UPCOMING EVENTS!
What: FAFSA Night (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
Where: AHS Commons
When: Thursday, January 17th, 5:00pm-6:30pm
Why: Completing the FAFSA allows students to apply for federal and state student aid, grants, loans, and work-study positions at their college. Additionally, most institutional and/or local/national scholarships require students to complete the FAFSA regardless of whether or not they qualify for federal/state student aid.
Who: Any senior (and their parent/guardian) who will be attending college
What documents will I need to bring with me to complete the FAFSA?
In order to complete the FAFSA at the FAFSA night event, you and your parents will need your 2014 federal tax records. You will need to refer to the following:
Social Security number
Driver's license (if any)
2014 W-2 Forms and other records of money earned
2014 untaxed income records - Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans benefits records
Your 2014 bank statements
2014 business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond, and other investment records
Your alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
If possible, BEFORE YOU COME please register for a Personal Identification Number or PIN at www.pin.ed.gov . This will allow you to electronically sign your FAFSA for faster processing. You will need one PIN for the student, and one PIN for ONE of the parents. If a parent has already created a PIN for an older sibling, they do not need to create a new one (can use their PIN for all their children going to college). However, EACH student will need to have a PIN of their own.
Who should attend the FAFSA event?
Any SENIOR interested in attending higher education, who might need financial assistance in paying for college. Bring your parent(s) or legal guardian with you to the program. Even if you don't need financial assistance, you should still complete the FAFSA, as many scholarships require you to have completed it whether or not you qualify for federal aid.
Will I need to complete my 2014 tax return before completing the FAFSA?
If the student or his/her parent(s) are filing a 2014 income tax return, we recommend filling it out before completing the FAFSA. However, the income tax return does not need to be sent to the IRS before filling out the FAFSA. Additionally, if you have not yet filed your 2014 taxes, you can bring your 2013 taxes and complete/submit the FAFSA based on last year's tax information. At the time you do complete the 2014 taxes, you will need to "update/correct" your information online.
Can my parents and I fill out the FAFSA over the internet?
Yes, you can fill out the FAFSA online. It is recommended that you and your parents get PIN codes first so you can sign the FAFSA electronically and not have to print out, sign and send in a paper signature page. Here are the web addresses:
Pin: www.pin.ed.gov
FAFSA on the Web: www.fafsa.ed.gov
What is the FAFSA?
Students use this application to apply for federal student grants, workstudy money, and loans to assist them in funding their college education. They may also use this application to apply for most state and some private financial aid.
When should I complete the FAFSA form?
You should complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1, once your parents have completed their 2014 U.S. income tax return. However, if the college has a deadline earlier than when your parents will have their taxes done, go ahead and estimate and meet the college's deadline. You can always correct the information later.
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FLC Application Day! November 20th!
What: An opportunity for seniors to visit with a Fort Lewis College representative, get their questions answered, submit their application, and have their application fee waived
Where: Amy Hewitt's room (the room within the commons)
When: Nov 20th at 11:30
Why: Why not?
Seniors! Come and get your questions answered about FLC. You can also turn in your application and have the fee waived. Come prepared with the information below:
In order to make this a successful application day, the FLC representative needs a few things from the students.
1) Bring A Completed Application (complete online following the steps below):
For the online application, go to "https://webopus.fortlewis.edu/pls/banner/bwskalog.p_DispLoginNew" and create your
account to start the application. After you complete the application, you can submit without payment. It will take you to the Application Menu. If the application is listed under “applications in progress,” it has not been submitted successfully. If it has been completed, it will show up under “submitted applications.” PRINT OUT THE APPLICATION SUMMARY for when you meet with your FLC Admission Counselor. You can access the application summary by clicking on the Admission term under “submitted applications.”
2) High School Transcript:
I will provide this for the representative, but you need to let me know you will be attending so I can print it out ahead of time.
3) Official Test Scores:
If you took the ACT/SAT prior to October, 2014, I should have your scores already and I will take care of making copies to give to the FLC representative. If you took the ACT/SAT the month of October, I will not have your scores. You will need to print it off the "actstudent.org" site and bring to me. If you don't know how to do this, please come visit with me and I will show you how ;) Please keep in mind the representative can only waive the $40 application fee if she has a completed application when she meets with you (includes a completed application, high school transcripts and official test scores). Remember to let me know if you will be attending
PS: We will be meeting in Amy Hewitt's classroom (the Spanish one connected to the Commons)!
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PRESENTATIONS ON COLLEGE ADMISSION AND SCHOLARSHIPS
What: Admission 101 - What You Need to Know
Where: AHS Commons
When: Thursday, October 2nd from 6:00pm-7:00pm
Why: It's not your parents' college search. Way back in the days of yore, high school students pored over college guidebooks the size of doorstops, actually used the Post Office to communicate with admission offices, and painstakingly filled in their applications using a typewriter. Students today have many more ways to research and apply to colleges. Come learn how today's students can research best fit, know the top 5 things colleges look at for acceptance, myths about admissions, what social media has to say about admissions, how Naviance can help in your college planning, and more!
What: Scholarship & Financial Aid 101 - How to Pay For College
Where: AHS Commons
When: Thursday, October 16th from 6:00pm-7:00pm
Why: Remember the saying "money doesn't grow on trees?" Well, it still holds true today! What is the FAFSA? Do I still have to complete it even if I make too much money? What is the CSS PROFILE? What is the difference between financial aid and scholarships? What if I don't have a great GPA and/or test scores...., can I still receive scholarships? Come find out the answers to these questions in addition to the top 5 ways you can find the money to pay for college.
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What: Admission 101 - What You Need to Know
Where: AHS Commons
When: Thursday, October 2nd from 6:00pm-7:00pm
Why: It's not your parents' college search. Way back in the days of yore, high school students pored over college guidebooks the size of doorstops, actually used the Post Office to communicate with admission offices, and painstakingly filled in their applications using a typewriter. Students today have many more ways to research and apply to colleges. Come learn how today's students can research best fit, know the top 5 things colleges look at for acceptance, myths about admissions, what social media has to say about admissions, how Naviance can help in your college planning, and more!
What: Scholarship & Financial Aid 101 - How to Pay For College
Where: AHS Commons
When: Thursday, October 16th from 6:00pm-7:00pm
Why: Remember the saying "money doesn't grow on trees?" Well, it still holds true today! What is the FAFSA? Do I still have to complete it even if I make too much money? What is the CSS PROFILE? What is the difference between financial aid and scholarships? What if I don't have a great GPA and/or test scores...., can I still receive scholarships? Come find out the answers to these questions in addition to the top 5 ways you can find the money to pay for college.
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