Financial Aid

The most important thing a senior must do is submit a FAFSA (free application for federal student aid) to the federal government.   The FAFSA can be filed by paper or on-line.  Paper versions of the form may be obtained from the counseling center.  You may file the FAFSA on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
For information on any federal student financial aid program you may call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)

The FAFSA cannot be filed until taxes have been figured for the prior year. (That is - not until after January 1st)

We will have a FAFSA workshop here at Croatan – February 7th at 7:00 in the Cougar Café.

Once the FAFSA has been filed with the federal government, you will receive a SAR (student aid report) from them.  It will indicate how much money the governments thinks your family should be able to afford each year for college.

A copy of the SAR is also sent to the financial offices of the colleges you indicated your child is applying to.

The financial aid officer at the colleges will create a financial aid package for your child and if they are accepted to the college, they will send the package to you when they notify you of the acceptance.

Financial aid can come in the form of grants, loans and scholarships.

IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT A FAFSA TO THE GOVERNMENT - YOU WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR ANY FINANCIAL AID!!!

Some people think that they do not need to file a FAFSA if they are attending a community or two-year college - this is not true.  In order to receive any kind of financial aid at these schools a FAFSA must be filed.

Financial Aid Web Sites

http://www.ed.gov/studentaid Federal Student Financial Aid Information

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov Free Application for Federal Student Aid

http://www.irs.ustreas.gov Hope and Lifetime Learning Tax Credits

http://www.collegeispossible.org
http://www.mapping-your-furture.org General Information about scholarships, careers, etc.

http://www.irs.ustreas.gov Federal Tax Returns and Taxpayer Help

http://www.finaid/org
http://www.college-scholarships.com/100college.htm Free Scholarship Search Services

http://www.sss.gov Register With the Selective Service

http://www.salliemae.com Calculate Loan Payments