Starting January 1, you may begin applying for federal financial aid at your post-secondary institution (college, university, vocational school) if they offer federal financial aid. Given my experience working as a financial aid officer, I would like to offer my expertise to anyone who might need it. Please review the information on this page, and if you need any assistance whether it be filling out the FAFSA, comparing financial aid award offers from competing schools, or finding additional funding, please contact me using any of the methods listed under "contact me" above. 

Note:  this page is UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Please check back frequently for changes.

 

 

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is the first step in applying for federal aid from the federal government. Financial aid can come in the form of grants or loans. You lose nothing by filling out the form, and it isn't tied to any one school. You can start filling out the form as early as January 1 of the year you will be attending post-secondary education (college, university, vocational school). There are a lot of websites out there that would like to charge you to help you fill out this form. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PAY TO FILL OUT THE FAFSA!!!! Just follow these easy steps to complete the form online, and if you have any questions, email me, I would be happy to help you out at no charge.

Step 1. Go to www.pin.ed.gov to apply for a PIN. This will become your electronic signature for the FAFSA. If you need parental information on the FAFSA, both you and your parent will need separate PINs. The process is quick and painless! And, IT'S FREE!

Step 2. Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov to start your FAFSA application. If you will be attending college prior to July 1, select the FAFSA that ends this year (i.e., 09-10 for students starting school prior to July 1, 2010). If you are starting school July 1 or later of this year, select the FAFSA that has an ending year of next year (i.e., 10-11 for students starting school on or after July 1, 2010). To complete the FAFSA, you will need your social security card, driver's license (if applicable), and last year's taxes.

Step 3. Answer ALL the questions. If a financial question does not apply to you, answer 0. You do not need to answer any parental questions if you answered yes to ANY questions in Step 3.

Step 4. Make sure you get your confirmation page before you leave the website. You can save your information; however, your FAFSA is not submitted until you see the confirmation page which tells you that you have successfully submitted your FAFSA.

Step 5. Scroll down to the bottom of this page for some helpful FAFSA tips!

Grants

Pell Grant
The Pell Grant is the largest grant offered by the federal government for undergraduate students. If you have a Bachelor's degree, you are not eligible for the Pell Grant. The Pell Grant is based on financial need. Financial need is determined after you complete the FAFSA and is based on your combined income and assets AND the number of people you have in your household.

The following information is good for students STARTING their post-secondary education after July 1, 2009 but before June 30, 2010. The maximum Pell Grant for a full time student (12 or more credits) is $5350; the minimum award for a full time student is $976. The maximum Pell Grant for a 3/4 time student (9 to 11 1/2 credits per semester) is $4013; the minimum award for a 3/4 time student is $854. The maximum Pell Grant for a 1/2 time student (6 to 8 1/2 credits per semester) is $2625; the minimum award is $731. The maximum award for a less than 1/2 time student (less than 6 credits per semester) is $1338; the minimum award is $609.

For students starting their post-secondary education AFTER July 1, 2010 (i.e., those students starting in the fall 2010), the maximum Pell Grant for a full time student (12 or more credits) is $5550.  The minimums and maximus for less than full time students will be published later this spring and will be updated to this website as soon as they are published.

Federal Supplemental Educational Grant (FSEOG)
FSEOG is offered in addition to the Pell, depending on when you apply, your financial need, the funding at the school you are attending, and the policies of the financial aid office at your school. This award is offered to Pell Grant recipients with the lowest estimated family contribution. In other words, students receiving the largest Pell Grants will most likely be eligible for the FSEOG.

The following information is accurate as of January 3, 2010. The minimum FSEOG is $100/year; the maximum award is $4000/year.

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG Award)
The ACG award is one of the newer grants offered through the federal government. Like the Pell Grant, it is based on financial need. In fact, one of the first requirements for this award is that you be eligible for the Pell Grant. In addition, students must be enrolled in a full-time in a degree granting program (many vocational schools do not qualify); be enrolled in the first or second academic year of his or her program of study; have completed a rigorous secondary school (high school) program of study (after January 1, 2006, if a first year student, and after January 1, 2005, if a second year student); if a first year student, not have been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program; and if a second year student, have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale for the first academic year.

The following information is accurate as of January 3, 2010: The ACG award provides $750 for the first year of study and $1300 for the second year. Note: The amount of the ACG, when combined with the Pell Grant, may not exceed the student's total cost of attendance.

National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (SMART Grant)
The SMART Grant could be considered a continuation of the ACG award; however, the requirements are slightly different. First, like the ACG Award, you must be eligible for a Pell Grant. You must also have maintained a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale during your previous years of post-secondary enrollment. Unlike the ACG Award, however, the SMART Grant is awarded to third and fourth year full time college students pursuing a degree in Physical, Life, or Computer Sciences; Math; Technology; Engineering; or a Foreign Language deemed critical to the national security of the United States.

