Smart Money Moves
Your monthly guide to Financial Aid Information: Oct 2019
In this issue, you will find:
- Dispelling Financial Aid Myths
- Creating and Using your FSA ID
- WS/FCS Financial Aid Night
- Senior Academy Opportunities for FAFSA help
- FAFSA Day at WSSU
- Student Night at Piedmont Opera - Scholarship Opportunity!
- Centennial Scholarship Endorsements Due Nov 1
- CSS Financial Aid Profile
- UNC School System Financial Aid Priority Deadlines
Common Myths About Applying for Financial Aid
1. My parents make too much money, so I won't qualify for aid.
FACT: The reality is there’s no income cut-off to qualify for federal student aid. It doesn’t matter if you have a low or high income; most people qualify for some type of financial aid, including low-interest federal student loans. Many factors besides income—such as your family size and your year in school—are taken into account.
2. I should use my 2019 tax information to fill out the 2020-21 FAFSA form.
FACT: You must use your 2018 tax information to complete the 2020-19 FAFSA form. It doesn’t matter if you or your parents haven’t filed 2019 taxes yet, because the 2020–21 FAFSA form doesn’t need that information.
3. I support myself, so I don't have to include my parent's info on the FAFSA form.
FACT: This is not necessarily true. Even if you support yourself, live on your own, or file your own taxes, you may still be considered a dependent student for FAFSA purposes.
4. I should wait until I'm accepted to a college before I fill out the FAFSA form.
FACT: Don't wait! You can start now! You should list all schools you're considering, even if you haven't applied or been accepted yet. It doesn't hurt your application to add more schools. If you don't end up applying or getting accepted to a school, the school can just disregard your FAFSA form.
5. There's only one FAFSA deadline and that's not until June.
FACT: Nope! There are at least three deadlines you need to check: your state, school, and federal deadlines. You can find the state and federal deadlines HERE.
6. I can share an FSA ID with my parent(s).
FACT: Nope, if you’re a dependent student, then two people will need their own FSA ID to sign your FAFSA form online:
- You (the student)
- One of your parents
An FSA ID is a username and password that you use to log in to certain U.S. Department of Education (ED) websites. Your FSA ID identifies you as someone who has the right to access your own personal information on ED websites such as fafsa.gov.
If you’re a dependent student, your parent will need his or her own FSA ID to sign your FAFSA form electronically. If your parent has more than one child attending college, he or she can use the same FSA ID to sign all applications. You’ll need a unique email address for each FSA ID.
Your FSA ID is used to sign legally binding documents electronically. It has the same legal status as a written signature. Don’t give your FSA ID to anyone—not even to someone helping you fill out the FAFSA form. Sharing your FSA ID could put you at risk of identity theft and could cause delays in the FAFSA process!
7. It costs money to submit the FAFSA form.
FACT: Absolutely not! You NEVER have to pay to complete the FAFSA form when you go to www.fafsa.org. If you're paying a fee, you're not on the official government website.
8. Only students with good grades get financial aid.
FACT: While a high GPA will help you get into a good school and may help with academic scholarships, most federal student aid programs do not take grades into consideration when you first apply. However, keep in mind that if you want to continue receiving aid throughout your college career, you will have to maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by your school.
9. I only have to fill out the FAFSA form once.
FACT: You have to fill out the FAFSA form every year you're in school in order to stay eligible for federal student aid.
10. The 2020-21 FAFSA form isnt available until Jan 1.
FACT: The 2020-21 FAFSA form opens Oct. 1! You should submit your FAFSA as early as possible because some states and schools have limited funds.
Creating and Using your FSA ID
What’s an FSA ID? The FSA ID is a username and password you use to log in to certain U.S. Department of Education websites, including fafsa.gov, StudentAid.gov, and StudentLoans.gov.
The FSA ID is your legal signature and shouldn’t be created or used by anyone other than you—not even your parent, your child, a school official, or a loan company representative. You’ll use your FSA ID every year you fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA® ) form and for the lifetime of your federal student loans.
How do I get an FSA ID? Visit StudentAid.gov/fsaid to create an FSA ID. You’ll need your Social Security number, full name, and date of birth. You’ll also need to create a memorable username and password, and provide answers to some challenge questions so you can retrieve your account information if you forget it. We strongly recommend that you provide a mobile phone number and email address when you make your FSA ID. Providing a mobile phone number and/or email address that you have access to will make it easier to unlock your account, retrieve your forgotten username, or reset your forgotten password.
Important: An email address and mobile phone number cannot be used with more than one FSA ID. If you share an email address with someone else, then only one of you will be able to use that email address to create an FSA ID. This applies to your mobile phone number too.
FSA ID Tips : One of your parents might need an FSA ID as well. If you need to provide information about your parents on the FAFSA® form, one of your parents will have to sign the form. Your parent can create an FSA ID and then sign the FAFSA form electronically using that FSA ID. Not sure whether you’ll need to put your parents’ information on the FAFSA form? Check out StudentAid.gov/dependency.
Remember: You should create your own FSA ID and your parent should create his or her own FSA ID. Also, make sure to use the correct FSA ID when signing the FAFSA form electronically.
WS/FCS Financial Aid Night -- October 23
Representatives will be available from both WSSU and UNC Greensboro to answer questions and assist students and parents with FAFSA filing.
Students can elect to receive help with College Applications or FAFSA.
When: October 23
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Where: Education Building
Auditorium and Rooms 219 & 223
4801 Bethania Station Road, Winston-Salem NC
Don't miss these Upcoming FAFSA Senior Academy Opportunities
Don't miss your opportunity to earn Senior Academy credit and to learn exactly what information is necessary to fill out the 2020-21 FAFSA.
