SENIORS BRIGHT FUTURES In order to be eligible to receive one of the Florida Bright Futures Scholarships all students are required to submit a completed Florida Financial Aid Application during their last year in high school. This year’s application was made available on December 1, 2015 at www. floridastudentfinancialaid.org. FAFSA Seniors it’s time to fill out your FAFSA form. FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This form is used to determine the amount of money a family is expected to contribute to the price of attending a postsecondary institution. The results of the FAFSA are used in determining student grants, work study, and loan amounts. The FAFSA application is critical because it is required for Bright Futures, Federal Pell Grants as well as other financial aid offered by colleges and universities. You must apply separately for many scholarships. The most important advice about completing the FAFSA is to READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. The FAFSA must be completed online at www.FAFSA.ed.gov where the form is available after January 1, 2016. To help you complete the application more quickly you need to have the right documents. Completing the FAFSA requires information like that requested on your federal income tax forms. Therefore, it is helpful to complete your taxes and have your parent’s complete their taxes and have them available when completing the financial aid application. You will need the following 2015 information to complete a FAFSA for the 2016-2017 school year: • Your Social Security number and driver’s license. • Your parents’ Social Security number. • W-2 Forms or other records of income earned. • Your and your parent’s Federal Income Tax Return. • Records of other untaxed income received such as welfare benefits, social security benefits, veteran’s benefits, or military or clergy allowances. • Current bank statements and records of stocks, bonds, and other investments. • Business or farm records, if applicable. • Your alien registration card (if you’re not a U.S. citizen). • Apply for a PIN number at www.pin.ed.gov prior to completing the FAFSA. • You should save all records and other materials used to prepare your application because you may be required to verify that it is correct. • Save either a paper or electronic copy of your completed application for future reference.
NEED MORE HELP FILLING OUT THE FAFSA College Goal Sunday CGS!Florida is a free, on-site program that helps students and families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the form that is required to apply for federal financial assistance for higher education. Students receive step-bystep instructions for completing and submitting their FAFSA, along with their Florida Financial Aid Application. If you are a student and haven’t made a decision about college, attend CGS!Florida. Filling out the FAFSA doesn’t obligate you to anything. Whether you choose a traditional college, community college, vocational or technical school, CGS!Florida can help you get money for higher education. Best Schools Guide to the FAFSA Step by Step information about filling out the FAFSA (Federal Application for Free Student Aid) GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS Seniors receiving failing grades on their first semester report card will need to make an appointment with their counselor as soon as possible after report cards are issued to discuss a plan for retrieving credit. Remember, 24 credits in the appropriate areas, a minimum unweighted 2.0 GPA, as well as, a passing score on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) and the Algebra 1 EOC are needed to earn a High School Diploma in the State of Florida. To download this article click here https://www.dropbox.com/ow/msft/edit/home/Natalie%20M./February%20Content/SENIORS%20B RIGHT%20FUTURES.docx?hpt_click_ts=1454703903191