UnMAZED
October 2018
Magazine
The POWER of Scholarships
Local & State Resources
Financial Aid: What You Need to Know Bright Futures & Other Funding
C O N T E N T SÂ 9 FAFSA Infographic 10 Top 5 Scholarship Sources: Infographic
32 Helping Your Child Make the Decision
36 $100 Million in Free College Money Left Behind
12 Terminology: Scholarships & Financial Aid
17 The Power of Local Scholarships
18 Local Scholarship Resources 20 Ask the Expert: Institutional Scholarships
21 Know How Colleges Give Money
22 Fridson Files: My Path to Scholarships
24 Bright Futures: What Parents & Students Need to Know
26 Florida State Scholarships & Grant Programs
28 Local College Access Network: An Underutilized Resource
30 Wellness Wheel to Teen Health
38 All About FAFSA 41 11 Common FAFSA Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
Subscribe today NOW GET YOUR FREE MONTHLY MAGAZINE DELIVERED TO YOUR EMAIL 30 30
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UNMAZED Letter from the Editor October marks a big month for many high school seniors across the country. Not only are they finalizing some may just be beginning! college admissions to meet application deadlines, but parents and students begin filling out the Free Application for Student Aid FAFSA in hopes of reducing college costs. Like ise, scholarships from many different sources local, national, state, etc are another great source of free college money. 9his month's magazine is packed full of great information about all things college money related. While nationally college costs continue to rise, families are seeking more
ays to reduce costs.
Florida colleges and uni ersities are ranked some of the cheapest in the country
ith many different colleges and all price
points. On top of that, there are ample opportunities to earn free money for college, making higher education in Florida an easy choice. While many students kno them. For e ample, o er $1 fill out the FAFSA. Same
of these opportunities, many just do not take ad antage of
hat is a ailable to
million in FREE college money is left behind in Florida each year as students simply do not ith scholarships- e ery year our local scholarship organization has money left because not
enough students apply. Families- begin talking about it early and make a plan to a ailable. Do not begin
ork together to tap into all the college money streams
ith the negati e self talk that stop so many college-bound students. 9hings like, "We
on't
ualify for FAFSA" or "My grades are not high enough for scholarships". Why break these myths? Remember the $1 million left in FREE money?? Locally, it's $1 ,
e ha e a scholarship that is "A erage kids
for 4 years! College can be affordable, and this month's educational e perts
By: Dr. Amanda Sterk, Senior Editor and Founder of UnMazed Magazine
4
ho
UNMAZED MAGAZINE,
ant to do great things", oh, and ill help make it so!
October 2018, ISSUE 7
Magazine articles and more can be found at www.unmaze.me Where Florida experts meet for teen success.
Contact us: We enjoy hearing from from parents, students, and educators throughout the state. Send us your photos, letters, or comments to asterk@unmaze.me. Or visit us online: www.unmaze.me Do you want to collaborate? This magazine is designed for educators across the state to share their expertise on a variety of topics. We welcome those who would like to participate in creating this resource.
WWW.UNMAZE.ME,
5
UnMazed Where Experts Meet for Teen Success
Editors SENIOR EDITOR
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Amanda Sterk, Ed.D., is CEO of Florida Center for Educational Planning and author of College UnMazed: Your Guide Through the Florida College & University System. She currently works at Florida SouthWestern State College as Director of Accelerated Programs.. Dr. Sterk has been an educator for 20 years as a teacher, school counselor, and administrator. She is founder of the Florida teen resource, www.unmaze.me.Â
Katie Reilly is an English teacher at one of the highest ranked collegiate high schools in the state, Florida SouthWestern Collegiate- Lee Campus. She is currently working towards her Master's in School Counseling and is passionate about student success.
www.unmaze.me
Contributing Writers 22
41
38
30
32
Fridson Janvier is a freshman at the University of Central Florida, majoring in Character Animcation, and is a,Naples native. He was a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County for 12 years, having most recently served as President of Keystone Club and participated in their teen leadership and scholarship program (Youth of the Year). Fridson was also selected to be part of Champions for Learning and Take Stock in Children programs.
Bud Jenkins is a college and financial planner at Flroidian College Planning Resources. He assists families in making quality, intentional financial planning decisions to reduce the burden of college loans.
Ashley McNaughton is an independent college counselor and founder of ACM College Consulting, LLC. She has her BS in Business from Bucknell,, and Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA. Alongside her consulting work, she volunteers with ScholarMatch, a nonprofit helping high achieving, low income students get to college. www.acmcollegeconsulting.com.
Courtney Faunce is a mental health clinician at Lifescape Counseling Services, LLC,. She specializes in working with young adults and families utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) practices with a humanistic client-centered approach.
Dr. Juniace Senecharles Etienne is a native of Miragôane, Haiti, who migrated to the United Statesat the age of 16, Dr. Etienne is a teacher and an author. She knows firsthand that education can expands one’s opportunities to succeed. Her passion is to empower and stimulate intellectual curiosity in her students.
Rob Hicks, M.Ed.,has worked in public schools for 16 years. He is a school counselor at Fernandina Beach High School and the Ogburn School. He maintains the "Getting My Guide On" blog about all things school counselor at guidey.blogspot.com and writes about local history.
20 Do you have a passion for teen success? Would you like to write for an innovative magazine written by educators across the state? Connect with us today! http://www.unmaze.me/collaborators-3/
UNMAZED
NOVEMBER DECEMBER JANUARY
Upcoming Featured Featured: Teen's Guide to Mental & Physical Health; bullying, mental health, and wellness
Featured: Teen's Guide to Careers; career and technical programs, choosing a major, career exploration, and personality tests Featured: Teen's Guide to High School and Program choice; accelerated programs, high school options, and specialized schooling
FEBRUARY
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MARCH
Featured: Teen's Guide to Community Service; Internships, Volunteering, Local and State Organizations
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TOP SCHOLARSHIP SOURCES While there are thousands of scholarships available to students, not all parents and students know where to start the process.
Institutional Institutional scholarships come from the university to bring down the price of tuition, room, and board. Sometimes, because of test scores, grades, and your student demographics, you just receive them- other times you have to apply! Be sure to ask the college's financial aid office for help.
National National scholarships are from large corporations like Coca-Cola, American Council of the Blind, Siemens Corporation, Don't Text and Drive, and more. These usually have larger monetary value, but more people apply. Usually an essay, reference, or something else needs to be done to be considered.
Local Local scholarships come from the community where students live. While these scholarships are smaller in value than larger national scholarships, less people are applying for them making them very accessible to students.
Micro-Scholarships Raise.Me has been a game changer for how universities give money. Instead of the old thought of apply, then decide, micro-scholarships are scholarships your student can earn in small increments throughout their school career.
Federal While not necessarily a scholarship, filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), can provide grants, loans, and access to scholarships that otherwise could not have been recieved.
State Florida offers multiple state scholarships, the most known is the Florida Bright Futures Scholarships to qualifying students. Scholarships range from $1,000 to full college tuition.
