FAFSA HELP on College Goal Sunday(or Saturday)

Don't be fooled by the name College Goal Sunday! Here in Columbia, South Carolina, our College Goal Sunday will actually be held on a Saturday! So if you want some help getting that FAFSA completed then put this date on the calendar. There will be assistance available on Saturday, February 27 at the Downtown Richland County Public Library on Assembly Street. Help available from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM

Assistance available at site:

• Adult/Non-Traditional Student Concerns

• FAFSA on the Web

• Financial Literacy

• Foster & Homeless Youth

• Grants/Scholarships

Go here to see the list of items you need to bring with you. If you don't live in Columbia, SC, find out where you can get this assistance in a location close to you!

Get your PIN number FREE!

Seniors and parents of seniors, if you haven't done so, now is the time to get your PIN number. This PIN number will be your electronic signature when filling out the FAFSA. Both student and parent need their own PIN number. The application is quick, but have your social security number and a valid email address because both are required.

The FAFSA can be filled out as early as this weekend, so don't wait another minute to get your information and your PIN. And like filling out the FAFSA, your PIN number is FREE!

FAFSA Time

The FAFSA is on it's way! The FAFSA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid, will soon be available online. This is the form of all forms for receiving any federal aid, and often other aid as well. Any senior who is planning on attending any college should take the time to gather up the needed items to fill this out. Come January 2, you can fill it out online using your 2009 tax information. If you need assistance, there is plenty available. See your guidance counselor or Mrs. Sanders in E 109 for assistance opportunities.

For any Richland Northeast High School seniors and parents, on February 8 at 6:00 PM there will be a FAFSA workshop put on by Rob Mendenhall of the College Funding Center of South Carolina. Gather up your tax forms and other necessary data and head over to Richland Northeast High School. If you are planning on attending, please register.

The (Increasing) Cost of College

The price of college has increased at both private and public schools again this year. The average cost of attendance at a 4 year in-state college or university is $15,213 , an increase of 5.9%. Private colleges and universities charge an average of $35,636, an increase of 4.3% over the past year. There are now over fifty colleges with a price of over $50,000 per year. The ever-rising price tag is leading many students and families to look for alternative ways to reduce their expenses. This Washington Post article shares some interesting insights into how some families are adjusting to the budget buster called college.

A "Major" Advantage to Saving on College Expenses

Want an unexpected way to save money in college? Decide ahead of time what you want to major in. Take time to explore career choices. Head into college or university with a purpose in mind. So many students take over four years to complete college, which can increase the cost by thousands of dollars. All because they go in with no idea of what they want to study.

There are some colleges that even require that you indicate your intended major on the application. This can be quite tough if you haven't thought this through. Take advantage of this free website to help you explore college majors. This tool requires you to spend about 20-40 minutes answering questions. The end result is a list of three to five majors that may be potential matches for you. Just one more piece of the puzzle to help you save time and money!

Financial Aid Award Letters

By mid April most colleges will have sent out their financial aid award packages. Now is the time to compare awards. Looking at the bottom line may help you decide where to go, especially in these harsh economic times. Here are a couple of tools to help you compare:

College Board Finacial Aid Comparison Calculator

FinAid Comparison Calculator