Tips for consideration when choosing and enrolling into a college program.

1. 1
College Registration and 1098s
Presented by: Jennoa R. Graham, Ph.D.
Friday, June 14, 2013

2.  FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid
 Independent Student
 Be 24 years of age or older by December 31 of
the award year
 Be an orphan (both parents deceased), ward of
the court, in foster care or was a ward of the
court when 13 years or older
 Be a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United
States or serving on active duty for other than
training purposes
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3.  Independent Student (cont.)
 Be a graduate or professional student
 Be a married individual
 Have legal dependents other than a spouse
 Be an emancipated minor or in legal guardianship
 Be a homeless youth
 Be a student for whom a financial aid
administrator makes a documented
determination of independence by reason of
other unusual circumstances
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http://www.fastweb.com

4.  Selection Tips
 Registration Process
 FAFSA
 Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC)
 Tax Information
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5.  Program of interest
 Must be an accredited institution and program
 http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx
 Certificate vs. Degree
 Medical transcription or computer programing
 Bachelor of Science or Master of Business Admin
 On-line vs. traditional classroom
 Cost
 Per credit hour
 Semester
 Full academic year
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6.  Admission application
 Online
 Print and mail
 High School transcripts
 Housing application (if applicable)
 FAFSA application
 GSFC application
 Additional requirements (if applicable)
 Credit for life experience – placement test
 Letter(s) of recommendation
 Statement of purpose
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7.  Application at www.fafsa.ed.gov
 Student demographics
 School selection
 Dependency status (see Slides 3 & 4)
 Parent demographics (if applicable)
 Financial information (if applicable)
 Parent
 Student
 Due February 1st for fall, spring, and winter
 Required for all financial aid, scholarship
and loan consideration
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8.  Grants – Free; do not pay back
 Federal Pell
 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity
 Federal Work Study
 Loans – Must pay back; credit check may
apply
 Stafford Loans
 PLUS Loans
 Private loans may still be required
 Banks
 Credit Unions
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9.  State & Lottery-funded scholarships, grants
and service cancelable loans
 Application at https://secure.gacollege411.org
 Requires same information as FAFSA
 No due date, but should correspond with FAFSA
 2013/2014 Scholarship Programs
 HOPE Scholarship
 HOPE Grant Scholarship
 Zell Miller Scholarship
 GA Tuition Equalization Grant Program
 Robert C. Byrd Honors Program
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10.  1098-E: Student Loan Interest Statement
 Box 1: $600 or more of student loan interest (NOT
Principle) repaid to the school during the tax year
 1098-T: Tuition Statement
 All qualified tuition and related expense
 Box 1: Payments – all sources (including scholarships)
less any refunds/reimbursements repaid to borrower
 Box 2: Billed – total amount billed less any reductions
(does not include scholarships) in charges
 Input in Box 1 or 2 NOT BOTH
 Box 5: Scholarships are listed separately for disclosure
purposes
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12.  1098-E: Student Loan Interest Statement
 Box 2: Change in methodology at September 1,2004
 Call your school if this box is checked
 1098-T: Tuition Statement
 Box 3: Change from payment to billed method
 Box 4: Adjustments to payments or billed amounts
 Box 6: Adjustments to scholarship amounts
 Box 7: Payments received this year are for next year
 Box 8: Are you at least half time?
 Box 9: Are you a graduate student?
 Box 10: Insurance purposes for loan default
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13.  Select an accredited college or university
 Select a career for life
 Management (Time, Finances, Life)
 Registration
 College application
 FAFSA
 GSFC
 Remember Tax Time!
 Repaying: 1098-E
 Attending: 1098-T
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15.  The Database of Accredited Postsecondary
Institutions and Programs, Retrieved June 3, 2013,
from http://ope.ed.gov
 FAFSA and the Independent Student (2012). Retrieved
June 3, 2013, from http://www.fastweb.com
 IRS (2013). Tax forms and definitions. Internal
Revenue Code, Retrieved June 3, 2013, from
http://www.irs.gov
 GAcollege411 Financial Aid Applications, Retrieved
June 3, 2013, from https://secure.gacollege411.org
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