To See or Not to See

To see or not to see? This is the question. The question facing many a rodent on February 2 that is. Hoards of followers await the woodchuck, commonly known as the groundhog on this day, to come out of his burrow and predict the time left in winter. What a tradition!

There are also many students waiting "to see" if they got into the college of their choice AND "to see" if they received the money they need to attend. So where are you in this process? Have you filled out your FAFSA? This is the form of all forms when it comes to finding money for college.

Perhaps you are one of the many students or parents asking..."what is the FAFSA anyway?" If so, here is a quick tutorial on the FAFSA process

FAFSA is the acronym standing for Free Application for Federal Student Aid

• Filling out the form is FREE so make sure you use the government's website fafsa.ed.gov (other fafsa sites may have fees associated with them)
• Both two and four year colleges require the results of this form for any financial aid
• The FAFSA is filled out after Jan. 1 of a high school student's senior year and every year they are in college.
• It is important to know your college financial aid priority deadline because the maximum amount of aid may decrease if the form is late
• The FAFSA uses the previous year's tax information to make a determination of an "Expected Family Contribution"-how much you and your family will pay toward your cost of college attendance
• The money may come in one of three forms:

1. Scholarships/Grants : FREE MONEY

2. Work Study: basically a job on or near campus that pays the student a real paycheck. The money is expected to be used towards the cost of attendance

3. Student Loans: Low interest federal loans that must be paid back, usually beginning 6 months after student leaves college (either through graduation or through dropping out). Loans may be:

A. Subsidized: interest is paid by federal government while student is attending college

B. Unsubsidized: interest accrues while student is in school and will be added to cost of loan

• Both student and parent will fill out their information on the form, therefore, both student and parent will need a PIN number (the electronic signature required to fill out the form online.
• You will also want to have all the documents ready and the worksheet completed prior to filling out the FAFSA. See the tab on the FAFSA site labeled "Before Beginning a FAFSA"
• The FAFSA site has step by step directions...use them.
• If you do need assistance filling out the form, contact your guidance office, college financial aid office, or attend CollegeGoal Sunday in your area. I have linked the South Carolina information site.

OK, there you go! Now you go and "see" all the possibilities filling out the FAFSA will bring you!