Do you have questions about who fills out the FAFSA? This infographic should help:
All posts by Suzanne Shaffer
It’s FAFSA time!
Here’s a great post from the College Board in honor of Financial Aid Awareness month for parents, reminding all of us of the importance of the FAFSA and how to get ready for submission.
It’s time.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is how millions of students apply for federal, state and most college-based financial aid. And because government grants compose 74 percent of this $185 billion pool, it’s understandable for families to feel anxious when filling out the FAFSA.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Susan McCrackin, Senior Director Financial Aid Methodology at the College Board, offers this eight-step map to help parents and students work through the FAFSA as efficiently and effectively as possible.
1. Gather Your Documents
It is much easier to fill out the FAFSA if you have all the needed forms in hand before you start. Here’s a list of documents to get you going. You should also get a U.S. Department of Education personal identification number (PIN.) Here’s the PIN application link.
2. Think About Taxes
Parents’ taxes are an important part in the FAFSA process. Getting taxes done by February 1st may be unrealistic, so last year’s taxes and this year’s paystubs can help create estimates. After February 3rd, the IRS Data Retrieval Tool becomes available, allowing students and parents to access the IRS tax return information needed to complete the FAFSA and transfer the data directly into their FAFSA from the IRS website. And if you owe the government money, take note: you can complete your taxes without actually filing and cutting a check to Uncle Sam.
3. Find Quiet Time
The FAFSA has a lot of sections. Breaking them into smaller pieces makes the FAFSA easier to navigate. Consider these do’s and don’ts.
- Don’t sprint. Take questions one at a time and give yourself time to properly answer each question.
- Do read each question carefully and out loud. It will help you understand the question better.
- Don’t multi-task. Put your mobile phone away, and turn off the television.
- Do find a quiet place where the FAFSA will have your full attention.
4. Stay Student Focused
Parents often forget that the student always provides information. Parents are required to provide their information if the student is dependent.
So when parents see a question that refers to “I,” remember that “I” is the student. “You” is also the student. When questions address parents, you will see questions that refer to “your parents.” This is where parental information goes.
5. Avoid Parent Traps
As families evolve, so do questions about who needs to provide information for the FAFSA. When you see “parents,” FAFSA is referring to the student’s biological or adoptive parents. When the parents are married, then the student and both parents complete the FAFSA.
If the parents are not together, things can get confusing. BigFuture by the College Board created a corresponding infographic to help address some commonly asked questions. That infographic will appear on this site tomorrow.
6. Keep Track of Deadlines
Every college has a different set of deadlines based on priority, merit, early decisions etc. BigFuture by the College Board helps families sort through these deadlines with detailed college profiles and a free, customized action plan. And, should you have specific questions about specific colleges or universities, don’t be afraid to call the college’s financial aid office and ask questions.
7. Profile CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®
The FAFSA opens the doors to federal aid. There’s also almost $50 billion in non-federal aid available – from colleges, states and private institutions. Some colleges and programs use the College Board’s CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE to help award these monies.
CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE is an online application that collects information used by almost 400 colleges and scholarship programs to award financial aid outside sources from the federal government. Families must complete the application and the College Board sends it to the colleges and scholarship programs they have chosen.
Here’s a list of colleges that use CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® and where you go to complete the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®. Sending your CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® report to one college or scholarship program costs $25. Additional reports are $16 each. There are fee waivers available for low-income families.
8. Gain Experience
The more you experience something, the better you do. This free FAFSA webinar walks you section by section through an actual application with the College Board’s Senior Director for Financial Aid Methodology, Susan McCrackin. Families can access the free FAFSA webinar 24/7.
It’s time. Go after your piece of the more than $185 billion in financial aid to help make college possible. Use BigFuture for advice and to help create a customized plan for your child. Then follow the map. Chances are it will lead to an investment that provides returns for the rest of your child’s life.
A Christmas Blessing
2012 is almost over and what a year it has been for me and my family. We’ve learned to appreciate the small things in life and to not take anything for granted. I hope that this Christmas season prompts you to count your blessings and share your joy with others. May 2013 bring you innumerable blessings, good health, and an appreciation for family. And please remember that there are those who need your love and comfort this time of year. Take the time to smile, pass along a holiday wish, and even “pay it forward” to an unsuspecting person. You never know what your gift of kindness can do and how it could change someone’s life.
