FAFSA Process Begins for North’s Graduating Seniors

On Jan. 31, a FAFSA information night will be held in the Parkway North library at 7 p.m.               

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA, can be a very scary but very important form that all college bound students should fill out by April 1. 

“The FAFSA will ask a lot of questions about your parents income and assets; things students may not know,” said college secretary Linda Gatti, who has put her four children through college. “That is why your parent(s) should fill out the form.”

However, people may have questions and FAFSA night can help students and parents understand the form better.  The FAFSA will determine what type of federal loans and grants a student is eligible for, so it is important it is filled out correctly. 

“At the FAFSA information night, general questions about the FAFSA will be answered,” said College & Career Coordinator Stephanie Martin, who also works in the St. Louis Community College admissions department. “Also, Luke Cairney from St. Louis University admissions will give a presentation about the FAFSA and financial aid.”

There will be another FAFSA night on March 6, where advisors from STLCC-Wildwood will help parents and students complete the form.

“The FAFSA night next week will answer general questions about the form, and what it is about.  The FAFSA night in March will be more about completing the form in time for the deadlines,” said Martin.

About a week after the FAFSA is submitted, it will return two very important numbers. They are the SAR and the EFC.

“The SAR is the Student Aid Report. This is what will tell you what grants and loans you are eligible for,” said Martin. “The EFC is the Expected Family Contribution, which is the amount of money the federal government expects your family to be able to pay.”

The college admission process is a journey. The FAFSA may not be the highlight of the journey, but it is definitely an important step that ultimately determines the financial aid for college.

Written by Brandon Fredman – Online Coordinator