CHALLENGE EARLY COLLEGE
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On this Page -
Applying for Financial Aid
Things to Remember When Filling Out the FAFSA
What Are Some Places to Contact for Money for College?
You Want to go to College But You Are Undocumented or Not a Citizen?
Want to Attend the University of Texas?
Changes in the SAT
How to Write a High Scoring SAT Essas
Questions – Problems
If You Haven’t Been Here Yet, Take a Look
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Page last updated January 29, 2008
APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID
There’s more financial aid available than ever before—over $105 billion. Research shows most people
overestimate the cost of college. The truth is that nearly 70% of students attending four-year schools pay less
than $8,000 a year for tuition and fees. 29% pay less than $4,000 for tuition and fees per year for a four-year
college. It can happen for you, but it won’t unless you apply!
$ The FAFSA is available in The Go Center or online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. 90% of the money given to students to
go to college usually begins by filling out this form.
$ Complete the form online and submit by the deadline of June 30, 2008. Tell your parents to get their tax
information together right away, since you will need those figures to complete the form. Financial aid
administrators may ask to verify your information on the FAFSA with you income tax form before you receive any
money. Be sure to list all the colleges, programs and agencies you want to receive the information. Aid has always
been limited and it is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, so filing this form quickly and correctly is
important.
$ Scholarship funds are often the first sources that come to mind when students think of methods that can be
used to pay for college. For those who have been blessed with specific talents and gifts, scholarships can be an
important part of the total package of financial assistance. Check on these deadlines with your college. There may
be separate applications and due dates for these.
$ It is important to remember that scholarships as a whole are only some of the many resources that can be used
to provide financial assistance to students. Be sure you apply with the financial aid office of the college for your
best chance to get the most money.
$ Those who do not qualify for scholarships should not be discouraged and assume that college is out of their
grasp. After determining in which schools they are most interested, students should complete the application
process for financial assistance for those schools to see how much total assistance the individual colleges will
offer before making a decision based on finances. This starts by filing out the FAFSA. The same premise holds
true for students who do not receive enough scholarships to cover their college costs—very few students will be
offered a “free ride” through college—so other forms of financial assistance may need to be utilized.
$ If you are an immigrant or are undocumented and want to apply for the Texas Grant, you must also fill out a
FAFSA. If you plan to attend HCC, fill out the paper copy of the FAFSA available from The Go Center as soon as
possible and turn it in with your application for admission. If you plan to attend UH-Downtown or other area
colleges, apply to the university first and use the ID number they give you when you mail in your FAFSA. You must
fill out a separate copy of the FAFSA with each unique ID number for every school to which you apply.
$ Do not limit your choices only to those schools you only think you can afford. Financial aid can and often does
make it possible for students to have a chance for a choice of schools you might not consider by the advertised
price.
$ Contact the Financial Aid Office for any form of aid whether it is scholarships, grants, loans or a work-study
program—it is handled through the same office. Different departments, i.e., Chemistry, Education, Engineering,
Business, etc., may also offer aid. You would need to write to the department in the major of your choice to also
inquire about scholarships.
$ Do not wait to be accepted for admission before applying for financial aid. But make sure your application is on
file as soon as possible.
$ Remember that gift aid funds are limited. Therefore, it is important to find out each school’s financial aid
application deadline and do not miss it. Most colleges will require completion of their admission application
before they will formally process your application for financial aid.
$ A great website for financial aid is http://www.collegefortexans.com/paying/ It has information to help you figure
what colleges will expect your family to pay for college (EFC Estimator), how to compare financial aid awards
(Online Award Analyzer), costs for schools in Texas, how to find money and how to apply for it. The site is also
available in Spanish. http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp is another good site
from the federal government in English or Spanish.
THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN FILLING OUT THE FAFSA
�� Meet the deadlines spelled out in the form and respond promptly to requests from financial aid officials for
further information. Don’t leave blanks on the form. Answer all questions. If the answer is zero or the question
doesn’t apply to you, write the number “0”. Don’t spell it out or put “N/A.” If you don’t write anything, they will send
it back to you as an incomplete form.
�� Make sure you provide information about your household. If your parents are divorced, include only the income
and assets of the custodial parent on the financial aid form.
�� “Number of Family Members” means those people supported by the family. Children who have moved out of
your home don’t count. Families with recent hardships, such as job loss, a death in the family, or huge medical
bills should explain them in a separate letter sent to a college’s financial aid officer.
�� Men who are 18 years old or older must prove draft registration in order to receive federal financial aid. Inquire
at your local post office about providing this information.
�� If the colleges to which you are applying have their own separate financial aid applications, complete them as
early as possible. Don’t fill it out unless your college asks for it.