Hug your kids more than usual and pray for the families who won’t be celebrating Christmas with their loved ones this year. Remember that we can change the world one life at a time. All it takes is one voice.
Merry Christmas and Happy 2013!
What are we teaching our children?
This past Friday we all watched and listened in horror as the media reported the incomprehensible news about another school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. It is every parent’s nightmare, every teacher’s fear, and every American’s frustration that our children are no longer safe (in school, at the mall, at a movie theater, or in any public place).
I refuse to focus on the shooter or even justify the reasons behind his decision to shoot innocent people without regard for human life. That, therein, lies the problem. These young men who feel the need to “clear a room” by taking out innocent people have obviously had some sort of disconnect from reality. To them, the lives are merely objects or targets in a game. At least, that’s my uneducated, purely inexperienced observation.
What can we, as parents and a nation, do to change the disconnect? How can we teach our children and young adults to value human life and stay grounded in reality? Do we feel helpless to change things and hopeless for the future of our children?
These are all questions every parent needs to ask today; and not just ask, but begin to make some positive effort to examine and find ways to change the parenting dynamic in our children’s lives. I know that my parents never feared for these things and I never feared for my children either. Until Columbine we all felt our children were safe at school. Now we even wonder if it’s safe to go to the movies or shopping at a mall.
Somehow we have to get back to the basics: morality, respect, love, kindness, and hands-on parenting. We have to make the time for our kids: teach them about the value of human life, help them learn to respect, love and be kind to one another, and not be afraid to get help if we see a potential problem arise. Listen, listen, listen to your children. Don’t just text; talk to them. Quite simply, don’t be lax in your parenting. It’s easy to turn on a movie, let them play video games, or spend hours on their computers in social media. It’s difficult in today’s fast-paced world to make the time–but it MUST be done. We MUST make a commitment, as parents and even grandparents, to teach our children the things they need to know to prevent that disconnect in the future.
We all hugged our kids last Friday and thanked God that they were safe. Those parents in Newton, Connecticut won’t get the chance to affect their children’s futures. A young man took that away; but we can honor them and their children’s memories by making a conscious effort to teach this generation that life is valuable and that there is a difference between reality and fantasy.
Someone said this weekend that one way we can honor those innocent children is to do 20 acts of kindness this month. I like that positive reaction. We can’t change the past, but we can certainly impact the future.
My God bless and keep those precious little souls and may he bring comfort to their families during this difficult time.
10 Facebook pages every parent should “like”
If you’re a parent of a college-bound teen and you’re on Facebook (shame on you if you’re not), check out these great resources for parents (and students). Consider this list an “early” Christmas present!
10 Facebook pages every parent should “like”:
- Parents Countdown to College Coach https://www.facebook.com/parentcollegecoach
- College Bound and Gagged https://www.facebook.com/CollegeBoundAndGagged
- The College Solution https://www.facebook.com/thecollegesolution
- Video College Advisor https://www.facebook.com/b4collegevideos?filter=1
- Zinch https://www.facebook.com/zinch
- The Happiest Kid on Campus https://www.facebook.com/HappiestKidOnCampus
- University Parent https://www.facebook.com/collegeparents
- How to Win College Scholarships https://www.facebook.com/How.To.Win.College.Scholarships
- Smart College Visit https://www.facebook.com/smartcollegevisit
- The College-Bound Chronicles https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-College-Bound-Chronicles/520257898000708\
Use social media to stay informed about the college application process. It’s just another way parents can help gather information, give guidance and stay informed.
You might also check out:
25 Twitter accounts every parent of a college-bound teen should follow
Is your student artistically inclined?
Finding the perfect career path is sometimes difficult. There are varied options available for pursuing careers that encourage your student’s creativity. If your student loves to cook, can draw really well or design games, these are all wonderful careers to be pursued that might “fit” outside of the box of higher education. Traditional college is not always the best choice for this type of student. The key to finding the right educational path is a) knowing their interests and b) finding the best educational path to take for their specific area of interest.
