OPPORTUNITIES 2 TIPS - NVESTINYOUROPPORTUNITIES - College Access Fairfax

Page created by Brent Hanson
 
CONTINUE READING
OPPORTUNITIES 2 TIPS - NVESTINYOUROPPORTUNITIES - College Access Fairfax
OPPORTUNITIES

                              2021-2022
TCOMP
   IPS
      L
      ETING

#I NVESTINYOUROPPORTUNITIES
OPPORTUNITIES 2 TIPS - NVESTINYOUROPPORTUNITIES - College Access Fairfax
WE WANT
FEEDBACK!

     SURVEYMONKEY.COM/R
     /OPPORTUNITIESBOOK

This workbook belongs to:
OPPORTUNITIES 2 TIPS - NVESTINYOUROPPORTUNITIES - College Access Fairfax
opportunities
Welcome
What a year it has been! We know there have been significant challenges over
the past year, and we all are working together to get back on our feet and
move forward toward a brighter future. You have taken a big step by investing
your time and energy into this workbook. Remember to keep this book close
by and reference it often. Do you have ideas on how we can improve? Please
                                                                                               General information
share it by completing the survey link on the preceding page.
                                                                                               Virginia information
We are excited to assist you in preparing for your future. Thank you for allowing
us to be a part of your education journey!
                                                                                                Going to college can change your life
Updates to this book                                                                            2    Paths to higher education
While every effort is made to keep this book up-to-date, program requirements                   3    Most common college types
are subject to change. For complete information regarding specific programs,
contact the organization responsible for administering that individual                          Choosing the right college
program.
                                                                                                  Worksheet: Choosing the right college
                                                                                                5	
The U.S. Congress frequently considers legislation that could change some
of the provisions of the federal student financial aid programs. If significant                 The college application process
changes are made during the academic year, this book will be updated. You                       6 Preparing for college
can view the most current version online at www.ecmc.org/opportunities                          7 Entrance exams
                                                                                                9 Submitting your college applications
Availability in Spanish                                                                         10 	Worksheet: Organize your application information
To order copies in Spanish and/or download a PDF, visit                                         Navigating financial aid
www.ecmc.org/opportunities.
                                                                                                11   Your college costs
Para ordenar copias Español y/o descargar un PDF, visite                                        14   About the FAFSA
www.ecmc.org/opportunities.                                                                     18   Checklist: FAFSA
                                                                                                19   Federal financial aid: Grants, work-study and loans
For administrators and counselors                                                               21   Scholarships
This book is a resource for you to share with students. To order                                22   Scholarship scams
free copies of this book, go to www.ecmc.org/opportunities.                                     23   Your rights and responsibilities

                                                                                                The final decision
About ECMC
                                                                                                24 Understanding your financial aid offer letter
Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) is a nonprofit company
with a mission to help students succeed. We work to lower student loan                          26 Worksheet: Make your decision
default rates; sponsor college access and success initiatives, and financial
literacy programs; and provide resources to support student loan borrowers to                   Virginia high school requirements
successfully repay their loans.                                                                 27 Credits needed for graduation
For more information, visit us online at www.ecmc.org/about-us.
                                                                                                Virginia college transfer options
State partners                                                                                  28 Programs of study and transfer requirements
                                                                                                28 Higher Education Centers in Virginia
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV)
SCHEV is the Commonwealth’s coordinating body for higher education. SCHEV makes
policy recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly in areas such as                    Virginia college profiler
operating and capital funding, student enrollment projections, and student financial aid.
                                                                                                29 Public universities
SCHEV approves new academic programs to be offered and certifies colleges to operate in
Virginia. SCHEV also has oversight for a variety of educational programs to                     30 Private colleges
help promote greater access, quality, affordability, and accountability.
www.schev.edu                                                                                   Virginia financial aid
Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (VASFAA)                           31 Undergraduate students
VASFAA is a nonprofit organization of financial aid professionals serving the                   32 Graduate students
Commonwealth of Virginia. Its mission is to promote the professional growth and
collaboration of its members to ethically, competently, and adequately serve the needs of       33 Saving for college—Virginia529SM
students, families, and colleges in matters related to financial and informational resources
that support student postsecondary education goals. VASFAA’s membership is comprised            Virginia resources
of financial aid administrators from two- and four-year public and private colleges and         34 Virginia college directory
universities, and private career schools. Membership is also open to persons involved
in the administration of financial aid in secondary schools, foundations, community and
                                                                                                38 In-person help
civic organizations, government organizations, and                                              38 Online help
the lending community.
www.vasfaa.com                                                                                  Student checklists
Virginia College Access Network (VirginiaCAN)                                                   39 Freshman
VirginiaCAN is a nonprofit membership organization of college access providers,                 40 Sophomore
secondary school guidance counselors, and college admissions and financial aid                  41 Junior
professionals across Virginia. VirginiaCAN members share a common goal—to enhance
postsecondary education access and attainment for residents of Virginia. VirginiaCAN
                                                                                                42 Senior
provides leadership and support for Virginia’s college access organizations. VirginiaCAN        Glossary
does this in two ways: first, by providing professional development and networking for
the access groups helping students prepare for post-high school opportunities in Virginia;      44	College and financial
and second, by educating key leaders on college access issues.                                      aid definitions
www.virginiacan.org
OPPORTUNITIES 2 TIPS - NVESTINYOUROPPORTUNITIES - College Access Fairfax
GOING TO COLLEGE CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE

                                                                          Going to college can
                                                                          change your life
             EMPLOYMENT                                                   Your odds of career success are much higher if you attend
           RATES & EARNINGS                                               college. This chapter shares some statistics that prove this.
                    BY EDUCATIONAL
                   ATTAINMENT, 2020                                       Be happy                                         Earn more
                                                                          People who attend college:                       Going to college costs you money, but
           Doctoral                                          $1,885                                                        not going can cost you even more. The
            degree
                                    2.5%                                  · Report they have more job satisfaction         U.S. Census Bureau’s 2011 American
                                                                           than those who did not attend.                  Community Survey reveals that over an
       Professional                                              $1,893   · Typically live healthier lifestyles, and are   adult’s working life, average total earnings
            degree                                                         more likely to have access to employer-         were as follows:
                                           3.1%
                                                                           provided benefits including: medical
           Master’s                                   $1,545               insurance, retirement plans and paid            · High school graduate = $1.3 million
            degree                                                         time off.                                       · Some college = $1.6 million
                                              4.1%
                                                                          · Are more involved in their communities         · Associates degree = $1.8 million
         Bachelor’s                               $1,305                   through higher levels of volunteering           · Bachelor’s degree = $2.4 million
            degree
                                                     5.5%                  and voting.                                     · Master’s degree = $2.8 million
                                                                                                                           Source: www.census.gov/library/publications/2011
                                                                          Finally, talk with people who have gone zto      /acs/acs-14.html
        Associates                           $938                         college—most will tell you it was fun!
           degree
                                                          7.1%
                                                                                                                           Paths to higher education
                                                                          Education pays
     Some college,                      $877                                                                               The term “higher education” refers to all
        no degree                                                         Statistics show that unemployment rates          the educational opportunities available
                                                           8.3%
                                                                          decrease in direct relationship to how           to you after high school. By knowing
       High school                     $781                               much education you receive. The more             all available opportunities, you will have
          diploma                                                         education you receive, the more money you        a better idea of what type of college
                                                             9.0%
                                                                          are likely to make. A study by the Bureau of     may be a good match for you.
                                                                          Labor Statistics 2020 (Current Population
     Less than high                 $619
    school diploma                                                        Survey) supports this, shown in the chart
                                                                  11.7%   to the left. Keep in mind, education is an          View college options
                                                                          investment in your future.
                                                                                                                              on the next page
                                               $1,029
        All workers
                                                          7.1%

                              Median usual weekly earnings ($)

                              Unemployment rate (%)

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020
    Current Population Survey

    Note: Data are for persons aged 25 and over.
    Earnings are for full-time wage and salary workers.

