Financial AidInternational School Manila

Junior University Kick Off 2017

Before we get started with the US...● UK

○ Tuition Fee Loan (UK/EU students only) - cost to attend○ Maintenance Loan (UK students only) - living expenses○ Bursaries/Scholarships - academic, talent, athletic○ Student jobs - on or off campus opportunities

● Canada○ Scholarships/Grants/Bursaries - research & refer to institutions○ Loans - federal and provincial just for Canadians, bank for intl. students○ Intl. students can receive work-permit while attending school and 3 years post-grad

● Australia○ Scholarships/Bursaries - research & refer to institutions ○ Loans

● Philippines○ Scholarships, Loans, and Assistanship (work-study)

Student Types

● U.S. Domestic○ United States Citizen, permanent resident,

refugee, asylee

● International/Foreign (F-1)○ Requires a visa to study in the

United States

How Much Will it Cost?

Philosophy of Financial Aid● Students and parents are the primary source of funds and are expected to

contribute to the extent they are able

● How aid is distributed is influenced by the government’s view of how higher education should be funded○ US vs. The rest of the world

1. Student2. Parent3. Institution4. Government

Sources of Funding (International)

Where International

Students Receive the most Aid

Click HERE for website

Which Colleges offer International Students the Most Aid?School name (state)

Number of international students who received aid during 2016-2017

Average aid awarded to international undergraduates

during 2016-2017

Acceptance Rate

University of Chicago (IL) 126 $62,763 8.35%

Columbia University (NY) 213 $62,004 6.95%

Skidmore College (NY)* 82 $60,975 37%

Williams College (MA)* 98 $60,944 17%

Trinity College (CT)* 171 $60,869 31.8%

Harvard University (MA) 600 $60,687 6%

Stanford University (CA) 188 $60,570 5%

Amherst College (MA)* 156 $59,164 13.8%

Wesleyan University (CT)* 80 $58,920 15.4%

Yale University (CT) 336 $58,864 6.3%

*Private liberal arts college

Financial Aid Types● Gift Aid (Grants, Scholarships)

○ Merit-Based■ Competitive ■ Talent■ Athletic■ Outside sources

○ Need-Based■ Institutional■ Federal & State (US citizens)

● Pell Grant○ Tuition Discounts○ Regional & Special Populations

● Self-Help Aid○ Work-Study (usually US citizens only)○ Loans

■ Stafford & Perkins loans (US citizens)

Cost of Attendance (COA)

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

Calculated ability to pay may not match family willingness to pay!

What is an estimate of your EFC?

Source: Forbes.com

Determining Need

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (US citizen)

● Apply for a PIN first (student & parent)● Apply online each year● Available October 1st● Parent tax information needed● Add schools you are applying to (10 max)● Apply early and watch deadlines● Student Aid Report approx. 4 weeks later● REQUIRED FOR ANY FORM OF FEDERAL AID

WWW.FAFSA.ED.GOVNOT FAFSA.COM

Certification of Finances (International)● Documentation to provide information about the

amount of funding the student has available○ College based form○ Bank letter○ College Board form

*ALSO a requirement for issuing the I-20 visa documentation

International Student Financial Aid Application ● Generic CollegeBoard form

● College Based form

*Be sure to use the formthe college asks for!

CSS/Financial Aid Profile (US & Int.)● Verify if the university also requires CSS Profile● Beyond the FAFSA: Medical

expenses, elementary and secondary school tuition, home equity, variety of unusual circumstances

● Tailored to an institution● Popular with ED schools● Fee based form

https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/

“When we began using the CSS, we were not trying to cut the amount of money we were distributing –

we were just trying to do a better job distributing it.”

Forms & Documents Needed● Parent/Student tax returns (FAFSA - 2017 for 2019 entry)● Divorced or separated parent information● Other information to verify

○ Income○ Assets○ Family Size○ Special circumstances○ Convert to USD

What does Gapping and Admit-Deny mean?

Model Used by Colleges & UniversitiesEnrollment goals:

1. Academic Profile/Quality2. Tuition Revenue3. Diversity4. Head Count

The Financial Aid Office● Evaluates the family’s ability to pay● Sends award notifications and distributes financial aid● Different from the Admissions Office● Student needs to be the one communicating, not parent

○ Email is best as it provides a record and notes for you

● If calling, keep good notes when speaking with them○ Name and position of person talking to

● Ask for the same person you talked to before● Build rapport with person in Financial Aid Office

Creative Ways to Reduce Costs● Did you know most Florida universities will grant a full year of credit for

an IB Diploma score of 32?○ Also Bard, Barnard, Bryn Mawr, Franklin & Marshall, Ohio Wesleyan, Oregon State, etc.○ http://blogs.ibo.org/funding-opportunities/

● Non-Resident Tuition Scholarships○ Oklahoma State, Colorado State, Auburn, U of Texas, U of Washington, etc.

● Community/Junior Colleges○ Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program: California, Colorado, Georgia, & Illinois

● Co-op Education - work while attending college○ Cal Poly, Georgia Tech, Northeastern University, Pace University, Drexel University, etc.

Unique Opportunities

External Scholarship Opportunities• Many are limited to U.S. Citizens & residents

• Typically do not cover all educational costs

• Most are highly competitive

• Process is often time-consuming, even for small grants, examples:

• Essays or Projects • Transcripts • 2 or 3 Recommendations/reference letters • Interviews

With that said...• Atlas Shrugged Essay – Ayn Rand

• Automotive Hall of Fame Scholarship

• BMI Student Composer Award

• Microsoft Scholarship

• Platt Family Scholarship Prize Essay

• World Bank Essay Competition

• Leo S. Rowe Pan American Fund (Organization of American States loans)

• MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program

Important Tips● Research, research, research

○ Use the net price & financial aid calculators on college websites

○ Do not assume aid is automatic or straight forward○ Be aware of deadlines and requirements○ Communicate with Financial Aid Offices

● Discuss as a family to develop a realistic plan○ Consider alternative routes

Useful Websites● IB Funding Opportunities● Big Future (CollegeBoard) - USA● International Scholarships search tool - USA● fastweb! Scholarship search tool - USA● Federal Student Aid (US citizens) - USA● In-State Tuition Requirements - USA● Canadian Scholarships & Awards● Scholarships in Australia● UK Scholarships & Financial Support