Category Archives: CollegeTips

Romanian Government is offering 85 scholarships for international students

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Romanian Government is offering 85 scholarships for international students for undergraduate and postgraduate levels in Romania. Citizens of non EU countries are eligible to apply. Priority will be given to the candidates applying for: political and administrative sciences, education studies, Romanian culture and civilization, journalism, technical studies, oil and gas, agricultural studies, veterinary medicine, architecture and arts. The scholarships are granted for three levels of study: licenta, master and doctorate. the beneficiaries of the scholarships should study only in the Romanian language. The candidates who do not know Romanian are offered one supplementary preparatory year to study the language. The monthly amount is granted throughout the whole calendar year for full-time students of the 3rd cycle but not during the summer vacation for 1st  and 2nd cycle. Requests for other fields will also be taken into account. Citizens of non EU countries (irrespective of their country of residence) can apply for these scholarships. The application deadline is 15th February 2014.
Study Subject(s): Priority will be given to the candidates applying for: political and administrative sciences, education studies, Romanian culture and civilization, journalism, technical studies, oil and gas, agricultural studies, veterinary medicine, architecture, arts. Requests for other fields will also be taken into account.
Course Level: The scholarships are granted for three levels of study:
-for the first cycle (licenta): This scheme is dedicated to graduates of high schools or of equivalent pre-university systems, as well as to candidates who require the equivalation of  partial studies and the continuation of their studies in Romania. The complete cycle of university studies lasts for 3 to 6 years, according to the specific requirements of the chosen faculty, and ends with a final examination (licenta);
-for the 2nd cycle (master): This scheme is dedicated to graduates of university/post graduate studies; it lasts for 1,5 to 2 years and ends with a dissertation;
-for the 3rd cycle (doctorate) this scheme is dedicated to the graduates of university/postgraduate studies (i.e. master); it lasts for 3-4 years, in keeping with the specific requirements of the chosen faculty, and ends with a doctor’s thesis.
Scholarship Provider: Romanian Government
Scholarship can be taken at: Romania
Eligibility: –Citizens of non EU countries (irrespective of their country of residence). Priority is given to citizens from non EU states with which Romania does not have cultural and education cooperation agreements. Foreign citizens of Romanian origin and those belonging to the neighbouring historic Romanian communities benefit from other scholarship programmes offered by the Romanian state.
Scholarship Open for International Students: Citizens of non EU countries (irrespective of their country of residence) can apply for these scholarships.
Scholarship Description: Scholarships offered by the Romanian State to foreign citizens through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in keeping with Government Decision No 288/1993 for the 2014-2015 academic year. 85 scholarships for under- and post-graduate studies in Romania, by means of selection of application files organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) and the Ministry of National Education (MEN), in keeping with Romanian current legislation. In order to promote Romanian language and culture, the Ministry of National Education has decided that the beneficiaries of the scholarships should study only in the Romanian language. The candidates who do not know Romanian are offered one supplementary preparatory year to study the language. The students who declare that they know already Romanian language have to pass a language test organised by the competent  higher education institutions.
Number of award(s): 85 undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships are offered.
Duration of award(s):  The monthly amount mentioned above is granted to the students of the 1st (licenta) and 2nd (master) cycle throughout the whole academic year, the winter and spring vacation included, but not during the summer vacation. For full-time students of the 3rd cycle (doctorate), the monthly amount is granted throughout the whole calendar year.
What does it cover? The scholarship consists of:
-free-of-charge tuition,
-free-of-charge accommodation (depending on availability, accommodation will be offered free-of-charge in students hostels, in keeping with the higher education regulations),
-financial support – a monthly amount representing : the equivalent in Romanian currency of 65 EURO per month, for the under-graduate students (1st cycle), the equivalent in Romanian currency of 75 EURO per month, for post-graduate students (master degrees and specialization) 2nd cycle, the equivalent in Romanian currency of 85 EURO per month, for post graduate students (doctor’s degree) 3rd cycle.
-These scholarships do not cover food,  international and local transport. The candidates must be prepared to support personally any other additional expenses.
Selection criteria: The selection criteria are: the candidates’ competence (former scholar performances, mentioned in his/her study papers) and the chosen priority field of study. The Boards will approve the list of 85 accepted candidates and a waiting list, in case any selected candidates give up the scholarship.
Notification: The MAE board makes the first selection between 15 and 20 March 2014. By 1 April 2014, MAE sends to MEN the selected files. The MEN Board meets in April 2014 to make the final selection and will send list of successful candidates by 30 April 2014.  The selection results will be announced by 30 May 2014 to each diplomatic mission that submitted application files.
How to Apply: To get all necessary information about the scholarships (conditions, necessary documents, enrolment calendar) and to submit their application files, the candidates should apply directly to :
-the Romanian diplomatic missions accredited to the candidate’s country of origin or of residence or to
-the diplomatic mission of candidate’s state of origin accredited to Bucharest
-Application files submitted by post or directly to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) or to the Ministry of National Education (MEN), as well as application files received after the announced deadline will not be taken into consideration.
-Applications files should contain documents in English or French language.
-If the application files contain documents in other foreign languages than English or French, they must be accompanied by authorized translations in one of the following languages: Romanian, English or French. Generally, Romanian universities may require that all enrolment documents should be accompanied by authorized copies and authorized translations in Romanian.
-It is of utmost  importance to fill in correctly all forms.
Scholarship Application Deadline: The application deadline is 15th February 2014.

