APPLYING FOR COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID CAN BE CHALLENGING, ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

WELCOME TO KET AS KELSEY STARKS AND A PANEL OF EXPERTS SHARE ADVICE AND ANSWER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS ON COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID 2022, EDUCATION MATTERS.

>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO THIS SPECIALLY EDITION OF EDUCATION MATTERS.

IN THIS SHOW, WE WILL BE DISCUSSING ISSUES CONCERNING COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR OF 2022.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

I'M YOUR HOST KELSEY STARKS AND WITH ME ARE A PANEL OF EXPERTS WE'VE GATHERED FROM AROUND THE STATE.

WE WANT TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THERESA LOWDER, DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL AID SERVICES AT BEREA COLLEGE, JOPLIN RICE, OUTREACH COUNSELOR FOE KEA, BOB FULTZ DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL PLANNING AND GEORGETOWN COLLEGE AND RUNAN EVANS, ASSOCIATE DEAN OF FINANCIAL AID AT THE BLUEGRASS COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

AND IN ADDITION TO OUR PANEL, WE ARE ENCOURAGING YOU, THE VIEWER, TO VISIT THE KASFA FALK PAGE AND WE WILL BE SHOWING YOU THE ADDRESS AT THE BOTS ONLY OF THE SCREEN DURING THIS PROGRAM.

YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO WRITE YOUR QUESTIONS THERE.

YOUR QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED.

WE WANT TO ANSWER YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE SURE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A LOT OF THEM.

I WANT TO TALK FIRST ABOUT THE INCREASING COST OF COLLEGE.

SINCE THE 2008-2009 DISEAK YEAR, ANNUAL TUITION AND MANDATORY FEETS IN-STATE STUDENTS PAY TO STUDY AT THE STATE'S EIGHT PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES AND 16 TECHNICAL COLLEGES HAVE GONE UP 4.5% A YEAR.

THAT'S STAGGERING AND VERY CONCERNING TO A LOT OF PARENTS AND STUDENTS OUT THERE.

SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHY WE GATHERED THIS PANEL TO TALK ABOUT HOW STLR SO MANY-- HOW THERE ARE SO MANY AVENUES FOR YOU TO GET HELP GOING TO COLLEGE.

SO, BUT THIS KIND OF ALPHABET SOUP OF ALL OF THESE LETTERS THAT CAN CONFUSE PARENTS AND STUDENTS ALIKE, WE ARE REALLY GOING TO BREAK THEM DOWN AND EXPLAIN WHAT THEY ALL MEAN AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW THEY CAN HELP YOU PAY FOR COLLEGE.

LET'S START WITH THE ONE PARENTS WILL HEAR THE MOST ABOUT, FAFSA.

SO FIRST OF ALL, I'M GOING TO GO TO RUNNAN RUNAN TO EXPLAIN WHAT IS FAFSA AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT THE FIRST THING YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT.

>> IT IS YOUR APPLICATION TO APPLY FOR ALL FEDERAL AND STATE AID HERE IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

SOME INSTITUTIONS USE IT FOR INSTITUTIONAL AID.

IT IS THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FREE STUDENT AID AND THE KEY WORD BEING FREE.

THERE IS NO CHARGE TO COMPLETE THE FAFSA.

IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND A LITTLE BIT OF EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE PARENT, AND STUDENT BUT IT IS WELL WORTH IT BECAUSE THAT IS YOUR KEY OR YOUR FIRST STEP FOR APPLYING FOR ANY ASSISTANCE TO COLLEGE.

>> BOB, HOW EARLY CAN PEOPLE START FILLING THIS OUT?

NOW IS THE TIME, RIGHT?

>> NOW IS THE TIME.

FAFSA OPENED UP ON OCTOBER 1 OF THIS YEAR FOR THE 2022-2023 ACADEMIC YEAR.

AND SO PARENTS, IF THEY'VE NOT GONE AHEAD AND FILED THE FAFSA, WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING RIGHT NOW IS, AT LEAST APPLYING FOR THEIR FSAUI.D.

AND PASSWORD.

THEY NEED ONE FOR THE STUDENT AND ONE FOR THE PARENT.

THAT'S WHAT THEY WILL USE TO SUBMIT THE FAFSA ONCE THEY ARE DONE COMPLETING IT.

>> I KNOW SOME PEOPLE, I MEAN IS THIS SOMETHING DO YOU IN YOUR SENIOR YEAR?

SOME PEOPLE WANT TO DO IT IN YOUR JUNIOR YEAR.

>> IT IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD DO YOUR SENIOR YEAR.

YOU DON'T NEED TO DO IT IN YOUR JUNIOR YEAR BECAUSE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE WHEN THEY LOOK AT THE OFFICE, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY WILL BE THE ONES COMING INTO OUR COLLEGES WITH FINANCIAL AID AND FINANCIAL NEED.

>> OKAY.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS ALL ONLINE.

CAN YOU DO IT ON PAPER?

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW AND HOW TO DO YOU GET THIS DONE?

>> THE QUICKEST ROUTE IS TO DO IT ONLINE AND YOU FILE YOUR FAFSA AT STUDENTAID.GOV, TAKES THREE TO FIVE BUSINESS DAYS TO PROCESS ONCE IT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED WITH THE SFAUs AND I.D.S AND PASSWORDS.

>> THERE IS AN APP AS WELL.

>> MY STUDENT AID APP.

>> IS THAT BENEFICIAL TO USE, JOPLIN, WOULD YOU 15 I?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IN MY EXPERIENCE, THE APP HAS BEEN REVAMPED THIS PAST YEAR TO MAKE IT MUCH MORE USER FRIENDLY.

IT FLOWS VERY WELL.

I'VE USED IT AT A LOT OF MY SCHOOLS THAT I VISIT MYSELF TO COMPLETE FAFSA WHEN THE WEBSITE IS DOWN OR THE STUDENT DOESN'T HAVE A LAPTOP OR DESKTOP, WE CAN USE THEIR PHONE.

>> WOULD YOU SAY ONE WAY IS BETTER THAN THE OTHER?

>> I WOULDN'T ACTUALLY.

THEY'RE BOTH REALLY GATE.

KIND OF JUST WHATEVER TECHNOLOGY YOU HAVE AVAILABLE, WE CAN MAKE IT WORK.

>> OKAY.

THIS IS ONE THING THAT IS KIND OF DAUNTING TO PEOPLE, I GUESS, IS THAT YOU HAVE TO PUT IN A WHOLE LOT OF INFORMATION.

TAX INFORMATION FROM SEVERAL YEARS.

WHAT YEAR SHOULD BE USED FOR THIS FAFSA FOR TAX INFORMATION?

>> SO FOR THE 2022-2023 FAFSA NEWLY OPENED OCTOBER 1, WE ARE LOOKING AT 2020 INCOME TAX RETURNS.

THE FAFSA USES PRIOR PRIOR YEAR INCOME TAX RETURNS.

WE DO THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT MOST FOLKS WILL HAVE THOSE FILED SO WE ARE NOT WAITING TO GET TAXES FILED TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE FAFSA.

>> AS WE ALL KNOW, 2020 WAS A WONKY YEAR FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

SO DOES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

WHAT DO YOU TELL PEOPLE WHO SAY 2020, I LOST MY JOB.

I MOVED, ALL OF THESE THINGS KIND OF CRAZY HAPPENED.

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU TELL PEOPLE ABOUT USING THAT SPECIFIC YEAR?

>> YES, YOU STILL NEED TO COMPLETE THE FAFSA FOR THE 2020 INCOME TAX RETURN.

BUT HOWEVER GO THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN YOUR FAMILY INCOME, YOU WOULD WANT TO VISIT THE COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE WHERE YOU PLAN TO ATTEND AND DO A RECALCULATION OF PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT.

EACH ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS HAVE A DIFFERENT PROCESS FOR DOING THAT SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU CHECK WITH THE SCHOOL AFTER YOU'VE COMPLETED YOUR FAFSA.

AND THEN THEY CAN WORK WITH YOU ON HOW TO CHANGE THAT INCOME OR NOT JUST INCOME CHANGE, THERE COULD BE SOMETHING MAYBE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A DEATH IN THE FAMILY, ONE OF THE PARENTS COULD HAVE DECEASED OR A DIVORCE, ANYTHING THAT HAS CAUSED A CHANGE IN YOUR FAMILY'S INCOME, YOU WANT TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE THAT CHANGE.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP.

ANY WAY WE CAN HELP YOU, WE ARE GOING TO HELP YOU.

>> THAT'S ONE THING I WANT TO EMPHASIZE, TOO.

THIS IS A PANEL OF EXPERTS WHO ARE HERE TO HELP YOU.

THAT'S WHY YOU ARE HERE.

STEP ONE, I GUESS IS CHOOSING WHICH COLLEGE YOU ARE GOING TO ATTEND AND THEN GOING TO THAT FINANCIAL AID OFFICE SUCH AS BEREA COLLEGE.

IF I WANT TO ATTEND THERE, WHERE DO I FIND YOU?

WHAT DO I DO AND WHAT DO I ASK?

>> ON THE FAFSA, YOU CAN LIST SEVERAL SCHOOLS THAT YOU CAN SEND THE INFORMATION TO AND THEY WILL COMMUNICATE WITH YOU DIRECTLY.

