funding college clackamas community college financial aid department [email protected]
TRANSCRIPT
What is Financial Aid?
Money to help pay for your educational
costs.
Don’t assume you are not eligible for Federal aid!
GRANTS
WORK STUDY
LOANS
Top 3 Federal Aid Programs
GRANTS
Free Money!!
Federal◦ Pell Grant◦ Supplement Educational Opportunity Grant
State◦ Oregon Opportunity Grant
Colleges and Universities◦ Many colleges offer their own need-based
grants
STUDENT AND PARENT LOANS
Money you will have to pay back
Federal Direct Student Loans
Perkins Loans
PLUS Loans
Federal Work Study Program
On-campus Employment
Off-campus Employment
Internships
1) Submit FAFSA Online
www.fafsa.gov
2) Federal processor receives data
3) Student Aid Report sent to Student &
College
4) College will contact you & may
need more information
(Indicates your FAFSA was received, & gives instructions for next
steps!)5) Student sends requested
information to college
(Respond QUICKLY!)
6) Financial Aid Office processes file
(Timelines vary– may take approx. 6 to 12
weeks)*Additional information
may be requested!!!7) Student receives
Award Letter or College needs further
information (see box 4)
8) Student may need to accept or reject
Award Letter
DON’T FORGET TO… COMMUNICATE:
1. Read your email!!! 2. Log in to college account frequently3. Check mail and return phone calls
General Federal Financial Aid ProcessTimelines vary from college to college. Understanding how colleges do their processing is imperative.
File your FAFSA online starting January 1 each year!
www.fafsa.govAPPLY EARLY !
ESTIMATE YOUR
INCOME and submit
Update when you complete your taxes
Social Security Number and Legal name Alien registration or permanent resident
card o Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
students do not qualify for FAFSA funds Driver's license or state ID number Most recent federal income tax returns,
W-2s, and other records of money earned. Untaxed income recordsCurrent business and investment informationFSA PIN Number
What is needed? Student & Parent
Parent information:◦ SSNs, DOBs, Names◦Unmarried/divorced/remarried
Untaxed income: Veteran’s Disability, Worker’s Comp, Child support received, etc
U.S. income taxes PAID Household sizeNumber in collegeSupporting a childLegal Guardian
Common FAFSA Errors
Available early February of each yearThis is an electronic way to transfer your
tax information
***Remember: “FAFSAs THEN Taxes”
IRS Data Retrieval ***
NEED HELP?Clackamas Community College
offers a FAFSA Lab!Monday – Thursday 10 AM – 2 PMRook Hall room 133Staffed by financial aid
professionals Hands on environment to help
with:◦Filling out your FAFSA and
scholarship searches
Special Circumstances Information
that cannot be reported on the FAFSA
Send written explanation to financial aid office at college
Change in employment status
Medical expenses not covered by insurance
Change in yours or parent marital status
Unusual dependent care expenses
Student cannot obtain parent information
Special Circumstances
Cost of Attendance (C O A)
Tuition and Fees
Room and Board
Books and Supplies
Personal Expenses
Transportation
Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
EFC = Expected Family Contribution
This is the amount of money the government expects the student and family to pay towards their education.
How An Award Is Calculated
COA: $ 13,134
- EFC $ 1,500___________Financial Need=$ 11,634 *Colleges “package” financial aid
awards to meet as much of the eligible student’s financial need as possible.
Must be seeking Degree or one year Certificate
Must pass courses with at least a 2.0 GPA (“C”)
Must complete courses that aid assists with
Must complete courses at a pace of 67% or higher
Some programs/scholarships may require that you maintain a higher GPA and attend full time
Most aid is conditional !
FAFSA may be the key to other aid
ScholarshipsTribal FundsVocational
Rehab. Funds
Job TrainingState Grants
There is a scholarship out there for everyone!
Program/Major of Interest (e.g. art, drafting, nursing) Academic Merit (GPA) Extracurricular Activities (e.g. athletics, music,
journalism) Financial Need Personal Barriers (e.g. disability; language;
ethnicity; first in family to go to college)
Scholarships
Colleges and UniversitiesHigh School Career/Counseling
OfficeThe WEBOrganizationsPublic LibraryEmployerWhere you worship
Where to look for scholarships
Watch out for fees and guarantees
Never pay for a scholarship, not even an application fee!
“We’ll do the work for you!” “You’re a finalist (in a contest you
never entered)!” “You can’t get this information
anywhere else!”Legitimate companies never
guarantee scholarships
General Caution: Beware of Scams!
Make a Scholarship List
Keep track of all the scholarships you are applying for and list them by their due dates.
Meet all Deadlines!
Follow the Instructions
Make Copy of the Scholarship Application
Type the application, essay, and any additional information
Fill in all the Blanks
Application Tips
Essay
Reference Letters
Transcripts
Scholarship applications require
Keep it simple and focus on the topicDo tell your accomplishmentsUse descriptive wordsKeep it neatDo state your needWrite as though you’re talking to the
selection committeeUse the same essay for multiple
applications
Create a winning essay!
CCC Writing CenterOpen to the communityCan help with essays and
resumesCome with an outlineLocated in The Dye Learning
CenterOpen Monday – Friday and some
Saturdayswww.clackamas.edu/writingcente
r
Check website for hours
Obtain more letters than you need
Ask as early as possible!!!!
These letters need to be current, written within the last year.
Letters should be on letterhead if possible and include an original signature.
Thank you to your references!
Reference Letters
School/Family/Community ActivitiesResponsibilitiesDatesHonors/Awards/Office HeldPaid Jobs
Get involved!
Activity Chart
Be sure to write a thank you letter to your scholarship
donor.
The THANK YOU LETTER
Oregon Student Access Commission (OSAC) Scholarships www.getcollegefunds.org450+ scholarships!More than $15 million availableJuniors- Can start application now,
and submit the year of their graduation
DEADLINES:Early Bird 2/15 * general deadline 3/1
A great scholarship program
Clackamas Community College Foundation Scholarships$500,000+ in scholarships available
each year2015 application opens January 30th
Application deadline is March 30th!
www.clackamas.edu/scholarships
Great scholarship opportunities: colleges and universities
Student invests 10 hours to apply for 10 scholarships and is awarded one for $2,000-That student just earned $200 an hour.
At $9.10 an hour, you would have to work 220 hours to earn $2,000
Why scholarships are a good investment of your time…
Knowledge is an Investment
If a man empties his purse into his head, no one can take it from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the highest return.– Benjamin Franklin
34
Thank you!
Clackamas Community College Financial Aid Department