Post #3: Now what?
Now that Orientation Week is well underway (and I hope you’re enjoying yourselves), here are some things to consider.
Financing Law School
Law School is a great investment in yourself, but it is very costly. In addition to tuition, you have to fund housing, groceries, books, travel, cell phone, the Internet, and other programs (including O-Week).
Funds from previous work experience and family contributions may not be enough – but there are options. Here are just three of them:
- Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
OSAP provides provincial and federal financial aid for post-secondary studies. Although you will need to provide personal information (including your name, address, date of birth, and Social Insurance Number) you no longer need to provide any of your parents’ income information. As an independent student, you may be eligible for a higher rate of funding than in your undergraduate studies.
The best part of the OSAP loan process is that you DO NOT incur any interest while in school. During the first six months after graduation, you DO NOT need to make any loan payments, and you DO NOT pay any interest on the Ontario portion of the loan.
The amount of funding you receive is determined on a case-by-case basis. You may receive grants from the government – this is money that you DO NOT need to pay back - ever!
Also, the most you will need to pay back for a 2-term academic year is $7300. In other words, if you receive a loan (excluding grants) of anything more than $7300, it is essentially a gift.
Attached below is the link to the OSAP webpage.
https://osap.gov.on.ca/OSAPSecurityWeb/public/agreement.xhtml
If you have additional questions, feel free to go to Financial Services!
http://www1.uwindsor.ca/awards/
- Grants and Scholarships
As a Law Student, you are eligible for grants and scholarships from the school. Some are available based on academic achievements, volunteerism, leadership, and others based on financial need. It is very easy to apply, and the money you receive is FREE!
The list of awards can be found on the link below.
http://www1.uwindsor.ca/law/awards/21/award-for-law-students-with-financial-need
uWindsor has outlined how to apply for these awards in the following link!
http://www1.uwindsor.ca/law/awards/7/how-to-apply-for-on-line-awards
- Line of Credit
uWindsor teams up with Scotia Bank to provide professional students, like us, a personal line of credit. The plan gives students flexible access to funds that can be used for what we need, when we need it. Any money used does incur compounding interest, but it is an important safety net. You can apply for the line of credit at any point, and even if you have it, you do not need to use it.
Learn more about this through the attached link. http://www1.uwindsor.ca/law/awards/8/student-line-of-credit
Getting Connected with uWindsor Social Media
As many of you have already done, be sure to join the PMP Facebook Group. You should also consider joining the “All Years” group, as well as those for any other committees or associations of your interest. Important information will be posted frequently, and it is a really easy way to stay connected.
Set up Internet
Many students have emailed me to ask about Internet in Windsor. The most popular company is Cogeco, which provides TV, Internet, and home phone access. A basic monthly package can cost you as little as approximately $35.00 per month.
There are other companies out there (including Bell) that do provide access. Call around to find the highest speeds for the lowest prices.
Regardless of the company you choose, call to set up the Internet sooner rather than later. It is a busy time to book installations, so it may take a few extra days.
NOTE: The school does have WiFi. You can access the secured or unsecured network with the same username and password used for CLEW and your email. Keep in mind that with any large network, it is common to experience delays at times. I wouldn’t recommend trying to stream any videos at school (especially during the day).
A note from me…
I hope you are finding these posts helpful. This information is for you, so in order to ensure that this is a good resource, please let me know if you have any requests for topics!
I look forward to meeting you all over the year. I am always available for questions. Just email me at lawpeermentor@uwindsor.ca