Financial Aid Deadline March 2

Now is the time to apply for financial aid. Most financial aid is awarded based on your demonstrated financial need. Your financial aid need is the difference between what it will cost you to attend a particular college and what you and your family can pay toward your college costs.

To apply for federal and state financial aid and have your financial need calculated, you'll need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Whether you apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov or on paper, it's free.

Many colleges also use the FAFSA to award their own student aid dollars. Every high school graduate who has good grades and financial need can receive a Cal Grant Entitlement Award. Cal Grants are good at all UC's, CSU's, private colleges, community colleges, and most vocational schools in California.

Students must be a California resident and have a 2.0 G.P.A. or better. All students applying for a Cal Grant must also submit the FAFSA and fill out a verified G.P.A. form. Ms. Rosso must verify and fill in the G.P.A. verification. Cal Grants are as much as $9,700 free money for college. March 2, 2006 is the deadline for both the FAFSA and Cal Grant application.

Always remember to make copies of all forms before you mail them, and get a certificate of mailing for $0.90 from the post office before you send in your application. All seniors should apply for financial aid. If you qualify, it can save you thousands of dollars with the financing of your college education.

Featured College Of The Month

San Diego State University is a 300-acre campus that mirrors the beauty of the surrounding coastal Southern California. Cal State San Diego, designated a “Doctoral/ Research University,” is ranked among the top 6.7 percent of higher education institutions in the United States. The University, which is composed of 7 colleges (Arts and Letters, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Health and Human Services, Professional Studies and Fine Arts and Sciences), offers 81 bachelors, 72 masters, and 16 doctoral degrees.

This institution offers a state of-the-art library, over 300 clubs and organizations, student union, recital hall, performing art theatres, health center, new underground trolley station, modern recreation center, 12,000 seat arena, seven residence halls, and the Tony Gwynn baseball stadium

For all you athletes, the campus also offers NCAA Division I men's football, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, and soccer, as well as women's volleyball, basketball, softball, golf, soccer, indoor and outdoor track and field, cross country, swimming, tennis, water polo, and crew.

For more information on this beautiful campus, please visit ww.sdsu.eduor come by the college center

• December 2005
• the collegiate hunter