There was a good attendance at the Financial Aid Workshop for parents and students planning to attend college. The Licking Personal Finance Class sponsored the workshop. Chris Beaugard HES Specialist presented information on college costs, grants, and scholarships to 55 parents and students.

Program outlines
the ins and outs
of student
financial aid

“Few parents save enough to cover the full cost of sending their children to college or another type of post-secondary institution,” she said. “The world of financial aid has changed a lot since parents of today's students went to college.”

The program helps parents understand how the student financial aid program works in the United States and in Missouri. Bozworth, a University Extension consumer and family economics specialist in the west central region, developed the program in 1996 when she was a state specialist.

She said the program targets students and families in more rural areas of the state. University representatives often do not have the budget or time to travel to many high schools in outlying areas. A team of regional specialists, including 4-H youth specialists and consumer and family economics specialists, presents the two-hour workshops in collaboration with high school guidance counselors.

A pilot program in the east central and south central regions preceded the statewide program. The curriculum was presented during nine pilot workshops to more than 350 parents and students. Through evaluations, participants were positive about the financial information they had learned at the workshops, said Bozworth.

Post-secondary education includes junior colleges and technical schools.

“We give them a lot to take home, but they are appreciative of all of it,” he said. “They like the fact that we do not represent a certain school and are giving them unbiased information. This program also gets them thinking about financial aid and higher education early on instead of procrastinating. Many have mentioned that they wish they had this information years ago when their other children were going to college.”

During a workshop, participants are given information ranging from the costs of attending college to a sample student budget to ways to get more information on scholarships. Beaugard said parents are most surprised about the high cost of a college education and the vast amount of available financial aid. Many are unaware that they can file for aid with estimated tax information, so they can get their application in early.

Five colleges had representatives at the Financial Aid workshop presented by the Licking Personal Finance Class through FHA. Pictured above are: Chris Beaugard, principle speaker and Consumer and Family Economics Specialist; Donna Bassham, Coordinator of Financial Aid, SMSU-West Plains; Ron Stone, Site Director, Central Texas College; Karen Matlock, Coordinator SFA UM-Rolla; Phillip W.W.D. Rodgers, Director of Financial Aid Lincoln University; and Kelly Ingram, Financial Aid Director, Rolla Technical Institute. Other colleges and Universities sending information were: UM-Columbia, SMSU-Springfield, College of the Ozarks, and Drury College.

To help reduce the stress of meeting application deadlines, Beaugard recommends that students write a one-page outline or explanation of their goals. He said that if they get an opportunity to apply for a scholarship at the last minute, this will reduce the stress and may help them to think better.

“For the most part, they like the idea that this gets them thinking ahead and planning for their children's education,” he said.

Applying early is important, Bozworth explained, because many schools award aid as the applications come in and until the funds are gone. Because items such as a house, cars and computers do not count as assets on applications, middle- to upper-income families can qualify for aid as well.

“Over 50 percent of financial aid comes from the government,” she said. “It's such a shame if families don't take advantage of it.”

HES Extension Site Administrator
Jeanne Bintzer
bintzerj@missouri.edu