By Leslie O’Connor, College Counselor

College Corner appears in the Wyvern Weekly with suggestions and dates to help make the college search and application process as stress-free and enjoyable as possible. We have a number of college events coming up next week! Note: All college visits not otherwise noted take place in the College Resource Room on the Downtown Campus.

Monday, October 8th

  • Meeting with seniors about Common Application and Naviance – 10:25 – 10:40 a.m.

Wednesday, October 10th

  • PSAT for 10th and 11th graders

Thursday, October 11th

  • University of Kentucky – 1:30 – 2:00 p.m.
  • Admissions Presentation from 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown Hotel (36 E 4th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45207). Hear from admissions officers from Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University, Wellesley University, and the University of Virginia. For more information and to register, click here.

Saturday, October 13th

  • University of Louisville Cardinal Preview Day from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. For more information and to register, click here.

The Importance of Filling Out the FAFSA (Application for Federal Student Aid)
The application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) was available online on October 1st. Although it may seem like a complicated process, it’s well worth the time and effort for students/parents of seniors to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible and send it to the colleges to which you are applying. According to FASTWEB, here are five reasons why it’s important:

  1. Federal Student Aid programs are the largest source of student aid in the United States. The only way to be considered for Pell Grants, Perkins Loans, Stafford Loans, and college work-study programs is to submit the FAFSA.
  2. The FAFSA application also puts you in consideration for state financial aid programs. Eligibility and deadline dates differ by state, but Kentucky asks for you to file as soon after the October 1st deadline as possible.
  3. Colleges and private scholarships offer billions of dollars in financial aid. Even if you don’t have a high level of need, you may be eligible for awards. Most colleges require students to submit the FAFSA to be considered for any financial aid and many merit-based scholarships. It’s always better to err on the side of submitting the FAFSA rather than miss an opportunity because you did not submit.
  4. The FAFSA is free and takes between 45-60 minutes to complete. So, little pain for possible significant gain.
  5. *If you need a loan for college as a student or parent (PLUS Loan) the FAFSA is required to secure the loan. Typically, the interest rate is more competitive than a private lender. *One company that does a good job in the private lending business is Sallie Mae and U.S. News & World Report recently published an article on The Best Private Student Loans of 2018. 

Some colleges (many private) ask for the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA. Click here to see if any colleges your student is applying to require this additional form.

Need help on the FAFSA? Get in-depth information about the form and what to expect after you submit your application here. 

Don’t forget about scholarships!