Merit-based financial aid
Need-based financial aid

Dollars for education after high school: Applying for student financial aid.

1. Gather Information
Obtain scholarship information from your counselor about federal, state, college and special aid and scholarship programs. Check Weekly Notes or Counseling Notes for announcements. Find out if your parents' professional organizations or labor unions offer any programs. Read financial aid reference books available in the Counseling Department. Check the Resource Shelf section.

2. Apply to the School of Your Choice
On the admission application (if asked), specify your desire to apply for financial aid.

3. Take the ACT (college-bound students)
Every college applicant interested in financial aid should take the American College Test (ACT) since the State Scholarship Program for students going to public and private Michigan colleges is based on the results of this test. Most students take the ACT in April or June of their junior year. The last opportunity for immediate state scholarship consideration is the October test date of the senior year. Use the following steps for completing the process:

• Obtain the ACT registration packet from the Counseling Center.
  
  
• Observe the registration deadlines for the test date of your choice. Complete the ACT registration form and include the school code number and 23 for the state code. This will insure that your scores will be sent to the state for competitive scholarship consideration.
  
  
• After taking the test, students whose ACT scores qualify them for a State of Michigan Scholarship will be notified. Freshmen scholarship awards will be announced in late spring. This award is based on test scores and demonstrated financial need.

4. Processing Financial Aid Forms
After January 1, have your parents fill out the F.A.F.S.A. (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). You are encouraged to mail it before February 15. Early filing will give you maximum advantage of financial aid programs. Once the F.A.F.S.A. is processed, the results will be mailed to you. The result is called the Student Aid Report. The SAR should be submitted to the financial aid office of the school you are going to attend.

Then:
Contact the financial aid office of the college, university, or technical school you are interested in attending. Ask if they require an additional supplemental financial aid application. Some schools will require you to fill out their own financial aid application for a small fee, in addition to the F.A.F.S.A.

Special Circumstances
If the student has special circumstances, he or she should explain them to the financial aid administrator at the college or vocational school. The financial aid administrator can make adjustments to the student's cost of education, if necessary. In particular, the student should be sure to let the aid administrator know:

• If the student or parent has lost income or benefits in the last year.
  
  
• If the student or parent is a dislocated worker
  
  
• If the student's family has unusual medical or dental expenses.
  
  
• If the student's family pays tuition for high school or elementary school.

Parents may wish to check current tax guides for tax credits based on college tuition, and with the Michigan Department of Education for new programs for financing college education.

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