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 The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is
participating in the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s annual Money
Smart Week® by highlighting opportunities for financial education,
and providing free resources and tools to help students and families
better manage finances before, during and after college.
“Knowledge is power, and families who learn more about money
management can better compare options, benefits and risks, when it
comes to financial aid and student loans, consumer financial
products, and more,” said Eric Zarnikow, executive director of ISAC.
“We want every family to have the information they need to make
informed choices. The free Money Smart Week® events and resources,
along with the tools and assistance offered by ISAC, can be
particularly helpful for those families who might not otherwise have
access to financial literacy programs—and can help students better
prepare for life after high school.”
Check out ISAC’s Money Smart Week® tips for students and families:
Learn about Money Management:
Attend a Money Smart Week® event! More than 500 free
educational classes, seminars and activities will take place in the
Chicagoland area and across the state, including two ISAC-sponsored
events in DeKalb and Roscoe Illinois. For information on Money Smart
Week® events visit moneysmartweek.org, and if you don’t see an event
in your area, you’ll find videos and other resources on the Money
Smart Week® website.
Play the Claim Your Future® game, https://isac.claimyourfuture.com/,
available through the ISAC Student Portal. An interactive experience
for middle school and up, the game encourages exploration of
education and training after high school, future careers, and money
management.
Make informed choices about life after high school:
Education after high school can boost your lifetime earning
potential. Four years of college is not for everyone, but studies
show that those who have at least some education after high school,
whether a certificate, two-year or four-year degree, earn more than
those with only a high school education, and have more career
options.
Get free help with the college-going and financial
aid process! The ISACorps can assist you in making more informed
choices about education after high school that will fit your
interests, skills, financial circumstances and needs.
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A group of recent college graduates trained in
college access and financial aid who act as near-peer mentors to
high school students, the ISACorps can help you identify the schools
that are right for you, assist you with your college applications,
and help you access the financial aid for which you may be eligible.
Visit studentportal. isac.org/isacorps to find the ISACorps member
in your area and check out our free events, studentportal. isac.org/
Events, during Money Smart Week and throughout the year!
Find scholarships, compare financial aid award letters, calculate
financial aid, and more by checking out the tools and resources on
the ISAC Student Portal, studentportal.isac.org.
If you are able to attend college
full-time, take 15 to Finish.
Taking 15 credits each semester (30 credits a year),
will help keep you on track to graduate on-time. That can help you
save money, reduce student debt, and start earning money faster.
Learn more at https://bit.
ly/2rYLahR and talk to your academic advisor about how to
complete your program on-time!
Many Illinois college students still struggle to find enough money
to pay for tuition, fees, and all the other expenses related to
college—such as rent and food. Indeed, as many as 35% of Illinois
college students may not have enough to eat. No student should have
to forego food in order to pay for tuition, fees, books and housing.
There is help available, and ISAC has compiled a list of Food
Pantries for College Students in Illinois. In addition, some
students are eligible to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP). You can learn more about SNAP and other
resources by calling the Illinois Hunger Hotline at 1-800-359-2163.
About ISAC
The mission of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is
to help make college accessible and affordable for students
throughout Illinois. ISAC provides comprehensive, objective, and
timely information on education and financial aid for students and
their families—giving them access to the tools they need to make the
educational choices that are right for them. Then, through the state
scholarship and grant programs ISAC administers, ISAC can help
students make those choices a reality. Find us at isac.org
[Illinois Student Assistance
Commission]
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