PNHS Financial Aid Seminar

Seniors!2017-2018

PNHS Financial Aid Night

● An informational parent night was held here on Monday, Oct. 9.– More detailed info about family demographics and

financial assets● Check the PNHS website for copies of the

presentation.

Agenda:

1. Types of Financial Aid2. The FAFSA Application Process3. After the FAFSA4. Resources and Help5. Senior Reminders

Types of Financial Aid

● Gift Aid (free money)– Scholarships– Grants

● Self-Help Aid– Employment / Work Study– Student Loans

Types of Financial Aid: GIFT AID

● Scholarships: some local & school ones highlighted here– Awarded on the basis of merit, skill, or unique characteristics by:

● Community Organizations● Private Donors● College / Departments● Employers

● Grants: money students do not have to pay back– usually awarded on basis of financial need

● Institutional Grants (from the colleges)● Federal Grants (Pell, SEOG <private schools only>)● State Grants

Types of Financial Aid: SELF-HELP

● Employment– Funds to cover ongoing college related expenses

● Federal Work-Study: aid in the form of a paycheck or non-monetary compensation (room and board)

● Off-Campus employment● Loans: more details to follow. Do careful research.

– Money students & parents can borrow to help pay for college expenses.● Repayment usually starts after education is finished● Only borrow what is needed● View as an investment

Local Scholarships● KALAMAZOO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION!

– Need-based scholarship program www.kalfound.org

Very detailed and helpful info on their website.

● Mid-January, their online application will be available. Most due March 1, 2018.

Local Scholarships● KALAMAZOO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION!

– Remynse Scholarship. ● Deadline: December 1, 2017● All applications are online and need to be submitted

online by Dec. 1, 2017 . ● Letters of recommendation must be submitted, by

student, to the Kal Found office by Dec. 1. Forms available online.

● Request your transcript via Parchment to Kalamazoo Community Foundation. We will only use Parchment… not US mailed copies.

● www.kalfound.org/remynse

PNHS Scholarship● Robert P. Amrhein Memorial Scholarship.

– Portage Education Foundation scholarship for PN students only!

● Senior students may be nominated or may pick up applications in the counseling office to nominate themselves.

– $4,000 non-renewable; character based scholarship.– Available before Winter Break. Listen to announcements.– Application deadline: 2nd Monday in February 2018.– Recipient will be announced at senior academic awards

ceremony in May.

Resources for Scholarships

● For other national scholarships, check:

● www.fastweb.com● www.finaid.org● www.careercruising.com

– NEVER GIVE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER WHEN SEARCHING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS ONLINE!

Student Loans: at a glance

Of Who Name of Federal Loan Max Amt Interest Rate Who pays

per year interest while in

school?Direct Subsidized $3,500 3.78% Government

*Gov pays interest while you’re in school. Need based.Direct Unsubsidized $5,500 3.76% Student

*You pay interest on loans while in school and after school. *Not financial need based.

Parent PLUS Loan varies 6.31% Parent

*Most loans have a 6 month grace period after graduation or cessation of enrollment.

Michigan Financial Aid Programs

● Michigan Competitive Scholarship– State determines a cut-off GPA and SAT score– State will notify you if you qualify– If you didn’t enter your SSN# on SAT last year, you will be

notified and you’ll have to submit your SSN# to the State to receive this scholarship. A letter will follow in Jan-March.

● Michigan Tuition Grant (private schools only)● Tuition Incentive Program (TIP)

– If you were/are TIP eligible, we will contact you in January and walk you through the process.

What’s a FAFSA ??

● Free Application for Federal Student Aid– Federal online form that collects demographic

and financial info about student and family– Calculates Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

● Colleges use EFC to award financial aid to students● Most colleges set their own FAFSA

deadlines.● 2018-2019 academic year FAFSA open

October 1, 2017.

