Completing the FAFSA

I. Everyone should complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online. *The only people who should not apply are students who are undocumented.

II. The FAFSA (Free Application for Financial Aid) form must be completed online. The FAFSA website is: http://www.fafsa.gov *Beware websites that charge you to complete the application. You should complete the application for 2012-2013.

You should complete the FAFSA as soon after January 1st as possible. You do not have to wait until your taxes are done, although it is better to do your taxes early and file your FAFSA after that if you can. If you use your parents' 2010 taxes, or estimate your income, you will have to go back in to the FAFSA and correct later, when you have 2011 taxes.

III. In order to apply for FAFSA online, parents and students will both need PINs.  This will serve as your online signature once you complete the application. You must get your PIN before filling out the FAFSA. The PIN website is: http://www.pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/pinindex.jsp                                     

IV. Worksheets to help you through the process are available here: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1112/pdf/PdfFafsa11-12.pdf

V.  As the funds for financial aid are finite, it is best to complete this application as soon as possible.

VI. You can only list 10 schools at a time on the FAFSA. Put in your first 10, and wait for the confirmation email containing your SAR. Then, call each school's financial aid office to confirm that they've received it. Once a school has received it, you can erase them from your FAFSA and enter the code for another school to send again.

Completing TAP

TAP Tuition Assistance Program for students attending college in New York State

I. After completing the FAFSA, students who applied to schools in New York State must complete the TAP Application.

II. The NYS Higher Education Services Corporation website also has clear definitions of the types of grants, loans, and scholarships available to students: www.hesc.com.

III. You can only choose one NY school to list on the TAP. Once you decide on the NY school you will attend in the fall, you can go back in to TAP and make the change, if necessary.

Completing the CSS profile

I. Many, not all, schools require that you also complete a CSS profile in addition to the FAFSA. CUNY and SUNY do not.  You should complete the application for 2012-2013.

II. Those schools that require the CSS profile are very strict about the deadlines for its submission. 

III. There is a $25 fee for the initial application and a $16 fee for each school report. Eligibility for fee waivers will be determined by the financial information entered in the application.

IV. The CSS Profile website is: https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/index.jsp

V. A list of the schools that require the CSS profile are available here: https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet.srv

Financial Aid Workshops   

PTA Financial Aid Night. HSTAT, Thursday, January 19th, at 6:30pm.  Professionals  from the financial aid office at St. Francis College will be present to guide parents, guardians and students through the financial aid application process.

Sunset Park High School. Friday, January 13th, from 3:30 to 6:30pm. 153 35th St. Get help completing your FAFSA. Be sure to bring the FAFSA worksheet with you.

New York's College Goal Sunday College Goal Sunday will host online application help sessions at 24 locations across New York State. Plan to attend the event near you to get free, hands-on professional help with filling out your FAFSA. Register to attend online.

Kingsborough College Ongoing Info and Financial Aid Workshops. Call the Kingsborough Financial Aid office for details.

SUNY Statewide Financial Aid Days January 21st and February 11th: Free workshops available at many different campus locations. Pre-registration available online or by contacting the SUNY Recruitment Response Center at 800.342.3811.

*HSTAT Computer Lab Workshop. Professionals from Kingsborough College will assist you in filing your FAFSA online. Limited seats available. Sign up to attend in the College Office, first-come, first-served.

You must reserve your seat in advance:

1. Sign up in the College Office, room 108.

2. Bring in copies of your parents' W-2s and tax forms and show them to Ms. Boulay or Ms. Terry in room 108 by February 3rd. (You can bring in 2010 or 2011 taxes.) 

3. Ask your period 8 teacher to sign your pass.

4. SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY! Register for this workshop here and your name will be entered for a scholarship! Click on Event Location #21 "Brooklyn-on-the-Bay" and register to attend.

Financial Aid Resources:

Information on New York State's Financial Aid services is available at: www.hesc.com

Scholarships

The money is out there! Apply for scholarships now!

Websites helpful for understanding financial aid:

http://www.makingitcount.com/parents/start/default.asp A financial aid presentation

https://fafsa4caster.ed.gov/F4CApp/spring/login?locale= A financial aid predictor

www.http://apps.collegeboard.com/fincalc/efc_welcome.jsp A financial aid predictor

www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/what010.htm A list of the types of financial aid available

www.http://questions.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/19/college-and-money-ask-the-expert/?scp=2&sq=financial%20aid&st=cse A list of financial aid questions answered by financial aid officers

 www.hesc.com   NY State’s website for financial aid

Edifi Financial Aid Services