Debunking Financial Aid Myths

Don’t Let Financial Aid Myths Limit Your Options for the Future

Think you can’t afford college or career education? Financial aid helps many students pay for education after high school, and more families in Washington are now eligible. Even if you didn’t qualify before, you might now!

Myth #1: My parents make too much money, so I won’t qualify for financial aid.

Fact: Applying for financial aid is the only way to know for sure whether you qualify. With the new Washington College Grant, an eligible student from a family of four making up to around $107,000 per year can receive some money for their education.

Myth #2: Financial aid only pays for universities. That takes four years—I need to start working now.

Fact: Financial aid can be used for many types of full-time or part-time education, including career and technical schools, community colleges, some apprenticeships, and yes, universities too. You have options!

Myth #3: I can’t apply for financial aid, because I don’t know what I’m going to do after high school.

Fact: You can complete a FAFSA or WASFA financial aid application before applying for college or training. You can make your final choice about whether and where to go later, and you’ll know more about what you can afford. It's not too late to apply for fall 2023!

Learn more and apply for financial aid on the Washington Student Achievement Council website.

It’s Never Too Late to Apply for Financial Aid

With all the disruption caused by COVID-19, college or career training after high school is more important than ever. Filing a financial aid application gives you more options for the future. There’s still time to apply for this coming fall.

Many families assume they won’t qualify for aid, but there’s more help available than ever before. The new Washington College Grant (WCG) gives more money to more students for more kinds of education after high school. WCG is available year-round—if you meet the eligibility requirements, you have money waiting for you. The only way to know for sure if you’ll qualify is to apply for financial aid.

In Washington, there are two ways to apply for financial aid. U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens can apply with the federal FAFSA form. People who can't file the FAFSA—due to immigration status or other issues with federal aid—can apply for state aid, including WCG, using the WASFA.

Completing a FAFSA or WASFA financial aid application is a crucial first step toward college or career training. It’s not too late to apply for the 2023-24 academic year.

Learn more, get support, and apply for financial aid at https://wsac.wa.gov/apply.

 Understanding Financial Aid Award Letters

For seniors who have filed their Financial Aid application…  Now What?  I’m offering virtual Award Letter Comparison workshops that are great for senior advisory periods. Please contact me at afulford@olympic.edu if you’d like to schedule a workshop for your seniors.

• FSA ID Website: https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id. Parent & Student both need one! Start here!

• FAFSA website: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa - Apply& submit your official FAFSA application in your senior year on this website. Financial Aid application & information, Customer Service Chat, Pre-application worksheet, etc.

• CSS/PROFILE: https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/ - service of the College Board -- a national, not-for-profit membership association. Many of the member colleges, universities, graduate and professional schools, and scholarship programs use the PROFILE to help them award nonfederal student aid funds.

• U.S. Dept. of Education information: https://studentaid.gov/  

• Website to Financial Aid Q &A: www.finaid.org 

• Nonfederal/state aid: https://wsac.wa.gov/wasfa

• If you are wanting more information on the Scholarship program available through the UW, go to "The Husky Promise."

• Going to Olympic College? Check out OC's scholarship website: https://olympiccollegefoundation.org/scholarships/how-to-apply/ 

• McKinney-Vento/Homeless/Unaccompanied Youth FAFSA Informational Flyer