FAFSA...Who Should Bother?

A Parent Raves about Scholar Ready's Test Prep

"She (Ms. Jennifer) gets to know her students and will include interesting things in the discussion. She is funny. Jennifer prepared my middle son for the SAT during the entire month of

April. His score went up 200 points. He told his little brother [who I'm sending to Jennifer for tutoring] that he'll like Ms. Jennifer because she's cool. He (my middle son) said 'Mama, I really get it when Ms. Jennifer explains it to me.' "

-Valarie Taylor, parent of 3 Lamar Senior High School Graduates (I tutored 2 of them.)

FAFSA...Who Should Bother?

by Jennifer Ledwith |jdledwith@scholaready.com

(713) 553-6557

On October 1, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opened for students who want financial aid for the 2022-23 school year. Some colleges may prefer the CSS Profile to the FAFSA, so check each college's website to determine the proper form to complete. Students who are neither U.S. citizens nor eligible noncitizens but who are considered Texas residents can file the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA).

Check with your prospective college to determine which form or forms -- FAFSA, CSS Profile, or TASFA -- to submit.

Why Should We Bother With Financial Aid Forms?

Completing the forms can be a hassle. Parents don't want to share their financial business. The form is time-consuming. Applicants have to figure out the differences among income, assets, and net worth. While these are reasonable objections, consider the potential benefits of submitting financial aid paperwork.

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It's Report Card Time!

Math, English, or Reading Tutoring

Class size: Limited to 1 student | 100% Live instruction on Skype

2 books | 100% Live instruction on Skype

Students will learn:

How to study consistently so that the daily grades match the test grades
Build confidence in math, writing, reading, or a combination of the three subjects

To register, call (713) 553-6557 or email jdledwith@scholaready.com.

For instance, colleges and universities use FAFSA to award the following:

Note: A grant is money that doesn't have to be repaid. A loan is money that must be repaid.

Federal Pell Grants: Money that doesn't have to be repaid.

Subsidized loans through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program: Loans that must be repaid, but the government pays a portion of the interest.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG): Money that doesn't have to be repaid.

Federal Work-Study: Part-time employment that allows the student to prioritize his or her studies.

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant (The TEACH Grant): Money that prospective teachers don't have to repay if they satisfy certain conditions.

Need-based institutional scholarships: A university's scholarships awarded on the basis of the financial need of a student's family.

Merit-based institutional scholarships: A university's scholarships awarded on the basis on non-need criteria.

TEXAS Grant: Money granted to Texas residents attending Texas colleges.

TEOG Grant: Money granted to Texas residents attending Texas public 2-year colleges.

TEG Grant: Money granted to Texas residents attending Texas private colleges.

Additionally, colleges and universities outside Texas use a family's financial information to award state-based financial aid.

Remember, you can choose to accept, reduce, or decline any financial aid that is offered to you.

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REGISTER FOR CLASSES

SAT Preparation: All subjects or individual subjects (Next SAT Dates: November 6, December 4)

Class size: Limited to 1 student | 100% Live instruction on Skype

2 books | 100% Live instruction on Skype

Students will review...

Test-taking strategies
Reading comprehension skills
Grammar and usage
Math

To register, call (713) 553-6557 or email jdledwith@scholaready.com.

Essay Writing for College Admissions & Scholarships

Class size: Limited to 1 student | 100% Live instruction on Skype

2 books | Recommended for high school class of 2022 | 100% Live instruction on Skype

Students will learn:

How to write a personal essay
How to build a scholarship plan (where to find scholarships and what to write about in other essays)
How to request letters of recommendation
Interview skills

To register, call (713) 553-6557 or email jdledwith@scholaready.com.

ACT Preparation: All subjects or individual subjects (Next ACT Dates: October 23, December 11)

Class size: Limited to 1 student | 100% Live instruction on Skype

2 books | 100% Live instruction on Skype

Students will learn:

How to take the ACT
How to approach the Math, English, Reading, Science, Essay, or all subjects of the ACT
How to study for future exams

To register, call (713) 553-6557 or email jdledwith@scholaready.com.

Math, English, or Reading Tutoring

Class size: Limited to 1 student | 100% Live instruction on Skype

2 books | 100% Live instruction on Skype

Students will learn:

How to study consistently so that the daily grades match the test grades
Build confidence in math, writing, reading, or a combination of the three subjects

To register, call (713) 553-6557 or email jdledwith@scholaready.com.

How Does It Work?

Step 1: Email jdledwith@scholaready.com; call (713) 553-6557; or complete the form at http://www.scholaready.com/contact/ .

Step 2: Jennifer will schedule a 30-minute phone call with you, the parent.

Step 3: Then, she'll schedule a 1-hour video conference with you and your student. (Everyone who's paying needs to attend the meeting.)

Step 4: You'll receive a proposal with at least 3 options. Each option varies according to service and price. You choose your option and we'll work together to help your student get to his or her next level.

How Much Do You Charge Per Hour?

I don't charge per hour in private practice. Previously, when I charged per hour, students would complete work only during our tutoring sessions. Everyone involved -- teacher, parents, students -- should approach the process of improving grades and test scores as a project. Therefore, I charge by project. Examples of projects include the following: preparing for the December ACT; improving grades in a math class over the course of a semester; and writing a college admissions/scholarship essay.

ABOUT SCHOLAR READY

Jennifer Ledwith is the owner of Scholar Ready, an educational services company. She meets with clients online or in person in Houston, Texas. She also studied Personal Financial Planning at Rice University and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™.

Scholar Ready tutors Math, conducts personal essay writing workshops, and prepares students for PSAT, SAT, and ACT exams. To learn more, visit www.scholaready.com and http://www.youtube.com/scholaready .

Ms. Ledwith is the PSAT and SAT instructor at University of Houston-Clear Lake's Center for Executive Education. Learn more about her upcoming course at University of Houston-Clear Lake.

Contact information:

jdledwith@scholaready.com

(713) 553-6557