Cougar Mentor Program

Student Success Tips
 

Financial Aid

• Start early and be persistent. 99% of the time money will not come to you.

• Consider every possible source of educational funding and leads.

  • COC’s Financial Aid Office

  • Clubs and groups you and/or your parents belong to

  • Local civic and special interest organizations

  • Professionals already working in your major field

  • Scholarship resource books

  • Honor societies, sororities, fraternities, etc.

• Fill out all forms completely. Include all required documentation.

• Respond quickly to all requests for additional information and documentation.

• Stick with it! Sometimes the process is slow and frustrating, but remember, each year thousands of dollars of financial aid funding is unused. Be tenacious and those dollars could be yours.

• Make an appointment to see a financial aid officer at COC. Discuss the difference between grants, scholarships, subsidized loans, unsubsidized loans, etc. Find out what type of aid you are eligible for and what type of aid you can live with later (paying back those loans?).

• If you are awarded financial aid, be sure you know what guidelines you must maintain in order to keep your award (i.e. gpa).