1. The Financial Aid Process
This resource was developed by the Puget Sound College and Career Network (PSCCN) and is included in the PSCCN Financial Aid Toolkit. Visit psccn.org for additional materials. For toolkit suggestions, complete a short survey at bit.ly/PSCCNtoolkit
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Introduce yourself with a warm welcome and thank you to the audience for coming. Consider sharing your personal connection to this work and highlight the importance of engaging families in the process.

2. By the end of this presentation, I will be able to…
Learn about getting money for college through financial aid, including scholarships.
Understand how the financial aid process works.
Determine if you need to complete the FAFSA or the WASFA.
Know where you can go for help!

3. Agenda
Timeline Puzzle
Financial Aid Process
Scholarships

4. Timeline Activity
Arrange the different pieces so that they are in order.
Discussion:
What items need to be completed in the beginning? Middle? End?
What new information did you learn?
Ask students to do the best they can to put the different pieces in order. Let them know that you will cover what the different pieces are, so if they don’t know what something is, it’s not a problem, just to do the best they can. Give them about 10 minutes for this activity (more or less as needed). Ask students to share a couple of things they think come at the beginning, middle and end. Use the teacher/advisor guide to explain concepts students don’t know and/or would like to talk about further. 
To go further, ask students to brainstorm more ideas of what else they can do to get ready.

5. What is financial aid? Money for college!
You apply using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA)
Financial Aid
Scholarships
Grants
Loans
Work-Study
Colleges use FAFSA/WASFA to determine what you’re eligible for.
Information is only sent to Department of Ed (FAFSA) and Washington Student Achievement Council (WASFA) and to the colleges you request it be sent to (both FAFSA and WASFA)
Information includes legal name (student and parents), date of birth, Social Security number or Alien ID# (FAFSA only), income information for student and parents
NOTE: Slide courtesy of Summer Search!
Scholarships: Free money that students do not have to pay for, but will “apply for” separately to be considered or through their college application
Grants: Free money given by an organization, state and/ or federal government that students do not have to pay back if eligible
Loans: Money borrowed for college that is expected to be paid back with interest after graduation. (more scholarships= less or no loans) / Do you want to mention what a Parent Plus Loan is? If you do, at SumS we do not encourage it and work hard with students to apply for as many scholarships as possible and consider working the summer to save.
Work-Study: For FAFSA applicants only, this is a federal college program that enables students to work part time while attending college. (Ex: being a student tour guide for admissions, working in the library at the front desk, working in the dining hall/ cafeteria, etc.) Students get paid as they work like a regular job and can use the money for books or other personal expenses.
When you complete the FAFSA, you are requesting a review of eligibility for all these types of aid with one single application.
Priority filing deadlines are also important. Some of these funds are on a first come/first served basis so it is important to complete your FAFSA every year in January.
The maximum Washington State Need Grant varies depending on which college/university you attend in Washington state. But if you are eligible for the full state need grant and also Pell grant, you could fund, or be close to funding, your total cost of tuition and books with these two grants. That’s a huge chunk of change to lose out on because you didn’t file early.

6. What is the FAFSA?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step to apply for federal financial aid for college. Completing the FAFSA is free and gives you access to the largest source of financial aid to pay for technical, 2-year and 4-year colleges. Based on the information you provide on the FAFSA, each college you choose will calculate your financial aid award.
Refer to College Knowledge handout(s): All about FAFSA, All about WASFA
For students who will file FAFSA, there is an early estimator available online:

7. Who should complete the FAFSA?
U.S. citizens
U.S. permanent residents (Green Card holders)
Eligible noncitizens (Refugee, Asylum, Parolee, T- and V-visa holders with unexpired I-94 record)
Apply for FAFSA here:
Create an FSA ID here:
FAFSA is for students who are US citizens or permanent residents (even if parents are not). WASFA is for undocumented students (those who are not US citizens or permanent residents).
T-visa – protects victims of human trafficking and allows victims to remain in the United States to assist in an investigation or prosecution of human trafficking.
V-visa – temporary visa available to spouses and minor children (unmarried, under 21) of U.S. lawful permanent residents (LPR, also as green card holders). It allows permanent residents to achieve family unity with their spouses and children while the immigration process takes its course.
It requires contact information, SSN or Alien ID # (FAFSA only), income information.
Tonight, we’ll be working on FSA ID (junior parents, seniors and parents can also start working on FAFSA or WASFA).
Submit!
Timeline varies, but you need your award letter before you can make a decision about which aid to accept and which school to attend.

9. What is the WASFA?
The Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) is the application that undocumented students who live in Washington state can fill out annually to determine their eligibility for state financial aid.
Refer to College Knowledge handouts: All about WASFA (give to students). Talk through the handout, and let students know that they will have that information to refer to while going through the process.

