Applying For Financial Aid - The FAFSA

With the start of a new year comes new opportunities, new resolutions and the green light to complete your FAFSA for next school year.

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the most common aid application used by colleges and universities. Depending on the schools that you have applied to, additional financial aid applications outside of the FAFSA may be required. It is recommended that you speak with the Financial Aid Office at the colleges you have applied to if you have any questions about what aid applications are required.

At Siena College, the only aid application that is required is the FAFSA.

To help you prepare for completing your FAFSA, let’s review some FAQs that our office receives during this time of year.

Is the FAFSA an application for the student or parent?

The FAFSA is the student’s financial aid application. Although financial information is required for both the student and parent, the application is being filed for the student. For example, if there are two students in the household that will be attending college, each student will submit their own FAFSA application.

Why can the FAFSA not be submitted before January 1st?

For students that are planning on attending college in the fall, your FAFSA will be completed using tax information for 2009. Therefore, you must wait for 2009 to come to a close before completing your FAFSA.

What type of information will you need to provide on my FAFSA?

The FAFSA requests information for both the student and parents. This information includes a combination of demographic and financial information. A large majority of the financial information will come directly from the 2009 tax forms.

What is the best way to complete and submit my FAFSA?

The fastest way to complete your FAFSA is online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Completing your FAFSA online provides you with several benefits including; online help, faster processing time and the ability to submit corrections if necessary. By submitting your FAFSA online, you and your parents will need to “sign” your FAFSA using your FAFSA PIN. You and your parents can apply for a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov.

When should the FAFSA be filed by?

It is recommended that your FAFSA is submitted by February 15th. By completing your FAFSA by this deadline it will allow enough time for your FAFSA to be processed and sent to the schools that you have listed on your FAFSA.

Remember to take your time when completing all aid applications. By reading the applications carefully and gathering the required information ahead of time you will be better prepared to submit your applications on time.

You’re in! Now what?

For months you’ve been filling out applications, meeting with your school counselor and driving long distances while your parents grill you about what you want to be, not when you grow up, but right now. You’ve learned about graduation rates and student body sizes. You know what FAFSA stands for and how to recalculate your GPA. You’re a pro-applier and it’s obvious in your well-deserved stack of acceptance letters.

Congrats!! You did it! Game over! Now you can sit back, relax, and let those colleges come to you!!

Sort of.

The bad news: The game really isn’t over once you’re admitted.

The good news: the ball is in your court and the steps you have to take post-acceptance are more fun and less anxiety-ridden.

More good news: we’re still here to help.

If you’re admitted and you know where you’re going:

Step 1: Send in your deposit. The sooner you send this in, the sooner you can apply for housing, fill out your health forms, and start getting mail and updates from a whole new population of college representatives like Res Life, Campus Programs, Faculty and more.

Step 2: Join any available online networks your college of choice may have in place. At Siena, for example, we have our own “Facebook-like” social network where admitted students can meet each other, join discussions, post pictures, etc. You can also find “Class of 2014” groups for almost every college on the real Facebook.

Step 3: Fill out your FAFSA and any other required Financial Aid forms. The sooner you do this, the better chance you have of receiving aid. Your parents will most likely have to help you with this, so set a date and don’t let them forget!

Step 4: Read your mail and e-mail! As much as we’d love to give you all the information you need in a 140-character tweet, there’s far too much that you just need to know. So read carefully and ask questions if you have them! We’re here to help.

If you’re admitted and you don’t know where to go:

Step 1: Don’t panic! You have until May 1^st to make your decision.

Step 2: Schedule a visit. Yes, again. Admissions Offices have programs designed for admitted students that are different from those for prospective students. Chances are, you can spend a day shadowing a current student or even stay overnight. Take advantage of these!

Step 3: Join any available online networks your schools may have in place. At Siena, for example, we have our own “Facebook-like” social network where admitted students can meet each other, join discussions, post pictures, etc. You can also find “Class of 2014” groups for almost every college on the real Facebook. You do not have to be committed to a college before joining these networks. They will help you learn about the school and its students. They'll also help you meet other undecided students just like yourself.

Step 4: Fill out your FAFSA and any other required Financial Aid forms. The sooner you do this, the better chance you have of receiving aid. Your parents will most likely have to help you with this, so set a date and don’t let them forget!

Step 5: Read your mail and e-mail! As much as we’d love to give you all the information you need in a 140-character tweet, there’s far too much that you just need to know. So read carefully and ask questions if you have them! We’re here to help.

The bottom line is that whether you’ve made your decision or not, being admitted doesn’t mean the process is complete. Follow the steps above and ask for help if needed. Before you know it, you’ll be right where you’re meant to be – probably reading a blog about surviving your first midterms!

