CAPTIONING FUNDED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION SERVICES OF KANSAS, LLC. WWW.CAPTIONSERVICES.COM. >> OVER THE NEXT HOUR WE WILL BE SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT STUDENT FINANCIAL AID FOR COLLEGE. NOW HERE'S YOUR HOST, GWIN FALCON OTHER LIPPERT. WELCOME TO THIS YEAR'S "CASH FOR COLLEGE". WE'RE SO GLAD YOU'VE JOINED US THIS EVENING TO LEARN ABOUT STUDENT FINANCIAL AID TO GO TO COLLEGE. I'M OUR HOST, GWIN FALCONER-LIPPERT. TONIGHT YOU WILL HEAR FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF SOURCES ABOUT THE A TO Z OF STUDENT FINANCIAL AID. YOU'LL ALSO HEAR ABOUT HOW YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CAN START PLANNING FINANCIALLY FOR COLLEGE RIGHT NOW. EVEN IF YOU ARE IN GRADE SCHOOL OR MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND LOOK BEHIND ME HERE. WE HAVE FINANCIAL AID EXPERTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE HERE IN THE STUDIO. THEY WOULD LOVE TO TAKE YOUR INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS ABOUT STUDENT FINANCIAL AID TONIGHT DURING THIS HOUR-LONG BROADCAST. THE NUMBER TO CALL IS 1-800-868-1840. THE ELM BETTER IS AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN. SO TAKE OUT YOUR PENCIL, WRITE IT DOWN AND PREPARE TO ASK YOUR QUESTIONS. AFTER TONIGHT YOU CAN STILL CALL THIS NUMBER TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT FINANCIAL AID BECAUSE IT IS A PERMANENT NUMBER PROVIDED BY THE OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. HAVING THE TOOLS YOU NEED TO GO TO COLLEGE ARE VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE FURTHERING YOUR EDUCATION IS VERY IMPORTANT. HERE IS CHANCELLOR FOR THE OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, DR. PAUL RISSER TO TELL YOU MORE. >> LET ME ALSO WELCOME YOU TO "CASH FOR COLLEGE" TONIGHT. I THINK YOU'LL FIND THIS PROGRAM TO BE INTERESTING AND FUN. AND YOU'LL HAVE LOTS OF INFORMATION. YOU'LL GET INFORMATION TONIGHT. YOU'LL ALSO FIND OUT HOW TO FIND INFORMATION AFTER TONIGHT. AND THE LESSON TONIGHT REALLY IS YOU, TOO, CAN GO TO COLLEGE. I THINK MANY TIMES IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE, PERHAPS ONE CAN'T FIND THE MONEY. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU TONIGHT IS THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS FOR FINDING FINANCING TO GO TO COLLEGE. AND GOING TO COLLEGE BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT EVERY SINGLE DAY. IT GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A PERSON TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD MORE DEEPLY AND IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR EARNING MONEY FOR ONE'S FAMILY AND ONE'S COMMUNITY. WE KNOW FOR EXAMPLE THAT ON THE AVERAGE A COLLEGE GRADUATE OVER THE LIFETIME OF THAT PERSON WILL EARN A MILLION DOLLARS MORE THAN SOMEONE WITH A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE TO YOU THINK HARD ABOUT COLLEGE AND TO RECOGNIZE THAT TONIGHT YOU'LL FIND OUT LOTS OF WAYS THAT WILL MAKE THAT MUCH MORE ACCESSIBLE AND MUCH MORE AVAILABLE TO YOU. AND SO I WANT TO WISH YOU THE BEST AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO LISTEN CAREFULLY TONIGHT AND WORK TOWARD GOING TO COLLEGE. THANK YOU. >> THIS IS "CASH FOR COLLEGE". AND THE NUMBER TO CALL, 1-800-858-1840. AS YOU CAN SEE OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE HERE AND THEY'RE VERY BUSY. DON'T GET I'M PATIENT. JUST WAIT A COUPLE MINUTES AND CALL RIGHT BACK. NOW, LET'S CHECK IN WITH OUR PHONE BANK. I'VE GOT MY FIRST VOLUNTEER HERE. TELL ME WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT SCHOOL YOU'RE REPRESENTING. >> I'M ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL AID AT OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT. TELL ME ABOUT THE CALLS THAT YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GET AND WHAT YOU'RE PREPARED TO ANSWER. >> ONE OF THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS THAT WE GET IS HOW DO YOU DETERMINE FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY. FINANCELE AID ELIGIBILITY IS DETERMINED BY THE SCHOOL. THEY FIRST TAKE TUITION AND FEES, ROOM AND BOARD AND BOOK EXPENSES AND THAT'S HOW THEY DETERMINE A COST OF ATTENDANCE. FROM THE FAFSA, YOU GET THE EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION NUMBER. YOU TAKE THOSE TWO AND MINUS THE EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION NUMBER AND THAT GIVES YOU THE NEED. AND FROM THAT YOU AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS, WORK STUDY PROGRAMS AND STUDENT LOANS. >> SO THERE'S NO MAGIC NUMBER. IF I MAKE SUCH AND SUCH AMOUNT OF MONEY. YOU DON'T REALLY FOE THAT UNTIL YOU FILL IT OUT; RIGHT? >> THERE'S NO MAGIC NUMBER. HAVE YOU TO DO THE FAFSA AND THAT GOES OFF OF USUALLY THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S TAX RETURNS AND A LOT OF INFORMATION IS ADDED FROM INCOME ASSETS. THEY DON'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION DEBT. THERE'S NOT A MAGIC NUMBER. >> SO WHEN YOU'RE ON CAMPUS DO YOU ANSWER ALL THESE SAME QUESTIONS? >> YES, DO I. I DO SEVERAL FINANCIAL AID PRESENTATIONS WEEKLY AND DO THEM FOR ROTARY CLUBS, SCHOOLS, HIGH SCHOOLS, ANYBODY THAT ASKS I'M VERY EEG STORY HELP IN ANY WAY. >> WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING. WHAT SHOULD I THINK TO ASK YOU THAT MAYBE I HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF YET? >> I ALWAYS SUGGEST THAT STUDENTS KEEP ASKING. THEY GO TO THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE. THEY TRY TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE COUNSELORS AND THEY JUST ASK THE QUESTIONS. NO QUESTION IS A DUMB QUESTION AND ALWAYS ASK. >> IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER HOW OLD YOU ARE. CAN YOU STILL GET FINANCIAL AID? >> YES. AS A U.S. CITIZEN IT'S YOUR RIGHT TO RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID. IT'S ALL DETERMINED OFF THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT NAID THERE'S NO AGE LIMIT AT ALL. >> I THINK I HEAR PHONES RINGING. LET ME THINK IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER -- IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE COMING STRAIGHT FROM HIGH SCHOOL OR IF YOU'RE TRANSFERRING? >> THAT DOES NOT MATTER. DO I HAVE TO MAKE A CORRECTION TO WHAT I SAID. YOU DO HAVE TO BE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER. BUT IF YOU'RE 60 YEARS OLD, 80 YEARS OLD AND YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, THERE'S NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I LIKE THOSE 80 YEAR OLD STUDENTS. I APPRECIATE IT. WHEN WE COME BACK HERE ON "CASH FOR COLLEGE" YOU'LL HEAR FROM CORNELIA BASS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA AND DEBRA MCENTYRE FROM TULSA COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THEY'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE, THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND SOME OF THE PIT FALLS YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO AVOID. >> DID YOU KNOW THAT OKLAHOMA OFFERS 8th, 9th AND 10th 10th GRADE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN A SCHOLARSHIP. IT'S THE OKLAHOMA HIGHER EARNING ACCESS PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM IS OPEN TO STUDENTS WHOSE FAMILY INCOME IS LESS THAN $50,000. THE STUDENT PROMISES TO TAKE CERTAIN COURSES AND TO STAY OUT OF SERIOUS TROUBLE. IN RETURN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA PROMISES A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP. FOR DETAILS CALL THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN OR GO TO THE STATE REGENTS WEBSITE. >> FOR