IF YOU ARE INTEREST INNED THAT PARTICULAR SCHOOL, THEY CAN TAILOR THEIR FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE TO WHAT THE AS IF FAFSA HAS DETERMINED TO BE THE FAMILY'S CONTRIBUTION FOR THE EDUCATIONAL YEAR.

>> AND THIS IS IMPORTANT, TOO ONCE A START A COLLEGE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU FILL OUT EVERY YEAR.

SOMETHING SOMETHING WHEN I TALK TO YOU, EVERY YEAR.

YOU CAN'T REITERATE IT ENOUGH BECAUSE PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT HAVE YOU TO DO IT EVERY YEAR, RIGHT, BOB.

>> ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

INCOME CHANGES FROM YEAR TO YEAR, THE FAFSA LOOKS AT FAMILY AND HOUSEHOLD AS WELL AS NUMBER IN COLLEGE.

YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR, YOU MAY BE THE ONLY CHILD IN THE HOUSEHOLD GOING TO COLLEGE BUT THE STUDENT'S SOPHOMORE YEAR, THEY COULD HAVE ANOTHER SIBLING GOING TO COLLEGE THE SAME YEAR SO THEY WOULD HAVE TWO IN THE HOUSEHOLD.

THAT HELPS WITH THE EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION AND MAY QUALIFY THEM FOR ADDITIONAL AID.

>> SO THIS IS SOMETHING YOU DO IN OCTOBER OF EVERY YEAR, INCLUDING YOUR SENIOR YEAR FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

WHAT OTHER KIND OF INFORMATION ARE PEOPLE GOING TO SEE HERE WHEN THEY LOG ON TO THE FAFSA?

WHAT KIND OF STUFF DO YOU NEED TO GET TOGETHER.

>> THE FAFSA IS SPLIT UP INTO TABS WITH STUDENT DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION, STUDENT'S BIRTHDAY, SOCIAL, ADDRESS, CONTACT INFORMATION.

A LOT OF WHICH WILL ALREADY BE FILLED OUT FROM THE FEDERAL STUDENT AID I.D.

THEN SCHOOL SELECTION, PUTTING IN THE SCHOOLS AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE DEPENDENCY STATUS QUESTIONS TO DETERMINE WHOSE INFORMATION WE NEED TO USE ON THE FAFSA AND THE SAME THING WE ASK FROM THE STUDENTS, WE ASK FROM THE PARENTS AND THE PARENT DEMOGRAPHIC SECTION SO THINGS LIKE THE PARENTS MARITAL STATUS, WHEN THAT MARRIAGE OR DIVORCE OCCURRED, THEIR SOCIALS, BIRTHDAYS, CONTACT INFORMATION, ET CETERA.

I LIKE TO SAY IT'S FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND PERSONAL INFORMATION THAT HOPEFULLY WILL YOU KNOW OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD.

>> INCLUDING TAX INFORMATION, RIGHT.

>> INCLUDING THE TAX INFORMATION WHICH YOU PROBABLY WON'T OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD.

>> EXACTLY.

SO HOW LONG SHOULD I PUT ASIDE HERE TO DO THIS?

>> SO IT DEPENDS.

I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE IF YOU SHOW UP WITH ME AND YOU HAVE FSAI.D.

CREATED, 2020 TAXES ON HAND, I CAN GET YOU OUT OF THERE IN 20 MINUTES.

IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE PROCESS, HAVEN'T CREATED I.D.s STARTING FROM SCRATCH, SET ASIDE ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO.

>> SO WOULD YOU RECOMMEND NOT DOING IT ON YOUR OWN?

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND GOING TO YOUR FINANCIAL AID OFFICE TO GET HELP DOING THIS?

>> ABSOLUTELY YOU CAN.

THEY'RE READY TO HELP.

MOST OF IT YOU PROBABLY CAN DO IT ON YOUR OWN.

I THINK IT'S JUST A FEAR OF WHAT MIGHT BE ASKED THAT I MAY NOT KNOW THE ANSWER.

THE GOOD THING IN THE LAST FEW YEARS IS THAT FAMILIES CAN GET THEIR I.R.S.

INFORMATION DIRECTLY AND DO NOT HAVE-- THEY CAN LINK IN AND GET THE INFORMATION FROM THE I.R.S.

AND DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO HAVE ALL THOSE TAX PAPERS.

>> THAT IS WONDERFUL.

>> ON THE STUDENT AID.GOV WEBSITE IT PROVIDES QUESTIONS FOR EACH.

SO IT WILL GIVE THEM INSTRUCTIONS ON WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY ASKING FOR.

>> SO IT'S GOING TO HOLD YOUR HAND A LITTLE BIT.

>> YES, BUT IF YOU DO NEED HUMAN TO TALK TO, YOU ARE THE ONES TO CALL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO AS I'M FILLING ALL OF THIS OUT TRYING TO DO IT ON MY OWN, CAN YOU STOP AND START?

CAN YOU GO BACK TO WHERE YOU-- CAN YOU HOLD OFF AND DO IT NEXT WEEK IF YOU GET STARTED?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU CAN SAVE THE FORM, SAVE THE PROGRESS, LOG OUT AND WHEN YOU LOG BACK IN YOU ARE TAKEN TO WHERE YOU LEFT OFF.

>> AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SAY, I MAY NOT QUALIFY OR I'M PRETTY SURE I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE ANY KIND OF FINANCIAL AID.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT YOU STILL FILL OUT THE FAFSA?

>> IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO FILL IT OUT BECAUSE LET US TELL YOU NO.

REGARD LET'S OF FAMILY INCOME ANYONE WHO COMPLETES A FAFSA FORM IS GUARANTEED A STUDENT LOAN.

YOU MAY NOT QUALIFY FOR GRANTS BUT LOANS ARE.

THE INSTITUTION MAY HAVE MONEY THAT THEY COULD OFFER YOU BUT YOU NEED A FAFSA FORM TO COMPLETE BECAUSE THERE ARE INSTITUTIONAL DOLLARS THAT MAY BE OFFERED AT ONE SCHOOL BUT NOT OFFERED AT ANOTHER BUT IF YOU DON'T COMPLETE THE FAFSA, YOU MAY NOT QUALIFY.

>> SO THERE IS MONEY OUT THERE IT'S JUST A MATTER OF KNOWING HOW TO GET IT, RIGHT?

>> ONE THING ABOUT THE FAFSA I WANT TO ADD.

IT'S VERY FOR THAT YOU NEED, DON'T SKIP THE QUESTIONS OR.

READ THE QUESTIONS.

IT TELLS WHAT YOU LINE NUMBER TO GO TO WHAT ABOUT A STUDENT WHO IS NOT SURE THEY'RE GOING TO ATTEND COLLEGE.

THEY'RE RAY SENIOR, THEY KNOW IT'S TIME TO FILL IT OUT.

SHOULD THEY ALSO COMPLETE IT?

>> YOU CAN LOSE UP TO-- YOU CAN LIST UP TO 10 SCHOOLS ON THE FAFSA.

YOU CAN LIST UP TO 10 SCHOOLS AT ONE TIME SO YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO NARROW IT DOWN BUT GET THE INFORMATION TO THE SCHOOLS AND LET US START COMMUNICATING WITH YOU SO YOU CAN HAVE SOME INFORMATION AND MAKE YOUR DECISION LATER ON.

EVEN IF YOU DON'T MAKE YOUR DECISION UNTIL JANUARY OR FEBRUARY, YOU GET THE INFORMATION OUT THERE.

>> ON THAT NOTE, IF YOU HAVE 10 SCHOOLS TO LIST ON THE FAFSA, WOULD I SUGGEST IF YOU ARE NOT FOR SURE WHICH COLLEGE YOU ARE GOING TO GO TO, LIST TWO-YEAR PUBLIC, FOUR-YEAR PUBLIC AND FOUR-YEAR PRIVATE.

ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A KENTUCKY RESIDENT.

PLANNING OR HOPEFULLY ATTENDING A KENTUCKY SCHOOL.

BECAUSE THERE ARE THOSE STATE GRANTS THAT YOU CAN BE ELIGIBLE FOR.

IF YOU LIST THE SCHOOLS.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY LISTING THE SCHOOLS, TOO, THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS NEED TO BE AWARE THAT IS NOT APPLYING FOR ADMISSION TO THE SCHOOL.

YOU STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT, THE SCHOOL WHERE YOU ARE INTERESTED.

YOU STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT ADMISSIONS PROCESS.

BUT AT LEAST THE SCHOOLS WILL GET YOUR FINANCIAL INFORMATION.

>> OKAY.

AND I WANT TO ASK JOPLIN BECAUSE I KNOW YOU DEAL WITH ALL THE SCHOOLS.

>> AT LEAST 13 COUNTIES I GO TO.

>> WHAT MISTAKES DO YOU SEE PEOPLE MAKING WITH THE FAFSA?

ARE THEY JUST NOT FILLING IT OUT?

DO THEY NOT KNOW THE SCHOOLS?

>> SOME OF THE COMMON MISTAKES IS COMPLETING THE INCORRECT YEAR.

WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THE 2022-23 FAFSA AVAILABLE AND LAST YEAR'S 21-22 AS IF FAFSA.

PEOPLE THINK THAT'S THE ONE YOU FILL OUT.

