FAFSA Workshops, Financial Aid and Paying for College
Over the last year, as I was working to launch my college essay coaching business, I had an opportunity to co-author a financial aid book for students and parents.
The book, Understanding FAFSA & Financial Aid: Your Guide to Paying for College, is a 40+ page journey through one of the thornier pieces of the college application. The book will be published soon – just in time for the release of FAFSA’s new and improved 2024-25 form. (Insiders believe Dec. 31, 2023 is FAFSA’s likely release date for 2024-25.)
I have been fortunate to share what I’ve learned about the FAFSA. In October, I facilitated a FAFSA workshop in partnership with OneCranston Health Equity Zone. Starting this month, I am hosting a series of in-person and FAFSA workshops in partnership with the Town of Richmond for all Chariho community members. The program is made possible through the state’s Learn365RI grant initiative. Increasing FAFSA completion rates is one of three key metrics. (financial aid challenges pose significant barriers to college and trade school enrollment after high school.)
For more information about the FAFSA workshops, check out the press release below:
Financial Aid Workshops Coming to Chariho
Workshop series sponsored by Richmond begins Tuesday, Nov. 28 at Arcadia Branch Ocean Community YMCA. Virtual workshop to be held on Tuesday, Dec. 5
The Town of Richmond's newly launched Department of Human Services is sponsoring financial aid workshops to help college-bound Chariho students and families navigate the financial aid process.
Mark your calendars:
On Tuesday, Nov. 28, all community members are invited to join at 6pm at the Arcadia Branch Ocean Community YMCA for the first FAFSA and financial workshop starting. Space is limited, but you can secure a spot by signing up through the "Human Services of Richmond, RI" Facebook page.
On Tuesday, Dec. 5, a live virtual event will be held at 6pm. Participants can register at: https://lu.ma/chariho-fafsa
The workshops are part of a wider initiative to provide more opportunities to connect and learn across the Richmond and Chariho communities.
"These educational workshops are one of the ways that we bring community members together to discuss and learn about issues and topics that are relevant to them," said Kate Schimmel, Director of Richmond's new Human Services Department. "We're thrilled to sponsor these important programs to expand learning opportunities for our community."
Also happening on Nov. 28: The YMCA and Richmond will open a free after-school homework space for middle and high school students, with tutoring services to be added in early 2024. Schimmel said more programs from Richmond's Human Services will be rolling out in the coming months, and to follow the Human Services of Richmond, RI Facebook page for more updates.
The workshops and out-of-school learning programs are funded by state grants through Rhode Island's Learn 365 RI initiative. Earlier this year, Gov. Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Education announced that Richmond was one of two dozen municipalities to be awarded a total of $3.8 million to create or expand out-of-school learning. Richmond's grant is $50,000 for 2023-24.
About Chariho FAFSA Workshops
At the Nov. 28 FAFSA workshop, participants will get the opportunity to learn about the financial aid process, ask questions, and ensure they're ready when the 2024-25 FAFSA form is released in December. This includes a step-by-step guide to creating your StudentAid.gov account and free resources on topics including:
· Financial Aid 101: What it is and how it works
· Grants vs. Scholarships vs. Loans
· The parent's role in filling out the FAFSA
· What's changing? The all-new 2024-25 FAFSA
· Scholarships and FinAid support in RI (RI Promise Scholarship, College Planning Center, private scholarships)
Education writer and consultant Geoff Decker, co-author of Understanding FAFSA & Financial Aid: Your Guide to Paying for College, will facilitate the workshops. Based in Cranston, Decker spent the past year learning and writing about financial aid and college through conversations with counselors, families, educators, and financial aid professionals. (Participants will receive free copies of the Understanding FAFSA & Financial Aid e-book)
"Filling out the FAFSA is often an overlooked piece of the college application puzzle. Yet if you want money to level-up your skills and education beyond high school, the FAFSA is the gateway to investing in your future," said Decker. "These free public workshops raise awareness and share important information about financial aid. I'm honored to be able to work with local municipalities like Richmond to get the word out."
About Financial Aid and the FAFSA
The cost of college and career training can be a barrier for many students, so completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is essential for students to qualify for federal, state, and institutional funds.
The Chariho financial aid and FAFSA workshops will be hosted just in time to prepare families to navigate an all-new 2024-25 FAFSA. The release date of the new FAFSA, has been delayed and will now be released sometime in December. (For updates, sign up for notifications from the College Planning Center: https://www.risla.com/fafsa-notification)
The new "Better FAFSA" – as it's known – is the culmination of a bipartisan law passed in 2020 by U.S. Congress. RI Senator Jack Reed helped write the law, known as the FAFSA Simplification Act, which streamlines the FAFSA form, and makes it more accessible to more students.
From career training and job-based learning, to two- and four-year degrees, the FAFSA is a gateway to investing in your future. When students and families have access to information about how to navigate the FAFSA process, they will be more prepared to complete their applications and consider postsecondary pathways.
FAFSA Completion
The cost of college and career training can be a barrier for many students, so completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is essential for students to qualify for federal, state, and institutional funds. The most popular federal aid program is the Pell Grants, named after the U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell, of Rhode Island, who advocated for federal aid for students who couldn’t afford college.
Pell Grants are an essential form of federal financial aid available to students from low-income families. In 2021, more than 28,000 Rhode Islanders received Pell grants and the average award they received was $4,700, according to EducationData.org.