http://www.mae.ro/en/node/10251

Tips for the Personal Essay Options on the Common Application

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Important Note: The Common Application is changing on August 1st, 2013! The tips and sample essays below will still provide useful guidance for the new Common Application, but be sure also to check out these Tips for the 5 New Common Application Essay Prompts.

The first step to writing a stellar personal essay on your college application is to understand your options. Below is a discussion of the six essay options from the Common Application. Also be sure to check out these 5 Application Essay Tips.

Option #1. Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

Note the key word here: evaluate. You aren’t just describing something; the best essays will explore the complexity of the issue. When you examine the “impact on you,” you need to show the depth of your critical thinking abilities. Introspection, self-awareness and self-analysis are all important here. And be careful with essays about the winning touchdown or tie-breaking goal. These sometimes have an off-putting “look how great I am” tone and very little self-evaluation.

Option #2. Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.

Be careful to keep the “importance to you” at the heart of your essay. It’s easy to get off track with this essay topic and start ranting about global warming, Darfur, or abortion. The admissions folks want to discover your character, passions and abilities in the essay; they want more than a political lecture.

Option #3. Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.

I’m not a fan of this prompt because of the wording: “describe that influence.” A good essay on this topic does more than “describe.” Dig deep and “analyze.” And handle a “hero” essay with care. Your readers have probably seen a lot of essays talking about what a great role model Mom or Dad or Sis is. Also realize that the “influence” of this person doesn’t need to be positive.

Option #4. Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.

Here as in #3, be careful of that word “describe.” You should really be “analyzing” this character or creative work. What makes it so powerful and influential?

Option #5. A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.

Realize that this question defines “diversity” in broad terms. It’s not specifically about race or ethnicity (although it can be). Ideally, the admissions folks want every student they admit to contribute to the richness and breadth of the campus community. How do you contribute?

Option #6. Topic of your choice.

Sometimes you have a story to share that doesn’t quite fit into any of the options above. However, the first five topics are broad with a lot of flexibility, so make sure your topic really can’t be identified with one of them. Also, don’t equate “topic of your choice” with a license to write a comedy routine or poem (you can submit such things via the “Additional Info” option). Essays written for this prompt still need to have substance and tell your reader something about you.

If you’d like to receive weekly information on application essays, standardized tests, colleges, and the admissions process, be sure to sign up for my free College Admissions Newsletter.

additional resource: How to Minimize The Cost of College Visits

A 3-step ”Action Plan” for Juniors Preparing for College

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Dear College Made Simple Reader,

The junior year of high school is without question the most pivotal time for any college-bound student.

To colleges, it’s all about grades, the SAT/ACT, extracurricular activities, and finding out if your child is ready for the realities of the college curriculum.

For juniors themselves, it’s also about proper planning and preparation.

