Now it’s time to help get them HERE!
KASFAA
You’ve worked
hard to get
them HERE…
High School
Counselor
Training
2015
KASFAA Crew
Lois Madsen
Director of Student Financial Planning
Kansas Wesleyan University
Suzette Knoettgen
Director of Financial Aid
Cloud County Community College
Angie Zeorlin
Assistant Director for Scholarships
Wichita State University
What Makes Up a Cost of Attendance?
• Five Primary Components:
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
Tuition & Fees
Room & Board
Books & Supplies
Personal Expenses
Transportation Expenses
• Consists of Direct and Indirect costs
▫ Direct – owed to the institution
 Focus on these
▫ Indirect – personal out-of-pocket
What Determines Need?
What’s Out There for Students?
• Pell Grants – Based on EFC
▫ Automatic with eligibility
▫ Range from $290 to $5,775 for 2015-2016
• FSEOG
▫ Supplemental grant for the neediest of students
▫ Based on availability
• TEACH Grant
▫ For those planning to teach in high-need fields
▫ Agreement to Serve
• Kansas Comprehensive Grant
▫ Determined by the KS Legislators
▫ Available at 4-year Colleges & Universities
▫ Based on availability
What’s Out There . . .(continued)
• Federal Work Study
▫ Federal dollars paid in exchange for part-time
employment in designated jobs
▫ School comes first
• Federal Direct Loans
▫ Subsidized
▫ Unsubsidized
▫ Parent/Grad PLUS Loans
• Private/Alternative Loans
▫ Exhaust federal aid options first
Now - How Do I GET It?
• FAFSA – FREE Application for Federal Student Aid
www.fafsa.gov
New Timeline for Filing the FAFSA!
Use 2015
Income
• 2016-2017 FAFSA – Available January 1, 2016
Use 2015
Income AGAIN
• 2017-2018 FAFSA – Available October 2016
▫ Possibly know the complete aid package as early as the
FALL semester
 plenty of time to make college decisions
▫ Prior-prior year data helps avoid costly delays
▫ Especially by using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT)
Can You Help Me Fill It Out?
• Recurring issues with the
student demographic
section:
▫ Students must use their
LEGAL name
▫ I don’t think I have a Social
Security Number?
▫ Why does it ask my gender?
 Selective service
Can You Help Me Fill It Out?
• Recurring issues with the
student eligibility section:
▫ Citizenship
 US Citizens will have an SSN
tied to their legal name
 Eligible Non-Citizens will have
both an SSN & Alien
Registration Number
▫ Grade Level
 Not Graduate Students or
Seniors
▫ Degree they are seeking
 Associate, Bachelor before
Master’s or PhD
▫ Foster Care
Can You Help Me Fill It Out?
• Students can select up to
10 colleges to receive their
FAFSA results
• Housing Questions
▫ Helps to determine Cost of
Attendance
 At Home with Parents
 On-Campus
 Off-Campus
▫ You can change your mind
Can You Help Me Fill It Out?
Dependent or Independent; That is the question
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Born before Jan. 1, 1993
Veteran
Active duty - military
Married
Children or other
dependents
Both parents deceased
Foster care past age 13
•
•
•
•
•
Dependent/ward of court
past age 13
Legal guardianship
Emancipated minor
Homeless or at risk of
homelessness
Graduate student
• If the answer to all is NO – they’re Dependent
• If the answer to ANY is YES – they’re Independent
Can You Help Me Fill It Out?
• Who is my parent when it comes to the FAFSA?
▫ If parents are living together, regardless of marital
status, include their combined financial information
 This includes same-sex partners
▫ If parents are divorced or separated, include the
financial information for the parent you lived with
more during the past 12 months. If that parent is
remarried, you must include your stepparent’s
financial information.
Grandparents, foster parents, and legal
guardians are NOT considered parents
unless they legally adopted you
Can You Help Me Fill It Out?
• What information do I need to have with me to
complete the FAFSA?
▫ Taxes, Income information, benefit summaries
▫ Asset information
 NOT 401(k) or IRA balances
 NOT the value of your primary residence
▫ Untaxed income such as child support received
IRS Data Retrieval Tool
• Real-time request in the FAFSA to import IRS tax data
▫ Important! Don’t change IRS transferred data
▫ Reduces documents requested later
• IRS DRT will not work for families who:
▫ File an amended tax return
▫ Do not have a Social Security Number
▫ Are married but file taxes separately
Frequent FAFSA Errors
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Social Security numbers
Divorced/remarried parental information
Income earned by parents/stepparents
Untaxed income
U.S. income taxes paid
Household size
Number of household members in college
Real Estate and investment net worth
What assets to include
Make corrections online at www.fafsa.gov
or on the paper Student Aid Report
One Last Thing . . .
FSA ID: Replaced the PIN
• The FSA ID (username and
password) now replaces the
PIN for students, parents and
borrowers accessing FSA
systems.
▫ www.fsaid.ed.gov
• The FSA ID
▫ Provides more secure access to
user’s information
▫ Links to PIN information during
registration
▫ Offers self–service capability
(name change)
Each FSA ID Requires a Different E-mail Address
FSA ID General Information
• What happens for new users?
▫ Registration requests same required information as PIN
▫ New users will be directed to the registration page to create an
FSA ID (username and password) similar to today’s PIN creation
page
• What happens if I have a PIN already?
▫ During account creation, user will be asked for their PIN.
▫ As long as the PIN information matches their other information,
the account will be linked to the FSA ID account
• Will the changes affect a user’s ability to access previous
FAFSA submissions?
▫ If the user links their PIN, they will have access to previous
FAFSA submissions
What Happens After I File?
• A summary of your application is created for your
review & sent to your selected schools electronically
▫ Summary is called a Student Aid Report (SAR)
▫ Students with FSA IDs may view SAR online at
www.fafsa.gov
• If schools require further information or
documentation, they will contact the student directly
▫ Make sure students know how each school
communicates with them
• Watch for award notifications
How Do Scholarships Work?
• Scholarships are considered “gift aid” similar to
grants
▫ Some have restrictions on what they will pay
 Direct costs only?
 Are there enrollment restrictions?
▫ They come from multiple sources




