Financial Aid

  • The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) fafsa.ed.gov

    All Seniors who plan to attendany College, University or Community College should file aFAFSA.  Both Parent and student will need to apply for separate PIN#'s.  This step must be completed first in order to file a FAFSA. The website is:  www.pin.ed.gov   DO NOT SHARE YOUR PIN # WITH ANYONE!!!!

    Independence HS will have a FAFSArepresentative, Mr. Frank Granillo, available for parents/students to filetheir FAFSA form beginning January 24th.   Please take advantage ofthis FREE service.  Parents will bring their financial information andmeet one-on-one privately with Mr. Granillo. 

    Financial Aid Night will alsotake place on the evening of January 12th in the IHS Auditorium at 7:00p.m.   We invite you to attend.

    Contact Cindy Nixon in the GuidanceCenter to set up your appointment with Mr. Granillo or if you have anyquestions.   

     

    FAFSA

     

    What is it?

    The FAFSA the form that the federal government uses to determine your eligibility for federal aid.  This aid includes grants, scholarships, work-study and loans.

     

    How does it work?

    Using your FAFSA, the federal processor determines your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). 

    EFC the amount of money your family can be expected to contribute each year to your college costs.  Your school will then try to meet your need through a financial aid award made up of funds from federal, state, school and private sources as well as loans, grants and student employment. 

     

    Where can I get one?

    Complete FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov

    Get a paper version from your high school or call

    1-800-4-FED-AID. 

    Advantages of FAFSA on the WEB

     

    FAFSA on the WEB is the quickest and easiest method of applying, offering the following advantages:

     

    -Detailed online help provides immediate answers.

     

    -Build-in edits detect errors and reduce number of rejects applications.

     

    -Applicants have instance access to EFC estimates.

     

    -Applicants can verify that information was transmitted successfully.

     

    -SAR arrives within 1 to 2 weeks, at most, compared to 3 to 4.

     

     

    5 Most Common FAFSA Mistakes

    1. Do not leave a field blank.Use a zero if the question does not apply to you.

    2. Don"t forget to reportALL required sources of untaxed income.

    3. Use the 1040 Federal taxreturn for reporting income and taxes paid, not the W-2.

    4. Include yourself in householdsize, even if you didn"t live there the previous year.

    5. Sign the application. If youare filing as a dependent, make sure your parents sign too.

     

     

    Quick Financial Aid Checklist

     

    1. Search Scholarship Money

    2. Understand the Types of FinancialStudent Aid

    3. Learn about Student Loans

    4. Do you Qualify for Aid Office

    5. Start with FAFSA

    6. Understand the StudentFinancial Aid Process

    7. How Parents Can Help

    8. Finding the Right Lender

    9. Saving for college

     

     

    Watch Out for Suspicious Offers

    To avoid the lure of suspiciousscholarship offers, experts recommend starting early by filling out the FreeApplication for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). They also suggest keeping a closeeye on free scholarship offers. You should:

    -Think before you pay Exhaust all free methods of obtaining financialaid before enrolling in a service that charges a fee. If you still believe youmust pay to enroll in a search service, check it out to make sure you will getthe results you expect.

    -Consider the source Some sources look official but are not. Somecommercial Web sites charge more than $50 to fill out the FAFSA. You can filethe FAFSA for free.

    - Seek help High school counselors and financial aid advisorsknow the tricks of the trade and usually can determine which services arelegitimate.

    - Give feedback Report any suspicious companies to the BetterBusiness Bureau.