The ScholarNet team suggests helpful financial aid resources for your office to easily share with students and families during Financial Aid Awareness Month.
FAFSA
There will always be value in face-to-face interaction and holding Q&A sessions. If you’re planning to do presentations about completing the FAFSA, one resource provides ready-made PowerPoints, along with messaging for various times of the year, videos, and links to numerous other resources: the FAFSA Messaging Calendar provided by the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Most of the messaging you share will be via social media and digital media channels rather than in person, but this eight-page document includes plenty of links and a blueprint to start from, too.
Here are other valuable resources you may want to share or use with students and families that are related to completing the FAFSA:
- FAFSA Tips and Mistakes to Avoid – NASFAA
- Step-by-Step Guide to Completing the FAFSA – Nitro College
- FAFSA Demo Videos – EducationQuest
For Students Still Considering College
A great resource to share with your students and families is the Federal Student Aid YouTube channel. It has short videos that cover topics for those entering the higher education system for the first time, as well as current students and those who have left school.
ED offers many helpful resources for students considering attending higher education. Their Why go to school page shows a financial breakdown of average individuals with varying degrees compared to those with less education. They also provide a career search tool to help students match their interests with a viable path toward the career they desire.
During February (and beyond), some students and families may struggle to compare the award letters they receive from different schools. With costs broken down differently from one school to another, it can make comparing actual cost of attendance challenging to figure out. NASFAA created this handy Award Notification Comparison Worksheet to help students and families break out the costs so that they can make a more informed decision.
Share Your Ideas
We want to hear how you’re engaging students and families over Financial Aid Awareness Month. Share your ideas with your peers in the comments here and on LinkedIn.
Originally published: February 8, 2022