College costs out of reach? Free forum on how to apply for aid
As the cost of higher education keeps climbing, Bucks &ounWy &ommunLWy &ollHJH can help you reach your goals with Financial Aid Information Night Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. in the Gateway Auditorium on the campus at 275 Swamp 5oDG, 1HwWown.
At the free forum, parents and students will learn how to complete federal forms to apply for finDnFLDl DLG DW Dny FollHJH or university, according to Donna Wilkoski, Director of Financial Aid.
“We’ll explain the details of the FAFSA,” Wilkoski said, referring to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. “3HoSlH looN DW WhH Iorm DnG IHHl LW’s oYHrwhHlmLnJ WhH firsW time they do it. But it’s the best wDy Wo finG ouW LI you TuDlLIy Ior DLG, DnG WhH HDrlLHr you filH, the better.”
7hH )A)6A musW EH fillHG ouW annually by college students and their parents to determine HlLJLELlLWy Ior IHGHrDl finDnFLDl aid. In addition, many states and schools use the information on the form to decide nonfederalaid awards, such as institutional grants and scholarships.
To that end, Tobias Bruhn, Executive Director of the Bucks &ounWy &ommunLWy &ollHJH Foundation, will give a presentation about scholarship opportunities available should a student choose Bucks. Each year, the public, two-year college distributes more than 150 scholarships and awards. Most of the funds come from the B&&& )ounGDWLon, D nonSrofiW educational trust, which is currently accepting applications for scholarships for the 2013-14 academic year.
At the forum, representatives Irom B&&&’s )LnDnFLDl ALG oIfiFH wLll GLsFuss WhH WySHs oI DLG offered through both the federal JoYHrnmHnW DnG WhH 3Hnnsylvania Higher Education AssisWDnFH AJHnFy (3H(AA).
“7hHrH’s D wLGH rDnJH oI financial aid available. It all depends on a student’s situation,” says Wilkoski. “For instance, everyone can apply for a federal student loan. Then grants are dependent on income, household size, number of siblings, and other factors. Even at Bucks, more than one-third of our students receive some sort of aid.”
BuFNs Ls oIWHn WhH firsW FhoLFH for an affordable start to a bachelor’s degree, with tuition at MusW $117 D FrHGLW Ior FounWy residents. Most credits transfer to four-year colleges and universities.
For more information about Financial Aid Information Night February 6, call the college’s FinDnFLDl ALG 2IfiFH DW 215-9688200. ,n FDsH oI EDG wHDWhHr, the program will take place Wednesday, February 13. For weather closing information, visit www.bucks.edu or call the college’s main switchboard at 215-968-8000. BuFNs &ounWy &ommunLWy &ollHJH’s )LnDnFLDl ALG 2IfiFH SroYLGHs WhH Iollowing tips for applicants:
* Gather all 2012 tax information before completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
* &omSlHWH WhH )A)6A Ey the deadline prescribed by the school where you are applying. vou can complete it online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
* &hHFN wLWh WhH FollHJH you will be attending to see if they rHTuLrH oWhHr Iorms Wo EH filHG.
* &omSlHWH D 0DsWHr 3romLssory Note application form, in addition to the FAFSA, if you plan to apply to the Federal )DmLly (GuFDWLon LoDn 3rogram, which includes Federal Stafford Loans and others.