Institutions
Organizations
Employers
The list is growing every day
Where Do I Find Them?
• Institutions
▫ Is there an application?
 Are there MULTIPLE applications?
▫ When do I apply?
 What is the deadline?
▫ Is it based on Merit or Need?
 What do they need to determine eligibility?
▫ Does it require follow-up?
▫ Is it renewable?
 What are the requirements for renewal?
Where Do I Find Them?
Kansas Board of Regents
http://kansasregents.org/students/student_financial_aid/scholarships_and_grants
Kansas State Programs
Kansas State Scholarship
• Available to public, independent 4-yr institutions &
community colleges

Need & merit-based; full-time enrollment required

Kansas Scholars Curriculum (KSC) Completion required

Must file FAFSA and state application

$1,000 maximum award
Kansas State Programs
Kansas Ethnic Minority Scholarship
• Available to public, independent 4-yr institutions &
community colleges

Need & merit-based; full-time enrollment required

Must file FAFSA & state application

$1,850 maximum award
Kansas State Programs
Career Technical Workforce Grant
(formerly the Kansas Vocational Scholarship)
• Available to technical schools & colleges, community
colleges and state universities w/technical programs




Awarded to students enrolled in high demand/critical
industry programs of study. Priority to given to those with
financial need. There is no longer a test given.
New award amount: $1,000
Available to part-time and full-time students; award
amount pro-rated based on enrollment hours
Must file FAFSA and state application
Kansas State Programs
Kansas Career Work Study Program
• Available to public 4-yr institutions


Need-based; FAFSA required; students may be enrolled
either part-time or full-time; application process takes
place at the institution
Students work in career-related occupations offcampus
Kansas State Programs
Military Service Scholarship (FY 08)
• Available to 4-yr public institutions, community colleges,
& technical colleges.