YOU ARE FILLING IT OUT FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE USING THE FUNDS.

ANOTHER MISTAKE I KNOW MENTIONED IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THEY CAN ESTIMATE THEIR INCOME.

SO JUST YESTERDAY I WAS WORKING ON SOME FAFSA WITH PARENTS AND I NOTICED THEY DID NOT USE THE I.R.S.

DATA RETRIEVAL TOOL AND DIFFERENT HAVE THE TAX RETURNS WITH THEM.

I SAID HOW DO YOU KNOW YOUR INCOME.

HE SAID I GUESSED IT.

I KNEW ABOUT WHAT IT WAS.

WE HAD TO GO BACK AND TAKE OUT THE ANSWERS AND TRACK DOWN HIS 2020 INCOME TAX RETURNS.

>> YOU CANNOT ESTIMATE.

>> RIGHT.

>> ANYTHING.

>> STUDENT INCOME, PARENT INCOME, BECAUSE AT SOME POINT IN THE PROCESS, YOU MAY HAVE TO PRODUCE DOCUMENTEDDATION TO PROVE THOSE ANSWERS ARE CORRECT AND THEY NEED TO MATCH DOWN TO THE DOLLAR.

>> AND JUST BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO HOLD IT UP, RIGHT?

>> EXACTLY.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE.

IT'S JUST GOING TO HOLD UP THE PROCESS.

IT'S LONG ENOUGH AS IT IS, RIGHT?

>> WE TRY TO MAKE IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE.

>> SO MAKING IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, SAY YOU ARE ONE OF THESE STUDENTS WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHICH COLLEGE THEY'RE ATTENDING SO I MAY NOT WANT TO CALL BEREA COLLEGE IF THAT'S NOT WHERE I KNOW I'M GOING, WHERE DO THEY CALL?

>> ANY ONE OF US WILL BE ABLE TO HELP YOU.

I SPOKE WITH FAMILIES THAT THEY HAVE CALLED ME AND SAID I DON'T PLAN ON COMING TO GEORGETOWN COLLEGE, BUT I JUST NEED SOME HELP.

DO YOU CARE TO HELP ME?

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE TO DO, SERVE THE STUDENTS IT'S OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE.

>> THEY CAN CALL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ONE AT HIT 4FIT-AID.

WE PREFER YOU CONTACT US IN THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE.

WE ARE NOT LIKE BOB SAID, WE ARE NOT COMPETITIVE IN THAT WAY AS ADMISSIONS.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU.

WE LOVE GIVING AWAY MONEY ANY WAY WE CAN HELP GIVE AWAY THAT MONEY WE ARE GOING TO HELP THE STUDENT.

>> THAT'S A GOOD JOB TO HAVE.

>> MY POSITION AS OUTREACH COULD YOU BEER, EVERY COUNTY IN KENTUCKY IS COVERED.

IN MY COUNTIES I'M THE POINT MAN FOR FAFSA QUESTIONS.

OCTOBER 1, MY PHONE STARTS VIBRATING AND DOESN'T STOP UNTIL THE END OF OCTOBER WITH PHONE CALLS.

SO GET IN CONTACT WITH YOUR KEA OUTREACH COUNSELORS AS WELL WITH THE QUESTIONS.

>> OKAY.

LET'S MOVE ON HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOME OTHER FINANCIAL AID SCHOLARSHIPS.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT CIENLDZ OF FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE AND LIKE WE SAID, FAFSA IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU SHOULD FILL OUT ACROSS THE BOARD.

WHAT ABOUT OTHER TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID THAT ARE AVAILABLE?

WHAT KIND OF OPTIONS ARE OUT THERE?

>> THERE ARE THREE.

THEY MOSTLY FALL INTO THREE CATEGORIES.

GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS, WHICH DO NOT HAVE TO BE PAID BACK.

THEN YOU'VE GOT WORK STUDY, A JOB ON CAMPUS THROUGH AN INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAM OR THE FEDERAL WORK STUDY PROGRAM.

AND THEN LOANS SOME PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO WORK WHEN THEY'RE IN COLLEGE.

SO THEY OPT FOR THE LOANS AND THAT'S OKAY.

LOPES ARE JUST WORK DEFERRED SO THEY'RE GOING TO WORK AT SOME POINT TO PAY FOR THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATION.

BUT THAT'S THE WAY WE REFER TO IT, THOSE ARE THE THREE MAIN CATEGORIES.

>> WITHIN THAT THOUGH, THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF SCHOLARSHIPS, TOO.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACADEMIC AND MERIT?

>> SO WE TERM MERIT AND ACADEMIC GO ALONG THE SAME THING.

MERIT AID WE LOOK AT YOUR ACADEMIC AID, IF YOU ARE AN ATHLETE AND YOU ARE RECEIVING AN ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP, THOSE FALL UNDER THOSE MERIT AWARDS.

AND THEN THERE IS THE NEED BASED AWARDS THAT A STUDENT QUALIFIES FOR BY COMPLETING THE FAFSA THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS OUT THERE.

HOW DO YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT DIFFERENT THINGS, DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS CAN OFFER?

>> WELL, I WOULD ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO DO A SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH.

IF YOU JUST TYPE IN SCHOLARSHIPS AND THE GOOGLE, YOU'LL GET TONS OF SCHOLARSHIPS BACK, YOU CAN NARY NARROW IT DOWN TO THE STUDENT'S INTEREST.

WHAT CAREER WOULD YOU LIKE TO ENTER IN AND APPLY FOR SOME OF THOSE OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIPS BUT YOUR BEST RESOURCE IS TO FIRST START WITH THE SCHOOL TO SEE WHAT SCHOLARSHIPS THEY HAVE TO OFFER AND HOW TO APPLY FOR THE INSTITUTION TUITION-- INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS.

IF YOU LIST 10 SCHOOLS ON THE FAFSA, YOU WANT TO CONTACT ALL 10 SCHOOLS TO SEE WHAT THE SCHOLARSHIP PROCESS IS.

AND START THERE.

IS IT GOING TO BE LEG WORK?

IT'S GOING TO BE LONG, BUT IT'S WORTH IT BECAUSE IT'S WORTH THE INVESTMENT IN YOUR EDUCATION.

>> 10 TALKING ABOUT THE ASTRONOMICAL COST OF ATTENDING COLLEGE RIGHT NOW.

THERE ARE WAY AS ROUND IT.

YOU JUST HAVE TO DIG FOR.

>> IT AND WORK FOR IT.

>> EXACTLY.

SO WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SCHOLARSHIP, GRANTS LOANS, ARE ALL OF THESE AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS IF THEY'RE FULL-TIME, PART-TIME STUDENTS OR DO YOU HAVE TO BE A IF YOU WILL TIME STUDENT TO GET ALL KINDS OF FINANCIAL AID.

>> FOR SOME INSTITUTIONAL AID, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO BE FULL TIME AT CERTAIN COLLEGES.

BUT YOU CAN BE AT LEAST HALFTIME TO QUALIFY FOR FEDERAL LOANS AND THEN YOU CAN BE LESS THAN HALFTIME TO QUALIFY FOR THE PELL GRANTS.

FULL TIME IS 12 HOURS AND THEN HALFTIME WOULD BE SIX HOURS.

>> I KNOW FOR STATE AID, YOU HAVE TO BE HALFTIME EXCEPT FOR WORK RELATED.

>> AND HOW IS IT DETERMINED?

LOU HOW DO YOU FIGURE OUT OUCH FINANCIAL AID SOMEBODY GETS?

IS IT AN ALGORITHM YOU ALL GO THROUGH OR HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> >> WELL ONCE YOU COMPLETE THE FAFSA, WE'LL GET BACK SOMETHING CALLED THE EXPACTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION OR ESTIMATED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION.

FROM THERE, THE COLLEGE WILL HAVE A COST OF ATTENDANCE.

A COST THE ATTEND ALL COLLEGES AND THAT COST CAN BE DIFFERENT.

SO WE'LL TAKE THE COST OF ATTENDANCE MINUS THE EFC AND THAT GIVES YOU FINANCIAL NEED.

YES WE HAVE A SLIDING SCALE THAT WE CAN USE FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE PELL ELIGIBLE, AND THE EFC CUT OFF SCAPESES ME RIGHT NOW BUT WITHIN THAT SCALE, BASED ON YOUR ENROLLMENT AND YOUR EFC WILL DETERMINE HOW MUCH YOU WILL BE QUALIFIED FOR AND PROCESS, MAXIMUM FOR GRANTS AND LOAN AMOUNTS DEPENDING ON YOUR YEAR IN COLLEGE.

A SLIDING SCALE PER SE AND EACH STUDENT IS DIFFERENT IT COULD VARY FROM STUDENT TO STUDENT.

WE HAVE MAXIMUMS AND MINIMUMS WE HAVE TO FALL WITHIN.

>> YOU TALKED ABOUT THE PELL SEVERAL TIMES.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS?

>> THE FEDERAL PELL GRANT IS THE LARGEST GRANT FAMILIES ARE APPLYING FOR WHEN THEY FILL OUT THE FAFSA.

SO WHEN YOU FILL OUT THE FAFSA, IT IS A FEDERAL FORM AND THAT'S THE ONE GRANT THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE SHOW UP AT THE END TELLING YOU WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT FEDERAL PELL GRANT.

