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San Jac warns about financial aid ads
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San Jacinto College’s financial aid office has received several reports of direct mail marketing aimed at San Jacinto College students, which mentions San Jacinto College without permission.
The solicitations offer to help San Jacinto College students to find financial aid to pay for their college. According to Robert Merino, director of San Jacinto College’s financial aid services, the mail-outs include the name of San Jacinto College in such a way that many could easily assume the company is affiliated with the College, however, that is not the case. The company also charges a fee of $49 for the service.
“Although their material does not state that San Jacinto College has a relationship with them, our students are confused because the College is listed in their solicitation letter,” Merino commented.
The company, which charges students for searching for financial aid opportunities, is not associated with San Jacinto College in any way. “To my knowledge, they have not requested permission to use the College’s name,” Merino stated. “Our students need to know that the College does not endorse third-party companies who claim to find educational funds for a fee. Actually, we discourage students from paying any entity to find money for their education because federal and state financial assistance can be obtained free of charge. San Jacinto College provides financial aid services with very capable employees who will help students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at no charge.”
The FAFSA is the only financial aid application accepted by the U.S. Department of Education. Students who need assistance with completing the FAFSA should visit the financial aid services office at any of the three San Jacinto College campuses.
Office hours during the academic year are: Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. Office hours during the Summer term (May 12 to Aug. 8) are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday.
In addition to promising to help San Jacinto College students to find financial aid, the company also claims to offer other services, such as explaining financial aid myths and misconceptions, warning students about scams, explaining college tax credits, and providing strategies to qualify for merit-based scholarships.
Merino says San Jacinto College’s financial aid employees provide the same services at no cost to students.
Merino also warns that students should be wary about giving out personal information. “With the threat of identification theft, San Jacinto College recommends that students do not give any personal information to unknown entities,” he remarked. “Once students give out their information, they never know where that information will end up.”
San Jacinto College offers free assistance to anyone wanting information about college financial aid resources at each of its three campuses.
The North campus is located at 5800 Uvalde Road in the North Channel area.
The Central campus is located at 8060 Spencer Highway in Pasadena.
San Jacinto College South is located at 13735 Beamer in the South Belt, Ellington area.
For more information about financial aid, call 281-998-6150, or visit www.sanjac.edu and click the “Future Students” link, and then click the “Financial Aid” link.
The solicitations offer to help San Jacinto College students to find financial aid to pay for their college. According to Robert Merino, director of San Jacinto College’s financial aid services, the mail-outs include the name of San Jacinto College in such a way that many could easily assume the company is affiliated with the College, however, that is not the case. The company also charges a fee of $49 for the service.
“Although their material does not state that San Jacinto College has a relationship with them, our students are confused because the College is listed in their solicitation letter,” Merino commented.
The company, which charges students for searching for financial aid opportunities, is not associated with San Jacinto College in any way. “To my knowledge, they have not requested permission to use the College’s name,” Merino stated. “Our students need to know that the College does not endorse third-party companies who claim to find educational funds for a fee. Actually, we discourage students from paying any entity to find money for their education because federal and state financial assistance can be obtained free of charge. San Jacinto College provides financial aid services with very capable employees who will help students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at no charge.”
The FAFSA is the only financial aid application accepted by the U.S. Department of Education. Students who need assistance with completing the FAFSA should visit the financial aid services office at any of the three San Jacinto College campuses.
Office hours during the academic year are: Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. Office hours during the Summer term (May 12 to Aug. 8) are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday.
In addition to promising to help San Jacinto College students to find financial aid, the company also claims to offer other services, such as explaining financial aid myths and misconceptions, warning students about scams, explaining college tax credits, and providing strategies to qualify for merit-based scholarships.
Merino says San Jacinto College’s financial aid employees provide the same services at no cost to students.
Merino also warns that students should be wary about giving out personal information. “With the threat of identification theft, San Jacinto College recommends that students do not give any personal information to unknown entities,” he remarked. “Once students give out their information, they never know where that information will end up.”
San Jacinto College offers free assistance to anyone wanting information about college financial aid resources at each of its three campuses.
The North campus is located at 5800 Uvalde Road in the North Channel area.
The Central campus is located at 8060 Spencer Highway in Pasadena.
San Jacinto College South is located at 13735 Beamer in the South Belt, Ellington area.
For more information about financial aid, call 281-998-6150, or visit www.sanjac.edu and click the “Future Students” link, and then click the “Financial Aid” link.
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