Tag Archives: aid
Student Loan Tips For Recent Graduates
It seemed like a great idea at the time. Getting a personal loan was hardly an option, but financial aid institutions provided loan after loan to get you through school. If financial aid was your sole provider of getting through school, chances are, you feel like your student loan is going to follow you around for the rest of your life. Consider these tips when dealing with the after effects of taking in large amounts of financial aid: A Student Loan is an Investment in Your Future Consider your student loan as an investment rather than a burden. If you think about it, you’re not very different from a business that has borrowed thousands of dollars in start up money. The student loan funded your professional education, now you have the skill sets needed to earn the money to pay back your debt. This is why the government is so willing to provide financial aid to millions of people every year. What they pay in financial aid, is returned in your contribution as a skilled member of society. Student Loan Consolidation Many small businesses use a variety of funding sources when getting started such as credit cards, personal loans, and … Continue reading
Most Common Federal Student Loan Programs
The Federal Student Loan Program was created to meet the financial aid needs of a variety of students. Therefore, not all student loan programs are created or distributed equally. The two primary student loan categories are public or private. The difference being that the former is funded by government programs and the latter is offered through private lenders. Generally, a federal student loan will have much more favorable terms than a private student loan. Stafford Loans The Federal Stafford Loan is by far the most popular government-run student loan program, probably because borrowers are not subject to a credit check, and since they also offer financial aid that is both subsidized and unsubsidized. The benefit to this program is, as long as you apply before your school’s funds run out, you can use a Stafford Loan as a form of non-need based financial aid. Students who utilize this form of financial aid are guaranteed one low interest rate over the life of their loan, and are allowed to defer student loan payments for six months following graduation or withdrawal, giving them time to find a job. In addition, financial aid is available to students at both the undergraduate and graduate … Continue reading
Federal Student Aid Grants
Federal Student Aid Grants, unlike a student loan, do not have to be repaid. There are 5 federally regulated student aid grants available to students of varying educational pursuits. The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant (TEACH Grant) The College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 created the TEACH grant program that provides student aid of up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach to public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families. Generally, you should contact the financial aid office at the college where you will be enrolled. Conditions for student aid: In order to receive a TEACH grant, you must agree to serve as a full-time teacher in a high-need field in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students. 1. These fields include: Bilingual education and English language acquisition, Foreign language, mathematics, reading specialist, science, special education, other shortage areas at the time you begin teaching. 2. Schools serving low income students includes any elementary or secondary school that is listed in the Department of Education’s Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits. 3. TEACH Grant Agreement to … Continue reading
Maximizing Your Financial Aid Eligibility
The following are the top strategies in impacting need-based financial aid eligibility: 1. To maximize financial aid, save money in the parent’s name, not the child’s name. 2. Pay off consumer debt, such as credit card and auto loan balances 3. Parents should go back to school to further their own education at the same time as their children, or have multiple children in college at the same time. The more family members that are enrolled, the more student aid will be available to each. 4. Spend down the student’s assets and income first. 5. Accelerate necessary expenses, to reduce available cash. For example, if you need a new car or computer, buy it before you file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. 6. If you feel that your family’s financial circumstances are unusual, make an appointment with the financial aid administrator at your school. Sometimes the school will be able to adjust your financial aid package to compensate using a process known as Professional Judgment. 7. Minimize capital gains and in turn, maximize student aid 8. Maximize contributions to your retirement fund. 9. Do not withdraw money from your retirement fund to pay for school, as distributions count … Continue reading
Avoid Losing Your Student Aid
