CRC Connection: FAFSA Edition

Date: Wednesday, January 22

Time: 6:00 PM or 7:00 PM

Where: VHHS Library

Representatives from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) will be on hand to assist families with submitting their FAFSAs online. Sign up here for either the 6:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. session if you feel it would be beneficial. There will be a Spanish-speaking ISAC representative at this event.

U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens can complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for financial aid from the federal government, state governments and many colleges. The 2025-2026 FAFSA is in its final beta testing period and is now open to all users. Students and contributors may choose to submit applications during this beta testing period, or they might choose to wait until the form is out of beta testing and officially released by December 1. Regardless of when you choose to submit an application, students and their contributors should create an FSA ID if they do not already have one.

The Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act allows eligible undocumented students who are disqualified from federal financial aid to apply for all forms of state financial aid using the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid.

We highly recommend that Class of 2025 families complete the FAFSA or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (for undocumented students). Even if families think they won’t qualify for aid, completing the FAFSA may result in financial options such as loans or on-campus jobs. Some colleges also need families to complete the FAFSA in order for students to receive merit aid. Families with current college students should complete the FAFSA at this time, as well.

The State of Illinois has made completing the FAFSA a graduation requirement, but families who choose not to complete a FAFSA can fill out this FAFSA Opt-Out Form, which will meet the graduation requirement.

We recommend families complete the FAFSA by the end of January, especially those whose senior is considering colleges located in Illinois. The Illinois MAP (Monetary Assistance Program) Grant is awarded to families with financial need on a first-come, first-served basis, and we want our families to be in the running.

(The information below comes from this webpage from the UW Madison Office of Student Financial Aid.)

Beginning with the 2024-25 FAFSA®, all users/contributors must have an FSA ID and password to fill out the FAFSA®, even those without a Social Security Number (SSN). If a student's contributor does not have an SSN, please read over these instructions for completing the FAFSA.

Processing your FSA ID can take up to 5 business days, so we recommend creating it at least a week before you start your FAFSA®. You could even do it now!

An FSA ID is a username and password that you must use to log in to certain U.S. Department of Education (ED) websites. Your FSA ID identifies you as someone who has the right to access your own personal information on ED websites such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®).

Beginning with the 2024-25 FAFSA®, all contributors (student, student’s spouse, and/or parent) must have their own FSA ID.

To create your FSA ID, please go to https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch.

To retrieve a forgotten FSA ID or password, please go to https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/sign-in/landing and click either the “Forgot my Username” or “Forgot my Password” links.

We aren’t sure if we will qualify for financial aid. Should we still complete the FAFSA?

• There is no income cutoff that would indicate whether a family should complete the FAFSA or not, but if you’re unsure, we recommend you complete the Net Price Calculators found on every college’s website to see if you are eligible for need-based financial aid (some colleges also use MyinTuition to provide cost estimates). At a minimum, families that submit a FAFSA will be offered the option to take a federal student loan, and many colleges require the FAFSA from students who are offered a merit-based scholarship.

What about the CSS Profile? Do we need to complete that form as well?

• Many selective colleges that are popular with VHHS seniors DO require the CSS Profile. Check this list to see if any of your colleges are listed. Be aware that this form asks for more information than the FAFSA and includes a fee to submit to each college. Families whose adjusted gross income is $100,000 or less can qualify for a fee waiver on the form.

Is there a deadline to complete the FAFSA?

• There is no deadline to complete the FAFSA, but we recommend that our families do so by the end of January to ensure you are in the best position for financial awards.

How many colleges can I send my FAFSA results to?

• You can list up to 20 colleges on the FAFSA at one time.

Who completes the FAFSA when parents are divorced or separated?

• If your parents are divorced or separated, the contributing parent(s) is the parent (and their spouse, if remarried) who provided the greater portion of your financial support during the 12 months immediately prior to filing the FAFSA®.

Explore more information on the Federal Student Aid YouTube Channel

Register for the VHHS FAFSA completion workshop here.

Don't hesitate to call the Office of Financial Aid at any college you applied to--they are prepared to answer questions related to FAFSA completion.

Carlos Morales is the ISACorps Member (financial aid "expert") assigned to aid VHHS families with the financial aid process. He can be reached via email at carlos.morales@illinois.gov and by phone at (847)309-8820.

If you are applying to a college with a January 1 deadline (or a deadline that falls over winter break), you need to enter your colleges in SchooLinks NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 16 at 4:00 PM to ensure all VHHS documents are submitted on time.

If you decide to apply to a college over Winter Break, or change your application plan (from Regular Decision to Early Decision II, for example), go ahead and do so. But recognize that the CRC staff, registrar, counselors, and teachers are on Winter Break! Transcripts or recommendation letters may not arrive by the college’s application deadline. You will need to check with each college to see if the supplemental materials (letters of rec, ED contract, transcript, etc.) will be accepted after the deadline.