Financial Aid Information
One of the most stressful parts of thinking about education beyond high school is figuring out how to pay for it. The best thing that families can do is research each college and talk to financial aid officials. The people who work in university and college financial aid offices are the experts and can help families understand the process. Always take time to read through the financial aid links on college websites as you are exploring college options.
The Federal Student Aid website is the first stop in the financial aid process. Families will need to file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in order to be considered for financial aid and scholarships. This application will determine the amount of federal student aid that a student is eligible to receive. In addition, many state financial aid program awards are based on FAFSA results. There are various New York State programs that provide financial assistance with college. The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) has a wealth of resources for families exploring ways to fund college education.
Some colleges require additional financial aid forms to be submitted, such as the College Board CSS Profile. As your student is beginning to complete their college applications, be sure to take note of the financial aid forms that each school will require and the due dates.
Local scholarships are another way to help fund college costs. These are listed here with links to the applications or information about the scholarships. You can also find the page on the main Counseling Office page. Mrs. Matthews is our point of contact in the Counseling Office for scholarships and has copies of applications for students to pick up. The Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes is another great way to apply for local scholarship money. This organization manages many scholarships and grants in our region.
When completing scholarship applications, students may need records from the Counseling Office such as a transcript or counselor recommendation. Students must use the green scholarship records request form to have this information completed. This form can be found on the Forms on our main Counseling Office page. Hard copies are also available in the Counseling Office.