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South Plains College Upward Bound

www.southplainscollege.edu/upward_bound

March 2004

APRIL 3 ACADEMY TOPICS

v     Selecting Main Idea

v     Essay Writing

v     Lunch

v     Self Confidence

v     Break

v     Career Exploration

v     Announcements

We would all like to Congratulate Josh Lorenz from Whitharral High School. Josh has advanced to the UIL state calculator competition. Congratulations and good luck, Josh!!!!                        UB Students and Staff

PARENT INFORMATION

At our December orientation, the issue of most concern was how to pay for college.  There are many resources available for free.   During your child’s senior year, the first step to finding these resources is to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly called FAFSA.  The information below was taken from the FAFSA website and simplified for publication in our newsletter.  To read the full article and to get more detailed information, visit http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/before014.htm#top

Why fill out a FAFSA?

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the first step in the financial aid process. You use it to apply for federal student financial aid, such as grants, loans, and work-study. In addition, most states and schools use information from the FAFSA to award non-federal aid.

Tips to Getting Aid Without Delay!

·         Important: Read the form!
Many questions on the FAFSA are straightforward, like your Social Security Number or your date of birth. But many require you to read the instructions to make sure you answer the question correctly. Words like "household," "investments," and even "parent" all have common meanings, but are specifically defined for purposes of student financial aid. So be sure to read the instructions.

·         Apply early
Deadlines for aid from your state, from your school, and from private sources tend to be much earlier than deadlines for federal aid. To make sure that any financial aid package your school offers you will contain aid from as many sources as possible, apply as soon as you can after January 1, 2004. [This would apply to current seniors.  Apply in January of your senior year in high school.]

·         Complete your tax return
Filling out your tax return first will make completing the FAFSA easier. However, you do not need to submit your tax return to the IRS before you submit your FAFSA. But, once you (and your parents if you are a dependent student) file your tax return, you must correct any income or tax information that changed since you filed your FAFSA. Inaccurate information on your FAFSA may delay your receipt of federal student aid. Also, you will be required to return federal aid you improperly receive based upon incorrect information.

·         Save time: File Electronically!
You can fill out and submit a FAFSA over the Internet. This is the fastest way to apply for financial aid. Also, your information is edited before you submit it. So if you made any errors or left out any information, we can call this to your attention before you submit your information. This reduces the chances that your data will be rejected for some reason and makes it less likely that you will have to correct your information later.

·         Ask: Do I need additional forms?
The FAFSA is the one application for federal student aid. Many schools and states rely solely upon this information. However, your school or state may require you to fill out additional forms. These additional forms may have deadlines that are earlier than the federal student aid deadline, so be sure to check with the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend.

SPC UPWARD BOUND SAYS THANK YOU TO . . .    

Ø              Claudine Oliver, SPC Director of Counseling and Guidance, and Brandon Awbrey, Access and Career Counselor, for the “Interpreting Your Meyers-Briggs Results” workshop.

Ø              Dr. Gail Platt, Director of SPC Teaching and Learning Center, for the “Study Skills According to Personality Type” and “You Create It All” workshops.

Ø              Stan Wetherred, SPC Director Student Activities, for the “ROPES Games & Initiatives” workshop.

Also, thanks to the following groups for hosting Upward Bound presentations:

Ø              Levelland Noon Rotary

Ø              Greater Lubbock Area Noon Rotary

South Plains College Upward Bound

(806) 894-9611                      Fax (806) 894-2594