College Admission Help

College Admission: Now Is The Time To Apply For Help

BRENDA BUCHANON
News Editor
The Daily Record
Dunn, North Carolina
Published: February 22, 2009

It is time for your high school senior to attend college, and parents, if you don't know what to do next, there is help for you this weekend.

The College Foundation of N.C. (CFNC) and the N.C. Association of Student Financial Aid administrators will host their annual Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) day Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at the State Employee's Credit Union at 411 Pine State St. in Lillington. In Johnston County, help is provided at Johnston Community College in the Wilson Building at the Career and Transfer Resource Center in Smithfield. There are no locations in Sampson County.

In order to secure financial assistance, the FAFSA is required for all federal and most state financial aid. To complete the form requires both the students' and their parents' federal 1040 tax forms for 2008. The student should complete as much of the Web worksheet from the U.S. Department of Education Web site (www.pimn.ed.gov) as possible before Saturday.

Some schools have already held financial aid nights for students and parents to complete the financial form. But students who have not yet completed the application may still register online through CFNC at CFNC.org/fafsaday or call (866) 866-CFNC toll-free.

With deadlines looming students should complete the FAFSA and apply early because those who apply by the deadlines are awarded the grants and low-income loans first from individual colleges. In North Carolina, there is an expected 29 percent growth in applicants over last.

Area schools are helping students and parents with applying for financial assistance. Midway High School counselor Larinda Haight said approximately 80 to 90 people attended their general financial aid information night on Jan. 27 with 23 families attending a FAFSA night held Tuesday at the school. Parents and students completed the FAFSA form online Tuesday night with the help of Sampson Community College Financial Aid director Judy Tart.

Estee Allen, whose son, Gibby, who is a Midway senior and will attend Southeastern Community College in Whiteville, completed the forms Tuesday night to find out if her son was eligible for a Pell Grant.

"He wasn't eligible for a Pell Grant, but he may be eligible for other assistance," Mrs. Allen said. "He is my first senior and it can be confusing ... I went because I didn't want to fill out the form wrong, but they (Ms. Tart) made it easy. With the economy the way it is, we need to get all the help we can to limit the student loans for him."

After College Admission

Even when you secure Pell Grants, scholarships or loans, after you are admitted to a college, you must renew your FAFSA application each year, according to Campbell senior Sasha Fuller. Ms. Fuller, who is from Tuscaloosa, Ala., and will graduate in December, said she received a Presidential Scholarship, two fine art scholarships, Pell Grant and loans to fund her education.

"I plan to continue to receive help," Ms. Fuller said. Her advice is to renew the FAFSA each year to insure continued assistance.

Economic Impact

Campbell Financial Aid Director Nancy Beasley said the college has always had a large population who apply for financial aid with approximately 80 percent of students who attend Campbell receiving some type of assistance. For the 2009 fall semester, she said, there may be an increase, due to the economic downturn.

Dr. John Roberson, vice president for enrollment management and marketing, said admissions for the fall of 2009 show inquiries and applications ahead of last year. And in order to help, as students registered for the current semester, the maximum amount of debt allowed for a student to carry into the semester was increased by 100 percent, he said.

Dr. Roberson said he is hopeful the economic stimulus package signing into law this week will help Campbell.

"The university is hopeful it may receive funding for shovel ready construction projects," he said.

Reminder

High school seniors should complete the FAFSA before the deadline (www.fafsa.ed.gov/). The financial aid office at the school you plan to attend is the best place to retrieve information about student financial aid, but remember completing the FAFSA form is the first step in the process to receive grants, loans and/or work-study to help with college financial needs.


College Admission: Now Is The Time To Apply For Help