Seniors! Lancaster Dollars for Higher Learning online loan application period is OPEN! The deadline is 4/28/23 to apply for our interest-free student loans for the 2023-24 school year. Since 1961, LDHL has provided more than 14,000 loans totaling more than $19 million! We can help students achieve their educational dreams. Apply online at https://lancdollars.org/
Category Archives: Financial Aid
Upcoming Financial Aid Webinars
Advanced Planning for Financing Higher Education
2/21/23 Tuesday 6:30pm
The thought of Higher Education costs can be overwhelming, however planning and identifying what you can do to help lessen those costs is an important step. It’s never too early or too late to start understanding what those costs are and what is available to help maintain, plan and help you make affordable decisions. Join Dan Wray and Linda Pacewicz of PHEAA’s PA Forward Program in a one hour webinar to begin that process and become prepared.
Searching for Scholarships and Affording the Balance
2/9/23 Thursday Noon; 2/23/23 Thursday 6:30pm
There are many ways to pay for education, and one important step is to search and apply for Scholarships. More free money equals less borrowing. This presentation will review the types of options available, along with tips on applying. It will also offer samples of fun scholarship options to get you started. We’ll then review what to do about the balances that might be left over in order to make affordable higher education decisions. Join PHEAA for an hour of detailed information on this topic.
Financial Aid is in reach! Take a look at this video for step-by-step instructions for filling out the FAFSA.
Your one stop shop! Here is a list of helpful financial aid links and their descriptions.
| Resource | Note |
| Board of Governors Scholarship for PASSHE Schools | Provides the 2020-21 scholarship cut-offs for a scholarship specific to PASSHE schools. |
| CSS Profile | Financial aid application required by some schools but not all. |
| CSS Profile explanation slides | Overview of CSS Profile. |
| CSS Profile list of institutions | List of schools that require CSS. |
| FAFSA login creation | Must be done before starting FAFSA. |
| FAFSA website | Gather all documents before you start. |
| FAFSA completion guide (simple and in-depth) | “How-to” guides |
| Financial aid guide for students | Gets you started with financial aid |
| Financial aid guide for undocumented students | Best overview out there – and if you find one better, let us know! |
| Financial aid resources for counselors | PHEAA’s page with counselor resources |
| Financial aid resources for students | PHEAA’s page with student resources |
| Foster care: Chafee Grant | Chafee is a national program for people who have been in foster care, and this is the PA website |
| Foster care: free tuition in PA | PA has a new program offering free tuition for people who have been in foster care |
| How much aid is given by each college | Lists the percent of need met by 450+ colleges, plus the average aid package |
| PA State Grant instructions | Step-by-step guide for applying to PA’s state grant |
| State grant websites for DE, MD, NJ, and PA | Links to each state’s websites |
| Scholarship guide from Malvern Prep | Compilation of PA and national scholarship sites |
| Scholarship guide from Girard College | Compilation of Philly-area, identity-based, highly selective, lower selectivity, and national sites |
| TheDream.US | Scholarship resources for undocumented and DACAmented students who came to the US before November 2016 |
Applying for financial aid just got easier! SAVE THE DATE
Attention Juniors and Seniors! Financial Aid Night for students and parents will be held on OCTOBER 4, 2022 at 6pm located in the High School Auditorium. This is a popular event to find out about grants, applications, scholarships, loans, and much more.
Interest- FREE Student Loans
Don’t miss the deadline to apply for interest free student loans. Lancaster Dollars for Higher Learning offers interest free loans to students. The application deadline is APRIL 29! Go to the website for more information and the application https://lancdollars.org/
PHEAA April Webinars
Covering the Gap – pieces of the puzzle to help pay the bill
4/12 6:30 pm and 4/19 Noon – Tuesdays
Understanding education balances can be confusing and whether you’re trying to address the costs or beginning to plan for higher education, this review is for you. Join PHEAA representatives Linda Pacewicz and Daniel Wray for a 1 hour webinar that will emphasize best practices (such as seeking grants and scholarships first), remind families about additional resources (such as payment plans), and review private/alternative loans as a last resort in the process of covering the Gap and keeping balances affordable. The discussion will also include the basics of credit, what factors impact a credit score, how can a credit score be improved and the effects on your borrowing capability
Borrowing for Education – which loan is right for me?
