1. Supporting Your Student through the College and Financial Aid Process
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, you will be able to…
Know the importance of going to college
Understand the options for paying for college
Describe ways you can support my student’s post high school plans

3. Agenda Importance of going to college Options for paying for college
Tips on how to support your student during high school

4. Dreams for Your Child Reflect on the following questions:
What are your dreams for your child after high school?
What are your child’s dreams for the future?
Ask parents to reflect on their dreams for their child. A few ways to do this:
1. Silent reflection
2. Writing it down on a post-it note
3. Sharing their response with a partner (works better if the group knows each other)
4. Sharing the response out-loud (or facilitator can read what is on the paper, but let parents know before you ask them to write their answers)
5. Encouraging parents and guardians to ask their child about their dreams if they are unsure

5. Does your student need education after high school?
YES

6. Benefits of going to college
A college degree will help you
#1 Get a better job faster
#2 Make more money
Communications Suite: Types of Colleges and All about apprenticeships
If it’s a small group and/or they know each other, can discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of each.

7. Benefits of Going to College
What are some other examples of benefits to going to college?
What barriers might your students face throughout the process?
Handout: Benefits of Going to College
Have participants discuss their answers with a partner before taking answers whole group.

8. Types of Colleges The term college includes
Insert screenshot of table on “types of colleges” handout
Types of Colleges
The term college includes
technical colleges
2-year community colleges
4-year colleges or universities
both public and private
Handout: Types of Colleges

9. Apprenticeships
In an apprenticeship, you can earn money while learning through a combination of hands-on, on-the-job training (OJT) and related academic classes.
Apprenticeships often do not require financial aid, as students are paid while learning on the job.
Have participants look over the College Knowledge material, “All about Apprenticeships” and share with them key takeaways provided on the slide.

10. Types of Colleges and Apprenticeships
What are some similarities and differences between the types of colleges (technical colleges, 2-year community colleges and 4-year colleges or universities) and an apprenticeship? Which option do you think would be best fit for your student?
College Knowledge material: Types of Colleges

11. Options for Paying for College
Cash
College Bound scholarship
Student and parent loans
Need-based grants
“Merit” grants
Scholarships
Work-study
Military service
AmeriCorps service
Use humor but mention that if people have saved and/or have cash, they can just pay for it.
IF MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENTS: Great opportunity to share information about how to sign up for the College Bound scholarship. Have the forms ready for parents to sign at the end of the presentation as well as WSACs brochure. For high school parents, mention that many students signed up in middle school and remind them that they have this scholarship available if they qualify and signed up, but need to use it within the first year of high school graduation.
Loans available for both students and parents
Grants determined by financial need
Grants determined by factors other than financial need
Scholarships include Washboard, Washington Opportunity Scholarship, and others available through school’s college and career center (NEVER pay money to apply for a scholarship)
A job the student can get to help pay for costs (NOTE: No student job will be adequate to cover the cost of tuition. This should be thought of as a way to support living expenses.)
Students who have served in the military are eligible to have some college costs covered. ROTC pays for college and the student serves in the military for a fixed amount of time after college.
Students who serve a term of AmeriCorps are eligible for a national service education award. This can be used to pay tuition after AmeriCorps service, or to pay student loans if the student serves after college.

12. All About FAFSA and WASFA
Completing the FAFSA or WASFA is the first step to accessing money for education after high school.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the application students complete if they are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
The Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) is the application that undocumented students (those who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents) who live in Washington state can complete to be eligible for state financial aid. Students granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status should also complete the WASFA.
Refer to Communications suite one pager: All about FAFSA, All about WASFA
For students who will file FAFSA, there is an early estimator available online:
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).
Contact information, SSN or Alien ID # (FAFSA only), income information
Submit!
Get award letters and ask questions.
Timeline varies, but you need your award letter before you can make a decision about what aid to accept and which college to attend.

13. How Does the Financial Aid Process Work?
Determine if your student should fill out a FAFSA or WASFA.
Get a FSA ID (FAFSA only).
Fill out the FAFSA or WASFA and submit by the school’s deadline.
Colleges you designate receive the information and determine your financial aid award.
Review the financial aid award with your student.
Decide if you will accept or decline parts of the award (only do this for the college your student will attend).
Handouts: All about FAFSA, All about WASFA
For students who will file FAFSA, there is an early estimator available online:
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).
Contact information, SSN or Alien ID # (FAFSA only), income information
Submit!
Get award letters and ask questions.
Timeline varies, but you need your award letter before you can make a decision about what aid to accept and which college to attend.

14. Financial Aid Myths I won't qualify for anything.
I can't use financial aid for culinary school.
Registering for the Selective Service signs me up for the military.
The government will share my information with the IRS or ICE.
While it’s true that need-based grants will only be awarded to students who qualify financially, most colleges require FAFSA for merit aid (which is not based on need). FAFSA is also used to qualify for a federal student loan.
Most technical programs award financial aid based on FAFSA and WASFA.
Registering for the Selective Service is required by law for all male students over 18. While this is required to file a FAFSA, it is NOT signing up for the military.
FERPA law prohibits your information being shared with any government agency or any individual other than the colleges you request. WASFA information is NOT shared outside the state of Washington; this is prohibited by FERPA as well as state law.
Information in financial aid applications is protected by federal law. It is shared only with the colleges students choose, the state financial aid agency and for FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education.

15. How Can You Support Your Student?
Support exploration of college and career options.
Communicate about expectations.
Support student with organization, prioritizing and decision making.
Encourage your student to plan for the future.
Ideas include: Ask them about their activities, classes and interests; wonder aloud about jobs you see people having in the community; encourage your student to ask people about their jobs and to take advantage of career-related field trips offered at school.
If you have specific expectations about your student’s education after high school, let them know what’s important to you and ask for their input. Be as flexible as possible in options that you would consider for them (ultimately they will be the one to make the decisions).
Make sure your student has a system for keeping track of deadlines, goals, important aspects and what decisions need to be made and when. A variety of apps (Google calendar, Google Drive, Evernote, Remember the Milk, Mind 42) and paper tools (agendas, posters, whiteboards and corkboards) can help! Ask your student what they need from you to stay organized
Always tell your student you love them and believe in them! Be their cheerleader and support through success and disappointment.

16. Tips for Discussing Life after High School
Engage with your students about their interests and skills. Ask what classes and activities they enjoy.
Learn about different careers together. Discuss different jobs you see people doing. Ask people about their jobs, how they got them, what they like and don’t like about them — and encourage your student to do the same.
Avoid pressuring your student toward a particular career or college opportunity. Keep the conversation going and let them lead as much as possible.
No exact right way to do this. The most important thing is the keep the conversation going and stay curious about what they want to do. Keep making connections between what they are doing now and their future.
Another possibility here is to have paper and pens and ask participants to write down three conversations starters with their student, such as:
Which class is your favorite right now and why?
If today you could do anything you wanted, what would it be?
How are you learning about options after high school?
You could also have parents practice with each other how to start conversations with their students and give each other feedback.

17. Getting Help You’re not alone.
At OUR SCHOOL, the following people are here to help you navigate the process:
Update slide with name of your school or program, as well as specific individuals who can help.
Possibilities include:
Parent / Family Liaisons
Your student’s high school counselor
College and Career Specialists
College Access Programs available to your student (I.e. College Access Now, College Success Foundation, Summer Search, TRIO, etc.)

18. Q & A

19. Parent Panel