occupational or technical program)""
!"Associate degree (general education or transfer program)" !"Teaching credential (nondegree"program)
!"Graduate or professional degree""
!"Certificate or diploma (occupational, technical or
!"Other/undecided
educational program of less than two years)

PAGE 2 2009-2010 FAFSA ON THE WEB WORKSHEET

WWW.FAFSA.ED.GOV

SECTION 1

(CONTINUED)

STUDENT INFORMATION

!"Full-time (at least 12 credit hours in a term or 24 clock hours per week)"
When you begin the 2009-2010
!"3/4-time (at least 9 credit hours in a term or 18 clock hours per week)""
school year, what do you expect
your enrollment status to be? (Q30) !"Half-time (at least 6 credit hours in a term or 12 clock hours per week)""
(Enrollment definitions refer to undergraduate !"Less than half-time (fewer than 6 credit hours in a term or less than"12 clock hours per week)"
study.)
!"Dont know
In addition to grants, are you
!"Work-study (aid earned through work)""
interested in being considered for
!"Student loans (which you must pay back)""
work-study or student loans? (Q31) !"Both work-study and student loans""

!"Neither""
!"Dont know

SECTION 2 STUDENT DEPENDENCY STATUS

Were you born before January 1, 1986? (Q48)

!"Yes" !"No

As of today, are you married? (Q49)

!"Yes"" !"No

(Answer Yes if you are separated but not divorced.) As of today refers to the day that you sign your FAFSA.

At the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year, will you be working on a masters or doctorate program
(such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, graduate certificate, etc.)? (Q50)

!"Yes"" !"No

Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training? (Q51)

!"Yes"" !"No

Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces? (Q52)

Answer Yes (you are a veteran) if you (1) have engaged in active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast
Guard) or are a National Guard or Reserve enlistee who was called to active duty for other than state or training purposes, or were a cadet or
midshipman at one of the service academies, and (2) were released under a condition other than dishonorable. Also answer Yes if you are not
a veteran now but will be by June 30, 2010.
Answer No (you are not a veteran) if you (1) have never engaged in active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, (2) are currently an ROTC student
or a cadet or midshipman at a service academy, (3) are a National Guard or Reserve enlistee activated only for state or training purposes, or (4)
were engaged in active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces but released under dishonorable conditions.

Do you have children who will receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2009 and
June 30, 2010? (Q53)
Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than
half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2010? (Q54)

!"Yes"" !"No

!"Yes"" !"No
!"Yes"" !"No

At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a
dependent or ward of the court? (Q55)
Answer Yes if you had no living parent (biological or adoptive) at any time since you turned age 13, even if you are now adopted. Answer
Yes if you were in foster care at any time since you turned age 13, even if you are no longer in foster care as of today. Answer Yes if you
were a dependent or ward of the court at any time since you turned age 13, even if you are no longer a dependent or ward of the court as of
today. Note that the financial aid administrator at your school may require you to provide proof that you were in foster care or a dependent or
ward of the court.

!"Yes"" !"No

Use these instructions to answer questions 56-57

Answer Yes if you can provide a copy of a courts decision that as of today you are an emancipated minor or are in legal guardianship.
Also answer Yes if you can provide a copy of a courts decision that you were an emancipated minor or were in legal guardianship
immediately before you reached the age of being an adult in your state. The court must be located in your state of legal residence at the time the
courts decision was issued.

Are you or were you an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence? (Q56)
Are you or were you in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence? (Q57).

!"Yes"" !"No
!"Yes"" !"No

Use these instructions to answer questions 58-60

Answer Yes if you received a determination at any time on or after July 1, 2008, that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless
or, for question 60, at risk of being homeless.
Homeless means lacking fixed, regular and adequate housing, which includes living in shelters, motels or cars, or temporarily living with
other people because you had nowhere else to go.
Unaccompanied means you are not living in the physical custody of your parent or guardian.
Youth means you are 21 years of age or younger or you are still enrolled in high school as of the day you sign this application.

At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did your high school or school district homeless liaison determine that
you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless? (Q58)
At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing
program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determine that you were an
unaccompanied youth who was homeless? (Q59)
At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or
transitional living program determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were
self-supporting and at risk of being homeless? (Q60)

!"Yes"" !"No
!"Yes"" !"No
!"Yes"" !"No

If you answered YES to ANY of the previous questions, you do not have to provide parental information. Skip to Section 4 on page 6.
If you answered NO to ALL of the previous questions, then you must provide parental information. Complete Section 3 on the next page.
WWW.FAFSA.ED.GOV

2009-2010 FAFSA ON THE WEB WORKSHEET PAGE 3

SECTION 3 PARENTAL INFORMATION

If you answered No to all of the questions in Section 2, you must provide parental information. Refer to your parents IRS tax
return when necessary. Answer the questions as of the date you will complete and sign your FAFSA.
Grandparents, foster parents and legal guardians are not considered parents on this form unless they have legally adopted you.
If your parent is widowed or single, answer the questions about that parent. If your widowed parent is remarried, answer the questions
about that parent and your stepparent.
If your parents are divorced or separated, answer the questions about the parent you lived with more during the past 12 months. If you
did not live with one parent more than the other, give answers about the parent who provided more financial support during the past 12
months. If this parent is remarried, answer the questions about that parent and your stepparent.

