The Financial Aid Support Center

Every person is unique, but when you face a challenge like finding financial aid, you are never alone.  Countless men and women embarking on a college education have faced the exact same need for financial aid and have survived and thrived.  The following guide is designed to help you navigate your journey with the best information and resources that helped other survivors when they faced the same challenge.  

TSC has scoured the Internet and assembled links to the very best financial aid resources: articles, blogs, forums and tools that can help you make better decisions and take action to overcome the range of emotional and other challenges that you face.

As you’ll see, we always welcome your ideas and suggestions to make this Financial Aid Guide even more helpful to survivors like you.    

JUST FOUND OUT  

Survivors Say: Best Resources for Financial Aid

• Federal Student Aid
  
• FinAid: The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid 
• U.S. Department of Education (ED)
  

The Big Picture

There is no doubt that a higher education is worth every penny. Whether you are going for a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree or a certification from a technical institute, you’ll find that tuition rates can be very high. These costs should not stand in your way from getting a decent education. There are a wide variety of financial aid programs available to help pay for furthering your education. Financial aid can come in the form of government loans, scholarships or grants. As with any major life decision, it’s important to gather as much information about the subject as possible.

U.S. News: Paying for College

Because the bulk of financial aid comes directly from the federal government, you should start your search there. Understanding your responsibilities with regards to paying back your loan is a big part of accepting the money. Unlike scholarships, student loans will have to be paid back by you.

Federal Student Aid: Student Aid on the Web

Your Financial Aid

For many students, you’ll be graduating from high school to start your college years. You’ve obviously been through the university application process.  However, the financial aid application process comes with its own language you should familiarize yourself with.

Next Step Magazine: Learning Financial Aid Lingo 

No matter which financial aid package you ultimately decide on, every application starts by filling out the Free Application for Student Aid or FAFSA form. The new streamlined version of this form was created in 1992 and will help determine your level of qualification.

The New York Times: The Big Test Before College? The Financial Aid Form

There is a wide array of resource material available which presents your various financial aid options. You can never learn too much!

eZine Articles: Reference and Education - Financial Aid 

Your World

Anyone who is attending college but not directly entering from high school is considered a non-traditional student. This could mean you went to work right out of high school and are now returning to higher education. Or perhaps you are supporting your family and looking to enhance your future career potential with a college degree. Fortunately, the same financial aid options exists for the non-traditional student as well.  

The Rob Branham Foundation: Finding Emotional Support

Navigating through the maze of financial aid applications can be challenging. There are professional services available that can walk you through the process, step by step.

Student Financial Aid Service: Professional Help Filing the FAFSA

Financial Aid Myths

• There’s not a lot of financial aid available
• My income is too high to qualify for financial aid
• My child isn’t a straight A student so he won’t qualify
• If we apply for a loan we have to take it
• My parents saved for college so I won’t qualify
• You can get more scholarships by paying someone to search for you
• The process of applying for financial aid is too complicated

Information and Recommended Links for Survivors

• Next Step Magazine: Financial Aid Articles
  
• SallieMae: Student Financial Aid
  
• College Bound: 11 Time - Tested Tips For Dealing with Financial Aid
  

Types of Financial Aid

Need-based

Need-based programs are for students who are in search of financial assistant to pay for tuition and living expenses. There is a standardized formula based on your family’s earnings that provides the basics for being accepted in any of these types of programs.

ACT Student: Need-based Financial Aid

Non Need-based

These types of financial aid packages come in the form of scholarships based on the individual student’s merits. This might mean excelling in academics or athletics. Often these types of grants are extremely competitive and limited in number.

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators: What Financial Aid is Available?

Work Study Programs

If you qualify for federal aid, some of this might come in the form of a work study program. This could mean being hired to work in any of your college campus support services such as the library, bookstore or cafeteria. These would be guaranteed jobs for the duration of the specified aid.

Student Fiance Domain: Work Study

Scholarships

Scholarships are funds awarded to certain students that don’t have to be paid back. These range in amount and availability. Each scholarship comes with its own set of application requirements. It’s important to remember that if you are awarded a scholarship while seeking federal financial aid it needs to be reported.

Scholarships 4 Students

Fellowships

Fellowships are usually awarded for students engaged in advanced study. This typically means graduate students going for their PhD. Many government fellowships are provided through the various departmental agencies and geared for research projects that can benefit those fields. 

National Science Foundation: Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Creating a support circle

• Set up your TSC Survivor Profile
• Join support groups of other survivors or set up your own
• Interact and provide updates on your profile or our forums

Insurance

Beyond financial aid, one of other concerns you need to deal with upon entering college might be your own health insurance. It’s a good idea to consider affordable plans as a bridge between student life and a career.

