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The RISLA College Planning Center will once again be hosting FAFSA Completion Events across the state of Rhode Island to help students, parents, and adult learners with completing the FAFSA. The FAFSA, formally known as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is the first step to applying for college financial aid. All schools use this application for awarding federal student aid dollars and many also use it for awarding their own institutional funds. EVERYONE should complete a FAFSA to be considered for financial aid.

In simplest terms, the CSS Profile form is an additional requirement for many private schools when applying for financial aid. The CSS Profile administered by the College Board is required by about 400 colleges and universities to determine aid eligibility for non-government financial aid. Click here to see if your school requires a CSS Profile and be sure to check the school’s deadline.

Did you know that nationally unused grant and aid money averages $________ per year? (Answer at end of post)

A. Over $1 Million

B. Over $50 Million

C. Over $2 Billion

Great event for High School Seniors, Juniors, Sophomores, & their parents

• You need good credit to borrow
• You need to have borrowed to establish a credit history 
• You cannot borrow before age 18
• Your'e heading to college and need good credit to pay for tuition and other expenses

Which comes first, borrowing or good credit?

Having good credit is just as important to help ensure your stability and help you successfully do things such as rent an apartment, buy or lease a car, and even get a good job. Maintaining good credit is very important to your future and will afford you many opportunities that would otherwise be impossible. It can show stability, consistency, responsibility, and maturity – all of which are positive traits that can help you succeed in life. Below, are some helpful tips on building and managing a good credit profile.

Excuses, excuses. Preparing for college is a time-consuming task. Evidenced by the many online and other forms of checklists that have been published for this very purpose. I have prepared a different list. A list of excuses heard in my household that I thought might be helpful to share so you will be armed and ready for battle.

At our annual school counselor breakfast on March 7th, the Director of the College Planning Center, Stacy Crooks, announced that they will begin offering help with career planning. In efforts to assist students in determining a career path that's right for them, students will take a personality assessment to help highlight their interests.

Research conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that students who work less than twenty hours per week have a higher GPA than non-working students. Due to the rising costs of college and declining affordability, working while in college is necessary for many students as they use this income to support themselves financially while being away from home. The more students earn while in college, the less they will have to borrow  to pay for school and working while in school also helps students learn to keep themselves organized, manage their time, and understand how to prioritize.

Many college-bound students and their families have fallen for the dangerous myth: "I won't qualify for aid so I'm not going to apply." The reality is, everyone should file the FAFSA, even if they think they may not qualify. The FAFSA is absolutely free to fill out and it can give families money to help cover the rising cost of college. Below is a quick rundown of what you could be eligible for by filing the FAFSA.

Don't leave free money on the table!!

October 1 has come and gone, which means it's time to fill out the FAFSA for the 2019/20 academic year! Creating an FSA ID is the very first step to take in applying for financial aid. An FSA ID is a username and password that allows students and parents to access federal student aid systems and "sign" the FAFSA online. Both the parent and student need one in order to file the FAFSA. For a run down of common FSA ID mistakes to avoid, check out the video below!