NOW DEPENDING ON YOUR PELL GRANT ELIGIBILITY, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOME STATE GRANTS TO COME THROUGH KEA AS WELL BUT AS FAR AS THE FEDERAL SIDE TALKING ABOUT GRANTS, THAT'S THE PRIMARY GRANT YOU ARE APPLYING FOR WHEN YOU FILL OUT THE FAFSA.

>> AND.

>> KEYS IS ANOTHER THING THAT I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT AND WONDER WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THAT SO A LOT OF KEY STUDENTS ARE SEEING THAT THEY HAVE SOME OF THE DOLLARS AVAILABLE.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

>> WHAT IS THAT.

>> I LOVE TALK ABOUT THAT.

KEES KENTUCKY EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP BASED ON THEIR YEARLY G.P.A.

WE LOOK AT EACH INDIVIDUAL YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, FRESHMAN THROUGH SENIOR YEAR, INDIVIDUALLY.

NOT CUMULATIVE AND WE AWARD STUDENTS BASED ON THEIR G.P.A.

AS LONG AS IT IS BETWEEN A 2.5 AND 4.0 WEIGHTED G.P.A.

WE ALSO GIVE THEM ADDITIONAL DOLLAR AMOUNT BONUS FOR THEIR HIGHEST COMPOSITE A.C.T.

SCORE ABOVE 15 AND FAMILIES DESIGNATED FOR FREE AND REDUCED PRICE LUNCHES OF LUNCH ADDITIONAL BONUSES FOR PASSING ADVANCEMENT EXAMS.

ALL OF THOSE DOLLAR AMOUNTS GET ADDED TOGETHER TO A STUDENT'S KEES AND THAT'S WHAT WE PAY OUT TO THE STUDENT EACH YEAR THAT THEY'RE IN COLLEGE OR TECH SCHOOL UP TO FOUR YEARS.

IT CAN ADD UP TO A LARGE AMOUNT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT THEY JUST HOW DO THEY FIND OUT HOW MUCH KEES MONEY THEY HAVE?

>> THERE ARE TWO WAYS.

IF WE HAVE YOUR ADDRESS CORRECT WE WILL SEND YOU A YEARLY UPDATE IN THE MAIL.

THE EASIEST WAY TO IS GO TO KEKHEA DOTTED COM.

SEE A SIGN IN BUTTON TOP RIGHT CORNER.

MICROSOFT STUDENTS WILL CLICK I FORGOT MY PASSWORD AND RESET THAT AND GET INTO THEIR ACCOUNT AND YOU ARE JUST ONE CLICK AWAY FROM BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> HOW SOON WILL THEY HAVE AN ACCOUNT THERE?

>> STUDENTS TYPICALLY AT THE LATEST CREATE IT JUNIOR YEAR.

I KNOW IN MY TERRITORY WHEN WHERE I GO, I LIKE TO CREATE THE ACCOUNT WITH STUDENTS AS SOPHOMORES TO VIEW THE FRESHMAN YEAR G.P.A.

AND KEES MONEY TO MAKE SURE IT IS CORRECT.

THE MONEY WILL BE IN THAT ACCOUNT AUTOMATICALLY.

YOU NEED TO MAKE THE ACCOUNT ON YOUR OWN.

>> AND EVERYBODY YOU KNOW, WILL HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AND THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO REMIND TO YOU GO TO THE FACEBOOK PAGE, FACEBOOK.DOM/KASFAA AND YOU CAN ASK YOUR QUESTIONS THERE RIGHT NOW AND YOU WILL GET A SPECIFIC ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, HOPEFULLY WE ARE COVERING ALL THE BASIS HERE FOR YOU BUT OF COURSE WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE KNOW EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT AS YOU ALL KNOW, YOU ANSWER THEY WILL ALL DAY LONG.

AND EVERYBODY WILL WANT THEIR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

SO BACK TO KEES.

DO ALL OF YOUR COLLEGES ACCEPT KEES MONEY.

>> YES.

>> BUT IT IS ONLY FOR KENTUCKY.

>> FOR THE MOST PART, YES.

I ALWAYS SAY 99.9% OF THE TIME, IT HAS TO STAY IN KENTUCKY.

THE EXCEPTION THAT THERE ARE 11 STATES TO THE EAST AND SOUTH COMMON MARKET WHO HAVE AGREED TO MATCH THE KEEES PROGRAM IF THE MARATHON PROGRAM YOU WANT TO GO INTO IS NOT OFFERED ANYWHERE IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

THAT'S WHAT PREVENTS MOST OF THE KEES MONEY FROM LEAVING THE STATE.

WE HAVE SOME PROGRAMS MARINE BIOLOGY AND AEROSPACE THAT ARE NOT OFFERED IN KENTUCKY AND FOR CERTAIN STATES, YOU CAN TAKE YOUR KEES THERE.

>> THERE IS ALSO A COST CALCULATOR, IS THAT RIGHT, AVAILABLE?

>> THERE IS A COST CALCULATOR ON KHEA.COM.

YOU ANYTHING ON ON OUR WEBSITE, AS SOON AS YOU GET THE HOME PAGE, THERE IS A SEARCH BAR.

TYPE IN SEARCH CALCULATOR AND GO THERE.

>> THAT WILL ESTIMATE.

>> FOR KENTUCKY COLLEGES ESTIMATE COST AND FINANCIAL AID.

WE ALSO DO OFFER A REPORT CALLED GETTING THE FACTS WHICH STUDENTS CAN COMPLETE ON THEIR KHEA.COM ACCOUNT.

A MOCK FAFSA TO SEE WHAT THEIR POTENTIAL FINANCIAL AID WOULD BE.

>> AND ALL OF OUR COLLEGES OFFER THE SAME THING ON OUR WEB PAGE FOR INDIVIDUAL COLLEGES.

SO IF THEY WANT THE SEARCH, GO TO GEORGETOWN, THEY CAN GO TO GEORGETOWN FINANCIAL AID PAGE AND DO THEIR NET PRICE CALCULATOR FOR GEORGETOWN AS WELL.

>> OKAY.

GREAT.

THAT HAS THE WHERE WOULD YOU SUGGEST PEOPLE START.

>> THAT'S A WAY TO GET A BALL PARK IDEA OF WHAT THEIR FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

SO YES, GEORGETOWN, I'LL SPEAK FOR ME SPECIFICALLY, WE WILL NOT START SENDING OUT AWARD PACKAGES UNTIL THE LATTER PART OF NOVEMBER.

SO IF THEY WANT AN IDEA OF WHAT THE FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE MIGHT LOOK LIKE, WOULD I CHECK OUT GEORGETOWN COLLEGES NET PRICE CALCULATOR.

IT'S EASIERIEST TO GO TO THE SEARCH BAR OF THE WEBSITE AND PUT IN NET PRICE CALCULATOR AND IT'S THE FIRST LINK.

>> >> ANOTHER REASON IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET IT DONE EARLY IS BECAUSE SOME OF THESE ARE FIRST COME FIRST SERVE, CORRECT?

>> YES.

>> TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

IS THAT SCHOLARSHIPS, FINANCIAL AID, IS IT EVERYTHING?

>> IT'S EVERYTHING.

>> ALL AID IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE.

>> EVERY SCHOOL HAS AN INSTITUTIONAL BUDGET OF WHAT WE CAN Ard WAS.

THE STATE HAS THEIR BUDGET AS FAR AS GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS SO THE QUICKER YOU CAN COMPLETE THAT FAFSA AND IT BE ACCURATE, THE BETTER OFF THAT STUDENT WILL BE.

>> THAT'S I THINK REALLY IMPORTANT, SO GOING BACK TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS, THERE ARE SOME NEW SCHRP TUBS OUT THERE FROM THE COLLEGE BOARD.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THOSE?

>> THE ONLY NEW SCHOLARSHIP THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH, I'M THINKING IS REALLY NOT NEW IS WORK READY.

I'M SORRY.

AND THAT'S STATE.

THAT WOULD BE THE STATE SCHOLARSHIP.

I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM COLLEGE BOARD.

>> I'M FAMILIAR WITH IT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WORK READY THEN.

>> WORK READY, SURE LAST DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP.

IT IS A GREAT PROGRAM.

WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS BEING AT THE SCHOOL TECHNICAL COLLEGE BECAUSE THERE ARE FIVE AREAS THEY HAVE TO BE IN IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THE WORK READY SCHOLARSHIP.

IT IS LAST DOLLAR.

REQUIRES THE FAFSA.

WORKING WITH STUDENTS, WHAT WE HAVE NOTICED IS STUDENTS DO NOT REALIZE IT DOES REQUIRE THE FAFSA SO THAT'S A STEP THEY MISS AND IT IS TWO PRONG.

THEY DO THE FAFSA AND HAVE TO APPLY THROUGH THE KHIA WEBSITE.

THAT DETERMINES WHO IS ELIGIBLE AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO JOPLIN.

>> SO WORK READY IS MOO I WHEELHOUSE.

THE WORK READY SCHOLARSHIP, AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.

IT COVERS FIVE JOB SECTORS.

HEALTHCARE, CONSTRUCTION, BUSINESS AND I.T., ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS.

IT'S A LAST DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP MEANING THAT AFTER ANY GRANTS, KES MONEY THAT HAVE BEEN APPLIED, REMAINING BALANCE COULD BE COVERED BY THE WORK READY SCHOLARSHIP.

