StudentZona - Caring For A Better Student Life And Learning

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more commonly referred to as the FAFSA, is the application all college and university students in the United States must fill out for help with college expenses. This application is lengthy and can be confusing for first-time applicants. The following will address some frequently asked questions about the FAFSA in an attempt to make the completion of it easier.

Question: Do I have to fill out the FAFSA even if I’m only interested in grants and don’t want loans?
Answer: Absolutely. The government uses the same application to award grants as it does to award loans. Also, most universities will not consider you for many scholarships unless you have already filled out a FAFSA.
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Although some are lucky enough to have their education paid for by their parents or relatives, in today’s world it is likely that if you are going to a college or university you will need some financial assistance. There are many ways to go about finding assistance, but many students get overwhelmed when looking at the variety of options that are available to them. The next few posts will look at the intricacies of the different types of aid, but for now, we will give you a brief definition and overview of each type.
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Some of the scholarships listed here are open to all students of color and some are intended specifically for African American students.

ACS/Bayer Scholars Program
For full-time college students at accredited colleges or universities. High academic achievers in chemistry or the sciences. Must prove financial need.
Contact: American Chemical Society
Program Review Committee
1155 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036

Actuarial Scholarships for Minority Students
For students who are admitted to a college or university offering either a program in Actuarial Science or courses that will serve to prepare the student for an actuarial career.
Contact: Society of Actuaries/Casualty Actuarial Society
Minority Recruiting Coordinator
475 North Martingale Road, Suite 800
Schaumburg, IL 60173

ADHA Institute for Oral Health Scholarship Program
A number of programs are available for undergraduate and graduate students who are currently pursuing or who are interested in pursuing a degree or career in Oral Health.
Contact: Scholarship Program
ADHA Institute for Oral Health
444 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 3400
Chicago, IL 60611
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Each year, more than half of all eligible students receive some form of assistance from the University and other financial sources to help pay for the cost of an Hawai’i Pacific University (HPU) education.

Hawai’i Pacific University’s Office of Financial Aid provides assistance to eligible students through a variety of programs from federal, state, and University funding sources.

If you are eligible for Financial Aid and are planning to take only online courses you should contact the Office of Financial Aid to determine if this will affect your award.
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Here are some factors you should consider when deciding if consolidation is right for you.

What are the interest rates on your loans? If a Federal Consolidation Loan offers you a lower rate than your current loans, you may want to consolidate. Currently, the interest rate for a Federal Consolidation Loan is based on the weighted average interest rate on the loans being consolidated, rounded to the next nearest higher one-eighth of one percent. This rate is fixed for the life of the loan and cannot exceed 8.25 percent.
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