By Amanda Plotts, Staff Reporter for the Circleville Herald
Future college students who need help navigating the financial aid system are encouraged to attend FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Day, a financial aid workshop sponsored by Pickaway HELPS (Higher Education Learning Partners for Students) and Ohio Christian University (OCU).
The workshop is free and will take place on Oct. 8 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at OCU’s Maxwell Center. Professional financial counselors will be available to give individual help, answer questions, and assist with the online completion of the FAFSA.
“OCU hosts the event and provides us with their professional financial aid counselors that day, and you actually sit down at the computer with your documents and they walk you through the filing,” said Christy Mills, executive director at Pickaway HELPS. “You have a live person there who is an expert you can ask questions to and get answers rather than struggling through it on your own.”
Mills recommends the workshop for high school seniors, current college students, adult learners or anyone who plans to take a college class in the next school year.
“Especially if you are coming from a first-generation college family and no one at home is familiar with the process or the language, it’s a really good presentation to attend to ease some of those worries and answer some questions.”
Mills said the workshop will provide the necessary first steps in applying for financial aid. Even if a student does not qualify for any need-based aid, Mills said the workshop will provide access to state aid, institutional aid, student loans and parent plus loans.
“It’s something we encourage everyone to file,” Mills said.
To reserve a seat for the workshop or for more information, contact Wes Brothers, Ohio Christian University, at wbrothers@ohiochristian.edu or 740-477-7716; or Christy Mills, Pickaway HELPS, at 740-474-5383.
Anyone planning to attend will need to bring the following items to the event: student and parent social security numbers; student drivers’ license; alien registration if not a U.S. citizen; 2015 federal tax information or estimates for the student and parent(s); records of untaxed income; and information on savings, investments, business and farm assets.
Article courtesy of The Circleville Herald.
