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Dear Editor: Legend has it that the first New Year's resolution
was made in 153 B.C. by the Roman god Janus (for whom January is
named), who probably vowed to exercise more. No word on how Janus
did on his resolution, but I've got a resolution for college-bound
students and their parents that's simple and may be worth up to
$9,278: Complete the "FAFSA" now!
The FAFSA, the free application for federal student aid, is the
basic building block in creating a college financial aid package.
The FAFSA determines eligibility for grants, scholarships, loans and
work-study programs, and is the essential first step in receiving
financial aid from federal, state and private sources.
Last year, 576,000 Illinois students filed a FAFSA (up 26 percent
since 2001), so you don't want to miss the boat. The U.S. Department
of Education begins accepting FAFSAs on Jan 1, 2008, for the 2008-09
school year. Much of the information required on the FAFSA will be
in your income tax returns, so combine the two projects. The FAFSA
is available online (www.fafsa.ed.gov)
or in paper form, and in Spanish. This is a "do-it-yourself" process
that takes about an hour. Don't let FAFSA intimidate you; if you're
having problems, call an ISAC counselor, 800-899-4722.
College tuition is still on the rise nationally, as is the amount
of student loan debt incurred by college graduates. By submitting a
FAFSA, you become eligible for up to $9,278 in grants -- depending
on income -- from the state's Monetary Award Program and federal
Pell grants. What other New Year's resolution can do that? So, in
the spirit of Janus, make a resolution that's easy to keep and will
mean a world of difference in college affordability: Complete your
FAFSA! For more information about college preparation, visit
collegezone.com.
Sincerely,
Andrew Davis
Executive director
Illinois Student Assistance
Commission
[Posted
December 21, 2007]
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