Congratulations on Becoming a Bull!

Congratulations to the Class of 2024! Accepted! I mean, they made it, but it sure feels like we, as parents did a lot of work to get our kids to college.  Becoming a USF Bull is very exciting, and now that decisions are over, there is still important work to be done.

First, it may sound silly, but check your admissions letter for accuracy regarding their name, entrance term, residency status, address and major.  If any changes need to be made, it needs to be done as soon as possible. Activate your NETID and obtain your USF email address. Then, you can log in to OASIS and verify/change any contact information. You will also need to complete any forms that USF requires of you and pay the $200 non-refundable deposit.  Deadlines for deposits are December 1 for students starting in the Spring, and May 1 for those starting in the Summer and Fall.

When applying for Housing, I suggest putting down your deposit as soon as you get your acceptance if you want a particular dorm.  Housing fills up fast and it is not guaranteed for all freshmen. Check out the Meal Plan options and sign up for one. Note: all freshmen are required to have a meal plan.

Register for Orientation as soon as possible. USF does offer many dates, but they are also designated for specific groups.  Admitted students must attend Orientation in order to register for classes, and the earlier the Orientation, the better chance that classes won’t fill up.

Also, be sure to confirm the following:

• Your residency status for tuition purposes
• That your student has signed up for Bright Futures
• Arranged for any final transcripts and scores (AP, IB, AICE, CLEP, and transfer credits) to be sent to the Office of Admissions.
• Your Florida Prepaid program if you have one (You will need to be familiar with what you paid for with the Florida Prepaid as it may only cover certain fees or dorms – although it does not preclude your student from living in certain dorms; they may just have to pay any overage fees.)
• Get your FAFSA form started. You can check out our blog on the FAFSA form here.

Also, check for any holds on your student’s account.  It could be the simplest thing, but you don’t want to try to register for classes only to find out that something is missing or was not complete.  That’s all part of being accepted to USF.

Check out our blogs on Housing, Meal Plans, and Orientation for many more helpful details.

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First Applicants Find Substantial Assets, FAFSA of course!

FAFSA is the national Free Application for Federal Student Aid but, based on how aid is distributed, it may as well stand for First Applications Find Substantial Assets. Because aid is distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis, every student that hopes to receive aid for college must fill out this form to even be considered. Every college has its own deadline.

USF’s school code is 001537. USF’s priority deadlines are January 1st each year. After January 1, applications are reviewed in the order they were received. Of course, if your student did not know if they were accepted back then, but they can speak with the Office of Financial Affairs to update their application if your circumstances have changed substantially from what was reported on the Federal Income tax return for the year submitted. If your student has not yet filled out FAFSA, do it immediately. The one take away we have learned from 2020, is that you never know when your financial position may change.

The FAFSA is available online. This is a first come first serve as these loans are limited and time-sensitive. You can complete the application initially using estimated tax information and do not need to wait for your taxes to start the process. And, there is now an app for filling it out which includes access to the IRS’ data-retrieval tool. The app is called myStudentAid which will allow students to fill out the FAFSA on their phones.

For high school seniors who will not know what school they are attending, you can submit an application for schools you are planning on attending and then update your application down the road. If your financial situation has changed since filing a tax return, do not hold off and starting the application process. You can discuss the change in finances with the financial affairs office once you know your student’s school. Each school has a different deadline and therefore better to apply early than risk not getting financial aid. You can add the schools you are planning on applying to as early as October 1st.

Keep up with the paperwork! USF has how-to videos that give you step-by-step instructions to fill out the FAFSA application Make certain you apply EVERY year. It may not be the perfect scenario, but it is how FAFSA works. More information is available on the FAFSA website. Our blog on Financial Aid Disbursement can be very helpful. Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.

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I’m going to start with the dreaded comment starting “when I was in college, we didn’t have…” (insert teenager eye-roll here). But, all of us at Have U Heard can say that we did not have computers, iPads, or cell phones to help us bank, and somehow, we managed to survive. I did have a checking account where I had to actually write checks, and a credit card for emergencies. Everything regarding money took longer, and I know I did not budget correctly. I made financial mistakes for sure, but when I got a part-time job, I seemed to manage it better. I guess if it was MY money, then I took better care of it, sadly.