Infographic and information provided by College UnMazed: Your Guide Through the Florida College &University System
Florida College Admissions Made Easy Online Course
Online Course Chapters Importance of Your College List What Admissions Don't Want You to Know Building Your Documents Applications: What you Need to Know After the Application
Take the guess work out of Florida college admissions. This step-by-step course breaks down everything you need for a successful admission season. Â FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.FLCENTEREDU.ORG
TERMINOLOGY: SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL AID ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS 9hese scholarships are based upon athletic ability and your prospecti e college’s departmental needs. Di ision I, II, and III college athletic scholarships are ery difficult to recei e because of fierce competition. AWARD LETTER An e planation of the financial aid a college loans and
ill gi e a student,
hich may include grants, scholarships, student
ork-study.
CORPORATE SCHOLARSHIPS 9hese scholarships are a arded to help employees and their families, sho
community support and to encourage
future job seekers to ard a career in the company’s area of business. Corporate scholarships are much less competiti e than other types of scholarships because of geography, employment and the relati ely lo applicants. Start
ith your family's employers, check out the ne spaper and see
a arding scholarships, and then contact these businesses to find out ho
number of
hich companies in your area are
to apply.
EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION EFC E pected Family Contribution is the amount of financial contribution a family is e pected to pay to ards the cost of college. 9his amount is based on a federal formula, and determines the student's eligibility for need-based financial aid. 9he EFC appears on a Student Aid Report SAR ,
hich is recei ed after a student's FAFSA is processed.
FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID FAFSA A form that all students must fill out to be considered for federal financial aid. FINANCIAL AID Money you recei e for you college tuition or e penses that you may or may not ha e to pay back. See: Grant, Loan, and Scholarship
FULL COST OF ATTENDANCE 9he full cost of attendance refers to all e penses rele ant to attending a particular postsecondary institution. 9his estimate is pro ided by the institution and includes tuition, fees, books, supplies, room and board, transportation and personal e penses and is different for each institution. Cost of attendance calculators, sometimes referred to as net price calculators, can be found on each institution's
ebsite.
GRANT A form of financial aid from a non-profit organization such as the go ernment that you do not ha e to repay. INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS 9hese scholarships are a arded by the college or uni ersity to reduce the cost of attending. Often these scholarships
ill be
based on e tra-curricular in ol ement, academics see merit scholarship , student demographics or other criteria. Upon admission student’s application
ill be re ie ed for different scholarships, some automatically applied or some are to be
applied to. INTEREST BEARING LOANS Interest bearing loans ha e an attached interest rate
hich
ill ha e to be repaid in addition to the amount of the loan.
Interest is a fee charged to use the money. Interest rates are the rates charged to borro Interest rates on loans can be fi ed
the funds from an institution.
ill remain at the same initial rate or adjusting potentially increasing o er time.
LOAN A form of financial aid that you must repay. Loans are an amount of money pro ided to an indi idual on the terms that the money and gained interest
ill be repaid in full. Loans can be offered by the Federal Go ernment, or by pri ate institutions
such as banks or other financial institutions. 9here are t o types of Federal loans -- subsidized and unsubsidized. 9hese loans can ha e a fi ed interest rate, adjusting or in rare cases are interest free. Loans may be taken out by one indi idual or "co-signed"
here more than one indi idual is responsible for the repayment of the loan.
LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS Local scholarships typically come from the community in
hich the student resides. 9here is typically an application process
and ha e differing criteria. 9ypically smaller in denominations, students can often
in multiple as there are fe er applicants.
MICRO-SCHOLARSHIPS Becoming more popular, students can begin entering in their resume to start accruing smaller denominations for their in high school. Micro-scholarships allo
ork
students to see their potential scholarship upfront before they apply.
MERIT AID Financial aid that is a arded based on a student’s achie ements and/or talents e.g., academic, athletic . NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS 9here are a tremendous amount of scholarship sites out there
ith large organizations gi ing a ay money. 9ypically these
scholarships are larger in denomination but more students are applying. NEED-BASED AID Financial aid that is a arded based on a student’s ability to pay for college.
NEED-BLIND ADMISSION Full consideration of an applicant and his or her application
ithout regard to the indi idual’s need for financial aid.
Student to earn money to help pay for the costs associated
ith college.
PELL-ELIGIBLE A "Pell-eligible" student is eligible to recei e a Pell grant,
hich is a need-based grant pro ided by the federal go ernment. 9o be
"Pell-eligible" students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA and be seeking their first post-secondary degree. 9he amount of the a ard depends on the student's e pected family contribution EFC , cost of attendance, enrollment status full or part time and if the student http://
ill attend for a full academic year or less. For more information please
isit:
2.ed.go /programs/fpg/inde .html
PELL GRANT Pell grants are a arded by the Federal Go ernment to students
ho demonstrate financial need. Only students
their first degree are eligible for Pell Grants. Recipients can study at any appro ed post-secondary institutions,
ho are pursuing hich are then
responsible for distributing the grant. PRIVATE LOAN A pri ate loan is from a financial institution other than the Federal Go ernment such as a bank or other financial institution. Pri ate loans are typically unsubsidized loans and can either ha e a fi ed interest rate
ill remain at the same initial rate or
ill
be adjusting potentially increasing o er time. Pri ate loans typically ha e a higher interest rate than those offered by the Federal Go ernment. PRIVATE ORGANIZATION SCHOLARSHIPS 9hese scholarship opportunities number in the millions. Places of
orship, labor unions, school districts, chambers of commerce
and philanthropic organizations are all e cellent sources for college scholarships. Sit do n
ith your family and make a
scholarship search list of potential sources. ROOM AND BOARD Room and board is a typical name for the cost associated
ith li ing in on-campus housing and participating in a meal plan
offered by the post-secondary institution. SCHOLARSHIP A form of financial aid that you do not ha e to repay. TUITION 9uition is the cost of the academic program at a post-secondary institution. 9uition is generally charged per credit hour. It aries for each post-secondary institution, and may ary depending on a student's residency status, and le el of course ork. WORK STUDY A job typically on campus that allo s a student to earn money to help pay for the costs associated
ith college.
FEATURED
The Power of Local Scholarships
One of the most o erlooked money resource for many families is local scholarships. Many families simply do not kno scholarships,
they e ist. Unlike national
here hundreds of students may
apply, local scholarships often see only a handful of applicants, sometimes only one or t o! Making great odds for applying students!
in aluable money resources; for some their only path ay to higher education. What is
onderful
ariety of scholarships for
many different types of students. Contrary to hat people belie e, local scholarships are not just for the "high achie ers" but also for those ith financial need, a erage students, or meet another niche. Local
are
members,
created
from
local
organizations,
and
programs that belie e in supporting students in their
uest for higher education to gro
and
prosper the ne t generation of leaders, inno ators, and
2. Specific uni ersities or colleges in-state or outof-state .
Gender
or
ethnicity
female
going
into
engineering, first generation student, etc. 5. Community ser ice or in ol ement . E tra-curriculars sports, music, etc. 7. Organization a parent
orks for
electric
company, real estate, education, etc. . In ol ement in a special organization Ki anis, Rotary Club, Girl/ Boy Scouts, etc. 9. Financial need DOCUMENTS NEEDED 1. Application
scholarships
community
la , nursing, medicine, etc.
