SectionsAid still available for seasoned students
Sarah Bennett
Issue date: 2/7/01 Section: News
Jodi Flurry always knew she would attend college, but determining how to pay for her education has been difficult.
"It was stressful trying to figure out where all the money would come from," said Flurry, a sophomore at SMS. "Filling out financial aid and scholarship applications was a hassle, but it was definitely worth it."
Flurry, like thousands of other students, is paying her way through college with the help of financial aid programs.
Students can receive financial aid from grants, loans and scholarships. Many students may not realize that these financial aid programs are available for all students, not just entering freshmen.
"Any student can receive some type of financial aid," Assistant Director of Financial Aid David King said.
Sophomore Angela Dorrough, student assistant to the transfer advisor, agrees with King.
"Many upperclassmen think they have missed their opportunity to receive financial aid; however, most everyone, regardless of their year in school, is eligible for some kind of scholarship or loan," Dorrough said.
There are two main categories or types of financial aid: merit-based aid and need-based aid.
Merit based aid is given to students who have a special ability, talent or skill and is usually in the form of a scholarship.
"I am not really aware of many more scholarships that are available after you are a freshman," junior Salina Morlen said. Morlen is paying for her college education with a scholarship and loans. She is searching for more scholarships to help pay off the debt those loans leave behind. "I know there are some in the different fields, but they seem impossible to get."
King says it is true that most scholarship opportunities are lost after the freshman year.
"For the most part, colleges provide the biggest source of financial assistance to freshmen as a recruiting tool." However, upperclassmen can still receive merit-based financial aid. "After [the freshman year] it becomes more of a reward to students who do well in their department," says King.
"It was stressful trying to figure out where all the money would come from," said Flurry, a sophomore at SMS. "Filling out financial aid and scholarship applications was a hassle, but it was definitely worth it."
Flurry, like thousands of other students, is paying her way through college with the help of financial aid programs.
Students can receive financial aid from grants, loans and scholarships. Many students may not realize that these financial aid programs are available for all students, not just entering freshmen.
"Any student can receive some type of financial aid," Assistant Director of Financial Aid David King said.
Sophomore Angela Dorrough, student assistant to the transfer advisor, agrees with King.
"Many upperclassmen think they have missed their opportunity to receive financial aid; however, most everyone, regardless of their year in school, is eligible for some kind of scholarship or loan," Dorrough said.
There are two main categories or types of financial aid: merit-based aid and need-based aid.
Merit based aid is given to students who have a special ability, talent or skill and is usually in the form of a scholarship.
"I am not really aware of many more scholarships that are available after you are a freshman," junior Salina Morlen said. Morlen is paying for her college education with a scholarship and loans. She is searching for more scholarships to help pay off the debt those loans leave behind. "I know there are some in the different fields, but they seem impossible to get."
King says it is true that most scholarship opportunities are lost after the freshman year.
"For the most part, colleges provide the biggest source of financial assistance to freshmen as a recruiting tool." However, upperclassmen can still receive merit-based financial aid. "After [the freshman year] it becomes more of a reward to students who do well in their department," says King.