HGIEC - Hamilton Gregg International Educational Consulting

Parents often have interesting concerns about the application process or other resources. While your child is applying to university you, as a parent, may other conerns: How to pay for College? Savings plans? Immigration options (EB5 Investments)? Or anything else that comes to mind. Hopefully, the information below will help you navigate some of your concerns. If your questions are not addressed here, send me a comment on my Blog and I will provide an answer.

As I learn of quality options to answer these questions and more, I will add them to this portion of my website. So keep coming back to see what is new. 

Applying for Financial Aid (FA) is not that tricky, but it does take time. As a parent it is importatnt to collect all of the data you need - tax forms, income receipts and earnings. Below are some links to financail aid websites to help you on the path. Be aware that Financial Aid is based on NEED, not want. Scholarships are very different since they are based on student performance in school and on tests (SAT, for example). 

Also note, that with currernt changes in policy, schools offer their own Calculators to help families understand with transparency, financial aid options at their particular school. Be sure to explore each university website about their FA policies. 

Finally, be aware of the different kinds of Financial Aid schools award. Need Blind means a school wil not consider the amount of FA a family needs when considering the students appllication. This means that if the student is accepted, the school will meet all the FA a family needs. Typically, though not always, this does not apply to International Students. There are some schools which do offer Need Blind to International Students. Need Aware means the school is looking at the financial needs of the family while considering the students application to the school. If the school cannot afford the student, they will not accept the student. Most international students fall into this category. International students may also need to complete a school specific application for FA.  Be sure to check individual school FA policies. 

College Board's Paying For College is a first stop for anyone thinking about applying for Financial Aid. The Calculator will allow parents to see approximately how much money (Expected Family Contribution - EFC) your family will expect to pay for higher education. 

CSS Financial Aid Profile: Profile is required by some schools to apply for Financial Aid

FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is the one stop you must make if you are applying as a US Citizen for Finacial Aid. Be aware that some schools will require either the CSS Profile (above) or the FAFSA.

Paying for education, particularly university can be a heavy burden on a family. If you are at the early stages there are ways to save money to help defray the costs. 529 Savings plans, for US citizens are a solid option, but you need to start early. 

What is a 539 Plan? Check this link to the Security Exchange Commission to what 529 Plans are and how they differ from Pre-Paid Tuition Plans.

STI - Student Trust International Plan offers programs to save for Canadian and US universities.