On Monday, October 1, many of you will be able to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid! You can start to prepare NOW! Check out the resources linked below for more info and instructions on how to create your FSAID. Make sure you save this information in a secure location. A parent or guardian will also need to create an FSAID in order for you to submit your FAFSA!
Here's the link for creating your FSAID. Follow the directions carefully. I'd recommend taking a screenshot of your Security Questions and Answers so that you never get locked out of your account. Remember, do NOT use your school email address! Your parent or guardian will also need to make an FSAID to sign your FAFSA application. Ideally, they need an email address to do this. We can always set one up for them if they don't have one! It is essential that your name, SSN, and date of birth are entered exactly as they appear on your Social Security card otherwise you will get an error.
Let me know if you need help with either process or have any questions (especially about Social Security cards and numbers)!
Prepare NOW to complete your FAFSA as early as October 1st. Check out this 12th Grade Checklist to guide your preparation and keep you on track. If you are not in 12th grade, this page has links to other great resources for you.
If you are not eligible to complete the FAFSA, there are other sources of $$$ for college. Colleges have institutional scholarships as well as their own forms for determining financial aid. LMK if you need more info!
Maybe you're the first in your family to go to college. Maybe you're worried about the cost of tuition. Or maybe you're not a fan of homework and exams at the moment. If any of these ring true, you might be wondering, "Is college worth it?" In a word: YES. And here’s why:
College is the most valuable investment you can make in your future – both financially and personally.
How Going To College Helps You Financially
Let's pretend that there are two versions of you: one with a high school diploma and one with a college degree. Can you guess which version will earn more money?
Over the course of a lifetime, someone with a college degree will earn $1 million more than someone with a high school diploma.
As for someone with a graduate degree? Their earning potential will be even higher.
In the simplest of terms: higher education = greater financial stability. Money isn't everything, of course. But if you want to give yourself the best chance to earn a comfortable salary, a college degree is not optional; it's essential.
How Going To College Helps You Personally
Let's get back to those two versions of you: the one with a high school diploma and the one with a college degree. Can you guess which version will have a broader network of connections?
When you step outside of your comfort zone and onto a college campus, you enter a world filled with fresh faces, diverse backgrounds and various worldviews. In addition to sparking lifelong friendships, a college community broadens your horizons – fostering a period of self-discovery and personal growth.
College is about defying expectations, breaking the mold, and finding yourself.
You have curiosity. EXPLORE IT.
Whatever intrigues you, college is your opportunity to pursue that interest at a deeper level.
- Enroll in classes and sign up for activities that excite you, without the structured limitations of your high school curriculum.
- Meet people from various backgrounds and cultures who have interests similar to and different from your own. They’ll introduce you to new interests you didn’t know you had.
- Become a part of an enriching campus community and ultimately realize that we live in a globally interconnected world – a concept that will spark your curiosity and stimulate your growth.
You have purpose. BECOME IT.
No matter how uncertain your future seems right now, college will show you that everyone has a role to play in our society, including you.
- Get exposed to a variety of professions and resources to help you discover the career path that matches your interests and motivates you to become the best version of yourself.
- Gain the skills and knowledge to become anything you want to be, while living independently and preparing for your future.
- Make a difference. Meet mentors and fellow student-leaders who compel you to contribute, inspire you to give back, and shape you into a stronger global citizen.
You have potential. EXCEED IT.
College is your key to increasing your economic mobility, unlocking your earnings potential, and shattering preconceived financial expectations.
Whether you dream of owning a home, traveling the world, or starting a family – your goals are attainable, but they require financial stability. Here's how your likelihood of achieving economic success improves with a college degree:
- A high school dropout can expect to earn $973,000 over a lifetime.
- Someone with a high school diploma can expect to earn $1.3 million over a lifetime.
- A worker with some college but no degree earns $1.5 million over a lifetime.
- An Associate’s degree-holder earns $1.7 million over a lifetime.
- A worker with a Bachelor’s degree will earn $2.3 million over a lifetime.
- Graduate degrees provide for even higher earnings. A Master’s degree-holder earns $2.7 million over a lifetime, a Doctoral degree-holder earns $3.3 million over a lifetime, and a Professional degree-holder earns $3.6 million over a lifetime.
Remember: An investment in college is an investment in yourself.