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October 4, 2002 News Story
WSU-LC offers tips for
College-Bound High School Seniors
High school seniors who plan to attend college in 2003-2004 need to begin preparation this fall. Sandy Gilbert, Student Services Officer, Wright State University-Lake Campus, recently attended a meeting of the northwest Ohio regional Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (OASFAA) at Ohio Northern University in Ada where financial aid updates were presented.
The following "Fall Planning Guide for High School Seniors" was a topic of discussion.
• Complete standardized testing - ACT and/or SAT. (November 8th is the deadline to register to take the December 14, 2002 ACT test in Ohio.)
• Visit colleges and apply for admission early. You must meet college admission deadlines to be eligible for most campus-based aid and scholarships. Wright State University's deadline is February 15th.
• Register for your Personal Identification Number (PIN) from the Department of Education. The PIN number is simply an "electronic" signature that speeds up the application process. If you have a PIN number, you do not have to mail a signature page after filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. A PIN number is required to file FAFSA renewals online, to make changes to your Student Aid Report (SAR) once you have filed, and to inquire about the status of your application. You and at least one of your parents must have a PIN number to file the FAFSA completely online. To get your PIN number and your parent's PIN number, go to this website: www.pin.ed.gov. today.
• Ask EACH college you are interested in if any financial aid form other than the FAFSA is required. You may need an institutional aid application and/or College Board CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®. Wright State University does not require a separate application for financial aid, but Wright State’s Title IV code (003078) must be added, under step six, to the FAFSA.
• Conduct scholarship searches. Check online scholarship search engines, libraries, or ask your high school counselor for resources. Sponsors of scholarships would include your college of choice, community organizations, employers and service clubs.
• Scholarships usually require separate application processes and have their own priority deadlines. Check with each sponsor for specific scholarship information.
• Plan to attend a financial aid informational session such as the upcoming "College Goal Sunday" to be held statewide at various access sites on February 2, 2003. "College Goal Sunday," a new program developed by OASFAA, was instituted to guide Ohio students and their families through the federal financial aid application that determines eligibility for federal, state, and campus-based grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance.
The closest sites to the St. Marys area will be in Bluffton and in Miami County. Public service announcements will provide exact site locations as soon as available. The Lake Campus will also offer several "Financial Aid Nights" on campus the first week of February.
Wright State University-Lake Campus welcomes your questions and requests for additional information. Contact Sandy Gilbert, WSU Lake Campus Student Services Officer at 419-586-0336 or 1-800-237-1477, extension 8336.
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