{"id":6084,"date":"2019-11-16T00:56:32","date_gmt":"2019-11-16T00:56:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/?p=6084"},"modified":"2020-12-10T15:13:59","modified_gmt":"2020-12-10T15:13:59","slug":"4-financial-aid-myths-debunked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/blog\/4-financial-aid-myths-debunked\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Financial Aid Myths Debunked"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financing college can be a daunting task, especially when you\u2019re confronted with misconceptions about financial aid.\u00a0 These myths can make your goal of attending college seem almost impossible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, I\u2019ve put together four common myths related to financial aid and debunked each one to ease any stress you may feel over paying for college.\u00a0 Consider this as your guide to the truth about financial aid from Winona State University to you!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/l0MYJXcp3rT3eydFK\/giphy.gif\" width=\"500\" height=\"283\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Myth #1: \u201cI won\u2019t be able to afford college unless I take out a bunch of student loans.\u201d<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><b><\/b><b><\/b><b><\/b><\/h3>\n<h4><b>Reality:<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/financial-aid\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You have many other options!<\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking out student loans is definitely not your only option when it comes to financing your higher education.\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, if you\u2019re still having trouble making payments after exhausting other alternatives, there are several <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/financial-aid\/student-loans.asp\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">student loan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> types to consider:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Federal direct loans (subsidized and unsubsidized)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Federal PLUS loan<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Optional alternative loans<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WSU short-term loans<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Utilizing student loans should be your last resort, especially if you can get free money for college, courtesy of Winona State! Because who wants to have the stress of paying them back hanging over your head? Not you, silly!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/STLj8QUhg25pe\/giphy.gif\" width=\"480\" height=\"216\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Myth #2: \u201cThere\u2019s no point in applying for small scholarships.\u201d<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><b><\/b><\/h3>\n<h4><b>Reality: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember when I mentioned free money? No, you weren\u2019t dreaming!\u00a0 Scholarships offered by WSU are basically free money that can sometimes even be renewed!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are just a few <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/financial-aid\/scholarships.asp?_ga=2.265178959.1168007978.1572843104-207200653.1563561101\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">scholarships<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Winona State has to offer:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Outstanding Academic Honor Awards<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Music, Art &amp; Theatre<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intercollegiate Athletics<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unrestricted Scholarships<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/winona.academicworks.com\/?page=1&amp;_ga=2.192949357.1168007978.1572843104-207200653.1563561101\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WSU Foundation Scholarships<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> also offer close to 1,000 scholarships each year, with the help of the Winona State University Foundation and private donors. Here are some examples:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Society for Quality Scholarship<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accounting Alumni Scholarship<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">College of Liberal Arts Scholarship<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Knowing this, it\u2019s important to consider scholarships that offer any amount, not just the few that are worth thousands.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Small scholarships can add up fast!\u00a0 Think about it\u2026 even that $100 scholarship can cover some textbook expenses, which means a hundo in savings for you!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/26xmHWkUFYRUn88ms\/giphy.gif\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Myth #3: \u201cAll scholarships require long essays that I don\u2019t have time to write.\u201d<\/b><b><\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><b><\/b><\/h3>\n<h4><b>Reality: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While many <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/financial-aid\/scholarships.asp?_ga=2.26221693.1168007978.1572843104-207200653.1563561101\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">scholarships<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ask for an essay, some are much easier to apply for than you might think!<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some scholarships may just ask that you:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meet the listed criteria<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Submit a letter of recommendation<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Winona State offers so many scholarships, you\u2019re bound to find at least a few that you meet the criteria for.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/lyuYvL9m80IfK\/giphy.gif\" width=\"480\" height=\"204\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Myth #4: \u201cThere\u2019s no point in filling out the FAFSA.\u201d<\/b><\/h3>\n<h4><b>Reality: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the Federal Student Aid website, the FSA is \u201cthe largest provider of student financial aid in the nation.\u201d The website also states that the FSA distributes nearly $120 billion in funds every year.\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This means that nearly every student is eligible for some sort of aid that\u2019s free to apply for!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s important to fill out the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/studentaid.ed.gov\/sa\/fafsa\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Free Application for Federal Student Aid<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as soon as it opens, which is Oct. 1. The faster you submit this application, the more aid you could qualify for.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/lptjRBxFKCJmFoibP3\/giphy.gif\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financing college can be intimidating when you don\u2019t have all the facts. But the good news is, you have tons of options.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So don\u2019t let these myths and others like them alarm you. Winona State has your back!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Financing college can be a daunting task, especially when you\u2019re confronted with misconceptions about financial aid.\u00a0 These myths can make your goal of attending college seem almost impossible.\u00a0 &nbsp; However, I\u2019ve put together four common myths related to financial aid and debunked each one to ease any stress you may feel over paying for college.\u00a0 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":284,"featured_media":5550,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[1842],"class_list":["post-6084","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-admissions-blog","tag-value"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/03\/32227920967_396c712236_o.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7OGeT-1A8","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6084","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/284"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6084"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6084\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8623,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6084\/revisions\/8623"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6084"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6084"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6084"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}