Federal law provides that, under very limited special circumstances, you may submit your FAFSA without parental information. If
you have a special circumstance and are unable to provide parental information, FAFSA on the Web will instruct you on how to
proceed. The following are examples of special circumstances.
Your parents are incarcerated; or
You have left home due to an abusive family environment; or
You do not know where your parents are and are unable to contact them (and you have not been adopted).

!"Married or remarried "" !"Divorced or separated""

!"Single "
!"Widowed

What is your parents marital status as of today? (Q61)

As of today refers to the day that you sign your FAFSA.

Month and year your parents were married, separated, divorced or widowed.
(Q62) (Example: Month and year: 05/1998)

What is your parents e-mail address? (Q71)

If you provide your parents e-mail address, we will let them know your FAFSA has been processed.

What is your fathers (or stepfathers) Social Security Number? (Q63)

What is your fathers (or stepfathers) last name? (Q64)

What is your fathers (or stepfathers) date of birth? (Q66)
(Example: Month, day and year: 05/07/1962)

What is your mothers (or stepmothers) Social Security Number? (Q67)

What is your mothers (or stepmothers) last name? (Q68)

What is your mothers (or stepmothers) date of birth? (Q70)
(Example: Month, day and year: 05/07/1962)

What is your parents state of legal residence? (Q72)

Enter the date of legal residency for the parent who has lived in the state the
longest, if it was not before January 1, 2004. (Q74)

(Example: Month and year: 05/2005)

What income tax return did your parents file or will

they file for 2008? (Q83)

!"IRS 1040""
!"IRS 1040A, 1040EZ

If your parents have filed or will file a 1040, were they eligible to file a 1040A or
1040EZ? (Q84)
A person is not eligible to file a 1040A or 1040EZ if he or she makes $100,000 or more, itemizes
deductions, receives income from his or her own business or farm, is self-employed, receives alimony or is
required to file Schedule D for capital gains. If your parents were not required to file a tax return or they
filed a 1040 only to claim Hope or Lifetime Learning tax credits, and would have otherwise been eligible
for a 1040A or 1040EZ, answer Yes.

In 2007 or 2008, did you, your parents or anyone in your parents household
receive benefits from any of the federal benefits programs listed? (Q77-81)
Mark all the programs that apply.
Select benefits received for all of your parents household members. Include in your parents household:
(1) your parents and yourself, even if you dont live with your parents; (2) your parents other children if
(a) your parents will provide more than half of their support between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010, or
(b) the children could answer No to every question in Section 2 of this worksheet; and (3) other people
only if they live with your parents, your parents provide more than half of their support and your parents
will continue to provide more than half of their support between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010. TANF
may have a different name in your parents state. Call 1-800-4-FED-AID to find out the name of the states
program.
PAGE 4 2009-2010 FAFSA ON THE WEB WORKSHEET

!"A foreign tax return"

!"A tax return with Puerto Rico,"another U.S.
territory or a Freely"#ssociated State
!"Yes""
!"No""
!"Dont know
!"Supplemental Security Income""
!"Food Stamps""
!"Free or Reduced Price School Lunch"
!"Temporary Assistance for Needy"
Families (TANF)""
!"Special Supplemental Nutrition"Program
for Women, Infants and"Children (WIC)
WWW.FAFSA.ED.GOV

SECTION 3

(CONTINUED)

PARENTAL INFORMATION

As of today, is either of your parents a dislocated worker? (Q85)

In general, a person may be considered a dislocated worker if he or she is receiving unemployment benefits due to being laid off or
losing a job and is unlikely to return to a previous occupation; has been laid off or received a lay-off notice from a job; was selfemployed but is now unemployed due to economic conditions or natural disaster; or is a displaced homemaker. A displaced
homemaker is generally a person who previously provided unpaid services to the family (e.g., a stay-at-home mom or dad), is no
longer supported by the husband or wife, is unemployed or underemployed and is having trouble finding or upgrading employment.

What was your parents adjusted gross income for 2008? (Q86)

!"Yes""""""""
!"No"""""""""
!"Dont know

Adjusted gross income is on IRS form 1040line 37; 1040Aline 21; or 1040EZline 4.
Questions 89 and 90 ask about earnings (wages, salaries, tips, etc.) in 2008.
Answer the questions whether or not a tax return was filed. This information may be on the W-2 forms, or on IRS Form 1040
lines 7 + 12 + 18 + Box 14 of IRS Schedule K-1 (Form 1065); 1040Aline 7; or 1040EZline 1.

How much did your father/stepfather earn from working in 2008? (Q89)

How much did your mother/stepmother earn from working in 2008? (Q90)

Enter the amount of your parents income tax for 2008. (Q87)

Income tax amount is on IRS Form 1040line 56; 1040Aline 35; or 1040EZline 11.