STARTERS, WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE? >> BASICALLY THERE'S TO TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID. THERE'S NEED BASED NAID SCO ELASTIC BASED AID WHICH IS BASED ON GPA. FOR NEED BASED AID, STUDENTS COMPLETE THE FAFSA. IN USING THAT, SCHOOLS CAN DETERMINE IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL GRANTS, STATE GRANTS, FEDERAL WORK STUDY OR STUDENT LOANS. SCO ELASTIC BASED AID IS BASED ON SAT SCORES. >> SPEAKER A: NOW, LET ME ASK YOU, CORNELIA, IS THERE AN INCOME LIMIT FOR FINANCIAL AID? >> NO, THERE'S NOT AN INCOME LIMIT. WE ENCOURAGE ALL PARENTS AND STUDENTS TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID. EVERYONE QUALIFIES FOR AT LEAST A STUDENT LOAN. SO WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO APPLY. APPLY EARLY AND APPLY ON LINE. THAT'S REALLY THE BEST WAY TO APPLY. THERE'S LESS CHANCE FOR ERROR WHEN YOU APPLY ON LINE. >> SPEAKER A: HAVE YOU EVER HAD HEARD THAT QUESTION BEFORE? IERVETLE ALL THE TIME. THAT'S MY MOST HATED QUESTION. BECAUSE WE THINK THAT DISCOURAGES PEOPLE FROM APPLYING. THEY THINK I MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY. I'M NOT GOING TO QUALIFY FOR ANYTHING. BUT THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE. IT'S FREE TO APPLY. DOESN'T TAKE THAT LONG TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION. DOESN'T HURT ANYTHING FOR TO YOU APPLY. >> SPEAKER A: LET ME FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. WHO DECIDES HOW MUCH MONEY YOU RECEIVE? >> THE SCHOOL DECIDES HOW MUCH MONEY YOU RECEIVE BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT YOU PLACE ON THE FAFSA APPLICATION. >>> SO EACH COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY DECIDES ON THE FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE? >> YES. USING THE ESTIMATED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION THAT YOU'RE GIVING WHEN YOU FILL OUT THE FAFSA APPLICATION. WE TAKE THE COST OF ATTENDANCE MINUS THE ESTIMATED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION TO DETERMINE WHAT NEED BASED AID THAT THE STUDENT WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE. IF THEY'RE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ANY NEED BASED AID THEN WE OFFER THEM A STIEWND LOAN. OOMPTLE THERE'S A MAGIC FORM IN HERE CALLED FAFSA? >> YES. >> AND WHERE DO WE FIND THE FAFSA? >> YOU CAN FIND IT ON THE WEB. I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THE GRAPHIC ON THE SCREEN. THE WEBSITE FOR FAFSA. OR CAN YOU DO PAPER APPLICATIONS IF YOU DON'T HAVE WEB ACCESS. THEY ARE AVAILABLE GENERALLY IN HIGH SCHOOL OFFICES, COLLEGE OFFICES. BUT WE ENCOURAGE ALL STUDENTS TO DO IT ON THE WEB. >> SO IF I'M LOOKING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, WHERE DO I START? >> THE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, YOU CAN GET THEM FROM THE WEB. THERE'S MANY PLACES -- WEB SITES THAT YOU CAN GO TO FOR SCHOLARSHIPS. CAN YOU GO TO THE INDIVIDUAL COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES FOR SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. >> I WAS CONTACTED BY SOMEONE THAT TOLD ME IF I PAID THEM $100 AND SEND ME A BOOK I WOULD BE GUARANTEED A SCHOLARSHIP. IS THAT A SCAM? >> WELL, I'M NOT -- I CAN'T SAY THAT THAT ONE WAS A SCAM IN PARTICULAR. BUT IF THEY GUARANTEE THAT YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER WILL EE RECEIVE A SCHOLARSHIP FOR $100, I WOULD BE VERY CAUTIOUS. SO MANY SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE FREE. THERE'S NO REASON TO PAY FOR IT. CAN YOU GO ON THE WEB. ANY STUDENT CAN GO ON THE WEB AND SEARCH FOR SCHOLARSHIPS. THEY JUST NEED TO FIND SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT THEMSELVES. AND THERE'S MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOLARSHIPS. >> YOU SAID UNIQUE ABOUT THEMSELVES. WHAT ARE YOU ALLUDING TO THERE? >> WELL, EACH STUDENT HAS THEIR OWN UNIQUE QUALITIES AND TALENTS. MAYBE THEY'RE IN MUSIC. MAYBE NURSING MAJOR OR SOME OTHER MAJOR THAT THEY'RE SEEKING. MANY, MANY SCHOLARSHIPS OUT THERE WANT SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT THEM. YOU NEED TO LOWER THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE COMPETING AGAINST FOR THE SCHOLARSHIPS BY FINDING UNIQUE QUALITIES ABOUT THEMSELVES. >> ONE OF THE THINGS I ALWAYS LOVE ABOUT INTERVIEWING YOU ALL IS THAT YOU'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT FINANCIAL AID AND SO ENCOURAGING. SO CORNELIA WHAT ELSE SHOULD YOU TELL ME THAT WILL ENCOURAGE ME TO FILL OUT THAT FAFSA ON LINE AND REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SCHOLARSHIP MONEY? >> WELL, SOMETHING ELSE ALONG THE LINES OF SCAMS IS YOU MAY ALSO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE OFFERING FOR A FEE TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION FOR YOU. WE AT SCHOOLS REALLY DON'T ENCOURAGE YOU TO PAY ANYONE TO FILL OUT YOUR FAFSA APPLICATION FOR YOU. THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID. IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE YOUR BEST BET WOULD BE TO CALL THE COLLEGE YOU'RE PLANNING ON ATTENDING OR CHECK AND SEE IF THERE'S WORKSHOPS AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICES DO WORKSHOPS FOR FREE. THEY COME AND TALK ABOUT FINANCIAL AID AND THEY'LL ALSO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND HELP YOU FILL OUT YOUR APPLICATION. GREAT INFORMATION. WE'RE OFF TO A GREAT START'. THANK YOU BOTH. >> EDUCATION TO ME MEANS SELF DPRAT IF I OCCASION. SOMETHING THAT YOU DO FOR YOURSELF ONLY FOR YOU. YOU SEPARATE IT FROM EARNING AN INCOME, STATUS. IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU DO FOR THAT SELF GRATIFICATION THAT ONLY YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS TO YOU. COLLEGE WAS SOMETHING THAT I WAS A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT. I HAVE TO ADMIT SOMETHING THAT KEPT ME AWAY FROM APPLYING FOR COLLEGE EARLIER. ANY TIPS THAT I WOULD OFFER IS TIE TO MEET YOUR DEADLINES BEFORE. TRY TO READ UP ON IT. THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF INFORMATION IN THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE THAT WILL HELP YOU NAVIGATE. CAN YOU APPLY ON LINE AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS A LOT QUICKER THAN APPLYING THROUGHOUT MAIL. I WOULD GIVE ANY STUDENT THAT TIP, TO APPLY ON LINE FOR FINANCIAL AID. IT WILL SAVE YOU A WHOLE LOT OF TIME. IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, TRUST YOURSELF. DEFINITELY DO IT FOR YOU. IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU DO FOR YOURSELF, FOR NOBODY ELSE. EDUCATION IS SOMETHING THAT NO ONE CAN TAKE FROM YOU. ONCE YOU START, I PROMISE YOU, IT IS A GOOD SELF GRATIFYING FEELING. IT'S FUN. YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL. AND YOU CAN LEARN. AND IT'S AN ADVENTURE. IT'S DEFINITELY A JOURNEY, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS GREAT REWARDS AT THE END. >> THOSE WERE SOME VERY WISE WORDS. WELCOME BACK TO CATCH FOR COLLEGE. OUR PHONE BANK VOLUNTEERS ARE GETTING LOTS OF CALLS. THE NUMBER IS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN. >>? IT'S THERE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN ANY TIME YOU SEE THE NUMBER, PLEASE CALL. IF YOU CAN'T GET THROUGH, JUST RELAX. TRY AGAIN. BUT REMEMBER, GUESS WHAT, YOU CAN CALL THIS SAME NUMBER TOMORROW, TOO. SO, PLEASE, TRY IT. UP NEXT WE MEET A COUPLE OF ADULT STUDENTS WHO MADE THE DECISION TO RETURN TO SCHOOL. LET'S DISCOVER HOW THEY MADE THEIR DECISIONS AND WHAT THIS HAS MEANT FOR THEM. >> WE HAVE MATTHEW AND SHEILA WITH US TODAY. WOULD I LIKE TO ASK MATTHEW THE FIRST QUESTION. MATTHEW, WHAT