Greenville Tech Financial Aid

Greenville Tech Foundation Scholarship Application

2012-01-24T16:36:00.001-05:00

Scholarship Applications are now avaliable on the Greenville Tech Forms website:

http://www.gvltec.edu/forms/

the first link under Financial Aid on this Forms page will take you to the Scholarship Application. Please note that these applications must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office by May 1st in order to be reviewed for the 2012-2013 academic year. The Greenville Tech Foundation will make scholarship decisions during the Summer and will notify award winners via mail.

2012-01-03T18:43:00.000-05:00

We just received this notification about a new Scholarship opportunity:

Dear Greenville Technical College Financial Aid Office,

One of your students could win up to $5,000 scholarship to help pay for college! Please share DegreeDirectory.org's Student Saver Scholarship opportunity with the students on your campus today!
Students can learn all about the scholarship details, including how to apply, here: http://degreedirectory.org/articles/Student_Saver_Scholarship.html.

They can also find great money-saving, student-focused tips from the DegreeDirectory.org Student Saver.The Student Saver is written by a recent college graduate and features helpful information about managing their student loans, earning low-cost college credit and everyday tips for saving money while in college. Please feel free to link to this money-saving resource for college students on your site.

If you have any questions about the Student Saver Scholarship, please reply to this email or get in touch with us on Twitter @degreedir.

Best Regards,
Jessica Bayliss
DegreeDirectory.org

2011-12-16T08:04:00.000-05:00

Please note that the Financial Aid Office will close December 16 at noon for the Christmas Break. The office will not reopen until January 2. During this break there will be no staff available to monitor your questions via Blog/Facebook/Email/Phone. If you find that you have questions please let us know when we return in January.

Book vouchers will begin January 3rd through 27th.
You may not need to stand in line for a Book Voucher!

• Check GTC4me
• Go to WebAdvisor-Financial Aid
• Click on Bookstore Financial Aid
• Click Submit
• This is your voucher

*If funds are available beginning January 3rd you do not have to wait in line at Financial Aid. You can print and use that voucher at the Book Store that day!

Spring Semester 2012 Book Vouchers

2011-12-12T11:52:00.000-05:00

Book Vouchers for Spring 2012

Vouchers will be available
January 3rd thru January 27th

• Check GTC4me
• Go to WebAdvisor-Financial Aid
• Click on Bookstore Financial Aid
• Click Submit
• This is your voucher

*If funds are available you do not have to wait in line you can print and use that voucher at the Book Store BEGINNING JANUARY 3rd!

Another great Scholarship Opportunity!

2011-12-05T11:11:00.000-05:00

Win $1000 to help you pay for rent, food, and all of the other living expenses to get your through the school year with DegreeDirectory.org's Starving Student Scholarship. Find out how to enter!

Starving Students Speak
Here at DegreeDirectory.org, we get a lot of our scholarship ideas from surveying our readers, and our latest, the Starving Student Scholarship, is no exception. We asked students to share their 'biggest barrier to getting an education.' An overwhelming majority answered, 'money!'

Students like you know that tuition and books are just the beginning of the expenses associated with college: you've got rent, gas and food to think about, too! We'd like to help you solve that problem in a very simple way: by giving $1000 to one of our student readers.

Entering is simple:
1. Like DegreeDirectory.org on Facebook.

2. Fill out our quick entry form and share your most creative solution to saving money as a student to be entered to win the $1000 scholarship.

That's it! Your suggestion can be anything related to cost of living while in school: from carpooling to save on gas to stealing your roommate's laundry detergent to wash your clothes (though you might not want to admit to that on Facebook). You can do this anytime between November 30, 2011 and January 1, 2012. If you submit our favorite tip, you'll win the $1000 scholarship!

Official Rules, Terms and Conditions
The Starving Student Scholarship is open to anyone over the age of 16 who is currently enrolled in or applying to a degree, diploma or certificate program. Any responses left on the DegreeDirectory.org Facebook page may be used on DegreeDirectory.org
http://degreedirectory.org/articles/Starving_Student_Scholarship.html

Hands on Banking

2011-11-29T18:01:00.001-05:00

This link will take you to Hands on Banking, which is an amazing resource to answer credit, budget, checking,and basic money management questions: http://www.handsonbanking.org/htdocs/en/y/

Extremely Important Information for your 12-13 FAFSA!

2011-11-28T10:44:00.000-05:00

GTC FINANCIAL AID: 2012-13 FINANCIAL AID CHANGES COMING!
Please read the information on the links below as they contain important notification about the 2012-13 FAFSA available January 1, 2012, and acceptable documentation. If you and/or your parents are required to file a federal tax return, we advise you to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT -available Feb 1, 2012) when completing the FAFSA after filing your 2011 federal tax return. This allows you to transfer your federal tax data directly to your FAFSA. The benefit of utilizing the IRS Data Retrieval Tool is that it will simplify and expedite the verification process.
File your tax return first, then:
• Electronically filed tax return data will be available online from the IRS site in 1-2 weeks
• Data from paper tax returns will be available in 6-8 weeks.
We can only accept official IRS tax return transcripts if you are selected for verification after the FAFSA is processed and you did not use the DRT, or if you change your answers to the income questions on the FAFSA after using the DRT.

http://www.gvltec.edu/FA12-13changes/

New Scholarship Opportunities!

2011-11-22T14:48:00.000-05:00

SMART Scholarship $25,000 Deadline: December 15, 2011
Apply at: http://www.studentscholarships.org/awards.php

Union Plus Scholarship $4,000 Deadline: January 31, 2012
Apply at: http://www.studentscholarships.org/awards.php

National FFA Scholarships $1,000 Deadline: February 22, 2012
Apply at: http://www.studentscholarships.org/awards.php

Peace Scholarships $1,000 Deadline: March 1, 2012
Apply at: http://www.studentscholarships.org/awards.php

Odenza Marketing Scholarship $500 Deadline: March 30, 2012
Apply at: http://www.studentscholarships.org/awards.php

Vancouver Restaurant Scholarship $500 Deadline: May 30, 2012
Apply at: http://www.studentscholarships.org/awards.php

Healthy Lifestyles Scholarship $5,000 Deadline: May 30, 2012
Apply at: http://www.studentscholarships.org/awards.php

Big Dig Scholarship $3,000 Deadline: June 1, 2012
Apply at: http://www.studentscholarships.org/awards.php

Man Mac Automatic Scholarship $500 Deadline: June 15, 2012
Apply at: http://www.studentscholarships.org/awards.php

BBG Communications Scholarship $1,000 Deadline: June 30, 2012
Apply at: http://www.studentscholarships.org/awards.php

2011-11-17T10:24:00.000-05:00

Education-Portal.com's Textbook for a Year Scholarship, is a chance for students to win $1000 to pay for textbooks.

Education-Portal.com is offering this scholarship a second time because so many of previous student applicants wrote about the major barrier the rising cost of textbooks has been to their education and they want to help.

"At Education-Portal.com, we're committed to increasing access to education for every student. We know that many students struggle to cover the growing price of pursuing a higher education and want to help students manage costs by providing regular scholarship opportunities and high quality information about how to manage and save money while in college.

Students have until December 9 to enter to win Free Textbooks for a Year. Please share this link with your students; it contains all necessary information about the scholarship, including how to apply: http://education-portal.com/articles/Textbook_Scholarship.html."

2011-11-14T11:53:00.000-05:00

 Start by completing your FAFSA each year at http://www.fafsa.gov/.

The FAFSA for the upcoming year becomes available January 1st each year for the upcoming academic year. (Example, the 2012-2013 FAFSA will become available January 1, 2012 and is your application for Federal Student Aid for the Fall of 2012, Spring of 2013 and Summer of 2013.)

 Great site to initiate your search is www.fastweb.com
• Create Account
• Create Profile
• Enter Student Activities/Parent Activities
• Search Results are automatically generated
• Categorize results by type, requirements, due dates, and award amounts.

 Other sites to try:
African American Scholarships http://www.free-4u.com/african.htm
Broke Scholar www.brokescholar.com
College Board www.collegeboard.com
College Net www.collegenet.com
College Planning Network www.collegeplan.org
Fast Aid www.fastaid.com
Gates Millennium Scholars www.gmsp.org
Go College www.gocollege.com
Military Scholarships www.military.com
National Hispanic Scholarship Fund www.hsf.com
Next Student www.nextstudent.com
Petersons www.petersons.com
Princeton Review www.princetonreview.com
Sallie Mae’s College Answer www.collegeanswer.com

 Tips for your scholarship search
• Start Early!!! Almost every scholarship has a deadline and many give priority to applications submitted early.
• Compile a list of accomplishments, awards, professional experience, education credentials, and volunteer organizations. Having this list handy can save you hours during the application process as most will ask for this information
• Be aggressive. Scholarships are designed to reward deserving and persistent students who are willing to “do what it takes” to further their education. A scholarship committee is not impressed by a “less than your best” effort. Plan accordingly!
• Identify and contact at least three people who would be willing to write an impressive recommendation letter on your behalf.
• Apply for every scholarship for which you are eligible. You never know what somebody else may see in you. Remember scholarships are available for almost every facet of student life and education.
• Follow Up! Don’t let your scholarship application slip through the cracks. Scholarship committees will also appreciate the dedication you show in your future endeavors.
• Be organized! This is a great time to hone your organizational skills. Keep track of all deadlines, signatures, recommendation letters, and any necessary follow-up questions from a scholarship organization.
• Don’t underestimate the importance of applying for scholarships. After all, a successful scholarship search could land you with a free ride and money to spare! How’s that for motivation!!

Update to previous Campus Explorer blog post.

2011-11-09T08:36:00.000-05:00

Name: Campus Explorer Exclusive Scholarship

Contact: Debra Eckerling
Company: Campus Explorer
Address: 2850 Ocean Park Blvd. #310, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Email Address: scholarships@campusexplorer.com
Website: https://www.campusexplorer.com/campus-explorer-scholarships/

Scholarship Description:
The Campus Explorer Exclusive Scholarship (https://www.campusexplorer.com/campus-explorer-scholarships/) is a monthly $1,000 giveaway, designed to help students pay for their higher-education expenses. Every month, Campus Explorer will announce a new scholarship – and a new way to win. A winner will be randomly selected from the entrants.

The contest is open to legal residents of the United States and the District of Columbia who are at least 16 years old at the time of entry.