Enter your parents exemptions for 2008. (Q88)

Exemptions are on IRS Form 1040line 6d or 1040Aline 6d. On the 1040EZ, if a person checked either the you or spouse box
on line 5, use 1040EZ worksheet line F to determine the number of exemptions ($3,500 equals one exemption). If a person didnt
check either box on line 5, enter 01 if he or she is single, or 02 if he or she is married.

Your parents number of family members in 2009-2010. (Q75)

Include in your parents household: (1) your parents and yourself, even if you dont live with your parents, (2) your parents other
children if (a) your parents will provide more than half of their support between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010, or (b) the children
could answer No to every question in Section 2 of this worksheet, and (3) other people only if they live with your parents, your
parents provide more than half of their support and your parents will continue to provide more than half of their support between
July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010.

How many people in your parents household will be college students between July 1, 2009 and
June 30, 2010? (Q76)
Always count yourself. Do not include your parents. Include others only if they will attend, at least half-time in 2009-2010, a
program that leads to a college degree or certificate.

Your parents 2008 Additional Financial Information (Q94)

Your parents 2008 Untaxed Income (Q95)

Complete the left column of the table on page 8.

Complete the left column of the table on page 8.

Parent Asset Information

As of today, what is your parents total current balance of cash, savings and checking accounts? (Q91)

Investments include real estate (do not include the family home), trust funds, UGMA and UTMA accounts, money market funds, mutual funds, certificates of
deposit, stocks, stock options, bonds, other securities, Coverdell savings accounts, 529 college savings plans, the refund value of 529 prepaid tuition plans,
installment and land sale contracts (including mortgages held), commodities, etc. For more information about reporting educational savings plans call
1-800-4-FED-AID. Investment value means the current balance or market value of these investments as of today. Investment debt means only those debts that are
related to the investments.
Do not include the value of life insurance, retirement plans (401[k] plans, pension funds, annuities, noneducation IRAs, Keogh plans, etc.) or cash, savings and
checking accounts already reported in questions 41 and 91.
Business and/or investment farm value includes the market value of land, buildings, machinery, equipment, inventory, etc. Business and/or investment farm debt
means only those debts for which the business or investment farm was used as collateral.

As of today, what is the net worth of your parents investments, including real estate (not your
parents home)? (Q92)

Net worth means current value minus debt.

As of today, what is the net worth of your parents current businesses and/or investment farms? (Q93)
Do not include the value of a family farm that your parents live on and operate.
Do not include the value of a small business if your family owns and controls more than 50 percent of the business and the business has
100 or fewer full-time or full-time equivalent employees. For small business value, your family includes (1) persons directly related to
you, such as a parent, sister or cousin, or (2) persons who are or were related to you by marriage, such as a spouse, stepparent or sisterin-law.
WWW.FAFSA.ED.GOV

2009-2010 FAFSA ON THE WEB WORKSHEET PAGE 5

SECTION 4 STUDENT FINANCES

Answer the questions as of the date you will complete and sign your FAFSA. Refer to the IRS tax return as needed.
If you filed a foreign tax return, use the exchange rate at www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h10/update to convert monetary units
to U.S. dollars.
If you are married as of today, report your and your spouses income, even if you were not married in 2008. Ignore references to
spouse if you are single, divorced, separated or widowed.
What income tax return did you file or will you file for
2008? (Q34)

!"IRS 1040""
!"IRS 1040A, 1040EZ""
!"A foreign tax return"

!"A tax return with Puerto Rico,"

another U.S. territory or a Freely
Associated State

If you have filed or will file a 1040, were you eligible to file a 1040A or 1040EZ? (Q35)

!"Yes""
!"No""
!"Dont know

A person is not eligible to file a 1040A or 1040EZ if he or she makes $100,000 or more, itemizes deductions, receives income from
his or her own business or farm, is self-employed, receives alimony or is required to file Schedule D for capital gains. If you were
not required to file a tax return or you filed a 1040 only to claim Hope or Lifetime Learning tax credits, and you would otherwise
have been eligible for a 1040A or 1040EZ, answer Yes.

What was your (and your spouses) adjusted gross income for 2008? (Q36)

Adjusted gross income is on IRS Form 1040line 37; 1040Aline 21; or 1040EZline 4.

Questions 39 and 40 ask about earnings (wages, salaries, tips, etc.) in 2008. Answer the questions whether or not a
tax return was filed. This information may be on the W-2 forms, or on IRS Form 1040lines 7 + 12 + 18 + Box 14 of
IRS Schedule K-1 (Form 1065); 1040Aline 7; or 1040EZline 1.

How much did you earn from working in 2008? (Q39)

How much did your spouse earn from working in 2008? (Q40)

What type of veterans education benefits will you receive?

(Q45)
Answer this question only if you will receive these benefits between July 1, 2009
and June 30, 2010.

!"Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (Chapter 30)"

!"Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)""
!"Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)"
!"Reserve Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 1607)""
!"Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Chapter 31)""
!"Dependents# Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)"
!"Any other type of veterans education benefits

If you answered YES to ANY question in Section 2, answer the following questions.
If you answered NO to all the questions in Section 2, skip to page 7.
Your number of family members in 2009-2010. (Q96)
Include in your household: (1) yourself (and your spouse), (2) your children, if you will provide more than half of their support between
July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010, and (3) other people if they now live with you, you provide more than half of their support and you will
continue to provide more than half of their support between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010.

