The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - needed to determine a student's eligibility for financial aid - is slated to open December 1, 2024
Families of current seniors should be thinking about completing financial aid applications in order for students to receive financial help to cover the costs of post-secondary education. With the late opening of the FAFSA, here are some things families can plan to do now.
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Obtain an FSA ID in preparation for completing the FAFSA
Everyone who will need to include their financial information on a student's FAFSA will be required to have an FSA ID. This includes the student and at least one parent. In order to determine who must secure an FSA ID, check the chart below:
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Contributor – Student –
All students must create an FSA ID
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Contributor – Parent(s)
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Scenarios
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Student
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One Parent
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If the student is a dependent student with two married parents who filed a joint federal tax return in 2023.
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Student
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One Parent
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If the student is a dependent student with separated or divorced parents. The parent who provided the most financial support in the last year AND the parent’s current spouse if they married after 1/1/24
OR
if parent was remarried prior to this date but filed taxes separately from the current spouse.
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Student
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One Parent
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If the student is a dependent student living with a single parent (widowed or biological parents were never married and other parent does not provide support).
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Student
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Both Parents
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If the student is a dependent student with two married parents who filed separate federal tax returns in 2023.
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Student
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Both Parents
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If the student is a dependent student with two parents who are unmarried but living together.
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To obtain an FSA ID, go to:
https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch
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Complete the CSS Profile (if required by school)
Approximately 250 schools and scholarship programs nationally require the CSS Profile, in addition to the FAFSA, to determine financial need. If so, this form will become available for completion beginning October 1, 2024.
The Profile can be found at:
https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/
Students should check with all the schools they are considering to determine if the Profile is required. A list can also be found at:
https://profile.collegeboard.org/profile/ppi/participatingInstitutions.aspx
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Determine if each school has institution-specific financial aid forms
Some schools have their own institution-specific forms that need to be completed.
Students should check the Financial Aid Office website for each school they are applying to in order to see what is required.
Plan to attend a virtual workshop on Paying for College or Scholarship 101
College Access Fairfax and FCPS will present a series of virtual workshops for students and their parents.
Paying for College - an overview of the financial aid process
- Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 7:00 PM
https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/97996136437
- Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 10:00 AM
https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/98267272879
Scholarship 101 - an overview of the process for applying for outside scholarships
- Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 7:00 PM
https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/92356822625
- Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 10:00 AM
https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/97647073031
To attend any of the workshops, simply click on the appropriate link above. Links can also be found on the Events calendar on our website:
https://www.collegeaccessfairfax.org
To access a copy of the Power Points for the above sessions, please click below:
Paying for College - in English
https://collegeaccessfairfax.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Paying-for-College-for-Class-of-2025.pdf
Paying for College - in Spanish
https://collegeaccessfairfax.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/College-Access-Paying-for-College-for-Class-of-2025-Spanish-002.pdf
Scholarship 101
https://collegeaccessfairfax.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Scholarship-101.pdf
Students are encouraged to apply for outside scholarships to help pay for their post-secondary education.
Beginning October 15, 2024, students may apply for one or more of the 20+ scholarship opportunities offered by College Access Fairfax. Each scholarship has individual criteria for eligibility. Descriptions and application access can be found through the student's Naviance account or on the Scholarship page of our website.
https://www.collegeaccessfairfax.org
Questions about the financial aid process?
Check out our website at the above address or contact us at
info@collegeaccessfairfax.org
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