The following information is accurate as of January 3, 2010: For each year of study, the SMART award provides $4000. Note: The amount of the SMART Grant, when combined with a Pell Grant, may not exceed the student's cost of attendance.

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant (TEACH Grant)
The TEACH Grant is the newest financial aid award offered by the federal government. Unlike the previous federal grants, you DO NOT need to have financial need in order to qualify for this award; however, you do still need to complete the FAFSA. In addition, to qualify for this grant, you must be enrolled as an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or graduate student in a post-secondary educational institution that participates in the TEACH Grant program; be enrolled in coursework that is necessary to begin a career in teaching; meet certain academic achievement requirements (generally, scoring above the 75th percentile on college admissions tests or maintaining a cummulative GPA of at least 3.25); and sign a TEACH Grant Agreement which stipulates that you will teach for a minimum of 4 years at a school that serves low-income students or teach in a high need field such as Bilingual Education / English Language acquisition, foreign language, mathematics, reading, science, special education, or another identified teacher shortage area.

The following information is accurate as of January 3, 2010: The TEACH grant provides up to $4000 for each year of study. Please see the Federal Student Aid TEACH fact sheet for more information.

Loans

Federal Loans
Federal Loans are perhaps the easiest loans to get. They are guaranteed regardless of your credit history, offer relatively low interest rates, and allow you to defer payment until after graduation or at least until after you withdraw from your program or become a half time student.  Keep in mind, this is financial aid you DO have to pay back. 

  • Federally Subsidized Stafford Loans:  With a subsidized loan, the government is paying the interest on your loan while you're in school.  In other words, while interest is being earned on the loan, the student is not responsible for that interest while he/she is at least a half-time student.  The amount of this loan for which a student is eligible is determined by financial need, dependency status, and grade level.  There is also a maximum or "aggregate" amount that a student may have outstanding at any one time.
  • Federally Unsubsidized Stafford Loans:  Unlike federally subsidized Stafford loans, the unsubsidized loan's interest is NOT being paid by the government; however, it is the student's option whether he or she chooses to pay that interest while in school or after graduation.  The amount of this loan for which a student is eligible is determined by dependency status and grade level.  Financial need is not a factor in determining eligibility for the unsubsidized Stafford loan; however, a completed FAFSA is still needed to qualify for this loan.

The chart below, taken from Studentaid.ed.gov explains eligibility requirements and amounts based on grade level and dependency status:

Recommendations from Linkedin.com . . .

“I met Deborah in 2005 shortly after she started at the Brian Utting School of Massage (BUSM). Deborah showed a deep commitment to the students; she acted on their behalf with the understanding that her ability to help them contributed to their successful completion of their program. This required her to be knowledgeable of several different federal aid programs and the policies and regulations for each. I enjoyed working with Deborah and being her account manager. She will be an excellent addition to any team that focuses on customer satisfaction.” January 5, 2009

JaCinda Barnes, NELA Services Account Manager, Sallie Mae

“In the several years I worked with Deborah, I found her to always be professional, good-humored and dedicated to the students she serves. Her abilty to problem solve, intellectual capacity to analyze intricate issues and willingness to take on tough challenges in order to assist her students has always been of the highest caliber. She would be an asset to any organization.” December 8, 2008

Thyra DeHaven, AVP/Market Manager, Student Banking , U.S. Bank 

“Deborah is a dedicated, skilled, and thoughtful employee. Her desire to excel in the tasks assigned were demonstrated by the way she tackled and improved processes within our data entry department. She completed assignments in a timely manner, and was always available to assist others when her duties were complete. Deborah demonstrated a willingness to constantly improve professionally, and I was thoroughly impressed with her ability to face challenges head-on. Deborah is consistent, detailed, and has keen analytical skills needed in an ever changing face paced office envioronment. I found her to have excellent computer, and technological skills, and if she didn't know how to do something she didn't resist to learn. She is organized, and keeps an order of clerical office processes. Deborah also was very instumental in helping develop diversity awareness, and her thorough Spanish speaking skills filled a welcomed need in our office and to the public we served. I found that I could rely on Deborah to get special projects completed. Her creative mind could always find faster ways to get things done. I recommend, without hesitation, Debroah Webb-Halasz to any organization wishing to employ her. I believe you will find her to be a genuine, kind, and enjoyable employee who strives to put one-hundred percent of herself into her work everyday. Sincerely, Christina Linton Former Supervisor” December 10, 2007

Christina Linton , Financial Aid Counselor, Chico State University
 
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