ONE QUESTION I GET IS IF THERE IS AN INCOME REQUIREMENT.

DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE UNDER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INCOME.

THE ANSWER NO, SIR.

THERE IS NO INCOME REQUIREMENT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF MIDDLE WORKING CLASS FAMILIES WHO MAYBE MISS OUT ON THE PELL GRANT MISS OUT ON STATE GRANTS AND USE THIS SCHOLARSHIP TO GET THE LAST DOLLAR TUITION: A LOT OF STUDENTS SAY THAT SOUNDS GREAT BUT I I DON'T WANT AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE WHICH IS THE HIGHEST AGREE THAT THE WORK READY CAN OFFER.

I WANT A BACHELOR'S DEGREE.

WELL, A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO USE THE WORK READY SCHOLARSHIP ARE USING THAT TO GET A TWO-YEAR DEGREE FIRST AND TRANSFER TO A FOUR-YEAR SCHOOL AND FINISH UP AND PAY TWO YEARS FOR A BA MUCH LORE'S DEGREE.

IT'S AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS AT OUR INSTITUTION THAT COMPLETE FOR CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS.

>> CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS.

IT HELPS IN THE HEALTHCARE WITH PHLEBOTOMY AND NURSE AID, GETTING STUDENTS COMPLETED QUICKLY AND READY TO GO TO WORK.

IT HAS BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL FOR OUR INSTITUTION.

: IS IT IMPORTANT THESE STUDENTS KNOW LIKE IN THE TECHNICAL COLLEGES OR ANY COLLEGE REALLY DO THEY HAVE TO KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO DO OR MAJOR IN?

HOW MUCH DO THEY HAVE TO THOUGH WHAT THEY WANT FROM THEIR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE TO START THE FINANCIAL AID PROCESS.

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THEY CAN COME IN UNDECIDED AND TAKE THEIR CLASSES AND DETERMINE FROM THE CLASSES WHAT IS INTERESTING THEM.

ARE THEY INTERESTED IN THE SCIENCES, HISTORY?

THEN THEY CAN START DEVELOPING A MAJOR THROUGH THOSE CLASSES THEY FIND INTERESTING AND PERFORM WELL.

>> ONE OTHER THING YOU MENTION A LOT OF PEOPLE FIGURE THAT I MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY TO QUALIFY FOR ANYTHING.

AND SO THEY JUST SKIP IT COMPLETELY.

THAT'S SUCH A MISTAKE.

DON'T DO THAT.

TELL THEM WHY.

>> AS JOPLIN SAID, WHAT I REALLY LOVE ABOUT THE WORK READY PROGRAM IS IT GETS THAT STUDENT WHO IS THAT MIDDLE INCOME FAMILY WHO MAY NOT QUALIFY FOR GRANT MONEY BUT THEY JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHING TO HELP THEM TO FURTHER THEIR STUDENT'S EDUCATION AND THE WORK READY SCHOLARSHIP IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT.

>> DO YOU SEE THAT HAPPEN, TOO?

>> I SEE IT FOR PRIVATE COLLEGES.

WE OFFER, KHEA OFFERS THE KENTUCKY TUITION GRANT, GRANT FOR KENTUCKY RESIDENTS WHO ATTEND A PRIVATE COLLEGE WITHIN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, TRANSYLVANIA AND GEORGETOWN TO NAME TWO THAT PARTICIPATE AND UTILIZE AND YOU DON'T NEED TO BE PELL ELIGIBLE.

MANY OF OUR MIDDLE INCOME STUDENTS QUALIFY FOR THAT.

>> YOU KNOW WE OBVIOUSLY WANT ALL THE STUDENTS TO GO TO COLLEGE IN KENTUCKY.

WHAT THE ABOUT THE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT GOING TO SCHOOL IN THE STATE.

CAN YOU STILL HELP THEM AND WHAT KIND OF DOESN'TS ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM?

>> YEAH, SO WE CAN STILL HELP THEM.

ONE THING I TELL THEM, I DO WORK FOR A STATE AGENCY SO A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO APPLY FOR ARE STATE PROGRAMS BUT THE FAFSA IS A FEDERAL FORM SO THAT FEDERAL PELL GRANT, YOUR FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS GO ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

BUT OF COURSE I'M A BIT OF A HOMER SO I'M BIAS TOWARDS KENTUCKY.

>> YOU ARE SOME.

I'M SURE YOU ALL WOULD LIKE-- BUT THEY COULD STILL COME TO YOU WITH QUESTIONS?

>> DEFINITELY.

YES.

THEY'RE GOING TO GET THEIR BEST INFORMATION LOOKING AT THE SCHOOLS THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY PLANNING ON ATTENDING SO I'LL JUST SAY MY STUDENT ATTENDS A SCHOOL OUTSIDE THE STATE OF KENTUCKY AND I KNOW A LOT ABOUT FINANCIAL AID BUT I FOUND IT BEST THAT HE NEEDS TO WORK WITH THE ADMISSIONS TEAM AT THE SCHOOL HE IS ATTENDING IN THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE STUDENT STARTS TAKING SOME OWNERSHIP IN THIS AND THEY NEED TO START LEARNING TO MAKE THE PHONE CALLS AND GETTING QUESTIONS ANSWERED THEMSELVES.

THE PARENTS ARE THERE TO HELP THEM WITH THE RIGHT QUESTION BUT IT GOES A LONG WAY IF THE STUDENT CALLS THE SCHOOL DIRECTLY.

>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT.

I'M SURE YOU ALL TALK TO PARENTS ALL DAY LONG WHO ARE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, THEY THINK THEY'RE DOING THE BEST FOR THEIR KID BUT IN FACT, YOU KNOW, THE SKILL OF JUST TALKING TO YOU AND FIGURING IT OUT FOR THEMSELVES IS AN EDUCATION SKILL IN AND OF ITSELF, RIGHT?

>> SOFT SKILLS.

>> PART OF THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE.

>> EXACTLY.

I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT WHAT ARE THE STUDENTS, THE DIFFERENCES YOU SEE BETWEEN TALKING TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS.

>> IN TALKING WITH THE STUDENT, I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER, MOST STUDENTS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT A TAX RETURN IS.

THEY HAVE TO BE-- THEY HAVE TO START EDUCATING THEIR STUDENT EARLY ON.

WORKING WITH THEM MAYBE IN THEIR JUNIOR YEAR.

THIS IS A TAX RETURN.

THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

I THINK AS A PARENT, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU ASSIST YOUR STUDENT AND NOT DO IT FOR YOUR STUDENT BECAUSE THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE ONE MISTAKE WE FIND, THE PARENTS FILL THE FAFSA OUT UNDER THEIR NAME BUT THEY'RE NOT THE STUDENT IT IS THE STUDENT'S EDUCATION SO EVERYTHING WE ARE LOOKING AT WE ARE LOOKING AT IT FROM THE STUDENT'S STANDPOINT.

WE HAVE A LITTLE RULE CALLED FURPA THAT PROTECTS THE STUDENT IN THAT WE CAN'T TALK TO THE PARENT WITHOUT THE STUDENT'S PERMISSION.

IT'S BEST THAT YOU EDUCATE YOUR STUDENT EARLY ON START HELPING THEM TRANSITIONING TEACHING THEM A FEW THINGS ABOUT LIFE SKILLS IN THEIR JUNIOR YEAR OR EARLY ON TO HELP THEM IN THE COLLEGE WORLD BECAUSE THERE IS REALLY NO MORE PARENT-TEACHER CONVERSATION ONCE YOU GET TO COLLEGE.

YOUR STUDENT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE AABLE TO TALK TO THE PROFESSOR.

>> THAT'S THE TRUTH.

AND JUST, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES AS PARENTS, I'M SURE YOU SEE, THIS YOU FEEL LIKE IT IS EASIER TO DO IT ALL YOURSELF.

IT IS GOING TO BE FASTERSER BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT A TAX RETURN IS BUT I THINK THAT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT THE STUDENTS GET INVOLVED BECAUSE THEY LEARN TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES, TOO, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> AND IT IS THEIR EDUCATION.

IT'S THEIR INVESTMENT.

IT'S THEIR FIRST INVESTMENT THAT THEY'RE MAKING EARLY IN EARLY ADULTHOOD.

>> I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE WE WORK WITH 18 AND 17 YEAR OLDS.

THEY'RE YOUNG ADULTS.

THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO GAIN THE SOFT SKILLS, CONTACTING SCHOOLS, ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS.

SOMETHING I KNOW WE TALK ABOUT A LOT WITH MY CO-WORKERS, STUDENTS DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TO HELP THEM THROUGH IT BUT HAVE YOU TO COME TO US FIRST BEFORE WE CAN DO THAT.

THIS IS NOT THE PARENTS FINANCIAL AID.

THIS IS THE STUDENT'S FINANCIAL AID.

AND WHEN THEY START TAKING OUT STUDENT LOANS, THEY WILL IMMEDIATELY START GETTING INFORMATION FROM THEIR LENDER REGARDING HOW MUCH HAS BEEN DISBURSED, WHAT THEIR ESTIMATED PAYMENT IS AND IT'S GOING TO COME IN THEIR NAME, IT'S NOT GOING TO COME INTO THE PARENTS NAME.

