A Great “Opportunity”

Have you seen the new Opportunities: 2012-13 Virginia Guide to Education After High School?
 
This easy-to-read guidebook highlights all of the financial aid programs funded by the state of Virginia. It explains what types of financial aid are available and the eligibility requirements for state programs.

Video About Federal Aid

Video About Federal Aid

See why students are going to college and how federal student aid can help.

Secrets from the Inside – SCHEV

We continue our series with an interview with Lee Andes, SCHEV’s Assistant Director for Financial Aid.

What do you like most about your job duties at SCHEV?

I really enjoy the opportunity to work on both sides of financial aid… the policy side with other state officials, but also interacting directly with schools, parents, and students.

What is the single most important piece of financial aid information you think students should know?

Be very careful about meeting the FAFSA deadline.  Every college could have a separate date and if you miss their deadline, it will severely impact your eligibility for most forms of need-based aid, especially state and institutional grants and scholarships.  Know your college’s FAFSA deadline!

What is the most common financial aid mistake you see, and how can students and their families keep from falling into that trap?

Prospective students are given an enormous amount of information to read and understand, so too often they miss critical information about their financial aid.  Their initial award letter gives them more directions and dates to watch.  I encourage every student to read their financial aid award letter CAREFULLY.  Mark any deadlines and additional steps on a calendar that you look at every day… whether that be on the refrigerator door or a calendar app on your phone. 

What is the most creative cost-saving method you’ve heard about from students?

The online purchase of books is rapidly gaining popularity, and many professors are beginning to post “required book” lists earlier in the summer.  I encourage students to get those lists and then look for cost-efficient ways to obtain the books they need.  If the book was required last year, look for on-campus postings of students selling used books.

What is your favorite cartoon character and why?

Wile E. Coyote. I admire his persistence… no matter what happens, he never, ever, ever gives up.  Never.

Good News for Virginia Undergrads

Council Chair Gil Bland joined Governor McDonnell at a press conference last week to announce the lowest tuition and fee increases in a decade for Virginians attending any of the Commonwealth’s stellar public colleges and universities. Visit wamu.org to hear an audio clip of Mr. Bland’s announcement.

A Passport to the Privates: Virginia Private College Week 2012

Virginia Private College Week will take place July 30 – August 4, 2012. During this annual event, 25 institutions from the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV) will host two daily programs for rising juniors (Class of 2014) and seniors (Class of 2013) and their families. These programs include campus tours, financial aid and admissions workshops, and curriculum/program overviews. Prospective transfer students are also invited.

Visiting campuses in person is one of the most important steps in deciding which college is right for you. To encourage students to visit now, the CICV will grant three application fee waivers to students who visit three participating institutions during the week and get their special college passport stamped.

For more information about the institutions participating in the 2012 Virginia Private College Week, visit http://www.cicv.org/data/files/2012_virginia_private_college_week_brochure.pdf.

Dazed and Confused?

Think your financial aid award letter was confusing? You aren’t alone. This recent article from Inside Higher Ed describes how complaints that award notifications are too confusing and difficult to compare has reignited debates about whether colleges should be required to standardize such letters.

FastWeb Insider Secrets with Mark Kantrowitz

Mark Kantrowitz discusses financial aid myths in this great video from FastWeb.