Senior College Applications

& Financial Aid

Class of 2026

AGENDA

• Introductions
• Guest speakers: Anna Hitchcock, Executive Director of Financial Aid at Reed College
• Career Center Information
• The college admissions process
• Reminders/upcoming events

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FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION

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Presenter:

Anna Hitchcock, Executive Director of Financial Aid

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TODAY’S TOPICS

• Financial Aid Key Terms
• Financial Aid Timeline
• Types and Sources of Financial Aid
• How to Apply
• How Eligibility is Determined
• Cost of Attendance
• Family Contribution/Student Aid Index
• Financial Need
• Net Price Calculators
• Special Circumstances

KEY TERMS

Cost of Attendance (COA)

What a school estimates the cost will be for a student to attend.

Direct Costs

• Tuition and fees
• On campus housing
• Meal plans

Indirect Costs

• Books and supplies
• Transportation
• Personal Expenses
• Off-campus living expenses

FAFSA

Free Application for Federal Student Aid - The application for federal aid, and is often required for other types of aid

CSS Profile

A financial aid application that some schools may require for institutional funding

Student Aid Index (SAI)

Determined by FAFSA, this is a number that helps calculate your financial aid eligibility

Financial Need

Cost of attendance minus SAI

THE FINANCIAL AID TIMELINE

• Application for admission
• Application for financial aid (FAFSA)
• Supplemental applications (if required -CSS Profile, institutional and scholarship applications)
• Determination and notification of admission
• Determination and notification of aid eligibility

REED COLLEGE DATES AND DEADLINES

FAFSA: FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID

• Available to complete after October 1^st, 2025
• Application available at https://studentaid.gov
• Needs to be completed every year
• Student and parent(s) will need to create an FSA username and password
• This application calculates your Student Aid Index (SAI) which determines your eligibility for Pell Grant, Oregon Opportunity Grant, and Federal work-study programs and is required to be completed in order to receive Federal Student Loans and Federal Parent Loans

FAFSA: DEPENDENCY STATUS

• 24 years of age or older
• Married
• A veteran or on active duty
• A graduate student
• An orphan or ward of the court

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You are a Dependent student and must include your parents information unless you are:

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• Financially supporting your own dependents
• An emancipated minor
• In a legal guardianship
• An unaccompanied youth
• A homeless youth

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FAFSA: WHO IS A CONTRIBUTOR

FAFSA: WHAT YOU NEED

• A Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) for each FAFSA contributor
• Student and parent information:
• First and last name, date of birth, Social Security Number, email address
• All contributors will need to consent to use the IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX) even if you didn’t file taxes
• The FAFSA application for the 2026-2027 academic year will use tax information from 2024
• Asset information
• ^{Cash/checking/savings, investments (stocks, bonds, 529 plans etc., real estate (not including your primary home)), business and or farm net worth, child support received}

FAFSA: UNDOCUMENTED PARENTS

• A Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) for each FAFSA contributor
• Student and parent information:
• First and last name, date of birth, student Social Security Number/ITIN, email address
• All contributors will need to consent to use the IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX) even if you didn’t file taxes
• The FAFSA application for the 2026-2027 academic year will use tax information from 2024
• Asset information
• ^{Cash/checking/savings, investments (stocks, bonds, 529 plans etc., real estate (not including your primary home)), business and or farm net worth, child support received}

UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS

• Not eligible to complete the FAFSA, but may apply for state aid and institutional funding through individual colleges
• Oregon’s Student Aid Application (ORSAA) is available at https://oregonstudentaid.gov/
• Individual schools may have separate applications to determine institutional aid eligibility

CSS PROFILE

• May be required by some colleges and universities
• Used by selective, private colleges to determine eligibility for need-based institutional grant funds
• Allows families to more completely describe their financial commitments (medical, private elementary and secondary school expenses, income changes)
• In cases of separated/divorced parents, colleges may require CSS Profile applications from both parents
• Fee based; $25 for initial application and one college report; $16 for each additional report; available at: cssprofile.collegeboard.org
• Fee waivers available depending on income

TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID

GRANTS

• Money that does not have to be repaid

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• Typically awarded on the basis of financial need

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• Often called “Need-Based Aid”; all of Reed’s financial aid is based on need

FEDERAL GRANTS

• Federal Pell Grant
• Based on your SAI from FAFSA
• Up to $7,395 annually

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• Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• Based upon your FAFSA
• Amount can vary between schools

STATE GRANTS

• Oregon Opportunity Grant
• Based on your FAFSA or ORSAA
• Oregon residents only
• Up to $7,800 annually

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• Oregon Promise
• Based upon your FAFSA or ORSAA
• Must be a recent graduate or GED recipient from an Oregon High School
• Must enroll within 6 months of graduation at a community college
• Must complete application for Oregon Promise at https://oregonstudentaid.gov/
• Up to $4,584 annually

STATE GRANTS

• Oregon Tribal Grant
• Based on your FAFSA or ORSAA
• Oregon residents only
• Must be a member of one of the nine federally recognized tribes of Oregon
• Must complete the Oregon Tribal Grant Application at https://oregonstudentaid.gov/
• Amount can vary between schools

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• Other grants available
• Chafee Education and Training Grant
• Student Child Care Grant
• Oregon Barber and Hairdresser Grant

SCHOLARSHIPS

• Money that does not have to be repaid

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• Typically awarded on the basis of merit, skill, or a distinct characteristic (athletic, leadership, academic, music, etc.)