How many people in your (and your spouses) household will be college students between July 1, 2009
and June 30, 2010? (Q97)
Always count yourself. Include others only if they will attend, at least half-time in 2009-2010, a program that leads to a college degree
or certificate.

In 2007 or 2008, did you (or your spouse) or anyone in your

household (from question 96) receive benefits from any of the
federal benefits programs listed? (Q98-102) Mark all the
programs that apply.
Select benefits received for all of your household members. Use the instructions
in question 96 to identify who is included in your household. Answering these
questions will not reduce your eligibility for student aid or these other federal
benefits. TANF may have a different name in your state. Call 1-800-4-FED-AID
to find out the name of your states program.

!"Supplemental Security Income""

!"Food Stamps""
!"Free or Reduced Price School Lunch"
!"Temporary Assistance for Needy"Families (TANF)""
!"Special Supplemental Nutrition"Program for Women,
Infants and"Children (WIC)

As of today, are you (or your spouse) a dislocated worker? (Q103)

In general, a person may be considered a dislocated worker if he or she is receiving unemployment benefits due to being laid off or
losing a job and is unlikely to return to a previous occupation; has been laid off or received a lay-off notice from a job; was selfemployed but is now unemployed due to economic conditions or natural disaster; or is a displaced homemaker. A displaced homemaker
is generally a person who previously provided unpaid services to the family (e.g., a stay-at-home mom or dad), is no longer supported
by the husband or wife, is unemployed or underemployed, and is having trouble finding or upgrading employment.
PAGE 6 2009-2010 FAFSA ON THE WEB WORKSHEET

!"Yes""""""""
!"No"""""""""
!"Dont know
WWW.FAFSA.ED.GOV

SECTION 4 (CONTINUED) STUDENT FINANCES

Enter the amount of your (and your spouses) income tax for 2008. (Q37)

Income tax amount is on IRS Form 1040line 56; 1040Aline 35; or 1040EZline 11.

Enter your (and your spouses) exemptions for 2008. (Q38)

Exemptions are on IRS Form 1040line 6d or 1040Aline 6d. On the 1040EZ, if a person checked either the you or spouse
box on line 5, use 1040EZ worksheet line F to determine the number of exemptions ($3,500 equals one exemption). If a person didnt
check either box on line 5, enter 01 if he or she is single, or 02 if he or she is married.

Your 2008 Additional Financial Information amount (Q46)

Your 2008 Untaxed Income amount (Q47)

Student Asset Information

Complete the right column of the table on page 8.

Complete the right column of the table on page 8.

(See Parent Asset Information on page 5 for instructions on reporting assets.)

As of today, what is your (and your spouses) total current balance of cash, savings and checking
accounts? (Q41) Do not include student financial aid.

As of today, what is the net worth of your (and your spouses) investments, including real estate
(not your home)? (Q42) Net worth means current value minus debt.

As of today, what is the net worth of your (and your spouses) current businesses and/or investment
farms? (Q43)
Do not include the value of a family farm that you (and your spouse) live on and operate.
Do not include the value of a small business if your family owns and controls more than 50 percent of the business and the business
has 100 or fewer full-time or full-time equivalent employees. For small business value, your family includes (1) persons directly
related to you, such as a parent, sister or cousin, or (2) persons who are or were related to you by marriage, such as a spouse,
stepparent or sister-in-law.

SECTION 5 COLLEGES TO RECEIVE INFORMATION

If you do not know the school code, write the colleges name. You will have a chance online to search for the school code.
For each college, indicate the corresponding housing plan.
Federal School
Code

Housing Plan

Federal School
Code

Housing Plan

1st college

2nd college

3rd college

4th college

5th college

(Q104.a)

(Q104.c)

(Q104.e)

(Q104.g)

(Q104.i)

!" on campus"
!" with parent"
!" off campus"
(Q104.b)

!" on campus"
!" with parent"
!" off campus"
(Q104.d)

!" on campus"
!" with parent"
!" off campus"
(Q104.f)

!" on campus"
!" with parent"
!" off campus"
(Q104.h)

!" on campus"
!" with parent"
!" off campus"
(Q104.j)

6th college

7th college

8th college

9th college

(Q104.k)

(Q104.m)

!" on campus"
!" with parent"
!" off campus"
(Q104.l)

!" on campus"
!" with parent"
!" off campus"
(Q104.n)

(Q104.o)
!" on campus"
!" with parent"
!" off campus"
(Q104.p)

10th college

(Q104.q)

(Q104.s)

!" on campus"
!" with parent"
!" off campus"
(Q104.r)

!" on campus"
!" with parent"
!" off campus"
(Q104.t)

Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov and enter the information from this worksheet.

Additional help is available online, or you can call 1-800-4-FED-AID. TTY users (hearing impaired) may call 1-800-730-8913.
For more information on federal student aid, visit www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov.
You can also talk with your colleges financial aid office about other types of student aid that may be available.

