Now that most applications are in, financial aid is next! Check out these 

7 Common Myths about Financial Aid

College application deadlines are fast approaching and you may be wondering if you can even afford to go to college. What you might not know is that the federal government provides almost $150 billion a year to help students just like you pay for college. Right now, you’re probably thinking of all of the reasons why you won’t qualify for financial aid. Please don’t waste your time worrying- you could be using this time to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). Here are some common myths about financial aid that you shouldn’t believe.

Myth #1: My family makes too much money for me to qualify for aid.

There is no income cut-off for federal student aid. Your eligibility for financial aid is based on a number of factors and not just your income. Plus, many states and schools use your FAFSA data to determine your eligibility for their aid. If you’re not sure what you will get, the best way to know for sure is to complete the application!

Myth #2: I need to file taxes before completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or (FAFSA).

You can use estimated information on your FAFSA so you’ll be able to submit it before you file taxes. In fact, many states and schools have financial aid deadlines well before the tax deadline. So completing your FAFSA earlier is a good idea. You might want to base your estimates on last year’s tax return, and once you file your taxes, you can log back in and update the information. You may even be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to automatically import your tax information into your FAFSA. 

Myth #3: The FAFSA is too hard to fill out.

This is a very common misconception, but the FAFSA has come a long way! It’s easier than ever to complete online. The form uses “skip logic,” so you are only asked the questions that are relevant to you. And if you’ve filed your taxes, you can transfer your tax return data into your FAFSA automatically. As a result of improvements like these, the average time to complete the FAFSA is now less than 21 minutes. If you do get stuck, help is available by Web chat, e-mail and phone.

Myth #4: My grades aren’t good enough for me to get aid.

Eligibility for most federal student aid programs is not linked to your academic performance. However, you will need to maintain grades that your school considers satisfactory in order to continue receiving financial aid. 

Myth #5: My ethnicity or age makes me ineligible for aid.

There are basic eligibility requirements, but ethnicity and age are not considered.

Myth #6: I support myself, so I don’t have to include parent info on the FAFSA.This is not necessarily true. Even if you support yourself and file taxes on your own, you may still be considered a dependent student for federal student aid purposes. You can determine your dependency status by answering these questions. If you are independent, you won’t need to include your parents’ information on your FAFSA. But if you are dependent, you must provide your parents’ information.

Myth #7: I already completed the FAFSA so I don’t need to complete it again.You need to complete the FAFSA every year you plan to attend college or career school. Don’t worry; it will be even easier the second or third time around since a lot of your information will be pre-populated on the application.

Millions of students complete the FAFSA each year and receive financial aid to help pay for college. Don’t let these myths stop you from achieving your goals. Take the first step by completing the FAFSA at fafsa.gov.

Tara Marini is a communication analyst at the Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid.

From the Guidance and College Counseling Team!!

DUKE University Summer Sessions

http://summersession.duke.edu/high-school-students

High School Student Programs

• Summer College for High School Students (an academic credit program for students currently in grades 10 or 11)
• Summer Academy for High School Students (an academic enrichment program for students currently in grades 9, 10, 11, or 12)

We invite you to imagine yourself at Duke this summer if you are –

• seeking to gain academic credit from renowned Duke faculty or learn to be a Leader and a Global Citizen through personal enrichment courses;
• hoping to spend your summer enjoying residential activities such as ball games, outlet shopping, dances, talent shows, and more;
• excited to prepare for college and create an international network of peers.

Applications for Summer College and Summer Academy will be accepted beginning December 1, 2016, and continuing until each program reaches capacity. Apply early to receive preferred consideration.

In the world of social media, tweets, Facebook, Vine... it’s easy to forget that colleges often keep track of their schools’ social media mentions. Check out this interesting article, posted by the New York Times regarding your college applications...

Your College Counseling Team

They Loved Your G.P.A. Then They Saw Your Tweets.

John-Patrick Thomas

By NATASHA SINGER

At Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Me., admissions officers are still talking about the high school senior who attended a campus information session last year for prospective students. Throughout the presentation, she apparently posted disparaging comments on Twitter about her fellow attendees, repeatedly using a common expletive.

Perhaps she hadn’t realized that colleges keep track of their social media mentions. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/10/business/they-loved-your-gpa-then-they-saw-your-tweets.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

Seton Hall University

win over $50,000 in scholarship!

UN Sustainable Development Challenge  

Do you think about the problems facing society or about the needs of the world? Do you worry about climate change, poverty, equality and overconsumption? Do you want to make a difference?

The United Nations has set 17 sustainable development goals to help end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change by 2030. Seton Hall University's School of Diplomacy & International Relations is challenging high school students to be part of the solution!

Seton Hall University is committed to serving the greater good, which is why we are hosting a Sustainable Development Challenge designed to engage high school students in thinking about the needs of society and the planet - encouraging you to be an agent of change and embrace the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

http://www.shu.edu/un-sustainable-development-challenge.cfm?utm_source=%2Fgo%2Funchallenge&utm_medium=short%20url&utm_campaign=Admissions%20UN%20Sustainable%20Development%20Challenge

 Financial Aid Spotlight

Changes to the 2017-2018 FAFSA

Starting the Fall of 2016:

• ​Students will be able to file for aid beginning Oct. 1—a full three months earlier than previously allowed.
• And for the first time, applicants will use prior-prior year (PPY) tax information when reporting personal and family income.

Previously, the FAFSA used the previous year’s tax data. Beginning in October 2016 (for aid applications for the 2017-18 award year), the White House will allow students to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using prior-prior year (PPY) tax data.

Check out this NEW Video: Applying for Financial Aid Doesn't Have to Be Scary!

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNv7vRmczF4