The culinary arts have become more appealing for high school graduates. There are numerous schools that provide the technical training to pursue a career as a chef. As you would imagine, the culinary arts are not just about cooking—they encompass all forms of creativity using edible ingredients. There are multiple job opportunities for a graduate of culinary arts: restaurant chef, pastry chef, personal chef, caterer, food stylist, nutritionist, and even cooking school instructor.
Another area of artistic talent would be in the photography field. This is an excellent career choice for students who enjoy shooting photos and learning ways of editing and developing. The industry is leaning toward more creative natural photo shoots outdoors as opposed to studio sittings. This helps to capture the personality of the subject. Community colleges, universities and even technical schools can help your student learn editing techniques and lighting: two important items that need to be perfected for successful photographers.
Many students have the mental aptitude and programming skills to design video games and/or apps. Check into game design colleges and discover the many areas of career pursuits in this field. Has your student ever had an idea for a game that would make it even better than it is now? Higher education can provide the necessary tools your student needs to pursue this type of career.
If your student has artistic talent, there is a good chance they will be able to turn that into a career. Remember to “think outside the box” with these type of career goals. The traditional 4-year college route might not be necessary. There are many technical schools, online colleges, and community colleges that offer 2-year degree plans with job placement opportunities. The key is to invest that college money properly so that your student will find a job that fosters their creativity while paying the bills
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Today’s guest post was contributed by Amanda Green, a freelance writer who normally writes on the topics of education, business, and personal finance. Amanda has been writing for multiple years on the web and enjoys writing on less serious topics like pets and crafting in her spare time! You can read more writing by Amanda at paidtwice.com
Six Simple Steps to Prepare for College
The competition for college acceptance has never been tougher, which is why preparing early for your college education can help you position yourself to get into the college you want. High school graduation may seem like it is ages away, but now is the time to start preparing for college. Getting ready for college means planning for the future and making some very important decisions early—we advise following these six steps below to maximize your chances of getting into the best college possible.
1) Visit a College Counselor as Early as 9th Grade
Students should begin visiting a college counselor as early as 9th grade. Visit your school’s college counselor early and often to assist with SAT prep, college choices, college applications and letters of reference at no additional cost.
2) Do Your Research to Find a Great Match
Finding a college that compliments your educational goals, personality and learning style takes time and effort. Start by making a list of what criteria your perfect school would have. From that list, focus on the schools that meet your needs with regard to location, size, character and degree programs. I highly recommend the various college searching tools available at Student.CollegeBoard.org
3) Visit at Least 6 College Campuses
It is recommended that you visit at least six campuses before senior year begins and applications start going out. Once you have edited down your list of potential schools, schedule an appointment to visit each campus. Also, make sure to check out the schools’ social media sites to get the inside scoop before you visit.
4) Explore Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Total School Costs
Many students find it helpful to prepare an excel spreadsheet to manage information on colleges’ costs, financial aid program and scholarship offerings.
Review national lists of scholarships, awards and grants for college. BigFuture.com is one of many great resources for finding scholarships and awards.
5) Line up Your References Before Junior Year Ends
Get to know teachers and administrators, who can provide valuable letters of reference to accompany your college applications. Get involved in extracurricular activities, such as leadership and service opportunities, to build strong relationships.
Allow enough time to show them why you are worthy of their endorsement and provide ample notice, at least four weeks, for them to write the letter. Send a thank you note after you receive your letter to show your appreciation.
6) Take the SAT Exam Seriously
Preparing for the SAT should start well before you even book the date of the exam. The test draws on information learned during the school year, so make sure you do well in class, working with a tutor as necessary.
Lastly, strong consideration should be given to the type of high school you attend, for not all high schools are created equal. Many colleges will take into account the academic structure and relative rigor of your high school, so attending a respected boarding school or private high school could provide several advantages as well. But, regardless of what high school you attend, the single most important advice I can give you is to start early—getting into the college of your dreams will make all this preparation worth the hard work.
