In today’s world, many families seek financial assistance
for their child’s college expenses. The process of applying for aid need not be
daunting! Taken one step at a time, parents can manage this process with efficiency
and calm.
Helpful hints:
·
Keep abreast
of deadlines and file forms well in advance of those dates.
·
Contact the
financial aid administrators at your child’s chosen colleges. They can answer
your questions and work closely with you during the aid process.
·
Make copies
of all of your documents and keep them on file.
·
If you would
like to estimate your eligibility for aid you can do so at www.collegeboard.com
by using the “EFC Calculator.”
Financial Aid
(Need-based)
Financial aid is based upon a family’s financial need as
determined by the aid process. The steps for applying for aid are as follows:
1.
Complete the
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) either online at www.fafsa.ed.gov
or on paper.
The
paper version of the forms are mailed to Rabun Gap parents in December of the
senior year. File the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1st of
the senior year (they are not accepted prior to this date). Applying early is
highly recommended. Missing deadlines can render a student ineligible for
aid. Completing the online version of the FAFSA is recommended because
there are built-in checks for errors which can save time. On the FAFSA you will
indicate which colleges you want to receive your results.
2.
Check to see
if your child’s colleges require an additional financial aid form called the
Profile. To register for the Profile application via the Internet, go to www.collegeboard.com.
Paper application forms are sent with the FAFSA’s to Rabun Gap families in
December. Remember to be vigilant about deadlines!
3.
Many colleges
have their own institutional forms that accompany the nationally used FAFSA and
Profile. Contact the financial aid office at each college to inquire about
their forms.
4.
Call the
college counseling office whenever you have questions or need help!
Scholarships (merit-based)
Scholarships
are awarded based on talents or merit rather than financial need. One of the
best sources of scholarship help is the colleges themselves. Scholarships can
be obtained through a number of outside sources, as well. Recommended steps to
acquire scholarship information are:
1.
Research
scholarship options at each of your child’s selected colleges. Find out what
type of scholarships are available, how one qualifies, how one applies, and the
application deadlines. Pass any relevant information on to your student, and
the student and I can work on completing any necessary forms.
2.
All of our
students register with www.fastweb.com , which is an excellent
web-based scholarship search. Please check with your student from time to time
to determine if any of the fastweb options sound viable, and encourage him or
her to apply.
3.
Often there
are local organizations in your hometown that offer scholarships to students.
Check out any local options that might be available.
4.
Various
organizations send our school scholarship information from time to time. This
information is posted on this website and is updated periodically. Click on
either of the following links to access this information.
Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship
Residents of
SCHOLARSHIP LINKS
Explore a variety of
scholarship options by using the following links. The College Scholarship
Database outlines scholarship opportunities available at a variety of colleges.
The General Scholarship Database lists an array of scholarship possibilities
available to students at any college they choose to attend.
College
Scholarship Database General
Scholarship Database