Helpful Resources

General Financial Aid Information

• FinAid Very comprehensive source; includes calculators and scholarship search through FastWeb.
• College Board Also very comprehensive guide to financial aid information.
• Peterson's Financial aid information, scholarship searches, and more. 
• Financial Aid Facts  More information for you.
• Consolidation For information about consolidating your federal student loans.
• Tax Deductions This guide to education tax deductions and credits is posted on a Web site maintained by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. 

Federal Financial Aid Information

• Direct Loans Entrance and Exit Counseling Sessions The federal government requires all new borrowers to complete entrance counseling and a promissory note before loan funds can be credited to students’ accounts. For the entrance counseling session, students will be instructed to read the information and take a short quiz. The Office of Financial Aid will be notified when the counseling session has been completed. 
• Direct Loan Promissory Notes  A PIN is required to complete the Promissory Note online. The PIN is the same number used to complete the FAFSA online. If you do not have a PIN, you can request one from this site by following the directions on the PIN registration screen. Once the Office of Financial Aid is notified that the Promissory Note has been successfully completed, the Federal Direct Loan will be finalized.
• Student Financial Assistance  The federal government's website with information about all the program and application information. 
• Federal Hope and Lifetime Learning Tax Credit 
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid File your FAFSA here after January 1, 2008.
• Department of Education PIN Registration  Obtain a PIN for parents and students to use in filing the FAFSA electronically.
• Winthrop Veterans Affairs  Information on VA Educational Benefits.
• Federal Veterans Affairs  Information on VA Educational Benefits.
  

SC State Financial Aid Information

• SC Commission on Higher Education: Student Services SC residents can review the guidelines for LIFE Scholarships, Palmetto Fellows, and Need-Based Grants. 
• SC Student Loan Corp.: Teacher Loan  Information on the SC Teacher Loan Program, eligibility, and benefits.

Scholarships

• Wired Scholar  Very comprehensive site with scholarship search and more financial aid information.
• Scholarships.com  Another scholarship search site.
• The Gates Millennium Scholars Information from the Gates Millennium Scholarship program for minority students.
• Hispanic College Fund, Inc.   Scholarships for Hispanic students.
• Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Provides information on scholarships for Hispanic students.
• College Net Scholarship search Web site.
• USA Funds  Financial aid information and scholarship search.
• College Tool Kit Scholarship search Web site and more.
  

NOTE:  Beware of any scholarship search offer which requires you to pay a fee.

Learn how to determine if scholarship search offers are questionable.  Go to the Federal Trade Commission’s Web site for information.  

 
  
Perkins Loans

• Perkins Loan Promissory Notes  Check your Winthrop email account for notification asking you to electronically sign your Promissory Note.  The required PIN is the same one used to complete the FAFSA online.  If you do not have a PIN, you can request one from this site.  Once the Office of Financial Aid is notified that the Promissory Note has been successfully completed, the Perkins Loan will be finalized.
• Perkins Loan Exit Interviews  The federal government requires all Perkins Loan borrowers to complete an exit interview whenever his/her enrollment drops below half-time.  Transcripts and/or diplomas will be held until this interview has been successfully completed.
   

 
Loans

• Private Loans for students 
• PLUS Loan  Parent Loan: Federal Direct PLUS Loan information, including pre-screening and repayment examples.