<p>I want to give a financial aid seminar to some moms. Can you point me to some websites/books etc. I am doing this because of a mom that I was visiting with.. Her child has been accepted to a nearby school. She was starting to think about how to pay for it.. They were starting to look at scholarships but she was bemoaning that they were all national essay ones. She talked about filling out her FAFSA this summer!!!!! I just about fainted. When I told her that the school my son was looking at had a Dec 15th scholarship application deadline and about doing FAFSA early and financial aid applications for schools early and that she would get a letter that would give her the financial aid from that specific school, she was really surprised. Her husband is a pastor of a VERY small church. They have 5 kids. The mom doesn't work. I know they would be eligible for LOTS of financial aid. I'm helping her now. But many other moms in the room had no clue either.. Many of them are starting WAY too late. So help me out so I can help them.</p>
<p>[FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.finaid.org)</p>
<p>“Paying for college without going broke”</p>
<p>“Debt-free U”</p>
<p>“Personal finance for dummies”</p>
<p>That last book is to remind them that it isn’t just about paying for college, it’s about getting and keeping your overall finances in order.</p>
<p>Michelle Singletary who writes for the [Washington</a> Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis](<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com%5DWashington”>http://www.washingtonpost.com) has written a number of good columns about paying for college. Her personal finance books are good too.</p>
<p>And to put fear into them once and for all about college debt:</p>
<p>[Project</a> on Student Debt: Home](<a href=“http://www.projectonstudentdebt.org%5DProject”>http://www.projectonstudentdebt.org) click on the tab labeled “voices”</p>
<p>I read “Paying for College Without Going Broke” and liked it.</p>
<p>One thing to tell everyone is to read all information and instructions carefully. For example, I bet the application for the school where the student was accepted mentioned deadlines for financial aid and/or FAFSA, or at least said to go to the school’s financial aid section of their web site and look it up.</p>
<p>Thanks guys much appreciated!</p>
<p>Agree with all above. Kelsmom is one of my favorite “resources” and she used to do FA seminars when she was an aid officer. Perhaps you could PM her for some advice on the materials/approach that she used. Good luck!</p>
<p>Here is a good resource: [Federal</a> Student Aid Information for Counselors](<a href=“http://www.fsa4counselors.ed.gov/clcf/PlanningAFinancialAidNight.html]Federal”>http://www.fsa4counselors.ed.gov/clcf/PlanningAFinancialAidNight.html). Feel free to PM me for more ideas. I have a good presentation you could use if you want. I can take off any identifying info I have on it & send it, if you would like.</p>