By Ayla McDonald
Reporter
This October at Parkland College, the Financial Aid Office will be partnering with Student Life to host several events geared towards helping students apply for FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, for the 2019-2020 academic year.
“To apply for federal student aid, such as federal grants, work-study, and loans, you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).” says fafsa.ed.gov, the official website of FAFSA. “Completing and submitting the FAFSA is free and easier than ever, and it gives you access to the largest source of financial aid to pay for college or career school.”
Any U.S. Resident with a high school diploma or with a General Education Development (GED) certificate can apply to receive federal financial aid with FAFSA. Additional financial aid opportunities are available to applicants on a state-wide level.
According to fafsa.ed.gov, “Many states and colleges use your FAFSA information to determine your eligibility for state and school aid.”
In-state financial aid for the state of Illinois comes in the form of the Monetary Award Program or MAP Grants.
“The Monetary Award Program (MAP) provides grants, which do not need to be repaid, to Illinois residents who attend approved Illinois colleges and demonstrate financial need,” says the Illinois Student Assistance Commission or ISAC, the Illinois college access and financial aid agency.
MAP Grants are awarded on a first-come first-serve basis. This means that funds for MAP Grants will begin to be depleted as the FAFSA application period goes on, and as more students apply for financial aid.
Robert Bielmeier, a Financial Aid Assistant for the Financial Aid and Veteran Services Office at Parkland College, stresses the importance of applying early for financial aid and encourages students to do so.
“The importance of filling out the FAFSA application early is to increase students’ opportunities to receive the maximum amount of financial aid that they are eligible for,” Bielmeier says. “Waiting to apply for FAFSA can significantly decrease students’ chances of receiving as much aid as they otherwise would. It also decreases their chances of receiving state aid through MAP Grants.
The 2019-2020 FAFSA application period opens to students on Monday, October 1st.
The FAFSA can be filed online at fafsa.ed.gov, or with myStudentAid, the new app for smartphones by the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Federal Student Aid.
Information needed to fill out a FAFSA application for the 2019-2020 academic year mainly includes the student’s and their parents’ 2017 tax returns, birthdays and Social Security Numbers. Also needed are a list of colleges and universities that students have interest in attending for the 2019-2020 academic year.
A FAFSA application kick-off event will be held on October 1st from 10am until 2pm in the Student Life office, U111.
Financial Aid staff will be on hand at the event to assist students with filling out FAFSA applications and to answer FAFSA and financial aid related questions. Laptops to be used for electronic applications will be provided, as well as free candy and Fanta drinks.
Other opportunities for assistance with FAFSA applications include Degree Completion Day on Wednesday, October 3rd, from 9am to 1:30pm in Parkland’s Student Union, and again from 4pm until 7pm on the same day.
Financial Aid will offer another opportunity for FAFSA application assistance at the Dine and Discuss event on Tuesday, October 9th from 12pm to 2pm in the Student Union. Financial Aid Director of the Financial Aid Office Tim Wendt will speak on the topic “Paying for College: Money Management Tips.”
Although only U.S. residents are eligible to receive financial aid with FAFSA, international students at Parkland are encouraged to apply for scholarships through the College from October 15 until November 15, 2018.
Outside of scheduled events, staff in the Financial Aid office are willing to assist any students with FAFSA or scholarship application information.
“Just stop by the office Monday through Friday,” Bielmeier says. “We’re here to help.”
