Things I Wish I Had Known
About Funding My Education
Things I Wish I Had Known
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You CAN receive Financial Aid, even if
you are not a full-time student
Financial Aid is available for Summer
classes
Outside funding sources are abundant
Textbooks do not have to be so
expensive
IRA
Educational expenses can be tax
deductible
Financial Aid is available to
part-time students
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Complete your income taxes early and
save a copy
Go to Free Application for Student Aid
(FAFSA) website
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Request a PIN
Complete a FAFSA online
Submit electronically using the PIN and
print a copy
Wait patiently
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Purdue may request supplemental
information
Financial Aid for
Summer classes too….
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Complete a simple supplemental form
available through the financial aid
office.
Outside Funding
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By filing a FAFSA prior to March 1, you
are automatically considered for needbased aid through Purdue
Other aid is available
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Demographics
Activities
Academic achievement
more
Outside Funding
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Finding funding sources
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Span Plan website
Financial Aid website
Fastweb
You Student Services Office
News and media
How do I apply?
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Most require a completed FAFSA
Financial information (refer back to tax
forms and FAFSA)
Official transcript
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Request through My Purdue
Recommendations
Personal essay
The Essay
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Write one essay and modify
Pay attention to specific requirements
Boast with moderation
Explain goals for the future
Don’t forget to “give back”
Think about ALL of your added costs
beyond tuition and books
PROOFREAD!
Buying Textbooks:
What a scam!
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Check Follett’s and University
Bookstore websites early to determine
the books you need
Buy elsewhere
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Other students
Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Half.com
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Search by author/title/ISBN
Reserve copies in libraries
Selling Books
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Sometimes the bookstores will give
you a fair buy-back price
Sometimes they won’t!
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Sell to another student-you will gain and
they will save
Set up a seller’s account on Amazon,
Barnes & Noble or Half.com
IRA 529 Plan
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An IRA 529 Plan is established to fund
a college education (typically for your
children)
You can make the beneficiary YOU!
Consult a financial advisor
Tax Benefits
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Sometimes college expenses can
produce tax benefits through a Hope
or Lifetime Learning credit
Consult a tax advisor
Important Websites
for Funding Your Education
•FAFSA: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
•Span Plan: http://www.purdue.edu/odos/spanplan/services.htm
•Financial Aid: http://www.purdue.edu/dfa/
•Fastweb: http://fastweb.com/
•My Purdue: https://mypurdue.purdue.edu/cp/home/loginf
•Follett’s: http://www.efollett.com/
•University Bookstore: http://www.purdueu.com/
•Amazon: http://www.amazon.com
•Half.com: http://www.half.com
•Barnes & Noble: http://www.bn.com