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Understanding Different Sources of Financial Aid

Beth Walsh-Sahutske, Grosse Pointe South HS

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Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

Spring

Summer

Fall

Research careers, complete job shadows, continue to learn what you like and what you are good at

Visits

Award Letter

Scholarships

Apply

FAFSA

Decision, Orientation, Deposits

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The Cost of College

Wayne State (at home) $13,900

GVSU $26,000

MSU $25,000

CMU $25,600

U of Michigan (ann arbor) - $31,000

Eastern Michigan $25,806

Kettering $26,390

,

Compare and Contrast Colleges

Google name of college and the words “net calculator”

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Two reminders for why finding free money is important

Direct Fees

(tuition, dorms, meals)

+

Indirect Fees

(transportation, entertainment, health insurance, special sheets for dorm, computer, pizza on Sundays, etc.)

Class of 2019

  • Avg debt = $31,172
  • Avg Monthly student loan payment for graduates = $393
  • Time to pay off student debt: 10 to 30 years

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GOOD RULE OF THUMB:

Undergraduate students should borrow no more in total than their expected salary at graduation

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Family help�Government - FAFSA�Private banks - your own research

Google a college name + “scholarships” and check out your college’s automatic scholarships based on GPA and test scores

$$$$$$$ PAYING FOR COLLEGE $$$$$$$

Free Money

Borrow Money

Work

Click here to estimate how much you may get from FAFSA

**This will only estimate how much you would get through the FAFSA from the government. Colleges may give additional funding based on your FAFSA information. You won’t be able to estimate this. This information will come with your award letter in January of senior year. Colleges determine Work Study.

Government - FAFSA

**College - FAFSA

**Work Study - FAFSA

Part-time or Full-time

Family help

College - Automatic (GPA/test scores)

�Scholarships - your own research

Tuition Reimbursement from your employer or military branch

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FAFSA

(We are not doing this today)

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Scholarships

Where to find the free money?

Use this document to see many places to start looking

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Answering an essay prompt

Completing an online survey

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Specific Examples:

Automatic: Awards from $2K - Full Ride based on test scores and GPA

Professional: NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award. $2K to someone who operates an established business

Charity: The Ronald McDonald House Charities US Scholarship

Minimum 2.7 GPA, Community Involvement and Essay

Employer: Fred & Lena Meijer Scholarship.

$3K Scholarship for those that work at Meijer/child of employee

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The Best places to find scholarships

  • Automatic Scholarships from Colleges based on Merit (test scores and GPA), and/or Need
  • FAFSA Application
  • College Financial Aid Websites
  • Local Scholarships (see weekly eblast, GPS Mothers Club, and Naviance) and local businesses/organizations
  • Web Based Scholarship Search Sites
  • Google Searches

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Maximizing Automatic Scholarships

  1. GPA
  2. Test scores (always accept the highest!)�ACT vs. SAT adviceFull Ride opportunities
  3. Extracurricular activities
  4. Essay�Big Future (College Board) tips-for-writing-an-effective-application-essayBig Future (College Board) Essays

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Always Check:

  • Your Place of Worship
  • Community Organizations
  • Your Bank
  • Your Employer
  • Other Local Businesses

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Web-based scholarship search sites

INTERNET SCAMS

*Never pay

*Never give out your social security #

Create an email JUST for scholarships and check it weekly

Example: scholarships4me@gmail.com

Expect some junk but still better than an open Google Search

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Follow directions EXACTLY

Spelling, punctuation, grammar 100%

Ask for references in advance

Give your reference a copy of the scholarship description

Ask an English teacher to �proof read

Answer the question asked

Be unique

Set your own deadline �5 days ahead

of the real one

Go for small amounts too

$1000 = 1 hour writing an essay or 2 ½ months at McDonalds

Reuse essays

Postmarked vs. Received by

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What’s your SPECIFIC plan

for doing scholarships?

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Congratulations!

You got a scholarship!

Now what????

Send a handwritten thank you and NO, no one cares that your handwriting isn’t perfect!

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THANKS

Does anyone have any questions?

Gratitude to Jean Artenga, Counselor from Coopersville HS for her content contributions

CREDITS: This presentation template was created by Slidesgo, including icons by Flaticon, and infographics & images by Freepik.

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