At Campus Explorer, we believe everyone deserves a fulfilling education. Visit CampusExplorer.com for free college planning tools, tips and advice on paying for college and career information.

Check the website (http://CampusExplorer.com), blog (http://Blog.CampusExplorer.com) and social-media sites - including Facebook (http://Facebook.com/CampusExplorer) and Twitter (http://Twitter.com/CampusExplorer) - regularly to see the newest scholarship and meet the lucky winners.

Foundation, Inc. has notified us of a new scholarship opportunity

2011-11-08T09:26:00.000-05:00

The AWS Foundation is dedicated to meeting the needs for education and research in the field of welding and related joining technologies. Please see the District Scholarship Program Opportunity at http://www.aws.org/foundation/

New Scholarship Opportunity!

2011-10-31T15:27:00.000-04:00

We have just been notified of another scholarship opportunity. Students remember that we encourage you to seek outside scholarship opportunities but suggest that you never pay for a search or give out private information such as your scholarship or banking information. Please notify our office if you have other financial aid questions 864-250-8128

Name: Campus Explorer Exclusive Scholarship

Contact: Debra Eckerling
Company: Campus Explorer
Address: 2850 Ocean Park Blvd. #310, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Email Address: scholarships@campusexplorer.com
Website: https://www.campusexplorer.com/campus-explorer-scholarships/

Scholarship Description:
The Campus Explorer Exclusive Scholarship (https://www.campusexplorer.com/campus-explorer-scholarships/) is a monthly $1,000 giveaway, designed to help students pay for their higher-education expenses. Every month, Campus Explorer will announce a new scholarship and a new way to win. A winner will be randomly selected from the entrants.

The contest is open to legal residents of the United States and the District of Columbia who are at least 16 years old at the time of entry. Students must be enrolled in college for the current or following term, and are required to provide proof of enrollment.

At Campus Explorer, we believe everyone deserves a fulfilling education. Visit CampusExplorer.com for free college planning tools, tips and advice on paying for college and career information.

Check the website (http://CampusExplorer.com), blog (http://Blog.CampusExplorer.com) and social-media sites - including Facebook (http://Facebook.com/CampusExplorer) and Twitter (http://Twitter.com/CampusExplorer) - regularly to see the newest scholarship and meet the lucky winners.

MLK Dream Weekend Scholarships

2011-10-27T08:33:00.000-04:00

Another great scholarship opportunity. Please note that the deadline for this scholarship is December 10th!

The Martin Luther King Jr Dream Weekend is held every year in Greenville. They are offering 11 scholarships this year totaling $44,000. The scholarships are as follows:

MLK Young Dreamer Scholarship-2000.00
Coretta Scott King Dream Keeper Scholarship-2000.00
Greenville Technical College Dreamer Scholarship- 3000.00
USC Upstate Dreamer Scholarship- 3000.00
State Farm Dreamer Scholarship- 2000.00
Furman Dreamer Scholarship- 15,000
Clemson Dreamer Scholarship- 4,000
2 Michelin North America Dreamer Scholarship- 5,000 each

The criteria is on the packet attached to this email. Students can apply for multiple scholarships as long as they fit the criteria.

Instructions are listed on the application packet. Go to this website and then open the 2012 packet to review the packet for eligibility criteria.

http://www.mlkdreamweekend.com/scholarships/

Financial Aid "Priority Dates"

2011-10-20T13:34:00.000-04:00

What are financial aid "priority dates"?
These are the dates by which you need to have your FAFSA completed for each semester:

• Fall - May 1

• Spring - October 1

• Summer - February 1

What is verification?
The Department of Education requires us to verify the accuracy of FAFSA data. We will send you a missing information letter (MIL) asking you to submit required documents, such as a federal income tax return, to our office before you get aid. If you don't, it may mean cancellation of financial aid. Aid will be delayed until documents have been received and processed. To avoid delays in obtaining financial aid before the fee-payment deadline, we ask that you submit a completed requested documents by the following dates:

• Fall - June 1

• Spring - November 1

• Summer - March 1

Two new outside scholarship opportunities

2011-10-18T15:39:00.000-04:00

We have just been notified of two seperate outside scholarship opportunities and wanted to make you aware of each. If you are eligible ensure that you submit an application by the deadlines listed on each application.

1) Women's Opportunity Award Program

http://www.soroptimist.org/awards/apply.html
Local contact information is as follows:
SI of Greenville
Ms. Donna Eskridge
226 Eagles Landing Ln.
Seneca, SC 29672
864-888-8838

2) Bill Zito Scholarship

The Bill Zito Scholarship was established by Enercon and it is administered by the PMMI Education & Training Foundation. This one-time $2,100 scholarship will be awarded to a student enrolled in a two- or four-year program at any of PMMI’s Partner schools.

When applying for the Bill Zito scholarship, students must:

Have a GPA of 3.0 or higher
Be majoring in packaging engineering or a related area
Demonstrate a commitment to excellence in the packaging industry
Be currently enrolled in the program
Have a financial need
Demonstrate extra-curricular involvement, such as athletics
Have a recommendation from faculty

Students wishing to apply for this scholarship should submit an essay describing their interest in the packaging field, and their career goals to danny@pmmi.org The essay should clearly state the name of the applicant, address, phone number, email address, and school.

The deadline to apply for this scholarship is November 18, 2011. Any students planning to enroll in the 2012 spring semester are encouraged to apply.

For additional information, please contact Danny Martinez, PMMI Education Coordinator by Phone: 571-612-3204, Fax: 703-243-8556 or by e-mail at danny@pmmi.org.

Some Important Dates Coming up

2011-10-11T17:45:00.000-04:00

If you have not yet completed a FAFSA for the 2011-2012 year, you can do so at www.fafsa.gov, the 2012-2013 FAFSA for next Fall will be avaliable January 1.

You should have the academic calendar bookmarked, but remember that your important dates can be found at http://www.gvltec.edu/academic_calendar.aspx

October 17-Spring Semester 2012 online registration begins for returning students through GTC4me & WebAdvisor
October 24-Spring Semester 2012 registration begins for new students who have completed orientation, and all non-degree students
October 26-LAST DAY to withdraw from full-term Fall courses
November 21 & 22-the ARC will close at 5pm
November 23-25-College is closed for Thanksgiving holiday
December 1-Enrollment Purge for non-payment for Spring
December 6-12-Final Exams begin for Fall 2011 courses
December 19-31-College is closed for Christmas holiday

2011-09-28T08:54:00.000-04:00

Please note that the last day to Withdraw from a full semester Fall 2011 course with a "W" is October 26th.

Loans are currently being certified for current fall 2011 term. Please ensure that you have completed the Stafford Master Promissory Note at http://www.studentloans.gov/. If your loan has already been processed, and you are making changes to your loan, please allow time for this to occur. There are others whose loan needs to be processed for the first time before changes can be made to already processed loans.
Also, if you are making changes to your loan, please do so on an award letter only. No exceptions.

If you have left a post previously and did not receive an answer please let us know what your question is. You may also call 864-250-8128 or come by our office at McAlister Square.

2011-07-20T11:27:00.000-04:00

Remember GTC4me has all Financial Aid Information. Under My Financial Aid Forms you can see if additional information is needed by our office, if your FAFSA is in and complete, if your award letter has been completed and if aid is posted. Additionally you can find out more information about Student Loans including how to apply for loans. Please check your GTC4me often http://gvltec.edu/about_college.aspx?id=7073

Student Loans:
If Fall Semester 2011 will be your first time getting loans, and you have not already done so, please complete the Stafford Entrance Counseling and Stafford Master Promissory Note at www.studentloans.gov also ensure that you submit an additional loan request form to our office. The federal direct loan request form can be found under forms on our website http://www.gvltec.edu/forms/

LIFE Scholarship:
New Students:
Have you received your award letter but LIFE scholarship is not showing and you know that you are eligible?

Your high school transcript must be received and official with Admissions
You must be registered for 12 credit hours of non-remedial (101 level or above) courses

Returning Students:

Transcripts are currently being reviewed and processed, refer to GTC4me for updates

2011-06-22T09:48:00.000-04:00

Financial Aid has begun the awarding process for 11-12 aid. Fall 2011 award letters will begin going out via mail over the next few weeks.

Please remember that your award letter will post to GTC4me http://gvltec.edu/about_college.aspx?id=7073&terms=gtc4me as well, so be sure to check there first!

If you are interested in obtaining a student loan for the Fall semester and have not already done so, please complete the Stafford Master Promissory Note and the Stafford Entrance Counseling at http://www.studentloans.gov/.

IF YOU COMPLETED THE MPN AND COUNSELING LAST YEAR YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO SO AGAIN.

If your award letter has already posted and no loans are listed, ensure that you complete the above steps and also submit a Federal Direct Loan Request form http://www.gvltec.edu/students.aspx?id=2825#FA to our office as soon as possible.

If you are a first time student and have received an award letter listing only SC Lottery Tuition but feel you are eligible for additional federal aid, please check with Admissions http://gvltec.edu/admissions_process.aspx?id=5920 to ensure that your OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT is on file and posted.

Summer 2011 Disbursements and Refunds

2011-04-15T08:57:00.000-04:00

As we approach the 2011 summer term many of you will have questions about when your refund checks will be going out and what the amounts of these refunds will be. I will give you the best general knowledge that we have, but please bear in mind that every student is different, and your account may not be the same as another student. The tentative disbursement date is June 6, 2011. **Only students who have a file complete date on their 2010/2011 FAFSA will have funds transferred to their accounts.If you do not have a file complete date on your 2010/2011 FAFSA, contact the Financial Aid office to find out if there are any documents needed from you to complete processing. ** If you are receiving student loans please verify that you have completed entrance loan counseling and signed a Master Promissory Note with Direct Loans. You can complete both of these at http://studentloans.gov

Once financial aid funds have been applied to a students account in the Business Office, they will begin processing refunds. If you have Direct Deposit, these funds will be sent directly to your bank when refund checks go out, if you do not have Direct Deposit, they will be mailed to your address on file.

I hope this answers your questions regarding the disbursement date and refunds, if not, please leave a comment and I will answer asap.

Thanks for reading!

