University of Utah Financial Aid Office Scholarship Office. John Curl, Financial Aid Director Tanner Esplin, Scholarship Counselor

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1 University of Utah Financial Aid Office Scholarship Office John Curl, Financial Aid Director Tanner Esplin, Scholarship Counselor

2 Agenda Financial Aid How to get Federal Aid? What is a Complete Financial Aid File? Who is eligible for Federal Aid? Financial Aid Counselors Scholarships What s New Process Resident Merit Scholarships Awarding What s the Cutoff? Deadlines Process Renewal

3 How to get Federal Aid? FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Available Jan. 1 of every year. Must be submitted every year. Use 2014 taxes for Academic Year. If taxes are filed with IRS, applicants should use IRS Retrieval Tool to transfer information to FAFSA automatically. Priority application deadline is March 1. March 1 is also the date to be considered for need-based scholarships. FAFSA Help:

4 What is a Complete Financial Aid File? Admission to the U of U FAFSA ( need 2014 federal tax return No Uform! Although a social security number is not required for the admissions application, it is required for federal aid and scholarships. Full legal name is required for federal aid and scholarships. Completion of any incomplete checklists (as determined by our office). When financial aid is awarded, students will be notified through their UMail account. Admissions letter to the U will have instructions on setting up a UMail account

5 Who is Eligible for Federal Aid? Earned HS diploma or equivalent (GED) Admitted to a degree seeking program U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen Valid Social Security Number Register with Selective Service (Males age 18-25) Provide verification documents if requested by school Make Satisfactory Academic Progress Not in default on federal student loans

6 We re Here to Help You! Financial Aid Counselors can assist with the following: Filing the FAFSA Application Navigating through each step and answering general questions Tuition payment options Discussion of a special or unique circumstance, such as layoff, reduction of income etc., affecting a students ability to receive financial aid Appointments are available Monday through Thursday Walk-in appointments available during Spring Semester

7 What s New for Scholarships Deadlines Dec. 1: Admissions Priority Application Date to be considered for merit and diversity scholarships Diversity scholarships do not require a separate application, but it is imperative to answer all fields and open response questions on the Admissions application Notifications for scholarships are sent out three weeks after admissions letters March 1: Priority application date to be considered for need-based scholarships Completed FAFSA and financial aid file required May 1: Enrollment Deposit and Scholarship Acceptance Due These are two separate processes! No separate application needed!

8 What s New for Scholarships (cont.) New Scholarships Valedictorian Awarded to students who are designated as the Valedictorian of their high school graduating class. 1 year award - $1,000 ($500/sem). Non-renewable. Stackable with other merit scholarships. Must complete admissions process by Dec. 1. High school MUST submit documentation verifying Valedictorian by July 1. Trustees Must complete admissions process by Dec GPA, ACT =$1,000/sem.; 3.0 GPA, ACT=$500/ sem. Renewable for up to 4 semesters.

9 General Scholarship Process for : All entering freshmen will automatically be considered for merit scholarships upon admission to U of U provided they meet the Dec. 1 priority deadline. Need based scholarships do not require a separate scholarship application. Students must complete admissions process by Dec. 1, have a completed FAFSA application and Financial Aid file with the University of Utah by March 1 to be considered.

10 General Scholarship Process for : (cont.) Diversity scholarships do not require a separate application. Students are automatically considered, but it is imperative to answer all fields and open response questions on the Admissions application by the Dec. 1 priority date. FAFSA and financial aid data may also be used to evaluate diversity scholarship candidates. Additional diversity scholarships are availability through the Office of Equity and Diversity.

11 Freshman* Resident Merit Scholarships President s Full tuition, mandatory fees, cash award ($375/semester) for up to 8 semesters Prior year cutoff was 4.0 GPA, 33 ACT Honors at Entrance $5,000 ($2,500/sem.) for tuition for up to 8 semesters Prior year cutoff was 3.99 GPA, 29 ACT Sterling Scholar Award $5,000 ($2,500/sem.) for tuition for up to 8 semesters Awarded to the regional winner of each category Partial Honors at Entrance $2,500 ($1250/sem.) for tuition for up to 8 semesters Prior year cutoff was 3.0, 30 ACT Freshman: A student coming directly out of high school who has applied for admissions during his/her senior year of high school.

