FAFSA (Financial Aid Information)

Aloha Senior Parents.

I am assisting ALL seniors with their FAFSA (financial aid) application everyday by appointment only. I sent emails to seniors to sign up using an online form.

Every senior planning to attend college, even UH Maui College, should be completing the FAFSA. Colleges use the FAFSA to create your financial aid packages, which doesn't only include Federal grants but, merit/academic scholarships as well.

The most common misconception about the FAFSA is that "I not going qualify, I make too much money." This is completely false. The FAFSA is just an application for Federal Grants, which you may not qualify for if you make "too much money." BUT once the federal government has evaluated if you qualify for their federal grant, they then send the tax information you entered to all the colleges your child listed on their FAFSA form. The colleges use your tax information, student transcripts and SAT/ACT scores to create your child's financial aid package. No FAFSA, no financial aid package, which means no academic scholarships either.

AND our local scholarships require students to complete the FAFSA if they are applying for their scholarship. FAFSA is a must for all college bound seniors!!!

Forms needed:

Federal 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ tax form for 2017
W-2 Forms for 2017
Date parents were married, separated. divorced, widowed.
Total of cash, savings and checking
If the student worked and paid federal taxes in 2017 we need their documents as well.

If you cannot attend the meeting, just give your child all the forms and I will help them complete the FAFSA. Please be available to answer calls from your child that day, just in case.

Questions? Please email me at [email protected]. Do not leave a message on my work phone, the message system does not work.

Regards,

Kristy Arakawa
Lahainaluna High School
College & Career Center