    ECMC prepared this workbook to guide you through the college selection,
    application and financial aid process. To reduce confusion, in this book
    we refer to all types of higher education institutions as “colleges.”
2
OPPORTUNITIES 2 TIPS - NVESTINYOUROPPORTUNITIES - College Access Fairfax
GOING TO COLLEGE CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Most common college types

 Type of institution        Description                                                                Degrees offered                  Admissions
 Career and technical   · A CTE focuses on a highly specialized curriculum; can be nonprofit       · Certificates of completion         · Completed application for admission
 education (CTE)             or for-profit                                                         · Associate Applied Science          · Proof of high school completion
 institutions           ·    Geared for students who want to learn a specific skill and find            (AAS)
                             employment within two years
                        ·    Examples include cosmetology, HVAC, culinary and automotive
                             technology

 Community              · A college is one institution with multiple academic departments          ·    Certificates of completion      · Incoming freshmen and transfers
 college                · Offers traditional academic, continuing education and remedial           ·    Associate of Arts (AA)          · Completed application for admission
                             programs                                                              ·    Associate of Science (AS)       · High school transcript showing proof
 Junior college         · Offers technical programs, such as cosmetology, HVAC, culinary           ·    Associate Applied Science           of high school completion
                             and automotive technology                                                  (AAS)                           · College transcript, if previously
 (2-year)                                                                                          ·    May offer limited:
                        ·    Offers general education prerequisite courses required for most                                                attended
                             bachelor’s degree programs at four-year colleges and universities          · Bachelor of Arts (BA)         · College placement testing may be
                        ·    Ideal for students looking to transfer to a four-year college and          · Bachelor of Science (BS)          required depending on the school
                             pursue a bachelor’s degree, students looking to earn an associate
                             degree or certificate, and students looking to further their
                             education
                        ·    Some colleges offer a limited number of bachelor’s degree
                             programs

 College (4-year)       · A college is one institution with multiple academic departments          · Bachelor of Arts (BA)              · Incoming freshmen and transfers
                        · Offers traditional academic programs; may offer technical,               · Bachelor of Science (BS)           · Completed application for
                             continuing education and remedial programs                            · May offer limited:                     admissions
                        · Offers general education prerequisite courses and upper-level,                ·   Associate of Arts (AA)      · Transcript showing successful
                             major-specific undergraduate and graduate courses                          ·   Associate of Science (AS)       completion of high school (more
                        · Colleges can be specialized in a specific area or liberal                     ·   Associate Applied               selective colleges require a higher
                             arts based                                                                     Science (AAS)                   grade point average)
                        · Liberal arts colleges offer primarily liberal arts majors, yet many                                           ·   SAT or ACT score may be required
                             offer degrees in STEM fields as well                                                                           depending on the school
                        ·    Colleges (especially liberal arts colleges) tend to be smaller than                                        ·   Supplemental documents may
                             universities and offer fewer majors; they may not offer graduate                                               include essay, personal statement
                             degrees (master’s and doctoral)                                                                                and/or academic resume
                        ·    Some colleges offer associate degree programs                                                              ·   College transcript, if previously
                                                                                                                                            attended

 University (4-year)    · A university is one institution with multiple schools and                ·  Bachelor of Arts (BA)             · Incoming freshmen and transfers
                             colleges (college of liberal arts, school of engineering, college     ·  Bachelor of Science (BS)          · Completed application for
                             of business, etc.)                                                    ·  Master of Arts (MA)                   admissions
                        ·    Offers traditional academic programs; may offer technical,            ·  Master of Science (MS)            · Transcript showing successful
                             continuing education and remedial programs                                                                     completion of high school (more
                                                                                                   ·  Master of Business
                        ·    Even though universities tend to focus more on technical and                                                   selective universities require a
                                                                                                      Administration (MBA)
                             specialized majors, most universities have a college of arts and                                               higher grade point average)
                                                                                                   · Doctorate of Philosophy            ·   SAT or ACT score may be required
                             sciences that offers liberal arts programs                               (PhD)
                        ·    Universities tend to be larger than colleges and offer more majors;                                            depending on the school
                             they offer graduate degrees (master’s and doctoral)
                                                                                                    There are many other                ·   Supplemental documents may
                                                                                                    graduate and undergraduate              include essay, personal statement
                                                                                                    degrees, but these are the              and/or academic resume
                                                                                                    most common                         ·   College transcript, if previously
                                                                                                                                            attended

A note about school accreditation and licensing
Accrediting and licensure agencies                         agencies, credits earned at one college                         For more information about accreditation
provide third-party oversight and ensure                   may not be transferrable to another                             and state licensing, visit the Department of
the college is providing the quality of                    college. Check with the Admissions                              Education at www2.ed.gov/students/prep/
education promised to the student. Due                     department to determine which of your                           college/consumerinfo/choosing.html.
to colleges having different accreditation                 credits will transfer.

                                                                                                                                                                                  3
OPPORTUNITIES 2 TIPS - NVESTINYOUROPPORTUNITIES - College Access Fairfax
CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLLEGE

    Choosing the right college
    Your college selection is an important decision, but where do you start?
    Use the tools and resources in this chapter to help you choose where to apply.

    Finding the right college                      Consider your academic                        To help get you started, visit the following
                                                                                                 resources and career assessment websites:
    Every person is different. Your background,    strengths
    interests and personality are just a few                                                     · www.bls.gov/ooh—Occupational Outlook
    things that make you original and unique.      The best way to identify a career field or     Handbook with more than 1,500 jobs
                                                   major course of study is to look at the        descriptions and their likely pay scale.
    Depending on many factors, you may find        academic subjects you already enjoy,          · www.khanacademy.org/college-careers-
    preparing for college a simple or very time-   especially those in which you perform          more/career-content—Videos and articles
    consuming process. Let your personal           well. Identify majors that concentrate in      containing detailed information on
    interests, goals and situation influence       these subject areas to ensure selection of     several types of jobs as well as general
    your decisions throughout the process.         a major you’ll likely enjoy and do well in.    advice when starting in the workplace.
                                                   Once you’ve identified a major or majors,
                                                   identify colleges that offer those majors.    · https://roadtripnation.com—Videos
    Explore career fields                                                                         and interactive tools to help students
                                                   Base your final decision on the type of        determine the right college type, major
    Identify careers that interest you and                                                        and career.
                                                   student you are, your educational goals
    determine which majors will best prepare
                                                   and what situation best fits your needs.      · https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org —Has
    you for that career. Investigate the
                                                   Talk to friends, family, teachers and          many career exploration exercises and
    academic requirements necessary to enter
                                                   counselors for help with identifying your      also provides a focus on what educational
    into those majors.
                                                   goals in going to college.                     requirements are needed to achieve
                                                                                                  career goals.
                                                   Use the worksheet on the following page to
                                                   do some self-discovery.                       · www.onetonline.org—The U.S.
                                                                                                  Department of Labor’s interactive
                                                                                                  database of occupational information.