12 Freshman* Resident Merit Scholarships Trustees Scholarship *NEW* 3.0 GPA, ACT =$2,000 ($1,000/sem.); 3.0 GPA, ACT=$1,000 ($500/sem.) Renewable for up to 4 semesters Cash at Entrance $1,000 ($500/sem.) for tuition for up to 4 semesters Prior year cutoff was 4.0, 24 ACT Valedictorian *NEW* 1 year award for tuition - $1,000 ($500/sem). Non-renewable. Stackable with other merit scholarships. National Merit Scholarship $500 ($250/sem.) for tuition for up to 8 semesters. Stackable with other merit scholarships Awarded to National Merit Finalists based on PSAT/NMSQT

13 Freshman Merit Awarding Freshman merit scholarships are awarded based on unweighted GPA and ACT. Both components are considered equally (i.e., unweighted GPA and ACT contribute 50% each toward evaluation). President s candidates will also have course rigor reviewed. Freshman merit candidates are ranked based on GPA/ACT score. Results from tests taken after the official October ACT/SAT test date, initial or retakes, will not be taken into consideration for scholarship eligibility. Freshman merit offer letters issued within 3 weeks of admissions decisions.

14 What s the Cutoff? Scholarship cutoffs vary each year depending on the funding that is available, along with the current year s applicant pool. This is why hard cutoffs aren t published. Who received freshmen merit scholarships last year? Total Number Completed Admissions Applications Number of scholarships offered Resident ~ 5,000 ~ 2,600 Mean GPA / ACT 3.8 / 28 Median GPA / ACT 3.9 / 28

15 Scholarship Process 1 Students apply for admission by Application Priority Date of Dec. 1 (Freshman). For need based awards, along with the admission application (Feb. 1 for Freshmen), students must also complete the FAFSA by March 1. 2 Scholarship recipients are selected based on Admissions Application information 5 Scholarship funds are first applied to the student s tuition account. Any remaining funds (if applicable) will then disburse to the student. 3 Recipients are notified approximately one to three weeks following their Admissions Decisions 4 Students accept scholarship awards online, through the Campus Information Services (CIS)

16 Scholarship Renewal Freshman merit scholarships that are awarded for more than two semesters must meet the renewal criteria as stated in the award letter. *In order for scholarships to be renewed, students must attend full-time each semester, completing 24 credit hours (20 of which must be graded) over the 2 semesters of the academic year (fall and spring).

17 Other Scholarship Resources Departmental Scholarships Deadlines vary. Please contact the department of your major for more information. Campus Organizations Women s Resource Center, Veterans Support Center, American Indian Resource Center

18 Recap of Important Deadlines Dec.1 Scholarships Priority admission for freshman merit or diversity Mar. 1 Financial Aid and Scholarships Application deadline for need-based and transfer merit scholarships FAFSA and financial aid deadline May 1 Scholarships and Enrollment Scholarship acceptance deadline Enrollment deposit deadline

19 FAQ s Q: If I m planning on deferring admissions, when should I apply for scholarships? A: Freshmen must apply during their senior year of high school, then defer their enrollment with the Admissions Office. Q: Can I receive scholarships and financial aid? A: Yes! We encourage all scholarship recipients to also apply for financial aid. Q:What is the cutoff for merit based scholarships? A: The GPA/ACT requirements to receive a merit based scholarship varies from year to year, depending on the funding that is available, size and quality of the applicant pool.

20 Questions? Financial Aid Office Student Services Bldg, Rm. 105 Ph: (801) F(801) University Scholarship Office Student Services Bldg, Rm. 135 Ph: (801) F(801) Office Hours: M, W, Th, F: 8am-5pm Tues: 10am-5pm Office Hours: M, W, Th, F: 8am-5pm Tues: 10am-5pm