Posted Date:September 13, 2016
| Author: | Lisa DiCarlo, Director, Student Experience Group, Federal Student Aid |
Subject: It's FAFSA time--get your updated resources
FAFSA® season’s here—and we’ve got all kinds of resources to help
Since the FAFSA® launches earlier this year—Oct. 1—it’s time to get your seniors (and their parents) up to speed. Our 2017–18 FAFSA Messaging and Planning Calendar is filled with talking points and resources to help you help them.
For starters, it offers conversation points you can use to:
- Get them comfortable with the aid process
- Get them comfortable with the FAFSA
- Introduce them to what happens once they submit the FAFSA
Plus, the calendar features links to key resources you can use to educate students and parents leading up to, during, and after the FAFSA, including:
- College Students and Parents: What You Need to Know About the 2017–18 FAFSA (fact sheet)
- Changes to the FAFSA Process for 2017–18 (graphic)
- What’s New for the 2017–18 FAFSA? Basics for Parents and College Students (presentation)
Tell them: Get that FSA ID now
As you know, the FAFSA launches Oct. 1. And since most students fill out the FAFSA online, they’ll also need an FSA ID (a username and password) to sign it electronically. Remind them to do it early. And if a student’s parent will be signing the FAFSA electronically, he or she will need to get an FSA ID, too—one that’s different from the student’s. They can register for their FSA ID at fsaid.ed.gov.
Here are some resources that can help you get the word out:
- What's an FSA ID and Why Do I Need One? (fact sheet)
- Creating and Using your FSA ID (presentation)
- How to Create an FSA ID (video)
- Why Students and Parents Need to Create Their Own FSA IDs (blog post)
All these resources and more are available in the 2017–18 FAFSA Messaging and Planning Calendar.
Social media content made just for you
Want to help students and parents understand the financial aid process a little better? Or just want to create some excitement for your community? We can help. The digital outreach page in our Financial Aid Toolkit features Facebook posts, tweets, videos, and other digital resources that can be easily shared. So there’s no need to create your own. Use the ones you like, and post or upload them to your accounts any time!
Visit the Digital Resources Page
Learn more about the FAFSA with our webinar
Want more details on the 2017–18 FAFSA? Join our live webinar on Tuesday, September 27 at 5:00 p.m. ET, and we’ll provide a line-by-line FAFSA demo and explain all the important details.
Register today at http://fsaregistration.ed.gov/d/vfqcw2.
Are you busy planning for the upcoming school year? Check out these 5 creative ideas.
Are you looking for new and exciting ways to help your students understand the financial aid process? Many of you are doing great things across the country. We met with counselors, mentors, and college access professionals in Phoenix, Arizona and discovered some innovative approaches to help spread the word and make the financial aid process easier for everyone.
Check out our blog post for ideas and suggestions from some of our partners!