2008 Woodie Awards
A Quick Guide To Holt Financial Aid
Tanisha Mathis
Issue date: 10/28/05 Section: Holt News
- Page 1 of 1
It takes a lot of soul-searching and time management, but for many adults who decide to return to college, the biggest hurdle can be the immense price tag. From $882 courses to $100 textbooks, the cost of returning to school can be a taxing burden, particularly for students who are responsible for households.
If you are the non-traditional student, (e.g., older students, veterans, international students) there are special considerations when determining financial aid.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is your initial step on the path to financial aid. The form, which calculates your expected family contribution, or EFC, is used by every state to award aid, and used by many colleges to award grants and needs-based scholarships.
The FAFSA is sent to Rollins, and the financial aid officers put together a package of federal, state, and college aid, including loans and work-study programs. If you are offered any scholarships not based on financial need, you are likely to get it in this package. In the question that asks about your interest in different types of aid (e.g., work-study and student loans), answer "yes" to each question.
Answering "yes" does not obligate you to accept a loan. Answering "no" will not get you more grant aid. Avoid mistakes that could delay the processing of your application by 2-3 weeks by carefully reading the instructions and questions.
A common thought amongst nontraditional students is that college scholarships are reserved for the traditional students. There are many scholarships that are targeted to older students and simply have no age restrictions at all. Scholarship search engines such as FastWeb.com are worth examining for aid you may be qualified to receive. Many associations, foundations, and corporations award scholarships for women, students who exemplify leadership, community service, and numerous other prerequisites. The Talbot Charitable Foundation awards scholarships of up to $10,000 to women who earned their high school diplomas or GEDs 10 or more years ago. Some schools have their own scholarships for their nontraditional students.
Holt students should be aware of scholarships available to them through Rollins, such as the Holt Tuition Scholarship and the EXCEL Transfer Scholarship, that is available to students who transfer from Valencia and Seminole Community Colleges.
The Florida Residency Access Grant, commonly referred to as FRAG, is available to all full-time students regardless of need. It entitles students who have been a resident of Florida for twelve consecutive months and attend a private school in the state to $1,425 per semester.
Few things in life are free, and that usually includes your diploma. The minority of the nation's college students will earn a degree without incurring some financial debt. Talk about college with someone long enough and surely they have a student loan horror story for you.
No one wants high debt following him or her around, but student loans should not be feared, particularly if you research them like any financial investment. Remember, that is exactly what your degree is, an investment in your future.
When you work full time (or even part time), getting need-based aid becomes tougher, and you are expected to use your income to cover the majority of your college costs. Regardless of your household responsibilities, you will be eligible for Stafford loans. Even if they are unsubsidized, the interest rates are low.
There are private lenders who also offer loans, though the rates and fees may be higher. Before you borrow, visit your company's Human Resources Department. Many large and medium-sized companies offer tuition benefits, and the first $5,250 in benefits each year is tax-free.
CLEP tests and transferring credits from other schools can also save you money by decreasing the amount of courses needed to earn your degree. Contact the Rollins Financial Aid Department at (407) 646-2395 or visit their website at www.rollins.edu/finaid.
For a more student specific and comprehensive financial aid session, you can request an appointment with one of the Financial Aid Counselors. A website dedicated to informing Hamilton Holt students about financial planning is located at:
www.rollins.edu/holt/students/finaid.shtml
Give yourself enough time to research all the resources available in order to finance your education. By studying more than just your courses and not procrastinating, your college experience can be less draining on your wallet.
If you are the non-traditional student, (e.g., older students, veterans, international students) there are special considerations when determining financial aid.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is your initial step on the path to financial aid. The form, which calculates your expected family contribution, or EFC, is used by every state to award aid, and used by many colleges to award grants and needs-based scholarships.
The FAFSA is sent to Rollins, and the financial aid officers put together a package of federal, state, and college aid, including loans and work-study programs. If you are offered any scholarships not based on financial need, you are likely to get it in this package. In the question that asks about your interest in different types of aid (e.g., work-study and student loans), answer "yes" to each question.
Answering "yes" does not obligate you to accept a loan. Answering "no" will not get you more grant aid. Avoid mistakes that could delay the processing of your application by 2-3 weeks by carefully reading the instructions and questions.
A common thought amongst nontraditional students is that college scholarships are reserved for the traditional students. There are many scholarships that are targeted to older students and simply have no age restrictions at all. Scholarship search engines such as FastWeb.com are worth examining for aid you may be qualified to receive. Many associations, foundations, and corporations award scholarships for women, students who exemplify leadership, community service, and numerous other prerequisites. The Talbot Charitable Foundation awards scholarships of up to $10,000 to women who earned their high school diplomas or GEDs 10 or more years ago. Some schools have their own scholarships for their nontraditional students.
Holt students should be aware of scholarships available to them through Rollins, such as the Holt Tuition Scholarship and the EXCEL Transfer Scholarship, that is available to students who transfer from Valencia and Seminole Community Colleges.
The Florida Residency Access Grant, commonly referred to as FRAG, is available to all full-time students regardless of need. It entitles students who have been a resident of Florida for twelve consecutive months and attend a private school in the state to $1,425 per semester.
Few things in life are free, and that usually includes your diploma. The minority of the nation's college students will earn a degree without incurring some financial debt. Talk about college with someone long enough and surely they have a student loan horror story for you.
No one wants high debt following him or her around, but student loans should not be feared, particularly if you research them like any financial investment. Remember, that is exactly what your degree is, an investment in your future.
When you work full time (or even part time), getting need-based aid becomes tougher, and you are expected to use your income to cover the majority of your college costs. Regardless of your household responsibilities, you will be eligible for Stafford loans. Even if they are unsubsidized, the interest rates are low.
There are private lenders who also offer loans, though the rates and fees may be higher. Before you borrow, visit your company's Human Resources Department. Many large and medium-sized companies offer tuition benefits, and the first $5,250 in benefits each year is tax-free.
CLEP tests and transferring credits from other schools can also save you money by decreasing the amount of courses needed to earn your degree. Contact the Rollins Financial Aid Department at (407) 646-2395 or visit their website at www.rollins.edu/finaid.
For a more student specific and comprehensive financial aid session, you can request an appointment with one of the Financial Aid Counselors. A website dedicated to informing Hamilton Holt students about financial planning is located at:
www.rollins.edu/holt/students/finaid.shtml
Give yourself enough time to research all the resources available in order to finance your education. By studying more than just your courses and not procrastinating, your college experience can be less draining on your wallet.