Why Continue Your Education?
Education beyond high school will give you choices that may not otherwise be possible, open doors to better paying positions, and give you the opportunity to do the things you enjoy most. By advancing your education, you can expand your possibilities and increase your career choices. Are you wondering how a college education can be financially possible for you?
John Jay Center for Learning can help you with the financial aid process to help you attain you educational goals.
Financial Aid: What is it?
There are four basic types of financial aid:
Scholarships. A scholarship is an earned gift. You earn it by achieving excellence in academics or extracurricular activities. It never has to be repaid.Grants. A grant is a gift that is based on the financial need of your family. It never has to be repaid.Loans. A loan is not a gift. However, student loans provide money for schooling at the lowest possible interest rates, and under many loan programs, interest does not accumulate while the student is in school.Work-study. The employment programs provide part-time jobs that are funded by the federal and state governments.
College costs can be high, so federal student aid is financial assistance for students who need help paying for college. Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, provides federal student aid, which includes grants, loans, and work-study.
Federal student aid can be used to cover the costs of your college's tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. This aid can also be used to help pay for a computer and dependent child care expenses.
Am I eligible?
The majority of students who apply for financial aid receive it. Regardless of your income, there is only one way to know if you qualify: YOU NEED TO APPLY.
In order to get federal student aid there are some basic eligibility requirements:
You must be a be a U.S. citizen (or U.S. national) or eligible noncitizenYou must have a valid Social Security Number (unless you're from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau)Most males must register with Selective Service, if you are male and 18 to 25 years of age (go to www.sss.gov for more information)You must have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate or pass an exam approved by the U.S. Department of EducationYou must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program at a college that participates in the federal student aid programsYou cannot have a drug conviction for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (such as grants, loans, or work-study)
If you are interested in knowing how much financial aid you might receive, the FAFSA4caster may help you. Using the FAFSA4caster, you and your family will receive an early estimate of eligibility for federal student aid. This website provides you with an opportunity to increase your knowledge of the financial aid process; become familiar with the various types of federal student aid that are available; and investigate other sources of aid, such as grants and scholarships. Please realize you will not receive an actual award letter, but you will have a better idea of how the process works and what you might receive as aid. Visit http://fafsa4caster.ed.gov.
How do I apply for financial aid?
The process for determining federal student aid eligibility is separate from the process of applying for admission to college. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the basic application that is used to apply for federal student aid.
Sometimes students assume they won't qualify for financial aid or sometimes they just don't want to complete the FAFSA because it seems complex or difficult. But you should always apply because you may be surprised by the amount of aid for which you qualify.
Students who wish to apply online should go to: www.fafsa.ed.gov. If you wish to apply using a paper FAFSA instead, you can call 800-4FED-AID and request the paper form or you can print out a PDF FAFSA by going to www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov.
Any questions?
John Jay Center for Learning is here to assist you! If you need any help with questions on financial aid or help filling out the FAFSA. Please contact an advisor at John Jay Center for Learning. We will guide you through the process if you need any help.
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