College How To: FAFSA Tips

High School Seniors & College Freshmen-Juniors

1.  In the fall semester, you and your parents (or whoever files you on their taxes) need to log on to fafsa.ed.gov and create a login and a pin#. Its super easy, but you need to make sure to REMEMBER yours and your parent’s pin info. You’ll need it for four years.
2.  When January 1^st rolls around, the FAFSA for the new year becomes active, you would go in and fill it out with last years information. For example, it’s the beginning of 2012, so you put in 2011’s tax information. Unless your parents have recently won the lottery and have a huge increase of income for the year, it shouldn’t make much of a difference.
3.  If you are still applying to colleges, put in all of the colleges you are interested in attending. This way the college you choose will definitely get you Financial aid info.
4.  Get your EFC (Expected Family Contribution). After putting in last years tax info, and digitally signing it with the PIN#s, FAFSA will give you a number it expects your family to be able to pay based on income and assets.
5. Relax for a month….
6. When you parents get their W-2 forma, and are able to file their taxes, rush them.  J  The quicker you can get the 2012, or current years taxes on file, the sooner your FAFSA will be completed.
7. 1040A in hand complete your FAFSA carefully. They’ll tell you which lines to look at and enter, but you might need help on your first time.

General Tips:

·      Never tell them how much you or your parent have in your bank accounts.

·      Complete you FAFSA as soon as you can, Financial Aid is first come first served.

o   I usually can’t get it complete until the end of February or Middle of March at the very latest. So don't freak out if you are in the same range as me. Do not let you parents procrastinate until April 15th tho!

·      Select yes for work study, and yes for on campus housing, even if you aren’t sure.

Main Types of Government Financial Aid:

·      Grants: FREE MONEY!!! You don't have to pay these back unless you drop out/get kicked out/ don't keep the required academic standard.

·      Loans: 2 types Subsidized and Unsubsidized

o   Subsidized: The government pays the interest for you until 6 months after you complete school. So you’ll have a lower amount to pay back overall.

o   Unsubsidized: You will be responsible for the interest the whole time, but you don't have to pay until 6 months after you graduate. 

Refund Checks:

 Depending on your EFC you may be eligible to receive a refund check. This refund check is the remainder of the money after you financial aid pays for school.

Lets say your school costs 7,500 a semester. You apply for FAFSA and get….

You get: PELL GRANT   2000

               LOAN (sub)       4500

               LOAN (unsub)   2000

 So your total Financial Aid is 8,500.  But your tuition is 7,500. That extra 1000 dollars will come to you in a refund check.

Things you can do with a Financial Aid refund Check:

• ·      Be responsible and get a head start on paying your unsubsidized loans back.
• ·      Buy your books and school supplies
• ·      Budget it out to help pay for rent and/or food.
• ·      Save up for a car
• ·      Use it for dues to clubs/Greek life
• ·      Put it towards a new Laptop
• ·      Buy a fancy phone
• ·      Pay the bill for 6 months
• ·      Use to for study abroad/travel
• ·      Get new clothes
• ·      Give some to your parents
• ·      High-Interest savings account
• ·      Cash it out and roll around in it
• ·      Go to Jamaica with it 

I hope this helped some of you out there! If I left anything you want to know out of the post, let me know. 

PS. Please click the Google Connect button to follow my blog, I would really really appreciate it :) 

Later loves, 

-Jess

2012: Minimalism, Money Management, and Means to Achieving goals

Hey Y'all,

Honestly, I usually forget about or abandon my New Year’s resolutions by the time I get back to school and start the spring semester.  I think that I do a lot better with more general life goals, which I eventually want to complete—in one year or many.

I recently found that I’m not the only one who does this; I’ve recently found many blogs with a “Life List,” which is a space for long and short term goals. I also included my ideas about how to keep up with 

2012

Educational Goals

            Write ALL papers ahead of time

            Punch Out Procrastination 

Means to achieve: planner, scheduling, prioritizing time, working on time management and discipline. Waste less time online by designating time to catch up with blogs and youtube. 

