249.Unstack the Odds-GO TO COLLEGE:STEPS 12-13

Unstack the Odds: Help All Kids Access College—and Graduate!

by
Joe Rottenborn
Executive Director, Mahoning Valley College Access Program (MVCAP)

18. GO TO COLLEGE: STEPS 12-13

12) Interpret the Student Aid Report (SAR), received after submitting the FAFSA, to determine EFC and financial need.

13) Interpret and compare Financial-Aid Award Offer letters from colleges to figure the “bottom line” (i.e., out-of-pocket expenses), monthly payments, and loan-debt.

109. To decipher your financial-aid award offer letters, read Part I of Lynn O'Shaughnessy's article at this link: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/03/44-understanding-financial-aid-award.html

110. To analyze your financial-aid award offer letters, read Part II: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/03/44-understanding-financial-aid-award.html

111. Now, calculate the "net price" of the college(s) you'd like to attend: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/03/45-calculating-net-price-of-college.html

112. Next, figure the up-front, out-of-pocket cost of your college(s): http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/03/45-calculating-net-price-of-college.html

113. An important question to ask, according to Penelope Wang in her article from the April 2010 Money magazine, is "Can we afford this college?"

114. Still seeking money for college? Read Lynn O'Shaughnessy's "4 Ways to Win A Scholarship": http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/54-college-scholarships.html

115. Still need money for college? See Lynn O'Shaughnessy's "The Best Places to Find College Cash": http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/54-college-scholarships.html

116. Got money for college? See Lynn O'Shaughnessy's "The Myth About College Scholarships": http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/54-college-scholarships.html

117. Private colleges or universities can discount tuition for students; click this link: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/62-discounts-for-college-tuition.html

118. If you're still seeking money for college, see some unusual scholarships: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/63-unusual-scholarships.html

119. Do Many Students Take Out College Loans? Link to our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/61-do-many-students-take-out-college.html

120. Shop around for college loans; check out the article on our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/58-shopping-for-student-loans.html

121. How much should you take out in college loans? Read our blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/59-how-much-should-student-borrow-for.html

122. How much should parents take out in college loans? See this link: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/60-how-much-should-parents-borrow-for.html

123. For a compilation of links about college loans, refer to this posting on our blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/57-college-loans.html

124. To review the statistics on student borrowing for college, click this posting on our blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/64-who-borrows-most.html

125. To read Lynn O'Shaughnessy's "12 Facts About Student Loan Borrowers," click this link to our blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/64-who-borrows-most.html

126. May 1 is the deadline to let a college or university know if you plan to enroll there; be sure to meet that deadline: act today, if you haven't already!

127. You go to college to graduate; for graduation rates of Ohio colleges & universities, click: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/65-graduation-rates-in-ohio.html

128. Who graduates in 4 years? See a study of MVCAP advisees on our blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/04/68-who-graduates-in-four-years.html

129. Need to borrow money to pay for college? Learn the differences between federal and private loans at http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/05/69-government-or-private-loans.html

130. Still looking for a college? See U.S. schools with space available for fall: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/05/70-space-availability-survey-2010.html

131. Still short of money to pay for college? See this link on our blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/05/71-still-need-money-for-college.html

132. If your 1st-choice college plan doesn't work out, have a Plan B; hit this link to our blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/05/73-plan-b.html