PLANNIN G<=:. It Pays To Apply For College Aid (NAPSA)—Thecost ofcollege is going up, and has been for years. But college-bound students shouldn’t assumethat their family will have to pay for everything. They may qualify for scholarships and loans based on financial need. That’s one of the messages of the Guide to Getting Financial Aid, a new book published by the College Board. “Every year, thousands of fami- lies miss out on grants, scholar- ships and low-interest loans because they don’t apply for student financial aid,” says Jack Joyce, the Board’s director of col- lege-planning services and one of the contributors to the book. “In many cases, parents assume that they earn too much to qualify for aid, but they’re often wrong. Since it costs nothing to apply for federal aid, it’s better to apply andfind out for sure.” Fiesta) = Yes, you can afford college —we show you how Easy, step-by-step Loustructions for applying for college aid * Find scholarshipa and other aid at more than 3,000 colleges, universities, and technical schools @ ON AVERAGE, Students attending private colleges only pay one-half of a school’s “sticker price.” The rest is usually made up in scholarships, grants and loans. The Guide to Getting Financial Aid offers dozens of other tips and “Students shouldn’t let cost dis- leges award aid after a “priority may makeupthedifference.” This can be confusing, because the financial aid, almost every family strategies for families, including: e Apply on time. Most coldate” in February or early March. application forms are based on the family’s tax returns. But waiting until April 15th to submit the financial aid forms can mean missing out on opportunity. e If in doubt, contact the colleges. If you have questions at any point in the process, don’t courage them from applying to any school they’re interested in,” says Joyce, “because financial aid e It pays to save. Even with will be expected to pay something to support its child’s education. College savings can make it much easier to meet this “expected family contribution,” as it’s called by the financial aid officers who distribute federal funds. More information about college hesitate to contact the colleges to financial aid can be found on the “sticker price” for a private college may be twice as high as a public university, but these schools also board.com. which you're applying foraid. e Private schools cost more but also award more aid. The award much more financial aid. federal student aid Web site, www.studentaid.gov, and the College Board Web site, www.college The Guide to Getting Financial Aid can be found wherever books are sold.
