Winter 2010

What is AACU and how does AACU help families of college-bound students?

In 2001 and 2002, the presidents of the 15 accredited Adventist colleges and universities in North America faced a pivotal choice to raise the bar in Adventist education through one of two avenues: competition or collaboration.

Scholarships can be confusing. Most people are somewhat familiar with the merit scholarships offered for good grades, high standardized test scores, leadership or athletics. But there are many other kinds of scholarships available to students. Since scholarships, like grants, don’t have to be paid back, it’s worth investing a little time to understand all the possibilities.

For most families with a college-bound student, paying for higher education will mean taking advantage of all the resources available, including federal loans and/or grants and scholarships offered by colleges. To take advantage of any federal assistance, you and your child must complete the FAFSA. Many colleges also require information from the FAFSA to award your child a scholarship.

The table below shows the FAFSA codes and scholarship links to each of the 15 accredited Adventist colleges and universities in North America.

It’s never too early to start planning for college. Here is a checklist to help you make the financial part of college planning go as smoothly as possible.

Meeting all the deadlines and navigating the maze of financial paperwork required to enroll in college can feel overwhelming to families. But be of good courage! The Adventist colleges are very interested in making this process work as easily and smoothly as possible for you and your family. They want your student to succeed and receive as much help as possible.

Here are a few tips for working with the financial aid office:

In a down economy, is an Adventist Christian education a smart investment?

Economic turmoil and uncertainty continue to put additional stress on families. As many Adventist families face the transition from high school to college, some families may be wondering if the big expense of a private Christian education is worth the effort.

Welcome to the first issue of the Adventist College Connections. As a parent of two high school juniors, I am in the middle of supporting my children in the college search process. One of the biggest challenges for me is how to pay for two students entering college at the same time. Their college years have crept up on me, and I’m not as prepared financially as I’d hoped to be. Even though God says not to worry, I find myself thinking about this responsibility a lot. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed.