There are several types of financial aid:
- Free money by need (grants),
- Free money by merit, academic achievement, etc. (scholarships),
- Money by work in the school (work and study program) and
- Loans (students and parents).
When the school speaks of “financial aid package” it means and includes all the resources available, to which the student qualifies, to take care of attending costs.
Attending costs are the following ones:
ü Tuition and Enrollment fees
ü Other Special fees
ü Text Books and Supplies
ü Housing and Meal program
ü Transportation
ü Personal expenses
J.E. Cardona & Associates* represents an essential tool in identifying and obtaining financial aid available for qualified students. To apply for financial aid, students need to submit some of the following forms:
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)** – Puerto Rico/USA
- Solicitud Uniforme de Asistencia Económica – University of Puerto Rico
- College Scholarship Service CSS/PROFILE – Some schools in the USA
- Institutional Financial Aid Form – Some schools in PR/USA
- Need Access – Some Graduate Schools in the USA
- Verification Worksheet – Puerto Rico/United States
- Business/Farm Supplement – Puerto Rico/United States
- Non-Custodial Parent Financial Form – Puerto Rico/United States
Financial Aid Matching – Not Government
The majority of the financial aid to take care of the school cost is based on the “financial need” of the student and his/her household. This “financial need” is established by the U.S. Congress every fall. Family income, assets, liabilities, capital and family composition are important.
Some families exceed the levels of the federal government criteria, which makes it difficult to obtain free money from the government but not every financial aid. J.E. Cardona & Associates* may help the student in identifying other opportunities not necessary based on “financial need”.
Comparative Analysis of Financial Aid package (Award Letter)
J.E. Cardona & Associates* develops a “Comparative Worksheet” that will be helpful in the evaluation and comparison of the financial aid offers (Award Letter) before making a final decision.
For Students – Athletes
Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse – NCAA
The students, admitted as “student-athletes” looking for financial aid through sports, must fulfill this form. The opportunities are greater for those who initiate this process while they are students in 11th grade. Those who want to participate in varsity sports since the first year should fulfill this requirement.
J.E. Cardona & Associates* is a division of ROCA Investments Enterprises, Inc. Our services do not guarantee any result in favor of the student or their parents, other than advising them on post-secondary issues. Our scope is limited to offer professional advice in post-secondary education. Our advice is based on our seasoned professional formation, vast experience in the field and strict legal boundaries and confidentiality. We understand and agree that all the information offered between parties is made in good faith and according to the established laws of confidentiality. We adhere to the Statement of Principles of Good Practices (SPGP) of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).
All the information received is confidential and we do not share nor sell the information of our clients with any other organization, public or private.
The information, prices, conditions and services could vary without previous warning.
** FAFSA (”Free Application for Federal Student Aid” ) is a form from the Department of Education. You may complete the FAFSA yourself, without the use of professional services, by 1) filing the FAFSA electronically in the Department of Education website www.fafsa.gov or 2) filing a paper FAFSA application available in the Deparment of Education website. JE Cardona and Associates and Roca Investment Enterprises, Inc. are not affiliated in any way with the Department of Education. Our charges are for the professional advice and time.