Impotant Dates To Remember For Summer 2011 Term

2011-04-15T08:37:00.004-04:00

May 11, 2011    Maymester begins
May 12, 2011    Drop "ONLY" for Maymester (no add)
May 16, 2011    Summer classes begin
May 18, 2011    Last Day to ADD/DROP for full-term
                        [10-week] summer session
May 24, 2011    Last Day to Withdraw for Maymester
May 31, 2011    Last Day of class - Maymester
June 6, 2011     Summer Loan Disbursement Date
June 13, 2011    Pre-Registration begins for Fall 2011 term
June 24, 2011    Registration begins for Fall 2011 term
July 11, 2011     Last Day to submit SAP appeals for Summer 2011
June 30, 2011    Last Day to file 10/11 FAFSA for the 2010/2011
                        academic year
July 25, 2011     Last day to process Summer term Loans
August 1, 2011 Last Day of class for full-term

Book Vouchers for Summer 2011 Term

2011-04-15T08:13:00.002-04:00

Book vouchers for the Summer 2011 term will began on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 and end May 27, 2011. There should be a broadcast e-mail on the GTC4ME communucation portal with instructions for printing the voucher yourself, which we strongly suggest that you try to do first before coming to the Financial Aid office to have a book voucher issued. If when you print your book voucher it shows zeroes, then we suggest that you come to the financial aid office to have a book voucher issued manually. I further advise you that if there is any question regarding the amount on your book voucher, I suggest that you contact the Financial Aid office before going to the bookstore.

Alexander Graham Bell Scholarship

2011-02-03T13:24:00.001-05:00

AG Bell College Scholarship Awards Program

The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) offers several scholarships for full-time students who are deaf and hard of hearing and who are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited mainstream college or university.

This is a merit-based scholarship program with award selection being extremely competitive. While the number and value of awards varies from year to year. In 2010, 144 eligible applications were received and 18 awards were granted, which ranged from $1,000 to $10,000.

2011 College Scholarship Program Eligibility Criteria

In order to be eligible for this program, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

Spoken communication must be the applicant's primary mode of communication.
Hearing loss must have been diagnosed before the applicant’s fourth birthday.
Hearing loss must be bilateral and in the moderate to profound range. Applicants must have an unaided Pure-Tone Average (PTA) of 60dB or greater in the better-hearing ear in the speech frequencies of 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz. Applicants with cochlear implants meet this eligibility requirement. Unilateral (one-sided) hearing loss does not qualify.

Formula for calculating the PTA
On the unaided audiogram, look at the results for the better hearing ear at 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz and add those three numbers together, then divide that total by three. The result is the Pure Tone Average. To be eligible for this award, the applicant’s PTA must be 60 or greater.

Applicant must be enrolled in or have applied to a mainstream and accredited college/university as a full-time student.
Applicants in the United States must have a minimum cumulative un-weighted GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale (equivalent minimums: 4.06 on a 5.0 scale or 81.25 on a scale of 100). For high school seniors, this is a cumulative GPA for grades 9-11 and the first semester of grade 12. For college freshman, this is cumulative GPA for grades 9-12 and the first semester of college. For college sophomores or higher, it is the cumulative GPA on your college transcript for all semesters completed.

Students applying from countries other than the United States
Applicants must have a minimum 80% cumulative on their high school or secondary school transcripts. For college outside of the United States, applicants must have a ranking equivalent to a minimum 3.25 GPA; for example, in the UK, Australia and India, a minimum of an Upper Second Class ranking is required.

PLEASE NOTE: We are very strict with the eligibility criteria. Without exception, applications that do not meet all of the criteria are screened out of the process and are not considered for an award.

Application

Click here for an application packet.

Application Deadline

The deadline for applications is March 15, 2011. All materials must arrive together in one package at AG Bell by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on March 15, 2011. Only transcripts sent directly from the educational institution will be accepted separately from the application.

Application package should be mailed/delivered to:
         2011 College Scholarship Program
         AG Bell
         3417 Volta Place, NW
         Washington, DC 20007

Please Note:

AG Bell does not confirm receipt of applications. If you would like to know whether or not your application was received, you may choose to send your application using a service that can confirm delivery; please do not require a signature upon delivery. AG Bell does not accept any responsibility nor make exceptions for any delays that may occur due to delivery confirmation or a signature requirement.
Late and incomplete applications will not be considered under any circumstances.
Faxed applications will not be accepted under any circumstances.
Applicants are encouraged to keep a photocopy of their application.
Applications will not be returned for any reason.
Please do not contact AG Bell seeking an exception.

Administrative Processes

In the weeks after the application deadline, all applications are screened for eligibility. Eligible applications are then forwarded to the award selection committee for review. Ineligible applications will be discarded.

Once the screening process is complete, applicants will be notified via email of the status of their applications – either the application is not eligible, or the application is being reviewed by the award selection committee. Applicants will also receive information about when they can expect to receive information about the award decisions.

Applicants not selected to receive an award will be notified by email only. Applicants selected to receive an award will be notified by email and will receive the award check in August 2011.

Department of Homeland Security Education Programs

2010-12-07T11:14:00.001-05:00

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Education Programs

http://www.orau.gov/dhseducationprograms

DHS Scholarship Program

Supporting students interested in pursuing the basic science and technology innovations that can be applied to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security mission.

* Undergraduate students

* U.S. citizenship required

* Funding available for fall 2011

* Full tuition and monthly stipends

* Includes 10-week summer internships at federal research facilities or university-based DHS Centers of Excellence

* Application Deadline: January 5, 2011

DHS HS-STEM Summer Internship Program

Providing a 10-week summer research experience for undergraduate students majoring in homeland security related science, technology, engineering and mathematics (HS-STEM).

* Undergraduate students

* U.S. citizenship required

* Funding available for Summer 2011

* 10-week summer research experiences at federal research facilities

* $500 weekly stipends plus transportation expenses to/from the internship location

* Application Deadline: January 5, 2011

FSEOG Grant

2010-09-29T10:02:00.000-04:00

The FSEOG Grant for 2010-2011 has reached it's capacity, and unfortunately we cannot accept any more names to be added to the waiting list.

There will be additional funding beginning in 2011-2012, so please stay posted for information regarding these funds!

Fall 2010 Disbursements and Refunds

2010-09-08T10:26:00.002-04:00

It is that time again!

The Fall semester is already in full swing and we are busy working on verification processing, loan processing, and generally trying to play catch up from the rush of Fall Registration.

I know that many of you will have questions about when your refund checks will be going out and what the amounts of these refunds will be. I will give you the best general knowledge that we have, but please bear in mind that every student is different, and your account may not be the same as another student.

The disbursement date was September 7th. This means that the financial aid funds were applied to student accounts yesterday. The process actually ran last night, and is continuing to run. It should be completed by this evening. **Only students who have a file complete date and have accepted awards on their award letter, will have funds transferred to their accounts.**

If your student loans have not been applied to your account, please verify that you have completed entrance loan counseling and a Master Promissory Note with Direct Loans. You can complete both of these at http://studentloans.gov

**If you have had loans in previous semesters and completed an MPN with a private lender, you will still need to complete a new MPN with Direct Loans.**

These funds have been applied to student account in the Business Office and they will now begin processing refunds. Once the funds reach a student's account, they have 10 business days to issue a refund. If you have Direct Deposit these funds will be sent directly to your bank when refund checks go out, if you do not have Direct Deposit, they will be mailed to your address on file.

I hope this answers your questions regarding the disbursement date and refunds, if not, please leave a comment and I will answer asap.

Thanks for reading!

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

2010-06-29T08:30:00.002-04:00

If you have a Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) between 0-200, you may be eligible for the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG). This grant is a federal need based grant, similar to the Pell Grant.

If you have received your 2010-2011 Award Letter and were not awarded FSEOG, please e-mail Tonya Davis to be added to the waiting list. Tonya can be reached at:

Tonya.Davis@Gvltec.edu

If you are eligible, this is an excellent grant opportunity that you should take advantage of!

Federal College Work - Study Program

2010-06-29T08:18:00.002-04:00

The Federal Work-Study Program:

Comprised of both federal and college funds, this program is designed to help students who would be unable to pursue or continue their studies unless they earned part of their expenses.

Students in this program work an average of 20-30 hours per week. While assignment of Federal Work-Study jobs related to the student’s field of study is desirable, this is not a requirement and often is not possible. Jobs vary and may include working in offices, laboratories and the library, or as peer counselors, teachers’ aides and reading tutors.

Being eligible for work-study does not guarantee a spot in the program.

GTC Work-Study Application

The Requirements for Work-Study:

Demonstrate need for gainful employment (under program's Federal guidelines).

Maintain a 2.0 GPA minimum.

Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress as required by college policy

Must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours in a valid program consisting of at least 16 credit hours.

GTC Work-Study Application

Work-Study Facts:

· The Work-Study year begins July 1^st. Contracts run from July 1^st to June 30^th the next year.

· The Work-Study Coordinator begins renewing contracts in April of each year.

o Student’s financial aid file must be complete to have contract renewed.

· Student’s interested in work study must have a completed financial aid file when they apply as well.

o You must apply each academic year for Work-study. (if your name has been on the current list, you may contact the FWS coordinator and ask that your name be added to new list – financial aid file must be complete)

· If chosen for a job, you may NOT begin working until you have a signed contract. You will need an appointment with the work-study coordinator to complete the new hire process.

o The supervisor that chooses to hire you will complete a job placement form and send to the FWS coordinator. You will then be contacted by the FWS coordinator for an appointment time.

· Work-Study time is to be submitted by the last business day of each month. (except in June and December: you will receive emails regarding the deadline for these two months) It is extremely important that you have your time submitted on time if you want to be paid on time. Remember – it is your responsibility to submit your time!

**Currently: I am renewing contracts for 10-11 and reviewing applications. A FWS student may not work after June 30^th if they have not renewed their contract.

You can download a GTC Federal Work-Study Application here

SC American Water Works Association Scholarship

2010-06-11T09:34:00.002-04:00

The SCAWWA has just informed us of a new scholarship opportunity!!

The deadline for Application is December 31st, so it is not too late to apply.

Here is a link to the application if you are interested: SC AWWA Scholarship

Please send all completed applications to DJ Wetzel, in the Financial Aid office.

Your applications will be sent on to SCAWWA for review.

Additional Scholarships Deadline October 1st!!

