Mississippi Education Online: Helpful Hints for College

Online learning is fast becoming a trend that will continue for years to come. It is perfect for busy people or just those who want the convenience of earning school credit online. The computer can be intimidating to some, however. If you can do the following, then you are ready to take an online course:

• Turn on and shut down your computer
• Connect to the Internet
• Contact Internet service provider for technical assistance
• Use a mouse to click, double-click, drag, and drop
• Use a word processing program (such as Word) to enter text
• Use a file manager to find and save files
• Use a file compression program (ex: Winzip)

The above tasks are easy to learn and are the first step to achieving your online educational goals!

Financial Aid

Maybe you now have the computer skills and equipment necessary to handle an online course, but you don't think you have the money for tuition. Each of Mississippi's eight institutions of higher learning offers a variety of grants, scholarships, loans, and federal work-study programs to help students finance their cost of education. You will need to pay for various education expenses, such as tuition, fees, books, and supplies.

State financial aid is assistance offered by the state. Each year, the state sets aside money that Mississippi students can use to go to college. There is only one application, so it is easy to apply for aid. Traditional students, transfer students, adults going to college for the first time, and graduate students can all apply for financial aid.

The first step to apply for financial aid in Mississippi is to complete the online application that is available beginning January 1 of each year at www.ms.gov/sfa/normalEntry.do. Within two weeks of submitting the application, applicants will receive notification, which includes the applicant's assigned PIN number and a request for any additional information needed. Applicants can check their status online within five business days of submitting their application. For students who have submitted all required information, financial aid will be awarded beginning in mid-June. Applicants can also make changes to their applications that were submitted online.

What Does College Really Cost?

Unfortunately, there are many additional costs for college besides tuition. It is important to be aware of these costs so that you can determine what the bottom line is for you to go to school. This will allow you to make a plan and not be surprised by hidden costs you weren't aware of in the beginning.

Based on whether or not you are attending an actual classroom or getting your education online, there are "hidden" costs to consider. Textbooks are a costly expense when attending college. Make sure you shop around for discounted or used textbooks. Other possible expenses to consider are transportation to and from school; supplies such as notebooks and pens; room and board if you plan on living on campus; and food if you will be at school during mealtimes.