FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
All SENIORS need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA, in the fall of their senior year. The application will be available October 1st and should be filled out as soon as possible. Students can qualify for grants, loans, work study opportunities, and many scholarships using the FAFSA. More information is available at the websites below :
FAFSA
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
Has online forms and filing with information about FAFSA
Students Gateway to the Government
http://www.students.gov
The Student Guide
http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/index.html
A comprehensive resource on student financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education. Updated each award year, The Student Guide tells you about the programs and how to apply for them. Paper copies are available in the college room and in the counselor's office with the FAFSA Application forms.
Managing College Cost
http://www.managingcollegecost.com/
Managing College Cost is a great website for parents, students, and educators. It is free and created by a high school counselor who felt he had to do something for parents after he had his own trouble working the “system” to get his own kids in college. He felt that if he had trouble with his background, he had to do something for parents who were not college educated or educators.
Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation
http://www.tgslc.org/
Private, non-profit corporation designated to administer the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP).
FinAid
http://www.finaid.org
(The SmartStudent's Guide to Financial Aid), was established in the fall of 1994 as a public service. This award-winning site has grown into the most comprehensive annotated collection of information about student financial aid on the web.
FastWEB
http://www.fastweb.com
(Financial Aid Search through the Web) is a searchable database of more than 275,000 private sector scholarships, fellowships, grants, and loans from more than 10,000 sources worth more than $775 million. It has a facility to notify you by e-mail when new scholarships meeting your qualifications come available.
Scholarship Resource Network Express
http://www.srnexpress.com/
Contains a database of over 8,000 programs with a distribution level of over 150,000 awards for undergraduate and postgraduate students worth a total of more than $35 million! This database also includes student loan forgiveness programs for those who have graduated from college and need alternatives for repayment.
Scholarship Coach:
http://www.scholarshipcoach.com
I'm your virtual Scholarship Coach! As you use this site, my goal is to help you find and win college cash. So are you ready? The road to scholarship success begins now. By Ben Kaplan author of "How to go to College for Free". Turn up your sound, it talks to you!
Colleges, College Scholarships, and Financial Aid
http://www.college-scholarships.com/
College Aid Calculator
http://www.adventuresineducation.org/cac/cac72C142start.html
Plan and estimate your share of college costs.
International Financial Aid Finder and Study Abroad Resource Center
http://www.internationalstudent.com/schools
TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
Follow instructions very carefully and submit well before the deadline.
Do your research; use the links below to learn everything you can about the scholarship and the sponsors.
SPECIAL NOTES
Transcripts: Request official transcripts from the registrar's office; allow the minimum of 2 weeks for processing. Transcripts for out of state and private colleges must be mailed and can take 3-5 days to get through the postage process.
Letters of Recommendation: Ask early for your letter. Provide your resume or more information about yourself and instructions for the letter. If the letter of recommendation is to be sent directly, then provide an addressed envelope and stamp.
Transferring Credits: The Texas Common Course Numbering System has hundreds of Texas colleges/universities to see how many of your credits will transfer from high school to your specific college. Website: http://www.tccns.org/matrix.aspx
FREE SCHOLARSHIP SEARCHES
Are you the child/grandchild of a Veteran? If so there may be funds available for your education! Please visit http://tvc.texas.gov/Hazlewood-Act.aspx for more information.