DO NOT MAIL THIS WORKSHEET.

WWW.FAFSA.ED.GOV

2009-2010 FAFSA ON THE WEB WORKSHEET PAGE 7

Use the tables below to report annual amounts.

For the Parents column, enter the amount for the students parent(s). For the Students column, enter the amount for the student (and his or her spouse).

Parents (Q94)

2008 Additional Financial Information

Students (Q46)

a. Education credits (Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits) from IRS Form
1040line 50 or 1040Aline 31.

b. Child support paid because of divorce or separation or as a result of a legal

requirement.

Dont include support for children in your (or your parents) household, as reported in question
96 (or question 75 for your parents).

c. Taxable earnings from need-based employment programs, such as Federal

Work-Study and need-based employment portions of fellowships and
assistantships.
d. Grant and scholarship aid reported to the IRS in the adjusted gross income.
Includes AmeriCorps benefits (awards, living allowances and interest accrual payments), as well
as grant and scholarship portions of fellowships and assistantships.

e. Combat pay or special combat pay.

Only enter the amount that was taxable and included in the adjusted gross income. Do not enter
untaxed combat pay reported on the W-2 (Box 12, Code Q).

2008 Untaxed Income

Parents (Q95)

Students (Q47)

a. Payments to tax-deferred pension and savings plans (paid directly or withheld

from earnings), including, but not limited to, amounts reported on the W-2
forms in Boxes 12a through 12d, codes D, E, F, G, H and S.

b. IRA deductions and payments to self-employed SEP, SIMPLE, Keogh and

other qualified plans from IRS Form 1040line 28 + line 32 or 1040Aline
17.

$
$

c. Child support received for all children.

Dont include foster care or adoption payments.

d. Tax exempt interest income from IRS Form 1040line 8b or 1040Aline

8b.
e. Untaxed portions of IRA distributions from IRS Form 1040lines (15a
minus 15b) or 1040Alines (11a minus 11b).

$
$

Exclude rollovers. If negative, enter a zero here.

f. Untaxed portions of pensions from IRS Form 1040lines (16a minus 16b) or
1040Alines (12a minus 12b). Exclude rollovers. If negative, enter a zero here.

g. Housing, food and other living allowances paid to members of the military,
clergy and others (including cash payments and cash value of benefits).

h. Veterans noneducation benefits such as Disability, Death Pension, or

Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and/or VA Educational
Work-Study allowances.

i. Other untaxed income not reported, such as workers compensation,

disability, etc.
$

XXXXXXXXXX

Dont include student aid, earned income credit, additional child tax credit, welfare payments,
untaxed Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income, Workforce Investment Act
educational benefits, combat pay, benefits from flexible spending arrangements (e.g., cafeteria
plans), foreign income exclusion or credit for federal tax on special fuels.

j. Money received, or paid on your behalf (e.g., bills), not reported elsewhere on
this form.

PAGE 8 2009-2010 FAFSA ON THE WEB WORKSHEET

$
WWW.FAFSA.ED.GOV

After the FAFSA application is analyzed, a report will be generated

determining what a families contribution will be toward their childs
educational costs. This report should be thoroughly reviewed. Included in
this report is the expected family contribution (EFC). From that number,
financial need is established. Once this information is available, it will be
forwarded to state agencies responsible for overseeing state aid and to
the Pell grant program. The formula used to determine aid is based on
the information included on the FAFSA form.

One asset that is not included on the FAFSA is the value of the home the
student lives in. In addition, any money held in a 401K plan, or other
retirement fund, is also exempt from consideration. Because of the very
nature of financial aid, circumstance can change after the FAFSA form
has been submitted. It is therefore advisable to speak with the financial aid
officers at the schools being applied to elaborate or correct any recent
changes not included in the FAFSA.

A second form that may be required is the CSS financial aid profile. This
form is primarily used by private institutions to supplement the information
in the FAFSA form. This form is much more detailed and may look at
assets not considered by FAFSA. The form is administered by College

Board. Each student should check with his or her respective college to
determine if this form needs to be completed.
In some cases, institutions may provide their own financial aid form in
addition to FAFSA. Again, check with the college or university to see their
requirements.

GOLD NUGGET: If information

needed to fill out the FAFSA form is unavailable,
it is better to underestimate the value than over
estimate it. In most cases, it is easier to lower an award
than try and increase one.

After the office of financial aid reviews this information, the

applicant will be notified of his or her award as well as what
federal aid he or she qualified for.

Financial aid falls into two broad categories: Money that must be paid back and
money that does not require repayment. How this is determined is once again
based on financial need.

Grants, scholarships, work-study, are all sources of financial aid that does not
need to be paid back which makes this money FREE! But beware: free does not
always mean free. For example, some scholarship money may be dependent on
maintaining a certain GPA, or for athletic scholarships, participating in teamrequired events. Money that is truly grant money typically comes with no strings
attached.

Non-Free Money: Loans.

GOLD NUGGET:
The process of determining need can play a role in admissions.
Some schools are need-blind, some are need-aware. Check
with the college to determine which process is used.