Health Goals

            Run 1x a week

            Yoga or Cardio 1x a week 

Means to achieve: Exercising with friends, using mornings before class.

Financial Goals

            Pay off Discover Card debt ($870)

            Stick to a budget

            Limit & Record Purchases

            Save $1000 by the end of the year

Means to achieve: Using financial refunds wisely, using mint.com budgeting tools, discipline, planning purchases.

Beauty/Fashion

            Spring Cleaning of Wardrobe

            Organize and Prioritize Clothes

            Finish a Product before Buying more

            Limit Purchases

Means to achieve: Prioritize my wishlists/wants so they don't become overwhelmingly numerous.  Allow myself only a few select & coved items at a time. Mainly re-focusing my energy away from "things" that I don't really need. 

Other Goals

Travel out of state overnight (VA and MD don't count)

Life List

Buy a Car

Get Rook Pierced

Get Infinity/ Cherry Blossom Tattoo  

Find an Apartment

Travel to California

Travel to London

Earn Bachelors Degree

Earn Masters Degree
Go to Disney 
Get Married
Become a Mother
Buy a House 

a poem about teaching i found online :)

When I become a teacher

I'll put a map of the world on every wall in my classroom

My students will always know to have a universal mindset

When they hear freedom, they'll think of more than spirituals and Emancipation

They'll remember the stinking pits at Babi Yar

The curled steel at Auchwitz

Sarajevo’s rifle butts

Cambodia’s grit and sweat and death

These classroom walls will not fence their minds.

Eyes will be opened. Again.

Instead of asking my students to adjust to my teaching style

Fawn in silent awe over my genius

I'll ask them how they learn

Then tend to the visual

Auditory

and tactile learners

the best way I can

They’ll never doubt their place in my plan,

Confuse our classroom for a cookie-cutter

Stage where they must sit on their hands.

I’ll take criticism.

Gather it like gold dust between my fingers.

Never satisfied, I’ll Practice my practice forever.

My classroom will be painted bright blues and yellows

Along with students drawings, murals and poetry

Displays of Me Magazines

And word walls

Scenes from books acted out

Role playing

and Mock trials

I will appreciate their creativity

I will teach my students inquiry

Ask them questions about the world around them

Their opinions on issues from health care to the Palestine Wall

I won't talk at them, but with them

We'll have discussions and debates

I will challenge them

Ask them how they would tackle issues like budgets cuts

Low reading levels

And school safety

I'll ask them how they feel about Pennsylvania finding money to build 3 more prisons but cutting funding from schools

Or how they feel about districts paying millions for standardized test and curriculum but not having enough for extra curricular activities

They will be informed

My students will be poets

storytellers

actors

artists

analyst

activists

All while being beautiful

Everyday I will tell them they're beautiful

-Sienna Douglas

NEW BEAUTY LIT YOUTUBE VIDEO College Advice

UPDATE!! & OOTD

Hey everybody,

I hope you all are doing well. This semester started off HECTIC! But I’m trying to stick in there and get my self organized enough to deal with it all J

I have a lot of ideas for blog posts and youtube videos but the first thing I have to do is schedule my butt off, I’m talking every minute (ok maybe not) but seriously I’m going to get there….Eventually.

I’ll start off with a good ol’ fashioned outfit of the day.

This was from the first day of class…which is already about a month ago smh. 

                 Dress: F21 Heritage 1981/ Top: Dots/ Sandals: Payless/  Earrings: Street Vendor 

aaaand it was a good hair day!

How's your September/ Fall Semester been?

-Jessimae

What to Bring to College! (And what not to bring.... )

HEY!

So here are some things that I suggest having for your dorm room. 

Most dorms have unique rules on what you can and can't have so check your school's website.

Before you get started, contact your roommate. See who has a TV, a fridge, a rug ect. Agree whether to share or not. 

Step #1: Think of everything you do on a regular day to get ready for school and bring all of that stuff.

