mama financial aid behind you 💚

We’re back with another newsletter packed with all things educational content, news, updates, and scholarships! Just for you!

Financial aid is key to continuing your education after high school! Even if you are not a senior, stick around and learn about financial aid and scholarships you can start applying to now!

When should I start preparing to apply?

You should start preparing now!

We know both applications will be open on December 1st! ⏰ 

Here's a quick guide on how to start preparing:

Debt-free education is MORE than possible! 🎉

And it all starts with filling out the FAFSA/WASFA! And of course, scholarships!

Let’s break it down together!

What is Financial Aid?

One important step on your journey to higher education is applying for financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Washington Application for Financial Aid (WASFA). 🎓💰

Both FAFSA and WASFA will be open on December 1, 2024.

What is FAFSA?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a free application that students use to apply for federal and state student aid. It's how you unlock grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities, and loans to help cover your tuition, books, and other expenses.

What is WASFA?

The Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) is a free application that allows students to apply for state and some college aid in Washington state. It is specifically for students who do not have a Social Security number or are not legal permanent residents. If you are in a different state, look for funding opportunities available in your state!

🗂️Step 1: Get Your Information Ready 🗂️

What you need for FAFSA:

• Basic information, such as legal name, birth date, etc.

• Social Security Number.

• Alien Registration Number (non-U.S. citizens)​.

• Parent and student's income tax returns from 2 years ago (2022), W-2, and other records of money (Note: they will automatically transfer your federal tax return information using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool)​.

• Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)​.

• Records of untaxed income (if applicable)​.

• An FSA ID to sign electronically (can be created before starting the FAFSA for faster submission)​.

  • Create your FSA ID Registration

What you need for WASFA:

• Basic information, such as legal name, birth date, etc.

• Parent and student's income tax returns from 2 years ago (2022), W-2, and other records of money.

• Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)​.

• Records of untaxed income (if applicable)​.

• Your list of colleges (Washington state colleges only). 

• Your DACA number or Social Security Number (if you have one).

• Create your WASFA login.

  • Once you have created an account, you are ready to begin your WASFA.

✅ Step 2: Complete the FAFSA & WASFA Form ✅

Starting December 1st, both FAFSA & WASFA will be open for the upcoming academic year. Visit the official FAFSA website for the application and the WASFA website for the application forms. 

Remember: Filling out the FAFSA/WASFA application form is the first step! Once you submit, your college/institution will process your application. Then, they might reach out for additional documents, like a copy of your W-2 or your 1099 forms, to finally complete your financial aid application—so make sure to keep an eye out for emails from your school’s office of financial aid, and submit any information they inquire as soon as possible!

💡Step 3: Stay Informed & Protected💡

Keep an eye on deadlines for the financial aid application and for your chosen colleges or universities. Each school may have different priority deadlines, so be sure to check them out.

The Higher Education Act requires that data shared during the FAFSA process is used only to determine and award federal financial aid. However, we want to be honest that we can't guarantee how the U.S. Department of Education will handle this data in the future. For families with undocumented members, this means there’s a possibility that the information could be used in ways we can’t predict or control. While we don’t want to alarm you, we believe it’s important to share this so you can make the best decision for your family. 

Any information provided on the WASFA, administered by the Washington Student Achievement Council, is not permitted to be used for other purposes or to be shared with other parties. Read more about the WASFA Privacy Statement here. WASFA is primarily for undocumented students, but anyone regardless of immigration status (including parents) can complete the WASFA. 

If you have concerns about sharing your family’s information with FAFSA and you are planning to apply and attend a college or university within Washington state, you can fill out the WASFA instead. It is important to note that WASFA gives you access to limited aid in comparison.

🌟Remember, you are not alone on this journey 🌟

We believe in you and we can't wait to see you thrive. The first step is just around the corner with financial aid applications!

Stay focused, stay motivated, and let's make those dreams a reality. 🌟

SCHOLARSHIPS

• GoTranscript Academic Scholarship | $5,000 | Due December 31

  • Applicant must be a high school senior or current full-time college freshman, and must register using their university or college issued email. This scholarship is offered during the Spring and Fall semesters, applications are accepted year-round.

• GSBA Scholarship Fund | $7,500 | Due January 10

  • The Fair Chance Scholarship is awarded to twenty high school seniors from across the state of Washington pursuing higher education. All funds are paid directly to the recipient’s college, university or trade school to be used toward tuition or books. Awards range from $3,000 to $7,500, depending on the certificate or degree you are pursuing.

• The Opportunity Scholarship | $10,000 | Due January 31

  • We created our Opportunity Scholarship for undocumented students who live in states where they effectively have no access to college – either because they face paying out-of-state tuition or because their state will simply not admit them into its universities. We call these locked-out states.

• José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions | $45,000 | Due January 31

  • The EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship provides funds for two years of undergraduate study to rising junior undergraduate students attending Minority Serving Institutions as defined by the US Department of Education (Hispanic Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaskan-Native majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields that directly support NOAA's mission. Participants conduct research at a NOAA facility during two paid summer internships.

IMPORTANT: Essay Review Update

Essay Review is taking a winter break!

DECEMBER 16 - JANUARY 6

The last day to submit your essay for review before the SJ team is out on break is December 15, and will be returned by the end of the day December 17.

Any essays submitted between December 16 and January 6 will be returned by Friday, January 10.

If you have any questions/concerns, please email [email protected]

Our team created a Writing Resource Hub you can use to help with your essay while we are on break.

Check out these examples:

1. Grammar tips blog

2. Academic Writing

3. Common Application Essay Prompts: Tips and Suggestions to Make Your Essay Shine

4. 92 Essay Transition Words to Know

5. How to Make an Essay Longer or Shorter