FAFSA 101: What Prospective Students Need to Know
Autumn activities really seem to kick into high gear in October—and in between apple picking or cheering on your favorite fall sports, there’s another activity you may not know about… it’s FAFSA time! “FAFSA” stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and yearly applications open on October 1st. If you’re a prospective ChathamU student, it’s important you know the ins and outs of the FAFSA application process, and we’re here to help! Get need-to-know info, tips, and advice below in our interview with Nicole Sauter, Undergraduate Admission Counselor.
This very long, very thorough infographic explains the entire FAFSA process. Click it to see an enlarged version from the official FAFA website.
What is FAFSA?
The FAFSA, which stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is just that. It's a free form that students, along with parents and guardians, complete to apply for grants and loans from the federal government. Much like the Common Application, it's designed so you only have to fill it out once but can send it to multiple schools.
Why is it So Important?
Filling out your FAFSA is one of the best ways to apply for financial aid to pay for college. It's free, so all you have to do is spend some time completing the application to potentially receive federal aid and loans to help cover the cost of college. There's really no downside!
It’s also crucial in being eligible for other means of financial aid from Chatham such as our premiere scholarships. Students are unable to apply for these without first applying for their FAFSA.
In addition to submitting the FAFSA, we also encourage accepted students to apply for our Scholarship Interview Days and apply for our premiere scholarships which can give students additional financial aid opportunities.
What Do I Need to Know?
FAFSA, ASAP:
Once the application opens October 1st of your senior year of high school, try to fill it out as soon as possible. At Chatham, we encourage you to file the FAFSA as soon as you can, but definitely before May 1st of your senior year.
Tips and tricks?
Chatham’s website has plenty of comprehensive information on filling out your FAFSA. We also encourage students and parents/guardians to explore the official FAFSA site, which offers a virtual assistant service, a list of documents to gather before you begin, and lots more!
Our Admissions and Financial Aid offices work closely together to help you through the process of applying for aid. When in doubt, ask us! We’ll point you in the right direction.
What is Chatham’s FAFSA code?
003244 = Chatham's FAFSA code – make sure to use this when applying for the FAFSA so that they know to send your information to Chatham!
Ready to begin? Check out the official FAFSA website. Want to know more about Financial Aid at ChathamU? Attend a Scholarship Interview Day to learn all about scholarships, grants, and other aid opportunities.