Dear Senior Parents/Guardians and Students,
The end of the semester and year are fast approaching and with that additional timelines for our seniors. With the ring of the New Year comes some financial aid, scholarship and college application deadlines.
Financial Aid Information:
College financial aid can come from multiple sources such as scholarships and federal student aid.
Scholarships
Scholarships usually refer to grants awarded to help pay for undergraduate college studies. Since scholarships are awards they do not need to be paid back. There are merit based, need based and combination merit and need based scholarships.
Step 1:
Scholarship Search: Begin looking for scholarships by exploring free scholarship search websites, checking out the Scholarship Box in the counseling office and the Eureka High Counselor blog, http://ehscounselorblog.blogspot.com/. The counselor blog is continuously updated with scholarship application information. You can also go to the local scholarship search sites at Humboldt Area Foundation, www.hafoundation.org, and the HSU site, www.humboldt.edu/banserv/finaid/schol.pl, as well as FREE national scholarship searches, such as www.finaid.org, www.fastweb.com, www.wiredscholar.com, www.ScholarshipExperts.com and www.collegeboard.com.
Federal Student Aid
Federal student aid from the U.S. Department of Education provides grants, work-study and federal loans for students attending four-year colleges or universities, community colleges, and career schools. There are multiple steps to submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The first three are listed below. The first step is to apply for a PIN number and after receiving a PIN number the second step is to prepare for and submit a FAFSA application. Please note that it is best to complete the PIN application prior to January 1, 2012.
Step 1:
Financial Aid PIN number: Apply for your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) PIN number online at www.pin.ed.gov. Both parent and student need to apply for pin numbers in order to sign the FAFSA electronically and check application progress online. Every high school senior is encouraged to submit a FAFSA to ensure access to both merit and need-based aid.
· When requesting a PIN, you must give your name (as it appears on your Social Security card), your Social Security number, date of birth, and mailing address. After that information has been matched with the Social Security Administration's records, a PIN will be given to you. You have the choice of receiving your PIN by e-mail or regular mail.
· Detailed steps in how to complete the PIN application are available on the Kuder Navigator site, kudernavigator.com, under the Plan for My Education tab or at the federal Student financial aid site, http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/funding.jsp
Step 2:
Collect Information to Complete the FAFSA
A FAFSA is a form that requests information that you’ll need to collect in advance. Here’s what you’ll need:
· Student and social security numbers
· Student and parent driver´s license number if you have one
· Student Alien Registration Number if you are not a U.S. citizen
· Last year´s federal tax information or tax returns (including IRS W-2 information) for student and for parents
· Records of untaxed income, such as Social Security benefits, welfare benefits for yourself, and your parents
· Information on savings, investments, and business and farm assets for yourself, and your parents.
FAFSA Application continued
Step 3:
Submit FAFSA application.
· The window to submit an application is January 1, 2012-March 2, 2012. The application is completed on line.
This link offers Instructions on completing the FAFSA, http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/funding.jsp.
Suggestions for things to do to be prepared the upcoming months:
• Go to www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov to determine EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) portion of college expenses. The online calculator tool assists families in financial planning for federal student aid. Only biological, adoptive or step parent income information will be requested. For students whose parents are divorced or living in separate households, the income of the parent that provides the most financial assistance to the student is used.
• Plan to visit college and university campuses over the holiday break to help you decide on the best school for you. See notes on making the most of your campus visits on the EHS Counselor’s blog.
• Develop and update a resume. The Kuder Navigator site has a great resume format on the Plan for Work tab.
Dates to mark on your calendar:
January 1, 2012 First day to apply for college financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA, www.fafsa.ed.gov)
January 17-20, 2012 First semester finals week. There will be an alternative bell schedule on Wednesday-Friday.
January 23, 2012 First day of the Second Semester
January 24, 2012 Cash For College Night 5:30-8:00 p.m. Financial Aid experts will be available to assist parents and students in applying for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Every high school senior is encouraged to apply for FAFSA to ensure access to both merit and need-based aid. All Students who attend Cash for College Night and submit their application will be automatically entered into a drawing to win a $1,000 scholarship.
March 2, 2012 Last day to submit the FAFSA application for priority filing.
Sincerely,
The Eureka High School Counseling Staff
Monica Rivera
Delores Haskamp
Audra Gosvener
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