PORTFOLIOS The Portfolio is a student's history of their high school career (grades 9-12) as they would like it told to employers, schools or scholarship review committees. The portfolio can be worked on throughout high school and is submitted in the senior year to the high school's career resource advisor. At a minimum, it should include the materials listed in the packet. New information and documentation may be added to the portfolio at any time during your senior year. Go to www.asdk12.org/CRC/ for forms and instructions on completing your Portfolio. Seniors should submit completed Portfolios to Ms. Young in the Career Resource Center by January 29, 2010.
CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE has comprehensive information on how to apply for private sources of financial aid. Many scholarships and colleges use the CSS Profile (look online for a complete list of schools). The URL for PROFILE Online is www.collegeboard.com. Students should click on the CSS/PROFILE link under “Pay for College.” You can find guides for the 2009-2010 Profile in the Career Resource Center and can complete your personalized profile online beginning October 1.
MeritAid is the first comprehensive Web site dedicated to helping students with the college search by matching them to merit-based scholarships from colleges across the country. $11 billion in merit scholarships from colleges just waiting to be awarded. Merit aid is awarded to students with a broad range of GPAs. There are merit aid scholarships for students based on their interests, their intended majors, leadership and communitiy service. www.meritaid.com.
SimpleTuition. SimpleTuyition supplies Guidance Counseling Departments and students wtih free brochures about student loan options. Find 100+ articles on paying for college. Learn from TuitionTales - a discussion forum for parents by parents of college students wtih tips and lessons learned about paying for college. www.SimpleTuition.com/resource.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) To apply for federal student aid for college or career school and for most state and institutional aid, you must complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year that you attend. The quickest way to apply is online using FAFSA on the web www.FAFSA.ed.gov.
The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain postbaccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education. Students may use their grants at any one of approximately 5,400 participating postsecondary institutions. Grant amounts are dependent on: the student's expected family contribution (EFC) (see below); the cost of attendance (as determined by the institution); the student's enrollment status (full-time or part-time); and whether the student attends for a full academic year or less. After filing a FAFSA, the student receives a Student Aid Report (SAR), or the institution receives an Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR), which notifies the student if he or she is eligible for a Federal Pell Grant.
MAKING COLLEGE FINANCIAL PLANNING COUNT Start developing your personal college funding strategy. This free resource provides an interactive overview of the college funding process including information about the FAFSA, the types of financial aid available, and more. Making College Count.
MY COLLEGE QUICKSTART is a personalized online college and career planning kit available free of charge to all students who take the PSAT/NMSQT. Powered by students' test performance, My College QuickStart provides the ability to review their PSAT; prepare for the SAT with a plan generated by their PSAT results; explore a personalized list of colleges to consider; use MyRoad to take a personality test and discover majors and careers that fit their interests. Visit www.collegeboard.com/quickstart to learn more.
Smartstudent Guide to Financial Aid A free, public service information site which covers all aspects of financing college. www.finaid.org.
AlaskAdvantage Programs. Offers personal assistance with FAFSA application, computerized interest inventories and career assessments, individual assistance on the financial aid process for higher education. All services are free. Located in the Dimond Mall next to The Perfect Cup. Open M-F, 8a-4:30p. Call 269-7980 for more information.
TEL - Teacher Education Loan Program. The Alaska Legislature established the Teacher Education Loan (TEL) to address the shortage of teachers in rural Alaska. The TEL provides low-cost education loans to Alaskans enrolled in bachelor's degree programs in elementary or secondary education or in teacher certification programs nationwide. For more information on the TEL program visit www.AKadvantage.alaska.gov.
