The process of researching and applying for financial aid to attend college can be overwhelming, but the Willowbrook Guidance Department is here to help.
On Sept. 27, the department hosted a Financial Aid Night for parents/guardians, and on Sept. 28, counselors met with senior students to discuss “Financing Your Education.” During that presentation, financial aid terms, how to apply for financial aid and how to search and apply for scholarships were discussed. Students were reminded of the importance of completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form as soon as possible after its open on Oct. 1 to ensure eligible monies are available. The form can be completed by going to www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Willowbrook will offer two FAFSA Completion Workshops, during which members of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) will assist students and parents/guardians with completing their FAFSA form. The “MAD Money” FAFSA Completion Workshops will take place at the following times and dates at Willowbrook in the Library Media Center.
Students and parents/guardians should bring their social security numbers, driver’s license numbers and completed 2017 taxes. Students and parents/guardians also will need to create a FSA ID (a federal username and password) to complete the FAFSA. This can be created anytime at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/fsaid.
Scholarships also are a great way to help with the costs of attending college. There is quite an array of scholarships, so there is something for everyone. Many scholarships are based on merit, but there also are some based on ethnicity, gender, volunteer work, future education plans, financial status and many other factors. Students can search and apply for scholarships through multiple avenues, including:
For questions or more information about scholarships, contact Scott Forcash in the Guidance Office at sforcash@dupage88.net or 630-530-3420.