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Financial Aid - What Parents Can Be Doing Now!
November 15, 2011
By Janice Supplee
A parent wrote and asked, "Now that my son has been accepted to Cedarville, what can I do to access scholarships?" Here are some financial aid action steps you can begin NOW.
Although several of these action items are Cedarville-specific, hopefully this overview and resource list will assist you in asking the right questions as you seek to access as much financial aid as possible - no matter where your son or daughter is planning to attend college.
1. Apply for the Cedarville Scholar Award competition
For students with excellent academics, now is the time to apply for the
Cedarville Scholar Award, an annual competition for nine 75%-tuition scholarships. Applications and recommendations are due by January 15, 2011.
2. Be sure your student receives the largest Academic Excellence Award possible.
Academic Excellence Awards are based on ACT or SAT score and high school GPA. Some students retake their ACT or SAT to try to raise their score and increase the level of their scholarship. If you decide to pursue this, be sure your student registers for a test date that assures scores arrive at Cedarville by the
February 15, 2012, deadline.
3. Prepare to apply for a Cedarville Access Grant (Need-based, FAFSA required)
The
FAFSA for the 2012-13 academic year will be available for completion starting January 1, 2012. We encourage students to complete the FAFSA process, working together with their parents, by February 20 if possible. The holidays provide a great opportunity to gather tax-related documents.
To get a head start now, both your student and you (as the parent) can set up your
PIN Number (Personal Identification Number) for use in completing the online FAFSA. The PIN # serves as your electronic signature; the student and one parent each need their own unique PIN #.
4. Church Matching Grant
Many churches are working on their 2012 budget now. Ask if your church will provide a scholarship for your student in support of Christ-centered higher education. If your home church provides a scholarship for your student to attend Cedarville, Cedarville will match the scholarship with a
Church Matching Grant (up to $500).
5. Outside Scholarships
Stories abound of families who have been proactive about researching
outside sources of aid and bringing in scholarships of $250, $500, $1000, and in some cases much more. Begin the
scholarship search now; ask your guidance counselor for ideas; and take the time to apply for as many as possible!
Have questions? Our financial aid team is here to serve you! Call us at 1-800-444-2433.
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