4
OPPORTUNITIES 2 TIPS - NVESTINYOUROPPORTUNITIES - College Access Fairfax
CHOOSING
                                                                                                                               CHOOSING THE
                                                                                                                                        THE RIGHT
                                                                                                                                            RIGHT COLLEGE

WORKSHEET: CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLLEGE
                                  STEP 1                                    STEP 2                                             STEP 3
                                  In the top row,                           Think about important                              Cross off colleges that
                                  make a preliminary                        factors you want your college                      appear to not have what
                                  list of colleges that                     to have. Then, prioritize                          you’re looking for. Rank the
                                  interest you.                             each factor in the level of                        remaining colleges in order
                                                                            importance column.                                 of preference.

                                                                                       College (fill in names of colleges that interest you)
Level of
importance   Factors to consider                            1.                         2.                         3.                           4.
             Program of study: Which programs does
             the college offer to help you achieve your
             career goals?
             School size: Do you prefer a large or
             small college? What is the student
             population?
             Class size: How large do you like your
             classes to be? What is the
             student-to-teacher ratio?
             Support programs: Which programs
             does the college offer to help you stay in
             college and graduate?
             City and neighborhood: Do you prefer
             a city or a small town? What is the
             population of the city or town?
             Campus culture: When visiting each
             college, get a feel for its “personality.”
             How or why does it match yours?
             Distance from home: How close do you
             want to live to your family?
             Extracurricular activities: Do you have
             activities in your life that you can’t live
             without?
             Religious affiliation: Do you want to
             attend a college affiliated with your
             religious beliefs?
             Net price: While one college may appear
             to be less expensive, what will your
             final cost be after receiving grants and
             scholarships? Use https://collegecost.
             ed.gov/net-price to identify your likely
             estimated cost.
             Financial aid options: Does the college
             have special financial aid options?
             These could include things such as
             a tuition payment plan to spread out
             your payments or a guaranteed cost of
             attendance as long as you are enrolled.
             Outside learning options: Does the
             college offer internships, externships,
             study abroad or service learning
             opportunities?
             Housing options near campus: How close
             or far is housing? Will you need a car, or
             are where you live, shop, and work within
             walking or biking distance?

                                            This worksheet can be downloaded here: www.ecmc.org/ChoosingTheRightCollege
                                                                                                                                                              5
OPPORTUNITIES 2 TIPS - NVESTINYOUROPPORTUNITIES - College Access Fairfax
THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS

                                      The college
                                      application process
                                      Depending on your interests and goals, the college
                                      application process could be as simple as filling out one page
                                      for a community college, or as complicated as writing dozens
                                      of essays, taking multiple standardized tests and preparing
                                      portfolios. This chapter will help you organize the process
                                      and stay on track.

                                      Preparing for college                         INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE
                                                                                    ORGANIZATION’S DIPLOMA PROGRAMME
                                      Colleges care about the courses you           · Two-year curriculum offered by the
                                      take in high school. The more you              International Baccalaureate Organization
                                      challenge yourself when choosing high          (IBO) that combines requirements
                                      school courses, the more college options       of a mixture of different national
                                      you may have.                                  education systems.
                                      HONORS CLASSES                                · Offered in English, French and Spanish,
                                      · More challenging academically.               and allows students moving around the
                                                                                     country or from one country to another to
                                      · Typically faster paced; cover topics in      transfer among IB schools.
                                       greater depth.
                                                                                    · Students choose courses from the
                                      · Generally weighted higher for grade          following subject groups: studies in
                                       point average (GPA) but do not earn           language and literature, language
                                       you college credit.                           acquisition, individuals and societies,
                                                                                     sciences, mathematics and the arts.
                                      ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) CLASSES
                                      · More challenging academically; courses      · A list of participating schools from around
                                       prepare you to take rigorous exams that       the world is available at www.ibo.org.
                                       can lead to college credit.                  TECHNICAL PREPARATION (TECH PREP)
                                      · More than 38 AP classes are offered in      PROGRAMS
                                       subject areas.                               · Multiyear program (two or more years in
                                      · Your high school may not offer classes       high school and two in an occupational/
                                       in all AP subjects, but most AP classes       technical program at a community
                                       are also available online (a fee may          college or career and technical education
                                       be involved).                                 institution) designed to prepare students
                                                                                     for technical occupations.
                                      · After coursework is completed,
                                       students take nationally administered        · Expands education and employment
                                       AP exams in their chosen subject areas—       opportunities by preparing you for careers
                                       if the resulting scores are acceptable        in health care, business, industry, labor
                                       to the college, it might award college        and government.
                                       credit, advanced placement, or both,         · Strong emphasis on math, science and
                                       for the course.                               English—a complete Tech Prep program
                                      DUAL-ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS                       includes the following:
                                      · Students take college-level                   · A comprehensive career
                                       classes for college credit while                development plan
                                       continuing to participate in regular           · Courses designed for a specific
                                       high school activities.                         career that integrate academic and
                                      · Classes are often offered at high schools      occupational preparation
                                       or nearby community colleges.                  · A learning environment that
                                      · Not every high school participates;            emphasizes math, communications,
                                       contact your high school counselor for          science and technology
                                       more information.                              · A smooth transition from high school
                                                                                       to college or employment
6
OPPORTUNITIES 2 TIPS - NVESTINYOUROPPORTUNITIES - College Access Fairfax
THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS

Practice entrance exams                           These tests measure the following skills:          PreACT also offers insights to help students
                                                  · Critical reading                                 explore college major and career options
There are two tests that help you                                                                    to start planning for their future. The test is
“rehearse” for taking college entrance
                                                  · Math problem-solving                             scored on the same 1-36 scale as the ACT
exams—the PSAT/NMSQT and PreACT.                  · Writing                                          but includes fewer questions. For more
Taking these tests will help you identify         In addition, eighth, ninth and tenth graders       information on PreACT, visit www.act.org.
strengths and weaknesses in skills                may benefit from taking the PSAT 8/9 and
necessary for successful college study. You
can then focus your preparation on those
                                                  PSAT 10.                                           Entrance exams
areas where you could most benefit from           The National Merit Scholarship Corporation         Several colleges require you to take a
additional study or practice. Your specific       uses these scores to determine eligibility         college entrance exam as part of the
test results are not reported to colleges.        for their scholarship programs. For more           admissions process. There are two primary
However, you will receive information from        information on the PSAT/NMSQT, visit the           tests, the SAT and the ACT, and either
colleges interested in students testing           College Board website at                           test is generally accepted by colleges for
within your range.                                https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org.                admissions purposes.

