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Mrs. McDonald October 2022
School Counselor Newsletter
FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens October 1st!
FAFSA Facts
- Submitting the FAFSA is the most important thing you can do if you want financial aid.
- The FAFSA is free—you don’t need to pay anyone to prepare it for you.
- You need to submit a new FAFSA before each academic year in which you want to get aid. If you plan to apply for aid throughout college, you’ll need to fill out the FAFSA each year.
- Be sure to use a permanent email address on the form, not your high school email, so you can use your FAFSA account throughout college.
- Here is a good website that lists 8 steps to complete the FAFSA https://studentaid.gov/articles/fafsa-for-parents/ .
Seniors to-do’s
- Know the priority dates for filing the FAFSA at the colleges to which you’re applying.
- Talk to admission counselors at the colleges you’re applying to and find out whether retaking the ACT would be advantageous
- Begin submitting your admission applications to the programs you’re most interested in. Be aware of deadlines! Try to have your applications submitted by November 1.
- Research scholarship days and deadlines at the schools to which you’ve applied. Fill out any additional scholarship forms before the deadlines.
Juniors to-do’s
- Check with Mrs. McDonald if interested in registering for the PSAT; the PSAT will be given on October 12th.
- Start preparing now to take the ACT during your junior year.
- Find information about Iowa colleges at https://www.icansucceed.org/college-planning/explore-colleges
- Set up a college visit to a college you would like to explore. Each student gets 2 unexcused absences from school to do college visits!
Important Dates
October 1st
FAFSA opens October 1st!
October 22nd
ACT test date