How to get money for college: Fill out a FAFSA at Super Saturday
Published 10:59 pm Monday, February 16, 2015
In October 2014, my “Putting Education to Work” column focused on the issue of student debt. One of the major debt avoidance strategies discussed centered on financial aid and the need for every high school senior to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
The FAFSA is the application used by nearly all colleges and universities to determine eligibility for student financial assistance.Filing the FAFSA is required in order for students to receive access to Title IV student aid programs, like the Federal Pell Grant and Federal student loans. It also is used by states, colleges and universities in awarding other state-based or institution-based aid. Nonetheless, millions do not file a FAFSA each year, and many who do not may be eligible for federal student aid.
Nationwide, graduating high school seniors eligible for Pell grants who didn’t complete a FAFSA left more than $2.9 billion in free federal grant money on the table. Pell grant money, unlike student loans, need not be repaid. In Texas, almost half of high school seniors do not complete the FAFSA. This equates to $355 million of lost federal Pell grant money, not to mention the lost funds available through scholarships, loans and work study programs. With the Smith County FAFSA completion rate under the state average at 48 percent, more than 1,000 high school seniors are missing out on thousands of dollars each in grant and aid every year by not filling out the FAFSA.
Source: NerdWallet (www.nerdwallet.com)
In response to low national FAFSA completion rates, First Lady Michelle Obama has created the “FAFSA completion challenge” and is encouraging high schools to develop creative ways to get every senior to fill out the FAFSA. She asks for videos of these efforts to be shared on social media and is offering to be the commencement speaker for the school that has the greatest increase in completion.
Jan. 1 marked the start of the 2015-2016 FAFSA season. Since aid is disbursed on a first come, first served basis, the best way for parents and graduating seniors to ensure that they don’t miss out on free federal financial aid is to fill out the FAFSA now.
To assist our area high school seniors with the FAFSA, the East Texas Human Needs Network, Tyler Area Business Education Council, Educate Texas, Smith County independent school districts and area colleges and universities have partnered to plan a FAFSA Super Saturday on Feb. 28.The event is intended to provide assistance for prospective college students and their parents to apply for federal financial aid. Volunteers will work computer stations at four Tyler locations from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., to help individuals complete the FAFSA or the TAFSA (Texas Application for Student Aid) and thus become potentially eligible for financial assistance for post-secondary attainment.
FAFSA Super Saturday locations are: Robert E. Lee High School, John Tyler High School (in computer labs), the Tyler Public Library and the Hispanic Services Center.
The need to support students and families in the financial aid process is more important than ever, particularly in light of the nationwide focus on increasing the number of U.S. residents that possess a postsecondary credential. Studies prove that students who complete a financial aid application are significantly more likely to enroll and persist in postsecondary education.
Please visit www.fafsa.ed.gov and use the “FAFSA4Caster” to learn more about how federal student aid can help pay for college. For questions on the Super Saturday event, send an email to FAFSASuperSaturday@ETHNN.org.
Christi Khalaf is the executive director of the Tyler Area Business Education Council, an initiative of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. Her column appears monthly in the Learning Section.
