“With the rising cost of higher education, federal and state financial aid programs are more important than ever to help defray that expense,” said Rep. Delahunt. “Massachusetts is home to so many bright and talented young people, and when they get into college, there should be a way for them to pay for it.”
January 1st marked the first day students can submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which determines eligibility for both Massachusetts and federal financial aid for college in the 2009-10 school year. Since many forms of financial aid are available on a first come-first served basis, students have a better chance to receive aid if they submit their applications early in the process. Last year, Massachusetts students secured more than $1 billion in grants and loans from federal and state governments.
Each packet contains federal financial aid guides, a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the Web Worksheet as well as details on how and where to apply for aid. Also included is information on how Financial Aid applicants can avoid fraud and identity theft, a list of Internet websites for college, financial aid and career planning and a college admissions booklet that outlines how to prepare for interviews, essays, letters of recommendation, campus visits, etc.
To submit a FAFSA application online, students can go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. The results of the application are automatically reported to the state and to colleges applicants designate.
To obtain a packet, please call Congressman Delahunt’s office toll-free at 1 800 870 2626 (Cape and Islands), or 1 800 794 9911 (South Shore).
You may also wish to peruse Rep. Delahunt’s Student Financial Aid web page for more resources at: http://www.house.gov/delahunt/finaid.shtml
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