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FINANCIAL AID NIGHT

The Walton Counseling Office will host a Financial Aid Night on Tuesday, October 1st @ 6:30 p.m. in the Walton Theater. Marcus Hilliard from the Georgia Student Finance Commission will review the financial aid process including information on the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), the HOPE Scholarship, and other state aid programs. The FAFSA will be live on October 1st, so this is a wonderful opportunity to get started and ask questions. 

Marcus Hilliard

(404) 694-8844

marcush@GSFC.org 

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Below are the links with all of the financial aid information that Marcus will present. The first link details Georgia’s HOPE Program along with the additional state aid options and presents the ‘GSFAPPS link’ for seniors to log in and apply. The second gives access to the nationwide independent scholarship finder, as well as highlights federal aid that will actually connect families to www.FAFSA.gov

The remaining links are copies of handouts from the presentation.

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https://www.gafutures.org/hope-state-aid-programs/        

https://www.gafutures.org/federal-aid-scholarships/ 

Paying for College brochure

HOPE Program brochure

FAFSA Checklist brochure

TERMINOLOGY 

Scholarships: An award that does not have to be repaid. Scholarships are generally granted based on an applicant meeting certain eligibility criteria. 

 

Grants: A grant is a financial award given to a student for the purposes of paying for all or part of college expense. A grant does not need to be repaid by the student.

 

Loans: Financial Aid awards that the student or parent borrows from a lender, the school or other third party. Loans must be repaid by the borrower, usually with interest. 

 

Work-study: A work-study program allows a student to earn money by working part time during the school year as a component of their financial aid package. The jobs are usually on campus. 

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SOURCES OF FINANCIAL AID

Federal Government: The federal government is the largest source of financial aid. Awards are based on financial need. Students fill out the Federal Application for Student Aid each year. Visit www.fafsa.gov for additional information. 

 

Colleges and Universities: Schools offer a wide variety of aid and scholarships to students. These awards are both merit-based and need-based. Students might need to complete an additional application for scholarships or it may be offered as part of the admissions process. Contact your school of interest for additional information. 

 

Private Sources: Churches, companies, and other organizations offer a variety of scholarships for students. Each organization has a specific set of qualification requirements. For additional information contact local organizations or visit scholarship search websites. 

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 HOPE PROGRAM

The HOPE Scholarship program is for students that are seeking a college degree and plan on attending college in Georgia. A 3.0 GPA in academic courses (Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, Science, and Foreign Language) is required. A part of your college tuition will be covered. This amount will vary depending on projected lottery revenues and expenditures.  

 

The HOPE Grant program is for students seeking a technical certification or diploma, regardless of the student's high school grade point average or graduation date. This will cover a certain percentage of tuition at a Georgia public technical college or public college or university. 

 

The Zell Miller Scholarship program is for students who have demonstrated academic achievement and that are seeking a college degree in Georgia. To become eligible, a student must graduate with a 3.70 GPA in academic courses and a minimum score of 1200 on the SAT (Critical Reading and Math, one sitting) or 26 on the ACT in one sitting.

 RESOURCES

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Help for your Scholarship Opportunities Search:

 

1. Five Steps to a Successful Scholarship Search

 

2. Three Steps to Writing a Standout Scholarship Essay

 

3. Top 10 Student Resources

 

5. Scholarship Application Checklist

 



 

 

 

Three Steps to Tap into Grants and Scholarships:

 

1. Complete the FAFSA

You must fill out the FAFSA to qualify for federal aid. Many states and colleges use the FAFSA to award aid as well.

 

2. Find Out What Financial Aid Forms individual Colleges Require

Encourage students to apply for their college’s gift aid by filling out the required forms. In many cases, this will be the FAFSA, but some colleges require the PROFILE or their own forms. Contact the college financial aid office to find out. Then submit the required forms on time.