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Today’s guest post was contributed by Amanda Green, a freelance writer who normally writes on the topics of education, business, and personal finance. Amanda has been writing for multiple years on the web and enjoys writing on less serious topics like pets and crafting in her spare time! You can read more writing by Amanda at paidtwice.com
4 Do’s and Don’ts for your struggling student
High school is a balancing act, and students are often doing so much – and sleeping so little – that their grades or test scores may fall by the wayside. As parents, there are actions you can take to help when your student’s grades are dropping, and a few actions that won’t help at all.
What Won’t Help
Do the student’s homework for them. It may be harder to give a student suggestions and guidance for an essay than to walk them through every sentence. But when they’re fed the answers, students aren’t learning. They’ll learn more by coming up with a wrong answer on their own than by you simply providing the right one.
Ignore your student. They may want to be left alone, but poor grades are often an indicator of deeper problems. You can have a conversation with your student about their grades while still respecting their privacy.
Go behind their back to the teacher. It may be tempting to blame a teacher for a student’s bad grades. A high schooler, however, should be learning to take ownership of their class performance and communicate with the teacher themselves.
Berate them for poor time management or lack of study skills. It’s one thing to point out that your student spends more time with friends than with books. It’s another to make them feel like all their choices are poor ones. Constant haranguing risks lowering a student’s self-confidence, which could make academic performance even worse.
What Will Help
Get the whole story. Listen if they explain why their grades fell, and don’t automatically accuse them of making excuses. Many factors in a high schooler’s life could be contributing to poor grades or test scores; bad decisions are often a factor, but it’s rarely as simple as laziness.
Help the student set small, specific goals. A few math problems a night or an outline for an essay are manageable steps. Although you should keep holding your student to a high standard, any progress can be noted and praised.
Communicate regularly with your student (and teachers, if necessary). Ask your student what you can do to help. Attend parent-teacher conferences and ask teachers what they recommend – and encourage your student to keep an open dialogue with their teacher.
Make the student take responsibility. If they fail to meet their goals, hold them accountable. Trust them – and make it clear that you trust them – to do their work on time and bring up their own grade. Remember, they’ll need to be accountable and responsible in college. They might as well start now!
Students need to know that you’re their cheerleader and advocate, especially if they’re struggling in school. It can be tough to bring up a low grade or redeem a failed test, but by working together, you can do it and learn something in the process.
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Today’s guest post is from Amy. Amy edits and writes for the University Language Services blog, a resource for students from college application to graduation and beyond.
Teaching your teen 10 lessons from the 2012 Election
It doesn’t matter which side of the political aisle you are on, the 2012 Election can teach your teen some valuable lessons about life, responsibility and outcomes. Since you are their greatest teacher, take a moment to discern what they are indeed gleaning from your behavior during this election time. There are important lessons for them to learn.
- There will always be winners and losers–The sooner they learn this truth the happier they will be. You can’t always be on the winning team and you should always be a good sport about losing.
- With freedom comes responsibility–Voting is a responsibility. Vote in EVERY election and take your teens with you. Let them experience this freedom right along side of you. Decisions are made by the people who show up.
- Bashing someone else’s beliefs and opinions only makes you small–Don’t be one of those people that rub victory in other people’s face or bash the ones who won. Rise above the temptation and take the high road.
- Even though you may not be happy with an outcome of a decision or path you take, you can still move forward–Teach your teens that there is always a road ahead. Mistakes have consequences but you deal with those, learn from them, and go in a positive direction.
- Playing the blame game never benefits anyone–If you blame everyone for the way things turn out, you are teaching your teen to do the same. Explain to them that we are all responsible for our OWN actions, not those of others.
- Support your leaders and if you don’t agree, take action toward effecting change–This is America and we have elected our leaders, so they should be respected. If you aren’t happy with the people who are in office, work toward the next election. Sitting around voicing hatred for them will only teach your teen to do the same.
- We shouldn’t be defined by our political views but by our values–A famous person once said, “We’re not the red states or the blue states, but the UNITED States.” Teach your teens your values and they will carry them into the future.
- Your behavior speaks volumes about the kind of person you are–Don’t be one of those that post hateful comments on social media sites. Be the one who focuses on the future and sees good in everyone.