4. Academic achie ement
I ha e had se eral students be a arded these
is that they offer a
1. Specific career or program paths education,
doers.9ypically,
local
scholarships
are
managed by a community foundation that is
2. Recommendation letters . Essay 4. 9ranscript and/or standardized test scores AC9/ SA9 For 2 1 -2 19 the SW Florida Community Foundation
a arded
different scholarships.
o er
$
,
in
5
WWW.UNMAZE.ME,
17
WEBINAR
Webinar Link SW FLORIDA Resources SW Florida Community Foundation: floridacommunity.com/scholarships Community Foundation of Collier: http://www.cfcollier.org/ Collier County Scholarship Connector (searchable database): http://www.colliercountyscholarships.org/ Uncommon Friends Scholarships- https://uncommonfriends.org/scholarships/ Collier: Collier County Public Schools- http://www.collierschools.com/scholarships Charlotte: Charlotte Community Foundation: https://www.charlottecf.org/types-ofgrants/scholarships/ Foundation for Lee County: http://www.leeschoolfoundation.org/
18
UNMAZED MAGAZINE,
RESOURCES Local Scholarship Websites Other Florida counties have their own community foundations, which I have listed below. It is important to check with your school counselor and school district on how to access them. This is not an exhaustive list, but note that many Florida counties and school districts have their own foundations set up to distribute scholarship funds. This is an excellent, underutilized source of scholarships. FLORIDA STATE/ COUNTY RESOURCES Florida Department of Education Scholarships- https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/pdf/nm4c_brochure.pdf Broward: Community Foundation of Broward- http://cfbroward.org/scholarships Eastern Florida: Eastern Florida Local Scholarships- http://www.easternflorida.edu/admissions/financial-aidscholarships/scholarship-information/outside-scholarships.cfm Hernando: Hernando County Education Foundation- https://www.hernandoeducationfoundation.org/p/61/studentscholarships#.WRnM6GjytPY Hillsborough: Hillsborough Education Foundation- http://www.educationfoundation.com/scholarships Indian River County: Scholarship Foundation of Indian River County - http://www.sfindianriver.org/ Northeast Florida: Community Foundation for Northeast Florida- https://www.jaxcf.org/file/2016/01/2015-TCF-PutnamCounty-Grants.pdf Ocala & Marion: Ocala Marion County Community Foundation- http://www.ocalafoundation.org/ Okaloosa, Walton & Bay County: http://fun4emeraldcoastkids.com/Education-Childcare/Scholarship-Opportunities/ Osceola: Osceola Education Foundation- https://www.foundationosceola.org/p/10/scholarships#.WRnOJ2jytPY Palm Beach & Martin: Community Foundation for Palm Beach & Martin Counties- http://www.yourcommunityfoundation.org/ Pinellas County: http://www.collegefundpinellas.org/ Polk: Polk Education Foundation Scholarships- https://www.polkccf.org/grants/scholarships.html Sarasota: Community Foundation of Sarasota County- https://www.cfsarasota.org/Students/Students-Supporting-YourEducation
Where to check for local scholarships: 1. School Counselor's Office 2. School District's Website 3. County Foundations
WWW.UNMAZE.ME,
19
FEATURED Ask the Expert: Institutional Scholarships
Florida International University In my ie , one of the least talked about categories of scholarships is the institutional scholarship. 9hese are scholarships that are a arded by the college or uni ersity themsel es or by an organization ery closely related to an indi idual post-secondary school such as a greek organization or alumni group. I belie e the reason these are among the least talked about forms of financial aid is because the people scholarships
parents
ho are asking about
are asking the
rong people
school counselors . E ery
college
or
Washington DC has. You can’t e pect a random counselor at your high school to kno
anymore that you can e pect him or her to kno
has
these
types
of
scholarships. Ho e er, the ones at the Uni ersity of Mississippi, for e ample, are going to be completely different than the ones Georgeto n Uni ersity in
can speculate that South Bend has some fast food restaurants, there’s probably a Me ican place, a pizza joint, a sports bar
UNMAZED MAGAZINE,
ith
ings, but ho
is the counselor
supposed to kno
the e act menu of all those
restaurants? If you
ant to kno
hat’s good to eat
around Notre Dame, you need to talk to someone in ith institutional scholarships.
9he best place to start your search is financial aid offered
at
ith a college’s
ebsite. Many of these scholarships admission
as
part
of
the
ill be
financial
aid package. 9hese are recruiting tools for the colleges. If the college
20
the
best places to eat in South Bend, Indiana. Your counselor
South Bend. So it is uni ersity
all about those
FEATURED Know How Colleges Give Money 1. Go to Big Future.Collegeboard.org 1. Type in college interested in. 2. Go to "Paying" under School Info. 150
3. Go to "Financial Aid by Numbers". 100 33
50
60
31
24
69
76
50 67
50
40
12
88
0 Florida SouthWestern State College University of Central Florida Florida Southern College Florida Gulf Coast University University of Florida University of Miami Scholarships/ Grants
really
ants you to come, they’ll offer you some money to
peak your interest. More often than not, the application
Loans/ Jobs
inter ie
ith a single old lady. Simply put, these can go
a lot of different
ays.
for these simply means completing the FAFSA and of course your admissions application. Ho e er, there is a hole
orld of other institutional scholarships and the
If you’re really serious about finding scholarships, you ha e to look for them. 9here’s a chance some of these
mechanism for applying for them can ary greatly from
scholarships aren’t e en on the college’s
one college to the ne t. 9his is
your eyes peeled at orientation and after you start college
financial aid
hy looking at the school’s
for ne spaper ads, flyers, and other
ebsite is so important.
ebsite. Keep enues around
campus. Just because you’re already in college doesn’t 9hese
other
scholarships might be offered by an
mean you can’t find ne
scholarships. Some could be
ithin the school, they could come
a ailable e clusi ely for upperclassmen. 9his is a great
from a certain club, or at the be uest of an indi idual
ay to reduce your financial aid burden and because
indi idual department
alumni. Big schools might ha e hundreds of these and
these
some of the scholarships might ha e ery narro
competition can be lighter. You just ha e to decide ho
scopes.
9he application might consist of a three-page essay that’s re ie ed by a panel or it could be a simple phone
often
re uire
a
little
more
home ork,
hungry you are for financial aid and hard you’re ork to track these do n.
By: Rob Hicks, School Counselor at Fernandina High School and blogger at www.guidey,blogspot.com
the
illing to
STUDENT VOICE
Fridson Files: My Path to Scholarships Let’s be real. College is e pensi e! In order to reach
Due Date DOES NO9 MEAN DO I9 9HE DAY OF!
our goals and achie e our dreams,
e ha e to pay up,
9he due date of a scholarship is the date that your
right? Well, not necessarily. 9here are so many
application must be in the hands of the scholarship
organizations and indi iduals ready and
committee. 9herefore, use the due date as a guideline
illing to
help us find a path ay to success, and many that
and
offer financial assistance to co er the high cost of
completing all re uired tasks for your application.
post-secondary education programs. It’s just a matter
Make sure you gi e your teachers/mentors enough
of learning to na igate the process, and dedicating
time to
time to… APPLY, APPLY, APPLY!
rite recommendation letters at least t o
eeks is ideal , and allo
yourself plenty of time to
I dedicated myself to the scholarship application
gather information and complete any re uirements of
process, and ha e been re arded ten-fold.
your application. Don’t delay! Procrastination is not an
Here are si
option. Late applications are not accepted.