 

3. Research and Apply for Outside Scholarships

Students should start their research by talking with their school counselor about how to find outside scholarships. Read Where to Find College Scholarships for more tips. And use free online searches, such as the College Board's Scholarship Search. To apply for an outside scholarship, you’ll probably have to fill out an application form, and you may also have to submit financial aid forms.

5 tips for winning scholarships:

 

1. Start locally

Most local scholarships are offered through area merchants, clubs, civic groups and individuals. Students can locate available opportunities by checking with their guidance counselors, local media websites (television, radio, etc.), newspapers and community portals. Since most local scholarships offer smaller awards and target a narrow group of students (city, county, year in school, etc.), the odds of winning these awards are much greater than those in a statewide or national competitions.

 

2. Consider smaller awards

Don’t ignore or avoid scholarships that are valued under $500. Smaller scholarships can help cover the cost of books, supplies and other expenses that may not be covered by the larger awards. Many providers often disburse smaller scholarship awards directly to the students as opposed to the college.

 

3. Remember, more work = less applicants

For those who aren't afraid to roll up their sleeves and really dig in, there are a plethora of scholarships waiting to be won. Once an essay word count reaches the 1,000 mark, or multiple essays are required, the number of applicants drops quite a bit. Students who apply for programs that require little to no work are competing more students for one scholarship; whereas, those who take the time to submit to a more substantial program may have a greater chance of succeeding.

 

4. Focus on your interests

Students should focus on scholarships that interest them. For example, those who spend considerable time doing charitable work may find it more rewarding to concentrate on volunteer scholarships, whereas students who enjoy math or science may find STEM scholarships more interesting. When students are interested in what they are writing about, chances are the scholarship committee will be more interested in reading their application.

 

5. Submit your best work

Providers can easily spot an application that has been submitted hastily or without much thought – especially those riddled with grammatical errors, missing important elements or not staying on topic. While students increase their chances of receiving scholarships by applying to a number of available opportunities, those applications are a waist of time if the student submits poor quality work. Students should focus on five to 10 scholarships each month, paying close attention to guidelines and ensuring all work is reviewed by at least one other person prior to submitting any applications. Small mistakes can often mean the difference between students making it the final round or having their applications rejected.

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The Basics on Grants and Scholarships:

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Financial aid is money lent or given to you to help you pay for college. Grants and scholarships are kinds of financial aid that you don’t have to pay back. That’s why they’re called gift aid. All kinds of students get gift aid. Most grants are awarded based on financial need. But a good portion of gift aid is awarded for academic achievement.

 

If you’re helping someone apply to college, please encourage them to also apply for grants and scholarships. Remember, though, that gift aid rarely covers the entire cost of college. It’s just part of the picture — a picture that may include loans, family savings and other sources of money.

 

Grants and Scholarships Defined

 

The terms “scholarship” and “grant” are often used interchangeably, but there are differences between these two forms of aid.

 

Most scholarships are merit based. This means that they are awarded to students with certain qualities, such as proven academic or athletic ability. Many scholarships have rules — maintaining a certain GPA, for example — that you have to follow to continue receiving aid.

 

Most grants are need based. This means that they are usually awarded based on your or your family’s financial situation.

 

Sources of Grants and Scholarships

 

Both grants and scholarships come from the following sources.

 

1. Governments

Federal and state governments are sources of gift aid. The federal government is the largest source of need-based gift aid, primarily in the form of the Pell Grant. State governments often fund grants and scholarships for residents attending college in their state.

 

2. Colleges

Many colleges offer grants and scholarships to their students. These may be merit based or need based, or a combination of the two. Colleges may have stricter requirements for keeping a scholarship than do other sources of scholarships.

 

3. Private Organizations

Many companies, foundations, community organizations and clubs sponsor grants or scholarships. Grants and scholarships from these private organizations are called outside, or private, scholarships.

 

Here are some examples of possible sources of outside scholarships:

·    Parents’ employers or labor unions

·    Family religious center

·    Organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), 4-H and the Boy Scouts of America

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