Here’s a checklist we’ve put together, broken down into 3 categories, to help your student be fully prepared…

– Scott

The High School Junior’s “Action Plan” for College

1. Plan Smartly for Testing

A great start for juniors is consulting with their guidance counselor – whether it’s the PSAT, SAT, or ACT (or all of them). That includes times and dates, how to register, and the costs associated with these tests.

Some tips for taking the PSAT:

  • Sign up to take the PSAT in early fall of junior year.
  • By December, students, parents and guidance counselor should plan to review PSAT scores.

Then comes the ACT, which is held every December, February, April, June, September and October.

If your student is taking the ACT, we recommend:

  • Signing up to take the ACT exam by November.
  • Taking the December or February ACT during the junior year.

Finally, the SAT…

SATs are held in only four months of the year – the last date this year is December 7, with absolute sign-up deadline of November 22.

For 2014, the dates and deadlines are as follows:

  • January 25 (deadline January 10)
  • March 8 (deadline February 21)
  • May 3 (deadline April 18)
  • June 7 (deadline May 23)

By the end of February, your student should be registered to take a SAT exam and already studying for it.

 

2. Research Colleges Efficiently

Choosing the right college begins with gathering information about schools and programs. One of the most important tips I can give you is to stay organized.

Use separate folders for different schools. Label them. Try to organize their contents as identically as possible to compare information more easily.

Some other recommendations:

  • Attend a college fair by October or November at the latest.
  • Also by November, it’s a great idea to have scheduled a few campus visits. A campus tour is the best way to get a feel for what a school is like.
  • By January or February, narrow down ideal colleges. Among things to consider: Tuition costs, proximity to home, large or small school, public or private, academic curriculum, student-teacher ratio, and urban or rural location.
  • By the end of March, the list of schools should be trimmed down considerably (think 5 to 10).
  • By April, begin working on college applications and admission essays.
  • By the end of summer, your child should have visited most colleges they are seriously considering attending.

3. Know all the facts and options when it comes to paying for college

There is well over $150 billion available each year from the Federal Government, states, colleges, universities, as well as private foundations and organizations.

Getting your “fair share” is often just a matter of knowing how to get it.

Here are some of the most important things to do to financially prepare for college during the junior year…

  • In the fall, have a “family talk” about how you’re paying for college: Is your student going to contribute? And if so, what are they willing to help with? Are they expecting to take on loans? Are you expecting to take on loans? This is also the best time to get the know the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); being familiar with it before applying will make the entire process much easier.
  • By the end of November, your student should have searched for and identified some scholarships they intend to apply for. It’s important to do this early because scholarships have different deadlines – some as early as the summer after the junior year.
  • During holiday break, learn about student loan options and eligibility requirements for student loans.
  • By March, as your child narrows down the list of desired schools to at most 10, estimate how much it will cost to attend each. Expand your search for scholarships to include local organizations in your community, organizations related to their desired fields of study, scholarships available only to students (or future students) of schools they wish to attend.
  • By April, contact each school’s financial aid office to see what kind of payment options they have – monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, semesterly.
  • Also in April, as you work on college applications and essays, begin filling out scholarship applications. It is never a bad thing to be the first one in the door.

To your college admissions and funding success,

Scott Weingold
Co-founder, College Planning Network, LLC

Publisher, College Made Simple – The Free Educational Resource of College Planning Network, LLC

Nov. 2, 2013 – Redefine your career path: U of M Education Fair

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College of Continuing Education - University of Minnesota

EDUCATION FAIR
Dear Student,

Are you at a career crossroads? Searching for something more in your work life?

Whether you’re looking to complete a degree, gain the skills to be a stand-out candidate in a job search, or build an education portfolio specific to your industry, the College of Continuing Education is ready to help you reach that next level.

Redefine your career path
What: FREE Education Fair
When: Saturday, November 2, 2013, 10 a.m.–noon
Location: Bloomington Center for the Arts

Breakout sessions featuring:

Bachelor’s Degrees

  • Individualized degree completion programs
  • Construction Management/Facility Management
  • IT Infrastructure
  • Manufacturing Operations Management

Master’s Degrees

  • Master of Liberal Studies
  • Master of Biological Sciences
  • Master of Professional Studies in Horticulture
  • Master of Professional Studies in Arts and Cultural Leadership
  • Master of Professional Studies in Integrated Behavioral Health

There will also be information on credit certificates, professional development certificates, taking evening and online courses, and applying for financial aid.