- Negative attitudes make you a very unhappy adult–Negativity breeds defeat, discouragement, and despair. You certainly don’t want your teen to live their life with these attitudes.
- You live in the greatest country in the world–Say what you will, but we have FREE elections and every adult is given a vote to decide who governs us. Teach your teens to be proud of our country, our past, and our future.
I have watched all the negative campaign ads for a year. I’ve watched the coverage of election night. I’ve read Twitter and Facebook feeds yesterday and today. Many adults need to apply these 10 principles to their lives. Your college-bound teen is our future; teach them to respect one another and dream.
10 Tips to write more competitive college application essays
With college admissions season in full swing, students nationwide are beginning to prepare their applications. While many of the academic elements like GPA, class rank and SAT score are set, one part of the application that students still exercise control over are the essays. To help students write competitive essays that will help get them noticed by admissions officers, Veritas Prep, the largest global provider of test prep and admissions consulting services, teamed up with Application Boot Camp®, America’s top college consulting firm, to offer ten tips students should follow as they draft their college application essays:
- DO think of your essays as a collection – use each to explore a different layer of who you are and how you would enhance the student body.
- DON’T discuss politics or religion, unless you’re coming from an academic perspective – the essays are not the place to take a stand on a personal issue.
- DO show, DON’T tell – think hard before you overuse adjectives and adverbs; clearly communicate your strengths without using extraneous language.
- DON’T focus on what you want to do, but rather on what you have already done – how have you gone above and beyond? What is your scholarly niche?
- DO use an opening hook – start your college essay with something that will capture the admission officer’s attention and show why you stand out.
- DON’T be a generalist, be a specialist – colleges and universities aren’t looking for well rounded students, they are looking for a well rounded student body. Show them where you stand out and how you complement the mix they are going for.
- DO use details – unsubstantiated statements are quickly dismissed, so be sure to use supporting details to illustrate and elaborate on what you are saying.
- DON’T use “SAT words” – admissions officers are unimpressed by those trying to show off their vocabulary, they much prefer clear, concise essays.
- DO write “Why Paragraphs” – while they are not required, they are an excellent opportunity to show what you’ll bring and why you belong at a given school.
- DON’T use clichés – clichés are the quickest way to come across as inauthentic and unexceptional.
“Each year admission at the top colleges and universities becomes more and more competitive and students need to maximize their applications to highlight the qualities and characteristics that admissions officers are looking for,” said Dr. Michele Hernández, former assistant director of admissions at Dartmouth College and one of the nation’s most sought after private admissions counselors. “Essays are the best way to become a 3D applicant, adding another dimension to what otherwise would be a profile made up of grades, activities and test scores, which are only part of the story. In their essays, students have an opportunity to jump off the page and showcase who they are as an applicant and a person.”
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Nearly a decade ago, Dr. Hernández and award winning author and parenting expert Mimi Doe co-founded Application Boot Camp®, a four-day workshop that provides students with step-by-step advice on their college applications. Recently they partnered with Veritas Prep to launch Application Boot Camp® On Demand, which captures the same guidance and advice from the $14,000 in-person workshop and makes it available as an interactive, online program for only $750.
In addition to twelve self-paced sessions led by Dr. Hernández and Ms. Doe, the program features a library of quizzes and interactive exercises. To learn more about Application Boot Camp® On Demand and Veritas Prep, visit http://www.veritasprep.com/
About Veritas Prep
Veritas Prep is the world’s largest provider of test prep and admissions consulting services. It offers industry-leading programs to help applicants improve standardized test scores and gain admission to the world’s most selective universities. Founded in 2002 by graduates of the Yale School of Management, Veritas Prep offers its live classroom GMAT prep course in more than 90 cities worldwide and as an interactive online course available to students everywhere. Its Veritas Prep SAT 2400 course is available as a classroom course, live online, on demand or in private tutoring sessions and features the only zero risk, money back guarantee in the industry. In addition, Veritas Prep offers admissions consulting services for applicants seeking entry into competitive business schools, law schools, medical schools and other graduate programs. For more information, visit veritasprep.com.