Things I Wish I Had Known About Funding My Education

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Things I Wish I Had Known About Funding My
Education
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Things I Wish I Had Known

• You CAN receive Financial Aid, even if you are
  not a full-time student
• Financial Aid is available for Summer classes
• Outside funding sources are abundant
• Textbooks do not have to be so expensive
• IRA
• Educational expenses can be tax deductible

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Financial Aid is available to part-time students

• Complete your income taxes early and save a copy
• Go to Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA)
  website
• Request a PIN
• Complete a FAFSA online
• Submit electronically using the PIN and print a
  copy
• Wait patiently
• Purdue may request supplemental information

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Financial Aid for Summer classes too.

• Complete a simple supplemental form available
  through the financial aid office.

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Outside Funding

• By filing a FAFSA prior to March 1, you are
  automatically considered for need-based aid
  through Purdue
• Other aid is available
• Demographics
• Activities
• Academic achievement
• more

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Outside Funding

• Finding funding sources
• Span Plan website
• Financial Aid website
• Fastweb
• You Student Services Office
• News and media

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How do I apply?

• Most require a completed FAFSA
• Financial information (refer back to tax forms
  and FAFSA)
• Official transcript
• Request through My Purdue
• Recommendations
• Personal essay

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The Essay

• Write one essay and modify
• Pay attention to specific requirements
• Boast with moderation
• Explain goals for the future
• Dont forget to give back
• Think about ALL of your added costs beyond
  tuition and books
• PROOFREAD!

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Buying TextbooksWhat a scam!

• Check Folletts and University Bookstore websites
  early to determine the books you need
• Buy elsewhere
• Other students
• Amazon, Barnes Noble or Half.com
• Search by author/title/ISBN
• Reserve copies in libraries

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Selling Books

• Sometimes the bookstores will give you a fair
  buy-back price
• Sometimes they wont!
• Sell to another student-you will gain and they
  will save
• Set up a sellers account on Amazon, Barnes
  Noble or Half.com

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IRA 529 Plan

• An IRA 529 Plan is established to fund a college
  education (typically for your children)
• You can make the beneficiary YOU!
• Consult a financial advisor

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Tax Benefits

• Sometimes college expenses can produce tax
  benefits through a Hope or Lifetime Learning
  credit
• Consult a tax advisor

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Important Websites for Funding Your Education

• FAFSA http//www.fafsa.ed.gov/
• Span Plan http//www.purdue.edu/odos/spanplan/ser
  vices.htm
• Financial Aid http//www.purdue.edu/dfa/
• Fastweb http//fastweb.com/
• My Purdue https//mypurdue.purdue.edu/cp/home/log
  inf
• Folletts http//www.efollett.com/
• University Bookstore http//www.purdueu.com/
• Amazon http//www.amazon.com
• Half.com http//www.half.com
• Barnes Noble http//www.bn.com