THE PRELIMINARY SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE               THE PreACT TEST
TEST AND THE NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP           PreACT is a multiple-choice test for
QUALIFYING TEST (PSAT/NMSQT)
                                                  sophomores designed to help students
The PSAT/NMSQT are standardized tests,                                                                 MANY COLLEGES ARE ELIMINATING
                                                  prepare for the experience of taking the
                                                                                                       THE REQUIREMENT FOR ACT/SAT TEST
usually taken during your junior year that        ACT. It is patterned after the ACT and
                                                                                                       SCORES. CHECK www.fairtest.org/
help you practice for taking the SAT. The         includes testing in English, math, reading           university/optional FOR A CURRENT LIST
newly redesigned tests are made up of:            and science. PreACT score reports offer              OF TEST-OPTIONAL COLLEGES. THIS LIST
                                                  a broad view of students’ college and
· Evidence-based reading and writing              career readiness, and provides information
                                                                                                       IS EVER-CHANGING. ALWAYS VERIFY TEST
                                                                                                       REQUIREMENTS WITH THE COLLEGE’S
· Reading test                                    regarding their future performance on the            ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR.
· Writing and language test                       exam.
· Math

ENTRANCE EXAM COMPARISON

                                ACT (American College Test)                               SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test)

    What is tested              ACT measures what you learn in high school to             SAT measures what you learn in high school and
                                determine your academic readiness for college             what you need to succeed in college

    When to take the test       ACT examination is offered seven times a year in the      SAT examination is offered seven times a year in
                                months of February, April, June, July, September,         the months of March, May, June, August, October,
                                October and December                                      November and December

    Registration deadline       About five to six weeks before the test date              About four weeks before the test date

    Test duration               2 hours, 55 minutes + 40 minutes for optional essay       3 hours + 50 minutes for optional essay

    Major sections              English, mathematics, reading, science and an             Math, reading, writing, language and an
                                optional writing section                                  optional essay

    Scoring                     1-36                                                      400-1600

    Test owned by               ACT, Inc.                                                 College Board

    Started in                  1959                                                      1926

    Website                     www.act.org                                               www.collegeboard.org

                                                                                                                                                       7
OPPORTUNITIES 2 TIPS - NVESTINYOUROPPORTUNITIES - College Access Fairfax
THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS

    Testing dates, fees and registration
    PSAT
                                       Regular
        2021-2022                                                   Late registration
                                       registration                                          Notes                                 Fees                                  Registration
        Test dates                                                  deadlines
                                       deadlines
        October 13-26, 2021            Check with your              Check with your school   · Test is administered by             · $18                                 · Online registration is
                                       school counselor             counselor                    high schools, not through         · Note: Schools may charge              not available
                                                                                                 test centers                          an additional fee to cover        · You must sign up for
                                                                                                                                       administrative costs                the PSAT/NMSQT at
                                                                                                                                   ·   The College Board makes fee         your high school or at
                                                                                                                                       waivers available to schools        another high school in
                                                                                                                                       for students in 11th grade from     your community
                                                                                                                                       low-income families that cannot
                                                                                                                                       afford the test fee
                                                                                                                                        · See your school counselor
                                                                                                                                          for more information about
                                                                                                                                          fee waivers

    PreACT
        2021-2022                      Regular registration Late registration
                                                                                             Notes                                 Fees                                  Registration
        Test dates                     deadlines            deadlines
        September 1-June               Check with your              Check with your school   Test administered in                  Generally no cost to                  Register with your
        1 each year at your            school counselor             counselor                school-supervised setting             the student                           school counselor or
        school’s discretion                                                                                                                                              administrator

    SAT
        2021-2022                      Regular registration Late registration                Notes                                 Fees                                  Registration
        Test dates                     deadlines            deadlines

        October 2, 2021                September 3, 2021            September 21, 2021       · Sunday administrations              ·   SAT: $55                          www.collegeboard.org
                                                                                                 usually occur the day after       ·   Change registration: $25
                                                                                                 each Saturday test date           ·   Cancel registration: $25
        November 6, 2021               October 8, 2021              October 26, 2021             for students who cannot test      ·   Late cancel registration: $35
                                                                                                 on Saturday for religious
                                                                                                                                   ·   Late registration: $30
        December 4, 2021               November 4, 2021             November 23, 2021            reasons
                                                                                                                                   ·   Waitlist: $53
                                                                                             ·   The Language Tests with
                                                                                                                                   ·   Fee waivers are available for
                                                                                                 Listening are offered in
        March 12, 2022                 February 11, 2022            March 1, 2022                                                      certain low-income students
                                                                                                 May 2022
                                                                                                                                       · See your school counselor
                                                                                             ·   Optional essay will only be             for details
        May 7, 2022                    April 8, 2022                April 26, 2022               available in states where
                                                                                                 it’s required as part of SAT
        June 4, 2022                   May 5, 2022                  May 25, 2022                 School Day administrations

    ACT
        2021-2022                      Regular registration         Late fee required        Notes                                 Fees                                  Registration
        Test dates                     deadlines
                                                                                             · You can proceed with your          ·   ACT (no Writing Test): $60        www.act.org
        September 11, 2021             August 6, 2021               August 20, 2021
                                                                                                 original test date or you         ·   ACT with Writing Test: $80
                                                                                                 can request to change it.         ·   Late registration fee: $35
        October 23, 2021               September 17, 2021           October 1, 2021              However, you will need to         ·   Test date change: $35
                                                                                                 pay the basic registration fee    ·   Test center change: $35
        December 11, 2021              November 5, 2021             November 19, 2021            for the new test date plus        ·   Fee waivers are available for
                                                                                                 the test date change fee. If          students who meet one or more
                                                                                                 you request a date change             indicators of economic need
        February 12, 2022              January 7, 2022              January 21, 2022             after the regular deadline for         · See your school counselor
                                                                                                 the new date, you must also              for details
        April 2, 2022                  February 25, 2022            March 11, 2022               pay the late registration fee.
                                                                                                 Your basic registration fee for
                                                                                                 the original test date will be
        June 11, 2022                  May 6, 2022                  May 20, 2022                 refunded.

