Financial Aid and Scholarships
OEHS Scholarship Newsletter 4/1/13
Attending Waubonsee Community College? Check out these links for scholarships!!
OEHS introduces Financial Fit program from College Countdown
We are pleased to offer our Junior and Senior students access to the Financial Fit Program through College Countdown. This web-based system offers valuable tools to help find a great college at an affordable price. This opportunity is being funded by North Central College, Naperville, IL, so there is no cost to OEHS students.
Financial Fit Parent Letter 2012
College Affordability Calculator
College Comparison Table
Financial Fit College Search Overview
Financial Fit Program Overview
FAFSA Powerpoint Presentation: December 6th, 2012
FAFSA Completion Workshops 2012
Overview of the College Financial Aid Process
Financial Aid Process Timeline:
Fall of student’s senior year:
- Contact college financial aid offices or check their website for deadlines and required forms, e.g. the CSS Profile or institutional forms.
- Visit www.pin.ed.gov. Both the student and one parent require a PIN (two separate numbers) in order to securely sign the FAFSA electronically. Applying for a PIN requires only 5 minutes, and it will be mailed to your home within two weeks.
After January 1 of student’s senior year:
- Immediately utilize the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet at www.fafsa.gov to ready yourself for filing the FAFSA. The annual version of the FAFSA required for your student corresponds with the school year in which they will be a first-year college student (i.e. if your student graduates from Benet in 2011, you will be filing the 2011-2012 FAFSA).
- File the online FAFSA as soon as possible, using the PIN you already acquired. File no later than the second week of February. If you are waiting for W-2s or the completion of your tax forms, you may estimate answers by using last year’s tax information. Once you have the most current tax forms completed, you must update your FAFSA by logging into your FAFSA account.
After you complete the FAFSA:
- You will receive a copy of your Student Aid Report. If your SAR needs to be corrected, contact the financial aid office at your college for instructions.
Sometime between March and July,
- You will receive financial aid award letters from each college you listed on the FAFSA.
- Don’t compare the total awards from each institution. Compare the remaining costs.
- Furthermore, scrutinize how much and what types of loans you have been given. Some aid packages may meet all demonstrated need with loan only, while others will include grants, which you do not need to repay.
After you receive your award letter, you need to accept all or part of the financial aid offered.
- Sign and return the letter to the college. This is not a commitment to attend the institution, but please inform them ASAP if you decide not to attend so that they are able to distribute those funds to someone else.
Key Financial Aid Terms:
- Aid package - A combination of scholarship, grant, loan and/or work-study determined by a college financial aid office.
- Grants - Awards based on financial need that do not require repayment. Grants are available through the federal government, state agencies and educational institutions.
- Scholarships - Awards to students based on merit or merit-plus-need that do not have to be repaid.
- Expected Family Contribution (EFC) - An amount you and your family are expected to contribute toward your education. It is used in determining eligibility for federal student aid.
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - The application required for students to be considered for federal student financial aid. The FAFSA is processed free of charge and is used by most state agencies and colleges.
- Student Aid Report (SAR) - The report you will receive after your FAFSA has been processed that will list your EFC.
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