Financial Aid at Siena ..... Siena's Accepted Student Network ..... Visit Siena

5 Myths About Transferring

Thinking about transferring to a different college? You’re not alone! Approximately 30% of college students transfer to a different school. The transfer process is an important one, but it does not have to be a chore! There are plenty of resources out there for you, so take advantage of them and enjoy the payoff when you are happy at your new school. Don’t let these statements below come true, educate yourself!

Myth #1: “I’m planning to transfer, so what I do now doesn’t matter.”

It’s never too early to start planning your transfer process. Although you may have intended to spend two years at your community college, or four years at your current University, you should begin making plans as soon as you know transferring is in your future. Always register for classes with “transfer” in mind and keep your grades up! It is vital to do well academically in order to make a change instead of staying stuck where you are.

Myth #2: “I can’t afford to transfer!”

Don’t get stuck on sticker price! Many private institutions can be just as competitive if not better in some cases with financial aid and scholarship packages. Don’t make cost your 1st reason for excluding or including a college in your search.

• Fill out your FAFSA and any additional forms needed.
• Schedule an appointment with the financial aid office to ask about scholarships and deadlines.

Myth #3: “The process is too confusing, I’ll never get in.”

Simplify the process and increase your chances of acceptance with three steps:

1. Research

• What does it take to get in? You’ll find that most colleges are very clear about their GPA requirements as well as what documents they require.

2. Visit

• Meet with Admissions to find out specific information about your major, campus life, and which credits will transfer. Get to know the school and let the admissions rep get to know you!
• Take a Tour

3. Stay Organized

• Know deadlines
• Label all documents with your full name and date of birth
• Follow up to make sure your documents were received
• Take your time to avoid mistakes
• Write a personal statement, even if it’s not required
• Ask for letters of recommendation EARLY
• Keep copies of everything you submit
• When you call, note who you speak with and keep their contact information

Myth #4: “It will take me FOREVER to graduate on time!”

• When you meet with an admissions counselor, ask about the minimum & maximum number of credits that will transfer
• Find out how long it will take you to complete your degree, get answers before you enroll!

Myth #5: “I got in, I’m done!”

Once you receive your acceptance letters, the decision might be over, but the transfer process is not.

• Follow up with thank you notes and phone calls to those who have helped you along the way (at your new and current school).
• Send final transcripts.
• Register for orientation to meet new people, familiarize yourself with your new campus and connect with faculty and staff.
• Complete any health or Residence Life forms if you are living on campus.

Because the circumstances for each transfer student are different, it is important that you stay involved and active throughout the entire process. Remember that once the transfer is over, you will be a happier college student well on your way to graduation! Good Luck!

To learn more about transferring to Siena, call me, Jen Sloan at (518) 782-6594 or e-mail me at jsloan@siena.edu.

Visit our website.

Deferred Vs. Waitlisted

Applications are filled out, essays and resume’s are written and all necessary high school documents have been sent! You did it, the application process is complete! Congratulations! Now you sit and wait for one of two decisions; accept or deny, right? Wrong! In addition to accept and deny, there are two additional decisions that a college may make. These decisions are defer and waitlist. They are not bad decisions, but what do they truly mean?

Definitions:

Deferred occurs to early action candidates at Siena and at other schools may occur to early decision or rolling admission applicants. It simply means more information is needed in order to make the best educated decision. Information may include new SAT/ACT scores, mid-term grades to track your senior year progress, additional letters of recommendation, etc. Deferred students are re-reviewed on March 1 at Siena, once all additional materials have been received. It would be wise to check with each school individually to see what their re-review process entails.

Waitlist occurs when a school has the necessary information to make a decision and unfortunately they do not have the space to immediately accept you. If space opens up and the admissions office is able to take more acceptances, you may then have the opportunity to “come off” the waitlist. At Siena, deferred students and regular admissions candidates can be waitlisted. It is best to check with each school you apply to and learn about their waitlist policy.

Even though these two decisions are not the decision you are initially looking for, there are some actions you can take that may bring you closer to that acceptance. What are they?

Deferred students should:

• Be in contact with the schools admissions office through email or phone and determine what each school specifically needs.
• Send senior year grades to each school (1/4’s, mid-term grades, etc.)
• Update schools with new testing scores (SAT or ACT).
• Show interest through visiting. This could include tours, interviews or group information sessions.

Waitlisted students should:

• Call the admissions office at the school you are waitlisted at and ask about their past waitlist experience. Did they go to the waitlist and if so when? How many students did they accept?
• Continue to send your senior year progress, including your final transcript.
• Keep an open mind to the schools you are accepted at and consider confirming if May 1 is approaching.

The application process is exciting, yet there are some cases when the outcome you hoped for comes out differently. It’s important to remember there is a school that fits everyone! By reading our previous blogs and using the recommended tips, you are sure to find the school that fits you! Have fun and relax, you will find your new home for September!