FAFSA online: www.fafsa.ed.gov

● Skip logic-- only answer the questions that apply to you

● Can save and return to application● You will need to complete the FAFSA every

year.● NEVER pay to complete a FAFSA

– Always use a .gov or .ed.gov website– Never a .com site

Necessary Info for the FAFSA

● Social Security #s (parent & student)● Dates (birth, death, marriage or divorce)● 2016 Tax Info● Current bank account balances● Amount of untaxed income● Value of assets

FAFSA in 7 steps:

1. Student Demographics2. School Section (select up to 10 colleges)3. Dependency Status4. Parent Demographics

a. Which parent’s income should you report?5. Financial Income (parent and student)6. Sign and Submit7. Confirmation (print this page)

Get Started Now: FSA ID #

● Create a FSA ID #– https://fsaid.ed.gov– Create a save key– Allows student to save application and return /

complete later● Required to submit electronically

School Section: FAFSA

● List any college that you might attend (whether you’ve been accepted or not)

● May add up to 10 colleges online● Each college has a 6-digit school code

(typically found on their website)● Application will ask about housing plans

SAR: Student Aid Report

● Student Aid Report (SAR) summarizes the data provided on the FAFSA– Displays EFC (expected family contribution)

● Email on file with FAFSA: you’ll get an email notification 3-14 days afterwards with direct link to SAR outline.

● Students may view SAR online by logging in with FSA ID.

● Read SAR letter carefully– Instructions for accepting/receiving aid

Sample Student Aid Report (SAR)

Note that there are awards, scholarships, grants, and loans listed here! There are big differences between these.

Ye-owsa!! Can you say sticker shock?!!

That sounds so much better!

Financial Aid: Determining Need

● Cost of Attendance– Tuition and fees– Room and board– Books, personal and travel expenses

● Expected Family Contribution

= Financial Need (per school)

FAFSA

● DEADLINES are extremely important for the FAFSA process:– Deadline to submit FAFSA is March 1, 2018.

● “Beat, not meet”, March 1 deadline in case of errors.● March 1 is “state” deadline for Michigan funds.

FAFSA Questions?

● For questions after FAFSA is filed, call the prospective college / university.

● Do not call Federal Gov.● Do not call PNHS.

FAFSA EVENT

● WEDNESDAY, NOV. 8, 2017.● 5-7 PM during conferences.● Meet with FAFSA experts/volunteers to get

help with the FAFSA online form.● Sign up in the Counseling Office for a free 30

minute appointment. ● Important info will be given when you make

an appt. (Required documents for FAFSA).

Timeline

▪ March-April: you should receive your SAR (student aid report) from the colleges you indicated on your FAFSA.

▪ April 1: should receive acceptance letter (email) or rejection letter from all colleges to where you have applied.

▪ May 1: almost all colleges / schools require future students to make a commitment and a housing deposit.

May 1: Decision Day

● Wear your sweatshirt/swag to represent your college / university / military branch or other post-high school plan.

● Be proud of your accomplishments thus far and celebrate your next steps.

Important Reminders for Seniors

▪ Counseling Office College Administrative / Processing Fee: $5.

▪ Pay one-time fee of $5 cash to Mrs. Clark in Counseling Office to cover costs of mailings, printouts, Parchment and other college app services.

▪ Students on F/R lunch? See your counselor.

Get help with online college apps

● October 19 and October 26● 1st and 2nd hours and 6th and 7th hours● Get 1:1 help with all things college app related

online (applications, Parchment, College Board, Common App,etc…)

● Sign up in the Counseling Office one day prior. We’ll send you a pass.– It’s your responsibility to notify your teacher and

get any work that you will miss at that time.● Bring questions and/or account passwords (if you’ve

already created them).

Important Reminders for Seniors

▪ Athletes who hope to play at a D 1 or D 2 school will need to register online with the NCAA Clearinghouse at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.

▪ Students will need to fill out an “Initial-Eligibility” Form and pay approx $75 to the Clearinghouse. It is your responsibility to register with them.

▪ Then, log on to Parchment.com and request that your transcript be sent to NCAA.

Important Deadlines for Seniors

▪ Most college applications are due January 1, 2018.

▪ If you need anything from your counselor for your application, be sure to submit prior to Dec. 15, 2017.

● Be sure you have a BRAG SHEET on file with your counselor if you need a letter of recommendation.

●

Mid-Year Report: 7th Semester Grades

● SOME colleges (all Common App schools) will request to see your grades after the first semester… the “mid-year” report or “7th semester grades”.

● Only if a college requests this info, is it necessary to send your transcript.

● You must request your transcript through Parchment to be sent to the Common App and all other schools.– Make sure you “hold for grades” if you are

requesting prior to the end of 1st semester.● You will also request “final grades/transcript” in May.

Seniors:

● See your individual counselor if you have more detailed questions/concerns.

● A-D: Smith● E-K: Hovestadt● L-Ri: DiMaggio● Rj-Z: Figueroa