4/14 Noon and 4/21 6:30pm – Thursdays
I’ve done everything right so far: found the perfect school, made it through the admissions process, filed my FAFSA, filed my State Grant Form, applied for scholarships, researched higher education costs and calculated my funding gap. Now that I can see an education loan is a necessity, where do I go from here? What loan programs are available? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the various types? Join financial aid experts Linda Pacewicz and Dan Wray of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) for a 1 hour webinar to review the different borrowing options and examine the details associated with each option. Linda and Dan will answer your questions as you sort out the information and make decisions that are right for you and your family.
Register for all webinars at pheaa.org/virtual
Virtual College Fair
| Virtual College Fair Registration is Open! strivescan.com/pennsylvania |
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Educational Sessions at 4pm
College Presentations at 5pm, 6pm, 7pm
| Registration is now open for our Virtual College Fair! Sign-up to virtually connect with colleges and universities from around the country for free. During the Virtual College Fair, you will have the chance to hear from many different colleges. You can choose which colleges you want to hear from by registering for their sessions. You and your family can ask questions of the college representatives throughout the presentations too! Each program will start with a college knowledge session: April 19 – Ask a Counselor April 27 – Financial Aid |
FAFSA Help
There are many resources available to help students and parents with the FAFSA and student loan options.
Presented by PHEAA: Financial Aid 101– Understand the financial decisions students need to make concerning higher education. We plan to discuss higher education costs, the types of financial aid available, and how to apply for financial aid.
Presented by PHEAA: FAN Junior Jumpstart– This session will focus on the planning and goal setting high school juniors should be working on to prepare for the financial aid process they’ll face as seniors. All students who are looking into any post secondary education, and their parents, will benefit by the information that will be provided. Join us for a JumpStart!
Presented by PHEAA: FAFSA Overview/Line by Line– Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) Access Partners will present an overview of the 2022–23 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process. They will guide students and families through a step-by-step process of filing the FAFSA and state grant application.
Fall PHEAA Webinars
PHEAA PAForward October webinars can help answer your questions about post secondary education funding and processes.
Learn about education loans – which loan is right for me
I’ve found the schools I’d like to attend and after filing the FAFSA, State Grant Form, Scholarships and researching higher education costs and calculating the funding gap, I see that education loans are a necessity, but where do I go from here? What loan programs are available? What are the advantages and disadvantage of the various types? Join Financial Aid experts Linda Pacewicz and Dan Wray of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) for a 1 hour webinar to review the different borrowing options and examine the details associated with each option. Linda and Dan will answer your questions as you sort out the information and make decisions that are right for you and your family.
October 14th Thursday – 6:30pm; October 21st – Noon, lunch and learn
Financial Aid Timeline – know what to do when
Follow financial aid experts Linda Pacewicz and Dan Wray of PHEAA’s PAForward program as they guide you along the exciting (and sometimes bumpy) road to an affordable higher education. The journey will begin before high school and end in the land of education loan repayment – or maybe even education loan forgiveness. One thing is for certain: it’s never too early to start preparing for a successful higher education experience. This 1 hour presentation will provide the starting points and web resources- for effective research before, during and after your student makes post secondary decisions. Knowing what to expect and to plan for it is the key. Failing to plan, is planning to fail!
October 12th Tuesday, 6:30pm; October 19th – Noon, lunch and learn;
October 28th, Thursday, 6:30pm
Register at pheaa.org/virtual
Virtual FAFSA Completion Session Sign-up
Please join Penn Manor and PHEAA representative Sonya Mann-McFarlane on October 22nd, 2021. This event is offered to help you complete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Before the event you and a parent each need to create your FSA ID at studentaid.gov.
