Fontbonne University 7 Ways to Hack the FAFSA Guide

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As a high school counselor, you’ve probably helped countless students prepare for the infamous Free Application for Federal Student Aid (affectionately

known as the FAFSA). Completing the FAFSA is a crucial first step for anyone considering college. You may already be familiar with the FAFSA’s key

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requirements, but how confident are you in your “mastery” of the application?

We’ve spent years working to ensure our students receive as much aid as possible, and we’d like to help you do the same!

Filling out the FAFSA may not be anyone’s idea of a fun time, but it doesn’t have to be a miserable process. Help your students prepare early and thoroughly, and you’ll be setting them up for a smooth transition to the college world.

For some of our favorite tips, check out the seven recommendations we’ve included in this guide. And if you have any

questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to Fontbonne’s Office of Admission at 314-889-1400 or fbyou@fontbonne.edu.

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Make it easy for students to collect information from their parents.

------------In order to complete the FAFSA, high schoolers will likely need some information from their family. To save

time and stress, consider creating a template in Microsoft Word or Google Sheets with a list of data for your student to collect (e.g. income, family circumstances, etc.). Gathering this information is a good “homework” assignment for your student to complete before you begin filling out the FAFSA together.

For additional help or questions regarding reporting parent information, see this page from Federal Student Aid.

Don’t let students wait until the last minute to file.

------------Financial aid is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. For this reason, the earlier students file their

FAFSA, the better. The application can be tweaked even after it is submitted, if needed, so try to have at least an initial version turned in as soon as possible.

The FAFSA may be submitted as early as October 1 for the following school year. There are three categories of deadlines for submitting the application — college deadlines, state deadlines and federal deadlines. The

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federal deadline (absolute latest a student can submit) is June 30 for the following academic year. Deadlines for receiving state funding vary. A complete list can be found online here.

Finally, individual colleges and universities will have their own deadlines for financial aid qualification. If your

student knows which schools they will be applying to, make sure they also keep track of the FAFSA deadlines for those schools (usually found on the admission and/or financial aid office web pages).

Questions?

We’re happy to help!

Office of Admission 314-889-1400 fbyou@fontbonne.edu fontbonne.edu

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Make sure students are aware of much money is typically in their bank account.

------------Students are required to tell the government how much money is in any bank account in their name when filling out the FAFSA. This amount is used in calculating the value of their eventual financial aid award.

When advising students on how to fill out the FAFSA, make sure they’re aware of this calculation. Encourage them to list their typical or average bank account balance, omitting things like Christmas, birthday or graduation money they have recently received that could skew perceptions of their income level.

Help students understand how aid packages work at different schools.

------------The college application process can be daunting, especially for high schoolers who aren’t sure where they

want to go. As you help your students decide which schools to apply to, make sure they don’t just look at the sticker price. Explain how aid packages work, and encourage them to consider schools that could be a good fit — even if their names aren’t as familiar. In fact, strategically matching your student to a university where

her application would likely be at the “top” of the pile may help her secure a larger aid package than a school where the admission process is highly competitive.

Prepare students to negotiate with a school after they receive an aid package offer.

------------When a student is accepted to a school and receives a financial aid package, he may not realize he’s allowed to negotiate. While the school’s first offer may be their final offer, that isn’t always the case. Students should feel empowered to open a dialogue with the college’s financial aid office.

You can help them prepare for this process with advice on how to determine and respectfully present a

counteroffer. For tips on negotiating with a college’s financial aid department, check out this article from Northwestern Mutual.

If a student has special circumstances, help them prepare a letter explaining those circumstances.

------------Students may have special circumstances that impact their ability to pay for school but can’t be conveyed

through the FAFSA (e.g., a sibling with a disability or a sick parent). If this is the case, help them draft a letter that can be sent to schools where they decide to apply. This letter can be submitted as part of an individual appeal form after the student has been accepted. If you aren’t sure where to send the letter, contact the school’s financial aid office.

Tell students about military and public service programs that can help with loan forgiveness.

------------This tip isn’t technically for the FAFSA itself, but it’s something to keep in mind. As your students evaluate

tuition costs and loan amounts, be sure to tell them about military and public service programs (AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, National Guard, Army, Navy, etc.) that offer loan forgiveness. These programs can provide excellent experience and assistance for students interested in a variety of fields.

For more information on student loan forgiveness, visit the Federal Student Aid page.

Questions?

We’re happy to help!

Office of Admission 314-889-1400 fbyou@fontbonne.edu fontbonne.edu