This month

Financial aid awareness

• Feature — Scholarship scams
• What does it mean? — You can enhance your scholarship chances
• Stay on track — A checklist of "to-dos"
• Take notice — Important dates
• All about AIEmail — Subscribe, suggest, review

Feature

Ten steps to financial aid

1. Create a budget to try and calculate your college expenses for one calendar year. You can request information on the cost of attendance by writing to the admissions or financial aid office of the college you plan to attend. Budget worksheets are available at the AIE Web site (www.AIE.org/College/ccs_inwkst.cfm).
2. Talk to your family about your options for paying for school. Ask your counselor about your eligibility for local scholarships. If you will not be starting college for several years, look up "tuition savings programs" in search engines and see if these programs may help you save for college.
3. Call or write school admissions or financial aid offices to request information and forms related to financial aid or assistance. If you will graduate soon, prepare these forms. Otherwise, study them and start collecting information for when you will need it.
4. Get a copy of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from your counselor or a financial aid office at a local college or university. You can also get a copy online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
5. Fill out the form if you will graduate soon, or study the information required and practice filling out the form if you will need to submit it in the next few years. If you have questions, call the financial aid information center at (888) 311-8881 or the financial aid office of a local college or university.
6. Do research on the purpose of the Student Aid Report (SAR). This is the form that is sent to you after you have completed and sent in your FAFSA. It includes information you provided on the FAFSA as well as your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC).
7. Call a financial aid office at a college or university and ask for a sample of an award letter. This is the type of letter that a school will send you if you have applied for financial aid. It includes information on what aid you have been awarded along with instructions on how to accept it.
8. Make sure you understand the differences between grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs. Information about types of aid is available at the AIE Web site (www.AIE.org/HighSchool/hs_aidtype.cfm).
9. Talk to your family about what types of financial aid are preferable. Remember, your family may play an important role in your decision. They need to understand what you have learned about each option.
10. Remember that applying for financial aid by filling the FAFSA is not a one-time thing — you will need to re-apply every year. Be ready to prepare the form over each winter holiday break as long as you are in school!

Source: Know Before You Go™ (www.AIE.org/Educators/KBYG)

Back to top

Web quest

Paying the bills

Financial aid can help you significantly in getting an education — it definitely beats "working your way" through school. In 2006, a student earning minimum wage would have to work 55 hours per week, every week of the year in order to pay the tuition, fees, and living expenses of two semesters at a typical public university.

When would you have time to go to class?

Source: TG EduFacts, Labor Day 2006 (www.tgslc.org/edufacts/2006/edufacts_0906b.cfm)

Back to top

Stay on track

Checklist for this week

For freshmen

Here are some factors to consider as you make your course choices for your sophomore year:

• Select classes that are both challenging and appropriate. You want to choose the most difficult class you can handle, but you also want to do well. Your teachers and your counselor can assist you.
• Find elective courses that will allow you to further your interests.
• If you already have some colleges in mind, review the list of courses that the colleges say are required for a student to be considered for admission.
• Talk to older students about the classes that they have found beneficial.

For sophomores

As the month comes to a close, it is time to start considering what courses you will choose for next year. Look over these factors to consider as you choose your classes:

• Challenge yourself. You want to choose the most difficult class you can handle, but you also want to do well. Your teachers and counselor can assist you.
• Take additional academic classes. Courses in English, math, science, social studies, and foreign languages look good on a college application.
• Find elective courses that will allow you to further your interests.
• If you already have some colleges in mind, review the list of courses that the colleges say are required for a student to be considered for admission.
• Talk to older students about the classes that they have found beneficial.

For juniors

It is time to start considering what courses you will choose for your senior year. Consider these factors as you choose your classes:

• Review your list of prospective colleges. What courses are listed as "required" for admissions purposes?
• Choose solid academic classes. These include English, math, science, social studies, and foreign languages.
• Colleges look closely at the list of the courses taken during the senior year. Admissions representatives look for students who are taking strong academic classes in preparation for college.

For seniors

Here are a few hints about college interviews:

• Dress in clean, pressed casual clothes. Avoid jeans. There is no need to wear a suit.
• Be prepared. Take a transcript and resume with you.
• This is the opportunity to share information that was not covered in your application.
• Be yourself. Don't try to be what you "think" the college wants.
• Follow up the interview with a thank you note.

For parents

Parental involvement in the course selection process is vital. Here are some hints for you:

• Carefully read all literature sent home by the high school regarding the procedure for course selection.
• Find a time to talk with your teenager and review all the materials together. Encourage your child to take challenging courses.
• Be aware of course prerequisites.
• If you have a sophomore or junior, investigate any Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses that would be appropriate for your child's abilities.
• Seek advice from your teen's teachers. They know your child's abilities, work ethic, and study habits.
• Research college admission requirements.
• Provide all parent signatures required by the high school on course registration materials.
• If you will have a senior next year, you might want to request a conference with their counselor to make sure they have met all graduation requirements.

Back to top

Take notice

Important dates

Mark down these dates.

To get more information on the SAT or SAT Subject Tests, access useful tools, or register, visit the College Board's Web Site(www.collegeboard.com) or call (609) 771-7600.

To get more information on the ACT, access useful tools, or register, visit the ACT Web Site (www.act.org) or call (319) 337-1270.

Back to top

All about AIEmail

Subscribe, suggest, review

• To change your e-mail address, change the format in which you receive AIEmail, or cancel your subscription, please visit the AIEmail subscription area (www.AIE.org/AIEmail/subscribe.cfm).
• If you have problems stopping your subscription or have comments about AIEmail, please send a message to webmaster@tgslc.org.
• Visit the AIEmail Archive (www.AIE.org/AIEmail/archive.cfm) for past issues.

Bookmark & Share:

AIE is a free public service of TG.
©2008 Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation (www.tgslc.org)