Financial Aid Night at VHS

VERNON — Vernon Township High School will host a free one-hour Financial Aid Night on Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m. geared to parents of college-bound high school sophomores and juniors. Al Newell, an advisor with Solutions for College Funding, Inc. will discuss college funding issues. According to Newell, there are several easy things parents can do to substantially increase the amount of money they get from colleges. For example, “There are several schools that historically give better financial aid packages than others,” he said. “If families do proper income and asset planning before filling out the forms, they can increase eligibility by thousands of dollars.” He offers a few simple tips: Make sure not to over-value a home on the financial aid form. Try not to save money in the child’s name; it weighs more heavily than parents’ savings Don’t be afraid to negotiate with a college for a better financial aid package. Newell will distribute a free booklet explaining the nine most common college funding problems and solutions.