If this is your senior year of high school (or if you are the parent of a graduating senior) you may already feel like you have a to-do list a mile long. There are many important tasks that must be done this year to find yourself successfully enrolled in the college of your choice.
One of the items that should be at the top of your list is your FAFSA. The acronym (if you're not sure what this word means you should brush up on your SAT vocabulary) FAFSA stands for free application for financial student aid. The government wants to be sure you know that you shouldn't have to pay anything to complete your FAFSA.
There are a few sites that have charged students recurring fees for assisting them in filling out their FAFSA. Some of these sites have been prosecuted and fined, but still; remember that there should never be any charges associated with submitting your FAFSA form. You may choose to pay someone for help with your FAFSA, just like people do with their taxes, but it is an optional service, and not a necessary expense.
According to the ABC article Not So FAFSA: How to Avoid a Student Aid Scam by Adam Levine,
“The Federal Trade Commission says there are many legitimate companies that, for an advance fee, can provide lists of scholarships or identify potential awards for which a particular student might qualify. But the FTC also cautions that there are a lot of unscrupulous companies looking to make money off of false promises of scholarships, grants or financial aid packages."
Of course, in addition to filling out your FAFSA you may be eligible for financial aid based on your academic records and your SAT or ACT scores. Higher scores will make you more competitive for scholarships. If you are interested in more information on SAT and ACT training to help you land a score you can be proud of, please contact us.