tips about applying to scholarships,
straight from 9he Fridson Files:
22
ork back ards to establish a timeline for
UNMAZED MAGAZINE,
Keep general information on file/USB. Most
scholarship
applications
churches, just to name a fe
re uire
local possibilities. 9he
general
Florida Bright Futures Scholarships seem hard to
returns, and
achie e, but they are attainable – I recei ed a 75%
income information of both you and your parents.
tuition scholarship for studying hard in high school,
Compile all of this information and keep it both on a
getting high scores on standardized tests, and
USB and in your computer files. 9his
completing a plethora of community ser ice hours.
information such as transcripts, ta
ork on scholarship applications long as you ha e the USB
ay, you can
here er you are as
ith you, and you ha e a
Write essays in ad ance to allo
time for peer edits.
backup file some here else in case the USB is
Scholarships usually re uire at least one essay. 9his
misplaced or broken. Ha ing this information handy
allo s the scholarship committee to get to kno
means you can print it, attach it to an application, or
and hear your ie points
email it as needed
essays should reflect your best efforts,
ithout ha ing to find it all again
you
ithout an inter ie . 9hese hich means –
each time you apply to a scholarship.
don’t
notes, then an outline, and then
attention to grammar and spelling. Ha e a teacher or
Ha e a resume ready
hether they
ant it or not.
rite them last minute! Start
ith brainstorming
rite a first draft. Pay
ualified peer edit your first draft. Rinse and repeat
Ha ing a resume on file and ready to use is a great
until you get the final and best ersion you can. My
life skill. Your resume
ill ha e records of your
essays impro e
education information,
ork e perience,
products are much, much better than the first drafts.
e perience,
leadership
skills,
computer
olunteer skills,
ith each re ie , and the final
e tracurricular acti ities, and more. Use your resume
REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!
as a reminder tool as you complete scholarship
Congratulations! You’ e completed all re uirements
applications, or ha e it ready to tailor to the
for your scholarship application! No
scholarship to
thro
hich you are applying and submit it
you just ha e to
it all in an en elope and send it off, right?
ith your application. E en if it’s not re uired, there
Wrong! REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW! Spend time
may be a section to include one as an option.
going through all portions of your application to be
Resumes could fill in the blanks that the application
sure all re uired items are included. Check grammar
may not reflect.
and
re uirements to be sure you are sending e erything
LOCAL/S9A9E /NA9IONAL.
re uired and sending as instructed. Finally – make a
In my opinion, it’s better to focus on local and state
copy of your entire application for yourself to keep as
scholarships instead of national scholarships. 9hink
proof of completion and submission. Write on a sticky
about it – your odds are better to
note the date you submitted your application, and
scholarship because fe er people
in a local or state ill be applying.
spelling.
Re-read
the
instructions
and
stick it onto your personal copy.
Competing for national scholarships increases the
odds against you. No , that doesn’t mean don’t do
9hese si tips I had to learn the hard
any. If you find a great opportunity, by all means
by sharing them
apply for it. Ho e er, I ha e had much better luck
little easier for you. 9he main trick is to be organized,
ith local and state scholarships. My community has supported
me
greatly.
Check
out
ay. Hopefully
ith you, the scholarship process is a
stay on top of deadlines, and stay on track.
scholarship
opportunities through your local Boys & Girls Club, Rotary Club, small business foundations, and By: Fridson Janvier freshman at University of Central Florida for a career in Character Animation WWW.UNMAZE.ME,
23
FEATURED
Bright Futures What Students & Parents Need to Know! In the state of Florida, high achie ing students ha e
Academic Scholars FAS , or the top tier of the
been re arded
Bright Futures scholarship, for those
ith a state scholarship called
ith a 29 AC9/ 129 SA9 and a .5
Bright Futures. Funded by the Florida State Lottery
9his ne
se eral reiterations
fees to Florida uni ersity-bound students, as
hen it pro ided scholarships to
9
9% of Florida
a $
ill co er 1
% tuition and ell as
te tbook allo ance, comparati ely to the
high school graduates. 9he program, since its
current le el of about $ ,
inception, has solely been based on academic merit
credit. 9he ne
and not on financial need. Ho e er in 2 11
45,
ith
ualify
eighted gpa.
since 1997, Bright Futures has been through ith its peak being in 2
legislation
ho
annually or $1
re uirements
per
ould affect about
academic recipients for the 2 17-2 1
budget cuts throughout the state, Bright Futures
school year,
scholarship
price tag for the state Clark, 2 17; Postal, 2 17;
tightened
its
re uirements
by
increasing the standardized test scores and grade point a erage, high
school
ith an estimated $151-1
million
S eeney, 2 17 .
hich only allo ed 2 % of Florida graduates
to
meet
the
ne
re uirements. Since then there has been discussion
What does this ne
legislation mean for Florida
students and parents?
that the state funded scholarship does not go far enough in keeping Florida’s high achie ing students
With no
the state legislature agreeing to pay
in state or reduce the hea y burden of rising tuition
1
costs.
achie ing students, it is no , more than e er,
% tuition and a $
book stipend for high orth
aiming for the top-tier. Here are some key things In January, se eral bills
ere put through the
Florida Legislature, that sought to increase Bright
you should kno
about HOW to recei e this
scholarship.
Futures funding for high school students in t o ays. Representati e Amber Mariano R-Ne Richey introduced a bill that
Port
ould help alle iate
For more information see the Bright Futures
ebsite
for eligibility re uirements.
the financial burden placed on students enrolled in
24
Florida uni ersities Kauffman, 2 17 . She proposed
ACT/SAT
that there should be a summer Bright Futures that
With the increased funding, aiming for the test
included the scholarship funding for summer
scores of 29 AC9 or 129 SA9 FAS or 2 AC9 or
sessions, as
117 SA9 FMS is important. Here are some things
ell as for fall and spring. A second bill
as aimed at restoring full funding for the Florida UNMAZED MAGAZINE,
to note:
Florida Bright Futures Website
a. Bright Futures will accept either test, so my suggestion is to take both and see which you score higher and that should be the one you retest on. b.
Bright Futures also uses what is called a
SuperScore meaning if you take the test more than once, they take the highest score from each section to create a ne
score.
a. Appro ed ser ice hours may no or
go ernment
through high school, from 9th until 12th grade
ay
ith the
last test being from the June testing date.
internships,
ork
include business for
anonprofit
community ser ice organizations, or acti ity on behalf of candidates for public office. Ho e er, ser ice hours cannot be used if credit
as earned through ser ice-
learning courses. While the ne
c. Bright Futures also allo s you to test all the
legislation
ill ha e a positi e impact on
many students, students need to start preparing earlier to reach the top-tier. As
ell, it
ill still be beneficial to
look for other scholarship sources a ailable to meet the other financial costs of post-secondary education, such as room and board, fees, and other e penses.
GPA Bright Futures is calculated on a recalculated gpa, similar to ho
many uni ersities do it. 9hey take the
highest gpa from each core area to meet the high school re uirement, as
ell gi e added
eight to honors, AP,
IB, Dual-Enrollment, AICE, and other more rigorous courses. a. For e ample, a student needs
science credits to
graduate. If they take En ironmental Science A , Biology A , Chemistry A , and Physics C , Bright Futures take the
Gold Seal Vocational $39-48 Per Credit Hour
Florida Medalli0n Scholars 75% Tuition
Florida Academic Scholars 100% Tuition & $300 Books
highest grades A,A,A and drops the one that is
not needed for graduation C because it
as e tra.
b. 9his means a student, if they take MORE core classes than needed, are re arded by ha ing more opportunities to recei e the gpa re uirement. SERVICE HOURS For the top tier, 1
community ser ice hours needs to
be completed by the student throughout their high school years. It should be pre-appro ed by the school and often paper ork needs to be filled out to be submitted.
WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW Unfortunately, many students lose their Bright Futures scholarship because they do not keep up their college gpa of a . . 9his is a good reason to choose a college isely based on fit, not name. Students ha e to apply. I ha e had, unfortunately, students
ho
thought it
ere eligible not apply because they
as automatic. Be sure to check
ith your
school counselor the process of submitting ser ice hours, transcripts, and test scores. Bright Futures transfers to any public or pri ate college in Florida. At pri ate schools, it is e ui alent to the amount a state uni ersity tuition Parents
must
apply
for
ould be.
Florida
Financial
Aid
Application. While the scholarship is not based on financial need, Florida re uires this form to be filled out. Bright Futures is a great opportunity for many students. If you don't
ualify, be sure to check out the state's
other scholarships that are offered.
WWW.UNMAZE.ME,
25
RESOURCES Florida State Scholarships & Grant Programs Access to Better Learning and Education Grant The Access to Better Learning and Education (ABLE) Grant Program provides tuition assistance to Florida undergraduate students enrolled in degree programs at eligible private Florida colleges or universities.
Benacquisto Scholarship Program FAQ The Benacquisto Scholarship Program is a merit scholarship for high school graduates who receive recognition as a National Merit® Scholar. Eligible scholars will receive an award equal to the institutional cost of attendance for an instate student minus the sum of Bright Futures and the National Merit® award. An initial application is not required.
Bright Futures Scholarship* The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program has helped more than 725,000 Florida students attend a postsecondary institution. Bright Futures awards include: Florida Academic Scholars award (FAS), Florida Medallion Scholars award (FMS), Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award (GSC) and the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award (GSV).
Effecti e Access to Student Education The William L. Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student Education Program provides tuition assistance to Florida undergraduate students attending an eligible private, non-profit Florida college or university. Each participating institution determines application procedures, deadlines and student eligibility.
First Generation Matching Grant The First Generation Matching Grant Program (FGMG) is a need-based grant program available to degree-seeking, resident, undergraduate students who demonstrate substantial financial need, and are enrolled in eligible participating postsecondary institutions. Eligible students have a parent(s) who has not earned a baccalaureate or higher degree. Participating institutions determine application procedures, deadlines, student eligibility and award amount. This program is available at Florida state universities and Florida colleges (public community colleges).
Florida Farmworker Student Scholarship* The Florida Farmworker Student Scholarship (FFSS) Program is a need-based merit scholarship that provides financial assistance to a maximum of 50 eligible students who are farmworkers (or children of farmworkers), as defined in section 420.503, Florida Statutes. Students who attend a public postsecondary institution will receive an award equal to the amount required to pay tuition and specified fees.
26
UNMAZED MAGAZINE,
Florida Student Assistance Grant - Career Education Florida Public Postsecondary Career Education Student Assistance Grant (FSAG-CE) Program is a need-based grant program available to Florida residents enrolled in certificate programs of 450 or more clock hours at participating Florida colleges (public community colleges) or career centers operated by district school boards. Each participating institution determines application procedures, deadlines, student eligibility, and award amount.
Florida Work E perience Program The Florida Work Experience Program (FWEP) is a need-based program providing eligible Florida students work experiences to complement and reinforce their educational and career goals. Each eligible and participating college, university, Florida college (public community college), career center operated by a district school board, and educator preparation institute determines application procedures, deadlines, student eligibility and award amount.
José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant* The José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund is a need-based merit scholarship that provides financial assistance to eligible students of Hispanic origin who will attend Florida public or eligible private institutions.
Mary McLeod Bethune Scholarship The Mary McLeod Bethune Scholarship (MMB) provides financial assistance to undergraduate students who meet scholastic requirements, demonstrate financial need, and attend Bethune-Cookman University, Edward Waters College, Florida A&M University, or Florida Memorial University. Each participating institution determines application procedures, deadlines and student eligibility.
Minority Teacher Education Scholarship The Minority Teacher Education Scholars (MTES) program is a collaborative performance-based scholarship program for African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American, and Native American students administered by the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc. (FFMT). The participating institutions include Florida College System institutions and public and private universities that have teacher education programs. A listing of eligible institutions and contact information is available at Florida Fund for Minority Teachers.
Rosewood Family Scholarship*
The Rosewood Family Scholarship Program was created to provide student financial assistance for a maximum of 50 eligible students who prove they are direct descendants of Rosewood families affected by the historical incidents of January 1923. Applicants are required to supply the descendant information on the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) for verification.
Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans* Award Amounts The Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans (CSDDV) provides an award to dependent children or unremarried spouses of qualified Florida veterans.
Florida Student Scholarship & Grant Programs Link WWW.UNMAZE.ME,
27
EDUCATORS
Local College Access Network: An Underutilized Resource I am a FutureMaker. While many of you may not kno hat that means, I bet you belie e in the shared ision that many educators, community leaders, business partners, and others ha e: to build a collaborati e net ork to ensure all Floridians ha e the opportunity to achie e an education beyond high school to prosper in Florida’s dynamic economy. Locally, the FutureMakers Coalition and FutureReady ay in regional collaboration to
focus on a Cradle-to-Career path ay to increase postsecondary completion to transform the increasing
the
number
of
college
orkforce by degrees
certifications. We do so by focusing on si
and
Regional
Action 9eams that focus on a ariety of systemic issues, such as early childhood-learning, post-secondary access, aligning
orkforce
needs
ith
post-secondary
re uirements, increasing completion rates, establishing important and
aried post-secondary statistics and
information, and information and communication
ith
regional partners.
the area through the FAFSA First Campaign. It pro ides a toolkit for parents and educators to help students complete their FAFSA. Other initiati es are committee dri en, such as the upcoming FAFSA & Scholarship Webinar in partnership WorkForce
No
ith UnMazed Magazine, study,
and
Scholarship
Connector, a regional scholarship search engine. State ide, there are 12 regional action teams, called Local College Access Net orks LCAN that ha e the support and shared ision under the Florida College
28
FCAN’s guiding alues are: 1. College is postsecondary education- including technical certificates and academic degrees. 2. College readiness is career readiness- PreK-12 or a career. . College is for e eryone- all Florida students deser e the
to
pursue
a
high- uality
postsecondary education. 4. College is a public good- postsecondary education is critical to our gro ing society and economy. 5. Reaching Goal 2 25
ill re uire collecti e action-
Florida needs strategic partnerships from all sectors. Why join the mo ement? Since 2
, the gro th of
jobs re uiring only a high school diploma has declined, but o er
.4 million jobs
ere added that needed a
bachelor’s degree or higher. Floridians year,
ith no more per
hile a bachelor’s degree or higher earned about
$ 7,
a year. Partnering together allo s for a
ider
collecti e impact to help our communities gro
and
prosper
ith increased
ages and stronger economy.
As parents, educators, and community members, this has a direct impact on the students can you help? 1 Support- Identify
e ser e. Ho
ith the
goal. Learn about initiati es and share it
ork and ith family
and friends, 2 Join- Join a Regional Action 9eam that lead a more ibrant economy and impro ed uality of life for all,
Fund- Supporting the team by offering in-
kind ser ices, and donation of time and resources help propel the mission for ard.