Documents that you will need to complete your FAFSA are social security number, W-2 forms, federal income tax return from the past 2 years income tax returns, current bank statements, and stocks. *Please have these ready before your session begins*
Fill out this form to select your preferred time: FAFSA Completion Form
Financial Aid Night Recording
In case you missed our Financial Aid event, below is the link to the recording. Please enter the password to access: SvBGPqC8
Recording of presentation (32 min)
Remember that we are hosting a virtual FAFSA help day on October 22nd. Please email marjean.long@pennmanor.net to set up your time slot.
If you have any questions regarding the FAFSA or any financial questions regarding college, our PHEAA representative Sonya Mann-McFarlane would be happy to help. Contact her at sonya.mann-mcfarlane@pheaa.org
Penn State York- Fall Events
Fall events at Penn State York are a perfect opportunity for your college-bound juniors and seniors to learn more about Penn State before the November 1 early action application deadline and December 1 priority Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) deadline! We are offering a variety of both virtual and in-person events.
Penn State Day Open House: Saturday, October 9 (in-person event)
Students will learn about the admissions and financial aid award processes and timeline, have an opportunity to interact with our faculty and current students, and view campus via a walking campus tour. The program begins at 9:00 a.m. (ET). Students will receive a $65 application fee waiver. Students can register online or call 717-771-4040.
Application Workshop (Virtual)
Admissions Counselors will be on-hand to help you work on the Penn State application. Application fee waiver of $65 for those who attend!
September 25 @ 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Register here.
FAFSA Workshop (Virtual)
Admissions and Financial Aid staff will be available to assist you as you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Limited spaces available
November 29 @ 4:00-6:00 p.m. Register here.
PHEAA Sept Webinars: Planning & Scholarships – for all grade levels
September PHEAA webinars are here to assist with planning!
Financial Aid Timeline – Know What To Do When Sept 9, Thursday, 6:30 pm; Sept 16, Thursday, Noon; Sept 23, Thursday, 6:30 pm; Sept 28, Tuesday, Noon
THIS IS A PUBLIC EVENT-NOT PENN MANOR SPONSORED. PENN MANOR FINANCIAL AID NIGHT IS SEPTEMBER 20th at 6:00pm in the Manor Middle School Auditorium/Cafeteria. Financial Aid Night
Follow financial aid experts Linda Pacewicz and Dan Wray of PHEAA’s PA Forward Program as they guide you along the exciting (and sometimes bumpy) road to an affordable higher education. The journey will begin before high school and end in the land of education loan repayment – or maybe even education loan forgiveness. One thing is for certain: it’s never too early to start preparing for a successful higher education experience. This one-hour presentation will provide the starting points – and web resources – for effective research before, during, and after your student makes postsecondary decisions. Knowing what to expect and to plan for it is the key. Failing to plan, is planning to fail!
Searching for Scholarships and Affording the Balance Sept 14 Tuesday Noon; Sept 21 Tuesday 6:30 pm; Sept 30 Thursday Noon
There are many ways to pay for education, and one important step is to search and apply for Scholarships. More free money equals less borrowing. This presentation will review the types of options available, along with tips on applying. It will also offer samples of fun scholarship options to get you started. We’ll then review what to do about the balances that might be left over in order to make affordable higher education decisions. Join Linda Pacewicz and Dan Wray from PHEAA’s PAForward Program for an hour of detailed information on this topic.
Register at: Pheaa.org/Virtual
Help with the FAFSA Form
Do you need help with filing the Free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®)? The FAFSA is used by students to apply for financial aid such as grants, work study and student loans. You will be able to ask our Higher Education Access Partners questions about the FAFSA during this interactive webinar. Join this webinar for a walk through of filling out the form. Click the button to register!