>> GREAT POINTS ALL AROUND.

LET'S TALK REAL QUICK ABOUT WESTERN ANNOUNCED THEY'RE GOING TO BASE SCHOLARSHIP DECISIONS ON G.P.A.

INSTEAD OF A.C.T.

SCORES.

AND SO IT LOWERED G.P.A.

REQUIREMENT FROM 3.3 TO 3.0.

HOW HAVE YOU GUYS SEEN THAT GOING AND DO YOU THINK OTHER INSTITUTIONS WILL FOLLOW SUIT?

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO DOING THAT?

>> YOU SEE OTHER INSTITUTIONS DOING THIS, SPECIFICALLY GEORGETOWN COLLEGE IS GOING TO AN A.C.T.

OPTIONAL ADMITTANCE, SO IF YOU HAVE A HIGH A.C.T.

SCORE, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND SUBMIT THAT.

BUT YOU CAN ALSO SUBMIT OR BE ADMITTED WITHOUT THE A.C.T.

SCORE.

THERE IS DIFFERENT MATRIX, FINANCIAL AID MATRIX THAT WE WOULD LOOK AT, DEPENDING ON WHAT IS SUBMITTED.

BUT ESPECIALLY DURING COVID TIMES, WHERE A.C.T.

WAS UNAVAILABLE, A LOT OF SCHOOLS STARTED LOOKING AT THIS AS A VIABLE OPTION.

>> SAME AT BEREA AS WELL?

>> YES.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO STICK AROUND.

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK IT'S HERE TO STAY.

I THINK THAT'S THE NEW NORM.

>> SO MANY THINGS ARE THE NEW NORMAL.

WE ARE ALL LEARNING, RIGHT?

DO YOU THINK THAT'S HELPFUL FOR STUDENTS?

IN THE LONG RUN?

>> I'LL SAY FOR ME, IT IS HARD TO SAY.

WE ARE STILL COLLECTING THE DATA ON THAT.

WE WANT TO-- I DO SEE THAT A STUDENT WITH A HIGHER A.C.T.

SCORE TEND TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL IN COLLEGE.

IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME SCORE THE SAME TEST GIVEN TO MULTIPLE STUDENTS BUT THAT I DO SEE SOME STUDENTS DOING WELL THAT ARE POOR TEST TAKERS WHO DO NOT TEST WELL ON STANDARDIZED TESTS SO THERE IS SOMETHING FOR THAT STUDENT AS WELL.

>> OKAY.

TALKING ABOUT OTHER SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS OUT THERE AND LIKE WE'VE SAID, DIFFERS FROM COLLEGE TO COLLEGE AND KID TO KID.

I MOON MEAN WHAT THEY'RE GOOD AT AND WHATEVER.

SO WHAT KIND OF SCHOLARSHIP SHOULD PEOPLE BE LOOKING FOR?

WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GET THE BIGGEST BANG FOR THEIR BUCK?

>> SO I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK AND ONE PLACE YOU CAN'T MISS OUT ON IS GOING TO BE YOUR HIGH SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELOR'S OFFICE.

WE TALK ABOUT STATEWIDE SCHOLARSHIPS, NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS, LARGE COMPANIES OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS WORTH TONS AND TONS OF MONEY BUT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS APPLYING FOR THEM.

IN THE SPRING OF YOUR SENIOR YEAR, BEST PLACE TO LOOK IS YOUR GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, LOCAL SCROORPS, BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS THAT OFFER THOUSAND TO 2,000 SCHOLARSHIPS, WRITE AN ESSAY, FILL OUT AN APPLICATION.

ALL OF MY SCHOOLS IT SEEMS LIKE THE SAME FEW KIDS WIN THE SCHOLARSHIPS NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE NECESSARILY BEST STUDENTS.

IT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE THE STUDENTS WHO TOOK THE TIME TO FILL OUT THE ESSAY, TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION FOR ALL OF THOSE.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT LOOKING AT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR OFFICE IN THE SPRING.

>> AND THERE IS A CHURCH SCHOLARSHIPS AS WELL.

IF THEIR PARENT IS A VSH IN THE ARMED FORCES, THERE ARE VETERANS BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS THEY CAN ATTEND A COLLEGE AND RECEIVE V.A.

BENEFITS TO HELP THEM MAKE THE COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE.

>> AS FAR AS VETERANS BENEFITS, HOW DO THEY FIND OUT ABOUT THEIR VETERANS BENEFITS OR WHERE DO THEY GO FOR THAT?

>> THEY WILL FIRST TALK WITH THE PARENT TO SEE IF THEY MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE AND THEN TO CONTACT THEIR LOCAL V.A.

OFFICE WOULD BE THE BEST SOURCE.

>> AND WHAT ARE SOME OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS OR PARTICULAR SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR VETERANS OR FAMILIES OF VETERANS?

>> THERE IS.

I WOULD ALSO CHECK AT THE COLLEGE WHERE YOU WISH TO ATTEND SO SEE WHAT THE VETERANS OFFICE BECAUSE VETERANS HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM FINANCIAL AID AND THAT WAS SEVERAL YEARS BACK.

IT'S NO LONGER PART OF THE FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE WHICH I THINK IS A WONDERFUL IDEA.

USED TO BE WE HAD TO COUNT THE VETERANS BENEFITS AS PART OF THE AID PACKAGE.

WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT NOW.

SO IT IS A SEPARATE OFFICE FROM THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE NOW.

I WOULD EFFECT WHICH AND-- CHECK THERE AND ANOTHER PLACE THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

WE MENTION THE WAIVERS.

THERE ARE TONS OF KRS WAIVERS THAT ARE ON THE KHEA.COM WEBSITE FOR KENTUCKY RESIDENTS.

THAT'S WHERE WOULD I START TO SEE YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR A WAIVER THAT YOU DID NOT, FOSTER ADOPTIVE WAIVERS.

POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

THEIR DEPENDENTS COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR ANY STATE FUNDED INSTITUTION.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER SOURCE OF FUNDING.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE UNCLAIMED SCHOLARSHIP DOLLARS.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE EXACTLY?

IF WE SAY THAT YOU GOT TO GET THEM EARLY, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT DON'T, WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE?

>> WELL, THEY MAY JUST ROLL ON OVER THERE.

>> WE DON'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM: WE DON'T RUN OUT OF GRANTS.

>> I THINK THE MYTH IS THAT IS THAT YOU MAY HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS THAT HAVE CERTAIN CRITERIA AS AN INSTITUTION MAY NOT-- THEY MAY HAVE A DONOR THAT GIVES SOMETHING TO SOMEONE WHO IS LEFT HANDED AND CAN ONLY ATTEND CLASSES THREE DAYS A WEEK ON TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH, SOME WEIRD REQUIREMENT LIKE THAT THAT MAY NOT BE AWARDED EACH YEAR.

BUT I THINK AS A WHOLE WE AWARD ALL AID THAT HAS BEEN HIVE THAT WE HAVE.

YOU MAY NOT FIND A RECIPIENT TO MEETS THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THAT SCHOLARSHIP AND THOSE GO UNCLAIMED BUT AS FAR AS PELL GRANT OR STATE GRANT MONEY.

>> WE PUSH IT OUT.

>> IT'S GONE.

>> WHICH IS WHY YOU NEED TO DO IT EARLY ENOUGH BUT AGAIN THE FACEBOOK PAGE IS WHERE YOU SHOULD GO IF YOU ARE WATCHING NOW AND YOU THINK WELL I ACTUALLY AM LEFT HANDED AND CAN ONLY ATTEND CLASSES ON TUESDAYS, SO I NEED TO KNOW MY SPECIFIC QUESTION MUCH YOU CAN GET YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION ANSWERED ON FACEBOOK.COM/KASFA FACEBOOK PAGE KASFAA AND COMGHT ON THERE AND COMMENT ON THERE AND WE GUARANTEE THE QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED.

MEANTIME WE HAVE MORE QUESTIONS TO TALK ABOUT HERE.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT REPAYMENT, OKAY.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT GIVING AWAY MONEY.

HOW DO THEY START PAYING THAT BACK?

BIG MYTHS HERE.

DO SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS, WE KNOW LOANS ARE PAID BACK.

WHAT ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS?

>> THEY'RE NOT PAID GRANT.

>> BUT HAVE YOU TO BE CAREFUL WITH SOME SCHOLARSHIPS.

READ THE FINE LINE, PARTICULARLY IF THEY'RE COMING FROM AN OUTSIDE OF THE INSTITUTION.

SOME SCHOLARSHIPS IF YOU DO NOT MEET THEIR REQUIREMENTS OR DO NOT MEET THE OBLIGATION AFTER GRADUATION, THEY CAN BECOME A LOAN.

YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH THOSE AND READ THE FINE PRINT.

READ.

YOU HAVE TO READ.

>> WE HAVE SAID THIS SEVERAL TIMES.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART, GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS DO NOT HAVE TO BE REPAID.

>> SO FREE MONEY.

>> SAY IT AGAIN.

>> IT'S FREE MONEY.

>> HONEST TO GOODNESS.

>> BUT STUDENT LOANS, OF COURSE, DO HAVE TO BE PAID BACK AND HAVE TO BE PAID BACK IN MANY FOLD.