Questions? Contact our Information Center at 612-624-7213. We look forward to seeing you at the November 2 Education Fair!

Sincerely,

Julia Dugan
University of Minnesota
College of Continuing Education
Learner Representative
612-624-7213
ccejulia@umn.edu

National Scholarship Programme of Slovak Republic

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Deadline: 30 April / 31 October
Open to: university students, PhD students, university teachers, researchers, artists
Scholarship: covers scholarship holders’ living costs (accommodation, board)

Description

In 2005, the National Scholarship Programme for the Supports of Mobility of University Students, PhD Students, University Teachers, Researchers and Artists was established by the approval of the Government of the Slovak Republic. The National Scholarship Programme of the Slovak Republic (NSP) is funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic.

The National Scholarship Programme of the Slovak Republic supports study/research/teaching/artistic mobility of foreign students, PhD students, university teachers, researchers and artists at universities and research organisations in Slovakia.

Eligibility

The following individuals are eligible applicants for a scholarship in the framework of the NSP:

A) students, who are university students abroad and will be participating on a study stay in Slovakia within their 2nd level of higher education (or will be participating on a study stay in Slovakia at least during the 7th semester of their higher education, i.e. in case that they are students of a joined study programme – joined 1st and 2nd level of higher education), and who are accepted by a public, private or state university in the Slovak Republic to an academic mobility to study in the Slovak Republic;

  • duration of the scholarship stay: 1 – 2 semesters (i.e. 4 – 5 or 9 – 10 months) or 1 – 3 trimesters, if the academic year is divided on trimesters (i.e. 3 – 4 or 6 – 7 or 9 – 10 months)

B) PhD students, whose higher education or research preparation takes place abroad, and who are accepted by a public, private or state university or research organisation eligible to carry out a PhD study programme(e.g. Slovak Academy of Sciences) in the Slovak Republic to an academic mobility to study/conduct research in the Slovak Republic;

  • duration of the scholarship stay: 1 – 12 months

C) foreign university teachers, researchers or artists, who are invited by an organisation with a valid certificate of competence to carry out research and development seated in the Slovak Republic, and which is not a business organisation to a teaching/research/artistic stay in the Slovak Republic.

  • duration of the scholarship stay: 1 – 12 months

Citizens of the following countries are eligible to apply for a scholarship in the framework of the NSP:

  1. Member States of the European Union;
  2. other signatories to the Bologna Process (listed are only countries outside the EU) – Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Island, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Monte Negro, Norway, Russian Federation, Serbia (including Kosovo), Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Vatican City;
  3. Belarus, Uzbekistan;
  4. Canada, Mexico, USA, countries of Latin and Central America;
  5. Australia, China (including Taiwan), Egypt, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Republic of South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam.

Scholarship

The scholarship shall cover scholarship holders’ living costs (accommodation, board, etc.) during their study/ research/ teaching/ artistic stay at higher education institutions, research or non-governmental organisations in Slovakia. Regarding the accommodation and administrative duties related to the entry to the territory of the Slovak Republic, scholarship holders can contact their host institution or they can arrange these issues themselves. In case of applicants from abroad, the NSP does not cover travel costs related to arrival and departure from Slovakia.

Application

Deadlines:

  • 30 April by 16:00 CET – scholarship stays during the following academic year
  • 31 October by 16:00 CET – scholarship stays during the summer semester of the running academic year

Scholarship applications are submitted on-line HERE. On-line application system is opened at least 6 weeks before the application deadline.

Original hard copies of the documents must be submitted to SAIA in Bratislava  within 5 working days since the application deadline, to the following address:

SAIA, n. o.
Námestie slobody 23
812 20  Bratislava 1
Slovak Republic

Find more information regarding the scholarship and the application process, as well as required documents for applying HERE.

Read the official call HERE.

The Best Ways To Prepare for College Interviews

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You are receiving this email as a part of your free subscription to College Made Simple.

Dear College Made Simple Reader,

The college interview is typically not a make-or-break factor in the admissions process.

It is, however, a great opportunity for your child to put their best foot forward… in ways that might not show up in the application and transcript.

Of course, each school conducts their student interviews differently (many schools are now offering interviews via Skype), but one thing hasn’t changed:

Preparation is key.

To that end, we’ve put together some of the more common themes your student can expect in the interview process.

– Scott

The Best Ways To Prepare for College Interviews

For starters, know the school, and know it well.

In other words, gather all the information you can from the admissions department on what to expect from a typical interview.

The one question they can expect: “Why are you interested in enrolling at our school?”

That’s why it’s so important to have the college mapped out ahead of time, and to be prepared to speak to specifics.

Now for some basics: Be sure to present well, show up early, dress appropriately, and be sure the cell phone is turned off the entire time.

Most of all, keep focused. That means making eye contact, and answering questions directly and respectfully.

An interviewer may want to know about your child’s future plans or aspirations, and if their college is the right fit for those.

The point is: be honest. Interviewers understand not all candidates have the direction of their next 10 years figured out.

Another great interview tactic is to “turn the interview around.”

When the interviewer asks your student if they have questions for them, it’s always a great idea to have a list of thoughtful, meaningful questions specific to the school.

Now let’s get into some more college interview questions to be expected.

These are the ones that demand preparation, including a few practice rounds with parents. (This will go a long way in helping maintain composure and demeanor during the interview).

  • If you could do one thing differently in high school, what would that thing be? Is there a second thing you would do differently?
  • Can you explain, in detail, a specific challenge that you’ve overcome.
  • Is there something you’ve read within the past year or two that has special meaning or significance to you?
  • Who has been the most important person in your own self-development?
  • What do you see yourself doing 10 years from now? 20 years from now?

Another Way To Prepare Well In Advance of the College Interview

This cannot be stressed enough: extracurriculars matter. Involvement in sports, clubs, groups, and other school activities are definitely factored into the college admissions process.

One reason for that is because college interviewers are usually trying to get a feel for who a student is, above and beyond a GPA and SAT/ACT scores.

Extracurricular activities are one of the best windows, and you can expect an interview to include a good amount of time on the topic. Remember, which extracurriculars you address isn’t what’s important. What does matter is addressing them with passion and sincerity.

Finally, interviewers want to get a sense of your child’s study habits. That is, they’ll want to know if your student will be able to responsibly manage their studies, once away at school.

By following these tips, your child stands to make a very good impression at every interview.

To your successful college pursuits,

Scott Weingold
Co-founder, College Planning Network, LLC

Publisher, College Made Simple – The Free Educational Resource of College Planning Network, LLC

GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program for high school seniors

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Apply Now
DEADLINE: Midnight CST, January 9, 2014		 Facebook

Honoring the legacy and character of our nation’s 40th President, the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program rewards college-bound students who demonstrate exemplary leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship with financial assistance to pursue higher education.

Each year, the Program selects numerous recipients to receive a $10,000 scholarship renewable for up to an additional three years – up to $40,000 total per recipient. Awards are for undergraduate study only, and may be used for education-related expenses, including tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, and board. In addition, Scholars are invited to participate in a special awards program.
To be eligible for this award, applicants must:
• demonstrate at school, at the workplace, and within the community the attributes of leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship;

• demonstrate strong academic performance (minimum 3.0 grade point average/4.0 scale or equivalent);

• demonstrate financial need;

• be citizens of the United States of America;

• be high school seniors attending high school in the United States, or any of the U.S. territories and commonwealths and graduating in winter 2013 or spring 2014. Applicants living on a U.S. Armed Forces base and attending high school outside the U.S. are eligible. Home-schooled students who are graduating in winter 2013 or spring 2014 are also eligible.

• plan to enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study toward a bachelor’s degree at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States for the entire 2014-2015 academic year.
In addition, semifinalists must be nominated by an eligible community leader, such as a high school principal, elected official or executive director of a nonprofit organization, and must provide documentation to certify academic performance and financial need. Finalists will be interviewed via Skype or telephone by a member of the selection committee. Learn more about the qualifications of a GE-Reagan Foundation Scholar or download a GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program flyer here. 