Tuition assistance for those who have served in
international waters or on foreign soil in support of military
operations for at least 90 days. Must provide
documentation (i.e. DD-214 or active duty orders) that they
have been in a military operation for which they received
hostile fire pay.
Maximum award amount – tuition & required fees, subject
to appropriations.
Need-based; must file FAFSA & state application; may be
enrolled either part-time or full-time.
Kansas State Programs
Kansas Teacher Service Scholarship
• Available to public, independent 4-yr institutions & community
colleges







Merit-based/competitive
State application required
Students may be enrolled either part-time or full-time; enrolled in
coursework leading to a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a hard-to-fill
teaching discipline
Upper class undergraduate students & current teachers given priority
Must plan to work in hard-to-fill discipline or underserved geographic
area of the state
Service obligation – 1 yr of service for 1 yr of scholarship
$5,514 maximum award for AY 2015-16 (award increased each year
based on CPI). Award amount prorated based on the number of
hours enrolled
Kansas State Programs
Kansas Nursing Service Scholarship
• Available to public, independent 4-yr institutions,
community college & technical schools/colleges

Need-based; full-time enrollment required

Students must acquire a sponsor

State application required


Service obligation – 1 yr of service for 1 yr of
scholarship
$3,500 for RN/$2,500 for LPN maximum awards
Kansas State Programs
National Guard Educational Assistance Program
• Available to public & independent 4-yr institutions,
community colleges, & technical colleges

Students must be enrolled full-time

Must file state application

Service obligation – student agrees to complete their
current military service obligation, plus three months
service for each semester of assistance received
Kansas State Programs
ROTC Tuition Waiver
• Available to participating public 4-yr institutions

Recipients are selected at the institution (separate
application required)

Students must be enrolled full-time

Maximum award up to 70% cost of attendance

Service obligation – after completion of degree student
must become commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and
serve for not less than 4 yrs. as a commissioned officer
with the Kansas Army National Guard
Kansas State Programs
Fee Waiver Programs
• Dependents & Spouses of Deceased Public Safety Officers: Available to
students who have lost a parent or spouse in the line of duty (includes
law enforcement officers, firefighters, & emergency medical services
attendants)
• Dependents & Spouses of Deceased Military Personnel: Available to
students who have lost a parent or spouse on or after 9/11/01 while in
active duty military service
• Former Prisoners of War: Available to former prisoners of war –
includes individuals who, while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, were
declared a POW by the U.S. Secretary of Defense after January 1, 1960



Available at state regents 4-yr institutions, community colleges, technical
schools & colleges & Washburn University
Students may be enrolled either part-time or full-time
Maximum amount of award up to required tuition & fees, not to exceed 10
semesters of undergraduate instruction
Where Do I Find Them?
• Outside Sources
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
High Schools
Employers
Churches
Local Community Organizations
Professional Organizations
Web Searches
 Over 32 million options so refine searches
Where Do I Find Them?
• Outside Sources
▫ Web Searches









Over 32 million options so refine searches
www.fastweb.com
www.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search
www.scholarshipexperts.com
www.scholarships.com
https://www.salliemae.com/plan-for-college/scholarships/
www.hispanicfund.org
www.uncf.org
www.chegg.com
How Do I Know They’re Safe?
• Basic Web Evaluation Tools
▫ Read everything before you submit an application
▫ Check the site for a physical addresses
 Use Google Maps to locate the address listed
▫ Search Better Business Bureau
 BBB.org
▫ Check for additional requirements




