FAFSA Advice

This article was written by one of our Journalism and Communication majors.
Students must file FAFSA by March 10
By Brittney Ching
March 10 is only a month away, which means one thing for college students: It’s time to file the FAFSA. FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and it is the form students file to apply for financial support from the government. The form is available online at www.fafsa.edu.gov/.
“The FAFSA is filed to enable a school to determine eligibility for federal and state aid. Without the information that is required when filing the FAFSA, schools can’t make good decisions on who needs help and who doesn’t,” said Charlette Sauders, Director of Financial Aid at Grace College.
Though students might think they are not qualified to receive governmental aid, Sauders said to still file the FAFSA. “In these uncertain times, it is best to file a FAFSA because if a family’s situation changes, then special consideration can be given and perhaps the family could get federal or more institutional aid than if a FAFSA is not filed.”
Sauders said that students looking to make filing easier can download the FAFSA on the Web worksheet. “[It is] really essential to getting all of the necessary data in one place so that filing online is a painless process. A student will need parent and student tax returns and W-2s. Also, cash, checking, savings and investment account balances.” Students can access the worksheet at www.fafsa.ed.gov/fafsaws90bw.pdf.
When filing the FAFSA, Sauders said, “Don’t leave anything blank. If the amount is zero, put in a zero. Also, if you need to file by the deadline and don’t have a tax return filed, estimate as best as possible. Blanks will cause problems and could cause your FAFSA to be rejected.”
“Also, make sure that both the student and one parent sign (via PIN number) the FAFSA. If both don’t sign, the FAFSA will be rejected,” said Sauders. Students and parents can apply for a PIN number and securely sign the FAFSA online. See www.pin.edu.gov/ to apply for a PIN number. For students looking for support other than governmental aid, “Outside scholarships can be a good alternative,” said Sauders. Fastweb.com includes a scholarship search engine that tailors results to your specific profile.
Sauders said, “Community foundations are often overlooked and have scholarships that aren’t claimed.” To search for your county, go to www.cof.org/locator.
“Other places to check out are local civic organizations such as Rotary Club, Kiwanis and Optimist Club. They usually have scholarships for local students,” said Sauders.
Another good way to earn extra support is to apply for scholarships in your home church, or see if your church will support you. “Grace will match what your church will give you up to $500 each year,” said Sauders.
If you are struggling to find scholarship or financial aid options, “There is more scholarship info on the wall outside of the financial aid office that can be accessed even when the office is closed,” said Sauders.