Financial Aid & Scholarship Opportunities

Navigating the financial aid landscape can be confusing and overwhelming. Here are some strategies to help you take advantage of the opportunities that are available.

Research Institutional Funding:
It isn’t too late to get funding from the schools. While many institutions award scholarships based on the admissions profile, there are also many that have separate supplementary applications for scholarships. These can be found through majors, financial aid offices, alumni associations, and other campus locations. Contact some of the schools on your list and ask how scholarships are awarded and if there are any other places on campus to look.

Complete Financial Aid Applications:
I recommend that families always complete the FAFSA and CSS profile every year no matter what. I suggest this for 2 main reasons: 1. You never know what will happen, financial challenges can happen and it is best to have the applications on file to best position you to receive financial aid. 2. Lots of schools require financial aid applications to completed to be considered for ANY scholarships (including non-need-based).

Understand Your Award Letter:
The financial aid award letter has a lot of important information on it which is why you should make sure you understand it. The vast majority of award letters will have the total cost of attendance listed, followed by grant/scholarship aid, and then loans. Take some time to learn about what is listed on the award letter to ensure that all of the information is correct.

Ask For More:
The FAFSA and CSS profile ask a ton of questions in an effort to get an accurate picture of your finances, but they don’t always tell the full story. A lot can change from year to year or even month to month. Financial aid administrators have the ability to review additional information and use their professional judgment to better assess your financial aid situation (i.e. loss of income, change in income, unexpected medical expenses, and much more).

Ask For Help:
I am passionate about helping families navigate the complexities of the financial aid system and feel empowered about student aid.

I offer a free 15-20 minute introductory meeting, where I can answer questions about your financial aid situation. Schedule a meeting here!

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