When colleges decide on how much money they are going to award, it is usually
called a financial aid package. The reason for this is that most packages combine
several forms of assistance. These can include grants, loans, work-study, and
any federal money a student has qualified for based on their financial status. For
those students who are academically, or athletically gifted, there is another route
they can take: Scholarships. For academically gifted students, colleges and
universities will award money to entice a student to attend. This is also true for
athletic scholarships. These awards may also be included along with other forms
of financial assistance to form the students financial aid package.

GOLD NUGGET:
Pay close attention to the details of merit/athletic awards.
Awards can be renewable, or have other restrictions. Athletic
awards will have certain academic and other restrictions attached.

Now that we have examined what the FAFSA form looks like and how it is used
to determine financial need, how do colleges use this information to determine a
financial award?

FEDERAL MONEY - STATE MONEY - SAVINGS ACCOUNT- 529- MUTAL FUNDS

We will begin by examining the federal sources of money. Federal programs are
administered by the government have specific requirements and dollar amounts:
1-Pell Grant: This grant is designed to help lower-income students and is
determined based on financial need as documented on the FAFSA form. The
amount of the award varies from several hundred dollars to approximately $4000.
The money is dispersed to the school and can be directly deducted from the
students college bill. http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/PellGrants.jsp

2-Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

This federal award is reserved for students with exceptional financial need. Like
the Pell grant, they do not have to be repaid
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/FSEOG.jsp

3-Americorp
Americorp is a national program that works with organizations to provide
community service in areas of need. The award is based on fulfilling a specific
number of volunteer hours in exchange for the award.
http://www.americorps.org/

4-Federal Work-Study
While not a grant, it is money that does not need to be re-paid. Colleges arrange
for these jobs. The hours a student is allowed to work. This money is paid directly
to the student and therefore is not deducted from the students college bill.
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/campusaid.jsp

State Based Grants:

1-State Grants: Most states have programs in place similar to the federal
programs. Some states require additional forms to qualify for these funds, and
others use the FAFSA. The best way to get information about these awards is to
ask the guidance counselor at the high school attended. Please note, some of
these awards are only issued for students attending a college in their home state.

Loans:
As the name indicates, this is money that needs to be paid back.
1-Federal Perkins Loans: This loan is a low interest, long- term loan, federally
subsidized. Financial need is a requirement to qualify. The maximum value is
$4000. Repayment of the loan begins nine months after graduation. Repayment
may be deferred under certain circumstances. The loan can also be canceled for
students who work in certain fields, such as the Peace Corps, law enforcement,
or education.
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/campusaid.jsp

2-Federal Stafford Loan.

Like the Perkins loan, this loan is a long term, low interest loan that is federally
overseen and subsidized. The loans range for 2-4 thousand dollars. Repayment
begins six months after graduation. The loan has a ten-year payout but can be
extended longer. This loan may also be paid back over a shorter period of time

without penalty. Although these loans are federally funded, local banks issue
them.
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/studentloans.jsp

3- PLUS loans.
Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students is a loan parents can qualify for to meet
the unmet need their child may face. Unlike other loans, repayment of principle
begins shortly after being dispersed.
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/parentloans.jsp

4-Private Loans.
These loans are arranged by the borrower and not subject to the rules governing
the federally overseen loans. Borrowers can take any amount they deem
necessary. One way to secure funds of this nature is to take out a second
mortgage or home equity loan.
https://studentaid2.ed.gov/getmoney/pay_for_college/loans_plus_vs_equity.html

Danger! Danger! Danger! Taking out private

loans can be very expensive and potentially dangerous.
Since the loan is secured by the families home, failure to
Repay this loan could lead to foreclosure.

The Rest.
1-State savings plans: 529
This is essentially a saving account that is sheltered from taxes. This plan allows
money to be saved as earmarked for college. There are two basic forms this plan
comes in: prepaid and savings plans. Prepaid plans allow the depositor to lock
into todays rate of tuition at mostly public institutions in a particular state. The
savings plans can be funded through mutual funds or stocks and can be used for
any institution. The down side to these plans is that it reduces financial aid
dollars since it is considered an asset under FAFSA.
http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/intro529.htm

2-Roth IRA
A family qualifies for a Roth IRA if they meet the income requirements: Currently
$95,000 to $150,000, more for couples. These funds can be withdrawn free of
tax for education. The current amount of this deposit is $4000. Since the
inception of the 529 plan, the Roth IRA is not as valuable as it once was as a
saving tool.
3-Borrowing from a 401k plan.
Borrowing from a 401k plan should be considered a last resort option. Since
educational offer lower interest rates, these fund are not tax exempt.
https://studentaid2.ed.gov/getmoney/pay_for_college/loans_plus_vs_401k.html

4-ROTC.
The Air Force, Army, and Navy all offer scholarship programs to help students
offset the cost of college. Army ROTC scholarships consist of:
* Full-tuition scholarships
Army ROTC scholarships also provide monthly living allowances for each school
year. The amount varies.
http://www.goarmy.com/rotc/scholarships.jsp

5-Company funding.
Many companies will provide funding for college for their employees. This
funding can range from partial tuition to full tuition payments. Likewise, many
colleges offer free tuition for the children of their employees.

