Financial Aid for TITLE Students Independent Christina Winstead

Financial Aid for TITLE Students Independent Christina Winstead, Program Associate For Outreach Presenters | Event | Date Passport to College State Conference

ABOUT THE COUNCIL We advance educational opportunities and attainment in Washington. 2

WE WILL ANSWER • What is financial aid? • Who is considered independent? • How to apply for aid. • What is verification and how to navigate the process. • Common Myths

TAKEAWAY: FINANCIAL AID AS AN UMBRELLA Grants Income-based, federal, state, and institutional. Scholarship s Merit and income-based, from public, private, and nonprofit sources. Loans Income-based, federal and private. Work Study Income-based, federal, state, and institutional.

FINANCIAL AID DEFINITIONS • Financial Aid: Any type of financial support for students to attend a posthigh school pathway. Could come in forms of loans, scholarship, grants, etc. • College Bound: Early commitment of state financial aid to students who meet income eligibility or are foster youth in Washington. Students must apply in 7 th or 8 th grade and meet eligibility requirements in high school. • FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid. • WASFA: Washington Application for State Financial Aid (also FREE). • SAR: Student Aid Report. • EFC: Expected Family Contribution. • College/institution: a post-high school opportunity, ranging from certificated programs through Ph. D. programs.

SOURCES OF FINANCIAL AID Federal Typically can be used at most institutions in most states. State Typically for residents to attend most colleges in the state. College Offered by a specific school to attend that school. Organization s Offered by nonprofits, businesses, churches, etc.

HOW DO YOU APPLY? RULE OF ONE In order to be considered for financial aid, you must complete the FAFSA or WASFA your senior year, and every year you go to college. O FAFSA WASFA R Free Application for Federal Student Aid Washington Application for State Financial Aid FAFSA. gov readysetgrad. org/wasf a Applications open October 1 of each year. The earlier you apply, the more likely you are to get financial aid.

FAFSA: FSA ID The FSA ID allows students and parents to identify themselves electronically to access FSA Web sites. An FSA ID is made up of a username and password and can be used to log into FAFSA online. FSA ID Worksheet is on

FAFSA: SELECTING THE CORRECT YEAR

FAFSA: YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE

FAFSA: DEPENDENCY DETERMINATION

FAFSA DEPENDENCY STATUS: INDEPENDENT

FAFSA: STUDENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION

FAFSA: STUDENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION

FAFSA: SIGNATURE PAGE

FAFSA: CONFIRMATION PAGE

WASFA: START ON READY SET GRAD http: //readysetgrad. org/wasfa

WASFA HOME SCREEN

STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS 5/24/2021 THE WASHINGTON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COUNCIL 19

DEPENDENCY DETERMINATION 5/24/2021 THE WASHINGTON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COUNCIL 20

STUDENT INCOME & TAX DATA 5/24/2021 THE WASHINGTON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COUNCIL 21

STUDENT INCOME & TAX DATA 5/24/2021 THE WASHINGTON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COUNCIL 22

PREVIEW MY FORMS 5/24/2021 THE WASHINGTON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COUNCIL 23

ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE PROCESS 5/24/2021 THE WASHINGTON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COUNCIL 24

COMMON MISTAKES Legal information: Name, Social Security Number Student Marital status Correct FAFSA or WASFA Year Tax information Household size Number in college

VERIFICATION Verification is when the student and/or parent(s) must submit additional documents to verify the accuracy of information on a FAFSA. Student and/or parent(s) income is a common item selected for verification. Successful electronic transfer of processed tax information from the IRS into the FAFSA greatly reduces the need to request a tax transcript. Tax transcripts may be requested online or by phone. WASHINGTON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COUNCIL 26

NAVIGATING THE VERIFICATION PROCESS Be prompt in your response to financial aid departments requests for additional information. Ask questions! Your financial aid officers are there to help you. Make copies of the documents your submit. These documents may not be returned to you. Start the process early and follow the deadlines provided. WASHINGTON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COUNCIL 27

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION TIP Students might need to provide supporting documentation to a financial aid office. Encourage students to have physical or digital copies of court documentation and other documentation before they go to college.

MYTH BUSTERS MYTH: Financial aid applications take forever to fill out and are hard to do. REALITY: Look, if you have 30 minutes to spare, you’re good. Because that’s how long it takes to fill out the FAFSA or WASFA. Could it be easier? Sure, but there is help available!

MYTH BUSTERS MYTH: Grants & scholarships are free money! REALITY: Grants and scholarships might have to be repaid if you do not successfully complete the courses in which you were enrolled.

RESOURCES –FOSTER COLLEGE KNOWLEDGE

RESOURCES –FAMILY GUIDE

FEATURED RESOURCES – SENIOR BINDER SYSTEM Purpose: Help students create and maintain a senior year binder in order to get prepared and to stay organized. The binder will contain personal information related to admissions, financial aid, scholarships, and more.

FEATURED RESOURCES – SENIOR BINDER SYSTEM Binder Contents: College list. Usernames and passwords for each college. Verification copies of submitted college applications. Record of college entrance and placement exams. Scholarship list and verification copies. Copy of essays and personal statement. FAFSA/WASFA paper application, FSA ID, and Student Aid Report (SAR). Credit check form. Brag sheet (high school highlights). Letter of recommendation and request forms.

QUESTIONS?