According to the U.S. Department of Education, if a student is convicted of a drug offense after receiving federal student aid money, he or she must notify the financial aid department immediately and that student will become ineligible for any further student aid. They will also be responsible for reimbursing any and all financial aid they may have received after the conviction. The law requires that a student lose his or her financial aid upon conviction of a drug offense. The good news is that many times, student aid can be recovered in many ways. Even if a conviction results, a student can take advantage of a rehabilitation program that can make them eligible for financial aid again. Under the Higher Education Act, students become ineligible for federal student aid money upon conviction of any offense involving the possession or sale of drugs. This includes Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, Plus Loans, Work-Study Programs, and Perkins Loans. Common questions from those who lose financial aid How long am I ineligible for federal student aid? For possession of illegal drugs First offense: You are ineligible for financial aid for 1 year from the date of conviction. Second offense: You are ineligible for … Continue reading
Avoid Frustrating Mistakes on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
A mistake on your FAFSA can delay the processing of your application by up to three weeks. Consider this statistic, one in seven FAFSA forms is returned do to errors. It can happen to you and it can result in your being denied student aid due to lack of funding. Common mistakes when filing your free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) The most frequent mistake when applying for student aid is to leave a field blank. If the answer is zero or does not pertain to you, write in a zero. Leaving a question blank can lead to the processor assuming that you forgot to answer. This can result in the FAFSA being returned to you and delaying student aid you desperately need. Use the 1040 federal tax return for income reporting and reporting taxes paid when filing for student aid. Some parents and students accidentally use their W-2 form. When applying for student aid, don’t forget to report all the required sources of untaxed income. This includes Social Security, Child support, and Aid to Dependent Children. Report your correct marital status. You must be married before the date you sign your FAFSA. Include yourself in household size. Even … Continue reading
The Different Types of Federal Student Aid
There are six federal student aid programs you should definitely know about. They include the following: Federal Pell Grants This is need-based financial aid. The amount of student aid you receive will depend largely on how much it costs to attend the school of your choice. The money for the Federal Pell Grant comes to the school, which then delivers it to you. If you are eligible for this form of student aid, you will receive it regardless of how many other students at the same school also show need for this type of student aid. Federal Stafford Loan There are two types of Federal Stafford Loans: subsidized and unsubsidized. The principal balance on these loans are deferred until 6 months after you are out of school. The primary difference between these two is who pays the interest on the loan while you enrolled in school and during grace and deferment periods. An unsubsidized loan is not based on how much financial aid you need. If you take out an unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan, you are responsible for the interest that accrues from the time you borrow the loan and the time of repayment. This interest can be capitalized, which … Continue reading
Basics on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a form that can be filled out annually by current and prospective college students in the United States to determine their eligibility for federal student aid. The Department of Education begins accepting the FAFSA on January 1st of each year. For previous FAFSA applicants, a renewal form is provided, but tax and income information must be updated annually. In addition to using this information to determine eligibility for federal student aid, most states and schools use FAFSA information to award non-federal student aid. The FAFSA consists of questions regarding the student’s finances, as well as the family’s finances, number of siblings in college, number of dependents in the family, and dependency status. The information provided in the FAFSA determines the level of student aid by entering the given information into a formula that determines the “Expected Family Contribution”. A flaw in FAFSA methodology is that the use of this information implies that the parents will contribute to their child’s education, whether that is true or not. A Student Aid Report, which is a summary of the FAFSA responses, is forwarded to the student. The student should review the SAR carefully for errors … Continue reading
Common Questions About Federal Student Aid
1. I probably don’t qualify for federal student aid. Should I apply anyways? Yes. Many families mistakenly think they don’t qualify for federal student aid and prevent themselves from receiving any federal student aid. There are several sources of student aid, such as an unsubsidized Stafford student loan, that are available regardless of need. 2. Do I need to be admitted in school before I can apply for federal student aid? No. You can apply at any time for student aid or a student loan, but you will only receive the money once you are enrolled. 3. Why can’t I submit my financial aid application before January 1st? The analysis process uses the family’s income and tax information from the most recent year to judge your eligibility for need-based financial aid during the upcoming school year. If you submit an application for federal student aid before January 1st, you will be rejected. 4. Do I have to reapply for a federal student loan every year? Yes. If your financial circumstances change, you may get more or less student aid. In addition, the number of family members currently enrolled in college, academic progress, full-time or part-time student status, and a minimum … Continue reading