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Amery High School Guidance Department
ANNOUNCING A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS
AVAILABLE FOR AMERY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND PARENTS
Parents are welcome to go to any workshop regardless of what grade your son/daughter is currently in. All workshops are FREE and will be held at Amery High School. Workshops are given by Heather Eslinger, College Access Advisor. If you have any questions, please contact Karen Ganje or Jeanette Thompson in the High School Guidance office at 715- 268-9771, ext. 218 or ext. 253.
Annual Financial Aid Night for Parents and Students
Completed for 2011 - 2012 school year.
The annual Financial Aid Night takes place in the Amery High School auditorium. The workshop will cover various financial aid topics including: the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), grants and loans, work-study, tax benefits, etc. There will also be a brief question and answer period for parents and students to ask specific questions. Parents of all high school students are invited to attend. This workshop will be delivered Heather Eslinger, College Access Advisor.
Other Financial Aid Nights in this Area:
None available
College Goal Sunday
College Goal Sunday is a national, event that provides free information and assistance to families who are filling out the FAFSA, the federally required form for students seeking financial aid, such as grants and loans. College goal Sunday takes place on February 18, 2012. Our closest location is UW Barron County Rice Lake WI. For more information please log onto www.wicollegegoalsunday.org
One-on-One FAFSA and Financial Aid Advising Sessions
To be announced for 2012-2013 school year.
Not sure where to start with financial aid or need to talk to a financial aid counselor in a private setting? This opportunity is for you! A college access advisor will be available to meet with you and your son/daughter to provide additional assistance on filling out the FAFSA or to answer any questions/concerns you may have regarding financial aid. These sessions will be held in a private room at the high school where you can discuss your questions/concerns in a confidential manner. Please call 715-268 -9771, ext. 253 for an appointment for February 15th or March 14th.
MINNESOTA-WISCONSIN TUITION RECIPROCITY PROGRAM
Wisconsin residents may attend a Minnesota public college or university and pay the reciprocity tuition charged by that institution. All academic programs are eligible except for the professional programs in fields of medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine. A one-time application must be filed when the student begins his or her Minnesota program. These applications are available from the high school guidance office. For more information about reciprocity, contact HEAB ...
Financial Aid
Finding the best college is a dream, but paying for college can be a nightmare.
Check out these tips and tools that can help you navigate through financial aid,
student loans, grants and overall financial planning.
Get a Jump Start!
Parents and students who would like to get a jump start on planning for the costs of college should log on to www.finaid.org/calculators. This web site can help you estimate how much money college will cost through a financial aid calculator. The calculator will estimate how much money you, or your child, will receive in financial aid and loans. The web site has many other valuable resources such as information on designing a savings plan for post secondary education.
College Access and Financial Aid Advising Support Services
An advisor from College Access Support Services is available for AHS students. The advisor is a member of the Great Lakes College Access Advising Team, and they help support schools in preparing students and families for college. This advisor is available to provide information on completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), Financial Aid Workshops for students and families on topics such as financial aid, scholarships, financial aid award letters, college prep for parents, and ACT/SAT test preparation. The advisor is also available to assist students and families one-on-one with financial aid applications and questions. The advisor will be available throughout the school year to help students and families prepare for college! Contact a guidance counselor if you would like to set up a meeting with the advisor.
Know the Financial Aid Deadlines at the College You Plan To Attend!
Be aware of scholarship deadlines and deadlines to file the FAFSA at the college you plan to attend. Filling out the FAFSA is the most essential step in the financial aid process; however, some universities require additional paperwork and have early deadlines.
Beware of College Financial Aid Scams
Have you seen or heard ads that promise to find college scholarships or your money back? Buyer beware! Some Wisconsin families with college bound youngsters have been misled by questionable scholarship search firms. Complaints investigated by the Bureau of Consumer Protection state that for fees up to $400, some search firms claim they will find you a scholarship or refund your money. Students often don't get scholarships or refunds. For example, a University of Wisconsin student sent $199 for what was advertised in a shopping paper as a scholarship guaranteed to be worth at least $1,700. All she received was useless information. "With two different student loans, I couldn't afford to lose that $200", the student said. The University of Wisconsin-Madison financial aid office says it receives numerous complaints from students who have wasted money this way. The problem with scholarship search firms is perpetuated by companies making money by licensing new scholarship search firms. For free accurate scholarship information, check with high school guidance counselors and college financial aid offices. For more information, contact the Division of Consumer Protection at 800-422-7128 or log on to: www.datcp.state.wi.us
FAFSA on the Web
WHAT IS FAFSA ON THE WEB? Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the Web is an Internet based version of the FAFSA. The federal government uses this form to determine your eligibility for aid, which includes grants, scholarships, work-study and loans.
HOW DO I FILL IT OUT? Visit www.fafsa.ed.gov and click "Before Beginning a FAFSA" to get started. If you want a paper copy to use as a guide, use the pre application worksheet, not a paper FAFSA. To download a copy, click "Print a Pre Application Worksheet". Also, print a completed FAFSA for your records! Chick "Print" before you click the "Submit" button at the end of your FAFSA.
CAN I SAVE MY FAFSA ON THE WEB? *Yes! To do so, you must remember the password that you entered at the beginning of your application. If you forget it, you cannot look it up. You will have to start your FAFSA over. *To save your FAFSA application online, click the "Save" button at the bottom of each step. Your info will be saved for 45 days.
WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW? You will be required to provide your signature (and parent's signature if you are a dependent student). There are two different ways to do this: (1) Use your 4-digit PIN (read more on the PIN below) issued by the U.S. Department of Education to electronically sign your FAFSA. (Your parents will also need their own PINs to electronically sign your FAFSA.) (2) Print the signature page, get the required signatures and mail the form to the address listed on your signature page. .
WHAT IS A PIN? The Personal Identification Number (PIN) is the code that the U.S. Department of Education uses to identify you online. A PIN allows you to:
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electronically sign your FAFSA to speed up the process
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check the status of your electronic FAFSA
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make corrections to your personal information online.
Keep your PIN private, as it allows you (or someone else) to electronically sign federal documents and access confidential information.
HOW DO I GET A PIN? Students and parents who are eligible to receive a PIN can visit www.pin.ed.gov and click on "Apply for PIN" at the bottom of the page. You will need to submit your name, date of birth and Social Security number. It takes about three business days to receive your PIN electronically.
Helpful FAFSA Links:
FAFSA on the Web - Pre Application Worksheet: www.fafsa.ed.gov (click "Before Beginning a FAFSA")
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