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Congressman Donald M. Payne - Proudly Serving New Jersey's 10th Congressional District

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Student Services

Kid's Stuff

Financial Aid for Students

The Basics: Getting Started

Student Aid on the Web provides information on funding education beyond high school, including grants, loans, and work-study assistance to qualified students.

More information on financial assistance for students can be found on our page dedicated to student services, including programs, internships, as well as grants and financial aid.

Start gathering information early. Free information is readily available from the following sources:

High school counselors
College and career school financial aid offices (where you plan to attend)
Local and college libraries

  • Ask questions: counselors may know if you have exceptional circumstances that affect your eligibility.
  • Keep copies of all forms and correspondence: you must reapply for aid each year.

Parents: save money long before your child attends college.

Good overviews:

Beware of scholarship scams – don't pay for free information!

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Federal Student Aid:

Federal Student Aid provides nearly 70% of student aid under loans, grants and work/study programs. Student Aid is available to all need-based applicants. Some loans and competitive scholarships are available for non need-based.

More information about Federal Student Aid can be obtained from the United States Department of Education:

Loans are the most common federal aid and must be repaid when you graduate or leave college.

Scholarships/grants are mostly need-based and require no repayment:

Work study programs allow you to earn money while in school:

For questions not covered by the Department of Education Web site, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243.

States offer residents a variety of scholarships, loans, and tuition exemptions.

Check with your State Higher Education Agency and State Guarantee Agency.

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Targeted Aid for Special Groups

Repaying Your Loans

After college, the federal government has ways to help you repay your loans. Eligibility depends upon the type of loan, when it was made, and whether it's in default. Check with your loan officer to find out if you qualify.

If you are having problems with your loan and all other approaches fail, contact the Department of Education's Office of the Ombudsman.

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Interested in Public Service?

Federal assistance programs seek to encourage people to work in geographic areas or professions where there's a particular need (such as doctors in underserved areas); encourage underrepresented groups to enter a particular profession; and provide aid in exchange for services provided (such as military service).

Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC)
For students who want to be commissioned as officers after graduating from college.

United States Air Force ROTC
United States Army ROTC
United States Navy ROTC

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The CapitolInternship Opportunities

My office is pleased to offer internships to eligible graduate and college-level students in order to further a student's educational and professional goals. An internship in a congressional office affords students with a unique prospective into the manner in which the federal government functions. The internships are unpaid, but I will be glad to help you if you are requesting credit for your internship through your school or university.

Both part-time and full-time internships are available in the Washington, DC and Newark offices. Duties include attending legislative hearings and community meetings, writing briefs, conducting legislative research, drafting correspondence, and performing administrative tasks such as mail processing, data entry, answering telephones, and assisting staff when needed.

Prospective candidates should send an application, cover letter, and resume to the office of their choice.

Interns are accepted throughout the year. Please keep in mind, however, that the summer is a popular time for internships, and there is a limit to the number of interns who may work in the office due to space constraints. Preference will be given to those residing in the tenth district of New Jersey.

If you have any further questions please contact the office in which you wish to apply.

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Sample of a student's art work 10th Congressional District Art Competition

This competition, entitled "An Artistic Discovery", takes place during the month of April and is part of a nationwide program to encourage young people to utilize visual arts as a medium for self expression. All high school students in the 10th Congressional District are invited to participate.

The 10th Congressional District Art Competition allows beginners and advanced art students to create a "personal masterpiece" and have it displayed in a professional museum for others to enjoy. For the past several years, the competition has received tremendous support from the Newark Museum, which has provided a prestigious venue for the art competition display, and a reception for parents, students and teachers. All students who participate receive certificates and prizes. The grand prize winner has his or her artwork displayed in the United States Capitol Building for an entire year. Later, he or she will travel to Washington, D.C. to participate in a national ceremony with other winners from around the country. Should you have any questions about the 10th Congressional District Art Competition, or, to find out how students and schools can participate, please feel free to contact my Essex County Office at (973)-645-3213.

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United States FlagUnited States Service Academies

Each year I make nominations to the United States Air Force, Military and Naval Academies. These post-secondary institutions are among our nation's most challenging in higher education. In addition, all academy graduates go on to become commissioned officers in our nation's armed forces. Interested students are encouraged to seek admission.

Receiving a Congressional nomination is quite an accomplishment, however, it does not guarantee acceptance to the academies. It is important that students who are interested in seeking admission to one of the service academies, set academic and physical fitness goals now.

Nominations are made during the month of December of a prospective cadet's senior year in high school. It is never too early or too late to begin preparing for college, so I encourage all students to plan conscientiously.

Any high school student interested in attending one of the academies, or, anyone who would like to obtain additional information about the academy nomination process should contact my Essex County Office at (973)-645-3213. My office can also arrange for representatives of the academies to visit schools.

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Washington, DC Office
2310 Rayburn House Office Building · Washington, District of Columbia 20515
Phone: (202)-225-3436    Fax: (202)-225-4160
District Offices
50 Walnut Street, Suite 1016
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Phone: (973)-645-3213 · Fax: (973)-645-5902 		333 North Broad Street
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07208
Phone: (908)-629-0222 · Fax: (908)-629-0221 		253 Martin Luther King Drive
Jersey City, New Jersey 07305
Phone: (201)-369-0392 · Fax: (201)-369-0395
 
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