WHAT ARE SOME PLACES TO CONTACT FOR MONEY FOR COLLEGE?
1. College/University Financial Aid Office. Almost 90% of the money students receive for college is given out by
the school you will attend. Contact the Financial Aid Office of the institution you wish to attend for scholarship or
financial aid EARLY--about ten months prior to entrance. THAT’S NOW. Unless your SAT/ACT and GPA clearly do not
qualify you for money, fill out the forms. You may be missing out on money. Don’t assume your grades aren’t good
enough to get scholarship money. FAFSA forms are in the counseling office or online.
2. Institutional Scholarships - Various departments at a college (Art, English, History, Math, etc.) may offer
scholarships to students enrolled in specific majors. Contact your major department at your college(s).
3. Special Programs/Grants - Various colleges have special programs or awards for specific groups of students, i.
e., special assistance programs for minority students, church-related awards for members of a special religious
sect, Texas Grants, or need-based aid.
4. Community Organizations – Do you or your parents belong to a social, church, or fraternal organization? The
competition is smaller and your chances are better.
5. Business Firms/Unions/Ex-Military. Various businesses, especially large companies, have scholarships, grants
or awards for dependents of their employees or, in some cases, for anybody. The same holds true for some
unions. Military and ex-military organizations are also in this category.
6. Foundations - many offer grants, scholarships and/or loans. Check out the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation
online at http://www.window.state.tx.us/scholars/.
7. Educational Loans - Loans are sometimes available at lower interest (in comparison to a regular "personal
loan") from credit unions, commercial banks, savings and loan associations, insurance companies, etc.
8. Advanced Placement and Credits - offers numerous college-level subject areas. The exams are offered in May
at Challenge. Students should consult the Admissions Officer or college catalog for specific information about
which tests are acceptable at their college. Students should also check with the college to see if they accept the
SAT II or offer any tests specifically designed by and for that college or a department in the college.
9. Internet Links to Financial Aid - There are lots of these now. Here are some great places to start:
Fastweb http://www.fastweb.com/ . The #1 search service. A huge database that identifies more than 180,000
private-sector scholarships, fellowships, grants, and loans, including aid sources for special interest groups,
such as women, athletes, and minorities.
TEXAS GRANTS
If you are planning to attend a Texas public or independent university, community college, technical school, this
need-based grant from the State of Texas could mean free money for you for college.
The Texas Grant program is available to students who meet all these requirements:
��Have financial need
��Graduate from high school and complete the Recommended High School Program/Texas Scholar, or
Distinguished Achievement Program
��Enroll in a Texas public or independent institution of higher education
��Be a Texas resident
��Apply for financial aid at the institution they plan to attend
��Enroll at lease ¾ time per semester in a bachelor’s degree or certificate program.
Awards will equal the approximate cost of tuition and fees (based on enrolling full-time in 12 semester credit
hours):
��$2090 per semester for university students
��$635 per semester for community college students
��$1325 per semester for Technical College students
Students who remain in college and continue to meet the requirements may receive Texas Grant awards for up to
150 semester credit hours until you graduate or for six years, whichever occurs first. For more details, contact
the financial aid office at the college/university you plan to attend or see www.collegefortexans.
com/TEXASGrant/TEXASGrant.cfm.
In order to qualify for the Texas Grant, you must file the FAFSA , available now. Apply at your college as soon as
you can because funds are limited. For more information on the FAFSA, see www.fafsa.ed.gov.
YOU WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE BUT YOU ARE UNDOCUMENTED OR NOT A CITIZEN?
You can go to college and receive financial aid under a Texas law, House Bill 1403. The state of Texas would help
fund your education. If the college or university classifies you as a resident for the purpose of tuition, you are
eligible for STATE financial aid and any scholarships that do not require that you be a US citizen. This is the ruling
of the Higher Education Coordinating Board. You must fill out the paper version of the FASFA (Federal Application
for Student Financial Assistance). You cannot submit the online version because it would be rejected if you do
not have a Social Security number. You must return the completed form to the financial aid office of the college,
and they will determine the amount of any grant or other assistance for which you are eligible, including work-
study, based upon a formula provided by the Texas Coordinating Board.
If you experience problems and are told they are not eligible for financial assistance, you may refer them to Jaime
De La Isla at HISD, House Bill 1403, or tell them to insist that the financial aid office verify their eligibility with the
Coordinating Board. Talk to your counselor if you have questions. Don’t let your status get in the way of your
education.
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), has compiled a list of scholarships that are
open to undocumented students. The list is available on MALDEF's website at www.maldef.org
WANT TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS?
Undocumented students who can apply for college under House Bill 1403 do the regular (not international)
application for admission and the online scholarship application at UT. This year they will continue to accept
paper applications this year, but would prefer that all students apply for admission using the Texas Common
Application and the UT scholarship application online. You can access the application at www.applytexas.org .