Student Health Insurance: For College Students and Graduates

Resources to Find Financial Aid

As mentioned, there are numerous options and plans available for students seeking financial air for their higher education. The goal would be to find reputable companies who can help meet your needs. Sallie Mae has been a leader in this field since 1972 and knows all the programs that are available.

Sallie Mae: Private Student Loans, Federal Student Loans, Private College Loans

The Emotional Roller-coaster

Surviving the financial aid application is a challenge to everyone who goes through the process. Some people find that dealing with the process of obtaining financial aid is emotionally more of a hardship than the actual college application. Many survivors face anxiety over mounting debt and break down under the stress of repaying the loan. To avoid this, it's important to continue living your life normally. Support groups are also important to maintaining a healthy emotional state. Other than that, educating yourself on the reality of financial aid options and repayment plans and exposing yourself to books and stories written by those who have dealt with loans in their past can help give you and your loved ones hope while dealing with his crisis.

Books Survivors Recommend

• Getting Financial Aid 2009 
• Paying For College Without Going Broke
  
• The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Financial Aid for College
  
• The Scholarship and Financial Aid Solution: How to Go to College for Next to Nothing with Short Cuts, Tricks, and Tips from Start to Finish

What Survivors Wish They’d Known

• Filing early is extremely important in order to obtain all the information needed in the application process. Once you get accepted to a college, it might be too late to find aid.
• Asking questions of the financial aid office at your school of choice is a good resource to help you through the application process.
• Write down any questions you may have ahead of time and the answers to those questions as your financial aid school counselor.  Don't be afraid to ask for clarification on anything.

About.com: What You Need to Know About Student Financial Aid for College

Dealing with Financial Aid: Information and Recommended Links for Co-Survivors

How you can help

• Keep in mind that paying for school is basically a family’s responsibility. You’re all in this together and the decisions you make will have an impact on your budget and credit history.
• You can help your student by assisting them with filling out the application and making sure all the deadlines are met.
• Do not hesitate to build up a relationship with the financial office at the school. They are there to help.

Buzzle.com: What You Need to Know About Financial Aid Before Choosing a College

What to say   

• "I will support your decision in whichever financial aid package we decide on to the best of my ability.”
• "Together, let’s make sure this is the best plan for all of us."
• “Going off to college is as important to me as it is to you.”

What not to say

• "You’re on your own.”
  
• "You’ll never be able to pay any of this back."
• "You’ll be in debt for the rest of your life."

Things you can do for a survivor during their application process

Set a calendar for important deadline dates. Don’t wait until the last minute to submit an application. Make the time to work on filling out the forms together. You should also consider setting up an appointment with the financial office counselor to discuss all the financial aid options available to you.

Offering day-to-day support is a great gift to give a family member who is going through the financial aid application process. If the student isn't a family member, help out their family by sharing whatever information or resources you may find.

How to build a support network

• Set up your TSC Co-Survivor Profile
• Create a support group for your friend or family member.
• Interact and provide updates

What Parents Should Know

Working together as a family to complete the financial aid application process will greatly help the student.

National Association of Independent Schools - Three Things You Need to Know about Financial Aid

After completing the application process and receiving financial aid, students can get down to the business of learning.  Sharing with others how you got through this process emotionally, mentally and spiritually will be a terrific benefit.  Receiving financial aid is almost as exciting as being accepted to a college. By telling your story, you can not only put into perspective your thoughts and feelings but you can provide hope to others who are going through a similar journey themselves, whether it be with financial aid, scholarships or grants.

Completed Application     

Although the FAFSA application is the cornerstone of any financial aid package, there are other components needed depending on where you are submitting. Most scholarships will require a well crafted cover letter and essay as part of the application. These should be personalized for each submission. Check out this site to find tips on completing the application packet.

Financial Aid Tips: Financial Aid Counseling 

Finding the perfect match between student, scholarship and aid package is crucial to successfully paying for your tuition. This is a comprehensive database of financial aid and scholarship programs available:

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Give back

What helped you while you were dealing with applying for financial aid and realized you had successfully completed the process? Take a look back at your journey and share with other what helped you and what you wished you would have known/done during your application process. You can create a profile, reach out to other survivors, join support circles or share your story by following the links at TheSurvivorsClub.org.

There are times during your college years when you might be in danger of losing your financial aid. This includes not attending classes or enrolling in classes that are ineligible for your degree. You should be aware of the conditions of your financial aid plan.

Carl Sandburg College: Financial Aid Office - Loosing Aid

Drug convictions and other problems with breaking the law will also put your financial aid in jeopardy.

Daily Wildcat:  Drug Convictions Cause Students to Loose Financial Aid