A:Pay attention to deadlines.  All schools have grant aid available to those students who qualify, but many have limited funds.  Students who pay attention to deadlines have an advantage over those who don¡¯t.  Even if you have to estimate figures on your FAFSA or institutional applications, you should get them in on time.  The sooner you file your application, the better your chances of receiving aid.  Also, you should file your income tax return as early in the year as possible. Also, many institutions have scholarship dates that are earlier than the FAFSA deadline.  Many students think that they should apply for scholarships at the same time they are completing the FAFSA -- that is incorrect.  Students can lose out on these lucrative awards if they don¡¯t realize that there may be separate scholarship and FAFSA filing dates.

A:The period of time during which classes are in session.  The typical nine-month academic year begins in late August and ends in May.  Students who attend summer courses should find out from their school¡¯s financial aid office whether or not the summer semester is included at the beginning or end of the academic year.

A:The Federal Work-Study Program provides jobs for students who need earnings to meet a portion of their educational expenses.  Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to receive FWS assistance.  The federal government provides funds that pay up to 75 percent of your wages, and the school or other employer pays the rest.  The program is need-based.

A:Most accredited colleges and universities participate in the federal and state financial aid programs.  In addition, many offer their own financial aid packages.  These can come in the form of grants, scholarships, work, or loans.  If you are considering a short-term training program, such as cosmetology or driver training, the school¡¯s program might not be long enough for it to qualify for aid programs.  In that case, you should check with the school directly.

A:Take advantage of any scholarships for which your child is automatically eligible based on employer benefits, military service, association or church membership, other affiliations, or student or parent attributes (ethnic background, nationality, etc.).  Company or union tuition remissions are the most common examples of these awards. Apply for other awards for which your child might be eligible based on the characteristics and affiliations indicated above, but where there is a selection process. Find out if your state has a merit scholarship program. Look into national scholarship competitions.  High school guidance counselors usually know about these scholarships.  Examples of these awards are the National Merit Scholarship, Coca-Cola Scholarship, Aid Association for Lutherans, Intel Science Talent Search, and the U.S. Senate Youth Program. Contact an armed services recruiter or a high school guidance counselor for information about ROTC (Reserve Officers¡¯ Training Corps) scholarships offered by the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force.  A full ROTC scholarship covers all tuition, fees, and textbook costs.  Acceptance of an ROTC scholarship entails a commitment to take a military science course and to serve as an officer in the sponsoring branch of the service.  Competition is heavy, and preference may be given to students in certain fields of study, such as engineering science.  Application procedures vary by service. Investigate community scholarships.  High school guidance counselors usually have a list of these awards, and announcements are published in local newspapers.  The most common awards are given by service organizations such as the American Legion, Rotary International, and the local women¡¯s club. Consider colleges that offer their own merit awards to gifted students they wish to enroll.  This is a good option if your child is strong academically (for example, a National Merit Commended Scholar or better) or very talented in fields such as athletics or performing/creative arts. Check out Peterson¡¯s ¡°Best College Deals¡± at www.petersons.com.

A:Campus work is available.  Most colleges employ significant numbers of their own students.  They understand that college students are motivated, reliable, and smart employees.  Remuneration for on-campus work is priceless, especially for new students.  Invaluable campus contacts, mentoring, and organizational smarts all become benefits to the real insider, the employee. There are two types of positions:  Federal Work Study which is based on need, and other on-campus positions that are not based on need.

A:Just as the cost of an automobile depends on the make and model, college costs can vary widely.  If your son or daughter attends a local community college and lives at home, your out-of-pocket costs for the entire academic year may only be a few thousand dollars.  A state-supported public university will have a total cost of education anywhere from $10,000 to $17,000 a year.  An Ivy League college education can easily cost $45,000 annually.  (These costs are for the nine-month academic year and include tuition and fees, books and supplies, transportation expenses, room and board, etc.)

A:This refers to the tax year used to determine financial eligibility.  For example, for first-year freshmen, the base year is the tax year that begins January 1 of their junior year in high school and ends December 31 of their senior year.

A:There are three basic types of financial aid.  Loans are the most widely available sources of financial aid.  You must repay them someday, but the interest rates for student loans are often lower than for commercial loans, and payments are usually deferred until after the student has completed college. Grants and scholarships don¡¯t need to be repaid or maintained by a job.  Grants are usually based on financial need alone, while scholarships are given to students who have met some criteria, such as academic or athletic merit, regardless of whether the student needs the money to help pay for college. Work-study allows students to work an average of 10 to15 hours per week during the academic year and full-time during the summer to gain money to help pay for school.

A:Just be sure to apply for everything you can, including federal, state, and school or college aid, as well as private scholarships.  Also, you must maintain academic eligibility as you progress through school.  There are specific eligibility requirements that must be met and certain limits to each aid program that may affect eligibility down the road. Write down the college deadlines for each school of interest and adhere to the deadlines.

A:There are several issues to which you must attend as you seek scholarship assistance.  Probably the most important is to determine deadlines that apply to a scholarship for which you may be eligible.  It¡¯s always wise to begin your search early, so that your eligibility is not nullified by having applied too late.  Most scholarship opportunities require an application form, and it is time well spent to make sure that your application is neat, grammatically correct, and logical.  Correct spelling is essential.  Have someone proofread your application (these are not bad guidelines to follow with your honors application as well, if the honors program of your choice requires an application).  Keep in mind that if applications require essays, fewer students typically take the time to complete these essays, giving those students who are willing to write a better chance of winning that particular scholarship.  Always be truthful in these applications but, at the same time, provide the most positive self-portrayal to enhance your chances of being considered.  Be sensitive to the fact that most merit-based and association-based scholarships are awarded competitively.  Finally, let the people who offer you assistance know your decision about whether or not you will accept their offer.  Too many students simply assume that a scholarship offer means automatic acceptance.  This is not the case! In mot instances, you must send a letter of acknowledgement and acceptance.  Virtually all schools have agreed that students must make up their minds about scholarship acceptance no later than May 1.  But earlier deadlines may apply.

A:I suggest you check with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) to see if her condition falls within their guidelines for financial assistance.

A:This refers to the total direct and indirect costs of a student¡¯s educational expenses for an award year.  Tuition, mandatory fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation expenses, and personal expenses make up the traditional components of a student¡¯s COA.  A cost of a computer can be included as part of the student¡¯s personal expenses. Some institutions may include other institution-specific expenses in a student¡¯s COA budget.

A:This term refers to a student who does not live on campus or in a college-owned apartment.  Typically, commuter students live with parents or other family members to minimize their room and board expenses.  A commuter student¡¯s COA budget reflects this low or zero room and board expense but usually includes a higher transportation factor due to the expense of frequent trips to and from campus.

A:Tuition and Fees, Room and Board, Books, Supplies, Transportation and Personal expenses.  A school may also include the costs associated with borrowing educational loans, study abroad, the purchase of a personal computer, participation in a cooperative education program, and a disability, if applicable.