Ready, Set, FAFSA!

Are you or someone you know applying to college this year? We can help! Join us this fall for a series of college and financial aid webinars created specifically for students and families to help them prepare for the college-going process. All sessions will be on Tuesday evenings and approximately one hour long with a short presentation from financial aid experts. Interpreters will be available in Spanish, Hmong and Somali. And, your questions will be answered live in the chat. Students who attend these sessions will be entered into a drawing to win a $500 scholarship! Register here!

Educators, please share these sessions with your networks by using our promotional toolkit, which includes social media posts in multiple languages, email templates, and more.

A huge thank you to the Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) Group, the Minnesota Department of Education, the Minnesota Office of Higher Education and the Minnesota Association of Financial Aid Administrators (MAFAA) who helped make these events possible.

Session #1: Apply to College

September 27 @ 7:00 p.m. | Register here!

Suggested audience: 10th, 11th, 12th grade students and their parents/guardians

Applying for college can be daunting. This session will help simplify the process, providing all the information you need to know about preparing, searching, and applying for college. We will provide a broad overview of how to choose a college, provide several tools to narrow down your search, and tips for completing your college applications.

Watch recording.

Slideshow | Q&A | Resources

Session #2: Understand Financial Aid

October 4 @ 7:00 p.m. | Register here!

Suggested audience: 10th, 11th, 12th grade students and their parents/guardians

Paying for college should not be a barrier for anyone. This session will help you learn about the many ways to pay for college including grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study. We will answer these questions and more: Which funds are free to eligible students, which funds must be paid back, and which funds require a little work to receive but are still free?

Watch recording.

Slideshow | Q&A | Resources

Session #3: Prepare to Apply for Financial Aid

October 11 @ 7:00 p.m. | Register here!

Suggested audience: 12th grade students and their parents/guardians

Applying for financial aid is one of the most important ways to fund your education after high school. This session will explain the different financial aid applications for Minnesota students. We will introduce the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the MN Dream Act application, including who should complete which form, and help define which parent information is needed for this process. We will also tell you about the things you need to have ready in order to complete and submit your application.

Session #4: Apply for Financial Aid

October 18 @ 7:00 p.m. | Register here!

Suggested audience: 12th grade students and their parents/guardians

In Minnesota, ALL students should apply for financial aid using one of two applications! The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the most commonly used form. If you are an undocumented student, you may still be eligible to receive State financial aid and in-state resident tuition by submitting the Minnesota Dream Act application, which is similar to the FAFSA and requires most of the same information. Come with your questions and we will provide the answers. We will provide insight on specific sections of your application, tips to avoid common errors and more. Financial aid experts will be available to answer your questions in the Q & A during the session. Choose one session to attend, based on your status indicated below:

• Complete the FAFSA (for students who are U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens), or
• Complete the MN Dream Act (for students who are undocumented)

Session #5: Search for Scholarships

October 25 @ 7:00 p.m. | Register here!

Suggested audience: 10th, 11th, 12th grade students and their parents/guardians

Want to know more about earning free money for college? Learn how to search and apply for scholarships to help you pay for your education after high school. We will highlight specific scholarships, provide tools to keep you organized, and tips to make your application stand out!