How to Make the Most of Your College’s Financial Aid Office
Furman welcome center (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
You’ll no doubt discover that any school you choose to attend offers a variety of services designed to help the average student navigate the tricky waters of collegiate life. And if you take the time to go through the orientation process and ask plenty of questions, you’ll find that there are an abundance of free services you can take advantage of. Well, they’re not free; you pay for them through your tuition and fees. But that only gives you more reason to hit up campus health services for flu shots or counseling, go to the administration office in search of discount (or perhaps even free) city transit passes, and of course, visit the financial aid office to make sure you’re not missing any opportunities to save money or at get the financial assistance you need to stay in school and complete your degree. It doesn’t matter if your parents have money or you’re paying for everything on your own – you could be eligible for financial aid. But you’ll never know what kind of assistance you qualify for if you don’t go through the process. So you’ll definitely want to make the most of the services offered through the financial aid office.
But how do you go about doing that? The first thing you’ll want to do is locate the financial aid office (ask other students, look on a campus map, or inquire at the admissions office). From there you can stop in to pick up pamphlets containing general information, such as FAFSA forms and printouts pertaining to scholarships, grants, and loan programs available through the campus. But you don’t have to go it alone when there is help to be had. So while you’re there, take the time to schedule an appointment with a staff member dedicated to answering your questions and helping to ensure that you get every opportunity to receive the financial aid you’re due.
It’s a good idea to show up for your session with some questions in mind. You’ll certainly want to find out more about scholarships and loans offered through the campus, including whether or not you qualify for them. In some cases this will depend on your FAFSA filing, which will determine how much money your family (or you, if you’re independent) is required to pay towards your education. But your shot at scholarships, grants, and other funds may also be linked to your major, your grades, or a variety of other factors. Financial aid counselors can help you to determine which types of funding you’re eligible for and also make sure that you get the right paperwork filled out and filed, that you are aware of deadlines, and that everything necessary to expedite the process is handled accordingly.
The only way you’re ever going to learn more about the financial aid process is by doing research and asking questions, but you might not even know what you’re looking for. This is where a counselor from your college’s financial aid office can help. So rather than reinventing the wheel, wasting your time and raising your frustration level in the process, you may as well take advantage of the resources offered on campus. After all, you’re paying for the privilege whether you use these services or not.
Category: Education
