Peters Library Guides Parents and Students Through Financial Aid

The hosted a seminar on financial aid on Tuesday. The course was invaluable to parents of juniors and seniors. Jayeann Harr, a higher education access partner at Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance program (PHEAA), explained various ways for parents and students to pay for college.

Harr has been working for PHEAA for 25 years.

She reminded the audience that paying off a student loan is the responsibility of the student and the parent.

She outlined a myriad of sources for educational money, federal and state governments, and the schools and colleges themselves. She suggested the student also try contacting other sources as well.

High school counselors, clubs, organizations, employers and Internet scholarship searches are great ways to garner money for a potential college student, she said.  

There are also merit scholarships, academic, special talent or achievement, and programs of study students can check out.

“If a student is interested in mechanical engineering, (look up) mechanical engineering scholarships, or if your child wants to become a nurse, (look up) medical program scholarships, etc.," Harr said. 

She also spoke about Pell grants, FSEOG (a Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant), Perkins loans, federal work study programs and more.

“It’s faster and easier to file for a FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) online," she said. "It’s the preferred method.

“To file online, you and the student will both need a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to serve as an electronic signature. Visit www.pin.ed.gov to obtain the PIN. Keep it in a safe spot because you will need it each year.”

She spent a great deal of time talking about FAFSA and when to apply. She spoke about creating a student budget for tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.

“FAFSA is free for all students, if you are asked to pay to file the FAFSA, you are not on the official government website, which is www.FAFSA.gov.”

After the seminar, members of the audience approached Harr and asked her to tackle some individual issues.

In a handout entitled, "How to Pay for College: the Pennsyvania Student Aid Guide," a college planning timeline was provided.

She suggested, prior to senior year, students should start requesting various applications from various colleges. The pamphlet encouraged parents and students to visit a variety of college campuses. It also advised that early August was the perfect time to talk to a school counselor about taking AP (Advanced Placement) courses for college credit. The pamphlet outlined events from September through January. January is the ideal time to complete the free application for FAFSA, she said. 

Michelle Mundy, mother of junior Ryan Mundy said, “She was so informative. I learned a lot. I’m not as overwhelmed as I was when I came here. I feel better prepared.”

On Feb. 18, at the library, Harr is offering a FAFSA workshop from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Many of the audience members signed up for the upcoming workshop.

Harr cited several good resources for parents looking for loans and other financial aid, such as: www.pheaa.org, www.educationalplanner.org, www.youcandealwithit.com, myfedloan.org and www.direct.ed.gov.

Harr also provided the toll-free PHEAA phone number: 1-800-692-7392.