Opinion

FAFSA an important first step to aid

Posted January 09, 2012 4:00 am

Here’s a New Year’s resolution for college-bound students and their parents that may be worth more than $10,000 in free money for college in the form of federal Pell and state Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants: Complete the FAFSA. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the important first step in the college financial aid process. It determines eligibility for need-based grants, scholarships, loans and work-study programs administered by federal, state and higher education institutions.

The U.S. Department of Education began accepting FAFSAs on Jan. 1 for the 2012-13 school year, and awards are made on a first-come, first-served basis. Last year, close to 800,000 Illinois students filed a FAFSA, but these limited resources only go so far. It’s best to apply as close to Jan. 1 as possible, and you should never assume that you will not qualify for financial assistance.

The new, streamlined FAFSA takes about an hour to complete and requires much of the same information required in a tax return. The FAFSA is available online or in paper form, and in Spanish. Should you have any questions, contact your university financial aid office.

Make a resolution that’s easy to keep and will mean a world of difference in college affordability: Finish your FAFSA!

Brian O. Hemphill

Vice president, Student Affairs & Enrollment Management

Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

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