2010-06-01T08:38:00.002-04:00

***The deadline for this scholarship opportunity has expired, but please continue to check back for more opportunities!!

Here is some great information on new scholarship opportunities:

We have seven available scholarships through my partners, each awarding $500. The scholarships are available to students who are working towards degrees in various fields. These are for the 2010-2011 school year, with the deadline on all scholarships being October 1, 2010.

I have listed the partners below that are offering scholarships:

1. Medical Billing and Coding $500 Healthcare Scholarship
http://www.medicalbillingandcoding.org/academic-scholarship/

2. Medical Assistant Schools $500 Healthcare Scholarship
http://www.medicalassistantschools.org/academic-scholarship/

3. Clara Barton $500 Nursing Scholarship
http://www.onlinenursingprograms.net/academic-scholarship/

4. Albert Einstein $500 Academic Scholarship – Masters and Doctoral Students
http://www.onlinephdprograms.com/academic-scholarship/

5. Online Education $500 Science Scholarship
http://www.onlineeducation.net/academic-scholarship/

6. Sir Isaac Newton $500 Honors Scholarship
http://www.onlineschools.org/academic-scholarship/

7. Online MBA $500 Business Scholarship
http://www.onlinemba.com/academic-scholarship/

Feel free to browse the sites, including our own at http://www.curledwire.com.

New Scholarships!!!

2010-05-17T08:39:00.002-04:00

The Scholarship Deadline is April 1, 2011 for these upcoming scholarships. Start Early!!

------------------------------------------------------------

Nursing and Medical Assisting - Associate Degree Scholarship http://degreedirectory.org/pages/Nursing_and_Medical_Assisting_Associates_Degree_Scholarship.html

A $500 scholarship for students who are interested in pursuing associate level degrees and certificates related to Nursing, Medical Assisting, Medical Laboratory Technology, Physical Therapy, Veterinary Technology, Radiologic Technology and others.

Art and Design - Associate Degree Scholarship http://degreedirectory.org/pages/Art_and_Design_Associates_Degree_Scholarship.html

A $500 scholarship for students who are interested in pursuing associate level degrees related to Art, Computer Aided Design, Fashion Design, Visual Communications, Interior Design, Computer Graphics and others.

Computer Technology and Information Systems - Associate Degree Scholarship http://degreedirectory.org/pages/Computer_Technology_and_Information_Systems_Associates_Degree_Scholarship.html

A $500 scholarship for students who are interested in pursuing associate level degrees and certificates related to Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Networking, Computer Software, Database Technology, Information Security and others.

Online Associate Degree Scholarship

http://degreedirectory.org/pages/Online_Associates_Degree_Scholarship.html

A $500 scholarship for full-time or part-time students who are interested in pursuing any online associate level degree.

Please let me know if you have any questions about our scholarships and I'd be happy to help. You can also learn more about our site DegreeDirectory.org by visiting our "About Us" page or by clicking on our Better Business Bureau Accreditation seal.

Summer 2010 Book Vouchers

2010-05-10T08:07:00.003-04:00

As the Spring 2010 semester wraps up we are all looking ahead to the Summer 2010 semester! If you are taking classes this summer and you receive financial aid, then you are probably already aware of the many changes in financial aid this year surrounding the Summer semester.

For starters, if you are a Pell grant recipient and you came full time in Fall and Spring, you may be eligible to receive an additional Pell disbursement this summer.

The deadline to apply for a Summer only student loan is June 11. If you know that you are going to need a student loan for Summer 2010, make sure to get your request completed before this date.

Book vouchers for Summer 2010 start TODAY! If you have received additional awards after your tuition has been paid, you may be able to access these funds to purchase your textbooks. Simply login to your Campus Cruiser account, go to Web Advisor, and find the Book Voucher tab on the left hand column. Print this voucher out and bring it to any GTC Campus bookstore to purchase textbooks using your financial aid excess funds.

Also, remember to file your 2010-2011 FAFSA if you have not done so already! The priority deadline has already passed, but you are still encouraged to file your FAFSA if you plan on enrolling in Fall 2010.

As always, please leave a comment or a question regarding any financial aid information!

List of 50 Scholarship Opportunities

2010-04-29T08:49:00.003-04:00

With the new school year rapidly approaching, it is still not too late to apply for new scholarships. Here is a list with 50 scholarship opportunities that you may be eligible to apply for. Many have deadlines that are coming up quickly, and many will involve a lengthy application process but I guarantee that your effort will not be in vain. There should be at least one application that everyone can qualify for! Good luck and as always, if you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment and I will respond quickly!

NOTE: If the links do not work, simply type the URL into your browser.

1) Bell Labs Fellowships for Under Represented Minorities http://www.bell-labs.com/fellowships/CRFP/info.html

2) Student Inventors Scholarships http://www.invent.org/collegiate

3) Student Video Scholarships http://www.christophers.org/vidcon2k.html

4) Coca-Cola Two Year College Scholarships http://www.coca-colascholars.org/p rograms.html

5) Holocaust Remembrance Scholarships http://holocaust.hklaw.com/=2 0

6) Ayn Rand Essay Scholarships http://www.aynrand.org/contests/
7) Brand Essay Competition http://www.instituteforbrandleadership.org/IBLEssayContest-2002 Rules.htm

8) Gates Millennium Scholarships (major) http://www.gmsp.org/nominationmaterials/read.dbm?ID=12

9) Xerox Scholarships for Students http://www2.xerox.com/go/xrx/about_xerox/about_xerox_detail.jsp

10) Sports Scholarships and Internships http://www.ncaa.org/about/scholarships.html

11) National Assoc. of Black Journalists Scholarships (NABJ) http://www.nabj.org/html/studentsvcs.html%C2%A0 tw.html

13) Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund http://www.thurgoodmarshallfund.org/sk_v6.cfm

14) FinAid: The Smart Students Guide to Financial Aid scholarships) http://www.finaid.org/

15) Presidential Freedom Scholarships http://www.nationalservice.org/scholarships/

16) Microsoft Scholarship Program http://www.microsoft.com/college/scholarships/minority.asp%21%C2%A0 _search.jsp

18) Hope Scholarships &Lifetime Credits http://www.ed.gov/inits/hope/

19) William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship for Minority Students http://www.apsanet.org/PS/grants/aspen3.cfm

20) Multiple List of Minority Scholarships http://gehon.ir.miami.edu/financial-! assista nce/Scholarship/blackhtml

21) The Roothbert Scholarship Fund htt! p://www . roothbertfund.com

22) BOEING scholarships (soma e HBCU connects) http://www.boeing.com/ /companyoffices/educationrelations/scholarships

23) Easley National Scholarship Program http://www.naas.org/senior.htm

24) Maryland Artists Scholarships http://www.maef.org/

26) Jacki Tuckfield Memorial Graduate Business Scholarship (for AA students in South Florida ) http://ww/ w.jackituckfield.org/

27) Historically Black College & University Scholarships http://www.iesabroad.org/info/hbcu.htm%C2%A0 larships.htm

29) International Students Scholarshi ps &Aid Help http://www.iefa.org/

30) College Board Scholarship Search http://cbweb10p.collegeboard.org/fundfinder/html/fundfin d01.html

31) Burger King Scholarship Program http://www.bkscholars.csfa.org/

32) Siemens Westinghouse Competition http://www.siemens-foundation.org/

33) GE and LuLac Scholarship Funds http://www.lulac.org/Programs/Scholar.html

35) Union Sponsored Scholarships and Aid http://www.aflcioorg/scholarships/scholar.htm

36) Federal Scholarships &Aid Gateways 25 Scholarship Gateways from Black Excel http://www.blackexcel.org/25scholarships.htm

37) Scholarship &Financial Aid Help http://www.blackexcel.org/fin-sch.htm

38) Scholarship Links (Ed Finance Group) http://www.efg.net/link_scholarship.htm

39) FAFSA On The Web (Your Key Aid Form &Info) http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

41) Scholarships and Fellowships http://www.osc.cuny.edu/sep/links.html

42) Scholarships for Study in Paralegal Studies http://www.paralegals.org/Choice/2000west. htm

43) HBCU Packard Sit Abroad Scholarships ( for study around the world) http://www.sit.edu/stud! yabroad /packard_nomination.html

44) Scholarship and Fellowship Opportunities http://ccmi.uchicago.edu/schl1html

45) INROADS internships http://www.inroads.org/

46) ACT-SO bEURoeOlympics of the Mind 'A Scholarships http://www.naacp.org/work/actso/act-so.shtml

47) Black Alliance for Educational Options Scholarships http://www.baeo.org/option s/privatelyfinanced.jsp

48) ScienceNet Scholarship Listing

http://www.sciencenet.emory.edu/undergrad/scholarships.html

49) Graduate Fellowships For Minorities Nationwide http://cuinfo.cornell.edu/Student/GRFN/list.phtml?category=MINORITIES

50) RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS AT OXFORD http://www.rhodesscholar.org/info.html%C2%A

Scholarship Opportunity

2010-03-23T16:09:00.002-04:00

Here is a brand new scholarship opportunity that our office has just been made aware of. Simply follow the links to the scholarship opportunity that you will qualify for. Best of luck!

Computer Science and Computer Engineering Degrees - Undergraduate Academic Award http://education-portal.com/pages/Computer_Science_Academic_Scholarship.html

A $1,000 academic award given to a student pursuing a degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering. Areas of study that will be considered include computer science, computer engineering, computer information systems, software engineering, database management, computer networking, computer programming and information technology management.

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Degrees - Undergraduate Academic Award http://education-portal.com/pages/Criminal_Justice_and_Law_Enforcement_Degrees_-_Undergraduate_Academic_Award.html

A $500 academic award given to a student pursuing any associate or bachelor degree program emphasizing Criminal Justice or Law Enforcement. Areas of study that will be considered include criminal justice, law enforcement, homeland security, sociology with law/criminal emphasis, corrections, computer forensics, and forensic psychology, among others.

Liberal Arts and General Studies Degrees - Undergraduate Academic Award http://education-portal.com/pages/Liberal_Arts_and_General_Studies_Degrees_-_Undergraduate_Academic_Award.html

A $500 academic award given to a student pursuing an associate or bachelor degree program emphasizing Liberal Arts, General Studies, or Humanities.