So, when we attended orientation with our daughter, we were inundated with information from FAFSA to meal plans, but no one addressed the best way to handle finances, or how to learn to budget for our student. We did what a lot of parents do, and that is, asked around. I talked to some friends with college kids and got their ideas, and I also went to a couple of parenting Facebook pages that I belong to and looked up the subject of budgeting. There is so much information out there, that it can be overwhelming.

Firstly, have a conversation with your family and decide: will they need to work while in school, can they prioritize and keep their grades up while managing their time efficiently, will they be on the meal plan or will they need to do weekly shopping?

One of our family rules was that we will not pay for alcohol. I am not being naïve, and I won’t pretend that kids don’t go out and drink, but I don’t have to pay for it either. Books and school supplies were to go on a credit card tied to our accounts (and a great way for us to earn points) and for emergencies. Since our daughter was not on a meal plan, we did two things: we put money on her Publix parent card weekly for groceries (see our blog on grocery stores). It was approximately $75. We also put around $125 cash on her Bull Buck$ card which can be used at campus dining halls, restaurants, and cafes on campus. We made sure she also had some cash weekly. How did we come up with these numbers? Well, after polling friends and getting advice online, these amounts were in the middle of the census.  If she chose to go out and spend money on getting her nails done, or for sushi, using up her allowance, then peanut butter and jelly would help to balance her budget. The point was for her to see where her money was going and to make good decisions about it.

*Please note: if your child is in a sorority or fraternity, they will be asking you for more money. Most things are covered in their dues, but it seemed like my daughter always needed money for something additional (big/little gifts, yet more t-shirts, unofficial sister get-togethers, etc.). So, get ready!

Another way to save some money is to mention to your students to take a look around campus for free activities.  Many clubs and organizations have events around campus and will offer free snacks. Even food trucks will sometimes have free items. Students should always keep their eyes open for student discounts. For instance, Chipotle gives a 15% discount with ID, and AMC Theaters gives a 10% discount on Thursday nights with student ID and many more. List of great discounts for USF students. And check out our blog on budget eating places. They can also download apps that will help them to budget and also offer discounts. See our blog on the Best Apps for students.

Make sure your student also checks the Bull2Bull program run by the university to offer financial literacy education services to students.  They are located in the Student Services (SVC) building. Consider having your students get their own credit cards. It is a great way for them to start learning how to budget themselves while building their credit for when they are out on their own. Our credit card recommendations. Nothing is set in stone. It all depends on your family’s personal choices and financial decisions. Perhaps your student has a job while at school and won’t ask you for a thing. Maybe they want the assurances of always having meals on campus, and will want to be on a meal plan. Things can be changed if they are not working.

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The time has come to pay for your college costs and money panic sets in.  I remember receiving my tuition statement for my son when he attended USF and yet his student account showed no Prepaid Florida (which I was fortunate enough to have 4-year college and 1-year dorm). Where is the money? In addition, his bank account did not reflect his Bright Futures Scholarship funds. So when does this money get disbursed? Can you get a deferral for books, living accommodations, and student fees? For your student’s specific account details you should log into their OASIS account.

Here are some specifics:

Florida Prepaid

For any enrolled student who has an active Florida Prepaid College Plan, the University of South Florida will post payment 3-4 weeks after the start of classes. The tuition differentials exemptions and expected tuition payment amounts should start showing in your student’s OASIS account. It is listed under the Memos section in your “View Account by Term: on OASIS.  Any account balance due is required to be paid by the deferment bill due date to avoid any late charges.

Please Remember –  You Will Not Receive A Bill For Tuition

Financial Aid

The timing of disbursements is contingent (this means money) upon students meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) that conforms to specific grade-based and time-based requirements. See the section on how to check your Satisfactory Academic Progress in OASIS.

Disbursement of financial aid funds will begin on the sixth day of classes after your student’s enrollment is confirmed. Before loans can be disbursed, first-time Federal Direct Loan and Perkins Loan borrowers must complete Entrance Counseling. In addition, the master Promissory notes must be signed and on file.

