FINANCIAL AID PRESENTATION FOR SENIORS & FAMILIES
The following presentation is available in English and Spanish for the Class of 2023 and their families.
To view the slides only in English, click here. To view the slides only in Spanish, click here.
FINANCIAL AID PRESENTATION FOR SENIORS
The following video is a presentation about return on investment and financial aid for seniors and their families.
FINANCIAL AID MYTHS, FACTS, & RESOURCES
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid
Two applications for students to receive financial aid are available: the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid.
More information is available through the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (en español) and through this FAQs document (en español).
Illinois Student Assistance Commission
Jennifer Gijada
[email protected]
(224) 373-0005
Hi, I’m a representative with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. My job is to help make college more accessible for Illinois high school students. This includes help with career exploration, college selection, college essays, test preparation, scholarship searches, application completion, and the financial aid process. I have office hours every Wednesday in the CCRC from 10:30AM-1:00 PM.
To schedule an appointment, you can:
- Email me at [email protected]
- Call me at (847) 951-0170
Overview of Financial Aid Process
Types of Financial Aid
About Financial Aid
Financial Aid is a federally funded program. To qualify, you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The FAFSA is graduation requirement for all Illinois public high schools.
The federal government prefers the online version, and you will get a faster response if you file online. You can fill out the FAFSA beginning October 1st of your senior year.
IT IS BEST TO COMPLETE THE FAFSA BEFORE THANKSGIVING BREAK! Do not wait until April to complete your FAFSA. Many colleges have deadlines for financial aid, and the money will get allocated to those who apply early. Thus, you and your parents will need to use ESTIMATES of your income.
Click on the video below to learn more about the FAFSA:
Steps to Getting Started
1. Create a FSA ID – The FSA ID is your electronic passport to federal student aid online. An FSA ID is a username and password that you must 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 websites such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). In order to create an FSA ID, please go to: https://fsaid.ed.gov
To access an instructional video on how to create a FSA ID, click below:
2. GO TO FAFSA.GOV – Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as early as October 1st of your senior year.
Click below for a video on how to fill out the FAFSA:
Financial Aid Events
You don’t need to figure this all out on your own! We have numerous district programs to help understand the financial aid process. Parents can plan to begin attending these programs during their children’s freshman and sophomore years in order to prepare appropriately for college.
District Financial Aid Programs for 2022-23
ISAC OFFICE HOURS
Wednesdays: 10:30am-1:00 p.m.
Assistance will be available in English and Spanish. Financial Aid Officers will be available to help students and their parents complete the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid or the FAFSA. A representative from ISAC will be available to answer questions and assist with your FAFSA or Alternative App.
DISCTRICT 207 FINANCIAL AID NIGHT
At Maine South in March 2023- Date and Time TBD
Materials to bring for Financial Aid Application Help Sessions
- 2021 federal income tax returns (1040 or 1040-EZ), W-2’s, and other records of money earned (for student and a guardian/parent)
- Bank statements and records of businesses, farms, and other investments (if applicable, for student and a guardian/parent)
- Records of untaxed income (if applicable, for student and a guardian/parent)
- Current mortgage statements for properties other than the family’s principal residence (if applicable)
- List of up to 10 colleges you would like to attend
FOR STUDENTS COMPLETING THE FAFSA:
- Social Security Number or an Alien Registration Number
- FSA ID (https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa)
- Driver’s License (student)
- If guardian/parent is a U.S. citizen or has an Alien Registration Number, the guardian/parent’s Social Security Number or Alien Registration Number
Important Websites
www.fafsa.ed.gov – The Federal Government’s website for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
https://studentportal.isac.org/en/alternativeapp – The Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission
www.studentaid.ed.gov – The Department of Education’s informational website for planning for and funding post-high school education
www.collegeillinois.org – The State of Illinois’ website for students and parents. It has resources on many different topics related to college planning and paying for college.
https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsastudentaid.ed.gov – Get your FSA ID for the FAFSA.
http://mappingyourfuture.org/paying/debtwizard/index.cfm – How much debt is safe for college loans? Look at this website for information.
www.studentaid.ed.gov/guide – A comprehensive guide about the federal student aid programs. It is available in English and Spanish.
College Resources for Hispanic Students Provides a variety of resources for students and their parents. These include scholarships, undocumented students, first-generation students, and more.