CAUSED YOU TO WANT TO RETURN TO COLLEGE? >> I HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO GO TO COLLEGE RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL I HAD A DAUGHTER AND SO I HAD TO GO INTO THE WORK FORCE IMMEDIATELY TO EARN AN INCOME. I GOT TO A POINT WHERE MY SUPPORT SYSTEM WAS KIND OF IN PLACE AND I MET MY FIANCE AND SHE WAS ABLE TO BETWEEN THE TWO OF US WE WERE ABLE TO EARN PART-TIME INCOME TO TAKE CARE OF THE FAMILY. SO SHE ENABLED ME TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL. SO I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY AND I WENT. >> SHEILA, WHAT WORRIES DID YOU HAVE AS YOU THOUGHT ABOUT RETURNING TO SCHOOL AND WHAT KINDS OF THINGS DID YOU HAVE TO OVERCOME? >> NIE NUMBER ONE WORRY WAS HOW I WAS GOING TO AFFORD GOING TO SCHOOL AND LIVING, BASICALLY. AND ALL OF THE INCOME FROM MY HOUSEHOLD DEPENDED ON ME. SO TO GO FROM WORKING FULL-TIME TO BEING A STUDENT FULL-TIME AND NOT SURE WHERE THAT INCOME CAME FROM, THAT WAS THE BIGGEST FEAR. HUGE. THE OTHER STUFF I HAD -- I HAD KIND OF GOING PART-TIME A FEW YEARS BACK, I HAD KIND OF OVERCOME THE FEAR OF THE CLASSROOM AND BEING AN ADULT STUDENT. BUT GOING BACK FULL-TIME, IT WAS FINANCIAL. >> MATTHEW, IF YOU WERE GOING TO ENCOURAGE A FRIEND TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM? >> WELL, I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THE ABILITY TO MAKE MOREOVER A PERIOD OF TIME WITH AN EDUCATION. I WOULD SHOW THEM THE TYPES OF JOB THEY COULD GET. REALLY YOU JUST HAVE TO ASK THEM WHAT THEIR INTERESTS ARE. MOST PEOPLE THAT I'VE TALKED TO, THEY'RE NOT WORKING IN AN AREA THAT INTERESTS THEM. AND THE REASON WHY THEY'RE NOT WORKING IN AN AREA THAT INTERESTS THEM IS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE EDUCATION TO PURSUE THAT. I THINK IF I WERE TO CONVINCE SOMEBODY TO COME BACK TO SCHOOL I WOULD SHOW THEM THE REWARDS OF THE INITIAL SACRIFICE. >> SHEILA, IF YOU WERE GOING TO ENCOURAGE A FRIEND TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM TO ENCOURAGE THEM >> I'VE ACTUALLY HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK TO ME ABOUT GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AS AN ADULT. YOU KNOW, THEY'VE HAD KIDS OR WHATEVER. AND I TELL THEM, YOU KNOW, ONE, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET FINISHED IF YOU DON'T EVER START. AND IT'S JUST -- IT'S SOMETHING THAT ONCE YOU GET IN THERE AND YOU OVERCOME ANY OF THOSE FIERCE THAT YOU HAVE, YOU'LL FIND OUT THAT IT'S REALLY REWARDING AND IT'S A LOT OF FUN. >> MATTHEW, WHAT ARE SOME TIPS THAT YOU WOULD OFFER TO SOMEONE RETURNING TO SCHOOL? >> WELL, FIRST THING IS NOT TO TRY TO DO EVERYTHING AT ONCE. PACE YOURSELF. I KNOW PERSONALLY WHEN I GOT IN, I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET IN AND NOT GET OUT IN TWO OR THREE YEARS. COY DO IT FASTER THAN ALL THESE YOUNGER KIDS COULD BECAUSE HI EXPERIENCE. AND I WAS WRONG. TAKE NO MORE THAN 12 HOURS YOUR FIRST SEMESTER. KIND OF GET A FEEL FOR THINGS. TALK WITH YOUR POA IF HE ISORS WHEN YOU DO GET IN SCHOOL. MAKE SURE YOU KEEP THOSE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN. IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANYBODY THERE TO HELP YOU. THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT SYSTEM HERE ON CAMPUS WITH STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AND WITH FACULTY. AND THE FACULTY REALIZES THAT ADULTS COMING BACK TO SCHOOL HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF PRIORITIES AND NEEDS THANK THE YOUNGER STUDENTS DO. AND THEY'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU. SO BASICALLY JUST BE OPEN TO THE CHANGE, BUT ALSO DON'T THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO DO IT BY YOURSELF. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE TO HELP YOU. >> SHEILA, WHAT ARE SOME TIPS THAT YOU WOULD OFFER TO SOMEBODY AS THEY WERE MAKING ADJUSTMENTS IN RETURNING TO SCHOOL? >> I WOULD SAY CHECK -- MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS SURE WHAT YOUR DEADLINES ARE. FINANCIAL AID DEADLINES. LIST DEADLINES FOR ENTERING CLASS. STUFF LIKE THAT. BECAUSE IF YOU LET THOSE PASS YOU, THEN IT'S A LOT EASIER TO KEEP UP ON THEM. AND SAME THING MATT SAID. KEEP COMMUNICATION LINES OPEN. I MEAN THE ADVISORS ARE THERE TO HELP YOU. IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE THERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU AND SUPPORT YOU THAN WHAT YOU MAY HAVE THOUGHT WOULD BE THERE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE MAKING THAT TRANSITION. >> THIS IS "CASH FOR COLLEGE". THE PHONE NUMBER HERE IS: >> ONE THING WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW IS THAT FINANCIAL AID IS AVAILABLE FOR ADULTS RETURNING TO SCHOOL AS WELL AS FOR STUDENTS COMING DIRECTLY FROM HIGH SCHOOL. LET'S CHECK WIN OUR PHONE BANK AGAIN AND SEE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT. LET'S SEE IF CAN I GET MY VOLUNTEER RIGHT HERE. EXCUSE ME. WAVE AT THIS PERSON AT HOME SO THEY'LL KNOW. WHO ARE YOU AND WHERE ARE YOU FROM? >> SHEILA FEW GET FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA. >> SHEILA, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? >> WE'RE TALKING TO A STUDENT WHO SAYS THAT THEY HAVE GOTTEN INFORMATION THAT THERE IS A CHARGE TO APPLY FOR A FEDERAL UNT STUDENT AID AND I'M ASSURING THEM THAT THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS FREE. SO IF ANYBODY TELLS THAT YOU THERE IS A CHARGE FOR APPLYING FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID, DON'T BELIEVE IT. THE PROCESS IS ABSOLUTELY FREE. THE ACRONYM STANDS FOR FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID. SO IT'S ABSOLUTELY FREE. >> SO THIS WAS A GOOD NIGHT FOR THEM TO BE WATCHING AND CALLING, ISN'T IT? WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU BEEN TALKING ABOUT WITH EARLIER CALLS? >> BEEN TALKING TO STUDENTS CURRENTLY IN SCHOOL WANTING TO KNOW IF THEY CAN POSSIBLY DEFER THEIR LOANS AS THEY GO ON TO OTHER PROGRAMS. TALKING TO PARENTS WHO WANT TO KNOW IS THERE ANYTHING THEY NEED TO DO NOW TO ENSURE THE ELIGIBILITY FOR NEXT YEAR. TALKING TO PARENTS WHO WANT TO KNOW IF THEY DON'T CLAIM THEIR CHILDREN ON THEIR TAX RETURN CAN THE STUDENT FILE AS INDEPENDENT. CAN'T DO IT. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS AS LONG AS THEY'RE UNDER 24 YOU MAY AS WELL GO AHEAD AND CLAIM THEM BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT TO BE CONSIDERED A DEPENDENT STUDENT. A LOT OF THOSE TYPE QUESTIONS. >> REALLY SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. >> OH, YEAH. OH, YEAH. >> SPEAKER A: >> ANY GENERAL QUESTIONS -- I MEAN ANSWERS YOU CAN TOSS. >> WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GET MORE MONEY. I TOLD THEM LISTEN IN TO THE PROGRAM TONIGHT. TAKE IT ALL IN. AND CONTACT THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICES. I'M SURE WE CAN HELP THEM. >> IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHAT INSTITUTION THAT MUCH. THE INFORMATION IS THE SAME PRETTY MUCH ACROSS THE STATE, ISN'T IT? >> APPLICABLE NO MATTER WHERE THEY'RE GOING. >> I'M SURE THIS PERSON WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO GO BACK AND TALK TO THEM. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. AND AS CAN YOU SEE WE'RE VERY BUSY. BUT THERE IS A PHONE NUMBER HERE ON THE SCREEN. LET ME REMIND YOU. YOU CAN CALL IT NOW. CAN YOU CALL IT TOMORROW. CAN YOU CALL IT NEXT WEEK AND YOU WILL GET THE INFORMATION YOU WANT. WHEN WE COME BACK, TWO FINANCIAL AID DIRECTORS ARE GOING TO TELL US SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS, SENIORS AND TRANSFER STUDENTS WILL FIND HELPFUL. >> AT AT THE OKLAHOMA STIT AIR LOGISTICS CENTER, TINKER AIR FORCE BASE WE USE OVER 200 SKILLS TO SUPPORT THE NATION'S DEFENSE. IN THE YEAR 2000 WE REALIZED THAT WE HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES BECOMING ELIGIBLE FOR RETIREMENT WITHIN THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS. WHAT WE DID IS WE PARTNERED WITH THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF OKLAHOMA. THAT INCLUDES COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, TECHNOLOGY CENTERS AND AN AWARENESS PROGRAM IN JOB SHADOWING PROGRAM EVEN IN THE HIGH SCHOOL. ALL IN ALL WE HAVE HIRED ALMOST 600 INTERNS WITHIN THE LAST 3 YEARS WHO WE PROJECT WILL GO ON TO FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT WITH TINKER. ALL THE EDUCATORS, COLLEGE LEVEL, TECHNOLOGY CENTER LEVEL MAKE IT A POINT TO COME TO TINKER, TOUR THE AREAS, THEIR EMPLOYEES WILL ACTUALLY BE WORKING AND GAIN KNOWLEDGE OF THOSE SPECIFIC SKILLS TO IN INCORPORATE INTO THE CLASSROOM. OVER 900 EMPLOYEES HAVE CLOSEN TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL ON THEIR OWN TIME USING THE CIVILIAN TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO HELP THEM USE NOT ONLY THE PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE THEY'VE GAINED, AT # ADDED WITH EDUCATION TO QUALIFY FOR HIGHER JOBS. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID PROCESS. IF I'M A JUNIOR RIGHT NOW, WHAT DO I NEED TO BE TAKING CARE OF? >> THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT YOU COULD BE WORKING ON AS A JUNIOR. YOU NEED TO TAKE YOUR ACT OR SAT SCORE TO ESTABLISH A BASELINE THERE THAT COULD HELP YOU WITH SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ACADEMICS. AS WELL IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR YOU TO BEGIN TO VISIT YOUR COLLEGES, TO GO ON SITE. AND I RECOMMEND DOING THAT WHEN YOU'RE -- WHEN IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A VISITATION DAY OR A MASS DAY. GO ON A NORMAL COLLEGE DAY AND ACTUALLY SIT IN CLASSES AND TRY AND NARROW YOUR CHOICES DOWN TO THE FEW TOP SCHOOLS THAT YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN. NOW IS ALSO A GOOD TIME TO BE LOOKING AT OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIPS AND TO BE QUIZZING YOUR GUIDANCE COUNSELOR AS TO SCHOLARSHIPS YOU CAN APPLY FOR IN YOUR SENIOR YEAR. PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANTLY IS TO CONTINUE TO TAKE CLASSES THAT WILL CHALLENGE YOU TO PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR IN COLLEGE. >> THAT'S A GOOD POINT. BUT THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF FUN TO DO THE CAMPUS VISITS. WHEN SHOULD I APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID? >> YOU NORMALLY ARE GOING TO APPLY IN THE JANUARY BEFORE YOU'RE GOING TO GO. FOR EXAMPLE RIGHT NOW MOST OF THE STUDENTS THAT WILL BE STARTING THIS NEXT FALL ARE STARTING TO FILL OUT THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID OR THE FAFSA. YEAH, THE FAMOUS FAFSA. IT'S ALSO GOOD TO CONTACT YOUR SCHOOL BECAUSE SOME SCHOOLS DO HAVE INSTITUTIONAL FINANCIAL AID FORMS THAT THEY USE ON THEIR CAMPUS. ALSO, SOME USE SELECTION FROM JUNIOR YEAR EVENTS TO HELP YOU WITH SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER THINGS. AND IT'S JUST GOOD TO GET ON THE MAILING LIST THROUGH THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO GET THOSE KINDS OF MAILINGS STARTED YOUR WAY. >> I'M NOT REAL CLEAR ABOUT THE JUNIOR YEAR EVENTS. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? >> BY THAT I MEAN SOMETIMES NAIA SCHOOLS CAN CONSIDER YOU FOR ADMISSION IN YOUR JUNIOR YEAR USING YOUR 6 OR 7 SMES TR TRANSCRIPTS IF YOU ENROLL INTO YOUR SENIOR YEAR. IT ALSO HELPS YOU TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WITH A GIVEN CAMPUS WHICH PEOPLE ON THAT CAMPUS, WHERE YOU KNOW THEIR NAMES, THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND WAYS THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU. IERVETLE AS A JUNIOR, JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH ARE THOSE THE MAGIC MONTHS? >> THEY ARE KIND OF THE MAGIC MONTHS. IN FACT A JUNIOR CAN GO AHEAD AND FILL OUT THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY NOT BE GOING TO COLLEGE UNTIL AFTER THEIR SENIOR YEAR. JUST TO GET AN EXAMPLE AND TO SEE WHAT AN EXPERIENCE OF FILLING THOSE FORMS IS LIKE. ALSO IT WILL KIND OF HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ESTIMATED FAMILY INCOME IS OR EFC FIGURE THAT THEY'LL GET FROM FILLING THAT OUT. >> SO NOW WE HAVE THEM IN COLLEGE AND THEY'RE SOPHOMORES GOING TO BE JUNIORS IN COLLEGE AND MAYBE THEY'RE TRANSFERRING FROM INSTITUTION TO INSTITUTION. LARRY, TELL US ABOUT THAT. BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE'VE DISCUSSED THAT IN THE PAST. >> OKAY, GWIN. UNLIKE WHAT MOST PEOPLE IMAGINE, FINANCIAL AID TECHNICALLY DOES NOT TRANSFER FROM ONE SCHOOL TO ANOTHER. STUDENT HAS TO ESTABLISH ELIGIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AID AT THE SECOND SCHOOL JUST LIKE THEY ESTABLISHED ELIGIBILITY AT THE FIRST SCHOOL. SO IT -- THE TIMING WILL DICTATE TO A LARGE DEGREE ON WHAT PAPERWORK IS GOING TO BE NECESSARY FOR A STUDENT TO COMPLETE IN THE TRANSFER PROCESS. >> DOES THAT MEAN THE FAFSA FORM NEEDS TO BE FILLED OUT AT EACH SCHOOL? >> WELL, AGAIN, IT LETS -- LET'S TAKE SOME SPECIFICS ON TRANSFERRING THAT WILL HELP CLARIFY WHEN A NEW FAFSA MIGHT BE REQUIRED. IF A STUDENT'S GOING TO TRANSFER WITHIN AN ACADEMIC YEAR, SAY, THEY FINISH ONE SCHOOL IN THE FALL AND THEY'RE GOING TO ANOTHER SCHOOL DURING THE SPRING SEMESTER, THEY ALREADY HAVE SUBMITTED THEIR FAFSA DATA AND IT'S IN A DATABASE THAT ALREADY EXISTS. SO WHEN THEY TRANSFER TO THAT SECOND SCHOOL, THEY DON'T HAVE TO FILL OUT A BRAND NEW FAFSA. THEY'RE SIMPLY GOING TO NEED TO CONTACT THE SECOND SCHOOL TO SEE IF THAT SCHOOL HAS RECEIVED THEIR FAFSA DATA AND IF NOT, THAT SCHOOL WILL HELP THEM GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE FAFSA DATA SENT TO THE SECOND SCHOOL. NOW IF THE STUDENT IS TRANSFERRING FROM ONE ACADEMIC YEAR TO THE OTHER, MEANING THEY'RE FINISHED IN THE SPRING SEMESTER AT ONE SCHOOL, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO GO THE FALL SEMESTER AT A NEW SCHOOL, THEY WILL FILL OUT A BRAND NEW FAFSA FOR THAT NEW ACADEMIC YEAR. >> : SO THE MAGIC WORD IS ACADEMIC YEAR. NOT NECESSARILY CALENDAR YEAR. >> THAT'S CORRECT. YES. >> HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO FILL THIS OUT? >> IF IT IS THE CASE WHERE THE STUDENT IS TRANSFERRING WITHIN AN ACADEMIC YEAR AND THAT DATA ALREADY EXISTS, THE TRANSFER PROCESS WILL BE A LITTLE -- A LITTLE SIMPLER AND IT MIGHT TAKE 2 OR 3 WEEKS TO GET ALL OF THAT TAKEN CARE OF. IF THE SCHOOL NEEDS SOME ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, THE SECOND SCHOOL FOR EXAMPLE, NEEDS MORE PAPERWORK OR SOME ADDITIONAL PAPERWORK THAN THE FIRST SCHOOL REQUIRED, THEN IT MIGHT TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER FOR THAT PROCESS TO TAKE PLACE. >> WILL THEY RECEIVE THE SAME FINANCIAL AID AT EACH SCHOOL? >> NOT NECESSARILY. BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL VARIABLES THAT ARE DICTATING WHAT ELIGIBILITY THE STUDENT HAS FOR THE VARIOUS FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS. IF THE SECOND SCHOOL COSTS MORE THAN THE FIRST SCHOOL, THEN THE FINANCIAL AID OFFER FROM THAT SECOND SCHOOL VERY LIKELY WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM THE FIRST SCHOOL. AND THE TIMING ISSUE. THERE COULD BE SOME AID PROGRAMS THAT THE STUDENT BENEFITTED FROM AT SCHOOL NUMBER ONE WHERE THOSE AID PROGRAMS ARE ALREADY EXPENDED WHEN THEY'RE GETTING READY TO TRANSFER TO SCHOOL NUMBER 2. AND SO THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SOME OF THE SAME PROGRAMS. SO AS A RESULT, THE FINANCE AM AID NOT REALLY TRANSFERRING FROM ONE SCHOOL TO THE NEXT IN REALITY, THE FINANCIAL AID AWARDS COULD BE QUITE DIFFERENT FROM ONE SCHOOL TO ANOTHER. >> WHAT ABOUT THE GRADES AT ONE SCHOOL? DOES IT AFFECT THE ELIGIBILITY OF ANOTHER SCHOOL? >> IT VERY WELL CAN. GRADES ARE PART OF THE ELIGIBILITY PROCESS IN DETERMINING WHAT FUND THE STUDENT MIGHT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE. BUT EACH SCHOOL, THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE AT EACH SCHOOL HAS THEIR OWN SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS POLICY. AND THE POLICIES MAY BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM ONE SCHOOL TO ANOTHER. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE SCHOOL MIGHT LOOK AT TRANSFER GRADES AND SAY, WOW, YOU DIDN'T DO VERY WELL. YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO GO A SEMESTER HERE ON YOUR OWN AND SHOW US IN GOOD FAITH YOUR COLLEGE MATERIAL AT OUR SCHOOL. THAT YOU CAN MAKE IT AT OUR SCHOOL. AND THEN IF YOU DO WELL FOR THAT SEMESTER WE'LL GIVE YOU FINANCIAL AID FOR THE NEXT SEMESTER. ANOTHER SCHOOL MAY LOOK AT THOSE TRANSFER GRADES AND SAY WELL WE SEE THAT YOU DIDN'T DO WELL, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU FINANCIAL AID YOUR FIRST SEMESTER HERE ON A CONDITIONAL BASIS JUST TO SEE HOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO. AND THEN AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER IF YOU'VE DONE WELL YOU CONTINUE RECEIVING AID. IF YOU DON'T, THEN WE'LL CUT YOU OFF AT THAT POINT. >> SOIN THE CASE OF STUDENT LOANS, DO THEY CHANGE LENDERS WHEN THEY CHANGE SCHOOLS? >> PROBABLY NOT. MOST SCHOOLS TRY TO HELP STUDENTS KEEP THE SAME LENDER ALL THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS SO THEY'RE NOT BORROWING FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT LENDERS AT THE SAME TIME. SO WE TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT LENDER THE STUDENT IS USING. AND THEN IF A STUDENT HASSLE JIBILITY FOR A LOAN AT THE SECOND SCHOOL, WE'LL USE THAT SAME LENDER FOR THE STUDENT. >> GOOD INFORMATION. BEFORE I CAN REALIZE THE PROCESS I NEED TO UNDERSTAND IT. THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. >> THIS IS "CASH FOR COLLEGE". THE NUMBER TO CALL: AND OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR CALLS ABOUT FINANCIAL AID FOR COLLEGE. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA HIGHER ED LEARNING ACCESS PROGRAM OCHG CALLED OHLAP. NOW LET'S HEAR FROM TWO OH HAPPEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THEIR GUIDANCE COUNSELOR. THESE OHLAP STUDENTS ARE PREPARING FOR COLLEGE. >> TELL US ABOUT THE TIME WHEN YOU SIGNED UP FOR OHLAP. HOW DID THAT WORK? >> I SIGNED UP FOR OHLAP WHEN I WAS IN THE TENTH GRADE. AND I JUST WENT TO MY COUNSELOR, GOT THE FORM, HAD MY MOM FILL IT OUT AND SENT IT IN. AND A COUPLE WEEKS LATER I GOT THE ACCEPTANCE LETTER. AND EVER SINCE THEN I'VE JUST BEEN A PART OF IT. >> THAT SOUNDS PRETTY EASY. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT IT THE FIRST TIME? >> MY COUNSELORS CAME TO EACH CLASS AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IT. AND WHEN THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IT, I JUST SAID, WELL, I OUGHT TO GO FOR IT AND JUST WENT FOR IT. >> SO LET'S TALK TO YOU FOR JUST A SECOND. TALK ABOUT GROWING UP -- YOU'RE THE FIRST GENERATION IN YOUR FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE. WAS THAT ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT YOUR PARENTS HAD IN MIND FOR YOU? >> ACTUALLY, I'M ALSO THE FIRST ONE TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL. AND, YEAH, IT'S ALWAYS -- I'VE ALWAYS HAD THAT IN MY MIND THAT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN SURE THAT I WAS GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE. AT FIRST I WASN'T SURE WHAT I WAS GOING TO MAJOR IN, BUT I WAS ALWAYS SURE THAT I HAD TO GO TO COLLEGE. NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF ME, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF MY PARENTS. >> SO IT DIDN'T TAKE A COUNSELOR TO MOTIVATE YOU. BUT IT DID TAKE A COUNSELOR TO HELP YOU GET SIGNED UP FOR OHLAP? >> YEAH. WITHOUT MY COWNS LARRY WOULD HAVE NEVER FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS SCHOLARSHIP. AND I BELIEVE A COUNSELOR'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART IN PROCESS. BECAUSE THEY ARE ALSO BESIDES MOTIVATING YOU, THEY HAVE TO GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION. THEY ALSO HAVE TO WORK WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN -- ARE DOING THE REQUIREMENTS. FULFILLING EVERYTHING. MAKING SURE THAT YOU GO TO CLASS AND EVERYTHING. BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO PUT IN YOUR PART TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU STAY UP WITH ALL YOUR CREDITS AND DO YOUR BEST. >> TRACEY SCOTT, JUST SO HAPPENS THAT YOU WERE SALVADOR'S COUNSELOR IN THE 8th GRADE AND TALKED TO HIS PARENTS AND GOT THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS. BUT SOME PARENTS PROBABLY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS OR HAVE SOME MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT OHLAP. >> WHEN HE WAS SIGNED UP IN THE 8th GRADE WHICH IS THE EARLIEST YEAR THAT YOU CAN APPLY, THERE WEREN'T A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH HIS 8th 8th GRADE CLASS. PROBABLY AROUND 10 OR 15. I THINK THAT THE GREATEST MISCONCEPTION FOR THE PARENTS IS THAT THEY WON'T QUALIFY OR THEIR KIDS MAY NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO THE 2.5GPA, THERE'S ALSO THE COMMITMENT THAT THE STUDENT WILL REFRAIN FROM ANY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES OR, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE THEM INELIGIBLE FOR THE OHLAP SCHOLARSHIP. >> TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH OHLAP. HAS IT BEEN DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO STAY ON TRACK WITH THE REQUIREMENTS? >> NO. BECAUSE ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS MAINTAIN A 2.5 AND YOU JUST CAN'T GET INVOLVED IN ANYTHING ILLEGAL AND JUST TAKE THE SAME CLASSES THAT OHLAP WANTS YOU TO TAKE. AND THEN YOU'RE IN IT. I MEAN, IT'S VERY SIMPLE. >> IF YOU WERE TO TALK TO SOMEONE, SAY, THEY'RE IN THE TENTH DWRAID YEAR NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO SIGN UP FOR OHLAP? >> I WOULD TELL THEM THAT YOU CAN SIGN UP BECAUSE YOU CAN SAVE YOUR PARENTS MONEY BECAUSE OHLAP PACE FOR YOUR TUITION AND YOU CAN SAVE THEM A LOT OF MONEY. AND I MEAN YOU ONLY GET THIS OPPORTUNITY ONE TIME. AND WHY NOT JUST TAKE IT. >> SALVADOR, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE WHO WAS ON THE FENCE 37 MAYBE NOT EVEN SURE THEY WANTED TO GO TO COLLEGE. >> I WOULD JUST TELL THEM TO GO FOR IT. WHAT CAN YOU LOSE? THE REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT THAT BAD. YOU NEVER KNOW. YOU MIGHT NOT BE -- YOU MIGHT NOT BE SURE RIGHT NOW THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE. MAYBE LATER ON -- LATER YOUR SENIOR YEAR, JUNIOR YEAR YOU START MAKING UP YOUR MIND THAT YOU -- THAT YOU DO WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE. YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT BACKING YOU UP THAT THEY'LL PAY FOR YOUR TUITION. THAT'S A LOAD OFF YOUR PARENTS. IT'S JUST A GOOD THING TO FALL BACK ON. AND JUST TO -- IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. >> LET'S GO BACK TO YOU. DOES OHLAP'S REQUIREMENTS, DOES THAT HELP YOU KEEP ON YOUR TOES AND MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL THE COURSES