 INSIDE:
College is an investment
in your future
Going to college is possibly the best
investment you can make. It's an investment in yourself and
in your future.
 You'll earn a higher income over
your working life with a college diploma. In fact, the average starting
salary of a George Brown graduate is more than $32,000 a year. Graduates
can expect to see their incomes rise, year after year.
You have increased
job options and career flexibility with a college diploma: You'll
be more in demand by employers and can choose to change jobs and
advance in your career.
You'll spend a good part of your life
working, so it makes sense to find a career that suits your skills
and personality. A
successful working life – successful on your terms – is
a big part of a happy life.  Planning
your finances
STEP 1. FIGURE OUT YOUR EXPENSES
This isn't rocket science but it may require some research.
Get a piece of paper and write down a list of all college expenses.
Include:
- Tuition*
- Other college fees*
- Books, materials, uniforms or tools*
- Transportation
- Clothes
- Housing expenses
- Living expenses: food, phone, entertainment,
gifts, etc.
- Taxes. If you've been working
you may face a tax bill.
If
you need help calculating expenses, use the budget calculator
at www.canlearn.ca.
The total of your expenses is the amount of money you'll
need for each year of college.
*Go on the web to www.georgebrown.ca
or call your academic department to find out what these will
cost.
Note for international students: The financial assistance,
awards, scholarships and bursaries listed in this brochure
are for Canadian
students.
Go to www.georgebrown.ca/interntl/local/financialtitle.aspx for
financial assistance options for international students.
STEP
2. CALCULATE YOUR INCOME
Income can come from a variety of sources, including:
- Savings you've put aside for college
- Gifts
of money or loans from parents or other people
- Scholarships
- Awards and bursaries
- Government student loans
- Government tuition support
for unemployed people
- Money you will earn from a part-time
job while in college
Try to
get as much income as possible from non-repayable sources such
as savings, gifts, part-time job earnings, awards and scholarships.
This is money that you don't have to pay back in the future.
You have to pay off student loans with interest, over time, starting
six months after you graduate. STEP 3. CREATE A FINANCIAL PLAN
If you have more income than expenses, you're laughing. But
if you have more expenses than income, you need to make a plan
and take action. If the amount is small you could look for ways
to reduce your expenses to make up the difference or increase the
number of part-time hours you work each month. If the financial
gap is larger, you will have to try to find ways to increase income:
ask for contributions from relatives, take out a student loan or
search for more bursaries. Student
loans
 Most
George Brown students get loans under the Ontario Student Assistance
Program, which is almost always
called "OSAP". In the 2004/05 academic year, George
Brown College students received $36 million in OSAP loans and grants. You
must be taking at least 60 per cent of a full-time program to qualify.
If you have a permanent disability you can qualify for OSAP if
you are taking at least a 40 per cent course load. After you graduate
from college, you start to pay off any OSAP loans and grants.
The
best source
of up-to-date information about OSAP loans, including repayment
conditions, is the OSAP website at http://osap.gov.on.ca.
OSAP loans are not intended to pay for all your college expenses.
They
just help with money to make college feasible for more people.
HOW
TO APPLY FOR AN OSAP LOAN
If you are an Ontario resident, you can apply for an OSAP student
loan by completing and returning an OSAP application form – online
or paper. George Brown College's Financial Assistance Office
will provide you with helpful information about applying for OSAP
and can assist you in completing the application form.
There are two ways to apply:
- Online: Apply
online for FREE at http://osap.gov.on.ca from
any computer with Internet access. For
your convenience, George Brown
applicants
may apply online at George Brown College's Library/Learning
Commons.
Help will be available during June, July and August. Where: Library/Learning
Commons, St. James Campus, 200 King Street East,
Room 131. Fill out the "Apply to OSAP Online" coupon
and present it to the Library/Learning Commons.
- Paper: Download
and print an OSAP application from http://osap.gov.on.ca and follow the instructions. There is a paper application fee of
$10.
WHEN TO APPLY
Your OSAP application should be received 2 months before your
classes start. If your application is received after classes
start you
may get a reduced loan amount. For more information, please
call 416-415- 5000 ext 2476 or 416-415-5000 ext. 4062.
OSAP APPLICATION
TIPS
Three important points to remember when applying:
- To
complete an OSAP application without reference to anyone else's
information you must be 'independent'. To be considered 'independent'
you must have been out of high school for two years not studying
or four years if you have been studying full time. If you are not
'independent', your parents will need to complete part of your
application.
If you are separated, divorced, widowed or have a child living
with you
and are a sole support parent you complete the application
on your own. If you are married your spouse/partner also
completes
the application.
- George Brown College's Financial Assistance Office must be
notified about any changes from the time of your OSAP application
such as your address, income, course load and marital status.
Future OSAP depends on correct information.
- After applying for OSAP, you may check the status of your application
online at http://osap.gov.on.ca.
For detailed information call 416-415-5000 ext 2476
or 1-800-265-2002, ext. 2476, or
416-415-5000, ext. 4062 or go
to http://www.georgebrown.ca/financialaid You
can also visit the St. James Campus Financial Assistance Office in
the Student Service Centreat 200 King Street East or the Casa Loma
Campus Office at 160 Kendal Ave., in the Student Service Centre.
At Ryerson Campus, we are in
the Sally
Horsfall Eaton Centre, room 611.
