Seniors, Remember to Complete the F.A.F.S.A.

Apply for Federal Student Aid — Fast track to FAFSA 

Introducing the FAFSA:  Let the Funds Begin

Getting financial aid starts with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA.

By filling it out, you apply for the U.S. Department of Education’s federal student aid programs, the largest source of student aid in America. In many cases, you’re also automatically applying for funds from your state and your school as well.

Who It is for:  See If You Are Eligible

You might be eligible if all of these apply to you:

  • You are a U.S. citizen or eligible non citizen
  • You are a high school graduate or GED holder
  • You are working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program
  • You are not in default on a federal student loan and do not owe money to the government related to other grants or loans

See if you are eligible by reading more here.

What Are The Rules of Etiquette When Meeting a College Admissions Representative?

Are you about to attend a college fair or meet the admissions representative at your school?  Don’t forget the rules of good etiquette.  Just like learning about table manners, proper introductions, and social graces, there are some things you can do to make your experience as successful as possible.cb-2016-17-cvr-only

Begin by introducing yourself to the person behind the table.  A firm handshake and a smile will go a long way. Ask them questions about their school’s admissions policies, academics, and activities if you are one-on-one with the representative. If there is a large group of people at the table, he or she may choose to give an overview of the institutions information to the group.  You may hear the answer to your questions over a 15 minute period and save both you and the representative time and effort.

At a college fair,  you may be asked to fill out an information card, so be sure to do it at that table. Using a neighboring college’s table could cause some hard feelings between representatives.  It will take a few days for information to be sent to you, so please be patient. If you have preregistered for the college fair online, you will receive a bar code that can be used at the machine on the table to scan your personal information such as name, address, and contact information. I have also seen students pre-print labels with this same contact information making the card a snap to complete.  This allows for more time to talk to the representative.

Make a good first impression. This is your chance to show the admissions representative you are interested in learning about their institution. Turn your cell phone off and wait until later to text your friends. Give these representatives your undivided attention. Read on for more rules of college fair etiquette.

Tips for the Scholarship and College Interviews

If the college allows you to have an interview, take them up on that opportunity. It will show them demonstrated interest in their program.  I know you may be nervous, so practice your responses with family members, counselors, or friends before you meet.  Remember to turn off you cell phone before the interview starts.  Arrive on time, greet the admissions representative with a solid handshake and a smile. Remember to maintain eye contact through out your time together. Take a moment to think before you answer your questions, highlight your academic and extracurricular accomplishments, and place a positive focus on your past.  Do your research about the university, share information about your  visit  to their institution if had one, and prepare some questions for your interviewer to answer. Read more to learn more tips for the college interview.

Pay­ing for Col­lege With­out Break­ing the Bank: The Ulti­mate Stu­dent, Par­ents, and Edu­ca­tor Guide to Over 500 Live Links to Finan­cial Aid and Schol­ar­ship Resources

Paying For College CoverDon’t wait…get started with your search now with Pay­ing for Col­lege With­out Break­ing the Bank: The Ulti­mate Stu­dent, Par­ents, and Edu­ca­tor Guide to Over 500 Live Links to Finan­cial Aid and Schol­ar­ship Resources  by Chris­tine M. Hand Gon­za­les, Ed.D.

Pay­ing for Col­lege With­out Break­ing the Bank takes you through the col­lege plan­ning time­line and the finan­cial aid appli­ca­tion process along with addi­tional tips and resources. It will show ways to approach coun­selors, teach­ers, or mod­er­a­tors to request an effec­tive let­ter of rec­om­men­da­tion, and give tips on self-marketing through the schol­ar­ship appli­ca­tion essays. It will help you:

  • Cal­cu­late the actual costs of college
  • Increase your chances of receiv­ing aid
  • Com­pare aid offers and learn how to appeal if needed
  • Plan strate­gi­cally as an inde­pen­dent stu­dent or divorced or sin­gle parent
  • Avoid costly mis­takes when applying
  • Learn tips for com­plet­ing the required fed­eral form, the FAFSA
  • Under­stand the “nuts and bolts” of finan­cial aid, and where to find scholarships
  • Access an exten­sive and incom­pa­ra­ble list of pub­li­ca­tions and Inter­net resource

Avail­able in eBook for $4.99 and paper­back for $9.99! Click here for Ama­zon. Also on BarnesandNoble.com.

Click here for free down­loads Read­ing Apps from Ama­zon for PC, Mac, iPad, and other devices for Kin­dle Ver­sion. Click here for free down­load Read­ing Apps from Barnes and Noble for PC, Mac, iPad and other devices for Nook Version.

Your College Planning Survival Guide: Smart Tips From Students, Parents, and Professionals Who Made It Through

Check it Out! Your College Planning Survival Guide:  Smart Tips From Students, Parents, and Professionals Who Made it Through 

Available as an eBook on Amazon $4.99 or in  Paperback  for $9.99!

In Your College Planning Survival Guide:  Smart Tips From Students, Parents, and Professionals Who Made it Through, professional college planning consultant Christine M. Hand-Gonzales, Ed.D., provides tactical tips and proven techniques to make the most of the career search and college application process through an insightful and well-organized resource guide. Over 300 tips from those individuals that have been there, done that!

Students and parents offered their insights by answering the question; “If you knew then what you know now, what would you have done differently during your college planning process?” As the saying goes, “Hindsight is 20/20!” Read More About Tactical Tips in College Planning – click here!

Completed your FAFSA? Three Things to Do While Waiting for Those Award Letters

Waiting roomToday you are in

“a most useless place.

The Waiting Place . . .

Waiting for the fish to bite  .  . .

or Another chance.

Everyone is just waiting.”1

All your college applications have been turned in.  Your financial aid forms have been submitted.  You are in what Dr. Seuss refers to as “The Waiting Place.” Waiting for the colleges to which you applied to let you know – yes, no or wait listed.

“The Waiting Place” is a great place to stop and acknowledge your accomplishments over the past 4 years.  You have successfully navigated one of the most challenging times of your life so far – high school. And in the 4 months between September and December, you added to your already full plate – multiple college applications and essays, college visits, college interviews on top of all your senior classes and activities. Congratulations, you have much for which to be commended.  And now what should you do now that you’ve submitted your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?

Welcome to “The Waiting Place” Read more- click here.