Do you have to “Like” them on Facebook?
Do you have to link their site on a blog?
Is it based, even partially, on how many others like your entry?
Are they just looking for students to build them free advertising?
Scholarship Scams
• Avoidance Tips
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
Be cautious with anything that requires a fee
Avoid giving non-relevant personal information
Be wary of any “Guaranteed” scholarships
“Free” seminars with an up-sell
Never give out bank/credit card account numbers!
Avoid interviews in hotels or restaurants
If it’s too good to be true – it probably is
www.finaid.org/scholarships/scams.phtml
I Have My Offer! What Now?
• Look it over closely. What is included?
▫ Scholarships?
 What percent of the costs does it REALLY pay for?
 Is it renewable?
 What will it take to keep it?
▫ Work Study?
 Is it an estimate?
 Will it apply to your bill or is it paid directly?
▫ Loans?
 What types?
 How much do I really need?
 What are the terms, i.e. interest rates, grace period?
I Have My Offer! What Now?
Make decisions and
Communicate choices
▫ Are there deadlines
for acceptance?
▫ Is acceptance a
binding agreement?
▫ Confused??
ASK QUESTIONS
Aren’t Student Loans a Bad Thing?
• Myth: Students borrow over $100,000
▫ Only 4% of individuals with outstanding student debt
owe $100,000 or more.
▫ Most had pursued advanced degrees!
• Myth: There’s no way I will be able to repay them
▫ There are SIX different repayment plans available;
3 are income-driven
▫ Some fields even have forgiveness options
What If My Finances Change?
Talk to the Financial Aid Office!!
Some circumstances can be reviewed under a process
called Professional Judgment. Some examples include:
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
Change in employment status
Unusual medical expenses not covered by insurance
Change in parent marital status
Unusual dependent care expenses
Student cannot obtain parental information
Parent enrolled in college
A New Key to Unlocking Your Student’s Future:
Financial Literacy
• Financial literacy is a new key to add when
counseling students about their postsecondary
education
Financial Literacy
• The average person makes 6-10 monetary decisions
each day
Financial Literacy
• Some decisions being made by students are
unguided because they don’t understand the
importance of personal finance
Financial Literacy
Let’s look at the 1.8 million current graduating college seniors &
walk through what happens when they don’t understand the
impact of financial decisions.
Three million students enroll in some form of higher education each year
Meet Jeremy
• 22 year old English Major
▫ $25,000 in student debt
▫ $4,000 in credit card debt
Jeremy’s Future
• If he’s lucky, he’ll make
$35,000/yr in his first job
▫ $2,300/month take-home pay
• Jeremy will make 4 decisions
that will impact his life for
years to come . . .
Decision #1
Not Making a Budget
• He feels he doesn’t have enough so why bother
Recommended Spending
Actual Spending
11%
20%
50%
30%
Essentials
Essentials
Lifestyle
Future
Lifestyle
26%
63%
Future
Decision #2
Moving to the “Big City”
• That’s where things happen, right?
Everyone’s in debt.
Why should I be
worried about it?
Isn’t that Normal?
▫ $1,200/month for rent; almost half his income
▫ Pays only minimum payments on his other
obligations & misses a few payments
Decision #3
No Emergency Funds
• If Jeremy runs into trouble, He’ll
have to rely on credit cards
▫ He’s already making only minimum
payments
Decision #4
Not Negotiating His Salary
• He’s so thankful for his job, he doesn’t want to
take the risk of talking money with his Boss.
44000
42000
40000
Actual Salary
38000
36000
Potential
Salary
34000
32000
30000
2013 2014 2015 2016
Jeremy 15 Year Later
$10,000
in student
loan debt
No 529
plans
Less than
$10,000
in IRA
$20,000 in
credit
card debt
Credit
Score: 570
Let’s Pause for a Second . . .
• What’s the NATIONAL impact of Jeremy’s story?
• Jeremy’s story is the same as millions of students in
America today so let’s multiply Jeremy by 1 million
• How about TEN’s of millions
Students lack
an adequate
understandin
g of basic
financial
principals
53% of
students at
public
institutions
drop out.
7.2% of
students drop
out of college
due to debt
and/or
financial
pressure
Our students
MUST begin
with the END
in mind!
Average
incoming
freshman has
3- 4 credit
cards before
starting
college
18 – 24 age