        July 16, 20221                 June 17, 2022                June 24, 2022

    1
        No test centers are scheduled in New York for this date.

8
THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS

Submitting your college                         EARLY DECISION AND EARLY ACTION                  A recommendation is a favor. No one is
                                                Many colleges allow you to apply under an        required to recommend you to a college.
applications                                    “early decision” or “early action” program.      Here are some commonly accepted rules of
                                                Typically, you have to apply earlier than        etiquette to follow:
Every college has a different application
process with different directions to follow.    most applicants, but you also find out           · When giving your references the forms,
Read them carefully and use the worksheet       earlier whether you have been accepted.              include a pre-addressed envelope to
on page 10 to organize the information for      These programs are not for everyone.                 the appropriate address with the correct
the colleges you are considering. Make          Generally, only those who have a clear-              amount of postage on the envelope
one copy for each college to keep with your     cut, first-choice college should apply               if they are meant to mail it directly to
application materials.                          under these programs. If you believe early           the college.
                                                decision or early action is right for you,
                                                check with the college admissions office to
                                                                                                 · Write thank-you notes to your references.
Applying to college can seem to be a
daunting task. However, you are not in          determine how to apply.                          ESSAYS
this by yourself. If you need help, ask for     TRANSCRIPTS                                      If your colleges require essays, they will
it. There are many resources—parents,                                                            usually give you specific questions or
teachers, school counselors and volunteer       As part of the admissions process, you or
                                                your school counselor will need to request       topics for your essays. Here are some tips
organizations—you can call on to help                                                            to follow:
guide you.                                      and submit an official copy of your high
                                                school transcript (and college transcript        · Check for spelling and grammar mistakes.
WAYS TO APPLY                                   if you have already earned some college              Most software programs offer this feature,
· Paper                                         credits) for each college where you plan             but don’t rely entirely on the computer.
· Electronic                                    to apply.                                        ·   Have someone proofread and provide
                                                                                                     constructive feedback on your essay.
To determine the best way to apply, go to       Many students apply to colleges while still
the admissions page on each college’s           attending high school. College acceptance        · Don’t exceed the word limit, if any
website and look for more information.          is often contingent upon your grades. You            is given.
                                                will also need to send a final transcript to     · Be yourself. Don’t second-guess what
Consider visiting www.commonapp.org.            the college you will attend.                         the college would like you to think or
More than 900 colleges and universities                                                              say in your essay.
participate in this one-stop for college        RECOMMENDATIONS
admissions where you can apply,                                                                  · Don’t stray from the question/topic.
                                                If your colleges require recommendations,
keep track of college-specific deadlines        letters or specific forms, you will need to      Everyone goes about the writing process
and more.                                       ask your teachers and/or other adults            differently. Brainstorming and outlining are
                                                to be references. Some colleges even             two methods that might help you.
APPLICATION COSTS
                                                ask for peer recommendations. When
Application fees vary among colleges.           identifying whom you should ask, consider
Many colleges will waive the application        your relationship with the person and
fee, especially for applicants who received     how well you’ve done in your activities with
fee waivers for taking college entrance         him or her.
exams. Check with the college admissions
office to determine the circumstances           Writing recommendations can be time-
under which the college will waive the          consuming for the people writing them.
application fee.                                They might also be writing them for other
                                                students. Give your references plenty of
DEADLINES                                       time and make sure they are aware of
Deadlines are important. Be sure to pay         recommendation deadlines. One month
attention to and meet each college’s date       before your earliest deadline should be
for application. If applying with a paper       sufficient, but inquire as to your reference’s
application, be careful to note whether         schedule when asking.
the deadline is based on the arrival or
postmark date. If the deadline is the arrival
date, make sure to include several days for
postal delivery.

                                                Depending on your area of interest, your colleges
                                                might ask for a portfolio, audition materials or
                                                other evidence of your talents. Contact the specific
                                                program for more information on what to include.

                                                                                                                                                  9
COLLEGE APPLICATION
     THE COLLEGE APPLICATIONPROCESS
                             PROCESS

                                     WORKSHEET: ORGANIZE YOUR
                                     APPLICATION INFORMATION
                                     Make copies of this page, and complete the information for each
                                     college you are seriously considering.

                                                                                                                APPLICATION DUE               /      /
       COLLEGE NAME
                                                                                                                □ Postmark date □ Arrive-by date

      COLLEGE INFORMATION                                                                                       ESSAYS

                                                                                                               Essays required?   YES □    NO □
        Address for application:
                                                                                                                                                     Complete

                                                                                                                                                         □
                 City, state, zip:                                                                              Topic 1:
                                                                                                                                                         □
                         Website:                                                                               Topic 2:
                                                                                                                                                         □
       Admissions office phone:                                           Fax:                                  Topic 3:

          CEEB code* (College):                                 (High School):
                                                                                                                INTERVIEWS
      *CEEB codes can be found at www.collegeboard.org.                                                        Interview required? YES □     NO □
                                                                                                               Thank you sent?     YES □
      RECOMMENDATIONS
                                                                                                               Interviewer                           Complete
                                                                Requested Received Thank you sent
                                                                                                                                                         □
                                                                                                                 Name:
       Reference 1:                                                 □            □          □
                                                                                                                                                         □
                                                                                                                   Title:
       Reference 2:                                                 □            □          □
                                                                                                                                                         □
                                                                                                                  Email:
       Reference 3:                                                 □            □          □
                                                                                                                                                         □
                                                                                                                 Phone:

      VISIT                                                                                                     OTHER REQUIREMENTS

      Visiting campus?    YES □      NO □     Dates of visit:                                                  Other requirements?   YES □    NO □

      Name of person you're meeting               Date/time                          Location                  Task                                  Complete

                                                                                                                                                         □
                                                                                                                                                         □
                                                                                                                                                         □

      CONTACTS

                      Name                               Phone                                  Email                                 Notes

                                                 This worksheet can be downloaded here: www.ecmc.org/OrganizeYourAppInfo
10
NAVIGATING FINANCIAL AID

Navigating financial aid
This chapter will help you understand what types of financial aid are
available, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion
process and how to stay on course to receive your financial aid.

College costs                                  Public colleges: Tuition and fees are           Room and board
                                               generally the lowest because they receive       Room and board means basic living
COST OF ATTENDANCE                             funds from state taxes. Most four-year and      expenses for housing and food. Regardless
The cost to attend college is often referred   two-year public colleges charge higher          of the kind of college you choose, you will
to as Cost of Attendance (COA). COA is         tuition for nonresidents than for legal         have to consider these expenses.
used in the calculation to determine           residents of the state in which the college
eligibility for financial aid. It is often     is located. This out-of-state tuition can       Colleges with their own housing typically
calculated to show the total cost for the      often make the cost of attending a public       charge you on a nine-month basis for
academic year, though schools with             college as high as the cost of attending        your room and most meals, excluding
programs that last a different time period     many private colleges. However, some            holiday and vacation periods. The room
might show the COA that covers a specific      bordering state residents may be treated        and board charge is built into your COA.
period of time. COA includes both direct       as legal residents of that state under a        Colleges also expect that students living in
and indirect costs.                            reciprocity agreement. Check with the           privately owned, off-campus housing have
                                               college admissions office if you are eligible   a similar level of expense. Some colleges
Direct costs are fixed costs that are billed   to receive in-state tuition rates.              do not allow students to stay in on-campus
by the college.                                                                                housing during excluded periods.
                                               Private colleges: Tuition is usually higher
· Tuition                                      than at public colleges. Private colleges       If you plan to live at home, you are likely
· Fees                                         do not receive public funding for their         to have lower expenses than on-campus
· Room and board (if living on campus)         operations and need to charge more of the       students because you do not have to
                                               real costs to students. However, private        pay for housing. You will still need to
Indirect costs are not included on a college                                                   factor in your cost of food and other living
                                               colleges often have more financial aid
bill; however, they are considered in the                                                      expenses. These costs are usually built into
                                               resources that can help you make up the
overall cost to attend college.                                                                a commuter student budget for financial
                                               difference between costs and financial aid.
· Books and supplies                           The greater your overall cost of attendance,    aid purposes.
· Child care or other dependent care           the greater the possibility you will
· Costs related to a disability                demonstrate need for financial aid.
· Loan fees                                    Fees
· Personal computer                            Many colleges charge fees for other
· Personal expenses                            services. Examples include:
· Reasonable costs for eligible study          · Athletic
    abroad programs
                                               · Enrollment
·   Room and board (if living off campus)
                                               · Greek societies (membership dues)
·   Transportation
                                               · Health center
Tuition                                        · Library
The cost of tuition and fees charged by        · Parking
a college depends on many factors, but         · Student activities
the most significant factor is what kind of    · Technology fees
college it is.

