GUIDANCE ADVICE

STEPS FOR APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID

Check with the Financial Aid Office when you apply for admission. Students should check with each college to determine if there are additional forms the college requires them to file. Check the deadlines - often the application deadline is different than the financial aid deadlines.
Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1, 2005. Students need only to file one FAFSA regardless of how many colleges they are considering. The FAFSA includes a section for the student to list the colleges to which they want their information sent. The FAFSA collects demographic and financial information from students and parents to be used to determine an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) - the figure used to determine a student's eligibility. After applying, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). If corrections need to be made, do them promptly and return to the federal government so that the colleges will have the correct information. Once the colleges have the information, and you have been accepted, you will receive an award letter from the school in April. This letter will break down financial aid by scholarships, grants, work study and loans. Even if you do not think that you will be eligible for financial aid, still submit the FAFSA (some merit-based scholarships require it).
Apply for scholarships and grants. Besides aid offered directly by a college and aid for which your need analysis form is an automatic application, be sure to inquire about scholarships, grants and loan programs. Ask about institutional, major, community foundation and corporate programs as well. Warwick publishes a scholarship bulletin approximately every two weeks (these are posted in English and social studies classes, Guidance and will be sent directly from your student's Counselor via e-mail). Applications can be picked up in Guidance. Note: deadlines are the dates that the specific scholarship needs the application so pick them up well in advance of the deadline.
Keep track of progress - monitor all the information you receive. Copy everything your send out!