By Jamey Padojino, Courier Staff Writer
The beginning of the new year for college-bound seniors means applying for financial aid.
The main one that all colleges and counselors are reminding their seniors is the FAFSA, which stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The application is available online and paper.
Filing became available on January 1st and ends on Tuesday, March 2nd.
Some colleges around the area require that students file their FAFSA by February 1st to be considered for financial aid on time.
Filing a FAFSA is generally entering personal information along with your parent or guardian’s financial stance, which can be found by looking at tax returns. The returns from the most recent fiscal year need to be used, which for this year’s application would be 2008.
So if receiving financial is really filling out an application, why does it sound harder than it seems to be? It could possibly because seniors don’t know a lot about financial aid in general. Senior Alex Chan says “I’m sort of intimidated by filling out the FAFSA. I only know that it can help pay for college.”
In addition, financial aid packets are still in the Career Center. There are less than thirty left and will be available until the last one is taken.
Ms. Hart encourages students to attend the Cash for College Nights, scheduled at The Spot for more information on student loans, state grants, and other type of financial aid. There are two meetings scheduled one is next Thursday, January 15 and another on Thursday, February 19. Both meetings begin at 6:30PM.
If you attend one of the two meetings, you will be entered in a drawing for $1000 towards college. The only condition is that a FAFSA must be filed by March 2.
Ms. Hart adds, “If you attend, the drawing will only be among the other students who attend that same meeting. The ratio for the students receiving the $1000 is 15:1.”
To get more information (or begin filing!), visit http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
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