                                                                                                                                              1111
FINANCIAL AID
      NAVIGATING FINANCIAL AID

WAYS TO REDUCE
COLLEGE COSTS
      Earn college credits in high
        school. You can earn college
        credits by taking AP or
        IB exams or through dual
        enrollment. See page 6
        for details.

      arn college credits for what
     E
     you already know. College Level
     Examination Program (CLEP)
     tests can get you through
     college quicker or help you
     graduate on time. For details,
     visit www.collegeboard.org.

     Two plus two. Start at a
        community college and
        then transfer to a four-year
        college to complete your
        bachelor’s degree.

     Tuition reimbursement. If you
        or your parents are employed,
        check to see if the employer
        offers to reimburse you for
        the cost of attending college.

     Take
           an extra class over the
      normal, full-time load. Usually
      taking an extra class does
      not add to the tuition cost
      for the term.

      Shop around for textbooks.
        Rent or buy used books
        and sell them back to the
        bookstore or to other students
        after the end of the term.
        Look online for textbook deals
        and consider less expensive
        electronic versions.

     Graduate on time.

12
NAVIGATING FINANCIAL AID

 Books and supplies                                                        Commuter students will also have travel                      NET PRICE CALCULATORS
 As a college student you will spend money                                 expenses, whether you use public                             Each college that participates in the federal
 on textbooks, notebooks, paper, computer                                  transportation or a car to get to and from                   financial aid programs is required to have a
 supplies and the like. The amount you                                     college several days a week. These costs                     “net price calculator” on its website. These
 spend for books and supplies will vary                                    are built into student expense budgets by                    calculators can give you a rough estimate
 only slightly by the type of college, but is                              colleges for financial aid purposes.                         of how much it may cost you to attend each
 related to the curriculum or courses you                                                                                               specific college, taking into account aid
 select. In some academic fields, such as                                  DETERMINING YOUR OWN COSTS
                                                                                                                                        you may receive from both the college and
 nursing and other medical fields, you will                                To determine your own cost estimates,                        federal financial aid. The easiest way to
 spend more on books than in other fields,                                 remember to consider any additional                          find the calculator on the college’s website
 such as business or communications.                                       costs that might result from medical                         is to type “net price calculator” in the
 Some fields will require specific uniforms                                bills or extraordinary personal expenses.                    website search field.
 and equipment that must be purchased,
 such as art, medical or lab supplies.
                                                                           Estimating college costs                                     The estimates provided by different net
                                                                                                                                        price calculators should not be used to
 Personal expenses                                                         Before you file the FAFSA, there are ways to                 absolutely rule in or rule out a particular
 Regardless of the type of college you                                     get an estimate of how much college may                      college. The calculator questions vary
 choose to attend, you will have some                                      cost you.                                                    from college to college. Because of
 personal expenses such as clothing,                                                                                                    this, the results may not provide an
 laundry, toiletries, recreation, medical                                  FINANCIAL AID                                                “apples-to-apples” comparison of
 insurance and medical costs.                                                                                                           your net college costs.
                                                                           Visit College Board's BigFuture EFC
 Transportation                                                            Calculator (https://bigfuture.collegeboard.
                                                                                                                                        COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
 All students spend some money for travel.                                 org/pay-for-college/paying-your-share/
 If you live in a different city than where                                expected-family-contribution-calculator)                     The U.S. Department of Education
 your college is located, you have to travel                               to get an idea of your expected family                       designed the College Affordability and
 to get there at the start of the academic                                 contribution used by colleges to determine                   Transparency Center to provide better
 year and travel to return home at the end                                 how much financial aid they will offer you.                  information about college costs. It serves
 of the year. Most students also go home at                                                                                             as a central point of access to several
                                                                           Use the FAFSA4caster (https://fafsa.ed.gov/                  tools that allow users to compare college
 least once during the year. For financial aid
                                                                           spa/fafsa4c/) to determine eligibility for                   tuition and fees, net price and other
 purposes, colleges often budget students
                                                                           federal student aid and receive estimated                    characteristics including College Scorecard,
 for two round-trips home per year by the
                                                                           types and amounts of aid you may receive.                    College Navigator, links to college’s net
 least expensive means of travel possible.
                                                                                                                                        price calculators and state spending
                                                                                                                                        charts.
                                                                                                                                        https://collegecost.ed.gov

                      AVERAGE ESTIMATED FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE BUDGETS, 2020-21

                                                            $1,840
 Public two-year                                                                                                                               TUITION + FEES               TRANSPORTATION
       in-district        $3,770             $9,080                      $2,400      $18,550
      commuter                                                                                                                                 ROOM + BOARD                 OTHER EXPENSES
                                                      $1,460
                                                                                             $1,230                                            BOOKS + SUPPLIES
 Public four-year
          in-state                 $10,560                           $11,620                          $2,170   $26,520
     on-campus
                                                                                     $1,240
                                                                                                                                   $1,230
 Public four-year
    out-of-state                                           $27,020                                                   $11,620                  $2,170     $43,280
     on-campus
                                                                                                                                                                      $1,810
                                                                                                                               $1,240
                                                                                                                                                                   $1,060
Private nonprofit
        four-year                                                                 $37,650                                                      $13,120                               $54,880
      on-campus
                                                                                                                                                                $1,240

                     $0                        $10,000                            $20,000                      $30,000                  $40,000                          $50,000

 Source: https://research.collegeboard.org/pdf/trends-college-pricing-student-aid-2020.pdf

                                                                                                                                                                                               13
FINANCIAL AID
     NAVIGATING FINANCIAL AID

                                                                 Free Application for Federal Student Aid

                                                                fafsa
                                                                In recent years, more than 98 percent
                                                                of FAFSA filers have applied online.
                                                                It’s the fastest, the easiest and simply
                                                                the best way to file your FAFSA.
                                                                On average, it takes just 23 minutes
                                                                to complete the FAFSA online.

