category: Dawg Blawg Paying for College By Gardner-Webb University On September 3, 2021 A question in any student’s college search is “how will I pay for it?” At GWU, a majority of students receive a generous financial aid package comprised of institutional scholarships and financial aid, mixed with federal aid and scholarships from outside sources. Financial aid plays a big role in your college search, but you shouldn’t let it keep you from pursuing the school of your dreams. Keep reading as we explore all the different types of scholarships, loans, and aid that you can receive to finance your education. NET PRICE CALCULATOR A great first place to start is by utilizing the Net Price Calculator. You can estimate your financial eligibility and receive an estimate about what your financial aid package could look like, based on the information you provide. The calculator is currently using costs for the 2019-2020 year. Keep in mind that your financial aid package includes scholarships, grants, and loans from a variety of sources, including Federal and State Government and Gardner-Webb University. SCHOLARSHIPS GWU offers a variety of scholarships and grants to incoming students. Ranging from $5,000 to full-tuition, room and board coverage, some scholarships are offered based on academics, character, performance (athletic, music, marching band), church partnerships, or location. There are scholarships available specifically for transfer students as well. Check out all of your options on the Scholarships and Grants webpage! If you’re a high school senior, you may be eligible to participate in the Ignite Excellence Scholarship Competition, held each year in early February. Ignite Excellence Full Tuition Scholarship (Academic Fellows)Ignite Excellence Participation Award Don’t let the word “competition” scare you away – this scholarship opportunity is designed to be as non-intimidating as possible. Each part of the interview provides you and the committee with a unique opportunity to get to know you and learn why you want to make GWU your home. THE FAFSA The “Free Application for Federal Student Aid” is one of the most important sources of financial aid! While this application can seem pretty complicated to complete, it’s important that you get it done before October 1 to ensure that you get the most aid possible. The FAFSA will tell you what types of federal aid you may qualify for. Remember, this is all based on the data that you put on your application, so make sure that it is as accurate and up-to-date as possible. But what kinds of aid will you qualify for? Here is a breakdown of the different types: Unsubsidized loans: there is no requirement to demonstrate financial need for these loans. Your school determines the amount you can borrow based on the cost of attendance and other financial aid you receive. If you choose to not pay the interest on these loans while you’re in school, your interest will accumulate and be added to the amount of your loan when you begin making payments.Subsidized loans: the amount you can borrow is determined by your school, and the amount may not exceed your financial need. The US Department of Education pays the interest on this loan while you’re in school at least half time, for the first six months after graduation, or during a period of deferment.Direct PLUS loans: available to parents of dependent undergraduate students, this loan can help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid.Federal Pell grants: usually awarded to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need, these grants do not need to be repaid. OUTSIDE AID There are lots of other opportunities for scholarships and aid outside of the FAFSA and your college. If you attend a church at home, check with leadership to see if they offer a college scholarship. Look at websites like scholarships.com and Fastweb. They list hundreds of outside scholarships, including information about application deadlines and materials. Sometimes these scholarships only take a few minutes to apply to – so it’s worth your time for a chance to win! Don’t forget resources like the College Board, either. They offer a “Scholarship Search” tool which allows you to enter your personal information and search for scholarships that are the best match to your profile. They have also launched a program called the “College Board Opportunity Scholarships,” that awards $5 million in scholarships annually.
Post Branch out: Go Worldwide at Gardner-Webb From Boiling Springs to Berlin College is about learning and experiencing new things. It’s also for branching out and leaving your comfort zone. But what exactly is a comfort zone? Your comfort zone is what’s familiar or feels safe to you. We totally get it, why would you want to leave somewhere you feel secure? […] Web Communications | October 6, 2021
Post Putting Your Faith into Action From the classroom to the World Race To say that my life was changed would be an understatement. Shelby Robinson ’17 Going to school at Gardner-Webb has always been about more than going to class, getting a degree, and entering your profession. That’s important, but it’s also about growing in your faith through life-changing experiences. […] Web Communications | October 6, 2021
Post 10 Things to Bring (and 10 to Leave at Home) When you move on campus for the first time, it can be tough to decide what needs to make the trip and what needs to stay behind. Don’t make the mistake of bringing everything but the kitchen sink. Here’s our suggestions for 10 things to bring with you on Move-In day and 10 things you […] Gardner-Webb University | September 3, 2021
