Help Me, Help You

FAFSA deadline approaches

Brandon Russell | Staff Writer
Russellb3@imail.losrios.edu

I haven’t had much experience, good or bad, with financial aid because I’ve always had a job that could pay my expenses, but after doing a little research, I found that getting aid is an easy process provided you’re patient and can keep track of a few dates.

Students applying for financial aid should keep track of their income tax information and have access to their parents’ or legal guardian’s information if needed. Keeping track of the deadline for filing for the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid is key as well.

City College offers plenty of resources on campus
and online that students can use to get financial aid. It seems like the hardest part about getting aid for City College students is finding time to fill out the plethora of forms.

City College students can head over to Rodda North 167 for in-person financial aid assistance and forms, but I suggest using the school’s Web site to file for BOG fee waivers and FAFSA instead of waiting in line. Completing applications is already time consuming – don’t waste time in line if it can be avoided.

“I actually didn’t get any aid last year because I forgot to finish the gazillion questions by the deadline,” said Tessa Banner, psychology major.

As much of a hassle as applying for financial aid might seem, for many students at City College, it is, or could be, a blessing.

According to Inside City College student demographic income data online, 21 percent of City College students were designated as low income in 2007, and what’s more, 26 percent were below the poverty level. That’s nearly half of the student body.

No one likes filling out form after form for financial aid, but as unemployment goes up and more students turn to it for help, completing it on time is going to become more and more important.