Spring Semester has barely started, but financial aid for the 2014-2015 school year is already due soon.
To help students navigate the process, the Department of Financial Aid and Scholarships is hosting a Financial Aid Awareness Week in the Union Building from Feb. 18-21. The aim is to have students address their concerns about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid before they begin filling out the forms in March.
“Everybody has their own unique situation, so it’s important to check your Umail, because that’s where the financial aid office will communicate with you any problems with your account,” said Anne Maxwell, a senior accountant with the U’s financial aid office.
FAFSA awards are issued to students by the middle of April.
Sahar Khadjenoury, a senior in film, stopped by the financial aid awareness table for face-to-face assistance in finding scholarships.
“I feel like a hamster running in a wheel when I go to the [financial aid and scholarships] web page,” she said.
Khadjenoury said she does not qualify for FAFSA, so she uses student loans and scholarships to fund her tuition. For students who may need additional help with their scholarship forms, there are workshops in conjunction with financial aid awareness week as well.
Workshops will be held Thursday in the Marriott Library and Friday in the Sage Point computer lab. Students will need their 2013 federal income tax returns (or their parents’ if they are a dependent student) and Social Security number or identification number, as well as statements and records of investments and untaxed income, if applicable.
Money in financial aid is given out on a first-come, first-served basis.
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