Ready Set FAFSA!
A series of virtual college and financial aid events - free to students and families.
Are you or someone you know applying to college this year? We can help!
Join us in October 2023 and January 2024 for a series of zoom sessions created specifically for students and families to help them prepare for the financial aid process.
All sessions will be on Tuesday evenings and approximately one hour long with a short presentation from college and financial aid experts.
Interpreters will be available in Spanish, Hmong, Somali.
Participant questions will be answered live in the chat.
Students who attend or watch the recordings of Ready Set FAFSA sessions will be entered into a drawing to win a scholarship!
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.
January 2024 Sessions, with Recording Links and Materials
January 9, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
Suggested audience: 12th grade students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) who do not yet have an FSA ID.
FAFSA requires students and their contributor(s) to have a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID). Join us for a step-by-step walkthrough to create an FSA ID and tips to avoid common errors. This is a repeat session from October. However, new information is available about creating an FSA ID if you don't have a social security number.
January 16, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
Suggested audience: 12th grade students who are U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens, and their parent(s)/guardian(s). Students are either eligible for the FAFSA or the MN Dream Act, not both.
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 - and is for students who are U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens. 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.
January 23, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
Suggested audience: 12th grade students who are undocumented, and their parent(s)/guardian(s). Students are either eligible for the FAFSA or the MN Dream Act, not both.
In Minnesota, ALL students should apply for financial aid using one of two applications! If you are an undocumented student, you will not complete the FAFSA -- but you may still be eligible to receive State financial aid and in-state resident tuition by submitting the Minnesota Dream Act application. 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.
January 30, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
Suggested audience: 12th grade students and their parent(s)/guardian(s)
Understanding your financial aid offer can be complicated, especially if you applied to more than one college or university. This session will help you understand how to read and compare them.
February 6, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
Suggested audience: 8th-11th grade students and their parent(s)/guardian(s)
Join us to learn about the different ways high school students can earn college credit while in high school. We will discuss Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses . . . and explain the differences between Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) and College in the High School. We will provide some benefits of the different programs and courses, eligibility requirements, and how to access these options.
October 2023 Recordings and Materials
October 3, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
Suggested audience: 10th, 11th, 12th grade students and their parent(s)/guardian(s)
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.
October 10, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
Suggested audience: 10th, 11th, 12th grade students and their parent(s)/guardian(s)
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? We will introduce the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the MN Dream Act application, including what is new for the 24-25 applications. We will also tell you about the things you need to have ready in order to complete and submit your application.
October 17, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
Suggested audience: 12th grade students and their parent(s)/guardian(s)
FAFSA requires students and their contributor(s) to have a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID). Join us for a step-by-step walkthrough to create an FSA ID and tips to avoid common errors.
October 24, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
Suggested audience: 10th, 11th, 12th grade students and their parent(s)/guardian(s)
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!
November 15, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
Suggested audience: 8th-11th grade students and their parent(s)/guardian(s)
Join us to learn about the different ways high school students can earn college credit while in high school. We will discuss Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses . . . and explain the differences between Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) and College in the High School. We will provide some benefits of the different programs and courses, eligibility requirements, and how to access these options.
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.