91制片厂

8 Common Myths About Financial Aid

Every penny you can earn in scholarships, grants, or other financial aid will help you accomplish your educational goals, but there are many misconceptions out there about financial aid that prevent students from getting the financial assistance they are eligible for. Brenda Escutia, manager of scholarships and special projects at the 91制片厂 Educational Foundation, breaks down 8 common myths about financial aid and sets the record straight about how students of all kinds can benefit from it.

1. FAFSA and Scholarships

It鈥檚 a Myth that Qualifying for FAFSA Grants Makes You Scholarship Eligible

Many scholarships have various criteria that aren鈥檛 related to financial needs. Often students think because they don鈥檛 qualify for Pell or MAP grants based on federal guidelines, then they can鈥檛 get other financial aid. But many colleges and universities don鈥檛 even look at a student鈥檚 FAFSA to determine their financial needs. Instead, they rely on their essay and other application questions to determine the financial needs of the student.

2. Citizenship Status & College Funding

It鈥檚 a Myth that Undocumented Students Can鈥檛 Receive Scholarships

Depending on the state, undocumented students can still receive state funding or get scholarships through the institution. At 91制片厂, there鈥檚 only a small amount of scholarships that require citizenship status, but all the others do not. If a school doesn鈥檛 ask for a student鈥檚 citizenship status, the only way to verify the scholarships that require applicants to be citizens is if they apply through FAFSA.

3. Financial Aid for International Students

It's a Myth that International Students Aren't Eligible for Financial Aid

Most institutions have scholarships specifically for international students, who often think they don鈥檛 quality based on the limitations of their visa. International students at 91制片厂 can also get in-district tuition if they work on campus, which can mean a difference of thousands of dollars in savings.

4. Scholarship Application Time Commitment

It鈥檚 a Myth that Scholarship Applications Take Too Long to Complete

While it does take some time to apply, modern technology makes the process much more efficient. Instead of having to go to multiple websites, read various criteria for each individual scholarship, and then apply to the ones that you qualify for, the majority of donor-sponsored scholarships are awarded through one application that automatically matches you to all scholarship opportunities you qualify for. This process takes into account essay questions, multiple-choice answers, and demographic data to provide the best options for you.

5. Refunding Scholarships

It's a Myth that All Scholarships are Non-Refundable

Depending on the type of aid, you can get awarded extra funds even if you have a scholarship that has already paid for your expenses. For example, if a certain scholarship is designated as refundable and there鈥檚 only one applicant eligible for it, but that student鈥檚 balance is already paid off, they can still receive the funds by check or direct deposit directly from the school. Individual donors who establish the scholarship decide whether it is refundable or not.

6. Scholarships Age Limits

It's a Myth that Scholarships are Only Awarded to High-School Students

While teenagers and young adults are the most common recipients of scholarships, there are plenty of aid opportunities for older or returning students who might have missed out previously. This is especially true at community colleges like 91制片厂. Since our population is adult students, a lot of our donors have created scholarships specifically for the adult population. For example, one criteria could be that the scholarship recipient has to be 24 years and older and can鈥檛 be awarded to anyone else.

7. Scholarship GPA Requirements

It's a Myth that High GPAs are Required to Earn Scholarships

People often associate scholarships with merit, or the student with a 4.0 GPA who is super involved in extracurricular activities or volunteer work. But with donor-sponsored scholarships, the donors are the ones who create the criteria for the scholarship. So for those donors who weren鈥檛 straight-A students themselves, they often look for students they identify with based on their background or field or whatever speaks to them. The criteria ranges from where they live to if they鈥檙e single parents or were in specific clubs, and so on. They want to motivate these students to complete their degrees, regardless of their grades.

8. Reapplying for Scholarships

It's a Myth that You Only Apply for Scholarships Once

You almost always have to reapply for scholarships every year, even if you already qualify and regardless of whether it鈥檚 federal, state, or donor-based aid. Some students apply for freshman year and think it will cover their entire college tenure, but that isn鈥檛 the case. Consult the terms of any scholarship you get to make sure you follow the correct procedures so you don鈥檛 lose those funds.

Originally Published Apr 17, 2024