UNMAZED MAGAZINE,
opportunity
than a high school diploma earned about $27,
One area of focus is on increasing FAFSA completion in
regional
organization.
prepares students academically for success in college
Collier are leading the
Access Net ork FCAN , an independent, state ide
MENTAL HEALTH
RELATIONSHIPS
GIVE SUPPORT
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
PREVENTION EDUCATION
GOALS BODY CARE FAMILY
Social Health
SLEEP
Occupational Health
CONNECT
Physical Health
SPEND TIME
CONTRIBUTE
INTERESTS
EXERCISE EATING HEALTHY STRESS MANAGEMENT
INTERESTS CULTURES
AUTHENTICITY
POSITIVE SELF-TALK
CREATIVITY
Wellness Wheel
Emotional Health SELFACCEPTANCE
Intellectual Health OPEN MINDNESS
EMOTIONS NEW IDEAS
MORAL COMPASS
FUTURE ROOM COMMUNITY
WORLD VIEW
Spiritual Health
Environmental Health SPENDING
Financial Health
BUYING
HOME WORKPLACE
SENSE OF PEACE
VALUES BELIEFS
PERSONAL SPACE
FINANCIAL PLANNING MONEY
Wellness Wheel to Teen Health By: Courtney Faunce Lifescapes Counseling, LLC
30
UNMAZED MAGAZINE,
Upon each stage of human development, individuals look
Occupational:
for the best ways to achieve ultimate health, happiness,
education, using your unique skillset to contribute to the
and wellness. For some, this means building a strong
greater society, discovering ways to align your values,
social support network. Others may find themselves on a
interests, aptitudes, achievement, and future goals.
spiritual journey to discover peace and meaning. To
many wellness is measured by financial stability and
Physical: Your biological health, eating healthy, exercise,
security. It is through genuine self-reflection that we are
movement,
able to identify what we need in our lives in order to
preventative health care, managing dental, vision, sexual,
achieve our wellness goals.
brain and mental health, access to professional care as
needed.
However, we often become caught up with the course of
daily life, peer pressures, and external stress. Sometimes
Social: Your relationships, effective and assertive
things get in the way of this important process of self-
communication styles, maintaining healthy boundaries,
reflection. So, take the time right now to read this article
spending time with friends, family, loved ones, receiving
and examine your wellness, appreciate your strengths,
support and being supportive, building authentic
and identify areas to build upon.
connections.
According to the latest research in comprehensive
It is helpful to think of these eight dimensions on a wheel
wellness, there are eight dimensions of wellness. Here
or pie chart. Ideally, ultimate wellness would evenly
are some brief examples of each:
incorporate each dimension. However, it is more
probable that each of these sections will vary in
Emotional: Your sense of internal regulation of feelings,
proportion throughout life’s twists and turns. As you self-
effectively
reflect, some important questions may be:
expressing
emotions,
managing
stress,
Career
regular
development,
sleeping
achieving
pattern,
an
practicing
utilizing healthy coping skills, engaging in positive self-
talk, self-acceptance, and authenticity.
What does my wellness wheel look like?
How do each of these dimensions make up my
Spiritual: Understanding your own moral compass, world
comprehensive wellness?
view and beliefs, guiding principles and personal values,
What dimensions are my strongest right now?
and sense of peace, meaning, and purpose.
How does my wheel match my dreams and future goals?
What dimensions do I hope to further develop?
Environmental:
Your
sense
environmental
What dimension can I focus on?
consciousness, where you spend the most time, your
Within a specific dimension, what realistic and
community, workplace, home, room, and even the car
measurable tasks will I commit to this week?
you drive.
The Wellness Wheel is a simple tool that helps you to
Financial: Your sense of financial health, conscious
engage in self-reflection, there is no pass or fail to this
spending and saving of money and resources, financial
process. If you find yourself struggling with finding your
planning as well as being an educated consumer today.
sense of balance, talk to your supports, seek consultation with a professional, try something new. Maintaining a
Intellectual: Your commitment to life learning, open-
balanced comprehensive wellness wheel takes your
mindedness towards new ideas, learning about other
willingness to commit to your wellbeing every single day.
cultures, politics, outside perspectives, discovering what
With self-compassion, acceptance, and taking action we
interests you, practicing creativity, and engaging in
can all find ways to increase our wellness and find
mentally stimulating conversations.
greater balance.
FEATURED
University of South Florid, St.Pete Campus, St. Petersburg
Helping Your Child Make the Decision Florida SouthWestern State College, Fort Myers
here
college affordable. 9hey should ne er think that
ith helping your children choose the
they cannot go to college because they don’t ha e
right college path and find the funds to pay for the
enough money or because you cannot afford their
tuition. Luckily, it’s not as complicated as it may at
tuition.
first seem. When you and your children are choosing
scholarships that are pertinent to their abilities,
a college, the decision should be made based on the
talents, and career choices and also be mindful of
college that can enhance their purpose, passion, and
ho
their ision’s life assignment.
Financial aid is money that is gi en, earned, or lent
to help students pay their education. 9he four
In order to find such college, they need to first figure
kinds of financial aid are grants, scholarship,
out
loans, and
With all the college options, you may you e en begin
onder
hat they are looking for in a college, then learn
as much as they can about their college choices, and finally make a plan on ho
the tuition
ill be paid.
9hey
need
to
apply
for
as
financial aid and student loans
ork-study. Students
many
ork.
ho need help
paying for college are often able to get a grant free money from the go ernment. Students can also get loans that they don’t need to repay until
Step 1 – Figure out
hat they are looking for
they lea e college. Additionally, there are a
Choosing a college is much easier if your children
number of
kno
costs. Here is a partial list:
hat they are looking for. When choosing a
ays your children can cut college
college, they of course the cost. • Encourage your children to go to a public fourCost: 9alk to your children about ho
year college in your home state.
to pay for college. When they are choosing a college,
• Ha e your children earn an associate’s degree at
cost is something that they need to take into
a community college.
consideration. 9here are many
32
they are going
UNMAZED MAGAZINE,
ays of making
University of South Florida, Tampa
Florida Polytechnic University, Lakeland
• Ha e your children start at a community college or technical college and then transfer to a fouryear college after a year or t o. • Encourage your children to li e at home instead of in a dorm or apartment. Figuring out ho
confusing, but there are resources to help you. For e ample, your children’s high school guidance counselor can gi e you information about the financial aid process and all colleges ha e financial aid counselors a ailable to help students and parents.
uestions I suggest that they can
ask to get the con ersation started: Where did you go to college? What
as your major? Ho
has a
college education helped you? Do you ha e any you should ha e a con ersation
ith your children
and their guidance counselor about the best possible college options so that you can effecti ely guide them on the right path. 9ry to gi e them the best possible ad ice as you can, and be honest ith them and yourself throughout the process. As much as possible, try to guide them do n their o n path and not yours.
Step 2 – Learn as much as they can about their college choices
I kno
from personal e perience the importance of
helping your children figure out their o n path and ho ha e
attended college about their college e periences. For e ample, they could talk to their teachers, family members, and family friends about their college e periences.
