Financial Aid Blog

2009-2010 Already?

2009-01-13T08:18:00.005-05:00

It's hard to believe that it's already time to start thinking about applying for 2009-2010 financial aid. Wasn't it just fall? I trust you had a joyous holiday season and are anxiously looking forward to a successful spring term.

Before the readings start to accumulate and the tests begin....why not take the time to start filling out the FAFSA for 2009-2010?

USAFunds, Access to Education Scholarships

USA Funds offers a great scholarship program for full-time and part-time students with economic need. as well as full-time graduate and professional students. It's called the "Access to Education" Scholarship.

More information can be found online at www.usafunds.org/scholarship.

Applications are being accepted between December 15th and Febaruary 16, 2009.

Why not take the time to apply today? In the past three years, 16 Regent studnets have benefitted from this program.

You may also want to dig a little deeper into scholarship opportunities by accessing one of the online schoarship search engines listed here.

From Pong to Credit Scores?

2008-09-23T08:05:00.004-04:00

I can clearly remember it. The day I saw my first video game. My sister and I sat there, circa 1977, in our plaid pants and stripped shirts in front of the large, and I mean LARGE , television at my grandfather's house. And we sat and we sat (as we waited for the tube to warm up). Finally, my uncle connected a little box with two dials on it to the set. Then it happened, two lines appeared on either side of the television screen and a little dot began to bounce back and forth - back and forth - back and forth. Pong. For those of you a bit younger - take a trip back in time here.

A lot has changed in the world of video games since then (for better or for worse). I can still remember Christmas 1985 when I got a Colecovision. Now it's high definition online gaming with so many buttons and controllers that it causes my aging eyes to twitch just looking at kids playing them.

Everything has a video game now; from children's television shows to the latest movie - chances are there's a video game based on it. Now, even the US Department of the Treasury has entered the world of gaming with an interactive "game" designed to help 18-24 years old learn more about managing credit. Visit http://www.controlyourcredit.gov/ and see if you can work your way to room 850 of the Bad Credit Hotel. On the site you interactively:

* Lounge around the lobby and get advice about managing debt;
* Crack a book in the library to learn about credit history;
* Learn the details (grace periods, fine print, annual fees, and more) about credit cards before getting into bed with a creditor; and
* Work to room 850 - the perfect credit score deserves the perfect room. Once you get used to the perks, you'll never want to leave.

Madden '09 it's not - but it might just be worth your time.

The Financial Aid Merry-Go-Round

2008-08-07T14:23:00.005-04:00

The world of financial aid, like the life of a student, is cyclical. Those of us that work in the field view our jobs in cycles; spring is FAFSA time, summer is long hours and prep for the fall, August is last minute reviews and ensuring things are set for incoming students. In the fall we start planning for the next year and by January we're right back where we started the prior spring. Over time, the years begin to blend together and you can't remember if that new regulation took effect last July, the next July or if you're thinking of something else entirely! Throw in one of the busiest legislative and regulatory time periods in my memory and it's been quite an interesting year in the world of financial aid.

Regent is one week away from what the Central Financial Aid Office calls EFT day. It's one of the biggest days of the year for our office, and what happens on that day is one of the key indicators as to how well our processing cycle went in a given year. I'm excited about this fall because our early figures indicate a dramatic increase in the number of students who will be receiving aid by the time classes begin.

Here are a few important things for students to remember as you prepare for the fall term:

* Arrive ready to pay a few of your initial bills
Financial aid can help pay for more than tuition, but it won't be waiting for you if you arrive on campus earlier than the established account refund date. It's recommend you have enough money to cover your first month's rent and to pay for books.

* Complete all requirements in a timely manner
The number one reasons students don't have funds at the start of classes is they either a) register for classes late or b) they have some soft of requirement to complete. It is recommended that you complete all your registration and financial aid requirements at least a week prior to the start of the term.

* You can see missing documents and whether or not your loan has arrived in Genisys
Genisys is there 24/7 to help inform you of the items you need to complete, if your awards have been posted, and whether or not your refund has been produced. (I'll be blogging more about that in the future.)

* Student Account Refunds Begin August 22nd
If you've signed up for direct deposit in Genisys, funds will start being transmitted for arrival on the 22nd. Students must be enrolled at an appropriate level, have all requirements completed, and funds actually arrived by Wednesday August 20th to help ensure funds will be released to their account on the 22nd.

Best wishes for a successful fall term!

It's July 31st Already?

2008-07-31T07:46:00.016-04:00

"It's not the winter that bothers me - it's the summers."-- Walt Alston

I can't remember the last time I took a proper summer vacation. You know, the kind when you pack up the kids into the station wagon, pack a cooler with sandwiches, and head out on the open road to visit a place like the Grand Canyon or the world's largest ball of string. Since joining the world of student financial aid, summers have mostly consisted of long hours and piles of forms. Not that I'm complaining, taking vacation in the fall is a great way to avoid the crowds, get a less expensive airfare and relax after working hard to ensure students start the school off on the right foot. All those hours in the summer pay off in late August when you hear a student say "thank you".

Today is July 31st, application deadline for the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant. Make sure to get your envelopes postmarked today to ensure consideration for category 1 or 2. The state grant is an excellent program designed to help Virginia residents attend a Virginia private school. Awards for the 2008-09 year are projected to be $3,200 for undergraduates and $1,900 for graduate students. Students must take 12 (undergrad) and 9 hours (graduate) per term respectively.

So, enjoy the rest of your summer (and get your VTAG application in). As for me - I'm looking forward to the fall!

Interesting Links for the Day:
SCHEV's Page about VTAG
SCHEV's New Financial Aid Blog

View from my office on a sunny summer morning.

Time to Enter the 21st Century

2008-07-23T15:30:00.010-04:00

I suppose it's time to enter the 21st century - finally. First it was creating a webpage for my wedding (how late 1990s). Then, it was venturing into the world of MySpace (scarry) and more recently Facebook (addicting). Now, the time has come to blog. But, the trouble is - what to put into the first post?

Maybe it's just me, but I often find modern online communication forms baffling. Why do I need to read what other people think in the Your Opinion area after an online news article? Who actually takes the time to reply to a news article in today's fast-paced world? (Obviously a lot of people) Why do I find myself instant messaging with people who are sitting in the other room when I could just go make a visit? Am I the only one who gets annoyed at "I got your email" emails? ... but I digress. The topic was what to put into the first post - so why not dive right in...

Student Loan Crisis - Regent Impact
If you've been following the news at all this summer, no doubt you've heard or read an article about the "crisis in student lending". Indeed, there are some serious concerns about the availability of student loans for the upcoming year. However, it is important to note that the only ripple the vast majority of Regent students will feel as they return to school this fall will be a small increase in the upfront fee that banks were perviously paying on behalf of the student and reduction in repayment benefits on new loans. Only a very small portion of Regent students were borrowing through lenders no longer involved in the program - and these students have been able to find a new lender.

Important Dates to Remember
July 31st - TAG Deadline
August 15th - Federal Aid Begins to Disburse (loans/grants - if all requirements are met)
August 22nd - Account Refunds begin being mailed (if financial aid has paid to account in excess of bill)
August 25th - First Day of Classes for Fall 2008!

...and with that, the first post on my blog is finished.

Please check back each week as my goal is to post as topics peak my interest. I hope you find the postings informative, with a slight bit of humor and a personal touch thrown in for good measure.

Keep your eyes open for updates through Central Financial Aid's monthly newsletter.

Have a great fall term! (It's hard to believe we're a month away from the start of classes!)

View from my office window during thunderstorm.