Important Dates Ahead for Financial Assistance
Media Contact: , (859) 257-1754, x257
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 30, 2009) – Current, graduate, and transfer students are
encouraged to apply for financial aid by the priority filing date of April
1.
"There is still significant funding available for students to attend college, and the best way to find out if the student is eligible is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)," said Lynda George, director of Student Financial Aid at UK.
There are steps all students should take to ensure they receive full consideration for all of the funding available to them.
"The most important piece of advice I can give is to fill out a FAFSA by the priority date of April 1," said George. "If they meet that date then they will receive consideration for all of the federal funding sources available to UK students, but if they miss the date, they will not receive full consideration."
George encourages students to complete this process online.
"Applying online is much easier and there are built in edits that will help students avoid making errors," said George. "In addition, it is faster. So, as long as they complete their applications online before midnight April 1, they will not miss the filing date. If they plan on sending a paper application, students must have their paperwork in to the central processor by April 1."
It is also important for students and their families to have certain personal financial information readily available for completing the FAFSA.
"The FAFSA asks for 2008 federal income tax information, but students and parents should complete the FAFSA even if they don't have their taxes complete," said George.
She suggests using the best estimates available from the 2007 tax return if little has changed from the previous year or using information from end-of-the-calendar- year pay stubs.
"It's better to use the estimated information and meet the priority date, but once students and parents receive their 2008 tax information, they are encouraged to go online and update their applications with the most updated tax information," George said.
Students should be leery of programs, Web sites, or people asking for money in return for assisting them with filling out the FAFSA.
"You should never pay someone to fill out your FAFSA, said George. "If you need help, just call the University of Kentucky Office of Student Financial Aid at (859) 257-3172."
While George and other financial aid counselors will work with federal and state funding sources available to them to make sure students receive the aid they need, she also suggests one other option for paying for college: scholarships.
There are scholarships available to returning students through the Office of Academic Scholarships. Students who have earned a 3.50 GPA and have completed 12 semester hours at UK are encouraged to apply. Applications (pdf) are available online or in 100 Funkhouser. The deadline to apply is April 15. Transfer students have until May 15 to apply (pdf) for their academic scholarships.
In addition, there are opportunities for students outside of the university.
"There are many private scholarships available, but they do require separate applications," said George. "Students must do a little research to find them, but they need to be looking for those opportunities immediately if they need funds to attend UK this fall."
George suggests Fastweb because it is free and offers a wide variety of scholarships.
For more information, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid at (859) 257-3172.
View a video with helpful hints about finding funds for college, or read the text version.
"There is still significant funding available for students to attend college, and the best way to find out if the student is eligible is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)," said Lynda George, director of Student Financial Aid at UK.
There are steps all students should take to ensure they receive full consideration for all of the funding available to them.
"The most important piece of advice I can give is to fill out a FAFSA by the priority date of April 1," said George. "If they meet that date then they will receive consideration for all of the federal funding sources available to UK students, but if they miss the date, they will not receive full consideration."
George encourages students to complete this process online.
"Applying online is much easier and there are built in edits that will help students avoid making errors," said George. "In addition, it is faster. So, as long as they complete their applications online before midnight April 1, they will not miss the filing date. If they plan on sending a paper application, students must have their paperwork in to the central processor by April 1."
It is also important for students and their families to have certain personal financial information readily available for completing the FAFSA.
"The FAFSA asks for 2008 federal income tax information, but students and parents should complete the FAFSA even if they don't have their taxes complete," said George.
She suggests using the best estimates available from the 2007 tax return if little has changed from the previous year or using information from end-of-the-calendar- year pay stubs.
"It's better to use the estimated information and meet the priority date, but once students and parents receive their 2008 tax information, they are encouraged to go online and update their applications with the most updated tax information," George said.
Students should be leery of programs, Web sites, or people asking for money in return for assisting them with filling out the FAFSA.
"You should never pay someone to fill out your FAFSA, said George. "If you need help, just call the University of Kentucky Office of Student Financial Aid at (859) 257-3172."
While George and other financial aid counselors will work with federal and state funding sources available to them to make sure students receive the aid they need, she also suggests one other option for paying for college: scholarships.
There are scholarships available to returning students through the Office of Academic Scholarships. Students who have earned a 3.50 GPA and have completed 12 semester hours at UK are encouraged to apply. Applications (pdf) are available online or in 100 Funkhouser. The deadline to apply is April 15. Transfer students have until May 15 to apply (pdf) for their academic scholarships.
In addition, there are opportunities for students outside of the university.
"There are many private scholarships available, but they do require separate applications," said George. "Students must do a little research to find them, but they need to be looking for those opportunities immediately if they need funds to attend UK this fall."
George suggests Fastweb because it is free and offers a wide variety of scholarships.
For more information, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid at (859) 257-3172.
View a video with helpful hints about finding funds for college, or read the text version.