College Source Online

• For use only at the Central, Audubon, Hamburg, Julia Boyer Reinstein, Kenmore, and Orchard Park libraries.
• View profiles and catalogs from over 12,000 2-year, 4-year, graduate and professional schools.
• Search by school name, location, tuition, enrollment, major and other criteria.

The College Board

• Available on the World Wide Web at http://www.collegeboard.com
• Members include more than 3,800 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational associations.
• Register for the SAT online and practice online with actual SAT test questions.
• Use the College Board to identify and search for suitable colleges, apply to college online, explore career options, learn about college costs, and navigate the confusing world of financial aid.

How to Find a College

Here are some other places to find information on choosing a college:

B&ECPL Reference Desk, Education and Careers page: http://www.buffalolib.org/referencedesk/edu.asp#college

Yahoo, College Entrance page:http://dir.yahoo.com/Education/Higher_Education/College_and_University_Entrance/

Librarian’s Index to the Internet, Colleges and Universities page: http://lii.org/search?title=Colleges+and+Universities;query=Universities+colleges;searchtype=subject

U.S. News.com, Education page (includes the college rankings): http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/cohome.htm

College Costs

  Note:   Most of these totals do not include the cost of books, supplies, health insurance, living off-campus, spending money, traveling home, etc.

Financing Your Education

Grants

• Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) helps eligible New York residents attending in-state postsecondary institutions pay for tuition. Depending on the academic year in which the student began study, an annual TAP award can be as high as $5,000. Because TAP is a grant, it does not have to be paid back!

• Federal Pell Grant

A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Generally, Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree. (A professional degree is usually earned after earning a bachelor's degree in a field such as medicine, law, or dentistry.)

• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

A Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need-that is, students with the lowest Expected Family Contributions (EFCs)-and gives priority to students who receive Federal Pell Grants. An FSEOG doesn't have to be paid back.

• Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS)

Awards provide up to $2,000 per year for part-time undergraduate study at participating institutions in New York State. An APTS award cannot exceed tuition charges.

Loans

• Stafford Loan (subsidized / unsubsidized)

Stafford Loans are a major form of self-help aid for students. Depending on the school you attend, your Stafford Loans may be made either through the Direct Loan Program or through the FFEL Program. Generally, schools participate in the Direct Loan Program or the FFEL Program, but not both. Direct and FFEL Stafford Loans have identical eligibility requirement and loan limits. The major difference between the two programs is the source of the loan funds and repayment options. Under the Direct Loan Program, the U.S. government loans you the funds. Under the FFEL Program, the funds for your loan are lent to you from a private lender (a bank, credit union, or other lender that participates in the FFEL Program). Loan repayment options differ somewhat, see the the Direct Loan and FFEL Program section.

• Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)

PLUS Loans enable parents with good credit histories to borrow to pay the education expenses of each child who is a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half time in an approved college or university. PLUS Loans are available through both the Direct Loan and FFEL programs. Most of the benefits to parent borrowers are identical in the two programs.

• Perkins Loan

A Federal Perkins Loan is a low-interest (5 percent) loan for both undergraduate and graduate students with financial need. Your school is your lender. The loan is made with government funds with a share contributed by the school. You must repay this loan to your school.

• Federal Direct Student Loan Program (FDSLP)

Under the Direct Loan Program, the U.S. Government makes loans directly to students and parents through their schools. (Under the FFELP, private banks make the loans.) Both programs, however, offer the same types of loans. Whether you receive a Direct Loan or a FFELP loan will depend upon which program or programs your school participates in.

• Private / Supplemental loan

A number of state and private supplemental loan programs offer funds to students and parents who require loan assistance in excess of the annual borrowing limits for Federal Stafford loans.

Other

• Scholarships
• Work-Study
• Military assistance
• Self-help aid (your savings, earning from employment, etc.)

Tips on Obtaining Financial Aid

1. Apply early
   
   Many awards are given on a first-come, first-served basis.
   
   
2. Explore your options
   
   There are many different types of financial aid available.
   
   
3. Consult with experts
   
   Your high school guidance counselor and the financial aid officers at the school you will be attending can be valuable sources of information.
   
   
4. Keep updated
   
   Once you apply for financial aid, make sure you follow up with phone calls, or checking appropriate websites. Make sure that you have provided all the necessary information, and that your application is being processed promptly!

Grants

Grants are GIFT-AID and do not need to be repaid!

Loans

Helpful Definitions

• Deferment
  An authorized period of time during which a student loan borrower may postpone making payments on the principal or the principal plus interest. Borrowers must file deferment forms with their lenders and be approved for deferments.
  
• Expected family contribution (EFC)
  Amount that a student and her or his parents can reasonably be expected to contribute toward college costs, computed according to federal guidelines and/or alternate guidelines.
  
• FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid
  Application used to apply for all Federal Student Aid programs including TAP, STAP, Pell, FSEOG, Stafford Loans, FDSLP, and PLUS.

FAFSA is available from:

• your High School guidance office
• the college you plan to attend
• online at: www.fafsa.ed.gov
• by contacting the:

Federal Student Aid Information Center
P.O Box 84
Washington, D.C. 20044
1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)

• Forbearance
  An authorized period of time during which the lender agrees to temporarily postpone a borrower’s total loan repayment obligation. At the borrower’s request, an extension of time or smaller monthly payments may be authorized. Forbearance is granted at the lender’s discretion.
  
• Grace Period
  A specific period of time after a student leaves school or drops below half-time status during which he or she is not required to make payments on either principal or interest.
  
• Grants
  Gift aid-financial aid that does not need to be repaid.
  
• Loans
  Borrowed money that you must repay.
  
• Work-Study
  Lets student work and earn money to help pay for school (usually on campus, or off campus with a non-profit agency that has entered into an agreement with your school).

Useful Names, Addresses, and Websites

US Department of Education

• http://www.ed.gov

US Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202
800-USA-LEARN

Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC)

• http://hesc.state.ny.us

New York State
Higher Education Services Corporation
Albany, NY 12255
888-NYS-HESC

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

• http://www.fafsa.ed.gov

Federal Student Aid Information Center
PO Box 84
Washington, DC 20044
800-4-FED-AID (800-433-3243)

SallieMae

• http://www.salliemae.com

Sallie Mae, Inc.
11600 Salle Mae Drive
Reston, VA 20193

Student Aid on the Web

• http://studentaid.ed.gov/

FinAid!

• http:www.finaid.org

To reach "College Answer" and receive information from financial aid counselors:   800-239-4269 or college.answer@slma.com

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