Surviving and Thriving at a Financial Aid Night

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Surviving and Thriving at a Financial Aid Night

• How to prepare a presentation on Financial Aid
  for High School Seniors.

Presented by Kenneth Cole, Financial Aid
Director, USC LancasterRegina Hailey Smith,
Coordinator- USC Trio ProgramsMeg Hurt,
Financial Aid Compliance Officer, Coastal
Carolina UniversityEarl Mayo, Deputy Director,
SC Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission
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Meg HurtP.R.E.P.A.R.A.T.I.O.N. is the key

• Point of contact HS guidance counselor or a
  church member, etc.
• Rehearse practice, practice, practice use a
  mirror trust a colleague
• Entice tease audience with and/or
  scholarships
• Presentation perfect, professional, prepared
• Audience parents, students, counselors? How many
  to expect?
• Remember you know more than they do, be
  confident and relax
• Audio/Visual needs be prepared laptop,
  projector, screen, handouts
• Theme add school mascot to PowerPoint slides,
  add some humor
• Informative provide information, but not too
  wordy
• Outcome know your objective and reach your goal
• Navigate look around, smile and leave time for Q
  A

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Meg HurtP.R.E.P.A.R.A.T.I.O.N. is the key

• P.R.E.P.A.R.A.T.I.O.N.
• in word format
• Example Financial Aid
• High School Night Presentation

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Regina SmithPower Point Presentations, Helpful
Guidelines

• Know your audience
• Have accurate information
• Be the expert Know it!
• Make certain all items are relevant to the topic
• Not too many slides
• Should be a summary with bullets
• Too many sounds frustrate the listener
• Too much action diminishes the strength of the
  content
• Loud colors interfere

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Regina SmithPower Point Presentations, Helpful
Guidelines

• Less is more
• Effective transitioning to major topics is
  important
• Organize your presentation
• Know how to operate the equipment EARLY
• Presentation techniques (Um, And uh, You know)
• Make copies of the presentation
• Own it!
• What Works???
• Giveaways while discussing topics keeps them
  attentive and more alert.

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Regina SmithPower Point Presentations, Helpful
Guidelines

• PPT Helpful Guidelines
• In Word Format
• Example Financial Aid
• High School Night Presentation

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Earl MayoAn Example Power Point Presentation

• SCTG Presentation

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Kenneth ColeWhat questions should you ask
yourself?

• How Early?
• January-February
• How Often?
• One on campus
• Two or three at the schools
• How Many?
• On Campus, 100 to 180 students
• At schools, from as few as 10 to as many as 120
• How Long?
• On Campus, 1 ½ hours
• Off Campus, 1 hour

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Kenneth ColeWhat questions should you ask
yourself?

• How to?
• Communicate
• Determine a date
• Determine a time
• Determine a venue
• Will you provide food?
• Advertise
• Prepare
• Present

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Kenneth ColeWhat questions should you ask
yourself?

• What?
• How to file the FAFSA
• Need Analysis (EFC/COA/NEED)
• Special Circumstances and Dependency Overrides
• Verification
• Scholarship Scams
• Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Federal Aid Programs
• State Aid Programs
• Student Loans
• Other Aid
• College Goal Sunday
• Important Dates and Deadlines

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Kenneth ColeAn Example Power Point Presentation

• How to Prepare a FA HS Night Presentation
• In Word format
• Example Financial Aid
• High School Night Presentation

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Questions?
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How to reach us

• Kenneth Cole
• Financial Aid Director, USC Lancaster
• colekt_at_gwm.sc.edu
• [phone]
• Regina Hailey Smith
• Coordinator- USC Trio Programs
• RHSmith_at_gwm.sc.edu
• [phone]
• Meg Hurt
• Financial Aid Compliance Officer, Coastal
  Carolina University
• mhurt_at_coastal.edu
• [phone]
• Earl Mayo
• Deputy Director, SC Higher Education Tuition
  Grants Commission
• mailtoearl_at_sctuitiongrants.org
• [phone]