Financial Aid: Federal & State Aid
SJHS Counseling Department
Arkansas State Aid
SCHOLARSHIPS. ADHE.EDU
To apply for state aid, seniors will use the YOUniversal application on the Arkansas Department of Higher Education website, http://scholarships.adhe.edu/. When they apply using the YOUniversal application, they are applying for ALL ADHE scholarship/grant programs:
- Arkansas Academic Challenge (June 1 Deadline)
- Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship (February 1 Deadline)
- GO Opportunities Grant
- etc . . . see a complete list of programs online.
The Arkansas Academic Challenge is the scholarship most St. Joseph students qualify for, but students will not receive a scholarship if they do not apply and send in all required documents by the deadline. In an effort to help out the seniors and their parents, I will have all qualified seniors (those with a composite ACT of 19 or higher) fill out the online YOUniversal application during English class this Friday, October 7th. Since a high school transcript and ACT scores are required, I will also mail those to ADHE for those seniors who apply during class on October 7. Any senior who applies later will need to request their transcript and ACT scores from my office so that they can mail them.
I am often asked if you can submit the YOUniversal Application if you have not filed the FAFSA yet, and the answer is YES. The FAFSA must be filed by June 1 for the Arkansas Academic Challenge, but students can put in their application before the FAFSA is complete. Please note, students will not be be awarded any state aid until the FAFSA is submitted, so do not procrastinate. I have had students awarded the Arkansas Academic Challenge as early as April because all requirements were completed, while others have waited well into June because the FAFSA was filed later in April or May.
Federal Student Aid
Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is what you will need to complete in order to receive federal aid. The federal aid money helps students pay for their college education—tuition, fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. Federal aid can come in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, or work-study funds.
October 1st came quick this year! The application for FAFSA is now available for seniors and their parents to complete. There is no need to wait because you will be using 2015 income and tax information.
Before filling out the FAFSA, seniors and parents will need to get a FSA ID (in the past, it was the FSA PIN). "Students, parents, and borrowers are required to use an FSA ID, made up of a username and password, to access certain U.S. Department of Education websites. Your FSA ID is used to confirm your identity when accessing your financial aid information and electronically signing your federal student aid documents." To get your FSA ID, go to www.fafsa.gov.
There is a lot of information on the FAFSA website, so I encourage you to go there to learn all about the Federal Aid programs. I also encourage you to check deadlines at the colleges of interest your senior may be attending next fall. Colleges may have different deadlines for the FAFSA, so stay informed. For seniors who qualify for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship, the FAFSA is one of the requirements; therefore, your FAFSA must be filed by June 1, 2017.
Questions & Answers from Department of Education Homeroom Blog:
How will the changes benefit me?
You might find that the FAFSA process is easier than you expected.
- From now on, the FAFSA will ask for older income and tax information that you will already have. This change means you won’t have to use estimates anymore, or log in later to update your FAFSA after you file taxes!
- Because you’ll already have done your 2015 taxes by the time you fill out your 2017–18 FAFSA, you may be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT) to automatically import your tax information into your FAFSA.
- Having the FAFSA available three months earlier will give you more time to meet most deadlines (although some will be early, so fill out the FAFSA right away just in case) and to explore and understand your financial aid options.
Can I fill out the FAFSA before I submit my college applications?
Yes, you can fill out the FAFSA even before you’ve submitted your college applications. Add every school you’re considering to your FAFSA, even if you haven’t applied or been accepted yet. Even if you’re on the fence about applying to a particular school, add it. It will hold your place in line for financial aid in case you end up applying for admission at that school. You can always remove schools later if you decide not to apply (but you don’t have to).
Do I have to update my 2017–18 FAFSA with my 2016 tax information after I file my 2016 taxes?
No. The 2017–18 FAFSA asks for 2015 tax info, and only 2015. Beginning October 1, you can fully submit the FAFSA in one sitting using your 2015 tax info. No updating necessary. (Hooray!)
Mrs. Teri Breeding
Email: tbreeding@sjbulldogs.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/sjbulldogs.org/mrs-breeding-s-counselor-webpage/
Location: 502 Front Street, Conway, AR, United States
Phone: 501-513-6808