FAFSA COMPLETION NIGHTS: Register Today!

HPHS Senior Families:

Free College Financial Aid Workshop

Work one-on-one with trained New York Cares volunteers to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Wednesday, February 25^th from 6:00-9:00pm @HPHS

Saturday, February 28^th from 11:00-2:00pm @HPHS

In order to participate in the FAFSA Completion Event:

·       ADVANCED REGISTRATION REQUIRED: FILL OUT FORM WITH FOLLOWING LINK: CLICK HERE

·       Bring financial documents (tax forms,  social security numbers, etc) listed on the attached sheet

·       Bring a list of colleges you have applied to

·       Arrive at HPHS 15 minutes before your scheduled start time (5:45 PM on 2/25 and 10:45 AM on 2/28) 

CHECKLIST to apply for Financial Aid (2015)

You must bring ALL of the following documents to your advisor BEFORE your scheduled workshop.

What You Need	YOU	PARENT(S)
Birth dates (MM/DD/YYYY)	X	X
Social Security Number	X	X
Alien Registration Number (A#), if you are a permanent resident	X
Email Address	X
2013 & 2014, 1040 Federal Tax Return	X	X
2013 & 2014, IT-201 NY State Tax Return	X	X
W2 Forms (if applicable)	X
List of Colleges Applied to	X
MM/YYYY of Marriage/Separation/Divorce/Widowed		X
Money in cash, checking, savings, and investments	X	X
Date of Arrival in NY State (MM/YYYY), if you arrived less than five years ago	X	X
Untaxed income documents (Social Security, Unemployment, Public Assistance (Not food stamps), Disability…		X

Get PIN Numbers (You can also apply for a FAFSA PIN in person)

o  Get a FAFSA PIN at www.pin.ed.gov.

Students and parents need personal identification numbers (PIN) to complete the FAFSA online. The PIN is a four digit code that is used as an electronic signature.  This MUST be obtained EITHER at the workshop or at least 24 hours in advance of the training.

o  Get a FAFSA PIN for one of your parents (whoever will sign the FAFSA).

If a student is considered dependent, both students and parent(s) need to request PINs. If a student is considered independent only the student needs to request a PIN. Parents without social security numbers will not be able to apply for a PIN. To sign the form, they should print out a signature page, sign it, and send it in the mail.

For more information or to RSVP contact:

Fatimahshalash@cdi-ny.org (Last names A-K) or

 Marinaroyo@cdi-ny.org (Last names L-Z)

*A parent or guardian must attend with the student in order to complete the FAFSA. If you would like to attend, but your parent/guardian cannot be there, please notify your advisor.

Hope to see you there!

I've turned in my college applications: What's next?

Seniors, now that you've turned in all of your applications (congrats!), read the following next steps closely to stay on top of the process: 

1.     Check your Application Statuses NOW: Begin checking your application status at EACH individual college you’ve applied to. This may mean you have to CALL or EMAIL colleges, but many colleges probably sent you a username/password to login to their system and check. Do they have your transcript? SAT scores? Letters of recommendation?

Colleges do NOT inform me us if something is missing. L Only you. So, please complete this important step!

2.     Check your email and voicemail daily (clean out your inboxes or set them up, people!) and read your messages carefully. Now is the time that colleges will begin contacting you for consideration of their SEEK, EOP, and HEOP programs. Don’t overlook these important emails, phone calls, mailings, etc.!! They don’t care, but you will!

3.     Check your Financial Aid Requirements: visit EACH college’s financial aid website ASAP to verify what financial applications/documents they need and when they need them by.

·        When is their priority deadline for FAFSA? (many colleges have priority deadlines – meaning they will first consider students who have filed their FAFSAs by the listed date for their scholarships and other institutional aid)

·        Do they require the CSS Profile? This is a separate financial aid application via the College Board, often required by more selective colleges (but not necessarily). Check the colleges websites or this list (https://profileonline.collegeboard.org/prf/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet.srv) to confirm. Typically, the deadline for this application is Feb 1^st or 15^th! It takes A LOT of time to complete, so don’t wait until the last minute.

·        Do they want signed copies of your parents’ tax forms? You won’t know this unless you check the websites!

4.     Keep your grades up! . Your senior grades matter…A LOT (even gym class!), and colleges WILL see them. So, don’t ruin your chances of admission – stay motivated in every class! Your mid-year reports will be sent to college in February.

Our Financial Aid Night is next Wednesday, January 21^st at 6pm in Room 321. We encourage you AND your parent(s) to attend to learn important information about financial aid, loans, and more!

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email the college office or stop by. We are available to help you complete ALL of these applications, mail/fax your documents, etc., but we need you to review what is required of your colleges before we meet.

Best,
The College Office

PS: Don’t forget to share your college acceptances with us!! Every.Single.One. J