Step #2: Pack the clothes you need, based on your circumstances. For example, If you are going to school close to home, there's no ned to bring 100% of your wardrobe. Or if you are going to Montana, don't bring a bunch of shorts.

Step #3: Storage solutions: Hanging closet things, bed risers, storage cubes, sacks. If you know you have a lot of something, think of a way to store it.

Step #4: Don't worry about forgetting something, wherever you are going has stores too.

Step #5: Try to pack as compactly as possible. If your family has a hand-truck, bring it. Move-in day will be crowded and hectic you want to make as few trips up and down stairs as possible.  

My freshman year dorm room.
Notice the orange shower caddy& purple "file cabinet" 

Bare NECESSITIES

Bed set with 2 sets of sheets and a mattress pad

Alarm clock*

Trash can

Desk lamp

Computer and charger

Assorted storage

Toiletries

Clothing

Cleaning products

Your ID, Social security card, birth certificate, insurance info and bank info 

Food*

*(your phone can serve as an alarm clock,  you can buy food when you get there)

TOILETRIES*

*(these can be bought when you get there, but if you like a particular brand you may want them ahead of time)

SHOWER SHOES!

Pouf/bath gloves (no wash cloth)

Large bath towels (and or) Robe*

(2 Bottles each) of shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, razors and body lotion. 

2 toothbrushes and toothpaste, mouthwash, and floss.

Face wash and moisturizer.

Hair products including styling products, tools, accessories (hair ties), and deep treatments.

Cotton balls, makeup remover swabs/Q-tips, nail care, etc.

Perfume/Cologne/Body spray

2-3 Deodorants

A shower Caddy and 1 storage bin to hold them all

(in a co-ed dorm, anyone could be on your hall when you get out of the shower, so it’s a good idea to be covered up )

Sophmore year, my bed is on the right. 

Food* 

(all of these can be bought on arrival)

Your favorite non-perishable items

Something to eat/drink them out of

Box of plastic spoons & forks

A Brita pitcher

Storage Suggestions

My food bin & my hair bin on top of my fridge.
Pink storage unit under the bed 

1 bin for extra toiletries

1-2 for food and Cups, plates ect.

Closet hanging shoe/jeans rack

An under bed unit. Plastic or cloth*

A large duffel bag/suitcase/ can act as a storage unit too*

A large nylon laundry bag *

(depending on how many/few clothes and shoes you are bringing, don't buy suitcases unless you are going on a plane)

DESK

Desk organizer

Filing system

Books

Pen holders

Lamp

Printer

Dry Erase board

MISC. 

Laundry detergent

Iron & mini board

Hangers

A fan

A fridge

TV w/ cable cord

Ethernet cord

A printer

DVD player and dvds

Gaming Console and controllers

Band-Aids & Neosporin

Scissors and tape

UNNECESSARY ITEMS

Drawer organizers

Bed risers

Shoes under

Laptop locks

Large shoe racks

All your clothes/shoes/accessories

Anything expensive/irreplaceable

RECOMMENDED STORES

Walmart

Target

5 and below

Dollar stores

how to survive a college party part 1

Lesson one :Crazy things happen on college nights out. Here is how to deal J

Exhibit A: On campus sponsored party. (I.e. not a house party)

This party may be some sort of welcome back to campus type deal. It may be an annual bash. It could be thrown by a frat, campus orgs, or student unions. No matter what it’s probably going to be packed and live.

This is how you will survive

        I.                              