Architecture and Drafting Degrees - Undergraduate Academic Award http://education-portal.com/pages/Architecture_and_Drafting_Degrees_-_Undergraduate_Academic_Award.html

A $500 academic award given to a student pursuing an associate or bachelor degree program emphasizing Architecture, Architectural Drafting, Architectural Design, or Architectural Engineering.

Undergraduate Distance Learning Degrees - Academic Award http://education-portal.com/pages/Undergraduate_Distance_Learning_Degrees_-_Academic_Award.html

A $500 academic award given to a student pursuing a distance learning associate or bachelor degree program. Available to all part-time or full-time undergraduate students completing an online degree program.

New Scholarship Opportunity

2010-02-22T09:39:00.002-05:00

The South Carolina Tax Council is sponsoring a scholarship for all Accounting and Tax Majors.

There are three $1000 scholarships available.

Scholarships are available to Second year students.

Applications are due by May 15, 2010 for the 2010-2011 school year.

Please contact DJ Wetzel in Financial Aid to request an application.

GTC student goes to great lengths for a scholarship

2010-02-19T09:54:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago Meredith Wood, a GTC Respiratory Therapy student, contacted me about a scholarship opportunity. The scholarship is an essay contest and one of the rules of this contest is that the essay must be posted on a website or blog. She asked if her essay could be hosted on this blog, I heartily agreed, and so here it is. A short note before I post the actual essay. This is an excellent example of a student going above and beyond the normal to search for scholarships. There are thousands of scholarships out there and available for students, it all depends on the amount of hard work you are willing to dedicate towards finding it!

In Meredith's own words "Scholarship opportunities are out there and it is a matter of connecting with those you are qualified for and meeting their requirements. As part of the application process for a scholarship contest in honor of James Rhio O’Connor, I was required to write an essay telling what I would do if I was faced with a diagnosis of cancer and how his story inspires me. I was also required to share this essay with others so they might also be encouraged. Here is my essay."

Cancer. Was it better to think our family members died of natural causes at young ages as we did in the past, or is it better to know and name our killer? Is it easier to use the fancy medical terminology for the specific diagnosis and not say the C word? Each person, each family deals with it differently; some according to their superstitions, some according to their ignorance, some fear, some faith.

With my father’s diagnosis, we were unprepared. He was the strength in our family. We had no experience to draw on about how this was supposed to work. He spoke with a survivor of his particular kind but there was only one, not a recovery or support group. We should have wondered. Each of my family members reacted differently, and in a crisis you really learn about personalities. His struggle, from diagnosis to surgery to our hope for recovery dashed, to his shrinking, choking body taking its last breath, lasted a short 3 months. He was 54.

When my younger brother was diagnosed with melanoma, another word that keeps us from saying cancer, the internet played a more vital role. His research though caused him great fear as the survival rate was very low for his level. He had avoided the sun in his youth so this discovery of a skin cancer on a protected part of his body was shocking, confusing, unexpected, and unfair. The surgery was immediate, and my faith was strong. I had learned to pray specifically for what I wanted to see God do. I visualized the size and shape of the tumor to be removed and my brother’s full recovery. When I asked about the prognosis following surgery and he described my vision, it was a confirmation for both of us of the power of prayer. He now has two kids and has learned to treat every day as a gift. He lives like there is no tomorrow. He has survived without reoccurrence for 10 years.

My mother’s diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma, another skin cancer, seemed less devastating. I know now that her personality won’t allow bad thoughts and she won’t remember or share with us anything serious the doctor tells her. She had not protected her head as she should have during her frequent visits to Florida, so this cancer actually made sense, if any could. The recovery time required due to the extensive area they removed was unexpected. My sister and sister-in-law dressed her wounds for months. Plastic surgery was suggested but not covered by insurance so was never done. Although she is not a vain woman, she still works to cover the scar that is so visible to her.

Through the years I have had several brushes with the C word myself and learned personally how invaluable it is to talk with an expert and get a second opinion. Twice I have been told by my primary care person that they suspected a situation was a sign of cancer. Then the specialist they recommended used the same exact sign to explain that was how they knew it was not cancer. I do appreciate their thoroughness in my care and also that my insurance allowed me to follow up with a specialist.

I think the way people approach a cancer diagnosis tells a lot about them. When something is so overwhelming, so beyond our control, people tend to react differently. Inwardly, I pray and rely on my faith in God to use all things for His good. Outwardly, my sense of humor kicks in and holds me together while I wait. When I was told I probably had cancer in my hand and was waiting for test results, I told my sister I would need a new hand once they took mine off. She found a mannequin hand and sent it to me. Our humor works well together. I still have that hand peeking out from behind my couch reaching over the shoulder of a guest as a reminder. At Thanksgiving dinner, following surgery on my hand, we brainstormed as to what type of attachments, besides a replacement hand, I could use on my arm. I was thinking about developing a modular prosthetic, with a curling iron attachment, a mixer, a fancy pirate hook, a backscratcher, and other odd gadgets; anything to keep from focusing on the potential life change I might be going through if they did find cancer. It turned out to be a cyst and not cancer.

Along with humor, I like to find out what I can about my options in any situation. With the prevalence of the internet and immediate access to all things medical, it is getting easier and sometimes more confusing. The advice is personal and professional, fact and opinion, all mixed together. If I was told that I had cancer I would combine my internet searches with information from professionals and specialists. I like to be prepared for what my doctors might say, and to understand some of the terminology they might use. The story of James Rhio O’Connor is a great example of working with medical professionals and doing research to fight for a better life with a cancer diagnosis. Occupational cancers such as Mesothelioma which is caused by asbestos exposure are on the rise as we discover too late the impact that years of working in a specific environment can have on us. Mr. O’Connor’s journey with Mesothelioma gives us insight into the options we have as we face a dire prognosis. His survival years beyond expected lets us know that it can be done. His research shows there is evidence out there to support the benefits of proper nutrition and supplements in cancer care. He is our hope and our guide in that world.

Since my brother is a cancer survivor, I would also get advice from him. I know he changed many things in his life because of his diagnosis. He pays attention to foods and nutrition. He has reduced his stress and simplified his life. His attitude reminds us what is really important, and to him that is spending time with his family and his children while he can. I have learned that the time to say those unspoken things you want to say is always now. Don’t wait. Make the most of your time. Do those things you always wanted to do while you still can.

Prioritizing is important and making decisions about whether a treatment will reduce quality of life without extending life expectancy very much can be difficult. Becoming educated in the medical terminology, the tests and expected results, the recovery times for treatments, the available facilities and experts in the field, all are crucial in making the best decisions in the limited time you may have. Ask questions and understand why things are done the way they are. Depending on the situation it may be important to update any wills, life insurance, and medical powers of attorney. Make plans to make any transition easier on your family so they can care for you as you wish, and so they will be taken care of in the future. Make smart informed decisions.

We must also remember that each person’s body is different. We each have been exposed to different environments, we react differently to medications, and our immune systems may respond differently to attacks. The doctors can only give us the benefit of their experience and available statistics. It is worth taking note but also worth looking into other possibilities and not accepting defeat. There are many alternative treatments and therapies available that may be beneficial. Make your own fight plan and stick with it. I have been through some medical issues, some undiagnosed for long periods of time, and my search for answers and relief led me to try treatments and seek specialists that were outside my comfort zone. I worked with my doctors to determine the best dosage of new medications for my situation. When I discovered the reason for my issue, through research on the internet and talking with some support groups, I shared the answer with the various doctors and specialists I had seen so they might consider it when treating patients in the future with similar symptoms. Anything you make your doctor learn may help the next person he treats too.

As I write this essay I am reminded that my mother has recently been diagnosed with a form of Leukemia. I am learning more about blood counts and complications she might face. Cancer has been a part of my life for many years. Research continues into treatments and cures are getting closer every day. The fight continues and stories like that of James Rhio O’Connor and others continue to give me hope.

Clarification on Refund Checks

2010-02-12T09:13:00.004-05:00

I wanted to write a short post and hopefully clarify a few points on refund checks. I know all of you who may be receiving a refund check are waiting anxiously for them, and hopefully this post will give a little insight into when those may be coming.

First off, today is the first day that refund checks will be mailed out and direct deposited. Starting today, refunds will be mailed and direct deposited every Friday for the rest of the semester by our Business Office.

How do you know when your refund will be sent out?

There are a lot of factors that could impact your financial aid refund check. Since this blog is only able to disseminate general information, many of the special circumstances that could delay your refund check cannot be articulated in a blog setting. Also, since specific dates and times have been discussed on this blog in answer to reader questions, some confusion has been generated. In an effort to stem off any additional confusion and give you our best possible assistance, I would recommend to contact our office, have an officer access your specific account, and give you our best possible estimate for when your refund check will be delivered. I can say that our business office's policy is that once your financial aid awards are credited to your account, it will be 10 business days before your refund is actually mailed out.

If you would like, please feel free to contact our office at 864-250-8128 and we will be happy to assist you!

Spring 2010 Refund Checks

2010-02-03T08:26:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was the disbursement date for all Spring 2010 funds. The process began last evening and will continue through today of transferring all financial aid funds to student's accounts. After this transfer is complete, our business office will begin to process refund checks. The refund check process takes about 2 weeks.

The first batch of refund checks are scheduled to be released on 2/12/10.

Refund check will be created every subsequent friday.

If you have signed up for direct deposit and your refund is scheduled to be released, your refund will be sent to your bank on 2/12/10.

If you need to sign up for direct deposit you can access your campus Cruiser account and input your information under your Web Advisor.

Financial Aid Awareness Month

2010-01-22T11:04:00.001-05:00

February is Financial Aid Awareness Month. In recognition of this, the financial aid office will be hosting a series of events.

The first event is FAFSA Fridays. Every Friday in February (5^th, 12^th, 19^th, 26^th) we will have financial aid officers available in the ARC computer lab to assist you in completing the FAFSA for 2010-2011. Students should bring their 2009 taxes if they filed as well as their parent’s 2009 taxes. This event will help you to get a jumpstart on completing the FAFSA for the upcoming year! Please contact our office at FAFSAFridays@gvltec.edu to schedule an appointment!

The second event is 3 Thursdays. Every Thursday in February, Financial Aid officers will be at various locations around campus to answer general questions and give tips on completing the FAFSA and the Financial Aid process. The schedule is as follows:

Feb. 4 – UT building lobby 9-2

Feb. 11 – UT building lobby 9-2

Feb. 18 – TRC auditorium/atrium – 9-2 – Black History Event: Lecture- A Day without Black People

Feb. 25 - TRC auditorium/atrium – 9-2 – Black History Event: Play – We’ve Come a Mighty Long way

Please plan to attend one or both of these events!

