University of Michigan-Flint sheds some light on applying for financial aid in the United States

January 27, 2003 - January is the time to start gathering materials to apply for Federal Financial Aid (which includes grants, loans and work opportunities) and for scholarships as well. Students that are considered to be "eligible non-citizens" or a citizen of the United States must start by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The FAFSA must be filed for each new academic year. By filing the FAFSA, students attending an eligible institution in the U.S. will be considered for all types of financial aid. But don't stop there! There are many scholarship opportunities available not only through colleges and universities themselves, but through foundations and corporations too. Students are encouraged to surf the Web, seeking possible scholarships.

Be aware however, there are those out there that are flat out scams! One should never pay to apply for a scholarship or to file the FAFSA, no matter how much money they "promise" to find you. A great, legitimate, customized source for seeking US scholarships is www.FastWeb.com. Don't forget to check out www.ScholarshipsCanada.com as well, though most scholarships listed there are for students attending Canadian schools.

Don't think your search will be easy though. Finding scholarships can sometimes compare to finding a job, as students must market themselves and be ambitious in their search. This is the time to gather together all of those high school, community and college activities you have been involved in. Volunteer work looks great on a scholarship application, as do leadership roles, community involvement, etc.

There is still a little time to apply for 2004-05 University of Michigan-Flint scholarships. Visit our Web site at www.umflint.edu and go to financial aid/scholarships. You will be taken to a generic scholarship application where a series of questions will be asked and an essay required. Act fast, as the UM-Flint scholarship Web site closes on February 6, 2004. Notification of scholarship awards for 2004-05 will begin occurring in early April 2004. Students filing the 2004-05 FAFSA still have time as the U of M - Flint notifies their students on a rolling basis. We encourage students to file via the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Students can expect their first award notification from U of M-Flint to be sent via mail between mid to late March 2004. State of Michigan residents who qualify for the Michigan Competitive Scholarship must have their FAFSA filed and received by the State of Michigan no later than March 1st.

It is a good idea to keep copies or printouts of your FAFSA and scholarship applications. Be certain to follow through with all of your applications and any additional documents that may be requested by the Office of Financial Aid. Be sure you are aware of all deadlines, and don't be late!

Those wanting more information on filing the FAFSA or U of M - Flint Scholarships can e-mail us at Financial_Aid@list.flint.umich.edu or call 810-762-3444.