| Education/Student Aid |
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Congressman
Larson is committed to making higher education accessible and affordable. Below are questions you may have about the financial
aid process. We have provided links to
resources available to help students finance higher education. As always, if you have any questions not
covered in the Frequently Asked Questions section please contact our office at
(860) 278-8888.
Frequently Asked
Questions
Q: I am searching
for a way to finance my college education.
What resources are out there?
A:
There are federal student aid programs available to students through the U.S.
Department of Education. To
access these programs please click here. You will have to fill out your Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine your eligibility
for federal student financial aid.
Q: Are loans available to finance my college
education?
A: Loans are the most common federal aid and
must be repaid when you graduate or leave college. Loans available through the government are
Stafford loans, offered to eligible students enrolled in higher education and
Perkins Loans, for the neediest undergraduates.
Stafford loans include the
federally guaranteed Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) from private lenders
such as banks and credit unions. Sallie
Mae is a private lender under this program and is the United States’ largest
college student loan company. Click
here to access the website.
Q: Does the State
of Connecticut provide any resources to help finance my higher education?
A:
Yes, the Connecticut Office of State Treasurer Denise Nappier offers the
Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET), Connecticut’s 529 college savings
program. It is a tax advantaged, low
expense savings program. To
learn more about CHET at the website of the Connecticut State Treasury please
click here. You can also find more resources provided for Connecticut
residents at the Connecticut
Department of Higher Education.
Q: I heard there
are work study programs that give students jobs at school. Where can I learn more about these programs?
A: You may access information about work study
in the Guide
to Federal Student Aid, published
by the Department of Education annually.
Once granted work study you should contact your university and apply for
a job placement at your school. Student
employment with the Federal Government may also be an option. To
find out more about student educational employment please click here.
Q: I was told to be aware of scholarship
scams. What are signs of scams?
A: It is very important to be aware of
questionable tactics scammers use. Some
services might make claims that you can’t get the same information anywhere
else, they might request your credit card number or they might ask you to send
them money to claim a scholarship. To
read more please click here. You can
also acquire more information on scholarship scams through the Federal
Trade Commission.
Q: As a veteran where can I find more
information on education benefits?
A: The most up to date information on education
benefits for veterans is through the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. The
Department of Veterans Affairs is now accepting and processing applications for
the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The bill will provide education benefits for service
members who have served on active duty for 90 or more days on or after Sept. 11,
2001. These benefits are tiered based on the number of days served on active
duty, creating a benefit package that gives current and previously activated
National Guard and Reserve members the same benefits as active duty service
members. You should complete and submit
the application form available online. For
more information click here.
Q: What universities in Connecticut provide
funding to veterans?
A: The
Connecticut State Yellow Ribbon Program website provides information on
university contributions to veterans.
Also, the Connecticut State University System has adopted a policy that
waives tuition for veterans and National Guard members who attend Central,
Eastern, Southern or Western state universities.
Q: I am thinking about joining the
military. How can I go to school and
plan for the military?
A: Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) is a
program for students who want to be commissioned as officers after graduating
from college. You can find more
information at the website of the U.S.
Army ROTC,
U.S. Navy ROTC or Air
Force ROTC.
Q: I just graduated from college and am having
trouble managing my student loans. Is
there any government money for students like me?
A: There are new benefits going into effect July
1, 2009 that will make student loan payments manageable for millions of
Americans. Benefits include cheaper
interest rates on need- based (subsidized) federal student loans, reasonable
and affordable monthly college loan payments for borrowers, and higher Pell
Grant scholarships that cover the average tuition at public universities. For
more information click here.
Q: How can I
qualify for the Income- Based Repayment Program?
A: You can qualify if you are a borrower who is
currently paying back federal student loans or a new borrower and whose debt
exceeds 15 percent of your discretionary income. Borrowers with hefty debt loads or low-
paying jobs are most likely to qualify. A
borrower must also have enough debt relative to their income to qualify for a
reduced payment.
Quick Links
U.S.
Department of Education**
Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Connecticut
Department of Higher Education
**Note:
The
Department of Education provides detailed information in financing higher
education. However, for questions not covered on the website call the Federal
Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).
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