10. Who should complete the WASFA?
Undocumented students who are Washington residents
Students who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
If you’re not sure which application to do, the WASFA application has an eligibility questionnaire to help you figure it out!
Apply for WASFA here:

13. When should you apply for FAFSA or WASFA?
Most financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and funding is limited.
Apply starting October 1 of your senior year! The earlier you apply, the better.
You will need to renew your FAFSA or WASFA every year when in college.
Discuss how students can apply for the College Bound Scholarship in middle school. Reference or pull information from the “All about college bound scholarship” handout.

14. What is the FSA ID? (FAFSA only)
Federal Student Aid Identification is used to access all federal student aid websites. Creating an FSA ID is the first step to completing the FAFSA.
Both student and parent need to create a separate FSA ID with individual s.
The FSA ID is a username and password that you use to electronically sign your FAFSA.
Create an FSA ID here:
After applying for FSA IDs, it takes 1-3 days to confirm your identity with SSA and you will not be able to use it until you receive a successful confirmation – check your .
is the website for FSA ID
Note: If the student and/or parent has an Alien ID# instead of a Social Security number, they will not be able to get an FSA ID. This is not a big deal, but they will need to print the signature page on the submit screen and mail it.
Parent who have more than one child attending college can use the same FSA ID to sign all applications.

15. What information do I need to bring?
Parent should be present, if possible.
Your and your parent’s income information (bank statements, W-2 or pay stub and a 2016 tax return.
Additional financial information such as child support statements, TANF or welfare information, real estate, investments or family business.
FAFSA only
Your Social Security card or Green Card.
One parent’s Social Security number (if they have one).

16. How is financial aid determined?
Each college estimates its COA by adding together some or all of the following expenses: tuition fees, room and board, transportation, books and supplies, other living expenses.
Cost of Attendance (COA)
varies, established by each school
- Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
determined by FAFSA or WASFA and is same for all schools
= Financial “Need”
EFC is used as a benchmark for eligibility for need-based financial aid based on the information provided on the FAFSA or WASFA.
If students are concerned about the accuracy of their EFC, recommend they talk with the financial aid office at their college of choice to learn about professional judgement and appeal options including those experiencing special circumstances.

17. How is COA used to determine financial aid awards?
EXAMPLE
2 Year College
4 Year – Public
4 Year – Private
COA
$11,836
$26,756
$50,258
- EFC
$6,500
= “Need”
$ 5,336
$ 20,256
$43,758
Slide: WFAA
This is just to illustrate that financial aid is intended to provide students with the choice of schools, regardless of their financial resources – the EFC remains constant, but aid increases as school COA increases.

18. What happens after you file FAFSA or WASFA?
Information goes to your colleges.
It’s a great idea to check with your colleges and make sure they have received your FAFSA or WASFA. Colleges may contact you to ask for additional information. Respond as quickly as possible to ensure you receive your financial aid on time.
Colleges that accept you will send you a letter letting you know what you’ve been awarded! (In a later session, we’ll talk about what to do with the award letter and how to make sure you understand it.)
Once you get your letters from colleges and understand your financial aid offers, let your college of choice know which financial aid you’d like to accept or decline.
Collect the money!
Refer to College Knowledge handouts: All about FAFSA, All about WASFA (give to students)

19. What else can I do to get money for college?
Look for and apply for scholarships!
TheWashBoard.org: thewashboard.org
Scholarship Junkies: scholarshipjunkies.org
Beyond Dreaming Scholarship List: scholarshipjunkies.org/beyond
Colleges you’re interested in and local organizations
Some of the largest scholarships for Washington state residents include:
Act Six Scholarship
Governor’s Scholarship
Leadership 1000 Scholarship
Washington Opportunity Scholarship
Refer to Communications Suite: Scholarships (have students work on scholarships listed here as a starting point, along with the scholarship resources available in your school)
Have students research scholarships they can apply for (from your school’s scholarship list ideally!)
When students are offered a scholarship, they will need to read the award letter closely and follow up with additional information requested as well as inform the financial aid department at the college they’ll be attending.
More Scholarships = Fewer Loans & More Money for College

20. Getting Help
INSERT YOUR SCHOOL’S SUPPORT FOR FAFSA AND WASFA COMPLETION COULD INCLUDE:
College and Career Center
Advisory Teacher
CBO staff in building
Update slide as appropriate to your middle or high school: Include staff and locations (such as College and Career Center).

21. Closing: Group Discussion
What surprised you from this presentation?
What other information would you like to know?
Visit FAFSA4caster to get an estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid: 1s1
Group discussion: ask students what surprised them or what else they would like to know (alternative: a simple exit ticket where they write answer to the same question)