Scholarship Time Again

2010-01-18T12:54:00.004-05:00

I cannot believe that it is time again for scholarship applications. You may have noticed that the frequency of posts about scholarships has been increasing lately and that is because it is quickly approaching the time to start applying for scholarships for the Fall 2009 semester.

I have written many posts concerning searching for scholarships. This one post in particular is full of great information for searching as well as some helpful links on where to search for scholarships: Scholarship Post

Greenville Tech also offers numerous scholarships through the Greenville Tech Foundation. You can complete one application and be qualified for hundreds of scholarships thorough the GTC foundation. Scholarship applications can be found here: GTC Foundation Application

Please contact us if you have any questions!

Book Vouchers and a New Year

2010-01-14T09:05:00.004-05:00

Happy 2010! A new year brings a new semester and that means spring registration. Classes have already started and hopefully you are all in the swing of things. Just a few quick points about this semester:

Book vouchers are now available for print through January 22, 2010. If you are having trouble printing your book voucher, you may need to come into the office and a financial aid officer can assist you in obtaining your book voucher.
If this is your first semester and you are just now submitting your FAFSA, be sure to check back with us to verify that we have all of the information we need to complete your FAFSA.
If you are selected for verification, we will send you a letter notifying you of the documents we need. please be sure to return with all of the requested documents. This will allow us to process your FAFSA in the quickest manner possible.
If you are receiving student loans for the very first time here at GTC, be sure to complete a session of Entrance Loan Counseling at: http://mappingyourfuture.org/FAP/ and also complete a Master Promissory Note with your chosen lender

These are the high points for right now. As always, if you have any specific questions, please feel free to leave a comment and we will get back with you as quickly as possible.

Holiday Update

2009-12-17T13:28:00.003-05:00

It is that time of year again!

We will be taking off the next two weeks in observance of the holiday season and we will return on January 4th to bring in the new year and the new semester!

A word of encouragement: After all of the presents have been unwrapped, all of the eggnog has been drunk, and the decorations have been taken down, I would encourage you to do a mental check of your financial aid.

If you have completed this past semester successfully, and you have registered for Spring classes, your financial aid should already be in place. You can simply come into the Admissions and Registration Center on January 5th, to print your book voucher and purchase your textbooks. If you had some difficulties this past semester and you think you might be in danger of falling below a 2.0 gpa and not completing 2/3 of your credit hours, then you will want to check your campus cruiser e-mail account. If there is a problem with your financial aid for the Spring semester, you will have an e-mail explaining the situation. Please read this e-mail and follow the instructions provided on how you can regain your financial aid eligibility!

Also, remember that we are rapidly approaching tax season which means that the 2010-2011 FAFSA will soon be up and available. Continue to check back for additional updates and information regarding the new academic year!

If you encounter questions over the break please refer to the numerous posts in this blog where many common financial aid questions have been answered. Don't forget to check the comments where many more details are explained!

You also can check out the newly redesigned financial aid website for any additional questions. http://www.gvltec.edu/financial_aid/

Thank you as always for your time, and from all of us here in Financial Aid....."Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"

Federal Student Aid Update

2009-12-14T09:23:00.003-05:00

This past week I was in Nashville, TN for the Federal Student Aid Conference. This event was hosted by the Department of Education and was a 5 day event aimed at updating all financial aid workers on changes, plans, and future updates within the federal student aid system.

If you have followed the major news from Washington these past few months, you have probably heard about our President's proposal to transition all student loan lending under the Stafford and PLUS loan programs to the William D. Ford Direct Lending program. This will mark a significant change in how our school manages student loans. We as a school have decided to go ahead and make the switch as of the 2010-2011 school year, which will go into effect in August of 2010. We have just begun the process of converting to Direct Lending and will hopefully complete early in Spring 2010. So, please continue to check back for future updates and any additional information as it becomes available.

With all change comes some difficulties, but after hearing directly from the US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, this transition will ensure student access to Stafford and PLUS loans into the future and allow all of you, our students, to continue to progress towards your educational, career, and life goals that have begun with your education here at Greenville Technical College. We as a financial aid office are committed to ensuring your access to funding for your education and will do all within our power to make this transition a smooth one.

If you have any questions concerning the transition to Direct Lending, please contact DJ Wetzel, at Donald.Wetzel@gvltec.edu

Scholarships for Welding Students

2009-11-12T10:29:00.004-05:00

The American Welding Society (AWS) has contacted Greenville Technical College about the opportunities they are offering students for competitive scholarships. They have created the AWS Foundation which has numerous scholarship programs through which they award students. An overview of these programs can be found at http://www.aws.org/foundation/

The submission deadlines are March 1st.

Please contact DJ Wetzel at Donald.Wetzel@gvltec.edu for more information and applications.

MLK Dream Weekend Scholarship

2009-11-10T09:10:00.002-05:00

As part of the MLK Dream Weekend, January 15 – 18, Greenville Technical College will present a $3,000 tuition scholarship to be awarded at the Diversity Banquet on January 15 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Students interested in applying for this scholarship, along with two other scholarship opportunities, are encouraged to go to

http://www.mlkdreamweekend.com/scholarships/

to download an application packet. Deadline for entry is December 11.

New Scholarship

2009-11-05T14:09:00.006-05:00

The C.G. Fuller Foundation Scholarship Program is once again accepting applications for the upcoming 2010-2011 Academic Year. The scholarship is worth $1,000 per semester.

To qualify, an applicant must:

Be a South Carolina Resident
Attend a SC College or University
Be high school seniors entering their first year of college
Have SAT scores that meet or exceed 1100
AGI of parents must not exceed $60,000

All applications must be submitted to GTC Financial Aid Office by March 15th.

For Applications and questions please contact DJ Wetzel at: Donald.Wetzel@gvltec.edu

Ask the Readers! Financial Literacy Edition

2009-11-05T09:23:00.005-05:00

You are our most valuable source of information! The world of financial aid that we live in is constantly changing. With every change that we make, we also have to consider how these changes effect you, our students. So with that in mind, we would love to hear your input on a new program that we are considering building.

Financial Literacy

This would be a pilot program to be started through the financial aid office to offer basic financial advice for free. It will be centered around paying for college, student loans, budgeting, and creating a stable financial base during, and after college. With a majority of our students here at GTC receiving student loans, financial literacy has become a priority. We will discuss topics such as repaying your student loans, managing credit, creating a budget, repairing bad credit, and discuss where to go when you run into financial difficulties.

We feel that a program of this nature will help you to feel better prepared to enter into your chosen career as more well-rounded, capable individuals. A solid financial base is essential to your future success and that is what this program to designed to teach.

Please give us your feedback. Is this a program that would interest you? What topics would you like to see covered? Would you spend one hour in a free workshop to learn about managing your money?

As always, thank you for your participation in this blog! We cannot do this without you!

Oral Roberts University Scholarship

2009-10-22T08:38:00.002-04:00

I received a notice of a scholarship for any students who are interested in transferring to Oral Roberts University. The Whole Person Scholarship is a "generous scholarship for ambitious, well-rounded students to aspire to the whole-person ideal of intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual development.

To be considered for this scholarship you must be nominated. Our financial aid office will nominate one student from Greenville Technical College for this scholarship so please apply now!

The nominations are currently being accepted and the deadline is January 4th.

If you are interested please contact DJ Wetzel at 864-250-8987.

Mid Semester Check-Up

2009-10-13T09:14:00.007-04:00

The temperature is dropping. The leaves are falling. Tests and other school work have entered into a frenetic pace. Christmas is just a little over 2 months away. This time of year brings to mind a few things: picking apples, carving pumpkins (and roasting pumpkin seeds!!), raking leaf piles, and unfortunately, FLU season. With the threat of the regular Flu and this new fangled H1N1 virus, many doctors are warning us all to be wary and constantly monitor our symptoms. I would like to propose a somewhat gloomy analogy…. Just like our doctors have given us warnings and precautionary measures to protect ourselves from getting the FLU, there are also some things that you can do to make sure your financial aid doesn’t keep you out of school for next semester! Stick with me, because I think you will find this information very helpful!

Tip # 1: Make sure your financial file is complete!

Hopefully by now you have already submitted a FAFSA and you have already heard back from our office letting you know whether or not we can complete your file, or if we need more information. If you have received an award letter and returned it back to our office, then rest easy, your file is complete. If you have not received an award letter, please contact our office as we will need additional documentation to complete your file.

Tip # 2: Make sure you have received all of the awards you are eligible for!

Run a quick check on your award letter and compare it to your account summary on Campus Cruiser. If the numbers don’t seem to add up, please take a moment and see if you can determine where the shortcomings might lie. If you still cannot seem to decipher the numbers, give us a call and we can look into it for you. If you have been awarded grants, loans, or scholarships that are not accounted for in your account summary, please give us a call.

Tip # 3: Have you gotten your refund check?

We have been working frantically to get all loans certified and all refund checks mailed out to students as soon as possible. I am very happy to report that as of today we are up to date with loan certifications. What this means for you is that if your loan has not been certified then there is a problem with your loan eligibility. I would recommend contacting our office to determine what you can do to correct this. Secondly, if you have not received your refund check you may wish to check with us, but if you have received your “Official” award letter, then rest easy, because your refund is on the way!

Tip # 4: Are you maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress?

In order to maintain your eligibility for federal financial aid in the next semester you must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and maintain a cumulative 2/3 completion rate. How are your grades looking for this semester? Are you in danger of slipping below the critical 2.0 GPA mark? If so, there are numerous ways to find help in ensuring that your GPA does not suffer this semester and you can maintain your financial aid well into the future. You could contact Student Support Services and request a tutor, you could contact your professor and see if they can provide additional assistance, you could form a study group with your classmates to try and get help from your peers, you could even visit the GTC library and utilize their resources. If you think you might be in danger of falling below these standards, please contact our office. We can sit down with you and discuss your specific situation and see what can be done to keep you above the standards and maintain your financial aid.

I hope you have found some of these tips helpful! We want to hear from you so please let us know if you would like to see more of these tips, if these tips did not apply to you, or if you have additional questions outside of these tips!