1. ALWAYS have a fully charged battery on your cell phone!!!!
2. Get a ticket. You may have to stand in line, you may feel like such a freshman being all brand new but you are going to want to be there so just suck it up.
3.  Get a group. As a female, you don’t want to approach a campus wide event alone you need support, you need a circle of friends to dance in, and you need people on your side to pull you away from the creepers and uglies.     
4. For males, its okay for you to be in a group, but you may want to disperse. And sharp female can sense a pack of dudes coming and will gather her girls and relocate. For guys I recommend no more than two or three travel together.
5. Get dressed. This will depend on the fashion atmosphere of your school. If you go to a “fashion show everyday” type school you are going to want to amp it up, think heels. For my school it’s pretty much a tee and sweats type place, flats all the way. For the party I went to there was everything to tank and shorts to dresses and heels so I felt a happy medium. (I was kind of overdressed for my group. But hey, what’s wrong with standing out J)
6.  Males please shower, that’s all we ask.
7.  Makeup? I love makeup so I put some on, but for an on campus party, it’s not needed at all.
8.  Meet up in a friend’s room near the party location. Here comes the real question: To pregame or not to pregame? I would say no, or at least do so minimally. There is more security involved with parties like this and you don’t want to be caught. Be smart. Don’t be sloppy. But I would never tell you to drink what kind of person would I be! So you are all gathered in so and so’s room…
9. PHOTOSHOOT
10. Get there. If it’s on campus then it’s not far away. Aim to leave your room thirty minutes after the party start time. This way you definitely won’t be first and the party will really be getting started when you walk in. 
11. Dancing. Do it…Dance alone, dance with your friends, dance with the opposite sex and enjoy yourself. You don’t have to dance with every guy who asks. Snatch your friends if they are dancing with someone who is not respecting them. (in appropriate hand placement, her giving you the help me look, etc)
12. Males please note: we don’t like to be grabbed and fondled or bent over by strangers. We don’t have to dance with you if we don’t want to. Maybe we are tired or don’t like the song, don’t be so sensitive and stop calling us bitches for it.
13. Take breaks! Go to the bathroom, freshen up, you’re going to be sweaty and get some water because you’re going to be tired out. Especially after the reggae mix.
14. Hold hands! Physically connect to each other so no one gets lost in the crowd.
15. Party’s over! Don’t just go back to your room. Ride the high of a good party and partake in McDonalds, Taco Bell whatever you got, take after pictures, and build memories. You made it.  

party hard loves, jessica 

(life) get out. leave! right now.

Hey y’all

This is actually my first “life” post! I'm actually surprised that it has taken me this long. At first I thought the blog would be mostly these little journalings. Yes I made up a word.

I'm currently packing up my room at home in preparation for the big move Thursday. I'm toooooooooo excited to get the bloop outta here. I will miss my big sis though!

Last year I had a grand plan for decorating and organizing my dorm room. The colors were going to be orange (my fave), purple, and pink. However, that got derailed when my bedding arrived and it was lime green and turquoise. Womp.

Since I still want my orange and purple room, I’m going to stop neong cheap and get new bedding. I want this amazing Zebra print thick blanket for 20 dollars on overstock, purple silk pillow cases (silk is better for hair), and a short orange shelve unit which may double as a night stand.

It sucks because I actually won’t be able to go dorm shopping ahead of time because I have to work and everyone else is too lazy to take me places. I'm actually thinking of ordering my toiletries and necessities online. Did you know walmart dot com sells products in super saver packs? They have everything from body wash to tampons buy one get one.     

I guess we will see. But I cannot wait to get these couple days I have left here over with. I probably won’t be making any videos or anything until I actually get there. Three days and three hours (drive). Woot woot.

Waiting patiently

-jessica 

College Tips

Hello People!

I'm making a series of videos for incoming college freshmen. You know,  just giving any  tips and advice I can think of that may be helpful.

here are the first two

In case you don’t feel like sitting through 20 minutes of video here are some of the things I talk about and some I don’t.

-stay focused and keep the faith. No matter what happens, you always have to remember that you are at school to get an education and your work needs to be you r number one priority. It’s easy to get caught up in your social life, parties, or even groups and organizations, but in the end if you don’t have the grades, you can lose it all.  If you do catch yourself slipping, don’t beat yourself up either! GO out find an advisor/teacher/upperclassmen and get yourself some help.

-don’t be too proud to ask for help. Remember you aren’t the only one! College is a lot harder than high school not only academically, you now have to deal with a whole new way of life in a new place, that’s a lot on a 18-year-old.

-plan plan plan You are in charge of your own school work/life so you cannot take a passive role. Get out your planner, your syllabi, and your facebook event page and take control