{"id":981,"date":"2013-11-15T20:24:03","date_gmt":"2013-11-15T20:24:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/184.173.81.185\/~mycareer\/sanjac\/?p=981"},"modified":"2013-11-15T20:24:03","modified_gmt":"2013-11-15T20:24:03","slug":"pay-college-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sanjac.mycareerfocus.org\/fall-2016-volume-1-issue-2\/pay-college-2\/","title":{"rendered":"How to pay for college"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"paycollege\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s face it. Figuring out how to pay for college can be intimidating. With the rising cost of tuition and fees across the country, you may think that the only way you can attend college is to improve your jump shot or win the lottery. Not true! The good news is that there is help out there for students just like you.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t assume that you won\u2019t qualify for financial aid because you or your parents may make too much money, or don\u2019t have high enough grades. Everyone should fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to determine his or her eligibility.<\/p>\n

You do not have to pay for financial aid help \u2013 it is available free at San Jacinto College.<\/div>\n

The FAFSA will help schools decide what financial aid you may qualify for. According to the U.S. Department of Education, every year more than 10 million students are helped through grants, low-interest loans, and work-study programs.<\/p>\n

The first step in understanding the student financial aid and FAFSA process is to understand the different types of aid:<\/p>\n

Grants.<\/b> This type of financial aid awards money to students and does not have to be repaid. There are several different grants available to students and the award amounts differ depending on the grant.<\/p>\n

Federal work-study programs.<\/b> Money is earned while attending school, and does not have to be repaid. Jobs can be on-campus or off-campus, and pay can vary, but there are no minimum or maximum amounts that can be earned.<\/p>\n

Low-interest student loans. <\/b>While this form of financial aid must be repaid, some loans are subsidized by the U.S. Department of Education. That means that the interest will be paid while the borrower is in school and during grace periods. Students must attend school at least half-time to qualify.<\/p>\n

Alternative loans.<\/b> These are available through outside financial institutions, which are not in conjunction with federal programs. Interest rates are variable and borrowers must qualify for the loan based on their credit scores.<\/p>\n

Scholarships.<\/b> In addition to federal aid, there are scholarships available through the San Jacinto College Foundation. For the 2010-11 academic year, the San Jacinto College Foundation helped to facilitate more than $973,000 in scholarships that assisted 1,217 San Jacinto College students.<\/p>\n

The second step is to APPLY! With all of the options out there, applying is a no-brainer, especially because it\u2019s easy and free! All you have to do is fill out the FAFSA form, which is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov, and be sure to enter the San Jacinto College school code 003609. Financial aid specialists at the College are also available to assist you with completing the form.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t let money affect your decision to attend college. San Jacinto College can help you realize your goals. We are committed to helping you succeed!<\/p>\n

Tackling the FAFSA<\/b><\/h1>\n
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  1. Collect documents needed, including income tax returns\u00a0and W-2.<\/li>\n
  2. Get a pin number from www.pin.ed.gov if you plan to file electronically.<\/li>\n
  3. Complete the FAFSA as soon as possible. Apply online by going to www.fafsa.ed.gov<\/a>, or visit www.sanjac.edu for financial aid information.<\/li>\n
  4. Review the Student Aid Report (SAR) sent to you and make changes or corrections as needed.<\/li>\n
  5. The San Jacinto College financial aid office may contact you if you have been selected for verification. If so, submit the appropriate information.<\/li>\n
  6. Make sure the financial aid office at San Jacinto College has all the information they need to determine your eligibility.<\/li>\n
  7. Review award letters from schools to compare aid. Decide which schools to attend based on how well the school suits your needs and its affordability.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    FAFSA Checklist<\/b><\/h1>\n