YOU NEED TO GET INTO COLLEGE? >> YES. BECAUSE YOU GO TO YOUR COUNSELORS AND YOU SAY, WELL, WHAT CLASSES DO I NEED TO TAKE RIGHT NOW. THEY'LL SAY WELL YOU NEED A MATH AND YOU NEED A FINE ARTS. AND YOU WILL ENROLL INTO A MATH AND FINE ARTS. AND THAT WAY WHEN IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO GRADUATE YOU'LL HAVE NOT ONLY THE CLASSES YOU NEED TO GRADUATE, BUT THE CLASSES THAT OHLAP REQUIRES YOU TO HAVE. IT HELPS YOU. IT REALLY HELPS YOU. >> WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT OHLAP? EMANUEL BROTHERS ENROLLED IN OHLAP AFTER HIS MOM FOUND OUT ABOUT THE PROGRAM. HE IS NOW A COLLEGE STUDENT AND THE DAY AFTER OUR INTERVIEW, HE LEFT FOR ENGLAND TO STUDY ABROAD. WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'RE GOING TO TALK WITH OUR STATE TREASURER ROBERT BUTKIN ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN AS WELL AS EDUCATION TAX CREDITS WITH DAVID STEL FROM THE IRS. >> WELL, I WAS RAISED IN A LOW-INCOME HOUSING PROJECT. I GUESS YOU COULD SAY THAT THE ODDS WERE USUALLY STACKED AGAINST ME. BUT I HAD A VERY ENCOURAGING MOTHER. A MOTHER WHO WANTED ME TO GO FAR BEYOND WHERE SHE WENT. >> NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR CHILDREN. YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. YOU FIND WAYS. BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO INVEST, TO ENCOURAGE IN YOUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE. THEY'RE JUST CHILDREN. WE'RE THE ADULTS. I DON'T CARE HOW DISMAL IT LOOKS, WE'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY. BECAUSE THE CHILD IS WORTH HAVING A FUTURE AND BEING SUCCESSFUL. NOT JUST FLIPPING HAMBURGERS. >> I KNEW THERE WERE CERTAIN ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS I WOULD HAVE TO FULFILL, CERTAIN CLASSES TO RECEIVE OHLAP AND I WOULD HAVE TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE, FIRST OFF. I HAD NO PROBLEM STAYING OUT OF TROUBLE. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN YOUR FUTURE YOU SHOULD INVEST. AND MAKE IT HAPPEN. LET THOSE WHO ARE CAPABLE OF HELPING YOU ACHIEVE THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ACHIEVE SO YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE STEP. AND OHLAP IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS CAN YOU DO TO ACHIEVE THE THINGS YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE. ESPECIALLY IF THAT'S COLLEGE. IERCHGHTS OKLAHOMA STATE TREASURER ROBERT BUTKIN, OKLAHOMANS HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS, DON'T THEY? AND IT SOUNDS LIKE 529. >> THE OKLAHOMA COLLEGE SAVINGS PROGRAM IS OUR 529 PROGRAM. IT'S ONE OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY. ANYBODY CAN OPEN UP AN ACCOUNT WITH AS LITTLE AS $100. THE MONEY GROS TOTALLY TAX FREE. NOT A PENNY OF FEDERAL OR STATE INCOME TAXES ARE PAID ON THAT DURING THE ENTIRE TIME THE CHILD IS GROWING UP. IT'S TAX FREE WHEN YOU USE THE MONEY TO GO TO COLLEGE. AND ALSO YOU GET A TAX DEDUCTION OF UP TO $2,500 A YEAR IN THE YEAR YOU MAKE THE CONTRIBUTION. IT IS A WONDERFUL WAY TO SAVE FOR AN EDUCATION. >> SO IF I PUT IN $100, IT STARTS. >> IT STARTS AND THAT MONEY GROWS TOTALLY TAX FREE. IT IS FREE FROM TAXATION. WE HAVE KICKED THE FEDERAL AND STATE INCOME TAX SELECTOR OUT OF THE ROOM TO REWARD FOR SAVING FOR A CHILD OR GRANDCHILD'S EDUCATION. >> THERE'S NO CEILING? >> THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW PROGRAMS AROUND ANYWHERE THAT GIVES OKLAHOMANS A CHANCE TO SAVE THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE COLLEGE TUITION. FAMILIES OF ALL INCOME GROUPS CAN QUALIFY. CAN YOU PUT INASMUCH AS $240,000 OVERTIME IF YOU WISH. UNLIKE OTHER FEDERAL AND STATE PROGRAMS, IT PROVIDES PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE THE FULL AMOUNT OF COLLEGE TUITION AND ROOM AND BOARD EXPENSES CAN ALSO BE PAID FOR WITH COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS. >> THAT IS PHENOMENAL. NOW IT'S THE OKLAHOMA COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> IF I WANT TO INVEST, IF I WANT TO START IN BEHALF OF ONE OR MORE CHILDREN. HOW DO I DO THAT? >> YOU CALL OUR TOLL-FREE NUMBER OR GET INFORMATION ABOUT THE PLAN THROUGH OUR WEBSITE. >> IT'S THROUGH THE OKLAHOMA STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE? >> I CHAIR THE BOARD THAT MANAGES THE PLAN. BUT IT IS THE OKLAHOMA COLLEGE SAVINGS PROGRAM. IT'S ACTUALLY RUN BY A BOARD. AND I CHAIR THAT BOARD. >> SO WE'RE GOING TO PUT A PHONE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN. AND PEOPLE CAN CALL THERE AND SAY I WANT TO START THAT SAVINGS THING. BECAUSE WE'VE GONE PRETTY FAST. >> ABSOLUTELY. OR THEY KEN ROLL ON LINE ON OUR WEBSITE. >> THAT'S PRETTY FANTASTIC. SO THERE'S NO MINIMUM EITHER? >> THERE'S A $100 MINIMUM. >> TO GET STARTED. >> AFTER THAT TIME YOU CAN PUT IN AS LITTLE AS $25 A MONTH. THE OTHER ADVANTAGE IS THE MONEY CAN BE USED TO GO TO COLLEGE ANYWHERE. PRIVATE, PUBLIC. TWO-YEAR, FOUR-YEAR. EVEN GRADUATE SCHOOLS AND MANY POST HIGH SCHOOL TECHNICAL PROGRAMS ALSO QUALIFY. >> IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE IT'S TOTAL FABULOUS. >> WE'VE HAD 25,000 OKLAHOMA FAMILIES ALREADY OPEN UP ACCOUNTS. WE HAVE OVER $100 MILLION THAT'S BEEN INVESTED IN THE OKLAHOMA COLLEGE SAVINGS PROGRAM. WE WON'T BE HAPPY UNTIL EVERY CHILD IN OKLAHOMA HAS A COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNT DEDICATED TO THAT CHILD. >> A WORTHY GOAL. LET'S TALK TO OUR TAX MAN HERE. DAVID STELL IS WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. HE WAS TALKING ABOUT TAX BENEFITS. CAN YOU GO OVER THOSE AGAIN. >> THERE ARE AN EVEN DOZEN TAX BENEFITS BUILT INTO THE FEDERAL TAX CODE. ONE OF THEM IS THE 529 PLAN. SOME OTHERS THAT I THINK ARE VERY IMPORTANT, TWO THAT I CAN THINK OF ARE THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP CREDIT. THE LIFETIME LEARNING CREDIT. WHENEVER YOU HEAR THE WORD CREDIT MENTIONED IN CONNECTION WITH TAXES, THAT'S THE BEST THING. THAT'S BETTER THAN A DEDUCTION. BECAUSE A CREDIT IS A DOLLAR PER DOLLAR REDUCTION IN YOUR TAX BILL. A WHOLE CREDIT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE TAKEN DURING THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF POST SECONDARY EDUCATION. IT'S UP TO A $1,500 TAX CREDIT BASED ON THE TUITION AND FEES THAT YOU PAY TO ENROLL IN COLLEGE. YOU TAKE THIS CREDIT ON YOUR TAX RETURN. IT REDUCES YOUR TAX -- IT CAN REDUCE YOUR TAX DOWN TO ZERO. NOW, THE LIFETIME LEANING CREDIT IS VERY SIMILAR TO THAT. BUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO, NUMBER ONE, THE LIFETIME LEARNING CREDIT HAS A MAX UM OF $2,000 PER YEAR AND IT IS NOT LIMITED TO THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF POST SECONDARY EDUCATION. THE WHOLE CREDIT THAT I SPOKE OF JUST BEFORE, THE STUDENT HAS TO BE ENROLLED IN A DEGREE CANDIDACY PROGRAM. BUT A LIFETIME LEARNING CREDIT THAT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT. EITHER OF THESE RESULT IN A REDUCTION OF YOUR TAX BILL. THERE ARE SOME PHASE-OUTS. IF YOU'RE A MARRIED COUPLE YOU CANNOT TAKE A BENEFIT LIKE THIS IF YOUR INCOME IS MORE THAN $105,000. BUT THE BENEFITS ARE THERE AND THEY'RE REALLY, REALLY VERY, VERY GOOD ON YOUR TAX RETURN. >> SO TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE, ARE THERE FORMS YOU MUST FILE AND PHONE NUMBERS TO CALL. >> THERE'S A SPECIAL FORM. IT'S A FORM 8863. AND YOU KNOW A LOT OF THE FMENT ABOUT THAT FORM IS CONTAINED IN THIS HANDY LITTLE PUBLICATION I HAVE IN MY HAND. PUBLICATION 970. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. IT'S CALLED TAX BENEFITS FOR EDUCATION. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND PUBLICATION 970 FOR ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT ANY EDUCATIONAL TAX BREAKS. CAN YOU GET THAT FROM THE IRS AT OUR WEBSITE. >> SO $1,500 TAX CREDIT DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR OFF OF YOUR TAXES? >> $1,500 RIGHT OFF THE TOP. IT'S 100% OF THE FIRST 1,000 DINDZ TUITION AND FEES. AND 50% OF THE NEXT $1,000 FOR A TOTAL OF $1,500 CREDIT. THE SAME WITH THE LIFETIME LEARNING CREDIT. IT'S 20 PERCENT OF THE FIRST 10,000 SPENT. THE WHOLE CREDIT IS A PER STUDENT CREDIT. THE LIFETIME LEARNING CREDIT IS A PER TAX RETURN CREDIT. SO IN OTHER WORDS THE TSH ANYBODY THAT'S CLAIMED ON THE TAX RETURN AS THE PRIMARY, SECONDARY OR DEPENDENT CAN FIT INTO THE LIFETIME LEARNING CREDIT SCENARIO. SAME WITH THE WHOLE CREDIT, TOO. BUT IT'S MORE SQUARED OUT SO THAT MORE THAN ONE PERSON CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT CREDIT. >> SO IF PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW MORE, WHO DO THEY CONTACT? >> THEY CAN CONTACT THE IRS. WE WILL BE GLAD TO MAIL OUT PUBLICATION 970 BY MERELY PLACING A PHONE CALL TO:>> I THINK I'M GOING TO CALL YOU ALL THE GOOD NEWS GUYS. THIS HAS BEEN GREAT INFORMATION. EVERYONE SHOULD BE ON THEIR WAY TO COLLEGE. THANK YOU BOTH. >> : MAKE COLLEGE YOUR GOAL. ATTEND COLLEGE GOAL SUNDAY FROM 2 TO 4 P.M. FEBRUARY 13th AT A CAMPUS NEAR YOU. INC. A SINGLE AFTERNOON YOU CAN GET HELP IN FILLING OUT FINANCIAL AID FORMS, LEARN WHAT FINANCIAL AID OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE AND FIND OUT ABOUT PREPARING FOR COLLEGE. FOR CAMPUS LOCATION VISIT OK HIGHER HE HAD -- OR CONTACT THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE AT A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY NEAR YOU. >> THIS IS "CASH FOR COLLEGE". AND THE NUMBER IS: THERE IS STILL TIME TO CALL OUR TOLL-FREE NUMBER. BUT AFTER TONIGHT'S BROADCAST, YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU CAN STILL CALL THIS NUMBER TO REQUEST A PACKET OF INFORMATION ON HOW TO OBTAIN CASH FOR COLLEGE. THE NUMBER TO CALL AGAIN IS: >> WHEN WE COME BACK, WE WILL BE TALKING WITH TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM OUR NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY ABOUT UNIQUE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS. TRESHA SPOON FROM THE ABSENTEE SHAWNEE TRIBE AND QUINTON ROMAN NOSE FROM THE CHEYENNE ARAPAHO EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL BE JOINING US. WATCH. >> FOR A SIGNIFICANT POPULATION OF OKLAHOMA, HIGHER EDUCATION, TRIBAL FUNDING WITH THE WAY MANY OF YOUR PEOPLE GO TO COLLEGE. TELL US ABOUT THE NATIVE AMERICANS IN OKLAHOMA. >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, CALIFORNIA NEXT TO OKLAHOMA IS THE MOST POPULUS STATE IN THE NATION FOR NATIVE AMERICANS. HOWEVER OKLAHOMA DOES HAVE THE MOST NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS K-12 IN THE NATION. AND WE ALSO HAVE THE HIGHEST ACT AND SAT SCORES FOR NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE NATION. >> THAT'S FABULOUS. YOU'RE WITH THE CHEYENNE ARAPAHO TRIBE AS THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION. SO IS THE FUNDING DIFFERENT THAN MAYBE THE ABSENTEE SHAWNEE TRIBE? >> IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME. WE'RE TRIBAL SPECIFIC. YOU'VE GOT TO BE A MEMBER OF OUR TRIBE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE FUNDS. >> HOW IS IT A PART OF THE ABDOMEN SEN STEE SHAWNEE TRIBE? >> DO YOU HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF THE TRIBE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT I ADMINISTER. I KNOW SOME OF THE FUNDING CRITERIA IS DIFFERENT. BECAUSE WE CONSIDER OUR A SCHOLARSHIP BASED. WE DON'T DO FINANCIAL NEEDS ANALYSIS. SO IT'S BASED ON THEIR CUMULATIVE GPA. AND SO WE HAVE FOUR LEVELS OF FUNDING. AND THAT I KNOW IS SOMETHING THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN OTHER TRIBAL PROGRAMS THAT I'VE COME INTO CONTACT WITH. >> TRESHA, RIGHT NOW HOW DO YOUR PEOPLE FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR EDUCATION FUNDING? >> WELL, PRIMARILY THEY CAN COME SEE ME. I THINK MOST OF THEM CALL ME OR CALL ABOUT EDUCATION PROGRAMS. WE DO HAVE A TRIBAL NEWSPAPER THAT IS -- AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE EVERY MONTH I TRY TO PUT IN SOMETHING JUST TO LET THEM KNOW AS TO WHAT TYPE OF PROGRAMS WE OFFER AND IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES, JUST REMINDERS. >> JUST BECAUSE I KNOW PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT CASH FOR COLLEGE, THE FUNDING LEVELS, DO YOU PAY FOR AN ENTIRE EDUCATION, A PORTION OF AN EDUCATION? >> IT'S REALLY I GUESS A PORTION. WE FUND FOR A SEMESTER TO SEMESTER AWARD. AND THEY RANGE FROM $1,000 FULL-TIME TO 2500, DEPENDING ON THEIR GPA. SO IT CAN FOR SOME FUND ALL OF IT. IT DID FOR ME. I WENT THROUGH THE PROGRAM. AND I RECEIVED MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE WITHOUT HAVING TO OWE ANYTHING. >> QUINTON, I KNOW YOU'RE WITH CHEYENNE ARAPAHO. ARE YOUR PROGRAMS SIMILAR OR VERY DIFFERENT? >> SOME OF THAT WE DO RECEIVE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS FUNDS THROUGH A CONTRACT. BUT LIKE HER SHE ALSO HAS SOME TRIBAL FUNDS THAT'S GENERATED FROM TRIBAL SOURCES SUCH AS GAMBLING REVENUE. BUT OTHERS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. THE OTHER TRIBES ADMINISTER THE PROGRAMS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. OURS IS NEED BASED. THERE'S A FINANCIAL AID PROCESS. YOU HAVE TO APPLY FOR A PELL GRANT AND YOU GO THROUGH THE SCHOOL'S FINANCIAL AID OFFICER TO GET A NEED ANALYSIS DONE. SO WE BASE IT ON NEED. EACH TRIBE WILL WORK FORA DIFFERENT AMOUNT. FROM OUR CONTRACT WINNINGS, WE OFFER 1,000 PER SEMESTER REGARDLESS OF THE GRADE LEVEL, REGARDLESS OF THE GPA. BUT FROM THE GAMING FUNDS WE'RE GOING TO START MORE ADDITIONAL MONEYS. EACH TRIBE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. SO EACH STUDENT NEEDS TO CONTACT THEIR TRIBE THAT THEY'RE A MEMBER OF. >> BUT THESE ARE REALLY SOME INCREDIBLE INCENTIVES TO GO TO COLLEGE, AREN'T THEY? THAT YOU'RE HELPING STUDENTS HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO COLLEGE. AND THAT ACT SCORE IS CERTAINLY AN IMPRESSIVE STATISTIC. >> WELL, ALONG WITH THE ACT SCORES, THE COLLEGE PREPARATION IS VERY IMPORTANT. THE COST OF GOING TO COLLEGE IS GOING UP SIGNIFICANTLY. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY EE RECEIVED FROM ESPECIALLY THE BIA MONEYS IS NOT GOING UP. I KNOW PERSONALLY FOR INSTANCE THE PELL GRANT 20 YEARS AGO IT REPRESENTED -- TODAY IT'S JUST ABOUT 40% OF THE COST OF GOING TO COLLEGE. SO OUR FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE. BUT IT'S NOT DEFINITELY GOING TO MEET THE NEED. SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY SEEK OTHER SOURCES SUCH AS OPEG WHICH THEY CAN QUALIFY FOR THROUGH THE FAFSA APPLICATION. BUT EVEN GREATER THAN THAT I THINK IS A GOLD MINE OUT THERE CALLED OHLAP. AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR TRIBAL OR ALL STUDENTS. IT'S NOT ONLY A TRIBAL PROGRAM. IT'S A STATE PROGRAM. THEY NEED TO ENROLL IN 8th, 9th AND 10th PROGRAM. GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL WITH A 2.5GPA AND THEY GET THE TUITION PAID FOR FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS. NOW COMBINED WITH THAT AND THE PELL GRANT AND THE TRIBAL GRANT, THAT'S GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE COST OF GOING TO COLLEGE. >> I LIKE IT WHEN I HEAR ABOUT "CASH FOR COLLEGE". THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. WILL INCLUDE AN AMERI EDUCATION AWARD PROGRAM. PARTICIPATING MEMBERS CAN EARN A $1,000 EDUCATION AWARD TO F SET COLLEGE EXPENSES. FOR MORE INFORMATION STUDENTS AND PARENTS CAN CONTACT THE STAFF BY: >> THIS IS CASH FOR COLLEGE. AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT WE HAVE EVEN MORE EVENTS PLANNED FOR YOU TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT FINANCIAL AID. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13 IS COLLEGE GOAL SUNDAY. ON THIS DAY STUDENTS IF FAMILIES CAN MEET AT OVER 30 SIETH ACROSS OKLAHOMA. AT THESE SITES THEY CAN GET ONE ON ONE EXPERT ADVICE ABOUT FINANCIAL AID PLANNING FOR COLLEGE. IN ONE SINGLE AFTERNOON FROM 2 UNTIL 4 YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT COLLEGE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND OBTAIN ON-SITE ASSISTANCE IN FILLING OUT FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION FORMS. AND IT'S FREE. YOU CAN ALSO DISCOVER THE BENEFITS OF ATTENDING COLLEGE. LEARN ABOUT STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES, AREAS OF STUDY AND DEGREE PROGRAMS. HERE'S A LISTING OF THE LOCATIONS ACROSS THE STATE THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN COLLEGE GOAL SUNDAY ON FEBRUARY 13th. YOU CAN ALSO VISIT THIS WEBSITE. TO SEE THE LIST OF SITES AGAIN OR CALL US AT: COMING UP NEXT, PARENTS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS GOT TOGETHER RECENTLY TO TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AND TO SHARE HELPFUL TIPS ABOUT THE FINANCIAL AID PROCESS. >> ANGELA, YOUR FAMILY WAS FACED WITH SOME SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE HELPED YOU; IS THAT RIGHT? >> ACTUALLY, I WENT THROUGH THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE AT UNIVERSITY OF TULSA AND THEY -- THEIR FINANCIAL AID DEPARTMENT HELPED US A LOT. THEY WERE EXTREMELY HELPFUL. THEY HELPED US DETERMINE WHAT OUR CONTRIBUTIONS WOULD BE AFTER OUR FEDERAL AID WAS DETERMINED, HOW WE WOULD GO ABOUT IT. HOW WE WOULD SECURE IT AND WHAT KIND OF LOANS AND GRANTS WE WERE ABLE TO GET AND WHAT WE WERE -- WHAT WE WERE -- WHAT WAS AVAILABLE. >> WHEN YOU HAVE A LIE SCHOOL SENIOR IN THE HOUSE. IT'S NOT TOO EARLY TO GET STARTED ON THE COLLEGE ADMISSION PROCESS. >> WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF FILLING OUT THE FORMS AS WE SPEAK. AND THAT FAFSA, WHAT I'M FINDING OUT IS YOU NEED TO FILL OUT THAT FORM AS SOON AFTER JANUARY 1st JANUARY 1st, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE SOONER I CAN FILL THAT FAFSA OUT, THE MORE OPPORTUNITIES ARE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO MY DAUGHTER. AND IF SHE -- IF WE CAN GET IT FILLED OUT WITH ALL THE INFORMATION OF OUR TAX RETURN FROM 2004, SHE MAY BE AVAILABLE FOR X AMOUNT OF GRANTS AND ALSO, TOO, I UNDERSTAND THAT FILLING OUT ON LINE, IT ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE IT PREEDITED AND MAY BE ABLE TO CUT BACK ON SOME MISTAKES LATE EVERY ON VERSUS FILLING IT OUT ON THE HARD COPY. >> IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU GO ON LINE AND REQUEST A PIN. BECAUSE YOUR PIN IS YOUR IDENTIFICATION NUMBER FOR EVERY FORM THAT YOU FILL OUT. AND IN ORDER TO GET THAT PIN, YOU HAVE TO REQUEST IT. AND IT TAKES SOMETIMES A WEEK TO 10 DAYS TO GET IT. SO IF YOU WAIT VERY LONG TO REQUEST IT, YOU'RE DELAYING YOURSELF TWO MORE WEEKS OF ACTUAL TIME THAT YOU COULD BE USING. >> PAM, YOU'VE HAD THREE CHILDREN THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SPECIAL THINGS THAT YOU'VE LEARNED? >> WE GATHERED ALL THE DATA TOGETHER THAT WAS REQUIRED. LIKE WAYNE WAS SAYING. HIS TAX DATA. AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT WAS REQUIRED BEFORE WE -- AFTER WE GOT OUR PIN NUMBER BEFORE WE WENT IN TO ACTUALLY APPLY ON LINE. AGAIN FOR THE EDITING PURPOSES. BECAUSE THAT REALLY DOES HELP. AND I ERRORS THAT YOU MAKE THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO E-MAIL YOU BACK OR GIVE YOU A FLAG BACK AND YOU CAN CLEAN IT UP AND GO FORWARD FROM THERE. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET YOUR DATA TOGETHER. ONCE YOU GET IT TOGETHER, KEEP IT TOGETHER SO IF THEY COME BACK WITH A QUESTION, YOU HAVE IT READILY AVAILABLE TO RESEARCH IT. >> YOU ALSO DISCOVERED ANOTHER WAY TO HELP OUT YOUR CHILDREN WITH THEIR STUDENT FINANCIAL AID, A PLUS LOAN. >> AFTER THEY DID AN ASSESSMENT ON WHAT MY FAMILY COULD AFFORD AND FOR MY DAUGHTERS. I'M A SINGLE PARENT. AND MY DAUGHTER'S GOING TO SCHOOL. THEN FOR THE BOOKS AND TUITION, SHE WENT TO KU BECAUSE THAT WAS WHERE SHE COULD GET WHAT SHE WAS NEEDING FOR HER EDUCATION. AND I HAD TO TAKE OUT A PLUS LOAN TO ASSIST FOR THE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT TO HELP PAY FOR TUITION. TO HELP PAY FOR BOOKS, OR GAS MONEY. >> TELL US WHAT A PLUS LOAN IS. >> A PLUS LOAN IS A PARENT LOAN THAT I APPLIED FOR THROUGH A LENDING INSTITUTION. I DIDN'T ACTUALLY GET THE MONEY. BUT IT GOES TO MY DAUGHTER FOR HER EDUCATION. I HAD REASONABLE INTEREST RATES. NOW ACTUALLY SHE'S OUT OF SCHOOL. AND I'M PAYING IT BACK. ACTUALLY, THEY DO AN AUTOMATIC DEB TOIT MY CHECKING ACCOUNT AND THEY EVEN OFFER SOMETHING IF I ALLOW THEM TO DO IT FOR A YEAR AND I KEEP ON A REGULAR PAYMENT THEY DROP MY INTEREST RATE. SO IT'S VERY EASY. VERY SMOOTH. VERY EASY PEOPLE TO WORK WITH. >> SO IT'S LIKE A STUDENT LOAN THAT PARENTS CAN GET. >> BUT IT'S CREDIT BASED. >> IT IS. IT IS CREDIT BASE PPD >> SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE CREDIT IN ORDER TO GET IT? >> YES. >> : IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU COMPLETE AND SUBMIT YOUR FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID ALSO CALLED THE FAFSA AS SOON AFTER JANUARY 1st AS POSSIBLE EACH YEAR. FOR EXAMPLE, TO RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID FOR THE 2005-2006 SCHOOL YEAR YOU WOULD NEED TO COMPLETE THE FAFSA AS SOON AFTER JANUARY 1st OF 2005 AS POSSIBLE. BE SURE TO SUBMIT THE FAFSA BEFORE APRIL TO ENSURE THAT YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR THE OKLAHOMA TUITION AID GRANT WHICH IS AWARDED TO APPLICANTS WITH THE HIGHEST FINANCIAL NEED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS. >> >> WELL, WE'RE AT THE END OF OUR TIME TOGETHER FOR THIS YEAR'S CASH FOR COLLEGE. WE HOPE YOU HAVE FOUND THE INFORMATION WE'VE SHARED TONIGHT TO BE HELPFUL. DON'T IF GET SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13 FOR COLLEGE GOAL SUNDAY. FROM 2 TO 4 P.M. THAT DAY YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET IN-PERSON INFORMATION ABOUT LOTS OF THINGS ABOUT GOING TO COLLEGE. THERE ARE OVER 30 SITES ACROSS THE STATE THAT WILL BE HOSTING COLLEGE GOAL SUNDAY ACTIVITIES. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET ONE-ON-ONE HELP WITH COMPLETING THE FAFSA. THE LIST OF SITES IS RUNNING QUICKLY ACROSS YOUR SCREEN, BUT IF YOU DON'T CATCH ALL OF IT, CALL THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER TOMORROW OR CHECK THE CASHFORCOLLEGEOK.INFO WEBSITE TO SEE THE COMPLETE LIST. WE WANT TO THANK OUR PHONE BANK VOLUNTEERS AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED IN PRODUCING THIS BROADCAST. THERE WERE AROUND 100 FOLKS INVOLVED IN PUTTING THIS PROM TOGETHER. REMEMBER THAT YOU CAN CALL OUR ANY TIME. EVEN AFTER THE BROADCAST TO GET MORE INFORMATION AND TO GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ABOUT STUDENT FINANCIAL AID. THANKS FOR WATCHING TONIGHT'S BROADCAST. AND YOU CAN WATCH IT AGAIN WHENEVER YOU WANT TO BY JUST LOGGING ON AT: CASHFORCOLLEGEOK.INFO WEBSITE. REMEMBER, A COLLEGE EDUCATION IS A GREAT INVESTMENT AND IT WILL PAY HUGE DIVIDENDS YOUR ENTIRE LIFE. AS YOU HAVE SEEN AND HEARD HERE TONIGHT, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE DEDICATED TO HELPING YOU SECURE "CASH FOR COLLEGE" AND REALIZING YOUR DREAMS. IT IS WITHIN YOUR REACH. THANKS FOR WATCHING.