     About the FAFSA                                You will need to file the FAFSA each year       This worksheet provides a preview of
                                                    you will be in college to be considered         the questions that you may be asked
     COMPLETE THE FAFSA—IT’S IMPORTANT!             for aid. Regardless of whether you qualify      while completing the FAFSA online. The
     Students are required to complete the          for federal student aid, if you fail to file    questions on the FAFSA on the Web
     FAFSA to determine their eligibility for all   the FAFSA you will miss out on being            Worksheet are ordered as they appear on
     federal student aid. Many people do not        considered for state and institutional          the online FAFSA, although some may be
     complete the FAFSA because they assume         aid. Assuming you are not eligible              skipped online based on your answers to
     they will not be eligible for federal aid,     can be costly.                                  earlier questions.
     or they feel the process is too confusing
                                                    Filing the FAFSA is free. Remember­—the         To complete the FAFSA, you (and your
     or complicated.
                                                    first word in FAFSA is “Free.” There are        parents if you are considered dependent)
     Here’s what’s wrong with that thinking:        companies that will charge you a fee to         must provide certain information regarding
                                                    help you complete the FAFSA, but there          your financial assets, liabilities and
     · Don’t assume you won’t qualify for           shouldn’t be a need to pay for this service.    income. Refer to the following documents:
      financial aid. Virtually every student is
      eligible for at least one type of federal     If you do not meet the citizenship              · Prior-prior year federal income tax returns
      student aid. It’s very simple—if you do       requirements for filing the FAFSA, check         (two years prior to the current year; for
      not apply for federal student aid by filing   with the financial aid office at your college    example, the 2022-2023 FAFSA will
      the FAFSA, you will not receive any           to determine if an alternate application         use 2020 federal income tax returns).
      federal student aid.                          can be used.                                     Many applicants may be able to transfer
                                                                                                     income tax data directly from the
     · Eligibility for many state aid programs      WHAT THE FAFSA DOES                              IRS into the FAFSA using the IRS Data
      is determined by your FAFSA data. If you                                                       Retrieval Tool.
      don’t complete the FAFSA, you simply          Your eligibility for federal financial aid is
      won’t be considered for state aid, in         calculated using the Federal Need Analysis      · W-2 forms and other income records
      many cases.                                   Methodology, a formula mandated by              · Current bank statements
                                                    Congress. The formula takes into account        · Records of benefits from federal and
     · Many colleges use FAFSA data to              your (and your parents’ if you are a
      determine eligibility for institutional aid                                                    state agencies
                                                    dependent student) financial condition.
      (or aid the college offers.) Additional       When you complete the FAFSA, you are            It is essential that you provide correct
      forms may be required as part of the          answering a series of questions to provide      information and follow all instructions
      application process; contact each             this information.                               for filing the FAFSA. Mistakes and
      college’s financial aid office to find out.
                                                                                                    incomplete information can lead to
     · Many private scholarship programs use        · You may find it helpful to first complete     delays in receiving aid.
      FAFSA data to determine who qualifies for      the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet
      their scholarships.                            available at https://studentaid.gov/
                                                     sites/default/files/2021-22-fafsa-
                                                     worksheet.pdf.
14
NAVIGATING FINANCIAL AID

THE STUDENT AID REPORT (SAR)                     To sign your FAFSA online, you must apply        information only on themselves and
After you file a FAFSA, you will receive a       for an FSA ID; which includes a username         their spouse (when applicable). You are
Student Aid Report (SAR) from Federal            and password. Your FSA ID is issued by           automatically classified as independent if
Student Aid (FSA) that contains information      Federal Student Aid at https://studentaid.       you can check ANY of the following boxes:
provided on your FAFSA along with your           gov/fsa-id/sign-in/landing. You, and at
Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Your         least one parent if you are a dependent          □ I was born before January 1, 1998
EFC is not the amount of money your family       student, will need to have an FSA ID to
                                                 electronically sign the FAFSA.                   □ I am married
is expected to pay. Rather, you should
think of the EFC as an index colleges use to                                                      □ I will be working on a master’s or
                                                 Other ways to file include:
calculate the amount of financial aid you                                                            doctorate program (e.g., MA, MBA,
may qualify to receive. While your family is     · PDF FAFSA that you download, complete             MD, JD, PhD, EdD, graduate certificate)
expected to contribute toward your cost of        and mail—go to www.fafsa.ed.gov/
education, the amount of this contribution                                                        □ I am serving on active duty in the U.S.
                                                  options.htm and click on “Complete a PDF           Armed Forces
will be determined by the financial aid           FAFSA.”
office at your college.                                                                           □ I am a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces
                                                 · Paper FAFSA that you request, complete
When you complete the FAFSA, you                  and mail—to get a paper FAFSA, call
                                                                                                  □ I now have or will have children for
indicate the federal school codes for the         1.800.4.FED.AID (1.800.433.3243)                   whom I will provide more than half of
colleges you are interested in attending.         If you are hearing impaired, contact the           their support between July 1, 2021 and
These colleges receive the information            TTY line at 1.800.730.8913.                        June 30, 2022
you provided on the FAFSA. Based on this
                                                 DOMICILE (RESIDENCY)                             □ Since I turned age 13, both of my
information, each college will determine
the amount and types of aid for which            On the FAFSA, domicile is referred to as            parents were deceased
you are eligible.                                your “State of Legal Residence.” A person’s
                                                 domicile is their present, fixed home to         □ I was in foster care since turning age 13
You will receive an offer letter from each       which they return following temporary            □ I have dependents (other than my
college that accepts you for admission.          absences and at which they intend to                children or my spouse) who live with
The letter outlines the total financial aid      stay indefinitely. To be eligible for in-state      me and I provide more than half of
package (grants, scholarships, work-study        tuition benefits and most state-supported           their support
and loans) for which you are eligible.           financial aid, you must have established
Financial aid officers at the colleges can       domicile for at least one year prior to          □ I was a dependent or ward of the
answer questions regarding the SAR and           the first day of class. Minors are presumed         court since turning age 13
offer letters. See pages 24-25 for more          to have the domicile of their parent or
information about offer letters.                 legal guardian.                                  □ I am currently or I was an
                                                                                                     emancipated minor
FILE THE FAFSA ONLINE-IT'S FAST!                 Domiciliary intent is determined using
                                                                                                  □ I am currently or I was in legal
· Go to https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-      many factors. These could include paying            guardianship
 aid/fafsa.                                      state income tax as a resident, registering
                                                 to vote in the state, owning property,           □ I am homeless or I am at risk of
· This is the fastest and most accurate way      permanent employment, sources of                    being homeless
 to file and get results­—your application       financial support and economic ties with
 is automatically edited for errors as you       the state. The burden is on the applicant to     If none of these criteria apply to you,
 complete it to ensure your information is       provide sufficient information to establish      you are a dependent student. See
 as accurate as possible.                        domiciliary intent.                              https://studentaid.gov/dependency
· When your FAFSA information is                                                                  for more information.
 transmitted over the Internet, it is            Contact the registrar’s office at your college
 completely secure.                              for more information.                            In addition, the financial aid office at
                                                                                                  your college can determine if you should
· It is easy to navigate with extensive online   INDEPENDENT VS. DEPENDENT STATUS                 be considered independent if special
 help including live chat, email and phone                                                        circumstances exist, but this occurs only
 options available.                              In determining financial need, one of the
                                                 most important factors is whether you are        in rare circumstances.
                                                 classified as a dependent or independent
                                                 student. Dependent students must
                                                 include parental information on the FAFSA.
       COMPLETION OF                             Independent students should include

       THE FAFSA IS THE
        SINGLE MOST
     IMPORTANT PART OF
      THE FINANCIAL AID
          PROCESS.