THIS IS AN ISSUE, OF COURSE, ONE STATISTIC HERE IN 2017, ALMOST TWO-THIRDS OF KENTUCKY'S UNDERGRADUATES HAD ACCUMULATED AN AVERAGE OF $28,447 BEFORE GRADUATION BEFORE THEY'RE EVEN OUT OF SCHOOL.

THAT IS WAY UP JUST IN 2008 IT WAS ABOUT 15 GRAND.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW THIS REPAYMENT PROCESS WORKS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS STUDENTS CAN AVOID GETTING INTO THIS KIND OF CRIPPLING DEBT BEFORE THEY'RE EVEN OUT OF COLLEGE?

>> FIRST I WOULD SAY BORROW RESPONSIBLY.

ONLY BORROW WHAT YOU NEED.

LIVE LIKE A STUDENT WHILE YOU ARE A STUDENT BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO LIVE LIKE A STUDENT ONCE YOU GRADUATE.

I WANT THEM TO HAVE THE SALARY COME IN AND BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THINGS THAT THEY REALLY WANT INSTEAD OF BEING COVERED IN DEBT.

WE TALK ABOUT THAT.

WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT THE TYPE OF LOANS THE STUDENTS RECEIVE.

THERE IS A SUBSIDIZED OWN AND THE UNSUBSIDIZED LOAN.

SUBSIDIZED LOAN IS A NEED-BASED LOAN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT DOES NOT ACCRUE INTEREST WHILE THEY'RE IN SCHOOL.

SO THAT WHEN THEY GRADUATE, THEY THEN START PAYING, MAKING PAYMENTS ON THAT AND THAT'S WHEN THE PRINCIPAL WILL START ACCRUING.

YOU ALSO THEN HAVE THE UNSUBSIDIZED LOAN WHICH IS NON-NEED BASED AND IT DOES START ACCRUING ONCE THE STUDENT IS IN SCHOOL.

BUT THE FAMILY OR THE STUDENT WILL RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION FROM THEIR LENDER WHEN THEY LOAN IS DISBURSED AND WHAT THEIR ESTIMATED PAYMENT IS GOING TO BE ALSO WHEN THEY DO ENTRANCE COUNSELING AND A MASTER PROMISSORY NOTE, THEY GET AN ESTIMATE ON THE AMOUNT OF LOAN THEY HAVE TO TAKE OUT ON THE SPECIFIC COLLEGE THEY'RE GOING TO.

THEY WILL KNOW AHEAD OF TIME IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE OKAY TABLING OUT THAT DEBT.

AND ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION, REPAYMENT STARTS FOR FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS SIX MONTHS AFTER THE STUDENT IS NO LONGER AT LEAST A LAUGH TIME STUDENT.

WHAT I EMPHASIZE TO STUDENTS, NOTICE HOW I DIDN'T WAY GRADUATE.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY YOU GO TO A SCHOOL.

YOU BORROW SOME LOANS, YOU END UP GOING FOR ONE YEAR AND FOR WHATEVER REASON YOU HAVE TO LEAVE.

SIX MONTHS AFTER YOU ARE NO LONGER THAT HALFTIME CORRECTING STUDENT, YOUR REPAYMENT BEGINS FOR A LOT OF STUDENTS THAT WOULD BE AFTER GRADUATION OR DEFERRED IF THEY ENTER A MASTER OR PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS.

IT'S CONTINGENT ON SIX MONTHS AFTER YOU ARE NO LONGER A HALFTIME COLLEGE STUDENT.

>> WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKES YOU SEE PEOPLE MAKE WHEN IT COMES TO LOANS?

>> BORROWING WHAT THEY REALLY DON'T NEED.

LIVE LIKE THE COLLEGE STUDENT, YOU KNOW, RA MEN NOODLES AND HOT DOGS.

>> WE ALL DID IT.

>> WE SURVIVED.

BUT LIVE THAT WAY AND THEN ABCS.

ALWAYS BORROW CONSERVATIVELY.

THAT'S THE BASICS I HAVE FOR EVERYBODY.

IF YOU NEED IT, TAKE IT.

IF YOU DON'T, DON'T TAKE IT.

WE DO OFFER THE MAXIMUM THAT THE GOVERNMENT ALLOWS TO YOU BORROW, BUT IF YOU DON'T NEED IT, DON'T TAKE THE MAXIMUM JUST BECAUSE THE COLLEGE OFFERED IT TO YOU.

IF YOU ONLY NEED ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS BECAUSE YOU HAVE SAVED THE OTHER 2,000, BORROW ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

DON'T BORROW THE 4 OR 5,000 THAT WE'VE OFFERED YOU.

THAT'S MY KEY THAT I LIKE TO ALWAYS BORROW CONSERVATIVELY.

TAKE WHAT YOU NEED.

>> THAT'S GOOD ADVICE BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE SEE THE DOLLAR SIGNS AND THEY'RE LIKE, I COULD HAVE THIS MUCH MONEY RIGHT NOW?

>> YOU CAN CHANGE THE LOAN AMOUNT F. YOU BORROW 5500 AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEMESTER OR SCHOOL YEAR AND YOU SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I CAN AFFORD TO TAKE OFF 2,000 OF THAT LOAN, I WANT TO TALK TO A FINANCIAL AID OFFICE AND SEE IF THEY CAN LOWER THE LOAN SO YOU CAN LOWER THE LOAN AND MAKE THE PAYMENTS LOWER.

>> THAT'S GREAT ADVICE.

DO YOU SEE THE SAME?

>> YES.

>> ONE THING I WAS GOING TO SAY IS ADVANCE PLANNING ALSO.

RIGHT NOW THE NEWS IS THE PUBLIC SERVICE LOANS FORGIVE ES-- FORGIVENESS WHICH IS HUGE FOR PEOPLE WHO GO INTO PUBLIC SERVICE MAKE 10 YEARS OF ON TIME PAYMENTS FOR THEIR LOANS COULD GET IT FORGIVEN; THE BALANCE, NON-TAXABLE.

WHO KNOWS IF THAT'S GOING TO BE AROUND IN 10 MORE YEARS.

BUT THAT'S SOMETHING TO FOLLOW ALSO.

THAT'S GREAT RIGHT NO NOW.

>> THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE HEAR IN THE NEWS ABOUT STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS AND THAT ALL SOUNDS GREAT BUT THAT COULD ALSO BE A BIG WHAT IF, RIGHT?

>> I WOULD SAY DON'T PUT ALL OF YOUR EGGS IN THAT BASKET.

DON'T BE DEPENDING ON ALL OF YOUR LOANS BEING MAGICALLY FORGIVEN.

>> RIGHT.

>> IF IT HAPPENS, GREAT.

IF IT DOESN'T, YOU ARE PREPARED TO MAKE THE LOAN PAYMENTS.

>> I WOULD ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO STAY IN CONTACT WITH A LENDER.

YOU KNOW WHO YOUR LENDER IS.

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, YOU WORK WITH THEM BECAUSE A ZERO PAYMENT DOLLAR PAYMENT IS AN ON TIME PAYMENT FOR STUDENTS IN CERTAIN CASES.

YOU CAN GET A FOREBEARANCE.

THE WAY YOU CONTACTED THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE BECAUSE YOUR INCOME CHANGED WHILE WERE YOU IN SCHOOL, YOU NEED TO CONTACT YOUR LENDER IF INCOME CHANGES WHILE YOU ARE IN REPAYMENT.

WORK WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU, TOO.

>> YEAH, SO I MEAN THAT'S AN INSTANCE WHERE YOU DON'T FIND A JOB, YOU LOSE YOUR JOB.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS.

YOU CAN CALL THEM AND WORK OR PERHAPS GET HELP?

>> YES.

THEY CAN ALLOW TO YOU NOT MAKE PAYMENTS OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT WHILE YOU ARE IN THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP BUT IF YOU DO NOT CALL THEM AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO EXPECT THE PAYMENT.

ALSO I WAS GOING TO STATE THAT THEY DON'T FLOW EXACTLY WHERE YOU LIVE.

SO IF YOU MOVE, YOU NEED TO TELL YOUR LENDER WHERE YOU HAVE MOVED BECAUSE THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOURSELF IS TO DEFAULT ON THE LOANS.

THAT'S THE WORST THING.

IT CAN PREVENT FROM YOU GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AT A LATER DATE IF YOU WANT TO GO TO GRAD SCHOOL OR YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE FINANCIAL AID BECAUSE YOU DEFAULTED ON LOANS AND IT CAN HURT YOUR CREDIT SCORE SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO STAY IN CONTACT WITH YOUR LENDERS.

THEY'RE THERE TO HELP YOU BUT YET THEY WANT THE PAYMENT, TOO.

>> I THINK THIS ALL GOES BACK TO WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT ABOUT GIVING YOUR STUDENT THAT SENSE OF OWNERSHIP THAT THIS IS THEIR LOAN AND IF YOU CAN GET THEM COMFORTABLE TALKING WITH YOU ALL IN THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE AND EVENTUALLY HER TO GOING TO BE COMFORTABLE TALKING WITH THE LENDER ABOUT THESE OTHER SITUATIONS.

WHAT IS THE BIG MISTAKE I GUESS YOU SEE STUDENTS MAKING WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCIAL AID IN GENERAL?

THE LOANS OR ANYTHING ELSE?

