HOW TO PAY FOR COLLEGE WITHOUT JOINING THE MILITARY
Do you want to go to college, but don’t have the money? Are you thinking of joining the army or marines because they promise to pay for education after you have served?
It sounds tempting because college is expensive and the economy isn’t doing well. BUT, listen up before you join up. Most recruits never get money for college education and those who do, don’t get their full way paid.
Here is information about how to apply for financial aid and how to learn about all sorts of college scholarship and loan programs.
APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID
1. Take the first step to apply for financial aid. Fill out the FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA).
Forms are available at www.FAFSA.ed.gov. Ask a guidance counselor or a friendly adult to help! Within 6 weeks you’ll get your Student Aid Report (SAR). It will show the amount of federal aid you are eligible for in the form of grants, loans or work study programs. This form is also required for non-federal grants and loans.
2. Check out the
If you live in
FIND FELLOWSHIPS AND LOANS
3. Learn about Federal Grants and loans.
a. Federal Pell Grants
Federal Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students.
Unlike a loan, they do not have to be repaid. The maximum is usually $4000 per year.
b. Federal Perkins Loans
Federal Perkins Loans are low interest (5%) loans. Your school is the lender. The loan is made with government funds and your school contributes a share. It needs to be repaid to your school. Depending on when you apply, your level of need, and the school’s funding level, you can borrow up to $4000 for each year of undergraduate study up to a maximum of $20,000.
c. Federal subsidized
Federal subsidized Stafford Loans are awarded on the basis of financial need. You won’t be charged any interest as long as you re in college at last half time.
To learn if you are eligible for a federal loan or grant and to get an application, go to the Student Guide for Financial Aid from the U.S. Department of Education. Get it online at: http://www.studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/2003_2004/english/types.htm or call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)
4. Learn about other scholarship opportunities. These include
*HEOP (Higher Education
offers service and funds to
academically and economically disadvantaged to attend
private colleges and universities. http://www.heop.org
*The
Gives away nearly $2 million in scholarship funds each year.
http://www.hispanicfund.org/scholarships.php
*
Administers many scholarship programs
http://www.uncf.org/forstudents/scholarship.asp.
5. Go to the main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza to learn about more scholarships given for specific ethnic groups, for union members, for people of color etc.
The Education and Jobs Information Center on the first floor is very helpful. It has lots of
The Brooklyn Public Library Main Branch is at
6. Check out the New Visions listing of scholarships.
This is a comprehensive listing of scholarships available for students in
7. Consult the
FIND A COLLEGE YOU CAN AFFORD
Think about SUNY
The State University of New York has 64 campuses, and 75% of its students get some form of financial aid. SUNY has a metropolitan Recruitment Center (MRC) in
Think about CUNY
The City University of New York has 11 senior colleges and 6 community colleges. It also has two programs—SEEK and College Discovery—that are designed specifically to help students with financial need.
Go to www.cuny.edu for information on all colleges and universities or call or visit individual colleges. Or call the Admissions office at 212 997-2869.
4 year colleges:
718 951-5001 718 260-5000
www.brooklyn.cuny.edu www.citytech.cuny.edu
718 270-6024 646 312-1400
www.mec.cuny.edu www.barch.cuny.edu
212 650-6448 718 982-2010
www.ccny.cuny.edu www.csi.cuny.edu
695
212 772-4490 212 237-8866
www.hunter.cuny.edu www.jjay.cuny.edu
250
718 960-8000 718 997-5600
www.lehman.cuny.edu www.qc.cuny.edu
718 262-2165
www.york.cuny.edu
2 year colleges
Borough of
212 220-8000 718 368-4600
www.bmcc.cuny.edu www.kbcc.cuny.edu
W. 181 St and
718 289-5895 718 319-7900
www.bcc.cuny.edu www.hostos.cuny.edu
La Guardia Community College
718 482-5000 718 631-6262
www.lagcc.cuny.edu www.qcc.cuny.edu
Think about technical and vocational schools.
1.
300Jay Street
718 260-5000, 718 260-5500
2. www.khake.com/page4.html will give you information about vocational and technical schools