College & Career Readiness Newsletter
Greetings from the College & Career Readiness Center (CCRC) at Capital High School (CHS)! This newsletter is for YOU, the students and families of CHS. There is a lot going on in the CCRC this year, and this newsletter will play a big role in communicating what’s happening, and when.
In future issues you can expect information about events (at the CCRC and in the community), High School and Beyond Planning, scholarships, career exploration, volunteer and job opportunities and more. Whether your future plans include college, the military, or launching into a career, we’ll have something for everyone.
This month the newsletter is focused exclusively on Financial Aid. This information supports Financial Aid Advising Day (FAAD), which is an opportunity for CHS to enhance our direct support of students’ aspirations to continue their education after high school. While not all graduates need to attend college to reach their post-high school career goal, ensuring that all seniors know about financial aid opportunities and how to access them provides them with the information and resources they need should they consider returning to college later in life as their career goals evolve.
For many students, there is financial aid to help pay for college, trade school, apprenticeships, and university! National research shows that 90% of students who complete a financial aid application attend college and that the main reason students do not complete one is they think it’s too complex or they are not eligible for aid.* Millions of financial aid dollars are left unclaimed each year by Washington’s seniors who could get help!**
The goal of the Financial Aid Advising Day (FAAD) is to give all seniors the knowledge needed to apply for financial aid to help reduce costs associated with further education and training after high school. For seniors who do not plan to attend college right after high school, learning the financial aid process now can help them afford to attend college later in life as their career interests change.
School districts must, by December 1 each year, provide a FAAD, or series of days, that include the following opportunities for current seniors:
1. Information about financial aid sources and applications, including the Washington College Grant and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) and the College Board’s CSS Profile.
2. Assistance with completing the FAFSA or WASFA, as appropriate and whenever possible.
3. A demonstration of how to use Washington’s newly created Financial Aid Calculator.
Capital High School seniors will receive Financial Aid Advising Day information during a Senior Meeting on Wednesday, November 16th during Advisory, and students are welcome to stop by for follow up questions in the CCRC during lunch and after school. The following newsletter covers all of the information reviewed during the meeting, and serves as a great follow up resource for students and families regarding financial aid.
Missed out on the meeting on November 16th? That’s ok. You can always stop by the CCRC for more information on financial aid. This information is available all year long.
For more information contact:
Marcy Proctor - Career Center Specialist
CHS College & Career Readiness Center (CCRC)
mproctor@osd.wednet.edu I 360.596.8041
Let’s get started!
*https://www.ncan.org/page/WhyInvestFAFSA
**https://wsac.wa.gov/update-2019-02-14-FAFSA-IssueBrief
Financial aid is money that helps pay for education after high school. Financial aid can be used to pay for colleges, universities, apprenticeships and training programs.
Financial Aid may include grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans. For most students, financial aid is essential to making education affordable. About two thirds of college students receive financial aid based on their family's financial circumstances.
The cost of college can be overwhelming, but there are many different resources to help pay for college. People often use various sources of financial aid to pay for college in addition to what they may have saved or earn from their job. Financial Aid resources include any grant or scholarship, loan, or work study offered to help you meet your college expenses.
Financial Aid: In order to be considered for financial aid, you need to complete the FAFSA or WASFA your senior year and every year while in college. Each college determines financial aid eligibility for federal, state and institutional types of aid based on awarding policies at that campus.
Scholarships: There are thousands of scholarships that can help you pay for college. Different scholarships have different application requirements. Most scholarships require that you complete the FAFSA or WASFA.
Students apply for financial aid two different ways:
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) are financial aid applications, and completing one of these forms is the first step in applying for financial aid. The applications are free to complete; you should never pay to complete the FAFSA or WASFA.
Which form should I complete?
You should only complete one form, either the FAFSA or the WASFA. You should not complete both.
U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents should complete the FAFSA. Some undocumented students may be eligible for the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA). To find out which form you should complete, use the eligibility questionnaire.
YES!
Financial Aid Completion Events will be hosted at Capital High School, and there are also free virtual events taking place throughout the year. Check out the resources below to get help on completing your FAFSA or WASFA.
School Event:
Financial Aid Night
Get expert help completing the FAFSA or WASFA
Tuesday, November 29th, 2022
4pm - 7pm (Drop-in or stay for the whole event)
Capital High School (2707 Conger Way, Olympia, WA 98502) in the Library
Register at: bit.ly/chsfinaidnov29
12th Year Campaign Virtual Events
The 12th Year Campaign will be hosting statewide virtual financial aid informational and filing events this year. Interested in attending their events? Please visit their events page to see upcoming events and register.
Think you don’t qualify for financial aid? Think again.
Washington College Grant gives more money to more people.
Washington College Grant (WCG) is one of the most generous financial aid programs in the country. Recent high school graduates and working-age adults from many low- and middle-income families can qualify to receive money for college or career training. Learn more about the Washington College Grant.
Who is eligible?
WCG is available to eligible Washington residents, including undocumented students. There are no age limits. Recipients must meet program requirements and attend an approved college or program, part-time or full-time.
Amounts vary based on income, family size, and school or program cost. An eligible student from a family of four with income of $64,500 or less per year would get a full award. What does that mean? For example, public college tuition would likely be free for a family with three children and a single parent making $28 per hour. For middle-income families, grant amounts are lower. But even someone from a family of four making up to $107,000 per year can get some money to help pay for college or training.
Videos:
How to Apply for Financial Aid: Applying for financial aid is a crucial first step toward an affordable degree or credential. This is especially true for students from low- and middle-income families. If students don’t apply for financial aid, they can’t get scholarships, grants, or loans from schools or state and federal financial aid programs. This web page provides information on both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA).
Washington College Grant: The Washington College Grant is one of the most generous financial aid programs in the country. The grant gives more money to more people for more kinds of education and training beyond high school. Funding is guaranteed for eligible students. The guarantee of financial aid can help reduce the affordability barriers that currently prevent students from pursuing college and career education.
Plan Your Future: The Plan Your Future page provides information on career exploration, applying to colleges, state financial aid programs, and more for high school juniors and seniors.
College Bound Scholarship: The College Bound Scholarship is an early commitment of state financial aid to eligible students who sign up in middle school and fulfill the scholarship pledge. Visitors to the site can find information on College Bound eligibility and access. Counselors will also find a host of resources to help parents and students understand and access the program.
Passport to Careers: The Passport to Careers program helps students who have experienced foster care or unaccompanied homelessness to prepare for and succeed in college, apprenticeships, or pre-apprenticeship programs.
Visit the Federal Student Aid Resources site for downloadable resources in English and Spanish on a variety of topics from “Who’s my parent?” to “Understanding dependency”.