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST MISTAKES YOU THINK PEOPLE MAKE?

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST MISTAKES STUDENTS MAKE IS APPLYING LATE.

THAT'S HUGE.

AND NOT READING.

YOU DON'T-- HAVE YOU TO READ THE SMALL PRINT.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, THEN WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON.

BUT NOT READING AND NOT FOLLOWING THE DIRECTIONS THAT WERE GIVEN TO YOU.

HUGE MISTAKE.

>> ARE THERE CERTAIN THINGS YOU THINK PEOPLE JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCIAL AID?

ARE THERE SOME MYTHS THAT PEOPLE COME TO YOU WHO SAY, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT THIS AND YOU THINK NO, NOT AT ALL?

>> YES, THAT DOES HAPPEN.

ONE THING WE'VE TRIED TO DO OR I'M SURE ALL OF US HAVE, TO DEFINITIONS, TERMS.

I SPEAK IN MY LINGO, AND THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT MAY NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT-- WE THROW OUT ACRONYM ALL THE TIME.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF ACRONYMS.

>> AND IT'S REALLY-- YOU'VE GOT TO BE UNDERSTANDING IT THE SAME.

IF YOU TALK ABOUT TUITION AND I TALK ABOUT TUITION, ARE WE REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING?

SO I THINK THAT'S A BIG THING THAT WE, AS FINANCIAL AID PEOPLE NEED TO REALLY BE AWARE OF AND TRY TO ASSIST THE STUDENT AND FAMILY IN LEARNING WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT I FIND THAT THAT IS A BIG THING.

>> YEAH, AND SO WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT GETTING STARTED EARLY, FILLING SOWT THE FAFSA, STEP ONE.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY-- I MEAN IS THAT THE NUMBER ONE STEP OR DO YOU NEED TO CHOOSE A COLLEGE FIRST?

WHAT DO PARENTS OR STUDENTS NEED TO BE DOING RIGHT NOW TO PREPARE FOR COLLEGE NEXT YEAR?

>> WELL, AT THIS POINT I WOULD SAY SIMULTANEOUSLY START APPLYING FOR ADMISSIONS INTO COLLEGES THAT THEY ARE LEAST INTERESTED IN AND THEN FILLING OUT THE AS IF-- THE FAFSA.

>> THIS TIME OF YEAR I TELL STUDENTS GET THE FAFSA IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER OCTOBER 1.

GET THE APPLICATIONS IN IN THE FALL.

YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE DATES.

YOU DON'T WANT TO GO PAST THOSE NOW IS THE TIME TO BE APPLYING.

SPRING IS THE TIME TO BE DECIDING.

>> IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO VISIT COLLEGES SMED IF YOU ARE UNSURE WHAT COLLEGE YOU WANT TO GO TO, GO TO A BIG FOUR YEAR PUBLIC, GO TO A TWO YEAR, GO TO A SMALL PRIVATE AND SEE WHAT IS GOING TO FIT FOR YOU.

YOU ARE ONLY GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT A COLLEGE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE.

SOME STUDENTS FEEL THEY MAY GET LOST IN A FOUR-YEAR PUBLIC AND THERE ARE STUDENTS WHO FEEL THERE IS JUST NOT ENOUGH FOR THEM AT A FOUR-YEAR PRIVATE.

SO IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE FIT FOR THE STUDENT.

THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT ALSO IS TO VISIT WITH THEIR ADMISSIONS TEAM AT THOSE PARTICULAR COLLEGES.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE CHEERLEADERS FOR YOU.

THEY'RE GOING TO ADVOCATE FOR YOU THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A CAMPUS TOUR THEY'RE GOING TO ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET AND SHOW YOU EVERYTHING ABOUT THE COLLEGE AND HOW IT CAN BE AFFORDABLE.

>> WOULD YOU SUGGEST THEY LIFT THE ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID OFFICES.

>> I WOULD HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH FINANCIAL AID.

DEFINITELY VISIT WITH YOUR ADMISSIONS BECAUSE YOU GO TO A COLLEGE, THEY'RE GOING TO SET YOU UP WITH ADMISSION IS TEAM AND HAVE A SIT DOWN WITH THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE AS WELL.

>> AS FAR AS GETTING IN TOUCH WITH KHEA AND FOR SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THEY WANT TO GO THE AALL, YOU ARE SOMEBODY THAT MAYBE THEY SHOULD CONTACT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AS I SAID BEFORE, EVERY SINGLE COUNTY, EVERY HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE STATE, YOU HAVE AN OUTREACH COUNSELOR HERE TO HELP YOU.

HAVE I PARENTS APOLOGIZING TO ME FOR ASKING ME QUESTIONS AND EMAILING ME.

I TELL THEM THAT'S KNEW JOB.

THAT'S WHY I AM HERE, TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

MOST FOLKS APPLY TO COLLEGE ONCE IN THEIR LIVES WHEN THEY'RE A SENIOR.

NOBODY EXPECTS YOU TO KNOW THIS.

WE DO THIS YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT OVER AND OVER.

WE ARE ALL HAPPY TO HELP, PICK UP THE PHONE AND ANSWER EMAILS AND QUESTIONS.

>> AND WHAT IF YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE AN ADULT WHO PLANS TO GO BACK TO COLLEGE.

WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT YOUR SEEN SENIOR YEAR DO THIS AND VISIT COLLEGES F. YOU ARE AN ADULT WHERE DO YOU START?

>> START WITH ADMISSIONS AND THEN FINANCIAL AID.

THERE IS NO AGE LIMIT FOR FINANCIAL AID SO WE ARE HERE TO HELP ALL STUDENTS BECAUSE FOR US, A STUDENT IS A STUDENT.

IF YOU ARE 18 OR 80.

WE LOVE ALL OUR STUDENTS THE SAME.

SO START WITH ADMISSIONS OFFICE, COME TO THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE AND THE WAY YOU COMPLETE YOUR FAFSA MAY BE DIFFERENT IF YOU ARE AN ADULT STUDENT WITH A FAMILY, THEN A HIGH SCHOOL COUNTY STUDENT BUT WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU ALL THE SAME.

>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE, WELL, 18 YEAR OLDS AS WELL AS 80 YEAR OLDS, I GUESS, MAY THINK, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T AFFORD COLLEGE.

I SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD IT.

YOU HEAR ALL THE TIME ABOUT HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE?

>> FIRST OFF, THE ADMISSIONS TEAM IS GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW AFFORDABLE IT CAN BE.

LIKE I STATED JUST A FEW SECONDS AGO, THEY'RE YOUR CHEER LEADERS AND THEY'RE GOING TO TELL YOU HOW YOU CAN AFFORD A FOUR-YEAR PRIVATE.

WE ARE GOING TO SHOW YOU THE OPTIONS IT WILL TAKE, THE GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS YOU COULD QUALIFY FOR.

IF YOU FILE YOUR FAFSA, WE CAN GIVE YOU AN IDEA WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE THROUGH THE NET PRICE CALCULATOR.

THEY'RE GOING TO GET A LOT OF INFORMATION AHEAD OF TIME TO SHOW THAT IT CAN BE AFFORDABLE.

YOU JUST HAVE TO LOOK.

>> YOU JUST REALLY HAVE TO PUT IN THE TIME AND EFFORT.

OKAY.

SO REAL QUICK, I'M GOING TO ASK YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR ANYBODY INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT FINANCIAL AID.

IF YOU COULD GIVE ONE PIECE OF REALLY IMPORTANT ADVICE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

THEY ARE REESE A, I'LL START WITH YOU THERESA.

>> THE FAFSA AND TALK TO THE FINANCIAL AID PEOPLE.

THAT'S JUST NUMBER ONE.

I JUST DON'T-- THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO START.

AND WE ARE FRIENDLY PEOPLE.

TALKING ABOUT MONEY CAN BE SCARY.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE HAVE BEEN WHERE YOU ARE.

>> AND YOU WANT TO HELP.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO GIVE AWAY FREE MONEY.

YOU ARE LIKE OPRAH, RIGHT?

[LAUGHTER] >> YOU GET A SCHOLARSHIP, YOU GET A GRANT!

>> REAL QUICK, BOB.

>> I WOULD SAY BE MINDFUL OF DEADLINES.

YOU KNOW, THE FAFSA IS ALREADY OPEN.

IF YOU HAVE NOT FILED THE FAFSA, DO IT NOW.

SECOND, WE TALK ABOUT INSTITUTIONAL AID.

THERE COULD BE ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS THAT HAVE SPECIFIC DEADLINES FOR APPLICATIONS SO THEY NEED TO BE MINDFUL WHEN THE SCHOLARSHIPS COME DUE.

>> REAL QUICK.

>> DON'T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS EITHER ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR OR NOT ELIGIBLE FOR.

YOU WON'T KNOW UNTIL YOU SIT DOWN, APPLY FOR THE COLLEGE AND APPLY FOR THE FAFSA.

>> GREAT ADVICE.

>> READ ALL QUESTIONS AND ASK IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.

>> YEP.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE FOR EDUCATION MATTERS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US AND SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE.

IT HAS BEEN HELPFUL.

WE HOPE WE HAVE HELPED YOU ADDRESS MANY OF THE ISSUES ABOUT COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS, FOR KET AND OUR GUESTS.

GOOD NIGHT.