Scholarships:
Scholarships are funds that dont need to be repaid. That is why these funds are
highly sought after. Scholarships include: athletic, academic, college based, and
privately funded.
Athletic Scholarships: The most common athletic scholarships are offered
through what is referred to as Division I and Division II schools. These are
schools that have competitive sports programs with athletic departments that
recruit students directly.
The rules and regulations covering athletic scholarships and recruitment are
extensive and often confusing. In short, the requirements for each division vary
based on several factors. These factors include the number of teams the school

sponsors, the number of core courses the students must take, the SAT and ACT
test scores, and the students grade point average. For a complete list of
eligibility requirements for NCAA scholarship, please see the link below
http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentID=9

Another venue for athletic scholarships is through the National Association of

Intercollegiate Athletics. This organization is similar to the NCAA. The NAIA
offers 23 championships in 13 sports and more than 90% of NAIA schools offer
athletic scholarships.
http://naia.cstv.com/member-services/attend.htm

Golden Nugget: While athletic scholarships are a great way to finance an education, special attention should
be paid to the amount of aid awarded and other conditions surrounding the award. Often, specific grade point averages
apply to maintaining an award as well as other requirements placed on a student-athlete by the team. Parents should also
be aware of the graduation rates from a particular college or university for a student-athlete. This information is readily
available on the NCAA website.
!"#$%#&'()*+%,,-..*/#&-*0"-)$.*1("*2'3'.'()*4*5(6-)7.*+8("&.
Four-Class Averages for 1997-00 Cohorts vs. 1998-01 Cohorts

SPORT

Four-Class
Average
1997-00
Cohorts

Four-Class
Average
1998-01
Cohorts

Basketball

81%

82%

Bowling

68%

68%

Crew

90%

91%

Cross Country/Track

83%

84%

!"#$%#&'()*+%,,-..*/#&-*0"-)$.*1("*2'3'.'()*4*5-)6.*+7("&.
Four-Class Averages for 1997-00 Cohorts vs. 1998-01 Cohorts

SPORT

Four-Class
Average
1997-00
Cohorts

Four-Class
Average
1998-01
Cohorts

Baseball

66%

68%

Basketball

61%

62%

Cross Country/Track

74%

74%

Fencing

88%

86%

Fencing

93%

90%

Football (FBS)

67%

67%

Field Hockey

94%

94%

Football (FCS)

65%

65%

Golf

87%

87%

Golf

79%

79%

Gymnastics

94%

95%

Gymnastics

88%

86%

Ice Hockey

90%

90%

Ice Hockey

84%

83%

Lacrosse

94%

94%

Lacrosse

88%

88%

Rifle

77%

82%

Rifle

78%

80%

Skiing

95%

96%

Skiing

85%

81%

Soccer

89%

89%

Soccer

77%

79%

Softball

85%

86%

Swimming

82%

83%

Swimming

91%

90%

Tennis

82%

83%

Tennis

88%

89%

Volleyball

78%

83%

Volleyball

88%

88%

Water Polo

85%

87%

Water Polo

85%

86%

Wrestling

70%

72%

Average GSRs for Division I Student-Athletes in

1997-00 Cohorts Vs. 1998-2001Cohorts
1997-00 Cohorts

1998-01 Cohorts

Division I Overall

77%

78%

Division I Men

70%

71%

Division I Women

87%

87%

Division I Football
Bowl Subdivision

78%

79%

Division I Football
Championship
Subdivision

75%

75%

Division I
(No Football)

79%

81%

*Graduation rates as reported by the

NCAA. For further information, please see
the NCAA website:
http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentI
D=38485

Merit Scholarships:
Merit scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic performance and
standardized test scores. Each institution has their own polices and requirements
for these awards. Some colleges and universities will match students with
awards based on the information contained in their application. Other institutions
require a separate application for an award. Like athletic scholarships, there can
be restrictions or special conditions associated with an award. For many families,
merit scholarships provide the means for a student to attend a private college for
less than the cost of a non-private college. Merit scholarships can include awards
for specific majors or departments within a school. Some colleges and
universities have scholarships funded by alumni. While many of these
scholarships are not full scholarships, when combined with financial aid, it could
reduce the out of pocket cost to the student to a minimal amount. One of the
main advantages to institutional scholarships is that the total number of students
who apply is far less than national scholarships. Also, many of these
scholarships can be applied for as a second year student.

A word about scholarship applications:

Most scholarships require an application, which includes a personal statement or
some type of question indicating why the applicant is applying. Because of the
highly competitive nature of these awards, students should plan what they are
going to say carefully, and make certain that they meet all eligibility requirements.
Like the college essay, be yourself! The individuals who read scholarship

applications are adept at knowing who is telling the truth and who is writing
something because they want a scholarship. Grammar and punctuation are as
important here as in the college application. It is advisable to have any
scholarship application proof read to pick up any errors and to ensure that the
thoughts expressed in the application flow well.

