FUNDING YOUR FUTURE Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a vital first step toward achieving your college degree. BY RUTH CORRADI BEACH
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COLLEGE 101 • WINTER-SPRING 2022
To complete the FAFSA, go to studentaid.gov. For more information, visit itsforyou.org.
SAVE THE DATES Don’t miss these FAFSA deadlines to be eligible for federal student aid, scholarships, grants and loans. The deadline for state aid is different, so to be safe, file early. For the 2022-23 Academic Year The FAFSA form for the 2022-23 academic year opened on Oct. 1, 2021, and it is a good idea to fill it out as soon as possible. It must be submitted by 12:59 a.m. EST on June 30, 2023, and any updates must be submitted by 12:59 a.m. EST on Sept. 10, 2023. Ohio College Opportunity Grant For consideration for the Ohio College Opportunity Grant, which is awarded based on FAFSA information, be sure to file your FAFSA before Oct. 1, 2022, if you plan to attend college in fall 2022 through the 2023 school year. ISTOCK
tudents who are seeking financial assistance for their education need to keep these letters at top of mind: FAFSA. Prospective college students should be sure to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to ensure they are aware of any financial help that could make their education more affordable. Often, students incorrectly think the FAFSA is not for them, based on the type of education they are seeking — a perspective the Ohio Department of Higher Education is seeking to correct by way of its FAFSA-focused website, itsforyou.org. “There are a lot of myths around the FAFSA,” says Carlos Bing, state director of GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs). “Some individuals believe the FAFSA is only for a segment of students. Some believe it’s only for students to go to certain institutions. But there are so many different lanes in this space. Like the website highlights, it’s for you. Whether you’re going to a two-year, fouryear, tech center — this is a form you should fill out to see what financing you’re eligible for.” Students often assume they are not eligible for aid, which requires the message to be repeated frequently by high school counselors and teachers. The communication was made even more challenging by the remote learning brought on by the
pandemic. Filling out the FAFSA is crucial to unlocking not only federal aid, but also other forms of financial assistance, according to Jana Fornario, project manager for FAFSA initiatives. “The FAFSA is a gatekeeper,” she says. “Unless you fill it out, you won’t know what might be available to you. You need to fill it out to get state aid, not just federal aid, and many institutions will provide additional aid based on FAFSA status. If you want to get an Ohio College Opportunity Grant, the FAFSA is a key factor in determining it.” Filling out the FAFSA can help students focus their college search, because they’ll get an immediate idea of how much money might be coming their way. This especially applies to students who might otherwise not apply to college at all, thinking it’s financially out of their reach. “Filling out the FAFSA is really a way to see what’s possible,” Bing says, “because the [tuition] numbers can seem huge. But there’s the sticker price and the real price. You are able to say to a student, once the FAFSA is done, ‘This is the sticker price, but this may be what you’d have to pay.’ ” Even if a student changes his or her mind and decides not to pursue higher education, there is no harm in filling out the FAFSA. Keep in mind that federal aid is specifically set aside to assist students in achieving their goal of a degree. “It’s your money for your future,” advises Fornario. “Our big message is, ‘Don’t leave your money on the table.’ ”