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• Sometimes called “Merit Scholarships”

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• Important to be aware of any conditions to retain the scholarship after the first year

SCHOLARSHIPS

• OSAC State Scholarships
• Oregon Residents only
• Application opens November 1^st
• Must Complete FAFSA or ORSAA

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• Institutional Scholarships
• School specific
• May have a separate application

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• Outside Scholarships
• Veterans or GI Benefits
• Tribal scholarships
• Community based organizations
• oregongoestocollege.org
• Elks Lodge
• SHS Booster Club
• Bowmen Family Foundation

LOANS

• Money students and parents borrow to help pay educational expenses
• Repayment usually begins after education is finished
• Only borrow what is really needed

STUDENT LOANS

• Federal: fixed interest rate, may be subsidized by federal government depending on need, no credit test for student, application is the FAFSA
• Fixed interest rate of 6.53% (current)
• Private, alternative: offered by private lenders that you have to apply with individually, interest/fees based on credit score, often require a credit worthy co-signer

PARENT LOANS

• Federal PLUS: Parents can borrow for dependent student
• Fixed interest rate of 9.08% (current)
• Parents can borrow up to $20,000 annually with a lifetime limit of $65,000
• Soft credit check required
• Repayment begins while student is enrolled

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EMPLOYMENT (WORK-STUDY)

• Allows student to earn money on campus to help pay educational costs

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• A paycheck

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• Funds not available until student finds a job, works and submits timesheet

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DETERMINING FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY:�DEFINING FINANCIAL NEED

Cost of Attendance

- Student Aid Index

= Financial Need

COST OF ATTENDANCE

• Direct costs (tuition, fees, room and meals if living on campus)
• Indirect costs (books, supplies, transportation, personal, living expenses if living off campus)
• Direct and indirect costs combined into cost of attendance
• Vary widely from college to college

FEDERAL STUDENT AID INDEX (SAI)

• FAFSA uses federal tax information retrieved from the IRS, and a federal formula
• SAI used by colleges to determine federal aid eligibility
• Considers:
• parent and student income
• number of household members
• student assets
• May consider:
• parent assets
• Does not consider:
• family’s monthly financial commitments, such as mortgage, consumer debt, etc.

FINANCIAL NEED VARIES BY COST

NET PRICE CALCULATORS

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• Net Price: the price a student pays after

subtracting grants and scholarships from

cost

• Focus on the “net price,” not the

“sticker price”

• Available on a college’s website, net price calculators can help prospective students get a better handle on what they will be expected to pay
• Students enter information about their family’s financial situation to learn what similar students paid to attend the institution in the previous year
• Knowing your net price:
• Gives you the best idea of what you’ll pay for a particular college
• Makes comparing colleges easier
• Widens your choice of colleges

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FINANCIAL AID NOTIFICATION

• A financial aid ”award/package/notification/offer”- the types and amounts of aid for which the student is eligible
• Sent to the student by the school(s) in paper or electronic format
• Arrives at or shortly after admission acceptance
• May include loan information
• Requires careful review since content and format vary

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SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

• Circumstances may include change in income, change in employment status, unusually high medical expenses not covered by insurance, etc.
• Cannot be documented using the FAFSA
• CSS PROFILE provides opportunity to explain unusual circumstances
• Send written explanation and documentation to financial aid office at each college
• College will review and request additional information if necessary

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

• Circumstances may include change in income, change in employment status, unusually high medical expenses not covered by insurance, etc.
• Cannot be documented using the FAFSA
• CSS PROFILE provides opportunity to explain unusual circumstances
• Send written explanation and documentation to financial aid office at each college
• College will review and request additional information if necessary

Career Center - Offerings

• College & Career Planning
• College Application Process
• Trades Information
• Career Exploration Interest Surveys
• Financial Aid Resources
• FAFSA Help
• Oregon Promise Help
• Scholarships

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• Dual Credit
• PCC
• Expanded Options Program
• Willamette Promise (WOU & OIT)
• Work Based Learning
• Internships
• Job shadowing
• SchooLinks

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Career Center - Activities

• College Visits
• Military Visits
• Career Exploration Events
• Industry Tours/Field Trips
• Career Talks
• College Planning Nights
• Senior Celebration Events

Community College Application Process

• Easy enrollment process (rolling)
• Consider dual enrollment and how it might help or hinder your plans.
• Apply for FAFSA/ORSAA starting Oct 1.
• Apply for institutional scholarships at your Community College.
• PCC Scholarships! Foundation Scholarship Due Feb 1.
• Apply for Oregon Promise starting October 1.
• 2.0 GPA Requirement
• Must apply for FAFSA/ORSAA
• May be subject to SAI limits

Starting The Application Process

SchooLinks

• Set up College Applications
• Including FERPA Waiver
• Connect w/ Common App (if applicable) and add institutional apps
• Brag Sheet (if needed)
• Request Letters of Rec (if needed)
• Request Transcripts

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AND

Complete Applications Through:

• Common App

OR

• Institutional Application

OR

• Coalition Application

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4 year College/University

College Search Process

• Link to College Fit Presentation
• Common College Search Engines
• BigFuture (CollegeBoard)
• SchooLinks
• Niche
• Appily

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Still Finding Your School?