Company Scholarships
Many companies offer scholarships for the children of employees or for the
employees themselves. The same holds true for many service organizations. The
best way to find these scholarships is to ask the human resource department or,
if the organization has a union, the union leaders. These scholarships, unlike
national scholarships are less competitive simply based on the relatively few
number of individuals who apply for them.

Golden Nugget: Do your homework! If you applying for a scholarship from

a specific group ,organization, or even a college, research what they are about, and if possible,
contact previous winners of this award. Remember, scholarship providers are human too and
are more likely to give an award to a person whose words match the organizations goals.

The Internet: So many web pages, so little time.

With the advent of the Internet, scholarship searching has become significantly
easierand difficult. To begin with, a word of warning: Do not pay anyone for
scholarship information or lists of available scholarships. There is no need
to pay someone for something that is available for free. Most scholarship
search sites require the student to register and provide specific information so
they can be matched to specific awards. This information can include geographic
area, race, grade point average, or any special talents or skills. Once a
scholarship has been located, the student is directed to a web site for further
information about the requirements of that specific scholarship. Most scholarship
web sites update their database as new scholarships become available.
Now the bad news: Like the answer to the question once asked Willie Sutton, a
notorious bank robber, Why do you rob banks? Because that's where the
money is. most students know about these web sites, which means stiff
competition for money. Another downside to these types of sites is that the user
in inundated with ads or other useless information prior to getting to the
scholarship information. So whats the answer? Look elsewhere.

One example of elsewhere is http://www.MoreThanGrades.com

Here, with one click, scholarships hidden on the Internet instantaneously appear.
Unique to the MoreThanGrades web site is the ability to find scholarship money
at universities and colleges by using its unique search feature. By entering one
word in the general information area: Scholarships, any college or university that
has an institutional scholarship available will appear following the search query.
By using the other available check off boxes, the search can be narrowed to a
specific geographic location or to schools with specific majors.

MoreThanGrades also offers

thousands of dollars in unique
and fun scholarship contests: No
essays or applications to fill out.
Simply create a profile, make a
video, and have a chance to win
regardless of GPA or other
standardized test scores!

Still need money?

MoreThanGrades lists
scholarships from around the
Internet in one convenient
place, including links to the
actual application. Do you
know of a scholarship or
have one to post? Contact
MoreThanGrades today!

And many others

Other web sites contain information provided by the department of education.

These include college.gov, and ed.gov. These sites contain a wide range of
information on the college application process and can also assist with finding
money.
One of the more commercial sites with scholarship information is
scholarships.com. This site, like many of the other scholarship search sites,
requires the user to register, enter personal information, and then allows users to
search based on specific criteria. One unique feature to this site unavailable on
other sites is its one application for many scholarships format. Students can fill
out one application, which can then be used to apply for several scholarships
simultaneously. For further information, please visit http://www.scholarships.com

Golden Nugget: One of the least used tools for finding little know scholarship money
is Google alerts. By using specific words, like college + scholarship, any time those keywords
match, a notice will be sent. By using these key words, along with perhaps a geographic
location, little known scholarships can be located. And best of all, its free.

What if?????
Since there are always what ifs we have included a list of topics and situations
that might impact on a students financial aid.

1- What if I dont get enough financial aid?

Unfortunately, this is one of the most frustrating parts of the college admission
process. Hard decisions need to be made. The first step is to contact the
financial aid officer at the school and see what can be done. Financial aid
awards are not written in stone and can be appealed. Keep in mind that most
awards based on FAFSA should be fairly close in amount. One thing that will
not work is using the award from one school to justify increasing an award
from a second school. Its Okay to ask for a second look at an award, but
financial aid is not like buying a car. The price is the price.
2- What if my parents are divorced or separated?
If one parent is out of the picture, inform the financial aid officer at each
college that is being considered this information sooner rather than later. This
is a perfect example of how information of how information not fully explained
in the FAFSA can impact a financial package. It will greatly benefit the student
to have this information corroborated by an outside person such as a
guidance counselor or clergy.
3-What if I want to go to a private school but can only afford a state school?
Not so fast. Before deciding that an education at a private school is out of
reach, consider that private schools offer far more aid than state schools. In
fact, after all the financial aid has been awarded, often times an education at

a private school can be less than that of a state school. The moral of the
story: Dont make any decisions about financial aid until all the financial aid
packages have been evaluated.
3- Are they any costs not considered in my financial aid package?
Yes and No. Most packages take into account the usual costs: Tuition, room
and board, fees, books, computer, and travel. Some of the other costs not
included, sometimes referred to as hidden costs, include: Fees on loans, cell
phone, personal hygiene products, fraternity membership, dining out,
concerts, and other non-school related activities. Depending on the school,
study abroad may be included with the cost of tuition if it is done during the
academic year. Summer school courses are typically not included in financial
aid packages.
4- How often is my financial aid package evaluated?
Typically, each year a new FASFA application must be filed. Scholarships
review varies depending on the award. Before enrolling in any institution, the
length of an award should known since this can significantly impact the ability
of a student to stay at a particular college or university.
5- How does my college bill get paid if I am receiving financial aid?
Most loan and grant checks go directly to the college. Any remaining monies
will be deposited into the students account. Private loans go directly to the
person who took out the loan.