Let’s be honest, financial aid can be intimidating to think about. When it comes to the process, you may have questions like “How do I get started”, “Will I even qualify?” and “Do I need to apply every year?”. To answer those questions and provide some insight for you, I had the privilege of spending a little time with Alex Kelly, a Financial Aid Adviser here at GCSC.
How Do I Get Started?
The financial aid process starts by visiting www.studentaid.gov to initiate the FAFSA (Federal Application For Student Aid). A lot of students get intimidated by this step because the form asks for a lot of information, according to Alex “The FAFSA may seem complicated, but overall, it is relatively simple, it just asks for a combination of tax and personal information.”, so as long as you have accurate tax information for yourself or your guardian(s), there should be little to no issues with that part of the process. If you do have questions though you can always call or schedule an appointment with an advisor to help you through the process if needed. Alex also stated,“The FAFSA is also what determines eligibility for state and local aid”, so even if for some reason you may not qualify for federal aid, it is still prudent to apply so that you’ll still have the opportunity to receive aid from a different source.
Will I Qualify?
“Students normally don’t realize how much aid is out there” Alex stated, in response to being asked what students fear the most about the process. Most simply don’t realize that there is a lot of funding available to them, regardless of how much money they think they (or their guardians) make. “We do our best to help them get aid that is literally just sitting there”, he said, when describing how his office works to assist any student that may be confused about the process. The key to receiving aid, is to apply, you’ll never know what’s available otherwise. Also, it is imperative to make sure your information is current.
Do I need to apply every year?
Your FAFSA is dependent on your (or your guardian’s) yearly tax return, so it will need to be updated each annually. Just like every tax year is different, so is the case for financial aid. Each year there may be different funding available, and there may be differences in your income that will need to be documented to put you in the best position to qualify for aid. When it comes to timelines for submission, you can always visit www.gulfcoast.edu or make an appointment to see an adviser like, Alex who stated “It always makes me brighten up when students realize college isn’t just a dream, but something they can actually make happen with the help of financial aid”
