PhillyGoes2College is partnering with the Federal Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Higher Education and Assistance Agency and many local organizations in a City-Wide Financial Aid and FAFSA Completion Campaign. Over 50 workshops open to students and their families will be offered to help with this effort.

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the first step in the financial aid process. The FAFSA determines a student’s eligibility for federal and state grants and loans. Colleges and Universities also use a student’s FAFSA to create a financial aid package.

All high school seniors, even if they are not sure they will attend college, should plan to complete the FAFSA as soon after January 1st as possible. The sooner students complete the FAFSA the better! Although the deadline to be eligible for Pennsylvania state grants is not until May 1st, many colleges have financial aid application deadlines in February and March, and colleges often give aid on a first come first serve basis.

The FAFSA can be completed on line at www.FAFSA.gov. For help completing the FAFSA, click here to find a free workshop near you. Workshop attendees will receive hands on help completing their FAFSA.

If you can’t find a workshop that works for you, you can visit a Trusted Center during designated hours for assistance. Click here to download a list of Trusted Centers.

You will need your 2010 tax information, or your parents’ if you are under twenty four, for the FAFSA. You can complete the FAFSA with 2009 tax information, but will need to update it as soon as your 2010 taxes are completed. If you have not yet completed your 2010 taxes and would like help you may contact the Campaign For Working Families or visit one of their walk-in sites. They will help you complete both your taxes and your FAFSA. Click here to download a list of walk-in sites.

You will need the following information to complete your FAFSA, please make sure to bring these documents to the workshop:

Your Social Security Number or Alien Registration Number if you’re not a U.S. citizen
W-2 forms from the last two years
Your most recent Federal Tax Income Return (as well as your parents’ tax return if you are under 24)
Records of Untaxed Income (i.e., TANF, Social Security, Welfare or Veterans Benefits)

If you are interested in getting involved in FAFSA completion efforts contact the PhillyGoes2College office at 215-686-0315. Click here to download the FASFA toolkit.

If you are an adult and want more information on how to help the student in your life complete high school and prepare for college connect with the Graduation Coach Campaign.