FINANCIAL AID OPTIONS FOR STUDENT VETERANS Newsletter APR2016.pdf · STARS & STRIPES . LAMC...
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STARS & STRIPES LAMC Veterans Resource Center April 2016 Continued on Back FINANCIAL AID OPTIONS FOR STUDENT VETERANS By Pete Hogenson Federal Work Study Student When a military veteran decides to take the academic path in pursuit of a degree, and therefore makes a career choice which seems like a good fit for him or her, one of the foremost questions to be answered involves “funding the dream”. More than one form of financial aid for college, tech school or other higher learning institutions may be available to the student veteran. Student veterans should start by contacting the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Veterans Benefits Administration, then visit their college Veterans Affairs office, as well. Getting all the information possible from reliable sources will help the student veteran to determine the best way to use resources to cover not only the actual costs of education, but all related living expenses while enrolled, that their situation may require. According to the Federal Student Aid website page for student veterans and dependents, “Both the federal government and nonprofit organizations offer money for college to veterans”. For the do-it- yourselfers in the mix, it’s fairly easy to search for related online sites, and navigate them to get all the information, forms, links to additional contacts, and other help that may be needed to get going on maximizing use of their available benefits in a timely manner. Others may prefer in-person assistance with all of the above, and as mentioned previously in this article, there are plenty of ways to go about getting that one-on-one service and building an ongoing relationship with those who are there to assist, by visiting offices serving their area or school. One issue that might arise for veteran students involves the feasibility of, and clarity of rules for, choosing to use their VA Educational benefits AND also using FAFSA/Pell Grant and other assistance at the same time. Depending on variable factors, pertaining to the student’s educational path or plan, it might be best to conserve financial assistance resources and "budget" the use of them over the potential long- term of four or more school years of college or university attendance, or whatever total number of credits/units is desired or needed. Veteran Financial Aid Sources For Higher Education Choices VA G.I. Bill www.benefits.va.gov/gibill VA CareerScope www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/careerscope.asp Federal Student Aid https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants- scholarships/military FinAid.org www.finaid.org/military/fafsa.phtml Counseling and consultation are available, and highly recommended. The reality is that different people will have different views of the value of short-term vs. long-term planning in this and other areas of finance in their lives.
Transcript of FINANCIAL AID OPTIONS FOR STUDENT VETERANS Newsletter APR2016.pdf · STARS & STRIPES . LAMC...
STARS & STRIPES LAMC Veterans Resource Center April 2016
Continued on Back
FINANCIAL AID OPTIONS FOR STUDENT VETERANS By Pete Hogenson Federal Work Study Student
When a military veteran decides to take the academic path in pursuit of a degree, and therefore makes a career choice which seems like a good fit for him or her, one of the foremost questions to be answered involves “funding the dream”. More than one form of financial aid for college, tech school or other higher learning institutions may be available to the student veteran.
Student veterans should start by contacting the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Veterans Benefits Administration, then visit their college Veterans Affairs office, as well. Getting all the information possible from reliable sources will help the student veteran to determine the best way to use resources to cover not only the actual costs of education, but all related living expenses while enrolled, that their situation may require.
According to the Federal Student Aid website page for student veterans and dependents, “Both the federal government and nonprofit organizations offer money for college to veterans”. For the do-it-yourselfers in the mix, it’s fairly easy to search for related online sites, and navigate them to get all the information, forms, links to additional contacts, and other help that may be needed to get going on maximizing use of their available benefits in a timely manner. Others may prefer in-person assistance with all of the above, and as mentioned previously in this article, there are plenty of ways to go about getting that one-on-one service and building an ongoing
relationship with those who are there to assist, by visiting offices serving their area or school.
One issue that might arise for veteran students involves the feasibility of, and clarity of rules for, choosing to use their VA Educational benefits AND also using FAFSA/Pell Grant and other assistance at the same time. Depending on variable factors, pertaining to the student’s educational path or plan, it might be best to conserve financial assistance resources and "budget" the use of them over the potential long-term of four or more school years of college or university attendance, or whatever total number of credits/units is desired or needed.
Veteran Financial Aid SourcesFor Higher Education Choices VA G.I. Bill www.benefits.va.gov/gibill
VA CareerScope www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/careerscope.asp
Federal Student Aid https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships/military
FinAid.org www.finaid.org/military/fafsa.phtml
Counseling and consultation are available, and highly recommended. The reality is that different people will have different views of the value of short-term vs. long-term planning in this and other areas of finance in their lives.
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__________________________________________________________________ "When we assumed the Soldier, we did not lay aside the Citizen."
- George Washington
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LAMC Veterans Resource Center
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Determining a school's or district's policy in advance will give student veterans some guidelines in financial terms, because some individual institutions actually will not allow the concurrent use of, for instance, FAFSA/Pell Grant funding and VA Educational benefits, unless some sort of "hardship" is established. Remember that assistance is readily available, if needed.
April 2016
APRIL VRC PROGRAMS Tuesday - Room 107A in the CSB
4/12 – Career Change/Choosing Major
4/19 – Financial Planning/Benefit Uses
4/26 – Transfer Info & Resources