Note that on the Texas Common Application, you will be asked about your citizenship status. Undocumented
students should identify themselves as a House Bill 1403 student. Once you have completed and saved the
admission application through at least page 3, you are able to access the scholarship application on line at http:
//finaid.utexas.edu/sources/scholarships.html.
Although you should apply online if you can for admission and financial aid, you must also send in the FAFSA in
January. That must be filled out on a paper copy and mailed directly to UT’s Office of Financial Aid. If you have
questions, please talk with your counselor.
CHANGES IN THE SAT
SAT had big changes beginning with the March 12, 2005 test. It differs from the previous test in significant ways. If
you haven’t taken it yet and the changes don’t look like they match your strengths, take the ACT. Here’s what to
expect on the SAT:
CURRENT SAT NEW SAT
VERBAL
Critical Reading (long passages only) Short Critical Reading passages added
Sentence Completion Sentence Completion eliminated
Analogies Analogies eliminated
MATH
Quantitative Comparisons Quantitative Comparisons eliminated
Some grid in answers Advanced Algebra added
WRITING
No writing section Multiple Choice Grammar
25-Minute Essay
TIME
3 hours 3 hours and 45 minutes
SCORING
Verbal: 200 – 800 Critical Reading: 200 - 800
Math: 200 – 800 Math: 200 – 800
Writing: 200 – 800
HOW TO WRITE A HIGH SCORING SAT ESSAY
You will not be expected to produce a perfect piece of writing in 25 minutes. Though the essay graders expect to
see a few minor mistakes, they also want to see an organized and readable writing.that makes an argument
supported by real examples. Here are some steps to follow:
STEP 1: THINK ABOUT THE TOPIC (2 minutes)
Don’t write yet. The assignment question is going to be very broad. To narrow it down, you’ll need to:
�� Pick a side: Decide whether to agree or disagree with the topic statement
�� Choose your examples: Use two or three concrete examples from personal experience, current events, history,
or science and technology to support your argument
�� Use specific evidence: Cite evidence to support your example.
STEP 2: ORGANIZE YOUR PARAGRAPHS (5 minutes)
�� First paragraph: Clearly state your argument. Briefly mention the evidence that you are going to discuss later in
support of that argument.
�� Middle Paragraphs (2 – 3): Explore and explain your evidence in detail. Show how it supports the argument.
�� Last Paragraph: Briefly summarize your argument.
STEP 3: WRITE YOUR ESSAY (15 minutes)
�� To write your strongest essay, follow your outline.
�� Write clearly and concisely.
�� Use complete sentences and proper grammar.
STEP 4: FIX ANY MISTAKES (2 minutes)
�� Proofread your essay. Hopefully all you will need to do is fix minor grammatical and/or spelling errors, change a
few words here and there, and maybe add a sentence or two for added clarity.
Sounds familiar? It’s not that much different from the writing you did for the TAKS test. But remember that this is a
timed writing task. You won’t have time to write a rough draft, polish it, and then rewrite it on the test paper.
However, the good news is that it will be graded as a rough draft, but that doesn’t mean it can have mistakes. Be
sure to proofread and correct. That’s why you write it in pencil!
Adapted from Kaplan’s The New SAT Writing Workbook.
QUESTIONS – PROBLEMS
General questions about Federal student aid: Call the Federal Student Aid Information Center, Monday – Friday at
(800) 4-FED-AID. The center handles millions of call, so be prepared to spend some time on hold. When you get
through, ask them for a copy of The Student Guide: Financial Aid from the Department of Education.
Questions about electronic applications: For technical help with electronic FAFSAs, call (800) 801-0576.
Checking on the Status of your Application: If it has been more than six weeks since you filed your application and
you have not received your SAR, you may want to call (319) 337-5665. This is also the number to call to get a
duplicate SAR.
IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN HERE YET, TAKE A LOOK…
www.hispanicscholarship.com Information on scholarships especially for Hispanic students. Also includes helps
for applying to college
www.thecb.state.tx.us for information on Texas public colleges and universities, their requirements for admission
and costs. This site also has the Common Application with which students can apply to all Texas public colleges
www.universities.com A simple to use homepage search to access more than 3,000 college web pages
nationwide. Accessing university web pages is your best source of information about the college and usually has
a copy of their application you can download.
www.eduhwy.com An online educational source featuring Historically Black Colleges and Universities
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) has recently published a great new directory of hundreds of
scholarships, internships and fellowships for the school year and summer. The CHCI web page home is http:
//www.chci.org
www.salliemae.com to find a local lender that offers money saving borrower benefits and for a list of “Great
Rewards” you should look for in your lender