                                                                                                                                                15
FINANCIAL AID
     NAVIGATING FINANCIAL AID

                                    MYTH #1                                           MYTH #4
                                    It’ll take a long time to create my FSA ID.       I need an email address or mobile phone
                                    On average, it takes about seven minutes          number to create an FSA ID.
                                    to create an FSA ID. Federal Student Aid          You do NOT need an email address or
                                    has a variety of resources, such as this

         9 MYTHS
                                                                                      mobile phone number to create an FSA
                                    helpful video, that walk you through              ID. If you don’t have an email address
                                    each step of creating an FSA ID.                  or mobile phone number, you can leave
                                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj1Pn-            those fields blank. However, adding this

        ABOUT THE                   shze8                                             information is strongly recommended.
                                                                                      Once your email address is verified, you
                                    MYTH #2                                           can enter your email address instead of

          FSA ID                    Only students need to create an FSA ID.
                                                                                      your username when you log in. You can
                                                                                      also use your email address or mobile
                                                                                      phone number to retrieve your forgotten
                                    If you are a dependent student, then
                                    your parent will need his or her own FSA          username or password or to unlock your
                                    ID in order to sign the Free Application          account.
                                    for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form
                                    electronically. That’s because you will need      MYTH #5
                                    to provide your parent’s information on
     As of April 2017, 45 million   your FAFSA form, and your parent will             As a parent, I can use the same email
                                    need to sign the FAFSA form as well.              address or mobile phone number for both
     FSA IDs have been created,     But here is something very important:             my FSA ID and my child’s FSA ID.
     and people have used           Your parent must create his or her own,
                                    separate FSA ID. Your parent shouldn’t
                                                                                      An email address or mobile phone number
                                                                                      cannot be used with more than one FSA
     their FSA ID more than 315     use your FSA ID, and you shouldn’t create         ID. If you’re a student and you choose to
                                    an FSA ID for your parent.
     million times. With any new                                                      provide an email address and/or mobile
                                                                                      phone number when creating your FSA
     process, there are some        If you’re not sure if you’re a
                                                                                      ID, you’ll need to include your own email
                                    dependent student, visit
     myths floating around          https://studentaid.gov/dependency.
                                                                                      address and/or mobile phone number.
                                                                                      Your parent will need to include his or her
     about creating and using an                                                      own email address and/or mobile phone
     FSA ID. Visit www.ed.gov/      MYTH #3                                           number when creating his or her FSA ID.
                                                                                      If you don’t have an email address or
     content/9-myths-about-fsa-     It’s okay to let someone else create
                                    or use my FSA ID.
                                                                                      mobile phone number, you can leave
                                                                                      those fields blank.
     id-0.                          Not okay. Each individual person needs
                                    to create his or her own FSA ID. If you’re a      MYTH #6
                                    parent, you should NOT create an FSA ID for
                                    your child. If you’re a student, you should       I need an FSA ID to fill out the FAFSA form.
                                    NOT create an FSA ID for your parent. Why?        The fastest way to sign and submit your
                                    For example, if a parent tries to create both     FAFSA form is to use an FSA ID. That said, if
                                    the parent’s and child’s FSA IDs, it’s easy to    you or your parent don’t have an FSA ID, you
                                    mix up information such as Social Security        can still submit the FAFSA form. If you fill out
                                    numbers, dates of birth, and usernames            the FAFSA form online but don’t have an
                                    and passwords. Because Federal Student            FSA ID, you can choose the option to submit
                                    Aid verifies your information with the Social     your FAFSA form without signatures, and
                                    Security Administration, it’s crucial that this   then print and mail a signature page. If you
                                    information be correct. Also, if someone          can’t fill out the FAFSA form online, you have
                                    else creates your FSA ID, how will you know       other options.
                                    the answers to your challenge questions
                                    if you need to retrieve a forgotten username      Students without access to a computer can
                                    or password?                                      receive FAFSA assistance from a wide range
                                                                                      of college access organizations, such as the
                                    Most importantly, FSA IDs are used to             National College Attainment Network.
                                    sign legally binding documents, so giving         A student can also visit a local library, use a
                                    someone access to your FSA ID is like             computer at school or get help from a school
                                    allowing them to forge your signature. Be         counselor.
                                    sure to create your own FSA ID, and save
                                    yourself the trouble.

16
NAVIGATING
                                                                                                            NAVIGATING FINANCIAL
                                                                                                                       FINANCIAL AID

MYTH #7                                            MYTH #9
The Social Security Administration                 I forgot my password, and it’s going to
(SSA) has to verify my information                 take 30 minutes to reset it.
before I can use my FSA ID.
                                                   The easiest way to reset your password
If you’re filling out a FAFSA form for the first   is by using your verified email address
time, you can use your newly created FSA           or verified mobile phone number. If
ID to sign and submit your FAFSA form right        you reset your password using one of
away. But, if you need to submit a renewal         these options, you can use your FSA ID
FAFSA form or make corrections after               immediately. You have to wait 30 minutes
you’ve submitted your FAFSA form, you              only if you reset your password using
first have to wait for the SSA to verify your      your challenge questions.
identity before you can use your new FSA
ID. The verification process takes                 There are lots of resources online to assist
one to three days.                                 you with your FSA ID. For step-by-step
                                                   instructions on how to create an FSA ID,
When creating your FSA ID, make sure to            visit www.ecmc.org/students/resource-
enter your information exactly as it appears       guides.html. Visit https://studentaid.gov/
on your Social Security card to avoid              fsaid for more FSA ID information. In no
delays. Once your information is verified,         time, you’ll have your very own FSA ID, too!
you can use your FSA ID to submit your
renewal FAFSA form, make corrections,
access your loan history and a host
of other things.

If you’re a parent, you never have to wait
for the SSA match to sign your child’s
FAFSA form. However, if you sign the
FAFSA form when your SSA match status
is listed as “pending” and it later returns
“no match,” Federal Student Aid will
remove your signature from your child’s
FAFSA form. If that happens, you will either
need to resolve the conflict with the SSA
and sign electronically again, or you’ll need
to print and mail a signature page.

MYTH #8
Confirming my email address or mobile
phone number can take up to 24 hours.
You should receive your mobile phone
verification code and email confirmation
within three minutes. If you don’t, your
email account’s spam filter could be
the culprit. It’s a good idea to add the
FSA ID email address—@ed.gov—to
your address book to make sure you get
your confirmation.

                                                                                                  CREATE YOUR
                                                                                                  FSA ID TODAY
                                                                                                  https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/
                                                                                                          sign-in/landing

                                                                                                                                       17
You can also read