Hello FCS Subscriber! First off, congratulations to the November 14th $10,000 scholarship winner - Danitra Henry of Sacramento, CA. In her own words, "They have not just given me a scholarship, but an opportunity bundled in an abundant monetary amount, equivalent to about ten semesters worth of school books, supplies, and fees, a laptop, or a little more than seven-and-a-half months worth of room and board!"
Read more about her story below. Like Danitra, you could be the next 10k scholarship winner - but only if you're registered! Make sure you're entered in the 10k scholarship drawing on February 20th. Click Here to Register
 In this newsletter we'll take a look at the financial aid roadmap you should follow. From determining the total cost to searching for scholarships to applying for financial aid, follow this roadmap to set yourself up for success!
Step #1: Find Your School
Whether you're looking to get your associates degree online or find a 4 year university, the web is a great place to search. Try these school matching programs to find the perfect school or degree:
Free College Info - Research the top schools by area of study, degree and zip
CourseAdvisor - Searchable database, easy to request course and financial aid information for online as well as campus programs
GetYourDegree - a comprehensive guide to accredited colleges and universities- call 866-581-2499
You don't have to decide on one school yet! Choose several and compare later.
Step #2: Determine Costs and What You Can Afford
In our November newsletter we investigated the actual cost of both online and campus programs. Some programs can be much cheaper than people anticipate. Itemize all the major costs, like tuition, room and board and books - as well as the hidden costs like transportation or mandatory health insurance. Try these college calculators:
CNNMoney, Finaid and CollegeBoard.
Next, estimate what you think you can afford. Include your savings, money you can borrow from family and any income you may receive during your studies. |
Step #3: Apply for Financial Aid and Scholarships
Start by taking another look at this previous FCS newsletter discussing federal financial aid. Make sure you fill out the FAFSA. Talk to the financial aid office at your school to see what aid they can offer you.
Next, take a look at scholarship opportunities like FreeCollegeScholarships and Scholarships4Moms that enter you into scholarship drawings just by providing basic contact information. Fastweb also offers a free scholarship search with personalized scholarship matching and side-by-side college comparison.
Step #4: Compare Costs
After you've narrowed your list down to several schools and done your financial aid research for each school, perform a side-by-side analysis of all the schools. Some students find that an online school will be a much better value since they'll have lower room and board costs and higher earned income during their studies from a job.
Other students find that the financial aid offer from a certain campus university makes it the clear winner. Many schools offer large grants to students; the only way to find out if you qualify is to ask!
And You're Done!
Many students don't take the time to go through these simple steps, even though they can be the most important in continuing your education. These steps could end up saving you thousands of dollars! Your education is one of the most important factors on your success in life, so do your homework and find the best school!
That's all for this week. Do not forget to register for the February 20th FCS scholarship drawing, and stay tuned for next week's newsletter!
Good Luck!
FCS Scholarships
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