Students who want to maximize their financial aid for the 2001-2002 school year should begin the application process as soon as possible.
Theresa Sears, coordinator of financial aid, said, “Start early. There are some federal and state programs that have limited funding. They are need-based but they are also first-come, first-serve.”
Technology now allows students an easier way of filling out the FAFSA: the Internet.
“Applying on the Web has cut the processing time of an application almost in half,” she said.
Even students who think they are not eligible for financial aid should apply.
“I always encourage every student to do FAFSA because almost everyone is eligible for some kind of loan,” Sears said.
FAFSA covers grants and loans so even students with an average or above average expected family contribution (EFC) should apply.
The EFC chart is tiered. This means that even if yours is high, you still may be eligible for grant money to cover part of your fees,” she said.
Students also need to keep in mind the outstanding number of scholarships available. “We have a scholarship brochure that we keep in the front of the office for private scholarships offered by clubs and organizations in the community,” Sears said.
To search for other scholarships, there are numerous Web sites. Sears said, “We are currently compiling a list of legitimate scholarships to put as a link on the (ETSU homepage) so students can have access to them.

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