Seniors- 24-25 FAFSA Information

Dear Senior and Parent/Guardian,

Families planning on applying for financial aid are encouraged to watch this series of videos that will inform you of the steps, process and required documents to complete the FAFSA when it is launched by December 31, 2023. Illinois state law requires all seniors to complete the FAFSA, the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid, or to fill out a waiver. Both the alternative form and the waiver form will be available in 2024 and we will share those links when they become available. The 24-25 FAFSA will be available by December 31, 2023 and all students who want to be considered for need-based aid and qualify for the federal student loan program need to submit a FAFSA for full aid consideration.

If a student or family would like support in completing the FAFSA, we encourage you to attend the Highland Park High School FAFSA Completion Workshop on Wednesday, January 31 from 4-7:30 pm in the Library Classrooms at HPHS (enter through the H entrance). Please note that no new FAFSA forms will be started after 7:00 pm. Families are encouraged to attend with their students and to bring their own devices; we will have a limited number of Chromebooks available, if needed. There will be a financial aid expert from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission available to answer all FAFSA related questions.

New for the 24-25 FAFSA - Both the student and each parent will need an FSA ID

* Students and parents must each have a verified FSA ID to complete the FAFSA. Plan on setting up your FSA ID at https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch at least one week prior to completing the FAFSA and/or before attending HPHS' FAFSA completion workshop since it will take some time for the verification process.

Items needed to complete the FAFSA:

* 2022 federal tax returns, W-2's and other records of money earned

* Banking statements and records of investments (if applicable)

* Records of untaxed income (if applicable)

* List of colleges to which student is applying

* Social Security Number

* Your Alien Registration Number, if you (STUDENT) is not a US Citizen

If you do not have some of these items (such as tax returns), you may still be able to submit a FAFSA. Please contact one of the postsecondary counselors for more information.

Everyone providing information on a FAFSA will need a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID, and we encourage individuals to do that now at this link.

The process for parents without a Social Security Number who will be providing information on their student’s FAFSA (i.e. the student is a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen) to create an FSA ID will become available at the same time that the FAFSA is released (by December 31, 2023). There will be an option to click on a checkbox that reads “I don’t have a Social Security Number,” and parents will need to correctly answer several identity questions. Reminder: The FSA ID is only needed for the FAFSA and is not used to complete the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid.

To create an FSA ID please watch this video that walks you through the process. Students and parents can do this now, prior to the 24-25 FAFSA launch by December 31, 2023. HPHS will be offering FSA ID creation workshops for students who would like assistance with this, on 1/17/24. Students can come to the CRC during all lunch periods (10:30am - 12:30pm) to create their FSA ID.

Warm regards,

The Postsecondary Counseling Team