Funding Your Student's Education
Arianne Aryanpur
You and your student have probably already started thinking about funding options for next school year. The good news is that approximately 70 percent of Humboldt State students receive some form of financial support—scholarships, grants, work-study or loans, according to Peggy Metzger, HSU's Interim Director of Financial Aid. The average package varies based on the income and assets of each student's family, fund availability, and HSU's criteria. Here are some tips for making the most of your funding options.
HSU Scholarships
There are nearly 200 scholarships available to HSU students on STARS, the online scholarship tracking and review system. Metzger encourages all students to log in and take a look.
In STARS, students answer academic and demographic questions like family status, G.P.A., intended major and credits completed. The system then matches them with scholarships based on their responses. While some scholarships require just the click of a mouse to apply, others ask for supplemental materials such as essays, video auditions and letters of recommendation. STARS streamlines the process by allowing students to upload all of their supporting documents online, one time.
"It's completely paperless, and much easier than having to walk around campus trying to find out which scholarships are available and how to apply for each one," Metzger says. She recommends applying well before the March 2 deadline. "Some applications require essays and letters of recommendations and that isn't something you want to leave until the last minute," she says.
Federal Student Aid
March 2 is also the priority deadline to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
If your student has questions, there’s help. Financial Aid counselors take walk-ins Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second floor of the Student & Business Services Building. For more, call (707) 826-4321, or email finaid@humboldt.edu.
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