January Each Year Marks Time When the 'FAFSA' -
Free Application for Federal Student Aid - May Be Submitted;
Sallie Mae's Wiredscholar.com Helps
Minority Students Plan and Pay for School Online
RESTON, Va., Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- There's no escaping the fact that
college costs have been on the rise, so careful planning is key for parents
and students looking to find ways to fund a college education. For high-school
students planning to become college freshmen in the fall of 2003, January is
the first month that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can
be submitted. The FAFSA determines eligibility for federal financial aid,
making January a critical time for determining how to pay for college costs.
The FAFSA is a student's starting point for applying to most student
financial assistance programs. Students must complete this application to
receive any federal student aid. Additionally, many schools use the FAFSA as
part of their application for non-federal aid.
"There is more than $90 billion in financial aid available; however, many
schools award funds on a first-come, first-served basis," said David Cooper,
managing director of e-commerce for Sallie Mae, the nation's leading provider
of education funding. "Students should file the FAFSA as early in the year as
possible."
Minority students often face specific challenges such as preparedness,
financial difficulty and family obligations, when it's time to determine how
to fund their education. Wiredscholar.com, Sallie Mae's comprehensive online
"going-to-college" resource, has tools and information to simplify the process
of college preparation, evaluation, selection, application and financing,
including a section
(http://www.wiredscholar.com/selecting/content/sel_minority.jsp ) devoted to
minority students. Here, visitors will find a wealth of information on
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), specific challenges
minority students may face and resources to overcome them, and more.
Wiredscholar.com also features a free scholarship search
(http://www.wiredscholar.com/scholarships ) where students may view their
search results immediately online.
"Because minority students may face unique challenges when it comes to
planning and paying for college, it's important that they begin the financial
aid process early," continued Cooper. "Wiredscholar.com provides specific
information and resources to help these students navigate the complex
financial aid process."
To determine aid eligibility, students must complete the FAFSA, which is
available through high school guidance offices, local libraries or online at
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov . Students attending college next fall may submit the
FAFSA anytime after Jan. 1, 2003. The form must also be completed before a
college's application deadline. Once the FAFSA is finalized, students should
contact the schools they are interested in to determine if additional
financial aid forms need to be completed.
Wiredscholar.com: Wiredscholar.com is the foremost online resource for
"going-to-college" information for students, parents and guidance
professionals. The site is the most comprehensive and objective resource on
the Web for information, interactive tools and checklists to assist with
college preparation, evaluation, selection, application and financing, all in
one online location. Log on to http://www.wiredscholar.com .
Sallie Mae (NYSE: SLM) is the nation's leading provider of education
funding, managing more than $78 billion in student loans for more than seven
million borrowers. The company primarily provides federally guaranteed student
loans originated under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP), and
offers comprehensive information and resources to guide students, parents and
guidance professionals through the financial aid process. Celebrating its
30th anniversary this year, the company opened its doors in May 1973 as a
government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) called the Student Loan Marketing
Association, and began the privatization process in 1997. Since then, Sallie
Mae's parent company name has changed, most recently to SLM Corporation
(effective May 17, 2002). Through its specialized subsidiaries and divisions,
the company also provides an array of consumer credit loans, including those
for lifelong learning and K-12 education, and business and technical
outsourcing services for colleges and universities. More information is
available at http://www.salliemae.com. SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries,
other than the Student Loan Marketing Association, are not sponsored by or
agencies of the United States.
SOURCE Sallie Mae
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.salliemae.com
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov http://www.wiredscholar.com
http://www.wiredscholar.com/scholarships
http://www.wiredscholar.com/scholarships
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/gh/cnoc/comp/827187.html
CONTACT:
Stephanie Cassidy, +1-703-810-6810,
stephanie.cassidy@slma.com, or Martha Holler, +1-703-810-5178,
martha.holler@slma.com, both of Sallie Mae
|
