play in motion play #15: fafsa 101 - peerforward.org

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Description: The FAFSA is one of the most technical parts of the college application process. Itcan be a challenge for both students and parents, but it doesn’t have to be. By providing students and parents with all the information about FAFSA, they will be less confused and will increase the chances of their getting money for college.

Goal/Outcome: Students and/or parents will better understand the FAFSA application.

Suggested Time/Audience: � 1 hour

� 11th–12th grade students and/or parents

Materials/Space Needed: � Computers, laptops, or tablets with Internet access

� Sign-In Sheet

To Prep for Event: � Determine a time and place for the activity—will this be at night for parents or during the day?

� Get permission from the principal, if needed, for the event.

� Determine which audience you will target at the event—a group of students and their parents? Just students? Just parents?

� Determine which team members will be helping to facilitate this session.

� Pr e e even . en e ail aren er a e r all i i le.

� r wi r vi r e wi a lan r e even w will re en an w a information?

� eview e i e a e re are a iliar wi i a e ie i lan hand it out at the event.

� Pr vi e l er i ave e e r aren en ee all eir en in.

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Play #15: FAFSA 101

G94949_098-154_CS PeerForward Student-C2.indd 116 5/28/18 3:40 PM


At the Event: � Thank students and particularly parents for attending.

� Use the “FAFSA Guide” and “FAFSA Worksheet” to walk through the FAFSA process.

� Data to Collect:

9 Attendance (use the “Attendance Tracker”).

After the Event: � Debrief with team:

9 What went well? What could you improve for next time?

9 Did students and parents get all the information needed?

Handouts Needed:� “FAFSA Instructions and Tips”

� “FAFSA Checklist”

� “FAFSA Online Resources”

� FAFSA worksheet: https: studentaid.ed.gov sa help fafsa wor sheet

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Play #15: FAFSA 101, cont.



Here is some basic information about each section of the FAFSA. The “FAFSA Checklist” on the next page provides an even more in-depth understanding of each section of the FAFSA.

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FAFSA Instructions and Tips

Section 1: Student InformationQuestions about you: are you married, are you a citizen, are you registered for selective service? (If you are a male, you must register to receive federal aid.) Who fill thi out .

Section 2: Student Dependency i e i n i w a e er ine w e er nee ll e aren e i n.

an wer n all e i n e aren e i n e i n e lle . Who fill thi out .

Section 3: Parent Information i e i n a a a il in e an er a il ir an e a a e nan e .

Your parent will need their W2 and 1040 for either the previous year or this year. Who fill thi out our parent guardian , or with their guidance.

Section 4: Student Informationi e i n a a r nan ial in r a i n n r e r an i a

a job last year). an e i n a e a a i all i e i n ave a an aren arrie .

Who fill thi out .



Now that you’ve applied to college, it’s time to tackle the big issue: how will you pay for it? Filling out the FAFSA early and accurately is ESSENTIAL to getting money for college.

� Register for your FSA ID.

� Help your parent(s) or guardian(s) register for an FSA ID.

� Gather materials for the STUDENT portion of the FAFSA:

9 Social Security or Permanent Resident Card number

9 Most recent W2 and 1040 (if you had a job last year)

9 Driver’s license number (if you have a license)

9 Your bank statement

� Have your parent or guardian gather materials for the PARENT part of FAFSA (if the student is in custody of both biological parents, this should be both parents; If not, just the biological parent who has legal guardianship). If neither biological parents have guardianship, it should be the individual who has legal guardianship.

9 Social Security or Permanent Resident Card number

9 Most recent W2 and 1040 (if they had a job last year)

9 Their driver’s license number (if they have a license)

9 Their bank statement

9 Records related to family circumstances: disability or public assistance reports, loss ofemployment, etc.

9 Business or farm records (if they own their own business)

� Optional: go to www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov ra i e llin e an n your estimated EFC (Expected Family Contribution) immediately.

� Fill out the Student Information and Student Dependency Status portions of the FAFSA.

� ave r aren r ar ian ll e aren r i n e .

� List the colleges and programs you want to receive your Student Aid Report—make sure you include every college you applied to.

� ill r a e nan ial ai r i a li a le .

� Submit your FAFSA—remember, “completed” is not the same as “submitted.”

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FAFSA Checklist



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FAFSA Online Resources

https: linkforward.org This site, brought to you by PeerForward, provides you with tools around college applications, nan ial ai an areer e l ra i n. ar e in e i e r a an we i e a an e r e ear.

https://fafsa.ed.gov/help.htm i a e r e vern en we i e an wer eneral e i n a e .

r ere an e a rea eal er in r a i n n e vern en we i e.

http://studentaid.ed.gov/ n er vern en we i e i a e r vi e a l e l in r a i n a nan ial ai enerall .

https://www.cappex.com/scholarships/ a e lar i ear a e all w ear r lar i a .

http: www.financialaidtool it.ed.go t i vern en we i e i e i ne r n el r i w l e e l r r wn

nan ial ai lannin an r ea a ai n.

http: thechoice. log .nytime .com ad ice on financial aid e ew r i e i e l i all a e in in a in r an in a lle e. n i

ar i le a inan ial ai e er ive e e i .

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i e a r ne e ere. l never a a l a lar i r ll e .

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FAFSA Online Resources, cont.



en w are n eni r a r le wi n er an in e i r an e nan ial ai an lar i . en la n in r a ai n i O even a wan

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1. College is expensive—get a head start!e avera e lle e ra a e a in e a a re l en l an in lle e. One ar er e . . la i n lle ivel we illi n in en l an

e . a a a l ri are lannin a en lle e i i i r an in a w will a r lle e ner ra er an la er. lle e i i n i nl in ea ear. e l are a e en ive a a ear. i never

early to start applying for scholarships.1

2. You may say, “OK, I want to get a head start. But there are no scholarshipsout there for 9th graders.”

i i n r e ere are len lar i ere r ra e en . nee ar a ivel ear in . e we i e li e www.unigo.com,

www.scholarships.com, or www.fastweb.com. i e e we i e an ll a r le an e will en r lar i a e n r ri eria ra e level in ere e . l ere i a in a i r lar i r all lar i

an e a earl a e ra e. e www.raise.me to start looking for small scholarships that you can qualify for.

3. You may also think, “I have so much time before I am a senior and reallyc i ff i

l en i in i wa an i a air e i n a . O r e ere are li el re lar i r ni ie w en are a eni r in i l. wever learnin w e an ana e r ne an n er an in w will a for college tuition and other college costs are important skills for college and the real w rl . a e ar ee i n w learnin a nan ial ai will

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Why Financial Aid Matters Talking Points



come in handy now and in the future. Want to buy yourself a new pair of jeans this weekend? Do you have the money to pay for it? If not, how will you obtain those funds? See—money matters!

4. You are unique. l a e r i e n w well a lle e r nee . n w rr a

w i ran e n a li r w a i i . e e r in an e r ni ie you take advantage of once you get there matter more than the college you go to. Once you graduate from college, your achievements and skills will matter most.

5. You are not in this alone.Family, teachers, and friends are a great resource. Discuss your plans to go to college with them, and ask for help and advice. Make an appointment with a school counselor or your principal to talk about the application process, colleges that will suit you, and

i n r nan ial ai .

1 http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/the-scholarship-coach/2011/07/07/5-reasons-why-scholarships-are-essential

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Why Financial Aid Matters Talking Points, cont.


play in motion play #15: fafsa 101 - peerforward.org

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