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Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is one of the most important steps students and their families can take to pay for college. The U.S. Department of Education awards around $121.8 billion in federal grants, loans and work-study funds, according to the most recent Federal Student Aid annual report. The agency reports that federal funds assist roughly 10 million students in completing their education. Federal financial aid can be awarded, such as with a grant; borrowed; or earned through work experience.
Students can fill out the online FAFSA application, beginning in December, using their computer or mobile phone. The first step, before filling out the FAFSA, is to create an FSA ID, which serves as an electronic signature. Parents and students can find a link to obtain an FSA ID through the Federal Student Aid website. To create a unique ID, applicants will need their Social Security number, date of birth and their name as it appears on official documents.
The CSS is an online application to determine eligibility for non-federal financial aid, which is administered by the College Board, creator of the SAT®. Not every college requires it, but nearly 400 colleges do, so be sure to first check the list of schools to determine whether your child needs to complete the application. Unlike the FAFSA, there is a fee to apply. The first application is $25 and reports to additional schools are $16 each. The CSS application can be filed as early as October 1 and should be completed as soon as possible to take advantage of aid that is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. All schools have their own deadlines in place for the CSS, but many require students to file the profile two weeks before the college's priority admission application deadline.
The Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) is New York State’s higher education student financial aid agency. HESC Administers: New York’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), 20+ State scholarship and loan forgiveness programs, New York’s 529 College Savings Program, with the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC), and provides Financial aid outreach programs for students and families.
Monthly Scholarship bulletin/ SCHOLarship websites
Monthly Scholarship bulletin/ SCHOLarship websites
Seeking a scholarship for any future educational goals and plans you have in mind for yourself can be done with any computer or smartphone with the ability to access the Internet. Browsing online for various scholarships is a way for you to compare the most appealing scholarships to you based on any college, university, or career you are interested in pursuing yourself.
The LHS Guidance Department complies scholarship opportunities through our Monthly Scholarship Bulletin which gets updated throughout the year. You will also find a comprehensive list of scholarship websites at the bottom of the document.
Local scholarship Bulletin
Local scholarship Bulletin
The Local Scholarship Bulletin is a list of scholarships offered only to Lindenhurst High School Seniors. We will be having a College Scholarship Workshop on Thursday, February 6, 2025 to assist students and their families with the process of applying for such scholarships. See your School Counselor for more information. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP BULLETIN
Attention, all Seniors. If you are not planning on completing a FAFSA for 2025-26, You Must Sign the NYS Waiver!
NYSED regarding FAFSA:
As we approach the final months of the academic year, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) emphasizes the critical importance of ensuring that students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Completing the FAFSA is essential to maximize students' eligibility for federal and state aid, whether they plan to pursue college or obtain an advanced industry credential. Last year, New York State students left over $220 million unclaimed in Pell grants alone. Through the end of last month, only 43.6% of New York's class of 2025 had completed a FAFSA, representing 92,588 submissions. Although there is still much work to be done, the good news is that this is an increase of nearly 10% compared to the same time last year.
To help ensure that all students have the full range of options of resources at their disposal, NYSED, in partnership with the State University of New York (SUNY) and the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), has a plethora of resources to support your district in improving FAFSA completion rates, including:
SUNY has partnered with the national organization UAspire to support both guidance counselors and students and families. Resources are available here.
HESC has prepared FAFSA toolkits and resources for students and families. For more resources, go to the Student FAFSA Toolkit.
Students and families can start by obtaining their FSA ID here.
***If you are not completing a FAFSA for the 25-26 academic year, you must sign the attached waiver and return it to your child's counselor before June 15th. This is imperative that you sign and return the waiver before graduation. Again. If you are not completing a FAFSA for 25-26, you must sign the waiver! Any questions or concerns, please contact your school counselor.
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