Students must register inside their Crosby Scholars Student Portal to receive instructions on how to view the Webinar.
Date: October 9
Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Location: Webinar format
Space is limited only to those who register and the webinar link is not to be shared with anyone.
This webinar will require the following:
- Internet Connection
- Computer
- Email address to log in to the presentation
- Speakers
You will receive a link and login instructions via email prior to the start of the webinar.
Title: CSA #12A FAFSA and/or Profile Lab
Date: Saturday, October 12
Time: 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Location: Computer Lab, Strickland Center on the campus of Forsyth Technical Community College
To successfully work on and complete your FAFSA you will need the following information. IMPORTANT: Students and families who do not show up with this information cannot receive assistance. The information is critical in completing the FAFSA.
- If already created, the FSA ID username and password for the student and ONE parent
- If the student/parent has not created an FSA ID, please bring the follow:
- Student social security number, birthdate, email address and phone number
- Parent(s) social security number, birthdate, email address and phone number
- Parent financial information
- 2018 Taxes
- 2018 W2
- Student financial information (if the student filed taxes please bring the following)
- 2018 taxes
- 2018 W2
FAFSA Day at Winston-Salem State University - Oct 26
Winston Salem State University (and several other NC Colleges) will be hosting a FAFSA Day again this year -- Don't miss your chance for FREE one-on-one help. Don't forget to bring your 2018 tax information!
Questions? Contact Joseph A. Levister at levisterja@wssu.edu
October 16 - Crosby Scholars Nights at Piedmont Opera -- Scholarship Opportunity for Juniors and Seniors
Piedmont Opera and the Crosby Scholars Program are pleased to offer junior and senior scholars FREE tickets to the performance of Mary, Queen of Scots on Wed., Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. Student Night)
The Stevens Center of the UNCSA
405 4th St NW
Winston-Salem
***Accompanying parent/guardian ticket price is $20***
**Sibling ticket price is $11.60**
Tickets must be reserved by 4:00 PM on October 14
**A drawing will be held for one $250.00 scholarship awarded to a junior or senior Crosby Scholar student who attends the performance.This scholarship must be applied toward the winner’s college education, and the recipient must graduate from the Crosby Scholars program.
While Crosby Scholars staff will be in attendance, due to the nature of the event, we regret that we are unable to be responsible for supervising students before, during, or after the opera. Parents/guardians should make appropriate arrangements for supervision and transportation of their students for this event.
If you have any questions, please contact Amanda Mathis at amathis@crosbyscholars.org.
Centennial Scholarship Endorsements - NC State University
The Wilson College of Textiles at North Carolina State University is now accepting endorsements for our Centennial Scholarship program, one of the largest college-based scholarship programs at NC State. Please endorse your best and brightest students for this dynamic scholarship opportunity by November 1.
The Centennial Scholarship program is designed for students who are interested in career fields such as engineering, business management, design, chemistry, polymers, forensics, medical fields, fashion merchandising and retail management.
- ITT Centennial Scholarship
- Awarded to the top Centennial
- $22,000 / year for 4 years and $7,500 in enrichment funds
- Kimbrell Centennial Scholarship
- Awarded to the 2nd top Centennial
- $20,000 / year for 4 years and $7,500 in enrichment funds
- Centennial Scholarship
- $15,000 / year for 4 years and $7,500 in enrichment funds
- Up to 8 awarded per year
- Pioneer Scholarship
- $14,000 / year for four years and $4,000 in enrichment funds
- Up to 4 awarded per year
- North Carolina Textile Foundation Scholarship
- $5,000 / year for 4 years
- Prestige Scholarship
- minimum award is $2,500 / year for 4 years
Click here to endorse.
If you have questions please email cotscholarships@ncsu.edu
CSS/FINANCIAL AID PROFILE
The College Board’s CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® is an online application that collects information used by almost 400 colleges and scholarship programs to award financial aid from sources outside of the federal government.
North Carolina Colleges that REQUIRE CSS PROFILE are:
- Davidson College
- Duke University
- Elon University
- UNC Chapel Hill
- Wake Forest University
PROFILE applications can be accessed beginning October 1. You should complete the Fall 2020/Spring 2021 PROFILE®.
The PROFILE Application is customized for the student and his or her family following registration. It contains questions about the student's and parents' households, income, assets, and expenses. Applicants are provided with step-by-step instructions and a customized Pre-Application Worksheet. (student.collegeboard.org/css)
UNC School System FAFSA Priority Filing Deadlines
Make sure you know the institutional Financial Aid priority deadline for your school! Filing out and submitting your FAFSA by a school's Institutional priority deadline is the best way to ensure you will be considered for the most federal and state financial aid funds.
UNC School System FAFSA Priority Filing Dates
- North Carolina A&T State University -- December 1st
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro -- December 1st
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington -- January 1st
- Western Carolina University -- January 1st
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte -- January 1st
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill -- March 1st
- Eastern Carolina University -- March 1st
- University of North Carolina at Asheville -- March 1st
- University of North Carolina at Pembroke -- March 1st
- Winston Salem State University -- March 1st
- Appalachian State University -- March 1st
- Elizabeth City State University -- March 1st
- North Carolina State University -- March 1st
- North Carolina Central University -- March 15th
If you do not see your school listed, you can find their FAFSA priority deadline by checking the Financial Aid section of their website.
Have questions about Financial Aid?
Schedule an appointment with Ashly by calling 336-725-5371.
Crosby Scholars Community Partnership
Email: awilson@crosbyscholars.org
Website: www.crosbyscholars.org
Location: 2701 University Parkway, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Phone: 336-725-5371
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrosbyScholars?fref=ts
Twitter: @CrosbyScholars