bracket spend
nearly 30% of
their income on
debt repayment
– 10% is
recommended
Average
college
student
graduates
with $24,301
in student
loan debt
My College Money Plan
A Place to Start
• http://mycollegemoneyplan.org
How Does mycollegemoneyplan Work?
How Does mycollegemoneyplan Work?
• Create worksheets to create financial plans to go
along with College selections
▫ Can be used for group presentations or one-on-one
counseling sessions
College Financial Plan
College Search Plan
How Does mycollegemoneyplan Work?
• Engages the students in the College selection process
while helping them to understand the costs
How Can We Help?
• Continuously look for “teachable moments”. There is
no right way to teach students about money
• Find ways to reach them to teach them
• Network with financial education providers &
counselors to share information & best practices
Inspire the Desire!
Financial Literacy is Key
Bridge the Gap!
Financial Aid Resources
• Updated College Scorecard:
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
What Can I Find There?
And Much, Much more . . .
Financial Aid Resources
• http://www.kasfaa.org/
Financial Aid Resources
• www.studentaid.ed.gov
Financial Aid Resources
• www.nasfaa.org/students_parents_counselors
Financial Aid Resources
• http://www.finaid.org/educators/
Financial Aid Resources
• FAFSA4caster
https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?execution=e2s1
New & Coming to a Town Near You!
• When College Goal Sunday events appeared in 1999
▫ the internet was a mere baby
▫ dial up modems were the only way to access the
internet
▫ @aol.com was the dominant email address tag
▫ And the FAFSA was still a paper form
Times Have Changed!
• So we are changing College Goal Sunday to reflect
the current times
▫ It is no longer called College Goal Sunday, it’s
referred to as “FAFSA Completion”
▫ We’re calling Kansas’ version…
KASFAA FAFSA
Completion Campaign
2016
(say that three times fast!!)
What Does This Mean for You and
the Families You Serve?
▫ There will no longer be just one date in February
designated as College Goal Sunday
▫ There will be many events happening all over the
state at a time convenient for your students
▫ Financial Aid Workshops/Nights are now
FAFSA Completion events!!
What Does This Mean for You and
the Families You Serve?
• If you currently have financial aid workshops/nights
for your students and families – Don’t Stop!
▫ Events don’t have to take place on your campus, they
can take place anywhere
▫ We encourage you to have some hands-on time with
the computer during these events
• If you currently don’t have an event – you can reach
out to the nearest college or university and get an
event scheduled.
Can I Get Help?
• OF COURSE!
▫ We will have a new website, KSFAFSA.org, that will list
FAFSA Completion events and resources for both
students and families
FAFSA Completion Campaign for the Future
As we start down a new path of FAFSA Completion,
each year we will add to our efforts and it will get
better and better. Changes in the filing times for the
FAFSA next year will have a positive impact our FAFSA
Completion Campaign.
Thank you to all for your efforts to get the word out to
your students/families about financial aid and filing
the FAFSA!!
If you have any questions, please contact:
Linda Oldham Burns at loldhamburns@ksbor.org or 785.296.3518
Future of H.S. Counselor F.A. Workshops
• Possibilities
▫ Fewer Locations
▫ Pre-recorded Webinars or Live Streaming
▫ KASFAA Conferences – October & April
 Meet KASFAA Personnel Face-to-Face
Your Input on the Evaluation Matters!
H.S. Counselor Workshop Evaluation
• When would you attend a workshop?
▫ Fall or Spring
• How far will your district allow you to travel?
• What professional organizations do you belong to?
▫ Maybe we can partner with them
• Would CEUs for these workshops benefit you?
▫ Would you be willing to pay for CEUs?
• Would you attend in person at a KASFAA conference?
▫ This will create larger groups & more opportunities to
interact with schools outside your region
• If you could not attend a conference, would you
participate in a live stream of the conference?
▫ Would you rather just have a webinar you can pull up at
any time?
Financial Aid professionals are here to help both you
AND the students you serve.
We are just a phone call or e-mail away.
KASFAA: Helping to Make a Difference One Student at a Time