Uncovering the secrets of financial aid

There is one thing that every college student around the world always needs. Money. But for many students, the process of getting financial aid can be very confusing.

One reason for the confusion over financial aid is lack of information. Laurie Franklin, the Director of Student Financial Services, said the hardest thing she faces is getting information out to students. E-mails are sent out to students through the EvCC e-mail addresses, but very few students ever check those e-mails, said Franklin. The e-mails include due dates, information on how to get help, and scholarship information.

When filling out a FAFSA, students need to focus on the list of colleges that they want all of their information to be sent to. While this may seem like common sense, it is worth noting that only the colleges listed will get a student’s financial aid information. Therefore it is crucial for every student to list all of the colleges they might even consider attending, for they want to make sure that the college they end up choosing will have their FAFSA information.

A very common misconception about financial aid is that you must attend college full time to receive financial aid. According to Franklin, you must only take at least 6 credits to be available for financial aid. If you wish to only take 6 credits, however, it must be submitted in writing to the Financial Aid Office at the beginning of the quarter.

Many students believe that if they do not go full time, they will receive far less financial aid, and will not get as much help. However, aid through loans and work study remains the same. It is only the amount of grants awarded that changes according to how much tuition you have, and the tuition difference between 6 and 12 credits is substantial. Since you would be spending far less money on tuition, it follows that you would get less money for grants, but it decreases proportionally. Therefore, it would not be harmful to take less than full time credits.

Another thing that many students know very little about is work study. Work study is offered for both on and off campus jobs, said Franklin. Financial aid pays for a very high percentage of the student’s paycheck, therefore many places are very willing to permit a work study student. Another thing about work study that is very beneficial to students, is that the wages will not count against you for the next year’s FAFSA like a normal job would. Also, it is very easy to look into work study as a student with financial aid. All you have to do is tell the Student Employment Referral Center what kind of job you are looking for, and they will make the contact for you, said Franklin. Many students have found work study in law firms and even medical facilities.

One more thing that students may not realize is an option, is the ability to make an appeal. According to Franklin, if students do not receive financial aid, or do not agree with the aid they were awarded, they can submit an appeal. Many students have stories and explanations that the Financial Aid Office is very willing to hear. Franklin believes that almost 80% of appeals are approved if students have a good reason and explanation for their appeal.

The maximum number of credits offered under financial aid is 150% of the amount of credits the students must complete to get their degree or certification. This means that for students seeking an Associate degree, financial aid will cover 135 credits, because most
Associate degrees require 90 credits for completion. Therefore, the number of credits from other colleges students have attended is reviewed, to make sure that they do not have more than 135 credits already. This policy was put into place because so many students were taking classes with financial aid, then dropping out, and then taking more classes, that it was wasting millions of dollars that could have been used to help students who really wanted to get an education. However, as previously stated, appeals can be made, because sometimes there are situations where a student may have too many credits at another school, and it is worth it to talk to the Financial Aid Office to see if you are still available for aid.

Franklin said that financial services has a very large problem with students not even applying for financial aid, often because they are afraid to contact financial services and ask questions. Laurie Franklin wants students to know that “we are here for one purpose, to be part of the success of students,” and she encourages students to stop by the Financial Aid Office to ask any questions they have, and to e-mail any suggestions they have to her at lfranklin@everettcc.edu.