Whether you’re a recent high school graduate, a returning college student, or a working professional looking to further your education, chances are you’ll need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine your financial aid eligibility.
Unfortunately, there are many common mistakes that students and families make when filling out the FAFSA, such as reporting the incorrect household size, filing for the wrong academic year, and failing to list all the colleges to which the student has applied. That’s why our College Transition & Success (CTS) team holds an annual FAFSA Completion Night. Our goal is to help students and their parents to properly submit the FAFSA and, ultimately, for students to graduate from college with minimal to no debt.
This month, the CTS team hosted more than 50 seniors and their families from SEED DC and SEED MD for a deep dive into the FAFSA completion process. The timing of this event is extremely important. To receive the most aid, college access professionals recommend that seniors submit their FAFSA applications as early as possible.
At FAFSA Completion Night, attendees receive a detailed overview of the total cost of attendance at a college or university, also known as the “sticker price.” Our college success advisors then discuss the different types of financial aid students can use to fund their college education, such as scholarships, grants (federal and state), work-study, and federal student loans. Lastly, parents are asked to bring select personal documents to participate in one-on-one sessions with a college success advisor, to make sure every application is completed and submitted on time.
Learn more about the hidden costs of college.