Qualified candidates may apply online starting October 15, 2013 through January 9, 2014 or until 25,000 applications are submitted, whichever comes first. To be considered for this award, candidates must complete the secure online application and all of its components prior to the deadline. Deadline extensions will not be granted, and incomplete applications will be disqualified. Materials submitted in hard copy prior to the semifinalist stage will not be considered and will be discarded. Only the first 25,000 completed applications will be considered.
Applicants who have questions about the application process may contact the program’s administrator, Scholarship Management Services, at 1-507-931-1682 and ask for the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program or email
ge-reagan@scholarshipamerica.org . Applicants should anticipate a response to inquiries within one business day. Personnel at GE and The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation cannot address applicant questions.

Would you like to become a next generation security expert?

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Would you like to become a next generation security expert?

Gain valuable insights into today’s IT security issues? How would you also like to win cash and lay the foundation for a successful career in IT?

Well, with Kaspersky Academy’s ‘Cyber Security for the Next Generation’ student conference, you can.

Open to : Bachelor, Master and Ph.D. students from the following countries can participate in the Russia & CIS round of the conference: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine

Participation is free. Kaspersky Lab will cover all participants’ travel and accommodation expenses.

The best projects will be given awards and valuable prizes (1st place $1500, 2nd place $1000 and 3rd place $750) from Kaspersky Lab and the authors will be invited to attend the international ‘CyberSecurity for the Next Generation’ conference.

 

5 Tips for Filling out the FAFSA

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You are receiving this email as a part of your free subscription to College Made Simple.

Dear College Made Simple Reader,

For so many families with college-bound students, understanding exactly what the FAFSA is, and how it works, can seem daunting at first.

It is true that the college financial aid formulas are complicated. Our goal, though, is to make it easy, and make it worthwhile.

For starters, every single college-bound student should make use of the FAFSA (which is just the acronym for Free Application for Federal Student Aid.)

Doing so opens the door to federal student loans, grants, and even – in some cases – college work-study programs.

Now let me give you 5 important insights into filling out the FAFSA… including how you can use it to reduce your overall college costs.

– Scott

#1: File early and on time.

Financial aid is given out on a first come, first serve basis. Those who submit the FAFSA form on time and correctly are placed in the front of the line for any eligible aid.

Priority filing dates vary by state but typically fall around February 15th of the year your student will be filing for aid.

#2: List at least 5 schools on the FAFSA.

The problem with listing only one school? That lone school that receives your FAFSA information sees that you are not applying to other schools.

This gives your (one) school less of an incentive to give your more aid. Make sure and include at least 5 schools on the FAFSA form.

Even better, make sure to include at least several schools that compete for the same type of students.

3: Highlight any unusual circumstances.

After submitting the FAFSA, families should let the colleges know if they have any unusual circumstance. Examples include a layoff, divorce, salary reduction or expensive medical bills.

The college will then determine that the unusual circumstance merits an adjustment, and may revise the student’s award offer. Keep in mind you will need to provide documentation, such as a copy of the layoff notice or unemployment benefits.

By the same token, if you’ve had an unusually good year financially (for example, a large bonus or a lot of overtime pay) you can write to the college’s financial aid office to explain that income was “unusual” and unlikely to recur.

#4: Fill out all additional forms.

For example, many schools use the CSS Profile form as a supplement to the FAFSA. Many times it is to determine non-federal financial aid, such as scholarships and grants.

Keep in mind a few things: it’s very important that you are consistent with your information on all forms. And also know that there is a $25 fee for filling out the CSS (and $16 for each additional school).

#5: Everyone should fill out the FAFSA (even high-income earners).

We see this mistake all the time. Many families think they make too much money – this is very common.

Yet there is money available for kids who don’t qualify for aid. But the only way to prove you don’t qualify for traditional need based aid is through the FAFSA form.

Plus, a family’s financial situation could change and make them eligible for aid. By having the FAFSA already on file, it is very easy to then get a “change of circumstance” form filled out, submitted, and then get a financial aid package based on the new and reduced income number.

To your successful college pursuits,

Scott Weingold
Co-founder, College Planning Network, LLC

Publisher, College Made Simple – The Free Educational Resource of College Planning Network, LLC