PARENTS: Plan Ahead to Maximize Your Student's Scholarships and Grants

Parents - maximize your student’s potential for need-based scholarships and grants.  The more income you earn and the more cash reserves you have, the smaller your student’s need-based scholarship and grant awards will be. 

For senior students, the household income earned in 2008 (money earned between January 1 – December 31, 2008) will be used to calculate student eligibility for need-based scholarships and grants.  For junior students, the household income earned in 2009 will be used to calculate student eligibility. 

Do whatever you can to defer income in the 2008 calendar year (seniors) or 2009 calendar year (juniors); reduce cash reserves, and increase your debt (buy needed cars and computers, make home renovations, etc.).  This sounds crazy, but doing this will help your student’s chances for receiving need-based scholarships and grants.