Apply to OSAP online
If you don' t have web access from home or somewhere else (friend,
library , community centre, etc), these coupons entitle you to three
visits to the Library/Learning
Commons at St. James
Campus (200 King St. E. Room 131) to apply for OSAP online.
Complete
and present one coupon per visit. Cut out coupons as required.
1ST
VISIT
COUPON
NAME:
STUDENT #:
PROGRAM:
2ND VISIT
COUPON
NAME:
STUDENT #:
PROGRAM:
3RD VISIT
COUPON
NAME:
STUDENT #:
PROGRAM:
 Awards, scholarships and
financial
assistance
Last year, George Brown College students received
$4.5 million in scholarships, bursaries, and awards, including:
GEORGE
BROWN COLLEGE ENTRANCE AWARDS
Thirty-nine (39) George Brown College Entrance Awards,
in amounts of $1,000 and $500, will be offered
for students starting the 2006/2007 academic year.
See the "Entrance Awards Application" booklet
for your application form.
CHILD CARE BURSARY
This bursary provides funding if you are a student with more than
two children who require public or private daycare. You must
qualify for OSAP to receive this bursary.
BURSARY FOR STUDENTS
WITH DISABILITIES
This bursary provides funding for students who require special
equipment or services because of a disability. Each applicant
must be assessed
for the need for funding and must qualify for OSAP.
CANADA PART-TIME
STUDENT LOAN AND/OR SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY GRANT
This program funds part-time, post-secondary studies for students
who are registered in at least 20 per cent and up to 59 per
cent of a full-time course load.
GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE EMERGENCY
FUND
This fund provides immediate financial assistance for unforeseen
situations caused by theft, fire, illness, or accident
that put you at financial risk of leaving college.
GEORGE BROWN
COLLEGE STUDENT ASSISTANCE FUND
This fund provides bursaries to students who are in good
academic standing but may not be able to complete their
studies due
to financial circumstances.
ONTARIO WORK STUDY PROGRAM
If you are an OSAP-eligible student, this program provides
funds for part-time employment at George Brown College.
Students must
find their own jobs. Apply early in the school year.
Get info at the Financial
Assistance Office.
WORK STUDY PROGRAM
This program is the same as the Ontario Work Study
Program, but applies to students who are not OSAP-eligible.
CANADIAN
MILLENNIUM SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION AWARDS
This award, with a value of $3,000, is available
for students with the highest assessed need (based
on their OSAP application) and who meet all other eligibility requirements.
No separate application is needed. See the OSAP
website at http://osap.gov.on.ca for details. If
you receive this scholarship, it replaces your loan but does not
increase your eligible OSAP amount.
AIMING FOR THE TOP SCHOLARSHIP
These scholarships, renewable for up to four years,
are given to students starting college in the
fall who have
graduated
from high
school in the year 2006, and have high marks
and financial need (based on their OSAP application).
No separate application form
is necessary.
The OSAP application must be made by June 15,
2006 for Fall 2006 scholarships.
* For the complete list of OSAP loans and grants
see osap.gov.on.ca web site. GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR EMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE (EI) ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:
People who are currently eligible for Employment
Insurance benefits, or who have been eligible
in the last three
years (five years
for maternal or parental leave), may apply
for support under the Skills
Development Program for a George Brown program.
Support may include tuition, books and materials,
living
expenses, accommodation
and transportation for the duration of the
program. For information contact your local Human Resource
Centre (in the blue government
section
of your phone book) or go on the web to the
Human Resources Development
Canada site at http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca
OTHER COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS:
Awards and scholarships are listed online at:
www.georgebrown.ca/financialaid/06awards.aspx
Please note that the vast majority of scholarships
and awards are given to students in their
second and/or graduating
years.
Note for international students: For
financial assistance information, go to www.georgebrown.ca/interntl/local/financialtitle.aspx
 Tips and advice
- Control your cash flow: Find out when
big college bills are coming due to make sure that you can cover
the cost.
- Apply for all awards, bursaries and
scholarships you
can possibly qualify for. Who knows, you might be the only applicant?
- If you apply for an OSAP loan (even
if you don't eventually qualify for one) your fees will be deferred
until later in the Fall and you only need to pay a small amount
upfront in the Summer ($145 last year).
- If you're in a financial crunch, don't
just walk away from college, talk to Financial Assistance Office
staff who are experienced in helping students. They may help
you develop ways to pay your bills and stay in college.
- Search for scholarships or awards based
on your individual situation (i.e. hometown, ethnic origin, parents'
employers, etc.) using the online resources listed on the "Where
to get help" section.
- Cut college costs when you can. For example, buy used textbooks,
and sell the books when you are finished with them.
- Don't get caught in a credit trap. Students are flooded with
credit card offers when they start college. Some jump at the
chance, spend too much too
soon and are stuck with high monthly interest charges for years.
- Set a weekly budget while in college – and stick to
it. That way, your money will last longer and you won't
be in a crisis after a few months.
 Where to get help
1. George Brown's Financial Assistance
Office:
Call 416-415-5000 ext. 2476 or
1-800-265-2002, ext. 2476, or 416-415-5000, ext. 4062 or go to http://www.georgebrown.ca/financialaid
Visit the St. James Campus Financial Assistance
Office in the
Main Lobby at 200 King Street East or the Casa Loma Campus
office at 160 Kendal Ave., Room 308.
2. Check out the following websites:
www.canlearn.ca
osap.gov.on.ca
www.studentawards.com
www.scholarshipscanada.com
|
PROGRAMS AND COURSES 