Payment Plans

USF does not offer payment plans or extensions of the payment deadline. The payment deadline for students with billable Florida Prepaid tuition plans, Graduate Students, and those students with Financial Aid deferments is Friday, June 28th for Session B-Y. Students with balances for classes that were added late will also need to pay by this deadline to avoid the late fee. Students without Tuition Deferment payments for the Fall are due in full on Friday, August 23rd, 2019 to avoid cancellation of classes and late fee assessments for all classes started on 8/26/19. The tuition deadline for the Spring 2020 semester is January 17, 2020, on February 28, 2020, for those with financial aid deferments or Florida Prepaid. To qualify for Tuition deferment please visit financial aid deferments.

For third party billing( outside agencies or companies requesting to be invoiced for a student’s tuition and fees), the Student Accounting Office must be provided with a written authorization to bill the agency.  For additional information, please visit third party billing.

Bright Futures

Florida Bright Futures will disburse after drop/add. For the Summer of 2019, this will be on or around June 28th and for the Fall of 2019, this will be on or around August 30th, after the first week of classes. For the spring of 2020, this date will be January 17th, 2020. Information on Bright Futures.

Book Deferral

Financial aid disbursements begin the second week of each semester, so students will not receive their financial aid refunds to buy books until then. For this reason, the Bookstore Advance Purchase Program (BAPP) allows you to charge books and supplies at any USF campus bookstore using your financial aid before it is disbursed.

Your purchase will be included as a charge on your student’s account. An email confirming your student’s eligibility for a book deferment will be sent to their USF email address before the start of classes each semester. If more than the $600 maximum is needed you may be considered for an increase if you have enough financial aid.

Rent Payments

The due dates for housing at USF for payment in full for Summer A, C, G, W is May 17th, 2019, and Summer B is due June 28th. The fall deadline for 2019 is August 30th and for Spring 2020 on January 17th to avoid late fees. An installment rent payment is considered one monthly payment. There is no need to sign up for a payment plan. Check the USF calendar and pay by the first of each month in order to break up the semester payments equally, if you choose.  Breakdown of the rent. To make a payment, please follow the instructions.

If your student receives a private scholarship and the check is made out to them, they should notify the university’s financial aid office as it may impact their financial aid package. If the check is made payable to the university, they will need to mail it to the financial aid office.

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Now that that’s settled, the idea of actually paying for college looms.  Hopefully, you have prepared in some way but fear not. Finding scholarships can help with the cost of college. If you live in Florida and have purchased a Florida Prepaid plan, then that will start working for you immediately.  Bright Futures Scholarships have also been a goal while in high school, and if earned, they will apply once your student has started.

Every year, I hear stories about thousands of dollars in scholarship money that are never applied for.  It does take a lot of work and time to research scholarships, apply for them, and to validate the authenticity of them.  But, that work can pay off at a reduced cost to you. Some are quite competitive, some last for four years, and some are downright silly, but pay for something.  Some scholarships require essays and believe it or not, those are the ones most avoided; therefore, have the least amount of people applying. Don’t steer away from these; seek help with the essay instead. It is also recommended to apply for any scholarships as early as possible and be sure to have your FAFSA form completed beforehand.

Scholarships Starting Place

Below we address the scholarship opportunities through USF. Read our blog on actual scholarships that are available to all students. To learn about other scholarship opportunities, make sure you read our blog on Searching for Scholarships.

At USF, Freshman Florida residents are eligible for scholarships based on their high school GPAs and test scores. Also, Non-Florida Resident Freshman are eligible for the money.  Here is the information for that.

Applications for USF Scholarships and Fellowships for the 2018-2019 year are open now.  They are based on academic merit, extracurricular activities, special talents, or demographics.

The USF Foundation Scholarship office offers many scholarships to USF students.

Other offerings of scholarships and services through USF can be seen here.

• College of Engineering
  
• College of Arts & Sciences
  
• Muma College of Business
  
• College of Education
  
• College of Nursing
  
• College of Public Health
  
• College of Pharmacy
  
• The Zimmerman School of Advertising and Mass Communications
  
• College of Music
  
• Morsani College of Medicine

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