Workshops planned to help students, parents file for Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Filling out federal financial aid applications creates a frenzy for some households.

Filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid -- which requires tax, income and personal information -- can be an intimidating process for college-bound students and their parents, said LaDonna Pratt, a counselor at Scott City High School.

"Anytime that you're reporting any of these things to the federal government, people get a little uneasy," she said.

While many high schools hold their own workshops throughout the school year, experts will be on hand Sunday at locations throughout the state to help families wade through the jargon and financial information. Southeast Missouri State University will participate in the statewide FAFSA Frenzy with an information session from 2 to 4 p.m. at Dempster Hall. The session will include a representative from Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

In Southeast Missouri, experts will also be available at Southeast's Sikeston campus and the Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center. The career center will have another FAFSA session March 21.

Students are required to fill out the FAFSA for federal aid, including loans, grants and work study. At Southeast, the paperwork is also required for some university scholarships, said Karen Walker, financial aid director at Southeast.

Walker said students and parents will be able to fill out the forms online during the session. Parents do not have to file their taxes beforehand but should know their adjusted gross income, investment information and checking and savings account balances.

The student is also an important part of the process, she said.

"The student needs to come because we're going to communicate with the student when they get to college, not their parents," she said. "They have to know what's going on."

Once completed, it takes about three to five days for the application to be processed. Students will receive a summary called a student aid report. The report lists the student's expected family contribution, which measures the family's financial strength. The school uses the number to calculate the student's aid.

Pratt said about 75 percent of Scott City seniors fill out the form. The more students who apply, the more who find out college is affordable, whether they're attending a four-year, two-year or technical school.

"One of the things that we try to encourage is that any student can go to college if that's what their dream is," she said.

Brandi Ritter, a counselor at Chaffee High School, said she recommends parents complete their taxes by Valentine's Day.

"I always just tell them to get their taxes done early," she said.

Using tax information makes the process go smoother and leaves less room for error, she said.

The FAFSA deadline for aid at Southeast is March 1 but deadlines vary by institutions, Walker said. Being aware of the different deadlines is an important consideration, she said.

"They can still apply after that point, but there's going to be some financial aid they're not going to be eligible for," she said.

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