9hese are a fe
suggestions or ad ice for me? Most importantly,
to pay for college can be
Your child should ask people they kno
University of Miami, Coral Gables
not o er asserting your o n
ishes for their
future. All throughout their high school years, I had encouraged
my
t in
daughters
to
pursue
pharmaceutical careers. 9hey did so, but after the second year of college,
Continued on page 34
WWW.UNMAZE.ME,
33
Continued... "I now see years later that they have crafted their own paths and will be successful in using their gifts to By: Dr. Etinne Juanice , author of 3 Steps to Guide Your pursue their true purposes" Children's Educational Future they both realized that pharmacy
as a far cry
from their true passion and purpose. I de astated at the time, but I no
as
see years later
that they ha e crafted their o n paths and
ill
College Options ha e a lot of resources for scholarships based on degree choices. In collier county, there is the community foundation is a reliable source as
hich
ell for scholarly. Once
be successful in using their gifts to pursue their
your children kno
true purposes in the fashion industry. Looking
college, they can do an online search for the
back, I could ha e sa ed myself a lot of
colleges that meet their specific needs and look
frustration and financial difficulties if I had
for in house scholarship that they can apply.
hat they’re looking for in a
helped them clearly define their plans at an earlier age.
Encourage your children to start the process early. 9hee is al ays money a ailable, but they
Another resource is reference books in guidance offices, bookstores, and libraries, as
must be
ell as
illing to do the
ork, by applying, and
riting an essay.
information that can be obtained online. 9he My
Florida 4 Year College Graduation Rates
45%
18%
of FAMU students graduate in 4 years.
67%
of Florida college students graduate in 4 years
of UF students graduate in 4 years.
68%
of FSU students graduate in 4 years.
FEATURED Florida Students Leave Behind $100 Million in Free College Money
In the state of Florida alone, o er $1
million is left
9o help increase FAFSA completion, this year the
behind e ery year in free college money that is a ailable
federal go ernment is continuing the early push for
to make college tuition affordable for many families.
FAFSA completion as the application opens October
According to a recent sur ey by the Uni ersity of
1st promote earlier financial aid decisions by the o er
Florida,
hile
Florida
post-
colleges and uni ersities in the state of Florida, as
secondary degree attainment is a sound in estment for
ell as allo ed families to use prior-prior year
their child and o er
families
agree
that
% of families desire for their child
currently 2 1
ta returns to simplify the process. It
to obtain post-secondary education, only
% of study
should be noted that post-secondary institutions
participants
affordable.
a ard FAFSA money as applications come in and
belie ed
college
as
Surprisingly, one of the main funding access channels to
acceptance letters go out. For students
reduce college e penses, the completion of the Financial
earlier, more money is gi en on a first-come first-ser e
Application of Federal Student Aid FAFSA
basis.
as only
ho apply
used by 55% of Florida high school students. Without completing the FAFSA application families are denied
As a former school counselor, I found that many
access to the o er $15 billion dollars
families hold the myth that they
grants, loans, and
orth of federal
ork study opportunities a ailable.
ould not ualify for
financial aid including grants, loans, and
ork study.
Ho e er, this is simply not the case. Out of recent While initiati es are in place at local high schools and
Florida undergraduates,
post-secondary
Florida
some type of financial assistance from their post
SouthWestern State College’s College Sunday e ent
secondary institution. Another common myth is that
held in late October, Lee County FAFSA Nights,
financial aid comes predominately in the form of loans
numerous speakers in classrooms, and programs by
that ha e high, inflated interest rates that can ha e
school counselors, the surrounding fi e county areas are
long lasting effects on students. While loans can be
continuing to fall short for FAFSA completers. Current
offered to a student and their families, these can be
totals for the 2 17-2 1
accepted or denied depending on the needs of each
institutions,
such
as
school year cycle for FAFSA
7% of students recei e
completers are; Charlotte 42.4%, Collier 52. %, Glades
family. Ho e er,
47. %, Hendry, 47.9%, and Lee 4 . %. Last year, the
the $141 billion distributed by the U.S. Department of
top completer high schools Oasis High School in Cape
Education Office of Financial Student Aid each year,
Coral let the fi e county districts
$
of
ith a completion rate
. %, Gulf Coast High School came in second at
4.2%, and Fort Myers High School at
36
UNMAZED MAGAZINE,
. %.
billion
hat is often not kno n is that of
as distributed in the form of Pell Grants,
hich does not need to be repaid. In Florida alone, $2.
billion in Pell Grants
students.
ere a arded to
51,55
98,442 Florida students filed their FAFSA Florida students earned an estimated $195,141,041 in Pell Grants!
49%
of Florida students filed their FAFSA.
42%
53%
of Charlotte
48% of Glades
of Collier
44%
48%
of Lee
of Hendry
9o help increase FAFSA completion, this year the
Families need to better understand the process of
federal go ernment is continuing the early push
completing the FAFSA and
9o begin to close this $1
million gap in free college
their student’s future. While secondary and post-
money for Florida students continued discussion and
secondary educators are e panding their Financial
support needs to happen from educators, counselors,
Aid presentations, one-on-one counseling, and
community
access to materials, more a areness needs to be
institutions.
organizations, Demystifying
and the
post-secondary
FAFSA
completion
hat it could mean for
done so e ery student has a chance to reach their
process is an integral part of the plan that includes
dreams of post-secondary education.
e planations of the abo e myth, as
transparency in ho
FAFSA
ell as more
orks. By: Dr. Amanda Sterk, Founder of Florida Center for Educational Planning
ALL
about
FAFSA 9he FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the standard form used by all schools to determine the amount of federal aid a student
ill
recei e. 9he application opens on October 1 each year and closes the follo ing June
. 9he FAFSA
calculates the EFC E pected Family Contribution , hat the go ernment considers a reasonable amount the family should be able to contribute to the student's educational costs parent
ants
to
contribute
hether or not a to
their
child's
education. that the earlier you file, the
more funding you may recei e as some grants are gi en on a first come, first ser e basis. Also, each state and college has their o n deadline for
hen
you need to file, and these often fall around the time the college applications are due. While the FAFSA is primarily used to determine federal funding, some schools also use it to determine the distribution of their o n institutional aid. 9herefore, it is often recommended that all students fill out the FAFSA hether or not they think they
ill
be eligible for federal aid.
student plans on attending college. It is completed using prior-prior ta year data for the student and parent s . So if you are filling it out for the 2 19school
year,
you
ill
use 2 17
ta
information. If you ha e not filed your ta es, you can
38
estimate
ill need to
complete the application: · An FSA ID to sign electronically you can apply for this special username and pass ord online
your
income
and
update
the application as needed. Before you begin, it is UNMAZED MAGAZINE,
ia
fsaid.ed.go or other U.S. Department of Education ebsites and the student and one parent for each dependent
ill need separate IDs
· Your Social Security Number · Your Federal Income 9a Returns, W-2s, and other records of income earned Note: You may be able to hich
transfers the data directly from your completed ta returns to your application · Bank statements and records of in estments
if
applicable · Records of unta ed income such as child support or interest income · List of schools you are applying to Ensure that the information you ha e entered is accurate and complete to pre ent any delays in the processing of your application. Make sure you ha e added any schools to
hich you are considering
applying to the FAFSA application so that they recei e
9he FAFSA needs to be filed prior to each year the
2 2
helpful to gather the materials you
use the FAFSA's IRS Data Retrie al 9ool
It is important to kno
and do it early,
By: Ashley McHaughton, ACM College Consulting, LLC
the information. If any financials need adjusted or schools need added, you can go back in and update the application later. If your family's financial situation has changed for the current year and the ta information you must use for the application does not properly reflect it, it is important that you contact each of the colleges and inform them of your current situation.
