FINDING OUT ABOUT STUDENT AID

The Student Guide tells you about federal student financial aid (SFA) programs and how to apply for them. Education or training after high school costs more than ever, and you need to learn about as many sources of aid as you can. The best way to start is by checking the free information sources that follow.

If you're thinking about paying a scholarship search organization for information about student aid sources, you should know that over 80 percent of all aid awarded comes from federal and state programs. Another 19 percent comes from institutional and other sources of aid. You can find out about all of these sources yourself, as explained in the next few pages. If a scholarship search organization guarantees its services, find out what you have to do to get a refund if the guarantee isn't met.

Sources you can use to find out about student aid:

Contact the financial aid administrator (FAA) at each school in which you're interested. He or she can tell you what aid programs are available there and how much the total cost of attendance will be. If you're in high school, also talk to your guidance counselor. He or she can tell you about financial aid in general and where to look for help.

Ask the state higher education agency in your home state for information about state aid--including aid from the State Student Incentive Grant (SSIG) Program , which is jointly funded by individual states and the U.S. Department of Education. Each state has its own name for this program, as well as its own eligibility criteria, award amounts, and application procedures.

The agency in your state responsible for public elementary and secondary schools can give you information on the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program (Byrd Program) and the National Science Scholars Program (NSSP) .

Under the Byrd Program, if you demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and show promise of continued excellence, you may receive $1,500 a year for up to four years of postsecondary education. The amount of the Byrd Program scholarship plus any other aid you receive can't exceed your cost of attendance. At least 10 scholarships will be made available per state.

Under the NSSP, if you're a graduating high school senior (or you'll obtain the equivalent of a certificate of graduation) and you've demonstrated excellence and achievement in the physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, or engineering, you may be eligible to receive funds to continue your studies at the postsecondary level. The law authorizes scholarships of up to $5,000 a year (or the student's cost of attendance, whichever is less) for up to 5 year of study. The amount a student receives depends on the availability of funds. These awards are made to two students from each congressional district.

Contact either the higher education agency in your state or the agency responsible for public elementary or secondary school education in your state for information about the Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program . These scholarships are for outstanding high school graduates who want to pursue teaching careers after they finish college. A Douglas Scholarship can provide up to $5,000 a year, not to exceed $20,000. You may be eligible if you graduate from high school in the top 10 percent of your class and if you meet other selection criteria your state agency may establish. Generally, you're required to teach two years for each year of scholarship assistance you receive. Not all states participate in this program.

A new program of the National and Community Service provides full-time educational awards of $4,725 a year. You can work before, during, or after your postsecondary education, and you can use the funds either to pay current educational expenses or to repay federal student loans. You must be a high school graduate or have a GED to participate. For more information on this program, call 1-800-942-2677 or write to: The Corporation for National and Community Service, 1100 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20525.

Your public library is an excellent source of information on state and private sources of aid. Your financial need is usually considered, but other factors may also be taken into account.

Many companies, as well as labor unions, have programs to help pay the cost of postsecondary education for employees, members, or their children.

Check foundations, religious organizations, fraternities or sororities, and town or city clubs. Include community organizations and civic groups such as the American Legion, YMCA, 4-H Club, Elks, Kiwanis, Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, and the Girl or Boy Scouts.

National Honor Society and National Merit scholarships are available if you have high grades and you otherwise qualify.

Don't overlook aid from organizations connected with your field of interest (for example, the American Medical Association or the American Bar Association). These organizations are listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook and can also be found in various directories of associations available at your public library.

If you (or your spouse) are a veteran or the dependent of a veteran, veterans educational benefits may be available. Check with your local Veterans' Affairs office.

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