As always, thank you for visiting and please tell all of your friends. Together we can make financial aid work for you!

Financial Aid Refund Checks

2009-09-16T09:56:00.000-04:00

It has been a few weeks since my last blog post which can be directly attributed to the rush of Fall registration. Over the past few weeks I have been getting numerous comments and questions every day through this blog that pertain to financial aid. These comments have been wonderful and I am very appreciative for all of your feedback. Recently though, the vast majority of these comments have surrounded one topic: REFUND CHECKS. This is the time of year for financial aid refund checks to go out so I wanted to shed a little light as to how these checks work.

The basic concept is that if you are awarded financial aid over and above what your tuition costs are, you may be eligible to receive that overage in the form of a refund check, which you can then use to cover other educational expenses (IE. housing, transportation, textbooks, personal expenses). Many of you may be wondering if you have a refund check available. The simplest way would be to consult your award letter. If you have awards showing on your award letter that total up to more than your tuition costs are, more than likely, you will receive that amount in a refund check. You also can check your account summary on Campus Cruiser which will show an updated amount of a refund. It is important to note, that not all types of aid are able to be refunded to students. Lottery tuition assistance can only be used to credit tuition and many scholarships have a stipulation that they cannot be refunded to the student. So if you have a question about your particular refund, please contact our office at financialaid@gvltec.edu

The majority of students who receive some form of a refund, do so by obtaining a student loan. Student loans are processed differently than grant and scholarship aid and therefore, the refund checks are also processed differently. Scholarships and grant aid are automatically applied to student accounts on our disbursement date which is 9/8/09 for the Fall 2009 semester and 2/1/09 for the Spring 2010 semester. Loans are also disbursed on that date, but only if they have been certified. The certification process takes 4-6 weeks from the date that you turned in your award letter. When we certify a loan we send a request to the lender that you have chosen, and request the loan amount that you have signed for on your award letter. Once the money is released from your lender, those funds come to us and we then transfer those funds to our business office for them to process a refund check.

Our business office legally has 10 business days to process a refund check. This means that even after your financial aid has been credited to your account, it may still be up to 2 weeks before your refund is actually mailed out or direct deposited. Our business office sends out refunds every Friday. For the Fall 2009 semester the first batch of refund are slated to be sent out on September 18^th, 2009. Refunds will be sent out every Friday after until the end of the semester.

I hope this answers some of the questions that I have heard regarding financial aid refund checks. As always, if you have further questions do not hesitate to leave a comment and a financial aid advisor will respond as soon as possible. Thank you for your time!

How This Blog Works...

2009-08-06T09:56:00.005-04:00

When I began the process of creating this blog I really did not have a clear and defined picture of what all this blog could accomplish. I knew what the goal was, to provide financial aid information to you, our students, and provide an interactive community where financial aid questions and topics are discussed, but I did not realize how much impact it could have. The overwhelming response of comments and feedback from this blog have encouraged and empowered me to do more.

With that said, I would like to take an opportunity to give a quick display of all of the features on this blog, and explain how you can use this blog in the most effective manner possible!!

First: Read the Posts! The goal is to update this blog with new and current information via a post 1-2 times per week. Within these posts I will cover a wide spectrum of financial aid topics. I also will be sure to include a post for any new or pressing information within financial aid that you need to know.

Second: Search the Blog! With over 16 posts, and constantly growing, there is a mountain of information at your fingertips. Simply put in your keyword search on the search bar at the top of the blog, and you will be directed to any posts that contain the keywords you are interested in. If you do not feel like reading through all of the posts this is a great tool for you.

Third: Search the Topics! If you have a question about a specific topic check out the "Most Popular Topics" links on the right hand column. If you see your topic listed there, simply click on that link and you will be directed to all of the posts which contain information regarding that topic. This is great as a reference tool.

Fourth: Subscribe!!! If you are like me, you have way too many things to do in one day and sometimes they all run together. Wouldn't it be nice to be notified every time that this blog is updated....sort of like your own personal assistant. Well you can accomplish this by simply clicking on the "Stay Connected" links on the right hand column and subscribing to this blog. Any new posts will be automatically directed to your viewer of choice. How easy is that!?!

Fifth and Final: Comment!! This is the most effective and therefore most popular feature on this blog: the ability to interact with financial aid officers as well as fellow students. If you read through a post and have a question about a financial aid topic, simply leave a comment with your question and a financial aid officer will respond via a follow-up comment. You can have personal access to the financial aid office without leaving the comfort of your living room... You can also find previous comments left by financial aid officers very useful for answering your questions.

I hope this has given you a small taste of the impact this blog can have.

We are always searching for ways to improve and become better, so please feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you would like to see in this blog!

Sign up for Direct Deposit!!

2009-07-23T08:16:00.004-04:00

The Greenville Tech Business Office has just unveiled their new direct deposit system. Our direct deposit system will work just like any other direct deposit system that you may have in place at your job. The main goal of this new system is to streamline the financial aid refund check process.

Hundreds of students receive financial aid refund checks every semester, and up until now, all of those checks have been printed on paper, and then mailed to those students. This new system will allow student's refund checks to be directly deposited into their bank accounts once the refunds are processed through the Business Office. This will eliminate any checks being lost in the mail and will also decrease the time that it takes for students to receive their financial aid refunds.

We feel that this new system will allow us to provide even better customer service through a decreased wait time in our lobby from students waiting for refund checks. It is our goal to continuously improve our processes and we feel that the new direct deposit system will be a great improvement to our financial aid refund process.

So, hopefully I have convinced you that you should take part in this exciting new opportunity, the next question is: “How do I sign up for direct deposit?” Easy! Simply log onto Campus Cruiser, then click on the Web Advisor tab at the top of your screen. Scroll down to the Financial Aid section on the left hand column and then click on “FA Refund Direct Deposit”. This will bring up a screen that will prompt you to input your bank account numbers and routing numbers and other information. Once this has been submitted, you should receive a confirmation, and everything is set up! Now you can sit back and relax, because your financial aid refund will come directly to your bank account once it has been processed.

As always, if you have any questions about this new direct deposit system or any other financial aid topics, please contact us at financialaid@gvltec.edu or for immediate assistance, 864-250-8128. Thank you!

What Do I Do Next?

2009-07-14T15:25:00.004-04:00

Registration for the 2009 Fall semester started last week and student traffic in the financial aid office is beginning to increase. We have seen a huge increase (already 34%!!) in the number of FAFSA applications that are sent to our office and we anticipate that this will equate to an increase in the number of students who receive financial aid in the next academic year. Since many of you have already applied for financial aid and many of you have already received an award letter from us, I wanted to tackle the topic of: “What to do now?”

You submit your FAFSA early; you complete your verification; you receive your award letter back in the mail; you accept all of your financial aid and complete your promissory note and entrance loan counseling so you will be able to borrow a student loan; you register for your classes; you are now done with all of your necessary steps and cannot wait to begin your classes……but what do you do next?

Many students decide to use a book voucher which allows them to purchase their textbooks using an advance on their financial aid awards. If you have completed your financial aid you should have a book voucher available to you when they begin on August 12 at 10:30 AM immediately after Convocation.

Many students who receive financial aid rely solely on financial aid to cover their tuition bill. If you have registered for classes for the Fall 2009 semester you have already received a billing statement from our Business Office. This statement serves to inform students that 1.) They have an outstanding tuition bill because they registered for classes and 2.) If students do not have confirmed financial aid then they will need to make plans to pay for their tuition by the dates specified on the billing statement. If you have submitted an award letter back into financial aid accepting your awards, this means you have confirmed financial aid. We will transfer financial aid awards to the Business Office in the beginning of September and pay off your tuition bill if you have sufficient financial aid to cover your tuition bill.

So, if you have completed all of these steps then a “Congratulations!” is in order. You can now sit back, relax, and prepare your mind for your Fall classes.

The Importance of Financial Aid

2009-07-09T08:08:00.003-04:00

It seems like every time we switch on the news all we hear about are more lay-offs, another bad day on the stock market, another swindler stealing billions more of our hard earned money, or another sign that we are spiraling downward, further into a recession. This might not seem like encouraging news, especially first thing in the morning, but with the current state of our economy, financial aid has become more important than ever.

Financial aid may have the reputation of being only for those who do not make any money or for those who only want to take out student loans, but in reality we have a lot more to offer. We do have numerous programs, such as the Federal Pell Grant, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work Study and the SC Need Based Grant that are based on a student's financial need. However, we also offer the SC Lottery Tuition Assistance which is not income contingent. In addition to grants we administer hundreds of scholarships every year. Many of these are awarded through the GTC Foundation. Many other scholarships are awarded by organizations from around our community.

If you have sought out all of the grants and scholarships that you are eligible for and still have a need for additional funds, we do offer loans through the Federal Stafford Loan Program. These loans have low interest rates between 6.0%-6.8% and you can defer the payments until 6 months after you graduate.

The most important piece of advice I would offer concerning financial aid is simply to apply! By not applying you virtually erase any chance of receiving any sort of financial aid. You can complete an application at www.fafsa.ed.gov .

If you have any specific questions please refer to other posts on this blog where I have tackled various financial aid programs and offered numerous hints and tips on how to make your financial aid experience the best it can be.

As always, please contact us at financialaid@gvltec.edu with any additional questions!

A Week of Rest

2009-06-25T07:49:00.004-04:00

Next week, June 29-July 3, Greenville Technical College will be closed. It will be a great opportunity for the entire college to get rested and rejuvenated before the rush of the Fall semester begins. As students, you can also take this week to be proactive with your financial aid.

If you have not submitted a FAFSA for 2009-2010 you should do so next week. You can go to www.fafsa.ed.gov to complete one.
If you have submitted your FAFSA and have gotten a request back for more information, please gather those documents and return them to our office on July 6th.
If you have gotten an award letter for the 2009-2010 academic year, please sign the letter and return it to our office on July 6th.
If you have any questions regarding your financial aid awards please consult our website at http://www.gvltec.edu/financial_aid/ . There is a wealth of information available here that should answer most of your questions.
If you would like to take out student loans and have not received them in the past, please complete an entrance loan counseling session at http://mappingyourfuture.org/ and a promissory note with your lender.

