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Welcome To The Thurgood Marshall College Fund |
Financial Aid Website |
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We
know...
this is a busy but exciting time for you
while you explore your options for the next phase of your education.
It may seem overwhelming at times. There are application deadlines
for individual schools you’re applying to; you have to
keep up with the deadline dates for the ACT and/or SAT registration;
and you have to complete your financial aid forms and apply for
various scholarships in a timely manner. It all seems like a
lot to do, but it is all part of the process for getting you
to college and to your career goals. We suggest that you make
a calendar with all
of these important dates and deadlines. It will make it easier
to keep track of the things you will need to do. To help guide
you through the college planning process visit http://www.knowhow2go.org/mentors_steps.php to
navigate the “steps to college” for every grade level.
Also, visit http://collegeanswer.com to learn how you can access yourself, learn about college requirements , learn how to prepare for standerdize tests and get college advice.
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| Getting
Started |
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How
do I get started?
Students and parents can begin the
admissions and financial aid process by choosing to work
with the Department of Education Federal TRIO Programs which
provide services that assist students in choosing a college;
tutoring; personal and financial counseling; career counseling;
assistance in applying to college; workplace and college
visits; special instruction in reading, writing, study skills
and mathematics; and assistance in applying for financial
aid. Visit the site below for information on
all the TRIO programs.
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio/staffdirectory-cupt.html |
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How
much is college going to cost?
Costs depend on the school you choose.
Most families in America are not financially capable of paying
the rising cost of a college education without some type of assistance.
Thankfully, all students can receive various forms of financial
aid to assist them in paying their college costs.
For example, the average college costs for the 2006-07 school year
were:
Public, two-year $2,300
Public, four-year $5,800
Private, four-year $22,200 |
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Is
college too expensive for me?
Although some college costs can
be discouraging, most colleges are more affordable than
you might think. The U.S. Department of Education awards
more than $80 billion dollars a years in grants and loan
to students attending a colleges and universities. Financial
aid is intended to make up the difference between what
a family can afford to pay and what college costs.
However, you and your parents should realistically discuss what you can afford and cannot afford. It is very discouraging for a new college student to show up on their dream campus with all their personal belongings and is turned away by the school because the student did not choose an affordable school for them and they cannot pay the bill. Instead, they hoped that once they arrived on the campus a miracle would occur. It is very important that you thoroughly review your financial aid package and know before you show up on campus how you are going to pay your bill. |
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What
do I do if my family can’t afford to send me to college?
If your family cannot afford to
send you to college, it is more important than ever to
seek every type of financial assistance you can. After
applying for federal student aid, it is important that
you also apply for other support programs. Thousands of
dollars are available each year for students who meet varying
eligibility criteria. |
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How
do I explore my financial aid options?
Your school guidance counselor is a good
place to start for assistance in identifying financial aid options.
Students can also visit the public library and search the internet.
Throughout this website you will find various links to sites
offering financial support for students. The first step in seeking
financial aid for higher education is filling out the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Fill out the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. |
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| More
frequently asked questions - click here |
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| What
You Need To Know |
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.Understand Your
Financial Aid Options
There is a lot of information available about going to college
and how to pay for it. You may have to look for it. Doing
research in your school counselor’s office, at the public
library and on websites like those highlighted on this website. When
you make the time and put in the effort to discover all of the
possibilities, you might be surprised at what offers for aid you
may receive. Get organized, take it one step at a time and you
can make your dreams of college a reality!
You can get grants, scholarships, loans and work-study jobs to
help cover the difference between what you and your family can
afford to pay for college and the actual tuition and other costs
at the school you choose. It may take adding up several
scholarships and grants, and maybe even a loan, to cover the
entire cost of your education, so try to apply for as many
sources of “free money” as you may qualify for.Grants – A form
of financial aid that does not have to be repaid. They can be
merit based or based on financial need. Types of grant programs:
Federal Grant Programs
• Federal Pell Grants – largest federal grant program; the
school determines eligibility and award amounts.
• Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) –
federal grant program made available through some schools to a
limited number of undergraduate students with exceptional
financial need.
State Grants and Scholarships
The U.S. Department of Education provides state agencies with
grants and scholarship funds.
Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) – formally
known, as the State Student Incentive Grant (SSIG) is a
matching-funds program to encourage states to develop student
aid programs.
Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships – a federally funded state
administered program for students who demonstrate outstanding
academic achievement and show promise to continued excellence in
postsecondary education. At least ten scholarships are made
available per state. Students awarded under this program are
known as Byrd Scholars
Loans – A form of financial aid that must be repaid, usually
after the student graduates from college or when the student
leaves school or drops below half-time status. The federal
government provides low-interest loans to students and parents.
Students can also borrow from private banking institutions.
• Federal Stafford Loans – low interest loans made to
undergraduate and graduate students.
• Parents PLUS Loans – enable parents to borrow money for each
dependent undergraduate student.
• Federal Perkins Loans – federally insured loans funded by the
federal government and awarded by the college.
Federal Work Study Program enables students with a financial
need to earn money to cover school costs through employment.
Scholarships - There are several hundred million dollars in
scholarships each year through colleges, corporations,
foundations and other organizations (local community
organizations, private clubs, fraternal organizations, employers
or labor groups). Scholarships like grants do not have to be
repaid. Students who excel in academics, athletics, community
service and many other areas can receive a scholarship. There
are also scholarships that are awarded based on a student’s
ethnicity, interests and/or career path.
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