Weber State helps students find financial aid
FILE - Weber State University freshman Esperanza Rodriguez talks to her parents to get information for filling out financial aid forms during the FAFSA Frenzy at Weber State University in Ogden on Saturday, February 28, 2015. The FAFSA Frenzy allowed future students of any college and their families to come and fill out financial aid paperwork with the help of volunteers.
Multicultural Student Center Counselor and Hispanic Area Council Advisor for WSU Monica Rodriguez, center, explains vocational schools and how higher education works to Adilene Contreras and her father, Ricardo, during the FAFSA Frenzy at Weber State University in Ogden on Saturday, February 28, 2015. The FAFSA Frenzy allowed future students of any college and their families to come and fill out financial aid paperwork with the help of volunteers.
Volunteers work with incoming students and their families during the FAFSA Frenzy at Weber State University in Ogden on Saturday, February 28, 2015. The FAFSA Frenzy allowed future students of any college and their families to come and fill out financial aid paperwork with the help of volunteers.
Weber High senior Latisha Coleman fills out financial aid paperwork during the FAFSA Frenzy at Weber State University in Ogden on Saturday, February 28, 2015. The FAFSA Frenzy allowed future students of any college and their families to come and fill out financial aid paperwork with the help of volunteers. Latisha will be attending Weber State University.
Weber High senior Latisha Coleman and her mother work together to fill out financial aid paperwork during the FAFSA Frenzy at Weber State University in Ogden on Saturday, February 28, 2015. The FAFSA Frenzy allowed future students of any college and their families to come and fill out financial aid paperwork with the help of volunteers. Latisha will be attending Weber State University.
OGDEN – It’s tax time, and when it’s tax time, it’s financial aid time for college students. The process can be confusing and intimidating, so Weber State University is helping students understand the process.
Saturday afternoon it held the first of two Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA workshops. The workshop was held all day in the school’s Shepherd Union Building and a workshop was also held at the Davis Campus.
The university also invited any incoming freshman and their families to the workshop.
Amy Huntington, WSU outreach coordinator, was on hand to help students.
“We want to give help to anyone who wants to fill out the FAFSA,” Huntington said.
The workshop was held in part of a computer lab so the FAFSA could be filed then and there. There weren’t large crowds on Saturday, but a few came to receive the assistance.
“Not enough people apply for FAFSA and we would like to see those numbers increase,” Huntington said.
As a matter of fact, the rate that Utahns apply for federal aid is the lowest in the nation, according to a release sent out by WSU. Huntington said that more qualify than they realize.
“People think they won’t qualify, but you don’t know. Plus, it’s the only way to qualify for a subsidized loan and if you have to use a loan, a subsidized loan is the way to go,” she added.
Sherry Tau is a WSU student volunteer helping other students and their families with their FAFSA. She and fellow student Rod Peterson went to FAFSA training so they would have all the steps and answers to common questions.
“You should be applying and it also helps with learning how to file taxes,” Tau said.
Huntington said that some were not able to complete their FAFSA Saturday morning because their taxes weren’t finished – something that needs to be complete before filing the FAFSA.
On Saturday one family came to fill out their forms, got as much help as they could, but had to go finish their taxes before filing. Huntington said many don’t understand that.
“During those college years, you have to get your taxes done early,” she said
Both Tau and Peterson said they encourage everyone to file the FAFSA because it is often a requirement to receive scholarships. “A lot of scholarships require FAFSA information and you’re missing out if you don’t do it,” Peterson said.
Huntington said the process is a lot more streamlined now, especially because it can be done online and is also computer adaptive, meaning it only asks the questions it needs as you go. “It can be intimidating at first, but it is not as hard as it seems,” Huntington said.
Many high schools also offer workshops, which is a good thing, she said, but may also be a reason for the low turnout. “More and more people are getting the help closer to home, but we are here to help too,” she said.
Peterson said many students don’t know that there is more work to be done once the FAFSA is completed and they are there to help guide students with that process. Peterson said each university is different for what it requires for the FAFSA once the process is complete.
WSU also offers free tax help to speed the process along. WSU’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free consultations for anyone with an annual income of less than $53,000, including the general public, whether or not they are applying for FAFSA.
The consultations are available through March 7. WSU accounting students, who are IRS certified, along with accounting faculty volunteers, are available at WSU Davis Building 2 Room 101, Friday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon. Consultations are by appointment only and must be scheduled by calling 2-1-1.The scheduler will inform participants of the documents and information required when meeting with VITA volunteers.
Huntington said the early FAFSA filing deadline is May 1 for priority funding. Go to weber.edu/fafsahelpfor additional information about the FAFSA process, including information about financial aid nights at local high schools.
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