Hopefully these quick tips will help you get ahead while the college is closed. When we return on July 6th, we do anticipate an increased volume of student traffic. With that in mind, please strive to make every trip to the financial aid office productive. Make sure you have all of the requested documentation with correct signatures. Please make sure you know what questions you would like to have answered so you can avoid return trips.

Overall, we are excited about entering into Fall registration. We have a full staff this year who are ready to serve you. We have made some changes in financial aid over the past year that are intended to make your financial aid experience much more efficient and effective.

As always, if you have any questions, please contact the financial aid office at 864-250-8128 or financialaid@gvltec.edu .

Let us know how we can serve you!

Am I being audited by financial aid???

2009-06-17T09:18:00.006-04:00

No you are not being audited. However, you have been selected for verification. You can think of this as a similar process to being audited, except at the end you won't have to pay back money and fees if the numbers don't add up!

If you receive a letter in the mail from the Financial Aid Office informing you that you have been selected for verification, then you are joining roughly 30% of students around the country who have to go through this process. The reason you were selected is so the Department of Education can verify that the information you submitted on your FAFSA is accurate according to your tax returns. Any discrepancies can be cleared up during this process. While we will look at your financial information, we will also verify your family situation. Many times students are selected for verification because of a unique family situation that we need additional clarification on. This is just to ensure that we can give you the maximum amount of financial aid that you qualify for.

One of the most important aspects of verification is the paperwork (I know you are excited!!). However, by turning in ALL of the requested documents and verifying that the appropriate signatures are in place, you can ensure a smooth verification process.

One more note: whenever you receive notice that you were selected for verification, turn your documents in as soon as possible. The quicker you turn them in, the quicker we can process them, and the quicker we can get your file completed and award you your financial aid!

Look at this process as quality control. Without these benchmarks built into our system we would not be able to offer the extensive options within financial aid that allow you to go to school!

As always, if you have any questions regarding this process or anything else concerning financial aid, please contact our office at 864-250-8128 or financialaid@gvltec.edu.

Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you!

New Scholarship!!

2009-06-15T14:46:00.003-04:00

As promised we are trying to give you, our students, every opportunity to fund your education outside of student loans. I just received a notice for a new scholarship that you can apply for.

The Greenville Chapter of Las Amigas, Incorporated Scholarship.

The scholarship is up to $1000 per academic year. You must be a high school graduate or have received a GED. You must live in the Greenville area and you must be accepted by any Techincal College or already attending a Technical College as an undergraduate.

Applications are available in the Financial Aid office.

Please apply soon as the deadline is rapidly approaching!!!

FAFSA Made Easy!

2009-06-05T08:34:00.003-04:00

Adventures in Education, is a non profit public service program that helps students plan and complete their journey through higher education. They have developed a series of video guides that will walk you through the FAFSA process.

If you are like me and learn much better through visual teaching, this video series may give you the confidence you need to start and complete your FAFSA.

Here is the link to the video series:

http://www.aie.org/FAFSAMadeEasy/videoarchive_english.cfm

As always, you can complete the FAFSA online anytime for FREE at

www.fafsa.ed.gov

For Greenville Tech Financial Aid info. please visit our website at:

http://www.gvltec.edu/financial_aid/

Understanding Academic Years

2009-05-21T09:23:00.003-04:00

I have met with a lot of students recently who have completed their FAFSA for 2009-2010 and want to start taking classes this summer. In lieu of that mistake, and to hopefully avoid any future confusion, I wanted to spend a minute and talk about academic years and how financial aid works within those academic years.

When we award financial aid we have to award within specific boundaries. These boundaries are mandated by the Department of Education and we refer to them as “Academic Years”. An academic year runs from August –July, which translates into a fall, spring and summer semester sequence. So if a student wanted to submit a FAFSA and receive financial aid this summer, he or she would still be considered in the 2008-2009 academic year because we have not reached the fall semester yet. Once we reach the fall semester, we will begin awarding financial aid based on the 2009-2010 academic year FAFSA results.

At GTC we have many programs with various start and end dates so it is always important to note which academic year your classes fall within before you submit your FAFSA to be qualified for financial aid.

As always, you can submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid at www.fafsa.ed.gov

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to leave a comment and a financial aid officer will respond shortly.

Help us help you!

2009-05-13T09:19:00.003-04:00

Even though this blog has only been around for 2 weeks we have seen a large response. Financial aid is a topic that crosses the mind of every student in some capacity. With the economic times that we are all facing, financial aid may be an even more important component of your education. For many students, without financial aid, education is simply not a possibility.

We understand this and we want to help! Please let us know what topics or questions you would like to see covered. We could spend days adding information to this blog but if it does not benefit you, our students, then we have not done our jobs. We want to give you the information you need to have an efficient and effective financial aid experience.

So please leave a comment about what type of content you would like to see covered in this blog and we will make it happen.

Thank you!

Financial Aid Book Vouchers!!

2009-05-07T15:13:00.004-04:00

With the summer semester rapidly approaching we are also about to enter into the season for book vouchers. What is a book voucher? Basically a book voucher works like an advance on your financial aid awards. Consider it a line of credit against your financial aid awards. To determine which students will get book vouchers and how much they will get, we run a simple calculation. We add up all of the financial aid that a student will get for the current semester, then deduct all tuition and fees. The remaining balance is money that can be made available in a book voucher (Remember that this is just an advance on your financial aid, not a separate award). Many students who elect to receive student loans may have thousands of dollars that have been “over-awarded” to them after tuition and fees have been paid. It is important to note that we also put limits on how much a student can use in a book voucher. The limits for summer 2009 are as follows: Full time- $900, ¾ time- $700, Half time - $500. If a student has paid for his entire tuition, used a book voucher and still has financial aid awards remaining, this money is mailed to the student in a refund check. NOTE: **Refund checks are typically mailed 4-6 weeks after classes start**

Book vouchers can be a great way to pay for your books and supplies without having to pay for these items out of pocket. However, not everyone is eligible for a book voucher. In order for a student to receive a book voucher he/she must do one of the following:

· Submit a FAFSA for 2008/2009 and turn in all requested documentation to the financial aid office. We must have your FAFSA information before we can determine how much financial aid you will receive in the summer 2009 semester. If you have submitted a FAFSA but we have requested additional documentation, ALL documents must be submitted before we can issue a book voucher.

· If you have received an award letter from financial aid you must return this to our office.

· For students who received financial aid in fall 2008 or spring 2009 semester, you must have requested enough financial aid in the summer 2009 semester to fund your book voucher. **Student who only receive lottery tuition assistance will NOT be eligible for a book voucher**

· If this is your first time receiving student loans you MUST have completed entrance loan counseling and have completed a master promissory note with your chosen lender before we can issue a book voucher.

If you meet these criteria for a book voucher you may print one from your campus cruiser account via web advisor beginning May 11^th, 2009. Book vouchers will be available until May 29^th. Book vouchers may also be printed at the GTC campus bookstore.

As always if you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment, question or suggestion and a financial aid officer will respond!

GTC Admissions and Registration Center

2009-05-05T16:03:00.008-04:00

This short video will give you an introduction to GTC's Admissions and Registration Center or "ARC". This is basically your "one stop shop" where you can find all of the necessary people and places to get registered at GTC, apply for financial aid, enroll in classes, buy your books, even grab a tasty treat.

Avoid Long Lines and Frustration?? Am I Dreaming?

2009-05-05T10:41:00.011-04:00

Spring is in the air! There is always something exciting about the first blossoms of spring and knowing that within a few short weeks the temperature will be warming up and we will be well on our way to summer. In financial aid, we are in the middle of spring time also. We are enjoying the calm before the storm, and by “storm” I am referring to Fall registration. So, you may be thinking “How in the world can I avoid standing in those long lines at Financial Aid?” If you were not thinking that and were still focused on summer vacation, fear not, you might still find this useful!

FAFSA Tips and Pointers!

Start Early! By submitting your FAFSA early (beginning January 1st, 2009) you will ensure yourself access to ALL of the financial aid award programs, and the opportunity to have all of your financial aid completed before you begin classes. Complete your FAFSA here: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ Also make sure you are aware of Greenville Tech's Priority Deadlines: http://prod.campuscruiser.com/q?pg=home_news&tg=News-detail&id=111178&cx=22.168

Be Accurate! We all realize that the FAFSA can be confusing. So, consult the guide on the FAFSA’s website that walks you through the process. By ensuring that your information is accurate, you will greatly decrease the length of time it will take to complete your financial aid file.

Follow Up! Once you submit your FAFSA, expect a letter from our office letting you know if we need any additional information, or letting you know all of the financial aid you have been awarded. If we have requested any documents to be returned…make sure they are returned in a timely manner.

Read! There will always be instructions that accompany any financial aid mailing. Take a few moments to read all of these instructions and you could potentially avoid a trip to the financial aid office, or solve your problem with a simple phone call. Remember, financial aid does not have to be confusing; make it rewarding!

Be Thorough! Double checking and triple checking your financial aid forms is always a good idea. Once again, by ensuring that your forms are accurate and complete, you exponentially decrease the time it will take to complete your financial aid file. Make sure all necessary steps are followed to receive certain awards (Complete Entrance Loan Counseling at http://mappingyourfuture.org/ and a Master Promissory Note with your chosen lender: http://www.salliemae.com/ , https://www.wachovia.com/personal/page/0,,325_496,00.html, http://www.slc.sc.edu/students/signapromissorynotempn.aspx if you have been awarded a student loan).

Remain Positive! Make your financial aid work for you. Take advantage of all financial aid that has been awarded to you and use it as a tool to empower your future. Take advantage of the resources and information around you and take a proactive step in your financial aid. By remaining focused and positive you can ensure that your financial aid package is best tailored to you.

All of these tips can greatly impact the effectiveness of your financial aid experience. Our financial aid staff is devoted to helping our students obtain the best financial aid awards packages available. By following these tips above we feel that you will have a more rewarding experience in financial aid and truly benefit from all that financial aid has to offer!

We Want To hear From You!

2009-05-01T08:33:00.006-04:00

Why a blog? Because at Greenville Technical College we have embraced education. We feel that by educating you, our students, about financial aid, we can play an active role in your future. This blog is intended to be a source of information and guidance. We will devote our time to communicating with you about all of your financial aid related questions. We want you to ask questions! In order to create an environment of good conversation, we ask that your comments and questions be respectful and appropriate. It is our goal to make the financial aid process less confusing and more rewarding, so…let the conversation begin!