FEATURED
11 Common FAFSA Mistakes and How To Avoid Them October is no
the month that millions of families
and the student actually needs the money for
disclose their financial data to the Department of
school, it is anticipated that many more Special
Education through the Free Application for Federal
Circumstances appeals
Student Aid FAFSA . Filing used to be in the
change o er this timeline
month of January prior to the fall admission for
on parental ability to pay! 9here is a right ay and a rong ay to make these
most all students. 9his change
Order
hich
appeals.
as made by
E ecuti e
ill be made. 9hings may ill ha e an impact
Contact
for
detailed e planation of your
by
President Obama as an
specific situation.
attempt
to
me
more
appropriately align the
Specifically, more than 2
FAFSA filing
million
ith the
FASFA
a ailability of actual ta
are
data filed
ith the IRS.
Depending on the statistic you
procedure has
prefer to use, any here from
9his ne
submitted
applications each
year.
been a recommendation
7 —9 % are submitted
of industry professionals
errors. An error-filled FASFA
to undo the need for
ill likely reduce the amount
estimating income and
of aid you might recei e.
assets, since, generally
Gi en that the FAFSA has
speaking, ta returns are
been called the gate ay to
filed before the due date
financial aid, and
of April 15th and, thus,
e er
do
the
associated
authenticity of the filed
imperati e
not
ha e
increasing
ith
ith the costs
ith college, it is to
minimize
ta return, subjecting the filing to changes if the estimates are off - a
mistakes in completing it. Here are ele en ays to reduce the likelihood
serious problem in
of your FAFSA containing errors:
ualifying for Federal
financial aid.
Failure to Submit Because Of Income high In essence, this Order has e tended the
or low . Many times families
planning horizon from a base year of the
a FAFSA belie ing they make too much
student’s junior year to his/her sophomore year.
money to ualify or they make less and think
Moreo er,
they
because
differential bet een
there
is
a
t o
year
hen the filing is made
ill not submit
ill get e erything co ered because of
income. Income is one of se en factors to Continued on page 42 WWW.UNMAZE.ME,
41
CONTINUED... determine complete
aid the
eligibility...you FAFSA
should
regardless
of
al ays
residence home e uity is not included. Ho e er,
income.
e uity in rental property and acation homes can
Contact me for a personal e planation of these
be included although there are
factors.
this situation.
ays to mitigate
Waiting to Submit
Contact me to discuss how to legitimately
A misconception of many is to
ait until they ha e
change the appearance of income and assets
all of their financial documents in place and ta es done before submitting their FAFSA. As stated
Misplaced Information
abo e, this is a moot issue no
Al ays remember the FAFSA is
but ualifying for
ritten from a
many grants and scholarships has a due date to
student perspecti e as if they are the one
apply in the fall. Since some money is on a first-
completing it. When the FAFSA refers to you
come, first-ser ed basis, it is imperati e to submit
and yours , it is in fact referring to the student.
as early in October as possible.
Not Submitting Electronically
Di orce Situations
Online submission pro ides built-in edits to help
In this situation, used?
hose financial information is
pre ent errors, is timelier, pro ides an online help
It is the income and assets of the
feature, and allo s for a much simpler rene al
household including step-parent info in
hich
process. And do not forget to use the Internal
the student spends the majority of their time and
Re enue Data 9ransmission system
recei es a majority of their support.
accelerate the auditing of your filing.
IRD9
to
Understating Income If you contribute to a 4 1K, 4 pre-ta
B, etc. or any other
retirement account, you must add back
Taking Your Time When Answering Questions Gi e yourself time to think through the
any contributions in the pre ious year to your
and
income for FAFSA purposes.
certain
9his in effect
produces a higher FAFSA income than
hat might
hat they are asking. Ans ering uestions a ay can preclude you from recei ing aid or
aluable
be sho n on your ta return.
uestions
information.
9he
follo ing
three
uestions highlight this fact:
O erstating Assets Many
families
When asked if you are interested in
mistakenly
include
retirement
assets as part of their in estments or net
ork study,
al ays ans er yes . It does not mean you
ill
orth
get it nor does it mean you ha e to take it. But
hen in fact retirement assets should not be
hat if the a ard is a great offer for the hours
included here.
e pected?
When it asks for the student's email address,
Real Estate
al ays put your email address. 9his ensures all
Another common
ay families o erstate their
assets is by including the e uity they ha e in their primary residence. For FAFSA purposes, primary
42
UNMAZED MAGAZINE,
information communicated to you or your student comes to you to re ie .
CONTINUED... Question
9 should be ans ered subject to
hat is
Using the right Form
indicated on Line 1 of your W-2 or, if self-employed,
Complete the FAFSA for the year your student
follo
prompts on the
college for the upcoming fall school year, NO9 the
FAFSA on-line. 9he FAFSA calculates your social
school year you are currently in. 9his is a huge but
security ta es
common mistake. Make this one and your student
the list of items on the 1 4
hich are actually a deduction from AGI
ill be in
ill
and, therefore, an impro ement in E pected Family
recei e no aid for the follo ing school year. Your FCPR
Contribution EFC .
ad isor can help you minimize mistakes
FAFSA submission so that you ma imize your potential
Failing to Sa e as You Go
aid a ard.
Be sure to sa e your file e ery couple of pages as you
go. You don't
ant to get half ay through and find
your computer or the go ernment's ser er has locked up.
By: Bud Jenkins, Owner of Floridian College Planning, LLC.
ith your
FEATURED
Students: How to Talk About Money While it is tough to talk finances
"Finding money needs to be a priority- with enough focus and dedication, opportunities will come your way."
ith your parents, this
is the time to sit do n and find out
hat they are able
to contribute to your schooling. Questions to ask: 1. What you
ill be in charge of repaying?
2. Do you need to borro
the money? If so, ho ?
.
What are your parents' e pectations of you
orking during school? 4. Are there other alternati es to bring do n your cost like li ing off-campus, not ha ing a car, to meal plan or not meal plan? What are you each comfortable ith forgoing? 5. What about incidental e penses? Besides school supplies
BOOKS! ,
hat about gas, pizza on the
eekends, trip to Publi for Vel eeta and Chips I li ed off of that for my freshman year! , "ha ing fun" money, etc.
Questions to ask: 1. Ho
Also, finding money needs to be a priority- meaning, after you ha e submitted your applications this should be considered a part-time job. With enough focus and dedication, more opportunities
ill come your
ay.
Once you kno
the net price you
a budget no
before you select your school specific
cities are more e pensi e- ho
ill need to pay, build does this affect your
budget? and ha e this discussion. As a young adult, you ha e to stick to this plan as it means racking up debt later on.
Parents: How to Talk About Money much are
e planning on co ering?
2. Ho
can I help my student find and apply to
scholarships? . What post-secondary options are best to meet our financial needs? 4. Ha e I been clear to my child
hat is e pected of
them? 5. What type of college e perience do our child? Ho
e e pect from
does that impact financial support part
time job, car, tra el, special programs, etc ?