Seniors, it’s that time of year! To all of you graduating this semester, first off, congratulations! We will be posting information on the ceremony within the next couple of weeks.

But more importantly, now’s the time to start planning on financing your post-secondary education. Now, a lot of you may be thinking you can’t afford college, but we’re here to say “Yes, you can!” There’s several scholarships you can earn even if you don’t have straight A’s! Another huge benefit is qualifying for financial aid, or money granted to you by the Federal Government, by filling out a Free Application for Student Aid (FASFA) form. This money is granted to college students with lower income, and depending on if you qualify, you can either get approved for a loan or receive a grant, which is money given to you to attend college that you don’t have to pay back! Here’s what you need to know about FASFA.

Items Needed to Complete FAFSA

  • Your social security number
  • OR your Alien Registration number if you are not a U.S. Citizen
  • Your parents’ most recent Tax Return forms, including W2 forms and any other form of income

How to Apply

  • Head to the FAFSA site and start an application
  • You will need to create a PIN number. It can be hard to retrieve if you forget, so make it memorable!
  • Fill out the entire form using the items above.

For more detailed instructions on the application process, check out this Infographic.

A Few Important Things to Note

  • FAFSA opened January 1 and runs through about May
  • The earlier you apply, the better! Students who apply in January are much more likely to receive grants than those in May.
  • If you don’t think you will qualify, apply anyway! It’s free and you won’t know until you try.
  • Many scholarships require a FAFSA form, so if you plan to apply for any scholarships, be sure to complete your FAFSA form this month.
  • The May deadline applies to students attending college in the Fall 2016 semester. Students who are not attending until the Spring 2017 semester have until December 2016 to complete the form, but again, the earlier you apply the better.

No matter your plans after high school, be sure to take the time to fill out a FAFSA form. It certainly won’t hurt, and can potentially give you free money to use toward your education.

For any questions, you can always reach out to your guidance counselor! They are all more than qualified and willing to help you finish the application so that you can get the help you need to get funding for college. They’re available at 480.456.6678.

  • Students, what are your plans after high school? Share with us in the comments below!