Tips
from St. Bonaventure’s Office of Financial Aid
Many
families need assistance to pay for a college education. The first
thing to do is file the FAFSA as soon as possible. Sound familiar?
You are probably flashing back to your previous experience with
the FAFSA. That experience will pay off when you complete it this
year. Remember, you need to file the FAFSA every year.
File the FAFSA
To get started, find both the parents’ and student’s
PIN. If you forgot your PIN, you can get it again at www.pin.ed.gov.
File the FAFSA electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Make sure to
include St. Bonaventure’s school code: 002817. If applying
for aid for the fall 2011, use 2011-12 as the academic year for
the FAFSA and submit 2010 income information on the FAFSA. The deadline
for St. Bonaventure University returning
students to file the FAFSA is April 1, 2011.
After you successfully file the FAFSA, watch
for a Student Aid Report (SAR). Review the SAR and make corrections
if necessary. If you are selected for verification, the SBU Office
of Financial Aid will notify you regarding specific documentation
you must submit (usually income verification, tax returns, W2s,
verification of family size). Reply to this verification request
as quickly as possible. The student’s financial aid is considered
tentative pending the completion of verification. New York state
residents attending a New York State school will be directed to
the New
York State Higher Ed Web site to complete the application for
the New York State TAP Grant through
TAP-on-the-web using a PIN. If you want to file the FAFSA by paper
you can download one at www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov
or call 1-800-433-3243 to have one mailed to you.
Investigate other sources of financial
aid
Private scholarships can be a source of additional funding for some
families. Many families find they need to borrow to supplement the
student’s financial aid package. If you decide to borrow,
we recommend you exhaust all federal loan options (Federal Direct,
Perkins and PLUS loans) before seeking private or alternative loans
in the student’s name. Federal loans have the best terms and
rates available.
The SBU Business Office also offers plans
which enable you to pay your balance in monthly installments. You
will receive specific information about payment plans in a separate
mailing from the Business Office. Questions can be directed to the
Business Office at (716) 375-2100.
Financial aid from SBU
Your student should watch for a financial aid package by late June.
Academic awards are renewed at the same amount each year provided
the student maintains the minimum cumulative GPA required for the
award. Need-based aid will stay relatively the same as in prior
years provided the family financial situation is relatively the
same and federal funding levels remain constant. In all cases, the
student must demonstrate satisfactory academic progress toward his/her
degree in order to renew financial aid. Returning students receive
notification of the financial aid award via their SBU e-mail account.
They should review the financial aid award on our secure intranet
at my.sbu.edu, where they must accept
or decline their awards. Please remind your student to watch his/her
SBU e-mail account for financial aid and other SBU notices over
the summer.
For further information about financial aid
at St. Bonaventure, please see our Web site at www.sbu.edu.
Application Tips:
1. File the FAFSA as early as possible. Estimate information if
necessary. Watch for the Student Aid Report.
2. NYS residents attending a NYS school , complete the TAP-on-the
web as early as possible.
3. Keep copies of all application materials.
4. Follow up to make sure everything is received.
5. Pay attention to application and billing deadlines.
6. Respond as soon as possible to requests for additional information.
7. Seek out additional “free” sources of aid through
private, state, and federal organizations.
8. If you need to borrow, exhaust federal loan sources first.
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FYE student leadership
opportunities
Seven short months ago, your student entered
Bona’s, wondering how she would ever adjust. Now, midway through
the second semester, it’s time for your student to consider
letting her leadership qualities shine in one of the opportunities
open for her next year. She can step into any of these positions
to help members of the incoming class of 2015 make the transition
from high school to college.
One opportunity for your student is the peer coaching program. Peer
Coaches are sophomore, junior and senior St. Bonaventure University
students who assist freshmen in their transition to college life.
Peer Coaches become the “go to” people for the freshmen.
Each Peer Coach works with eight new freshmen. The Peer Coaches
contact their freshmen during the summer and meet in person at Welcome
Days. Peer Coaches are also asked to stay in contact with their
freshmen for the entire academic year. Freshmen will have the opportunity
to learn about college success from students who have already been
successful at SBU. Although this is not a paid position, Peer Coaches
gain leadership experience and this opportunity serves as a great
résumé builder. Applications to become a Peer Coach
are due on March 11.
If your student is looking for a fun summer job, applying to be
a part of the 2011 Orientation Team might be a great fit! The Orientation
Team is the first group of students to welcome the Class of 2015.
The Orientation Team goes through an intense week of training to
prepare to welcome the Class of 2015. Orientation leaders facilitate
sessions during both Orientation and Welcome Days and work hard
to make the new class feel at home at SBU. Students must be available
July 3 through July 24 as well as August 21 through August 28. Students
earn a $1,000 stipend for their duties, but most orientation leaders
say this experience is not about the money. The Orientation Team
members gain significant leadership ability, skills in effective
communication, and have the opportunity to develop professional
relationships with faculty, staff and fellow peers. Applications
to become an Orientation Leader are due March 9.
If your student is interested in learning more about either position,
please have him or her contact Abby Cohen directly at acohen@sbu.edu.
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