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Your College List

• Community College - at least one in Oregon
• Some have dorms!
• Commuter College - PSU, OregonTech (Wilsonville Campus), George Fox, or others
• 1 Oregon Public College or more
• Private Schools - In-State and Out of State

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) - Tuition Savings (150% or less of in-state tuition)

• 15 states across the west with 170 public colleges/universities participating
• Always connect with the college for most up-to-day information and eligibility
• Discover Tuition Savings with WUE – info video (3:42)

Common App

Vs.

Institution Applications

OSU and UofO applications DO NOT HAVE TO USE COMMON APP.

Which application should you use?

• Consider your time, list of colleges, and supplemental materials
• Letters of rec are typically NOT required via the institutional apps and there are less steps to complete the application.

Either method, you are still required you to add the school(s) and request transcripts through SchooLinks.

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*Please note: Try not to stress, transcripts will be sent in on time. Our steps are separate from your application deadline. Colleges have automatic emails that will stress you out. Have no fear, your counselor will submit everything on time.

College Application Types

• Early Decision - A binding agreement in which a student agrees that if accepted, they will attend that school and rescind all other college applications.
• Rolling Decision - Priority deadlines are for financial aid consideration. No set deadline for admittance, schools accept students until they reach capacity.

• Early Action - Non-binding early application period. Advantages to early action is an early response for the college and the potential for increase merit aid. May correspond with university/college priority financial aid/scholarships deadlines.
• Regular Decision - Deadlines generally after the new year. OSU Feb. 1st, U of O Jan. 15th.

Letters of Recommendation

• Not required or accepted by every school
• Teacher selection - academic/core content teachers
• Read your application carefully�
• You will not be able to see/review your letters
• FERPA Waiver (completed in SchooLinks)�
• After you have communicated with your recommenders - you will add them to each college in SchooLinks under Application Requirements.

Personal Statement/Essay

• This is your opportunity to set yourself apart from all the other applicants. Let your light shine!
• Choose topics that highlight your individual personality and experiences
• Be authentic, reflect who you are and what you believe
• Grab the reader’s attention right from the start
• Ask a language arts teacher to give you feedback
• For a deeper dive into essay writing, check out this presentation:

SHS College Admissions Essay Tips

What to do after you are done applying to college…

• Check school portals regularly!
• All your schools have a portal
• Specific tasks or opportunities will be sent to your portal (e.g. admission interviews)
• General Information will be sent to by email.
• Scholarship Work
• Deadline can be different from application deadlines.
• Stay Organized

Scholarships

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• Academic Merit Scholarships
• Financial Need-Based Scholarships
• WUE (Western Undergraduate Exchange)
• WUE Savings Finder
• Department specific scholarships
• School of Business, School of Education, etc.
• OSAC
• Scholarship Database
• Oregon Promise
• Local Scholarships
• List in SchooLinks
• Elks, Rotary, local businesses, etc.
• Typically smaller scholarships but less competitive
• National Scholarships
• Potentially larger $ amount
• More competitive

Elks MVP Scholarship deadline Nov. 12!

Check SchooLinks or Career Center for help.

Use Your Time Wisely!

Long Weekends Fall 2025

October 10th - 12th

November 8th - 11th

November 21nd - Nov 30th

(Thanksgiving Break)

December 20th - January 5th

(Winter Break)

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SchooLinks

Important Upcoming Reminders

• Colleges are visiting SHS! Sign up for Flex with Ms. Barrett!
• Create your FSA ID now
• FAFSA/ORSAA is OPEN NOW!
• Oregon Promise application opens on October 1st
• Students must also complete their FAFSA/ORSAA
• OSAC scholarship application opens Nov. 1, 2025
• Deadline: Earlybird Feb. 17/Regular March 2, 2026 (11:59 PM).
• Know your deadlines and get organized (admissions vs. scholarships/financial aid)!

Resources

• FSA ID https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch
• FAFSA https://studentaid.gov/
• ORSAA https://osacapps.hecc.oregon.gov/orsaa-filter.aspx
• OSAC Scholarships https://oregonstudentaid.gov/scholarships/
• Oregon Promise Grant https://oregonstudentaid.gov/grants/
• YouTube FAFSA help https://www.youtube.com/user/FederalStudentAid
• Senior Resource Packet (emailed home and passed out in Homeroom)
• Career Center Calendar of Events

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Questions? Please reach out to:

• The Career Center: shscareercenter@sherwood.k12.or.us
• Your Counselor:
• Kayla Annen: A-Dd
• Maggie Hughes-Boyd: De-Hm
• Yvonne van Andel: Hn-Mi
• Jasmine Langeliers: Mj-Sc
• Tyrone Stammers: Sd-Z

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